Do You Have What it Takes
Written by:
David Gant
Article Overview: This is a follow up to a previous article “Starting your online business” (SYOB) and in this article I would like to expand on your “WHY” the reason that has all of a sudden due to a particular circumstance or recent event in your life, turned your thinking towards a different approach or trend.
 |
Free Download - Network Marketing Industry truths By David Gant
|
Do You Have What it Takes
Aim of this article
Is to explore the reasons behind your desire to effect a change in your life and confirm that you do indeed “have what it takes” to succeed in your chosen way forward.
The Reason
The reason or your catalyst is (as stated previously in SYOB) the driving force for embarking on your change of direction. It is normally a state of mind that is not currently happy or satisfied with the way your life is headed. An overwhelming lack of something.
Do you have what it takes?
Your determination, discipline and strength to get the job done must be strong enough to stand the test of time not just the initial stages or the original state of mind. A question springs to mind immediately! How do you know if your catalyst will stand the test of time? You don’t, is the basic answer, but to be as sure as you possibly can, you may try this following exercise. If anything else it will confirm where you are at in life and highlight your desire level for change.
1. Take an A4 size piece of paper and divide it into three columns.
2. In the first column write the heading “My current situation.”
3. In the second column write the heading “My desired situation.”
4. In the third column write the heading “Action for effect.”
5. Proceed to write all that pertains to your current situation in the first column.
The longer the list the better. All that you are not happy with for instance.
6. Opposite each entry for your current situation, write in “My desired situation”
what it is you would like your ideal or desired situation to be or contain.
7. Decide the course of action that is required or possible course of action
to effect the change you desire and place it in the third column.
8. Once you have your answers formulate a sentence that best describes your desired outcome
and the action you require to affect the desired result.
9. Next is the hard part, based on what you have discovered you should take some time to think
about the possible outcome of your proposed actions and assess if the desire to do so out ways
the action required. On finding that it does, then nothing should get in the way of achieving
it. The obstacles that you had should dissolve.
If your desire is in your thoughts constantly and there is no doubt that your goals must materialize at all costs then this exercise is unnecessary. You will know for certain where you are headed, but you may still like to conduct this exercise. It can also be likened to that of goal setting and for the methods employed in the laws of attraction. A great subject on its own and get ready for this THE BIG SECRET as to why some people succeed and others fail.
The people that succeed have a thorough understanding and practice the Laws of Attraction.
Two good books I would recommend for further enlightened reading and invaluable self improvement are:-
1. The Secret by Rhonda Byrne. Also consider the DVD with the same name.
2. The Law of Attraction by Michael J Losier.
My late father in law a veteran of World War II always had this saying, “Have you got what it takes”. He told me he used to ask himself this question constantly whilst developing his own hotel business and amazingly one he started after he retired from the motor trade at the age of 64. He became my mentor and we would talk at length on this subject. He never had any doubt as to the outcome of his endeavours and ultimately did what it took to obtain his dreams. One of a few honourable men I personally knew that died content, having achieved all he set out to do.
Summary
Only you will know if you have got what it takes through the outcome of your own actions. I am a firm believer of the following statement. “If the dream is big enough the facts don’t count” and you will do what it takes to affect the outcome you desire.
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?
David Gant www.Davegant.com
Related Articles
The Seven-step Path to Sustaining Success
Simple quiz reveals who is cut out for Internet marketing
7 reasons to thank your boss today
Article # 31 Are You Emotionally Stable Enough To Be An Entreprenuer?
Improve Your Financial Future - Start Thinking Like a Rich Person
Article Tags:
current situation,
desire
Related Forum Posts
Building credit
- Credit is like reputations, I suppose. Takes a lifetime to build, and only a second to destroy.
Re: The Best Method for Online Marketing
- Email marketing can be very successful there's little doubt about that. But you need to build a solid list of subscribers and build a strong relationship with them. It's all about give, give, give, and then you can promote something. Takes a lot of patience and hard work but it can definitely be worth it later on.
Book: Why Good Girls Don't Get Ahead But Gutsy Girls Do
- Book: Why Good Girls Don't Get Ahead But Gutsy Girls Do: Nine Secrets every career woman must know
Kate White
1995
Foy years Kate White lived as a good girl - a rule follower, a people pleaser, a busy beaver - until she was passed over for the job of editor-in-chief of a magazine she had been running for months. She finally realized that being gutsy, not good, was the only way to succeed.
A gutsy girl :
1. Breaks the rules
2. Has one clear goal for the future
3. Does only what's essential
4. Doesn't worry whether people like her
5. Walks and talks like a winner
6. Asks for what she wants
7. Faces trouble head on
8. Trusts her instincts
9. Takes smart risks
This book has NO table of contents, but above are the chapter headings.
A good book, although I really wish they'd stop talking about "girls" and start talking about women.
Patent Walk-Through
- Hello everyone!
My name is Alex, I'm 18 years old and I'm constantly drawing up new ideas and inventing stuff. I sketch stuff down everywhere I go and on anything I can write on. I'm a big member of our local Future Business Leaders of America chapter (FBLA). In the future I hope to work my way up to being a Venture Capitalist. I think of myself as a pretty creative person who is very motivated. Some of the ideas and inventions I come up with are pretty far out but others I consider marketable and to have great potential. Being 18, I have little to no connections and no resources. I've been surfing this site pretty frequently for the last year and have finally decided to join the forum group.
Anyway, here's my question...
Basically, I have no idea how to get a patent together the costs and the overall process. As of now, I think I have a great idea that, as far as I know has not, ever been done before. I'm really excited about this idea. I'm a total novice at this and am willing to learn all that I can. Any information that you can provide me with would be great. Again the main things I want to know are:
1.Overall Process.
2.How Long It Takes.
3.Costs.
4.Anything That You Think I Should Know.
5.Tips/Experiences.
6.Confidentiality.
7.Must I Make A Physical Model of My Idea?
Thanks guys!
-Alex
Meet Kim Kleeman - Shakespeare Squared: Named one of Inc.'s
- THIS IS PRETTY INTERESTING. WISH I'D THOUGHT OF IT FIRST!!!!
Meet Kim Kleeman: Shakespeare Squared: Named one of Inc.'s 500 Fastest Growing Private Companies in America.
Recognized as one of Working Mother magazine's 25 Best Small Companies. Awarded the title of Illinois Family Business of the Year. Lofty accomplishments for company founder Kim Kleeman, a woman who just a few short years ago swore she would never own her own business!
Having grown up the child of business-owner parents, Kleeman knew well the stresses and demands that entrepreneurial life can place upon a family. She met her husband, Jay, on the first day of college, and together they earned their teaching degrees and started making plans for a modest but happy life. When Jay's stint as a student teacher strained the family budget, though, they both started doing subcontract work proofing elementary school textbooks. Before long, they were taking on bigger jobs and hiring other teachers to freelance on various projects, and from that point on, they never looked back.
In 2003, the couple founded Shakespeare Squared, an educational development company that employs an army of freelancers to write and edit materials such as textbooks, lesson plans, teacher guides, activity workbooks, and test-preparation materials. Initially a home-based business managed by Kim while Jay continued his work as a high school teacher, the company now has a full-time staff of 20 and is branching out in new directions, publishing its own materials and offering an educational editing certification process. In three years' time, the company has grown by an incredible 815 percent, bringing in $2.3 million in revenue last year.
What we learned from Kim: That the most incredible resource for launching might very well be your own friends and family. Kim started this business with her husband; her best friend since high school is her director of human resources; her sister is a remote project coordinator; her lawyer brother weighs in on various matters; her mom is a managing editor; and her parents are her de facto advisory board, with whom she meets every morning to share a cup of tea and conversation in their backyard.
Words of Wisdom
"Trust your instincts and empower your people."
From Teacher to Tycoon
"I don't know if I had a big 'aha' moment about starting a business; our growth was really organic. After my second child I immediately got pregnant with my third and there was no turning back, because we weren't going to be able to afford day care for two babies on two teachers' salaries. I had been working from home and continuously had one or two projects going, and I set a goal of having 10 projects running simultaneously. So after my son was born, I enacted my own guerilla marketing plan and e-mailed every editorial director at the big publishing companies, looking for projects. We soon landed our first big client, HarperCollins Children's Books."
Not About the Money
"I just wanted to make the best company that I could and be happy doing it. If that included millions of dollars, great, but that wasn't really the goal. I didn't know at first how much work we would end up getting, but I think the extensive classroom experience of our people sets us apart in this field. As teachers ourselves, we understand the needs of our clients and we deliver on that."
It Takes a Village
"We employ over 400 freelance writers. Most are former teachers but we pull from publishing, journalism, and other fields as well. We developed a writing test that covers everything from copyrighting to educational taboos, and prospective freelancers must earn at least a B+. A nice plus with our business is the opportunity we can offer teachers for life beyond teaching. I really promote teachers in the classroom, but if the classroom just isn't your thing and you're still passionate about education, there is a place for you here."
Those Who Can, Teach
"Educators in this country are getting a bad rap. We ask them to perform many roles and yet we're not supporting them as a society. Prospective teachers must student teach to become certified and are expected to not work while doing so, but there are so many people from diverse backgrounds who would love to teach-and who would be great teachers-who can't afford to do that. The Shakespeare Squared Foundation helps pay for prospective teachers to student teach. My passion is to get the right teachers in place, because that makes all the difference for students."
The Best and the Brightest
"It is definitely a challenge to find and retain the best talent, because I am up against large publishers. I have to provide a different culture and be creative in the way I offer benefits. We really believe in the work/life balance and offer such things as flex hours, remote work capabilities, and a working-parents room in the office. We've been recognized for these efforts, and because of them, our turnover is very low."
Networking 101
"You have to go into a networking situation with the idea in mind that there will be one person in the crowd who can make a difference to you, and you have to find that person. You may be talking to someone who makes shoelaces and has nothing in common with your business, but she may know someone in your field or know about an interesting business practice that could translate to your own. But the bottom line is that if it's not the right conversation, you politely cut it short and move on."
Strength in Numbers
"There is so much value in the process of incubating an idea with other women. I am always looking for women who are coming together creatively and collaboratively because things flow from it that you would never dream. When women support other women, we empower each other to take charge of our lives, whether by owning our own businesses or making a career change or making decisions about our families."
Best Advice
"I read in Working Mother magazine that women CEOs need to take the ability that they have in their work life to delegate responsibility and create a management team and apply that to their home life as well. So I really try to think of running my household the same way I run my business; whether it's cleaning ladies or repairmen, I find people I trust and have them take care of tasks that I don't need to spend time on. This has relieved a lot of guilt and allowed me to focus on the things that are really important."
Most Rewarding Moments
"Winning the Working Mother award as one of the 25 Best Small Companies felt pretty great because it showed that having a unique workplace does pay off. But even better is realizing that your message is getting across to your people. I love seeing quotes at my team's desks about goals and achieving your dreams, all of the exact things I say to empower them. It's cool to realize that there isn't a lot of cynicism, and that people are really buying into these ideas and making them their own."
Parting Thoughts ...
"My secret weapon is the news articles that I send to my team."
"I will retire when I have no more dreams to accomplish."
"I will always think of myself as a teacher."
"My greatest strength is my enthusiasm."
This featured lady was profiled by Noelle Pechar Hale, a freelance writer living in Los Angeles.
Recommended Article for You
close
Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.
Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva.
Over
$50,000 raised and counting -
Please keep sharing! Learn more.