The Newbies Guide to Success
59Why You Should Take the Scenic Route to Success
Okay,
so "taking the scenic route" to success may not seem like the best idea in the world but think about it before you jump in yelling " No No, I want the quickest, shortest, easiest route".
When you are unsure of where you are going the quickest way to get lost and end up someplace else is to try taking a shortcut. You would check out your map, you'd ask your friends, you'd use a GPS, you wouldn't simply hop in your car and start driving.
And when you're setting off on a long journey, you want to break it up. You can't simply drive for hours and hours without a break. You need time to stop and rest, refuel the car, have something to eat, recheck your directions, etc.
Ever tried doing this in the middle of nowhere? Ever ran out of fuel on a long stretch of road with no sign of a filling station? Had to leave the car, get out and walk to the nearest one? No idea where the next rest stop was to get something to eat?
Not fun huh?
Much better to know in advance where you're going to get your fuel from, much better to eat your lunch in a spot with a view where you can totally relax, much better to plan your route with all these details built in.
And being successful is no different. Going from 'nowhere' to 'success' is a journey. A journey that needs to be planned in steps and stages, allowing you time to readjust, refuel, rethink, redirect, and reassess your strategies and methods to be sure you get where you're going.
Your Journey to Success
So you're ready to plan your journey to success.
Get out your map! And if you can't read a map, then LEARN!
What sort of business are you going to run? Are you going to be an affiliate selling someone else's products? Are you going to sell your own products? Are you going to opt for retail sales or recurring commissions?
How are you going to get your business in front of others? Can you create a website? Can you run an effective marketing campaign? Do you have sufficient funds for advertising? Where are you going to advertise?
Who do you know that you can turn to for help and advice? Is this person already successful? Are they willing to show you the 'directions' they took on their own journey to success? Are there others that you can learn from?
What sort of knowledge do you already have that you can apply to your business? Are you willing to share that knowledge with others? Are you going to 'talk' to people along the way or do you want the 'internet' to be your only form of communication?
How are you going to stop yourself from running out of fuel? Where are you going to 'fill up' when your energy levels are so low you cannot go any further?
All of these questions and more need to be planned into your map. If you don't know the answers, get them.
Tony Robbins - Words of Wisdom
Success is NOT Your End Result!
Success isn't what you are aiming for. Remember this. You are aiming to 'be successful'. And there is a difference!
Success is short lived. You can win a race today. That doesn't mean you will win a race tomorrow or the next day. You can sell a thousand copies of your product today. Tomorrow you may sell none!
Being successful is a different matter. You always win. No matter the outcome. Every fall, crash, failure along the way is a mark of your being successful.
And being successful allows you to take the steps every single day so that you always win the race, sell the product, recruit the right people, ...
The most successful people didn't get that way without planning, and failing, and bruising themselves in the process. But they got on with it. They didn't quit. They didn't take the shortcuts. They travelled the road to success and became successful along the way.
'Newbies' need to take the same route. Forget the hype you've read and seen peddled. There are no shortcuts. Invest in your journey. Enjoy the scenery along the way. Whether that scenery be a course on 'social networking', or a manual on 'creating a website' or a guide on 'generating traffc'. It's all vital to your becoming successful.
Get Up and Win The Race
The Race
(D.H. Groberg)"QUIT! GIVE UP! YOU'RE BEATEN!" They shout out and plead,There's just too much against you now, this time you can't succeed.And as I start to hang my head in front of failure's face,My downward fall is broken by the memory of a race.And hope refills my weakened will as I recall that scene.For just the thought of that short race rejuvenates my being.A children's race, young boys, young men; now I remember well.Excitement, sure, but also fear; it wasn't hard to tell.They all lined up so full of hope. Each thought to win that raceOr tie for first, or if not that, at least take second place.And fathers watched from off the side, each cheering for his son.And each boy hoped to show his dad that he would be the one.The whistle blew and off they went, young hearts and hopes of fire.To win, to be the hero there, was each young boy's desire.And one boy in particular, his dad was in the crowd,Was running near the lead and thought, "My Dad will be so proud."But as he speeded down the field across a shallow dip,The little boy who thought to win, lost his step and slipped.Trying hard to catch himself, his hands flew out to brace,And mid the laughter of the crowd, he fell flat on his face.So down he fell and with him hope. He couldn't win it now.Embarrassed, sad, he only wished to disappear somehow.But as he fell, his dad stood up and showed his anxious face,Which to the boy so clearly said, "Get up and win that race!"He quickly rose, no damage done - behind a bit, that's all,And ran with all his mind and might to make up for his fall.So anxious to restore himself to catch up and to win,His mind went faster than his legs. He slipped and fell again.He wished that he had quit before with only one disgrace.I'm hopeless as a runner now, I shouldn't try to race.But, in a laughing crowd he searched and found his father's faceThat steady look that said again, "Get up and win the race."So, he jumped up to try again. Ten yards behind the last.If I'm to gain those yards, he thought, I've got to run real fast.Exceeding everything he had, he regained eight or ten,But trying so hard to catch the lead, he slipped and fell again.Defeat! He lay there silently, a tear dropped from his eye.There's no sense running anymore - three strikes I'm out - why try?The will to rise had disappeared, all hope had fled away.So far behind, so error prone, closer all the way.I've lost, so what's the use, he thought, I'll live with my disgrace.But then he thought about his dad, who soon he'd have to face."Get up," and echo sounded low, "Get up and take your place.You were not meant for failure here, get up and win the race."With borrowed will, "Get up," it said, "You haven't lost at all.For winning is not more than this: to rise each time you fall."So up he rose to win once more, and with a new commit,He resolved that win or lose, at least he wouldn't quit.So far behind the others now, the most he'd ever been.Still he gave it all he had and ran as though to win.Three times he'd fallen stumbling, three times he'd rose again.Too far behind to hope to win, he still ran to the end.They cheered the winning runner as he crossed first place.Head high and proud and happy; no falling, no disgrace.But when the fallen youngster crossed the line, last place.The crowd gave him the greater cheer for finishing the race.And even though he came in last, with head bowed low, unproud;You would have thought he won the race, to listen to the crowd.And to his Dad he sadly said, "I didn't do so well.""To me you won," his father said, "You rose each time you fell."And when things seem dark and hard and difficult to face,The memory of that little boy helps me in my race.For all of life is like that race, with ups and downs and all,And all you have to do to win is rise each time you fall."QUIT! GIVE UP! YOU'RE BEATEN!" they still shout in my face,But another voice within me says, "GET UP AND WIN THE RACE!"CommentsLoading...
Very affirming and encouraging. Brings to mind "baby steps", the kind of steps we take while learning to walk. They may be small or large, they may be steady or wobbly, they may be fast or slow, and they are always likely to knock us onto our bottoms until we master them. Nice hub!
Thanks for the comments. I think it's important to remember that nobody 'makes it' on their first attempt at anything. It's ok to fall down, as long as you get back up again. Which reminds me of a poem I have in my inspirational swipe file. Will post it up here.
Well said. Unless you fail how are going to know what not to do. Some can be told but others will not learn untill they have failed. We can all learn from our mistakes. Like you say never give up.
Great story.
I need a reminder that I am banging my head against the wall for a reason sometimes! No quitting ... keep going :)
Donald Trump was bankruped once.So what the hell,keep trying.
I think the biggest problem people face is accepting failure as a success. But that's exactly what it is. Because it's one more lesson learned. And each lesson learned is one more step up the ladder.
Nobody ever learned to walk before first crawling and falling.
robie2 Level 6 Commenter 4 years ago
The joy is in the journey. That's for sure, Good advice. Great Hub