"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal" -- Hannah More

Alive & Well Archives

September 2003

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TODAY'S QUOTE:  “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”

                                                -Henry David Thoreau

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TODAY'S TOPIC:  Take Different Actions

Are you achieving the results, goals and dreams you desire?

In July, my newsletter talked about the importance of being COMMITTED to your goals and dreams if you want to achieve them.  I also briefly talked about the importance of taking ACTION if you want to achieve your goals.  This month, I will focus on the action piece. 

In order to achieve your goals, you must take action.  You cannot sit around thinking about your goals and expect to manifest what you want.  Instead, you must be willing to go out there, move your feet and make it happen.  It’s not just enough to take action though.  Equally important is the willingness to change your actions, tactics and strategies if you don’t manifest the results you desire. 

I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.”  Basically, if you keep taking the same actions, you will get the same results.  Unfortunately, we often take the same actions and then think we’ve failed when we don’t get the results we want.  Often, we’re unwilling to look at other ways for us to get what we want.  Instead, we decide our goals are unrealistic or unobtainable.  We don’t have unattainable goals; the problem is we don’t change our actions and strategies. 

When we’re willing to change our strategies and actions, success is much more likely. 

Let me give you an example.  When my mom started her business 30 years ago, she needed a loan.  She went to bank after bank trying to get the loan, but the banks kept turning her down.  Finally, she realized no bank would give her the loan, so she applied for one at the Small Business Administration.  She did, indeed, get her loan, because she didn’t get stuck thinking she must go to a bank.  She was willing to change her strategy and try something else. 

Not only was she willing to change her strategy and go to the SBA, but she was willing to change strategies in the middle of her SBA meeting.  Partway through the meeting, she realized she wouldn’t get the loan.  The loan officer was about to turn her down, and she completely changed her approach.  In the middle of the meeting, she completely altered her behavior toward the loan officer.  When she changed her strategy and changed her behavior, she saw the change in the loan officer.  At that point, she got the loan. 

She could have listened to the bankers and decided her idea would never work.  After many rejections, she could have given up.  But instead, she charged forward and was willing to take different actions whenever she hit a roadblock.  Now, she’s still in business, and her business is ranked as one of the top private businesses in Denver.  Good thing she didn’t listen and give up!

Let me give you another example using a football team.  The goal of the football team is to win the game.  The team starts with a strategy using certain players and plays.  However, if they start losing the game, the coach will change the strategy.  Rather than throwing the ball, the coach may have the players run the ball.  If that doesn’t work, the coach may switch plays.  If that doesn’t work, the coach will substitute the backup quarterback for the regular quarterback.  At any given time, the coach is willing to change the team’s actions.  A coach keeps his eye on the goal – a goal to win the game.  If the first strategy doesn’t work, he’ll take different actions.  He’ll keep switching strategies and actions until he achieves his goal or the game ends.

Do you see how changing the actions you take and changing your strategies can be crucial to your success?  Do you see how you cannot get stuck doing the same thing over and over again?  If you want to achieve your goals and dreams, you must take action, and you must be willing to change your actions!

How about in your life?  Do you give up when at first you don’t succeed?  Or are you willing to change the actions you take?  Are you willing to keep trying different strategies until you get what you want?       

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Coaching Challenge

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Look at a goal or dream you want to manifest.  What actions have you taken to achieve them?  Have you changed your approach when you’ve hit a roadblock?  Commit to trying something different.  Stay committed to your goal and make it happen!