Do you want to make one of the most important decisions that can positively change your life starting today?  Could this make more of a difference in your future than almost anything else you can do?

I’m completely convinced that many of us and those around us are far more capable of being much more productive, more influential and happier than they ever dreamed.  Is it possible that just one word can ignite a beacon-light of hope for you today?  Is there a word that can make a 180 degree change in your future?

Just to rattle your cage a little, let me ask you something.  Do you want to completely sabotage your life, destroy your potential, and ultimately look back on a life of wasted years with intense regret? Of course you don’t. No one WANTS that. But for many people, their actions — and more importantly their attitude — are leading them down a road of self-destruction that will ultimately lead them to such an undesirable final destination.

That road’s name is “I Can’t Boulevard” and it’s full of millions upon millions of unsuccessful, complacent, and mediocrity-filled men and women.

Yes, many of these people are also good-hearted and well-meaning, but unfortunately they’re stuck in a big fat rut with their health, their body, their income, their marriage, their career, or their relationships. They are stuck because their attitude is so affected by the phrase, “I can’t”.

Have you ever heard self-defeating statements like:

I can’t achieve a body like that. I don’t have the genetics.

I can’t make a six figure salary. What skills do I have?

I can’t fix my marriage. It’s too far gone.

I can’t be an entrepreneur. That’s too risky.

I can’t be forgiven by God.  I’ve done too many bad things.

This negative “can’t do” mentality is holding them back.

As employees, when a problem arises, they’d rather tell you about every potential solution that WON’T work instead of spending their time focusing on finding the one solution that will work.

Whine.  Complain.  Negative thoughts.  Negative words.  Negative action.

Fact is, when it all boils down, how you handle the problems and obstacles that arise in your life will determine whether you excel and soar like an eagle, or if you remain grounded in a chicken coop full of other self-limiting thinkers.

You see, problems and obstacles are OPPORTUNITIES for leaders. Are you a leader? You can be a leader, if you learn to RESPOND like a leader.

Leaders fix problems. Leaders learn from problems. Leaders grow from problems. Leaders become BETTER LEADERS because of problems.

Will you chose excuse making or leading yourself to victory?

Other folks, however, let problems and obstacles consume them, control them, and serve as the fuel for rationalizing their many excuses.

“I can’t eat healthy while traveling. It’s too hard.”

Yes you can. FIGURE. IT. OUT. Thousands of people do it (while hundreds of thousands don’t). What separates the few from the many? Simple. You can’t just “wing it” and hope it all goes well. Of course, if you do that, you’re going to fail. You have to have a plan – a plan for success – and you need to map it out in advance. Know where you’ll be and when you’ll be there.  Create options for success.  Creating a plan is creating a blueprint to solve your problems.

“My spouse and I can’t get along. My marriage is going down the tubes.”

Start with yourself and change the things about YOU that cause your spouse to react negatively to you. If you deal with the needs of your spouse, you will automatically have a much happier relationship and in turn you’ll find that conflict becomes less frequent. But, that’ll never happen as long as you’re pointing fingers in any direction other than back at yourself. Before long, once they see your changes, your spouse will also want to change to please you. Why? Because the relationship now becomes one of meeting each other’s needs again.  Isn’t that the way it once was?  I guess most relationships begin in a place of mutual admiration don’t they?   The first step begins with you; your spouse will follow.

“I can’t have a successful business. I wouldn’t even know where to start.”

FIND OUT WHERE TO START. What does that even mean? Do you think anyone who has a successful business magically knew where to start? No, they didn’t. Talk to people who have done what you want to do. Hire a coach. Get the support you need to succeed. OR, just stop being negative long enough to do a little research on your own. That’s where you start.

If you want to excel and move into a place of success, you have to see yourself there and ACT, TALK, and WALK like you belong in that league.

Bottom line, leaders accelerate and excel while others remain stagnant. Do you want to be a leader? The #1 quality of a leader is having a positive, problem-solving, “can do” attitude. Leaders find solutions because they relentlessly LOOK for solutions instead of focusing on the problem. They breed positivity and suffocate negative thinking. Leaders CHOOSE to view problems as opportunities. Leaders are refined and fine-tuned by the continual problem-solving process.

Leader’s don’t say “I Can’t”. Instead, they just move toward making what they want to happen, happen.

Do you want to be successful? Eliminate all the excuses and self-limiting beliefs that are keeping you from living the life you want to live. Get rid of all the negative thinking surrounding your career, your relationships, and your health. Abandon all the reasons you “can’t” and find the solutions that will allow you to make your wants a reality.

Will you chose to adopt a leader’s mindset?

LEAD your career. LEAD your home. LEAD your health.

How do you do that? You do that by taking charge of your life and by finding solutions to the obstacles that stand in the way of where you are now, and what you want to achieve.

If you’re not living the life you want to live, you can change that, starting now.

STOP focusing on all the reasons you “can’t” and start taking steps toward the solution. Lead the way with a positive, problem-solving, “can do” attitude.

Can you do that?

Only you CAN answer that one.  Let’s leave the “I can’t” mentality as a relic of your past life.  It’s time for a new day… a new chapter in your life.

 

Imagine taking a different road than you’ve been traveling on?

You know how so many people today complain about the rising cost of groceries — and everything else for that matter?

How ‘bout this one?  You know how we all seem to not have enough time to get everything done that we need to do?

Some people have found the solutions to these most common problems.  They’ve reached out to others and done what it takes to make the difference that most people really want.

Let’s see if you have inside you the kinds of things it takes to see the change that will lead you to that new day we’re talking about.

Are you the kind of person…

Who doesn’t like taking no for an answer?  You never give up — ever.

Who hates the status quo?  You’re a person who is always questioning why people do the things they do. You strive to make things better and are willing to take action on it.

Who is self-confident and optimistic?  You like helping people because they like how you are optimistic about everything around you.

Who is passionate?  There are times you spend excessive time on things that don’t make you a dollar. It’s your passion that keeps you going.

Who likes to connect people with others to help them mutually benefit each other?   You just naturally like to help others connect the dots. People tend to gravitate toward you because you are likable. Many times this is because of your passion.

Who tends to question or resist authority?  You like finding better ways of doing things… and this might have gotten you in trouble with some past employers or bosses.

Who has a competitive nature and isn’t afraid to lose?  You seem to think that you can do something better than the traditional way of doing it.

Who doesn’t care if you need to work more than 60 hours a week to make progress on something you’re passionate about?

Who always wants to be in charge of whatever project or job you’re working on?  Deep down you might be thinking you should be the owner of your own company.

Who sees opportunities everywhere? When you walk in a building you’re curious about what it’s worth or about the companies inside.

Who took a personality test with a result calling you a “reformer type,” someone purposeful, self-controlled and perfectionist?

Who is a logical thinker with a never-ending flow of ideas on how to correct problems?

Who is a people person?  You have no problem communicating with people.

Who sold stuff as a kid, like at a lemonade stand, or maybe you were a paper boy?  When there were class sales, you were probably one of the top sellers.

Who is a self-starter?  And that means you don’t give up on a project until it’s completed.

Who is sometimes seen as a bit unrealistic?  When you’re inventive or innovative, you kind of have to be this way.

Who doesn’t have a problem thinking outside of the box?  If you don’t, what will change?

Who is a charming and charismatic person?

Who is one of those independent-thinking people who honestly doesn’t think the rules were made for you?  We’re not talking about breaking the law. Instead, you believe in efficiency and will bend rules to make things run smoothly.

Who realizes that you can’t do everything alone? You have an idea and can promote it but also know that you’re not skilled at every task needed to get the job done.

Who tends to voice your opinions rather openly?  Sometimes this can annoy those who are close to you but you know that someone needs to hear what you have to say.

Who is sometimes rather unpredictable?  You know how quickly things can change. Thankfully, you’re ready and willing to make adjustments.

Who enjoys and even draws energy from being with a group but doesn’t much like being alone?  You probably get most energetic when working with a bunch of people.

Who’s determined and persistent?  You have to find a way to make the impossible possible.

Who has the support of your friends and family – at least some of them? These are the people who get you. And they’ll be there to support you along the way.

Who has done your research? You know that just because you have an amazing idea doesn’t mean that it’s bound to work. But you’ve already looked into whether there’s a real market for your idea.

Who has surrounded yourself with quality people — not leeches who will bring you down?

Who is not afraid to be a bit out there?  Having the ability to create something out of nothing takes a mad-genius type of person. Remember, people like Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein and Walt Disney – they were all a bit nuts to those who didn’t understand their genius.

Who probably has a pretty good idea that your time is worth more than money?

Conscientious self starters with a bright future make decisions to push themselves where others seldom even think of going.

Even if you have not thought of yourself as an Entrepreneur, you know that your unique makeup has you wired to think differently and act differently than the lazy types who would rather have somebody else do everything for them.

If you ever wondered if you should branch out with your vision to achieve something more than you have in the past, maybe you should think about this. You may not have all these traits or skills, but if you have some, it’s a pretty good indicator that you have what it takes.

So do your research.  Talk to people you trust who won’t shut you down.  Read some books on the topics related to your interest.

Remember… successful people…

Never give up

Continuously learn

Set goals and develop plans

Talk about ideas

Are always grateful

Compliment others

Forgive others

Accept responsibility for their failures

Focus on improving their attitude

Exude joy

And love to help others develop themselves.

 

Thanks to John Rampton’s inspiration for this article at https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/232451