You… Ya You…
“You have a brain and mind of your own. Use it and reach your own decisions. If you need facts or information from other people to enable you to reach decisions, as you probably will in many instances, acquire these facts or secure the information you need quietly, without disclosing your purpose.”[note]Page 159[/note]
This Ah-Ha Moment is more of a slap in the face. We’re living in an age right now where there are a lot of sheep just following along. Nobody really speaking up for themselves or being original. I’ve been there, you’ve been there and it’s okay. The faster you can snap out of it and be your own decision maker, the faster you can take back control or power in these situations.
When I first started writing, I’d reach out to a few select people to see what they thought and if I should change anything. They’d give me their feedback and encouragement. After a few times of doing this, I realized that I need to be the one deciding the outcome of my writing and that I shouldn’t rely on other people as much. I’m NOT saying don’t ask for help… but after a while, it’s time to put your big boy pants on and do it yourself.
Reaching these decisions is difficult because it’s uncharted territory for myself. Over the past year or so, I’ve gotten comfortable with being uncomfortable!
“Those who reach decisions promptly and definitely know what they want, and generally get it. The leaders in every walk of life decide quickly and firmly. That is the major reason why they are leaders. The world has the habit of making room for people whose words and actions show they know where they are going.”[note]Page 170[/note]
Think about that for a second. Look at anybody that’s made it big in their respected field and analyze why. I can guarantee that they weren’t afraid to make a decision. They were willing to take action and have a burning desire behind it. DISCLAIMER: If you’re happy going through life at a normal pace and living for the weekend, that’d absolutely fine! There is nothing wrong with that… My first job out of college, I was happy with that.
If you’re striving to do more, be better, achieve greater and not stop, these Ah-Ha Moments are for you. There is no stopping and you MUST have that burning desire!
“THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PERSISTENCE! It cannot be supplanted by any other quality! Remember this in the beginning and it will hearten you when the going may seem difficult and slow. Those who have cultivated the habit of persistence seem to enjoy insurance against failure. No matter how many times they are defeated, they finally arrive up near the top of the ladder.”[note]Page 179[/note]
People that aren’t willing to give up always do better than people that are willing to settle. Napoleon Hill uses incredible examples through out the book to paint a clear picture. Look at Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson, Arnold Schwarzenegger… the list goes on. Persistence is everything. Without it, you don’t have the foundation to carry through.
When I ‘forget’ to read and write, I often scold myself because I’ve gotten lazy. This ‘thing’ I’m doing is for such a bigger picture and if I slack in this area, it will take longer to reach my goal. Staying persistence towards my goal helps remind me why I need to keep writing content!
“Anybody can wish for riches, and most people do, but only a few know that a definite plan plus a burning desire for wealth are the only dependable means of accumulation it.”[note]Page 202[/note]
“Think & Grow Rich” is all about the concept of obtaining wealth. I think this last Ah-Ha Moment can have a dual meaning because some people don’t actually strive to make more money. They want to help others and feel good about their work and that’s all they want. Obviously they want to live comfortably, but I don’t think there are a lot of people out there thinking, ‘I’ve got to make over $500k this year and I’ll do anything to get there.’ At some point, you sacrifice things in life… family, friends, etc.
However, it is true… most people wish for stuff. If they get it, great, if they don’t, they never thought they’d get it in the first place, so no big deal. Unfortunately, I see this often. People give up too easily. If you’re read this far, I challenge you to define a goal, design a plan and make it happen. Make sure you’ve got that desire; Lord knows you need it. 😉
There’s more from me to come about: Think & Grow Rich
This isn’t Gary Vee’s first book and I sure hope it’s not his last. He writes about it all… literally everything! There is something new on every page and the book flows so smoothly. He answers so many different types of questions in this book, and it’s full of Ah-Ha Moments!