Looking For Success in All the Wrong Places

Are You Looking For Success In All The Wrong Places

One of the few things I remember from grade school - 5th grade to be exact - was a biology flick about animal behavior. I think every kid saw this particular film at one time or another because many of us still talk about it. One of the scenes showed thousands of lemmings running off a 500 ft cliff to their impending death. Of course, being the kids that we were, there were screams and gasps from the girls and oohs and ahhs from the boys. Why on earth would a pack of rodents, or whatever the heck lemmings are, race like hell off a 500 foot cliff as if blind? These creatures were obviously in a hurry to get somewhere and surely not to lemming heaven. However shocking and sad to see this as a child, it provides good commentary years later.

Does this behavior remind you of anything like it does to me? Anything at all? Maybe something that has to do with people and the Internet? Sure you can. I’m referring to the 70% of Internet users who have purchased one or more of the Internet products promising wealth and success. It doesn't really matter what the product is, we'll buy it for the promise. Are they empty promises? As one of the masses who jumps off the cliff regularly, I can say yes and no. Here’s the problem - give a legitimate and very easy step-by-step solution to generating income to 100 average, working class men and women, allowing ample time to implement and I bet the outcomes will look something like this:

1. Didn’t start implementation - 30%
2. Started implementation and less than 50% completed - 45%
3. Started implementation: more than 50%, less than 100% completed - 20%
4. Finished with success - 5%

Does this mean the average person can't implement simple strategies? No. Does it mean we have no commitment? Maybe. But I think it goes deeper than that, much deeper. Most of us want our lives to be enjoyable, easy and successful. We want financial stability, or better still, the wealth to do what we've dreamed of. However, if we were taught as children that “We have to work hard for our money” or “Money doesn’t come easy”, two very common tribal beliefs in our culture, we then in fact sabotage our efforts toward that end. Many people have what I call a ‘poverty’ conscience which limits our ability to fulfill our financial dreams.

So before buying another product promising Wealth, ask yourself..... what do your belief’s support? Do they support wealth coming to you easily or were you taught to work hard for a living; never change a lucrative career; save don't spend? You might be surprised what your beliefs are telling you, but until you find out, put your money in a savings account and not into someone else's pocket book.

Working As One

Youtube is such a fascinating phenomena.

On the surface, it's a communication or social media tool, allowing anyone to communicate to the masses. On a deeper level, it could actually change the world.

View and enjoy this video.

Your Career Journey with Truefocus

It is easy to get lost. Growing up we are filled with dreams and aspirations—plans to champion great causes, travel to exotic places and connect people with meaningful brands. Then life happens and we began to make little compromises, small at first and always justifiable in the moment. Yet those little compromises add up, until we are distanced from our initial goals with no clear way back. What were your initial career goals that you lost along the way?

Quotes from Famous Entrepreneurs

"An entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew hoping he'll quickly learn how to chew it. " Roy Ash, co-founder of Litton Industries

"The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer."
- Nolan Bushnell, founder of Atari and Chuck E. Cheese's

"I never perfected an invention that I did not think about in terms of the service it might give others... I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent."
- Thomas Edison

"I have always found that my view of success has been iconoclastic: success to me is not about money or status or fame, its about finding a livelihood that brings me joy and self-sufficiency and a sense of contributing to the world."
- Anita Roddick

"I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! But I made it! Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!"
- Madam C.J. Walker, creator of a popular line of African-American hair care products and America's first black female millionaire

I enjoy reading quotes every day, at least the inspirational ones. I tape them to my refrigerator, on walls all over my house and on bathroom mirrors. They remind me that we are of one people - people who see opportunities, share similar hopes and dreams but also experience pain and hardship.