It’s a bright, calm morning here on St. Thomas today. Perfect tourist weather! And I had to sneak out to capture my shot, as we have a couple in upstairs for only a few nights, celebrating their 30th anniversary. They, too were out on the deck, and asked for complete privacy. They don’t want to see hide nor hair of me or Spence … What I’m sometimes willing to do for the mighty $ 😉
As I cleaned the villa yesterday, my mind kept coming back to my idea. I must be on to something, as I woke up sometime last night dreaming of the logo and slogan.
Of our ideas, Napoleon Hill writes: “Most ideas are stillborn. To grow, ideas need the breath of life injected into them through definite plans of immediate action. The time to nurse an idea is at the time of its birth. Every minute it lives, gives it a better chance of surviving.”
“The fear of criticism is what kills most ideas that never reach the planning and action stage.”
Napoleon Hill is no stranger to criticism. And he shares with us his own voice of self-doubt: “When Andrew Carnegie suggested that I devote 20 years to the organization of a philosophy of individual achievement, my first impulse was fear of what people might say. His suggestion was far greater than anything I had ever conceived for myself.”
“As quick as a flash, my mind began to create alibis and excuses, all of them traceable to the inherent FEAR OF CRITICISM. Something inside of me said, “You can’t do it — the job is too big, and requires too much time — what will your relatives think of you? How will you earn a living? — No one has ever organized a philosophy of success, what right have you to believe you can do it? Who are you, anyway, to aim so high? — remember your humble birth — What do you know about philosophy? — people will think you are crazy (and they did). Why hasn’t some other person done this before now?”
We all share this same voice of self-doubt. That’s why it’s so important to begin the planning stages immediately. To get something on paper. The visualization will aid you when that voice of negativity comes to call.
We must work to create our own breaks in life. “The only ‘break’ anyone can afford to rely on is a self-made ‘break’. These come through the application of persistence. The starting point is definiteness of purpose.”
Do you know what you want most in life?
Did you know that 98% of the people out there can’t answer that question. “If pressed for an answer, some will say security, many will say money, a few will say happiness, others fame and power. Some want social recognition, ease in living, the ability to sing, dance or write. BUT …. None of them will be able to give you the slightest indication of a plan by which they hope to attain these vaguely expressed wishes.”
RICHES DO NOT RESPOND TO WISHES. They respond only to definite plans, backed by definite desires, through constant persistence.
So true !! I think I’ve been pretty persistent all my life. But that’s because I knew what I wanted. Spencer paid me a great compliment the other day when he said “Victoria has the eye of the tiger.”
Where does this persistence come from? Napoleon Hill gives us a 4 Step Approach to developing Persistence. “There is a magnificent reward for anyone who learns to take these steps. It is the privilege of writing your own ticket and of making life yield whatever price is asked.”
1. A definite purpose backed by a burning desire for its fulfillment.
2. A definite plan, expressed in continuous action.
3. A mind tightly closed against all negative and discouraging influences, including negative suggestions of relatives, friends, and acquaintances.
4. A friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage you to follow through with both plan and purpose.
I think today’s message is pretty loud and clear. Do you have a dream that you aren’t pursuing because of fear of criticism?
Here’s a quote I keep in my view at all times by Eleanor Roosevelt: “You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face …. You must do the thing you think you cannot do.”
Rekindle your dream. Don’t let you ideas die a premature death. Make a plan for their fulfillment. Then get to work, and ignore your critics …
You can run with the big dogs, or sit on the porch and bark. 😉
