Achieving Your Goals: What’s Stopping You?

Far too often, we hear people recite an entire litany of excuses for why they’re not achieving all the things they claim they want to accomplish in their lives.

“I really hate this job. I’d love to quit, but the money is good. I can’t afford to quit, and besides what else could I do?”

“I’ve wanted to start my own business for years, but the timing isn’t right.”

“I would really love to stay home with my kids, but (there’s that word again) we can’t afford to live on one income.”

All of these seem like valid excuses, until you start digging beneath the surface; you then uncover the real reason behind most of the inaction in people’s lives.

I recently received a series of emails from one of my readers. His name is Michael. Through our “email conversation,” I was able to uncover the real reason behind his inaction. As you read this, I’m sure many of you will either see yourself or someone you know in this exchange.

Dear Warren,

I just wanted to send a thank you note, as I not only enjoyed your book, but it has assisted me in identifying my objectives and taking action. I have read many sales books and this is the only one that has prompted me to do something about achieving my objectives.

Thanks for everything and I am looking to buy some more books for my team as I know they will not only enjoy it but use it.

I did want to ask you something. I am at a crossroads, as I have a good position but I am also looking to go on my own and start a company focused on selling and integrating RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) products and I was wondering: in 1986 what made you decide that it was the moment to open up your business?

Just looking for some good old fashion advice…

Thank you for helping me get back on track.

Michael

My response:

Michael,

There were a number of factors that led me to start my own business in 1986.

1) I had spent a little over two and a half years working in the sales training industry. I had listened, learned and attended numerous seminars and training programs and felt confident that I could not only get up on stage and deliver, but that I also knew, at this point, how to put together an effective program. Besides, I already knew how to do the most important thing: SELL and bring in new business.

2) It was time and it just felt right. I had no fear and had been pretty vigilant about saving money over the years so that I wasn’t going in having to borrow immediately.

3) In a little over two years I had tripled the business of the company I was working for. At this point I had asked the boss to make me a partner. When he stalled and gave me the run around, I thought "To hell with him," and I left to start my own business. This incident moved my timetable up a little bit, but not much. In fact, I’m glad he never made me a partner. It wouldn’t have lasted. I had been putting together a plan to start my own business almost a year before that.

4) Total support at home. My wife was 1000% behind it. No questions asked, no doubt, no negativity whatsoever. Without that support, it’s hard to do. With it, it’s easy.

It seems you have the experience and you’re looking to go into business in an industry where you already know what you’re doing and have a track record. Is it just the fear that’s stopping you or are there other factors?

Look forward to hearing from you.

Warren

Here is Michael’s final response, which finally gets us to the real reason most people don’t do all the things they would really love to do.

Warren,

Thank you for your response, it helped. I was reading and re-reading your response and I kept coming back to the same thing; fear is what’s holding me back.

Michael

There you have it! Fear. The single, biggest reason we don’t do all the things we really want to do in our lives and careers. And the funny thing is: I don’t really believe most of us fear that we can’t do it. I just think it’s a fear of the unknown. Even though you might hate your job, it’s a “Better the devil I know, than the devil I don’t know”-attitude that’s holding you back, not the fear of failure.

But if you’re waiting to acquire the confidence to tackle the unknown, you’re going to have a very long wait. Confidence is only a by-product of action. So get out there and give it a shot. Believe me, the “failure of not trying,” is far more devastating and long lasting than the “failure of trying.”