Have you ever wondered why so few of us succeed? We always hear about those people that came up with a simple idea and made millions but most of us react with “Oh well, all the simple ideas are gone by now.”
What’s ironic is that usually every few months, we hear about another idea that seems brilliant and ridiculously simple. Why does this happen? Why do we keep limiting ourselves?
Perhaps one of the fundamental problems most of us have is thinking that many things are impossible to accomplish. We like to stay in our little comfort zone, and even though we know it’s not the best for us, we are afraid to step outside.
Compare this with Josh Silver’s quest to help 1 billion poor people see better with $1 glasses. Now this guy has a vision. Can you imagine how many people told him through the years that it’s impossible? No, no and no, they say but yet he plows through and insists to continue.
Today, he’s already distributed 30,000 pairs of self-adjustable glasses without the need of a optometrist. There are still challenges to mass produce these “But I am entirely confident that we can do that” is his answer to all the critics.
It’s all our attitude and mindset.
Are you still not sure how to get started? Here are 3 areas that can help you think about how you can accomplish what you always thought was impossible.
Career and Work
Stop complaining about your boss and how all those deadlines are impossible to meet. Whether it’s true or not, you probably waste more time thinking about what’s wrong with it than actually working on those tasks. Instead, focus on how you can most effectively get everything done and let your boss know about your plan and progress.
Deadlines are set because that’s when it needs to be done, not how long it’s supposed to take. Start giving yourself and your superiors some constructive suggestions on how to speed things up and trust me, your career will advance faster than you can imagine.
Once you are always part of the solution instead of an obstacle, you will get to be the one setting the deadlines. It is never impossible.
Cutting Expenses
We all know the famous excuse – “but I have already cut out all the expenses that I could afford.” Sorry to say but that’s a bunch of BS. There are billions of people living on $1 a day. That’s $365 a year folks. So, if you aren’t saving almost all your salary (whatever it is minus $365 anyway), this excuse just does not get you anywhere.
A wireless phone service that you don’t fully use or the expensive TV bill is a good place to start. It is not impossible to cut your expense.
Family & Relationships
Let me tell you that I was part of the “whiners club” in the past as well. Fortunately, I realized how foolish I was and I’ve since changed my ways. As I slowly stopped complaining and started to focus on the solution, I noticed that my relationships with everybody improved. I attribute that to a few reasons:
- I was happier. All being negative ever did was made me upset at everything. As I became more encouraging by focusing on “how to get it done”, I became more cheerful. To say that happiness is contagious is such an understatement because people around me were much friendlier when I was always in a good mood.
- I earned people’s trust. As I became more encouraged about myself, I also became more encouraging for others. While I always try to be realistic, people that seek my advice were more optimistic about their ideas and goals. I became someone who’s advice they value. Best of all, I made so many friends along the way by doing this.
If I always stayed within my comfort zone, I would’ve never enjoyed the improvements that changing my mindset brought to my life.
When you are thinking about your new year’s resolution, why not seriously consider that “nothing is impossible“? If you try hard enough, nothing really is.
{ read the comments below or add one }
I agree with your point.
What an uplifting post. I’ve never regretted a decision that involved leaving my comfort zone and trying something new. Change can be scary at first–but it’s so worth because of the people you meet, the boost to your confidence, and the satisfaction that you are actually living your life instead of just sitting back and watching everything pass you by.
Sincerely,
Amanda
I am new to blogging and enjoy your post. I will like to one day be able to convey thoughts like you do. Thanks.
The eyeglasses story is amazing. What an awesome and noble undertaking.
Liz – Thanks for ID’ing the quote.
Henry Ford said the first quote: “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t…. you’re right.”, the second one I don’t know the source either but it’s still a great quote to remember.
I think it’s good idea to try to do the impossible in just one area of our life and once we succeed, then we can try to apply the same effort and focus to other areas of our life as well.
Here’ s another one that I still use from back in high school… a long long time ago..
“Two men looked out thru the prison bars.
One saw Mud.
The other saw Stars.”
Which to me means 1) It all depends on how you look at things.
and 2) Look for the positive. Gratitude, not resentment 🙂
marci: Great quotes. It’s all a matter of attitude and the more I think about it, the more I think I’m right. 🙂
Two of my favorite quotes come to mind – but I have no idea who said them…
“Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t…. you’re right.”
and
“Life is a Matter of Attitude.” so have a good one 🙂