Cheering Others on to Success

Have you ever considered messages, like this one from Henry Ford, as gifts?  Words of encouragement create a spark to ignite the fire within us.  Any worthwhile goal can be a struggle.  “Desire” mixed with “perseverance” is the ideal mix to achieve any goal. You strive. You stretch. You give your “best” every day. This is true with any goal you set throughout your lifetime.

This past weekend, my friends ran in Regina’s Queen City Marathon.  They didn’t decide to partake in the event on the spur of the moment.  On the contrary, a “burning desire” was planted months in advance to undertake this endeavor.  Then they trained. One step at time built their endurance for the incredible run. When they showed up prepared, they were already on fire.  Equally amazing was the energy in the air. This added touch – this energizing fuel -- created an even greater flame within and set the tone for their success.   

 

Karla Sauve shared on her Facebook page, “WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!!!  From the dead quiet and only hearing the sound of hundreds of shoes at the start, to the insane cheering, high fives and hilarious signs from strangers the whole way.  People playing bagpipes, native drumming, random music, guitars and some pretty great scenery.”

 

Keith Diduch wrote, “There are several times I could of given up and just like in our personal lives there is times we want to give up.  I chose to focus less on who was passing me and how far I had to go and more on enjoying the moment, the people spurring us on and the beautiful scenery God created.” 

My favorite part, next to my friends’ great achievements, was hearing about the people cheering and spurring them to keep on keeping on. This fueled their desire to run for the goal. People cheering gives you an exhilarating feeling when reaching the finish line. Everyone shares in your success.    

A couple who had an amazing success story to share didn’t quite garner the same resounding cheers.  Instead their success story brought about on-line hatred.  

When Bryce Leung and Kristy Shen were interviewed by CBC, the headlines on August 15^th read, How a 30-something couple got rich and retired by not joining home ownership 'cult'.  Three days later they’re in the news again, except this time the headlines read, Wealthy 30-somethings doling out financial advice breed online hate.  They admitted they were expecting negative comments but some comments were nasty.  Bryce and Kristy (a.k.a. The Wanderer and FIREcracker) chose to invest their money into a stock portfolio rather than invest their money in a home.  Their success story is built on wise strategies which worked for them.

I have to be honest. Years ago, I suffered pains of jealousy over my friends’ financial achievements, a newly-renovated basement and a new vehicle. This doesn’t sound like big stuff; it was just stuff.  But the truth be told, I was naïve about working towards a goal to save money for the “stuff” I could have.  I suffered what I recently heard diagnosed as Stinkin’ Thinkin’.  I didn’t believe I could save.  I didn’t know a strategy could help me save. After reading Bryce and Kristy’s encouraging story, I wished they were my mentors. They were running towards a goal, retirement in their thirties.  

Something needs to be said about “running towards a goal”.  Make the goal tangible! Cement it in your mind!  Above all, make the goal desirable. You want it. You see it.  You can achieve it if you are willing to put in the sweat equity.

Napoleon Hill put together a six-step formula in his book, Think and Grow Rich, which clearly defines the method by which DESIRE for riches can be achieved.

First.  Fix in your mind the exact amount of money you desire.  It is not sufficient merely to say, “I want plenty of money.”   Be definite as to the amount.  (There is a psychological reason for definiteness which will be described in a subsequent chapter.)

Second.  Determine exactly what you intend to give in return for the money you desire.  (There is no such reality as “something for nothing”.)

Third. Establish a definite date when you intend to possess the money you desire.

Fourth.  Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you are ready or not, to put this plan into action.

Fifth.  Write out a clear, concise statement of the amount of money you intend to acquire, name the time limit for its acquisition, state what you intend to give in return for the money, and describe clearly the plan through which you intend to accumulate it.

Sixth.  Read your written statement aloud, twice daily, once just before retiring at night, and once after arising in the morning.  AS YOU READ—SEE AND FEEL AND BELIEVE YOURSELF ALREADY IN POSSESSION OF THE MONEY.
   

Here’s the sincere truth.  A strategy by itself won’t bring about resounding success.  But a strategy along with words of encouragement will.  Words build people up.  When you read quotes from people like Henry Ford, study encouraging strategies from a book like Think and Grow Rich, or hear the cheering from the crowds along the sidelines of a marathon, you are spurred to keep going.  Encouraging words build you up.  Crushing words tear you down and banish hope.  The everlasting intent is to focus on bringing out the best in yourself to achieve amazing results in all your lifetime goals.