“I’d love to be
rich.”
“I wish I were famous.”
“I have this dream of being a star.”
How many times do we hear people say things like that? How
they want to be world renowned for something, whether it’s as a musician, a sports
person, a writer or just ‘a celebrity’.
It’s good to have aspirations and (putting the selfish
nature of these particular ones aside for a moment) we should all aim to be the
best person that we can. Ambition is good, but there’s just one thing wrong
with these statements.
Wishing, dreaming and hoping won’t make things happen.
There is not a single successful person in the world whose
wishes dreams and hopes came true simply by sitting on the sofa and wishing,
dreaming or hoping. Every single one of them got up off their collective behinds
and lived their dreams.
Several times recently I’ve heard people say that lack of
money or opportunities is stopping them reaching their goals. Do they really
think that Jessica Ennis, 50 Cent, Richard Branson or Helen Mirren (replace
with your own idol as you see fit) had fame and fortune handed to them on a
plate? Or did they put in years of hard work, unseen and unrecognised, before
becoming an overnight success?
If you want to be the best at your chosen discipline then follow
their lead. Think of the things that will get you the life that you want and
start to make them happen. Nobody will do it for you. If there are obstacles in
your way, remove them. You can do it. Remember that hero of yours? They did it. Why can’t you?
This is going to sound hard but the truth is that in many
cases the person stopping you from being the success that you want to be is
you.
“But I need some cash to help me start up!” Then stop
watching reruns of Star Trek and go and find a second or third job to earn that
start-up cash.
“But I need a talent scout or agent to recognise my ability!”
Then get out and show them your work, either physically or by mail. And don’t
just target one or two potential customers either but tens, hundreds, thousands
of them if that’s what it takes to get your talent noticed.
“But I don’t know how to….” Then teach yourself. That’s part
of the job.
“Stop being so hard on me!” Sorry. No. If you’re going to
put your work out in a public arena you’re going to hear much worse criticism than
this. You and your work will be savaged. That’s how it is. Live with it or
quit.
It isn’t easy. Nothing worthwhile is. That’s why there is
only one Number One in any given field.
Dreamers dream. Workers win the prize. Most of us get the
success we deserve.
© Shaun Finnie 2012
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