Yup, that's your fault too. Our thoughts shape our life. However, what we say is a direct result of what we think.
Therefore, if you want to be more successful, get rid of any “unsuccessful” language. Go through these five things and do a self-assessment. Do you say any of these?
1. “That’s impossible.”
Very little is truly impossible. If you were living in the 1300s, the idea of an incandescent light bulb would be “impossible” to you. Likewise, before the Wright Brothers, many people believed human flight was impossible.
Until 1954, no human being ever ran a mile in under four minutes. People thought the four-minute mark was impossible to break. Athletes, trainers, doctors, and scientists all “knew” that the human body wasn’t physically capable of a four-minute mile. Then Roger Bannister did it. 46 days later, someone else did it. Since then, hundreds of people have been able to a run a four-minute mile.
2. “I can’t afford it.”
Successful people will reframe their thinking to be solution-oriented. Instead of saying, “I can’t afford it”, they will ask, “How can I afford it?” This is a famous example from Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad book. Telling yourself that you can’t afford something is unconstructive and defeatist. When you say this, you are giving in to your financial roadblocks. Achievers know they have the power to remove any and all barriers between them and success.
When you say that you can’t afford something, you are a passive victim with no control. If you always speak passively, how can you expect to take more action to get what you want?
3. “It’s not my fault.”
Learn to accept responsibility for everything that happens in your life. Unsuccessful people usually have an external locus of control; they believe things happen to them and not because of them. When you accept complete and utter responsibility for your life, you experience a newfound sense of control.
It might be hard to think this way at first. For example, if someone rear ends you in traffic, is that your fault? Well, yes. You can spin it that way. You could’ve left earlier, drove faster, drove slower, etc. Everything had to come together perfectly at that exact place and moment in time for your accident to take place. No matter how far-fetched it might seem, accept responsibility. If a prospect doesn’t convert to a sale, understand that it was because of something YOU did wrong. You didn’t communicate enough value, didn’t close properly, or didn’t follow up enough. Then, and only then, can you improve.
4. “That’s not fair.”
Life isn’t fair. Get used to it. Someone else got promoted and you didn’t. Someone stupider than you makes more money than you. The truth is that you can only control your actions and your reactions. So if you’re not going to do anything about your perceived injustices, don’t waste your breath whining about it. Has an excuse ever improved your situation? Nope! You can only improve your situation by taking massive action towards your predetermined goal.
When little children stomp and scream out, “That’s not fair!” it’s a sign that they’re developing. They’re becoming aware that things aren’t always equal, making them think about how the world works. When you’re 40 years old and complaining how your life sucks, you’re just a loser.
5. “I just don’t have the time.”
This is the king of all excuses. The biggest cop-out of all time. Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey have the same 24 hours you do – how come they can do so much more? You can make the time for anything you want, you just choose not to do so. If you don’t have time to clean your house, it’s because it’s easier for you to accept living in a pigsty.
Don’t say you don’t have time. Come clean and admit that it’s not a priority. Try this on for size: “I don’t go to the gym because I don’t have time.” Sounds like a valid excuse, right? You’re a busy person, with a lot on your plate. What about this? “I don’t go to the gym because my health isn’t a priority.” Ouch! It’s time to get real and readjust your priorities. We all have 168 hours in a week, but your priorities are where you choose to spend those precious hours.
Get these five things out of your vocabulary! You’ll be amazed at how it changes your life.
Therefore, if you want to be more successful, get rid of any “unsuccessful” language. Go through these five things and do a self-assessment. Do you say any of these?
1. “That’s impossible.”
Very little is truly impossible. If you were living in the 1300s, the idea of an incandescent light bulb would be “impossible” to you. Likewise, before the Wright Brothers, many people believed human flight was impossible.
Until 1954, no human being ever ran a mile in under four minutes. People thought the four-minute mark was impossible to break. Athletes, trainers, doctors, and scientists all “knew” that the human body wasn’t physically capable of a four-minute mile. Then Roger Bannister did it. 46 days later, someone else did it. Since then, hundreds of people have been able to a run a four-minute mile.
2. “I can’t afford it.”
Successful people will reframe their thinking to be solution-oriented. Instead of saying, “I can’t afford it”, they will ask, “How can I afford it?” This is a famous example from Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad, Poor Dad book. Telling yourself that you can’t afford something is unconstructive and defeatist. When you say this, you are giving in to your financial roadblocks. Achievers know they have the power to remove any and all barriers between them and success.
When you say that you can’t afford something, you are a passive victim with no control. If you always speak passively, how can you expect to take more action to get what you want?
3. “It’s not my fault.”
Learn to accept responsibility for everything that happens in your life. Unsuccessful people usually have an external locus of control; they believe things happen to them and not because of them. When you accept complete and utter responsibility for your life, you experience a newfound sense of control.
It might be hard to think this way at first. For example, if someone rear ends you in traffic, is that your fault? Well, yes. You can spin it that way. You could’ve left earlier, drove faster, drove slower, etc. Everything had to come together perfectly at that exact place and moment in time for your accident to take place. No matter how far-fetched it might seem, accept responsibility. If a prospect doesn’t convert to a sale, understand that it was because of something YOU did wrong. You didn’t communicate enough value, didn’t close properly, or didn’t follow up enough. Then, and only then, can you improve.
4. “That’s not fair.”
Life isn’t fair. Get used to it. Someone else got promoted and you didn’t. Someone stupider than you makes more money than you. The truth is that you can only control your actions and your reactions. So if you’re not going to do anything about your perceived injustices, don’t waste your breath whining about it. Has an excuse ever improved your situation? Nope! You can only improve your situation by taking massive action towards your predetermined goal.
When little children stomp and scream out, “That’s not fair!” it’s a sign that they’re developing. They’re becoming aware that things aren’t always equal, making them think about how the world works. When you’re 40 years old and complaining how your life sucks, you’re just a loser.
5. “I just don’t have the time.”
This is the king of all excuses. The biggest cop-out of all time. Bill Gates and Oprah Winfrey have the same 24 hours you do – how come they can do so much more? You can make the time for anything you want, you just choose not to do so. If you don’t have time to clean your house, it’s because it’s easier for you to accept living in a pigsty.
Don’t say you don’t have time. Come clean and admit that it’s not a priority. Try this on for size: “I don’t go to the gym because I don’t have time.” Sounds like a valid excuse, right? You’re a busy person, with a lot on your plate. What about this? “I don’t go to the gym because my health isn’t a priority.” Ouch! It’s time to get real and readjust your priorities. We all have 168 hours in a week, but your priorities are where you choose to spend those precious hours.
Get these five things out of your vocabulary! You’ll be amazed at how it changes your life.
