Persist until Successful

The ability to persist on a given path regardless of setbacks, unexpected events, bad news, and resistance—to continue steadfastly or firmly in some state, purpose, or course of action in spite of conditions—is a trait common to those who make it. I assure you that I, at least, am more persistent than I am talented. This isn’t a trait that people do or do not have; it’s something that can—and must—be developed. Children seem to display this quality innately until they come to see—via socialization, parenting, or a combination of both—that it’s not how most people act. However, this quality is necessary to make any dream a reality.

Whether you are a salesperson or state person, employer or employee, you will have to learn how to persist through all types of situations. It is as though this planet has some kind of force or natural tendency—almost like gravity—that challenges people’s ability to persist. It’s almost like the universe is just trying to find out what you are made of as it continues to con- front you. I know that any endeavor I tackle will require me to persist with 10X actions until all resistance morphs into sup- port. I don’t try to eliminate resistance; I merely keep going until the course changes and my ideas are maintained instead of defied. For example, I had a heckler on Facebook whose support I tried to gain but couldn’t. Rather than deleting that person, I asked my followers on Facebook what they thought of the situation and let them bury the guy and further sup- port me. If something doesn’t end up supporting me, I simply persist with so much success that any remaining resistance will cease to exist.

Persistence is a great advantage to anyone who wants to multiply his or her success—because most other people have given up on their innate ability to persist. When you retrain yourself to do whatever is necessary to ensure that you are in the best mental, emotional, and financial position to persevere— you will find yourself on the list of the most successful.

Take Risks

Once when I was in Vegas, a man sitting next to me said, “These casinos will always make money because the people that play here are never willing to take risks at levels great enough to wipe them out.” I am not suggesting that you go out and try to take a casino down; however, the man’s observation reminded me of how many of us are taught to play it safe, be conserva- tive, and never really “go for it” in a big way. Life is not a great deal different than Vegas; you must put something into the game in order to get a return. At some point, you will ftave to take a risk, and the successful are willing to do so daily. In the truly big casinos of life and business, do you really take enough risk to create the success you want and need? Most people never go far enough in getting recognized, gaining attention, and making a big splash; they are trying to protect or conserve a reputation, a position, or some already achieved state. The successful are willing to take gambles—to put it all out there and know, regardless of the outcome, that they can go back and do it again. They allow themselves to be criticized, looked at, and seen by the world—while the unsuccessful hold back and play it safe. Remember the old saying, “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” At this time, it is vital that you get your family and friends to be supportive of you in taking risks and in no longer playing it safe.

Be Unreasonable

No, that is not an error; it does say unreasonable. In my book Sell to Survive, I introduced the notion that the successful salesperson must be unreasonable with his or her client in order to consummate the sale. This clearly flies in the face of what most of us are taught—that is, to be reasonable and logi- cal. Being unreasonable requires that you act without rational consideration and not in accordance with practical realities.

And, yes—that’s what I want you to do! When most people see this definition, they get confused and think that I’m telling them to be crazy. But successful people recognize how vital it is to act without reason. They know they cannot afford to act in accordance with the agreed-upon realities. If they do, the supposed “impossible” can never become possible for them. Being a 10X-er requires thinking and acting unreasonably. Otherwise, you will end up the same way everyone else does— forced to survive on successful people’s leftovers. Unreason- able doesn’t mean being mentally unstable—and let’s face it, who isn’t just a little off the rocker—but that you refuse to validate the alleged “sanity” of reasonable actions that will never get you what you want. Most of the world is playing in accordance with some set of stupid, useless, reasonable rules that only ensure that you continue trudging along in bond- age as a mere slave. Think about it: Would we have cars, air- planes, space travel, telephones, and the Internet—in addition to thousands of other things we take for granted—if some- one hadn’t done something that another person had labeled “unreasonable”? Man would do nothing exceptional if it were not for the willingness to be unreasonable. So be one of the unreasonable ones. They are usually the people who make a huge difference in our world.

Be Dangerous

Since you were a child, someone has been trying to keep you from danger. “Be careful” is the mantra that parents repeat to their children while buying products from entire industries that have been created just to “safe proof” a home in order to protect a child. Unfortunately, many people get to the point where they’re so intent upon avoiding danger that they cease to truly live life! If you look back over your life, you’ll probably see that you have done yourself just as much—or even more—harm by being “careful” than by being dangerous.

Think about the last time you got hurt. You were probably trying to protect something right before it happened. Being careful requires you to take actions cautiously—and there is no way that you will ever hit 10X activity levels by being cautious. Massive action demands that you throw caution to the wind, even if it puts you in the path of danger. Working with powerful people is dangerous in and of itself. Do you want to get investment dollars from a billionaire? A salary that pays you a million dollars a year? Take your company public? If so, you have to be willing to be dangerous because more will be expected of you with each of those situations. To do some- thing big, you have to embrace danger. The way to ensure that danger doesn’t kill you is to be sufficiently trained so that you can get into the ring and come out the victor.

Create Wealth

Attitude toward wealth is an especially significant distinc- tion between the financially successful and the unsuccess- ful. Poor people believe they need to work in order to make money and then spend their lives either spending it on nothing of importance or conserving like crazy in order to protect it. The very successful know that the money is already created. They think in terms of generating wealth through the exchange of new ideas, products, services, and solutions. The very successful realize that they’re not bound by shortages. They know that money exists in abun- dance and flows to those who create products, services, and solutions—and that wealth is not limited to a monetary supply. The closer you are to the massive flows of money, the better chance you have of creating wealth for your own endeavors.

Think in terms of creating money and wealth, not salaries and conservation of funds. Figure out how to create wealth through the exchange of great ideas, quality service, and

effective problem solving. Look, for example, at how power- ful banks behave. They collect currency through methods that compel other people to either give them money or borrow it from them. Consider the way in which wealthy people own real estate that others pay for by way of rent. They produce money solely by owning this property and therefore create wealth. People who invest in their own companies do so in order to increase their wealth, not their incomes. The unsuccessful, on the other hand, spend money on things that affluent individuals use to create wealth. Income is taxed; wealth is not. Remember: You don’t need to “make” money. It has already been made. There are no shortages of actual money—only shortages of people creating wealth. Move your attention from conserving money to creating wealth, and you’ll be thinking as successful people do.

Date: 2016-04-22; view: 613