There Is No Shortage of Success

has limited reserves.

There will never be a dearth of success because it is cre- ated by those who have no limits in terms of ideas, creativity,

ingenuity, talent, intelligence, originality, persistence, and determination. Notice that I refer to success as something that’s created—not acquired. Unlike copper, silver, gold, or diamonds—items that already exist and that you must find in order to bring to market—success is something people make. Great ideas, new technologies, innovative products, and fresh solutions to old problems are all things that will never exist in shortages. The creation of success can take place all over the world—either at the same time or at different times and at different levels—by millions of people who have no limits. Success doesn’t depend on resources or supplies or space.

Politics and the media perpetuate these shortage concepts by suggesting that there is not “enough” of certain things to go around—that “if you have something, I cannot.” Many politicians believe they need to spread this myth in order to energize their followers to take a stand for or against another politician or party. They make statements like, “I will take bet- ter care of you than the other guy,” “I will make life easier for you,” “I will reduce taxes for you,” “I promise better education for your kids,” or “I will make it more possible for you to be successful.” The underlying implication of these claims is that only I can do this—not the other guy. These politicians first emphasize the topics and initiatives that they know followers consider important—then they create the sense that citizens aren’t capable of doing things for themselves. They highlight the “scarcity” that exists and do their best to make people feel that their only chance of getting what they want and need is to support them. Otherwise, they imply, your chances of getting your share become even more remote.

One of the reasons why it’s difficult to discuss politics or religion with people is because exchanges about both tend to suggest a shortage—which then causes inevitable disputes. For example, if your political beliefs win, then my politics lose. If one party gets what it supports, then another group must suffer. The same can be said for certain general attitudes and view- points. It’s extremely difficult for people to “agree to disagree”;

people operate under the assumption that one person’s beliefs cannot be maintained if another person’s conflicting beliefs exist. This notion—based once again on the concept of limits and shortages—only increases the amount of tension we have with one another. Why does one person have to be wrong and another right? Why the need for shortages?

The notion of competition suggests that if one person wins, someone else must lose. Although this might be true in a board game, where the goal is to produce one winner, this is not the reality with regard to success in business and in life. The big players do not think in terms of restrictions like this. Instead, they think without limits—something that allows them to soar to levels that many others consider impossible. Financial legend Warren Buffett’s success is not capped or limited because of someone else’s investment strate- gies, and in no way does his financial prowess confine or limit my ability to create financial success for myself. The found- ers of Google didn’t stop the creation of Facebook, nor did two decades of Microsoft’s dominance prevent Steve Jobs from raising Apple’s profile with iPods, iPhones, and iPads. Similarly, the amount of new products, ideas, and successful creations by these companies over the past few years will not prevent others—maybe you—from generating success at even more astounding magnitudes.

You don’t have to look far to see the shortage myth per- petuated by most of the population via expressions of envy, disagreement, unfairness, and suggestions that those who “hit it big” have been unfairly compensated. Then there are the constant reports in the media of shortages of jobs, money, opportunities, and even time. How often do you hear some- one make the claim that “there isn’t enough time in the day”? Or someone else complain that “there aren’t any good jobs” or that “no one is hiring.” The reality is that even if 20 percent of the population is unemployed, 80 percent have jobs.

Another example of this “shortage thinking” has taken place right in my own neighborhood. The man who lives next

door to me is, incidentally, one of the most famous actors in Hollywood; he’s a major star and an incredible actor. The road that separates my house from his constantly has pot- holes that the city never seems to be able to fix. Another neighbor who lives at the end of the street had the gall to suggest that “the movie star” fix the street because he makes

$20 million a movie. I was shocked by this person’s thought process regarding success—that just because this actor had created success beyond that which any of us in the neighbor- hood had, he should foot the bill for fixing the street. I was thinking that the rest of us should improve the road for him, since he improves the value of our neighborhood!

When some TV personality gets a massive financial contract, people often react by asking, “How can one person get paid so much money?” But money is created by man and printed by machines. Not even money exists in shortages; it merely suffers from reductions in value. Some group deeming a single individual worth $400 million should be an encour- agement to you that anytfting is possible.

I’ve found that most—if not all—shortages are simply manufactured notions. The company or organization that can convince you that there are limited amounts of whatever you need or want—be it diamonds, oil, water, clean air, cool weather, warm weather, energy—can produce a sense of urgency, thereby inspiring people to support their cause.

You must rid yourself of the concept that success can be restricted in any way. Operating under this notion will hurt your ability to create success for yourself. Let’s say that you and I are bidding to win a client, and I get the business. This doesn’t mean that you cannot be successful; after all, this wasn’t the only client you were bidding for. Being dependent on only a single thing or person for success will limit your chances of achievement. Although you and I are competing on this one contract, “Mr. Think Big—No Shortages” is win- ning thousands of clients and showing us the real definition of success!

To get beyond the shortage myth, you have to shift your thinking to see that others’ achievements actually create an opportunity for you to win as well. Success for anyone or any group is ultimately a positive contribution to all people and all groups as it provides validation of tfte possibilities to all. That is why people become so inspired when they witness some great victory or performance. Seeing success in action invigorates us all and reduces our belief that our ability to accomplish something is “impossible.” Whether the success is new technology, a medi- cal breakthrough, a higher score, a faster time, or a new record price for a business acquisition—and whether you participated or not—achievements like these are a confirmation that suc- cess is not in shortage and is entirely possible for anyone.

Erase any concepts you might have that success is lim- ited only to some and only in certain amounts. You and I can get as much as we want—at the same time. The moment you start thinking someone else’s gain is your loss, you limit your- self by thinking in terms of competition and shortages. This is the moment when you must discipline your thinking to equate any success with the possibilities for more success. Then move back to your commitment that success is your ethical duty. This will motivate the most creative parts of you to find the solution and the way in which you can create original success in abundant amounts.

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Date: 2016-04-22; view: 719