16 Things Everybody Should Stop Doing In Order To Be Successful PART II
8. Stop stalling
“At dawn, when you have
trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: ‘I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m
going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is
this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?’”
Emperor and commoner alike, sometimes we all wish
we could hide under the sheets and never leave. But what good would that do?
Too many people today are content to hide under
the covers for one reason or another, metaphorically speaking.
The anticipation of starting something is always
much worse than the actual event. The key is to just start. Rip those covers
off and go!
9. Stop babying
your ego
(In reference to his
adopted father Antoninus.) “His tolerance of people who openly questioned his
views and his delight at seeing his ideas improved on.”
What happened to stimulating debate? The type
involving respect, a lack of emotions, and a genuine interest to understand
where the other person is coming from? What can another person’s point of view
and perspective give you?
In today’s climate, we are so quick to judge
someone based on one single belief. The problem is, it’s impossible to fully
understand a person’s belief system because you can’t possibly know all their
life experiences that led to those beliefs.
However, if you listen, you have an opportunity to
learn and gain a better understanding.
Stop assuming when somebody has an opposing view
that they are wrong and stop assuming when one questions your beliefs that it’s
a personal attack. Instead, assume it’s an opportunity to learn and expand your
mind.
10. Stop trying to do it
all alone
“Don’t be ashamed to
need help. Like a soldier storming a wall, you have a mission to accomplish.
And if you’ve been wounded and you need a comrade to pull you up? So what?”
If the emperor of Rome was humble enough to ask
for help, why can’t you?
In the 1988 baseball film, Bull Durham,
Kevin Costner’s character playing catcher, approaches a young, stubborn pitcher
on the mound, played by Tim Robbins, and imparts the following bit of wisdom:
“Don’t try to strike everybody out. Strikeouts are boring. Besides that they’re
fascist. Throw some ground balls. It’s more democratic.”
The point being, involve the team. It doesn’t
matter how you win as long as you win. By asking for help you can counteract your
weaknesses with other people’s strengths. Imagine how far you’ll go together.
11. Stop worrying about
the future
“Forget the future.
When and if it comes, you’ll have the same resources to draw on — the same logos.”
It’s easy to become awash in the unknown. When you
haven’t started, the limitless choices and options presented to you can be
suffocating.
Often the fear of the unknown is simply the fear
of not seeing the path ahead of you.
While in medical school, Dr. Drew Pinsky suffered debilitating panic attacks. He was
overwhelmed by looking miles down the road into the future as opposed to
focusing on his next step.
The solution to these attacks was quite simple. He
pictured he was building a brick house. Rather than jumping to the end,
worrying about the roof and finer details of the house, he focused on laying
the first brick in his medical school journey. Once he laid that brick, he
focused on the next brick in his schooling that would get him closer to
becoming a doctor.
Focus on defining what your goal is and work up to
it one brick at a time.
. . .
12. Stop comparing
yourself to others
“Treat what you don’t
have as nonexistent. Look at what you have, the things you value most, and
think of how much you’d crave them if you didn’t have them. But be careful.
Don’t feel such satisfaction that you start to overvalue them.”
In a world of Facebook and Instagram it’s almost
impossible not to compare yourself to others, but remember, what’s being posted
is only what they want you to see.
If you find yourself frequently envious of what
others have, reframe your mind.
Spend time writing what you’re grateful for. Focus
on what you do have no matter how small or insignificant. Your mind will shift
from scarcity to abundance. You’ll find greater satisfaction in all the
pleasures of life that you’ve forgotten about.
As Olympic runner Shannon Rowbury does before going to bed, write 3 things you are grateful for
that day and watch how your mood changes.
13. Stop putting off
what’s most important
“Even if you’re going
to live three thousand more years, or ten times that, remember: you cannot lose
another life than the one you’re living now, or live another one than the one
you’re losing.”
In the very sweet 2009 movie Up, the
main character Mr.Fredricksen in his old age finally decides to go on an
adventure of a lifetime that he and his wife have dreamt of for decades. The
adventure is traveling to a tropical wonderland named Paradise Falls.
The only problem: they waited too long to take the
trip.
After years of putting off their dreams, Mrs.
Fredricksen becomes sick and sadly, passes away. Only after experiencing the
loss of the love of his life does Mr.Fredricksen finally muster the courage to
go on this epic adventure.
What are you putting off in your life that would
be a travesty if you never were able to experience it? Imagine what that would
feel like. Visualize that sinking feeling in your gut. Now go and plan for it.
Make it happen.
14. Stop being anywhere
but here
“Give yourself a gift:
the present moment.”
Put the phone down, turn it off, and look up. Be
with those around you.
Do the most loving thing you can do with your
family by giving them your full undivided attention.
15. Stop losing control
“Pay attention to
nothing, no matter how fleetingly, except the logos. And to be the same in all
circumstances.”
Calm minds lead to clear thoughts. Clear thoughts
make great decisions.
However, this doesn’t mean ridding yourself of
emotion. It means to be aware of your mind and body. To seek equilibrium like
the keel of a boat acts as a ballast, finding center after a strong gust of
wind.
Look at two of the greatest coaches in all of
sports today. Bill Belichick, coach of the New England Patriots, and Nick
Saban, coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide, are steadfast and calm in any
situation. No matter the game or the pressure they remain unphased. They
comically say little and give even less to the press and naysayers. These two
coaches don’t just know that calm minds lead to great decisions, they live it.
In the last game of the year, the 2018 National
Championship game, Alabama found themselves down 13 points to start the second
half. In what seemed like an insane risk, Saban pulled his first-team All-SEC
starting quarterback out of the game for an untested freshman, Tua Tagovailoa.
In the highest pressure situation, in the National Championship of all
games, Saban chose to go with a player that hardly played all year.
How and why did he make this decision?
By staying in control. By paying attention to
his logos, Saban was accurately able to analyze the situation and
make the right decision that nearly no other coach in the league would have
done.
The result: a thunderous comeback and another
Alabama National Championship.
16. Stop acting
surprised
“Boorish people do
boorish things. What’s strange or unheard-of about that? Isn’t it yourself you
should reproach — for not anticipating that they’d act this way?”
How many times must somebody repeat a behavior
before you wise to it?
Acting astonished and being caught off-guard is
lazy. It requires no foresight. Anticipate what will happen and prepare for it.
How will you respond to an insult? With a level
head.
How will you overcome an objection? With clear and
well-thought logic.
How will you respond to the most recent
“catastrophic breaking news”? You won’t!
https://medium.com/@parkernash/16-things-everybody-should-stop-doing-in-order-to-be-successful-18be67a70a2c
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