There’s a big lie still being told to you about success. You’ve likely heard the lie told in many different ways by a cross-section of people.
The lie is this; all you have to do is visualize what you want and presto! it magically appears.
The reality of this became incredibly clear to me as I wrap up ten days of whirlwind activity.
It started with prep for Power Up for Profits Live, the event itself, home for a day, then off to Napa for my mastermind retreat.
As I am regrouping on this beautiful Saturday morning it has become more apparent than ever that success takes focus, effort, work and time.
My commitment to my community is to shatter the myth that you can simply visualize what you want and presto! your are successful. This commitment is stronger than ever.
Why? Because I’m incredibly tired of the BS and lies that are still begin fed to those who want to believe there is an easy path to success. When someone buys into the lie it can be very harmful; financially, emotionally, physically and spiritually.
Ironically, the path to success is very simple, but not necessarily easy. The journey can be amazingly fun, but not always easy.
I just spent three days with my mastermind buddies – all of whom are so frigging committed to doing their life’s work AND serving their markets. All are in the multiple six to seven figure mark. Each contribute to nonprofits, fundraisers and/or family and friends in need.
And each and every one has worked (and worked hard) for their success.
Not one of them sat on a mountain top and simply visualized what they wanted. Sure, there are those of us who do sit on mountaintops to gain clarity on what we want, but there is another element to the process – footwork.
Additionally, we invested time, money and effort.
It never ceases to amaze me how often someone will be told the formula for success and yet, still hold out for that magic button. Folks, there is not magic button.
Ironically, magic does happen when it is preceded by action.
Something else that is incredibly apparent is this; it’s not the end goal that makes success so sweet. It’s definitely the journey there.
If all we do is focus on the end goal we miss the juice of life. Whatever we are striving for is so much more rewarding to achieve when we are fully present in the moment.
Another important “ah ha” is that not everything we set out to accomplish will work. As much as we have our wins, we have our losses. Yet, it is in the ability to move forward in spite of losses we are open to an even greater level of success.
What are your lessons around success? Comments welcomed and encouraged.
Hurrah for speaking up about this.
It’s a real pet peeve of mine that there are still people out there holding out this half truth to others. It’s only common sense that if we want to live in a mansion we have to pack the boxes and load the truck!
There is a potentially dangerous cascade when we don’t show up to the actual work. Our sense of personal responsibility is weakened on the one hand and yet there can be tremendous guilt when what we envision doesn’t come about. We wonder what’s wrong with us. We begin to doubt our ability to make success happen, wonder if we aren’t worthy of it and give up.
On the other hand, when we are willing to put in the effort there is a sense of satisfaction that is rewarding in itself. The lessons we learn along the way add to the richness of our experience and knowledge. The journey, as you say, is the ‘juice’.
Thanks for this post Kathleen.
Love the example of the mansion Aprille. Thanks for sharing your insights and thoughts.
Kathleen, good morning, and yes, you are absolutely right! It’s one thing to picture what success might look like, looking at the detail about what a fulfilled client might have received from us, what truly helping people really feels like, but it’s another to take that, and work backwards, creating every goal, target market, message, tactic, timeline and budget that goes right along with that vision. Sure, leaders have extraordinary vision, but they also know how to execute in order to achieve that vision, or success. Hard, smart work is non-negotiable. Until the day someone invents a real genie-in-a-bottle, this is our reality.
I think the only genie in the bottle had a television show wrapped around it. In the real world the genie in the bottle is our willingness to make things happen, work smart, surround ourselves with others who know the truth and put the time in.
Kathleen,
I do agree that the visualization alone is not the ticket to success, but I believe it is a very important and critical piece to have that vision and to take INSPIRED actions toward it (and consistent inspired actions!). I say “inspired” because I have experienced myself that when we take actions from the place of “we have to” or because “someone else told us we must do this, in order to achieve this”, it is not going to bring us the outcome that is ideal, especially if it doesn’t feel good to us.
There needs to be a healthy balance of vision, inspired actions, aligning with what brings us joy and a commitment to never give up on our dream.
Just some of my thoughts on the subject. 🙂
I completely agree Maria. I’m totally on board with the visualization part and what I have seen far too often is that this is where a lot of people stop. They visualize but when they have to put effort into the manifestation they stop short.
There are many reasons for this, but they all boil down to a few things.
1. What they say they want is not enough of a priority
2. They don’t want to put time into the journey
3. They are not willing to invest financially
4. They surround themselves with naysayers
5. They say, “What if it doesn’t work?” before giving it a chance
6. Hiding in the shadows is safer (and more comfortable) than truly living in their greatness.
Great post, Kathleen! It’s easy for most people to just visualize rather than take the next step to make their vision/dream a reality as you mention.
I see it all the time when people find out I’m a writer. They’re all excited to tell me about the story they want to write or have always wanted to write, but when I invite them to my writing group they’re suddenly too busy.
Along with visualizing, you need the passion and drive to get where you want to go. Without them it’s just a lot of hot air.
Well put Elke. Thanks for sharing.
Great post Kathleen. We are a quick fix society and we want the “easy” button. I do believe in visualization but that’s where the journey begins. Our actions need to be in alignment with our goals and dreams. Once we are clear on our direction-we are in charge of moving in that correct direction. And you’re right, it is hard work. But I’m having so much fun it’s amazing!
Thanks for all that you do.
Hard work can definitely be fun. Actually, I have experienced a great deal of fun when I put 100% effort into an end result. Thanks for your comments Barb.