The art of getting off your ass
What do you think is the single most important element to getting things done, living the life you want, and accomplishing goals? It’s ACTION. It’s getting off your ass and going for it!
You can dream, you can talk, and you can plan; but nothing is going to happen until you take that first step. It’s the difference between a sayer and a doer. It’s the difference between change and remaining the same. And most importantly it’s the difference between living your life the way you want and being forced to live it in another way.
Firstly, you need to throw out the many misconceptions that you’ve grown to believe over the years.
Secrets – There are absolutely no secrets that pertain to accomplishing goals, achieving success, or living the life you desire. You know that it takes persistence, patience, hard work, positivity, passion, and focus. Most people just want to deny this fact and rather pursue finding the easy way out.
Time – Time can be very discouraging and can create its own misconceptions. There’s always seemingly overnight success stories that make people believe they can take one step toward success and the next day they’ll be rich and famous. But these stories leave out the parts about all the frustrations and the hard work that went into the successful result. They leave it out because no one wants to read it.
The other common misconception relating to time is that accomplishing goals and change takes a long time. It may seem like a contradiction to what was just stated. It doesn’t happen over night but it needn’t take long either.
Money – I’ve said it a thousand times and I’ll keep saying it: you do not need a lot of money to turn your dreams into reality and become successful.
Now that you’ve relinquished yourself of the biggest misconceptions, let’s talk about you getting off your ass.
Questions to ask yourself and answer:
What’s preventing me from taking action? Is it fear? Embarrassment?
Is it physically holding me down?
Who created these barriers?
After you’ve asked yourself these questions; you’ve probably come to an interesting conclusion. YOU are the one preventing yourself from getting off your behind. It’s the fear you’ve created and it’s the embarrassment you think you’ll have to endure. Almost none of these barriers are physically present; you’re just imagining them in your head.
You are your greatest enemy
You are the one who is your toughest critic; your biggest competition; and your greatest enemy. Right now this is preventing you from taking action but once you get going, it’ll beneficial for improving yourself.
Here are some tips that will help you get off your ass and onto your feet.
Figure out what you want to do now; not what you want to do forever
Young people are constantly asked what they want to do with the rest of their lives. Most of them don’t have a single clue; and that’s just fine. A lot of older people don’t either. Our passions and pursuits are always evolving. But to get yourself off your ass now; you need to know what you want to do now.
Perhaps you want to become healthier, go traveling, or become a social entrepreneur. You might not want to do it when your 80 years old but you’re willing and able to do it now.
Stop wishing you could go back in time
Each of us has wished we could go back in time so that we could either start over or strike while the iron was hot. I have wished this with Lyved. If I had started this blog back in 2004 when blogs were just taking off, this site would already be a full time business. I was too busy chasing the get-rich-quick ideas. Thankfully this thought didn’t cross my mind on launch day. It would have certainly have discouraged me and kept me wishing and wasting energy on the shoulda’s, coulda’s, and woulda’s.
You can’t go back in time, but the next best thing is now. To get ahead tomorrow, you need to start today. The clock is ticking.
Tick… tock…
Quit the moanin’, groanin’ and complainin’
You’re wasting so much time complaining that you don’t have any money, life’s unfair, and that you’re unlucky. If you took some of the effort it takes to complain and put it towards something good, you’d be amazed at the results.
I’m sorry to say it but no one really cares what you’re complaining about. If you want something done, you MUST do it yourself.
Tick… tock… The clock hands are still moving.
Turn your frustrations into something beneficial
If you’re complaining then something is frustrating you. The best thing to do is use that frustration to empower you. Difficult times and circumstances can either force someone to give up, if they’re weak; or for the strong, it’ll fuel their fire.
A few things to remember:
No one is going to rescue you; not even the government.
YOU are the one who is preventing you from success. And you hold the key to living the life you desire. You just have to unlock the door.
The clock is ticking. Tick… tock…
The G.O.Y.A. (getting off your ass) Checklist
Before you can get off your ass and onto your feet, there are a few requirements necessary to do so. They aren’t difficult, and anyone can find them; no matter what age, race, or how much you have in your bank account.
Photo by Izzard
Success | September 4th, 2008 | 10 Comments » | View post page →
Think and grow like an Olympian
They possess physical and mental abilities as well as strengths unlike any other human beings. They are Olympians; the greatest athletes in the world. They became so; not by luck, not by genes, but by hard work and determination. Much can be learned from these athletes to help us achieve greatness in both our personal and business lives.
Know what you want
Even before these athletes enter into an Olympic trial, they know what they want. They want to win a medal and stand on that podium with it around their neck. But not just any medal, the gold medal. Very few Olympians strive to win the bronze. Before you set out on your journey, figure out exactly what you want. Don’t be afraid to dream big. Make your goals harder to achieve and you’ll achieve amazing results.
Know how you’re going to get there
Olympians know that they’ll have to train everyday for months at a time to prepare. They also know this means they’ll have to get up before the sun does to stay one step ahead of their competitors. You’ll have to do the same. Write down a daily plan of action. Look at it every day to keep you moving towards your goals. Sometimes you’ll also want to be very specific with your plans. Olympians know how many laps in the pool they’ll have to do or how many baskets they’ll have to make before they can rest.
Self-discipline is crucial
When they aren’t exercising, Olympians still need to remain in training mode. They have to eat better and they can’t abuse their bodies in any way. This is where their self-discipline becomes so necessary. Their trainers can’t be with them all the time, nor should they. You are going to need every ounce of self-discipline you have. The road to success can be lonely at times with very few people encouraging you along the way.
Sacrifices are mandatory
Olympians sacrifice free time, family time, and even miss work for their training. You’re going to have to do the same. There will be times when you’ll lose a few hours of sleep or have to skip a meal or two. If you want to achieve your goals, it’ll be worth it.
Repetition = practice; practice makes nearly perfect
Nothing is perfect in life, but practice gets you almost to it. Olympic swimmers swim lap after lap, Olympic runners run lap after lap. You have to stick with it when chasing success; and that often means doing the same things over and over. Each time you get knocked down, you’ve got to get back up. And each time you do get up, you’ll be stronger than the last.
Be your toughest critic
Olympic athletes are rarely satisfied with their best times or best scores. They know they can do even better, despite their trainers and others praising them. You know yourself best, so why not be your toughest critic? You’re aware of your strengths and capabilities so you know when you can be doing more. However, be sure to never berate yourself, only use your criticism to encourage yourself.
Capitalize and diversify
Success breeds more success. Most of the famous Olympic athletes capitalize on their success and move into other projects. They do sponsorships, camps, TV shows, anything you can think of. Once you achieve one of your goals, try something new, it’ll challenge you and keep your life exciting.
Celebrate, and then get back to work
Olympic athletes celebrate in Olympic fashion, but it doesn’t last for long. These athletes begin preparing for their next competitions or for the next Olympics. You should celebrate and enjoy your successes both big and small; but you shouldn’t be totally content. Create new goals for you to begin tackling.
