At the end of the Olympics and seeing the many accomplishments of all of the Olympic athletes, it got me thinking about greatness. Nothing hits my soul more than seeing someone achieve a lifetime goal and be rewarded. I get choked up just watching a gold medalists during the awards ceremony. I can’t imagine what is going on in their mind. But the fact that they have worked so hard, sacrificed, faced critics, and dreamt about this moment for years to finally accomplish that goal, can bring tears to your eyes.
The Hawaiian value of Ho’omau gives the foundation towards what is needed for greatness. You might be saying, “Of course I want to be great but where do I start? “
Joe Sabah, a great writer and speaker who for over 30 years has been helping people – Sing the Song They Came to Sing – says, “You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
It’s starts with the way you think and live. You may not feel great at the moment, but it is a decision you have to make for yourself. No one else can do it for you. If you believe you are here for greatness, then greatness will come. Now, After thinking about this quote and what the Hawaiian value Ho’omau means to me. I came up with the 3P’s Towards Greatness – persistence, perseverance, and prevail.
PERSISTENCE
In Rosa Say’s book, Managing with Aloha
Brian Tracy, an author of many books such as Maximum Achievement
“You don’t have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great.”
I enjoy reading and listening to various inspirational stories. Thomas Edison claimed to have failed over 10,000 times before inventing the light bulb. But what drove him to continue on a goal that seemed to follow with failure each time? He knew that with this invention he would be known as the greatest inventor that ever lived. He believed that with every failure he experienced only got him closer to finding the solution to his problem. When it comes to the fear of failure, Edison said, “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
When you come across set backs and tough times you have to think of them as only temporary. You have to believe the dark season will change, the sun will shine again, and you will be victorious.
There was a time in my life when I felt nothing was going my way. I wasn’t happy. I was always frustrated. I wasn’t doing what I wanted to do. I let out my frustration on the people I loved. And, I was about to give up on my dream. My dad asked me one day, what is it that I wanted to do with my life? He saw how I was getting to the edge of throwing in the towel and giving up and accept defeat. I told him I wanted to be a Head Strength and Conditioning Coach and that I wanted to wake up every morning to be in a gym inspiring individuals to become not only better physically, but also mentally and spiritually. That was in July of 2010.
That year, I continued to study everything I got my hands on. I also decided to compete in a natural bodybuilding competition which was something I feared doing and actually did pretty well receiving 4th place out of 18 competitors. But it was a constant struggle. I worked in a bar in upstate New York as a bouncer, and didn’t make much. I spent nights, when it was quiet at work, writing my thoughts in a notebook. I felt it was a good outlet to get things out of my head. It’s interesting to look back and read some passages to see the mental transformation that was taking place.
Then in August 2011 I was given the opportunity to have my dream job: Head Strength & Conditioning Coach at a university which has become one of the biggest successes in my life. I wake up every morning excited to go into work to make a positive impact on people’s lives and to improve on my leadership.
The turning point came when I stopped thinking of myself as a victim. I stopped thinking that everything around me was going wrong because of external factors rather than looking internally. It was a constant fight within myself. I was no longer giving into the negativity and pointing fingers at others. Like Pastor Joel Osteen in – Every Day a Friday
I chose to become a VICTOR and I suggest you do as well. Every negative situation you are put in, you have to ask yourself – how did I get here? what did I do? Don’t blame others for your misfortunes, look internally and tell yourself – let’s fix it.
So how do you develop persistence? In Napoleon Hill’s epic book – Think and Grow Rich
4 STEPS TO DEVELOP PERSISTENCE – Napoleon Hill
1. A DEFINITE PURPOSE BACKED BY BURNING DESIRE FOR ITS FULFILLMENT.
2. A DEFINITE PLAN, EXPRESSED IN CONTINUOUS ACTION.
3. A MIND CLOSED TIGHTLY AGAINST ALL NEGATIVE AND DISCOURAGING INFLUENCES, including negative suggestions of relatives, friends and acquaintances.
4. A FRIENDLY ALLIANCE WITH ONE OR MORE PERSONS WHO WILL ENCOURAGE ONE TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH BOTH PLAN AND PURPOSE.
If you haven’t read my 4 reasons why you should write down your goals, here are 4 more things to think about and write down. As you can see, I’m big on writing your thoughts down because I feel the process of your thoughts going from your mind to your hands give your burning desire some sort of substance. Plus, it will always be there as a constant reminder when we need it, especially when discouragement approaches. Hill says, “Be persistent no matter how slowly you may, at first, have to move.” Achieving an ultimate goal takes hard work, time, and adversity.
Not allowing yourself to be discouraged is a great test in life. In Napoleon’s third step it states, “A mind closed tightly against all negative and discouraging influences.” It is important for us to always keep our eyes on our burning desire. When people knock you down or tell you that what you want out of life is crazy and way beyond what is possible. Don’t listen, don’t get discouraged, I’ve said it before – we all have something to offer the world. If greatness is what you are after, don’t be afraid to reach for the highest summit you can imagine. Don’t put limits on yourself.
“Be persistent no matter how slowly you may, at first, have to move.”
Challenges and failures will become obstacles between you and your ultimate goal. Michael Jordan knows that the key to success is persistence, “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Persistence comes before perseverance. Although the two have very similar definitions, the National Constitution Center defines the difference as: persistence is sticking to a course of action, and perseverance is sticking to a belief or idea. Step 2 in Napoleon’s “4 steps to Develop Persistence” states: a definite plan, expressed in continuous action.
This means, each day, you should ask yourself, “Is what I’m doing today helping me achieve my purpose in life?” If it’s not, then it is energy that can be directed towards accomplishing your ultimate goal instead of wasting it.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Books Mentioned:
Managing with Aloha Maximum Achievement
Think and Grow Rich
Every Day a Friday
Has there been a time when you overcame discouragement and came out victorious? I would love to hear your stories, either through email or in the comments below. I hope you found this post helpful, and if you did please share it with others in your social circle. I would really appreciate it. Also, feel free to subscribe to my site.
Aloha. Mahalo. A hui hou.
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Disclosure: Just to be honest, the links to the books are affiliate links that will earn a commission if you choose purchase any. Of course I highly recommend you get your own copy so that you can have a more in depth look at the teachings of these authors. If you do decide to purchase, I greatly appreciate it and believe this book will give you a better perspective on how to attack the mornings. Aloha