Here is a great saying – ‘If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission.’

Many individuals have accomplished great things in their life time because they just got on with accomplishing great things in their life time. They did not necessarily look around (for long) to see if anyone was keeping up with them (they were not afraid of going it alone), they did not necessarily listen to their critics long list of reasons why they would crash and burn if they tried something new and they did not necessarily live for other’s affirmation. What is more, they did not necessarily ask permission from others to pursue their dreams.

In my book, Have a Life Attack, I share the story of renownd South African artist, Duncan Stewart, who gave up a career in graphic design (when already well into his late twenties) to move oversees to further pursue his artistic dreams. To do this he sold all his possessions, many of his art pieces and rallied sponsorships for his great bicycle trek from Johannesburg to Cape Town, a distance of some 1.400 kilometres!

I would imagine that many would have thought Duncan to be quite mad at the time. I suppose he was madly in love with a dream and did not see the need to ask permission from anyone to pursue it. (See pages 36 – 37 of my book for extra details of his story.)

Are you asking for permission from those around you to pursue your own dreams? I am not advocating irresponsibility, or telling your loved ones exactly where they can get off if they challenge the things you want to do in life. I am, however, advocating overcoming a fear of challenging and stretching your abilities and talents. We often ask for permission from others because we want them to believe in us, often more than we do. It is also easy to hide behind their disapproval or lack of confidence in us, instead of having to be brave enough to do a thing.

As the New Year swiftly approaches, think of the daring adventures you can embark on in 2012 and begin to commit to paper these hopes and dreams. And stop asking for permission to do so.

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Once upon a time there was a village full of overly anxious people.

There was ‘Make it Happen’ Melvin, who was up every morning before the crack of dawn, busy with this and that, often awake long before any other man or beast was stirring. He was raised on brown rice, crispy vegetables and the energetic adage that only the early bird catches the worm, which he lived by faithfully. If an opportunity came knocking at odd hours on his door, well, he would be ready for it!

Just up the road from him lived ‘Play it Safe’ Pauline, who did everything she had to do each day the same way she had done for years – carefully, meticulously, politely and conventionally. ‘Play is Safe’ Pauline cooked the same meal on the same day of the same week (had done so for years!) and had her families schedule carefully planned out for the next century or so. ‘Play it Safe’ Pauline’s husband often looked like he needed a long and spontaneous holiday …

Closer to town lived ‘Suspicious’ Sisanda, who could be seen shooing her children indoors whenever a stranger walked past their tightly barricaded home, or nervously fidgeting when someone she did not know tried to engage her in conversation. Her children would cling to her legs in public and avoid making eye contact with anyone who happened to look their way.

Then there was ‘Independent Irvin who would lend help from no man or beast if he could do a thing himself. This he got from his grandmother, who would wag a bony finger at him when he was a boy and quip, “God only helps those who help themselves, my boy,” before firmly steering him back to his room, where he would have to complete a difficult homework task on his own.

At a casual glance, Melvin, Pauline, Sisanda and Irvin might have appeared to be an enviously productive, organised, safe and disciplined bunch. There were some downfalls to their life approaches, however.

Melvin could not rest and felt guilty if he did. He had not gone on holiday for years and years. Pauline was incredibly bored with her life, but still felt it ‘better to be safe than sorry’. Sisanda was lonely – she struggled to make friends and her suspicions about other people meant that she never risked enough (Don’t talk to strangers!) to meet anyone interesting. Irvin was in huge financial trouble, but did not know how to ask for help from family or friends or God.

Their conventional thinking had them boxed in for life, it would seem.

But a stranger was coming to town. An individual who loved nothing best than to help people break out of some of their unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviours…

You will have to keep reading my Word on a Wednesday over the next couple of weeks to see what happens…

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Imagine plugging into an exciting life journey that will stretch you to grow in your finances, health, faith, friendships and family relationships. Sounds good, does it not?

Sure it does! But let me ask you, is such a daring adventure going to enthusiastically knock on your door, or plonk itself underneath your Christmas tree this year, or do you think that you might first need to do some serious thinking about what you want to accomplish and become over the next few years before this journey can truly begin to unfold?

While many of us would love for self development and growth to come as easily as our childhood gifts from Santa, the reality is that if we want to see healthy change and growth in our lives, we need to get stuck into some deliberate planning. ‘For things to change, I must change.’

I often ask people if they have a Personal Growth Plan for their lives. They often don’t or, if they do, the plans and the goals they have set for themselves are rather hazy and vague.

“Vague goals point to a vague harbor in a vague port on a vague island somewhere. Vagueness is not nearly as motivating as a definite plan.”
(Excerpt from my book, Have a Life Attack. Live, Love and Laugh Full Out)

We often underestimate how much value there is in having a clear vision and action plan for our lives. Always begin with the end in mind, is what I say!

Do you have your ‘end’ in mind? If you do not, then why don’t you take the next thirty minutes or so to start dreaming some dreams for your future (create a vision!). Then set some practical goals and steps (in a definite time frame) that will get you there.

In January I will be launching a new ‘Put Your Dreams to the Test’ group, which will help participants whip their dreams into enough shape to pursue them. You can access this ten-week program from the comfort of your own home as I will be hosting it online. If you feel such an opportunity could be for you, do get hold of me and book your place as space for the January slot is limited!

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People often tell me that they love “Sean’s Motivational Moment on a Monday” but could do with a mid week “pep up” so here’s my contribution to make your Wednesday a Wonderful one!

 A word/ phrase or story each week that keeps the Motivational Wheel turning in the right direction!! Today, let’s start with a single word….

A Word from Willard on a Wednesday:

Today’s word is a simple one – PUSH! 

 From it we can create many punchy acronyms to get our day’s motivation.  I am sure that you have heard this one before? Pray Until Something Happens. 

 We can also Persevere/Persist Until Something Happens, or Participate (in our own lives) Until Something Happens.  Because very little normally happens if we choose to Procrastinate (Until Something Happens), does it?

Is there difficulty or challenge in your life that you simply need to PUSH through? Maybe you need to continue applying for jobs even though you are feeling bleak about the prospects.  Maybe you need to continue loving on a family member, even though they have become terribly prickly. 

 Maybe you are setting off on a daring life adventure (you can feel your stomach churning from sheer nervousness) and self doubt has swamped you.  Pray (if you do), Persevere, Persist and Participate … until something happens.

Sometimes we need others to nudge us along when the PUSHING gets too tough.  A dream ‘midwife’, as such.  Is it not great to have people around us who care enough for us to do just that?  They can see we need encouragement, so they sidle up alongside us and cheer us on. 

Make sure to have such firelighters in your own life, ones who believe in your dreams and see your potential when your own vision starts to falter.

Until next Wednesday, PUSH

P.S. If you haven’t signed up for my Free Motivational Mail on a Monday, hop on over to www.smswillard.com right now and register! Be sure to click on the confirmation email you are sent!

Sean Willard

John Maxwell Speaker, Coach & Trainer

Author of  ” Have a Life Attack”

www.smswillard.com

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