Successful People “Act In Spite Of”

There were times others approached me to work together on a project. Yet there were times I sought others’ help in the same manner.

The project is just too big and on our own, the weight is simply too much to bear. Taking it on our own is suicidal and it will certainly jeopardize the client who entrusted us the work.

Alone, I am without leverage. Alone, I might become discouraged and disillusioned.Eventually I might even quit. Horror, isn’t it? Robert Allen shared in his “One Minute Millionaire” book that there are at least 6 forms of leverage: mentor, team, network, infinite network, skills & tools and systems. So, getting help is the only sensible thing to do.

Still, even with extra brains and hands, taking a project bigger than we can manage can be really frightening. And there lies one of the biggest differences between successful entrepreneurs and the not-so-successful ones. The successful entrepreneurs are willing to act in spite of fear. The not-so-successful entrepreneurs let fear stop them.

I’m in the marketing & advertising industry for more than 20 years, still, there were times I could feel numerous butterflies fluttering in my stomach. Some of my peers and my team didn’t quite believe it until I “collapsed” with exhaustion and relief when a big project was successfully completed. Successful wannabes have fear, doubts and worries, so do the more successful folks.

We are creatures of habit. This is exactly why T. Harv Eker emphasizes these 4 words, “act in spite of“. To be successful, we have to take action in spite of fear, in spite of doubt, in spite of uncertainty, in spite of our moodiness, etc, etc. One of the concerns to act in spite of is the “face” issue. What would others think of me if I say this, do that? The fact is people did not notice and mind as much as we do for most of the time. We can be our worst enemies. I know I am my own, my friends always said I’m too hard on myself and I beat myself up senselessly.

During T. Harv Eker’s “Train a Trainer” programme, there were 2 nights of “Outrageous Night” where more than 400 of us were challenged to dress, sing and dance outrageously. Basically, perform something we had never ever dreamed of. Many played it safe. They dressed really nicely and picked a safe song (including Happy Birthday and Ba Ba Black Sheep). Our friend wasn’t at all amused. He took to the stage the next morning and gave us a solid dressing down. Since I didn’t take dictation, I have to quote him from his best seller book, Secret of Millionaire Mind:

If you are willing to do only what’s easy, life will be hard. But if you are willing to do what’s hard, life will be easy. Rich people don’t base their actions on what’s easy and convenient; that way of living is reserved for the poor and most of the middle class. … … Why is acting in spite of discomfort so important? Because “comfortable” is where you’re at now. If you want to move to a new level in your life, you must break through your comfort zone and practice doing things that are not comfortable … … Being comfortable may make you feel warm, fuzzy an secure, but it doesn’t allow you to grow. To grow as a person you have to expand your comfort zone. The only time you can actually grow is when you are outside your comfort zone.

Nobody will die of discomfort but staying in the comfort zone means we are restricting our growth and mobility. We are the frog in the well, and the sky is as big as the width of the well. Living in the name of comfort kills ideas, opportunities and growth.

Easier said than done. Really.

I’m challenging myself to act in spite of by practicing. If I can’t do small things, big things will be even more daunting. I practice by taking baby steps and celebrate whenever I strike a success. Yes, even if it is to wake up at 6am sharp.

Even Anthony Robbins said almost the same thing. He said we got to re-condition our mind and one way is through repetition. Repeated actions become habit.

If you look at the grainy photo above, that’s me in a self-drawn Coca-Cola can made of papers. I celebrated my success for choosing to hum though “It’s a real thing” which I have not heard of until 2 days before “Outrageous Night”. In the taxi ride that morning, I was still contemplating to chicken out and sing my favourite “I like to take the world to sing”. The only reason I did not back out is I couldn’t face myself in the mirror if I did not act in spite of fear and discomfort. I’m glad I did it, I’m glad I’ve acted “in spite of”

I have learned and benefit a great deal from T. Harv Eker, and I encourage you to attend his Millionaire Mind Intensive in USA, Singapore or Malaysia. For those in Asia, you are in luck. He will be in Kuala Lumper in May and Singapore in November 2008. FYI, I will be there again – to unlearn, relearn and learn, undo, do and re-do. Just click here to register now!

Read more on my sharing of T. Harv Eker’s programs:
Ready. Fire. Aim

[tags]Harv Eker, Act in Spite Of, Millionaire Mind Intensive[/tags]