From Small and Simple Things
by Marnie Pehrson
It is said that, ‘’by small and simple things great things are brought to pass.'’ Sometimes we feel that in order for great things to happen in our lives, some dramatic event must occur. We’ll get called by Oprah to be on her show and become an overnight success. Or we’ll win the lottery and pay off all our debts. Or we’ll land the perfect job that will solve all our money problems.
Although it may appear that success simply falls into some people’s laps, this is rarely the case. What we don’t see are the thousands of small and simple things that a successful person has done over several years or even over the course of his/her life that built up to great events. (And I’m not talking about buying a lottery ticket every day to win the lottery.) So what are these small and simple things from which great things are brought to pass?
Desire
It may seem simple, but you have to want something before you can go after it. You have to want to go to Disney World before you get in the car to go there. True success starts with some level of desire for something — a better life, a better business, or better relationships with your family. You have to want it before you’ll ever achieve it.
Commitment
If you’re ever going to arrive at your destination, you must at some point decide to leave. You have to decide that you’re willing to do what it takes to make it happen. It is in the moment of decision that your course is set and the universe begins to bring opportunities into your path to help you achieve what you have decided to do.
Sacrifice
One definition of sacrifice is “giving up something good for that which is even better.” Being willing to sacrifice for what you want is a critical ingredient of success. In our Disney World example, if you’ve decided on a trip to Disney World, you’re most likely sacrificing a trip somewhere else - like Las Vegas or San Francisco. You’re also sacrificing the money and the time it takes to go there.
Faith
Whether or not you think you have faith, everyone does. You believe the sun will rise tomorrow. You plant a seed in hopes that it will grow into a lovely flower or vegetable. It takes faith to start a business in hopes that you will be successful. When you send your children out the door for school in the morning you believe they will return to you in the afternoon. Everything you do in your life requires some degree of faith. The more faith you have, the more you can accomplish. The more you dare to dream and believe and envision, the more you can achieve.
Diligence
Constant movement toward your goal brings about achievement. You must do something and keep on doing it to accomplish anything. It takes ongoing, physical movement to accomplish anything in life. You have to move your body into the car to go to Disney World. You have to move your fingers to type that book. You have to bend at the waist to do those sit-ups. You have to ‘’keep on keeping on'’ no matter what obstacles cross your path and no matter what stands in your way. Diligence requires patience and steadfastness.
Keep Your Eyes Open
As you commit, have faith, and diligently work toward your objectives, opportunities arise along the way to help you reach your goals. But, you must be open to new ideas, new possibilities, and new ways of doing things. You must keep your eyes, ears, mind, and heart open so that when opportunities make themselves available to you, you act on them.
Remembering
Periodically, we humans get sidetracked on roads that aren’t going where we really want to go. We stop off in some dinky town to see the largest ball of twine and forget that we’re really trying to make our way to Disney World. We have to stop and remember where we’re going. We have to remember who we are, what we’re trying to achieve. Losing focus on our ultimate objective can cause us to risk wandering aimlessly lost on back roads and dead-ends for so long that we never arrive at our destination.
In Summary
Success in any endeavor requires these small and simple steps, yet many people never know that they are necessary. Too many people decide to go into a business and even get an office, but never really commit to doing what it takes to get business. They never really try to get customers.
- Start with your desire,
- Commit to the project,
- Have faith that you can accomplish it and really see yourself accomplishing it.
- Take consistent action.
- Keep your eyes open for opportunities — expect them to arise — and grab them with both arms when they do.
- Occasionally review your progress and make sure you’re still on the right path. Remember who you are, why you’re here, and where you’re going.
It’s that simple. Here’s to your success!Marnie Pehrson is an author, creator of www.IdeaMarketers.com, www.LocateACoach.com, www.SheLovesGod.com, www.BelieversAtWork.com and more. She is the author of inspirational books like Lord, Are You Sure? and historical fiction such as The Patriot Wore Petticoats. She also helps people earn money from home. For more information on her projects, visit http://www.pwgroup.com.
Marnie Pehrson may be contacted at http://www.MarniePehrson.com or marnie@pwgroup.com
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