Desire

Desire
Desire! You worked hard creating your business. You
suffered through all the expenses of getting your worksite
and equipping it. You've assembled your support team --
sales, marketing and administration. You thought that by
now your business would be demanding less of your time and
energy. But what's happening? You're still working too
many hours putting out fires, still struggling with those
hard decisions and still doing those things you're not good
at and don't like doing. That's the Problem! What's the
Solution?

You've read every book relating to your business, attended
workshops, maybe you even hired consultants to help you
tweak your business. Yet the problem persists. You
wondered, "What could possibly be wrong with the way I
designed my business?"

What probably is wrong is that you're asking the wrong
question. You may not realize this, but what separates the
highly successful and highly satisfied business owners from
the rest is not the design and makeup of their business.
It is the design and the makeup of themselves.

There are certain attitudes and emotions you need to
achieve greatness. This article addresses the most
important one -- desire.

Most of the people, who have achieved greatness, did so NOT
because they were so brilliant, but because they developed
the inner power within them to go for the gusto. They
learned how to keep stoking the fire in the belly. They
kept their desire and passion burning.

Ask yourself this question. How successful are you right
now? I guarantee you, whatever level of success you have
achieved so far is more tied to your attitude than your
aptitude. Success in business or any other playing field
ultimately depends upon the level of your desire.

Desire motivates you, makes you courageous and keeps you
going when the going gets tough. Desire is the fuel that
drives you to achieve greatness. Desire is the number one
attitude you need for success.

If you have "fire in your belly," anything is possible.

I remember when I was just a kid during the Great
Depression. Dad was out of work. Mom took in washing when
she could find somebody who could pay her. There was just
enough money for food, hardly any for clothes. Anything
else, like toys, was out of the question.

I knew how to have fun with empty boxes, using a stick for
a sword and my finger for a gun. But there was one toy I
really wanted -- a new Buck Rogers rocketship. I saw it in
the local hardware store. I watched with fascination as
the salesman demonstrated it. It was really neat. Wind it
up and sparks shot out of its tail. I had to have it. How
could I get money to buy it? We had an apple tree in the
backyard. It was fall and the apples were ripe. I would
sell apples to raise the money I needed. I quickly picked
the reddest ones and polished them to a bright shine.

I took my treasures out in the street and found grown men
on the street corners selling apples too. "Beat it kid,"
the man told me. Discouraged I started walking home. I
kept thinking about that Buck Rogers rocketship with its
sparks shooting out of the tail.

On my way I passed some business places. I looked into a
barbershop and saw some men waiting. I went in and was
able to sell two apples before the owner gently ushered me
out. "This will work," I thought.

I went to the next store and just got in before the owner
chased me out. I was discouraged and scared, but I thought
of the two apples I did sell and that Buck Rogers
rocketship. That renewed my courage. I did not understand
it then, but that Buck Rogers rocketship had become a
trigger. Every time I thought about it, it triggered me
into action.

I kept on going, store after store. Some owners were nice
and let me come in and sell my apples, others ushered me
out. Not all of them were kind. Every time I got
discouraged I thought of my successes and of that Buck
Rogers rocketship. I had two triggers now, the memory of
my getting money for my apples and the thought of that Buck
Rogers rocketship. I kept on going until I sold all the
apples.

I ran to the store and bought my toy.

That simple story is an example of the power of desire.
This is the same principle that works on any enterprise,
from selling apples to landing a rocketship on the moon.
Desire can trigger your motivation and move you into action.

To strengthen your desire you need to review all the
reasons why you want that goal -- all the things you will
gain. Then you need to list what you will miss out on --
all the things you will lose -- if you don't reach your
goal. Strong desire is essential to create a highly
successful and highly satisfying business. Take the time
to practice strengthening your desire. It is extremely
important to do this when you are feeling lacking in energy
or discouraged.

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Stan Mann, C.P.C. supports business owners, top executives
and commission salespeople to substantially grow their
business and have a balanced life. He is a Certified
Professional Coach. For additional articles and resources
please visit http://www.stanmann.com I deliver customized
coaching programs to help you become the leader of a highly
successful and highly satisfying business.