Like the achievement of any worthwhile goal or objective your ability to tap into your potential as a leader will likely be met with a few hurdles and obstacles. Successfully navigating those obstacles will ultimately mean the difference between success and failure, frustration and celebration.
A man who knows a thing or two about getting over difficult hurdles is legendary Olympic Gold Medalist Edwin Moses who when asked about tapping into potential was quoted as saying “Lots of people just let it go by… and never accomplish what they want.”
During any given race Moses knew, to exploit his potential he would encounter and have to get over 10 specifically spaced hurdles and do it in record time.
Off the track he didn’t have that luxury and likely neither will you. You may not have the ability to predict how many, what kind or even when or where you’ll encounter your obstacles.
Which put’s your first obstacle – and it’s a BIG one – directly on your path.
Uncertainty
Not knowing what to expect can and often does place a big brick wall on the path of many would be leaders. It’s been my experience that most people would rather deal with a “less positive” outcome NOW rather than wait and have to face the unknown even if the outcome might be more positive down the road.
Which is one of the reasons why, unconsciously most people slip back into the comfort and certainty of their familiar habits and behaviors rather than face the uncertainty of “what might happen” even if they were successful at achieving their objective?
Uncertainty has an additional residual effect, it can and generally does invoke doubt and the two uncertainty and doubt together will likely spawn fear.
Fear, which we’ll designate the position of second hurdle, although it tends show up again and again may be your most challenging. It’s the “thing” that stops most people from pursuing much less achieving their potential or stepping up into their leadership role.
Getting over the first 2 hurdles
It would seem therefore that as leaders we must eliminate fear from the equation in order to perform at our potentials outer edges, and in order to do that we must feel a sense of certainty, but since we can never predict with any real level of accuracy what unexpected obstacles we’re going to encounter – fear, to one degree or another will always be part of the leadership success equation.
As Mark Twain once said “Courage is the mastery of fear the resistance of fear, not the absence of fear”
Therefore the mindset needed to get over your first two hurdles and all the other unpredictable obstacles you will encounter at the helm of your life and business – is one of faith. Faith that no matter what you face you can will and MUST find a way to get over, under or around it… period!
Here are my 5 principles for developing a hurdlers Mindset.
1) Never ever, ever give into frustration. Know that with enough behavioral flexibility there is always a way over, under, around or through the obstacle. Maybe all you need is a fresh perspective.
2) Commitment is key! When you’re 100% committed to the goal nothing can or will stand in your way…period!
3) Steady the wheel. Not all obstacles will come at you head on. Like a strong starboard wind threatening to blow you off course, you may get blindsided now and then. Keep a firm grip on the wheal and keep your eyes on the road ahead.
4) Develop staying power. Even though size may matter it is staying power that will ultimately get the job done.
5) Get over it. When dealing with the internal emotional obstacles like fear, doubt, uncertainty and lack of worthiness, the best advice I can give you is to get over it and keep moving forward.
Tom Terwilliger
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Tom Terwilliger is equal parts athlete, entrepreneur and motivator. His bestselling book 7 Rules of Achievement skyrocketed to the #1 spot on Amazons “success and motivation” categories its first week. As an athlete Tom’s tenacity and determination earned him the #1 spot at the National Body Building Championship and earned him a coveted Mr. America title. As a speaker, motivator and personal empowerment trainer he has taught thousands of individuals and organizations the same entrepreneurial and life success tools, rules and mindset strategies he used to build a fitness empire. For more Mindset tools and strategies visit www.TomTerwilliger.com
-what were some of your biggest lessons learned from the ideas above?