The following post is part one of three. Taken in order these three steps will help you get the resources you need to accomplish what's important to you... even making our local economy more resilient and prosperous.
Step One: Believe that You Can Do It!
"[Luke:] I can't believe it. [Yoda:] That is why you fail"
Question for Consideration: How important is the power of belief to strengthening our local economy?
It’s been said that faith or belief is the moving cause of all action. Indeed, it is the very foundation of all achievement. Very seldom, if at all, do we attempt anything we don’t genuinely believe we can accomplish. When we undertake to accomplish a goal or objective our belief is “I can do this”. As we work towards the completion of our objective we encounter obstacles that require us to find ways to remove or overcome them. As we deal with each obstacle we consciously or unconsciously decide if we are able. At each of these junctures we make the choice whether or not to “keep going” or to “give up”. If our habitual mindset has been to give up at the first sign of opposition, we will more than likely “give up”. If our mindset has been “I can”, we will more than likely find a way to accomplish our objective. The choice is ours; either we can or we can’t! What we think matters; what we believe is very powerful and determines whether we will act or not.
Many examples of this principle could be given, but the following three provide adequate evidence how the belief that “we can” makes a significant difference.
Consideration #1
On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister ran the first sub 4 minute mile in recorded history. Up to that time only a handful of people considered this humanly possible. The overwhelming belief of “it’s impossibile” was the limiting factor. Yet despite this generally accepted mindset of “impossible”, Bannister and the handful who believed refused to be buried by the opinions of the numerous nay-sayers. In reflecting on the event some 50 years later, Bannister commented that the obstacle to running the sub 4 minute mile was more or less a matter of believing "it couldn't be done". Until he and others believed it possible and took action to accomplish this objective, the “belief” that it was impossible made it so. Once it was believed possible and acted upon, the barrier vanished and the sub 4 minute mile became a reality and soon a benchmark for others. The ‘thinking” or power of belief and acting on that belief made the difference.
Consideration #2
The Middle East has long been a region of unrest between the Arab and Jewish peoples. The prevailing belief is it is impossible for these two peoples to live together in peace. However, Stef Wertheimer, self-made industrialist and billionaire, brought together a significant number of these two peoples through his businesses and entrepreneurial efforts. The mainstream media would have us believe this is an “impossibility”, but Stef Wertheimer made it a reality. Arabs and Jews working together to accomplish a common purpose... successful businesses and prosperity for their families. Wertheimer’s belief that “I can” bring peace to a troubled region through my business ventures was confirmed when he acted on that belief. (http://www.roberttercek.com/2010/11/meetings-with-remarkable-people-my-conversation-with-stef-wertheimer-in-tel-aviv/)
Consideration #3
One of my favorite poets is Edgar Guest. He had the rare gift of being able to express the basic wisdom of life in simple, easy to understand verse. The following poem, It Couldn’t Be Done, reflects how the power of belief and acting on it is vital to winning against overwhelming odds.
It Couldn’t Be Done
by Edgar Guest
Somebody said that it couldn’t be done
But he with a chuckle replied
That “maybe it couldn’t,” but he would be one
Who wouldn’t say so till he’d tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!
Somebody scoffed, “Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one has ever done it;”
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat
And the first thing we knew he’d begun it.
With the lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn’t be done, and he did it!
There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure,
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start in to sing as you tackle the thing
That “cannot be done,” and you’ll do it.
Belief is incredibly powerful, whether it limits what we can accomplish or unleashes our potential. The following quote by Mahatma Gandi communicates this fundamental truth:
"Men often become what they believe themselves to be. If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. But when I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it even if I didn't have it in the beginning."
Questions
As you consider the importance of the power of belief, what are some of the ways we can apply it to strengthen our local economy within the next 12 months?
How can it increase the focus of our efforts?
In what ways does it help us engage and overcome the obstacles we encounter as we work toward this important goal?
Next Post
Finding The Resources You Need (Step Two of Three)
What Do You Think?
As always, your constructive comments are welcomed.
Next Post
Finding The Resources You Need (Step Two of Three)
What Do You Think?
As always, your constructive comments are welcomed.
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The Silver Creek Economy 2014 blog is sponsored by Partnering Technologies, an Arizona-based Learning & Development Company. Their focus is helping individuals and organizations learn, consistently apply, and master a skill-set that is always in high demand, always highly valued, and always highly paid. Its founder is Jim Sanderson.
Visit their website at www.partneringtechnologies.blogspot.com and find out what they are doing to build a more prosperous economy for our community in 2014.
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