Don’t Give Up!

“In the confrontation between the stream and the rock, the stream always wins- not through strength but by perseverance.”

~H. Jackson Brown

Have you ever given up on anything? Well, were you 100% sure that you would have failed had you stuck with it? Most aren’t sure.

I’m not talking about when you’re in a bad relationship and you try to make it work with no cooperation from the other party. I’m talking about a goal, a business, or a dream. When it comes to pursuing something like that, sometimes when we hit some speed bumps, we get discouraged and then the negative thoughts creep in.  That little voice echoes in your head saying things like “My parents said I needed something to fall back on, I guess they were right.” Or “people said I was taking on too much.” And other limiting beliefs like that.

Why listen to those who don’t share your vision? How can you expect them to get it? They can’t, so of course they’ll do what they think is best and that’s usually  them encouraging you to try something else, something  that they can understand and relate to. But that’s not what you’re meant to do. If you birthed an idea and added desire to it, it’s meant for you to give it 100%. You were chosen to show everyone else how it’s done so don’t give up.

“Patience is necessary… one cannot reap immediately where one has sown.” ~Soren Kierkegaard

Bamboozled

The story of the Chinese bamboo is tree is quite amazing. Unlike most crops that have a plant and harvest time frame we’re accustomed to, the Chinese Bamboo tree takes just a little longer. Okay a lot longer. It’s a very interesting process and a great lesson on perseverance.

• You take the seed, plant it and water it for an entire year, and . . . nothing happens.
• The second year you continue the process. You water it and still . . . nothing happens.
• The third and fourth year, once again you water it, and, yep you guessed it, still nothing happens. This would normally be pretty discouraging, right? Well . . .
• During the fifth year an amazing thing happens. The tree begins to grow at an incredible rate. In fact, in a period of about five weeks, a Chinese bamboo tree can grow to a height of 90 feet. It’s as if the tree grows right before your very eyes.

Why would anyone keep watering the soil for that long without any signs of progress? Because they know that consistent action will eventually bring results.

Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu

A Green Thumb

What if you knew that your career or a worthy relationship would grow as long as if you persevered and you watered it? Would you change your outlook? Would you work through any stumbling blocks or setbacks? Of course you would! And the very act of doing so would keep you moving forward and allow you to overcome those obstacles.

If you keep nurturing that idea or opportunity, it will grow over time. If you keep researching, working, learning and growing, then it too will grow.

The story of the Bamboo tree is a lot like growing a career, you have to have faith, belief and persistence. And you have to realize that progress is being made even if you can’t see it. Maybe that progress is not at the pace you like but it is building, slowly at times, and at times, faster. Either way it’s a good thing. There can be a difference between having a sense of urgency and rushing through things. Rushing means you’ll probably make mistakes or cut corners and that can be detrimental to your progress.  Keep it steady. Just think, if for one year you stopped watering the bamboo tree it wouldn’t grow, it would die. So keep watering!

Nurture your business, your ideas and  your relationships. And make sure that you grow right along with them.

All great achievements require time.
~Maya Angelou

Rob Liano
Rock Star Success Coach & Sales Trainer
www.rockstarsalestraining.com
1.855.832.ROCK (7625)

 © Rob Liano and Rock Star Success Coaching, 2012. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Rob Liano and Rock Star Success Coaching with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.