True longterm success in any field demands the mastery of the 13 Resolutions. Indeed, failure to master any of the resolutions will shortcut the success process, causing the success engine to seize up similar to an engine running without an adequate supply of oil. For instance, the majority of the people fail to succeed because they never master the first four resolutions (the private victories), let alone master the public and leadership victories which lead to one’s legacy.
The first four resolutions identified and explained in RESOLVED (and elaborated upon in the Mental Fitness Challenge Program – Click here for a FREE trial) are 1) Purpose, 2) Character, 3) Attitude, and 4) Alignment of the Conscious and Subconscious Mind. Failure to apply any of these resolutions is fatal to success for a person who does not achieve internal victories will not advance to enduring external victories.
Ever wonder why many people who “win” the lottery end up in worse shape than they were before their alleged victory? The simple answer is the lottery winner (victim?) catapulted past his private victories directly to the public ones and the foundation could not hold. Like a building collapsing upon itself, the lack of a solid mental and moral foundation caused the responsibilities of success (the Bible states, to whom much is given much is required) to starve the fruit produced before the roots were ready.
So many people want success, but seem unwilling to invest the time necessary to build the foundation upon which the success structure is built. After all, we live in the modern age and we need things done quickly. Who has time to truly develop one’s purpose, character, attitude, or mental alignment? Just give us the results of success and then we will go back and get the foundation. Needless to say, anyone with a basic understanding of human nature know this isn’t true. A person may run from the resolutions at any time but not the poor results one obtains by doing so.
Let’s examine just the first two. Why is purpose so important? For one thing, without it, at the first signs of resistance, the person retreats from his dream and into a settle for life. Resistance, in other words, is a necessary part of all success because it determines the level of “fight” in the person to overcome obstacles. Like the old saying goes, “It’s not the size of the man in the fight, but the size of the fight in the man that counts.”
As a result, a person without purpose, a purpose that feeds his courage, doesn’t rise to the occasion but rather runs from the altercation. This is why people who seemed so committed suddenly move to a path of least resistance because the pain of the process has called out their lack of a clear purpose. Covey said, “Begin with the end in mind.” A person must identify the end in mind that he know he must do in order to fulfill what God has called him to do and then pursue it with a relentlessness that stuns those lukewarm souls who do not know the power of purpose.
Similarly, character is another must-have quality of all truly successful people. For the person without character will take shortcuts personally and not do the necessary self-examination to be sure he is being true to his dreams. Naturally, a person who isn’t true to himself will not be true to others and the lack of character will reveal itself in a lack of results. This, by itself, isn’t fatal unless the lack of temporary results leads becomes permanent because the person lost his character by blaming someone else.
Who is responsible for your success? Who in other words, will be recognized when you succeed? You or the person you are currently blaming because you haven’t succeeded? One of the greatest lessons of character Laurie and I learned was to not blame anyone else for our lack of results. Simply learn, grow, and eventually win.
To be sure, it would have been easier to blame. After all, despite working 6-7 days a week for 5 and 1/2 years, Laurie and I accomplished very little. In fact, outside of private growth, we had litter publicly to show for our efforts. Our friends and families thought we were nuts, but we knew enough about the resolutions to know better. Laurie and I were growing internally, and we knew internal wins precede external ones. Instead of blaming our support team for what they did or didn’t do, we learned to trust that God had a great plan and purpose for our lives.
We learned not blame our circumstances on others and to this day we have never blamed anyone for our lack of results. Blaming leads to bitterness and resentment and is like drinking poison expecting someone else to die. Blaming, to put it bluntly, is a character fault and we refused to sell out our character on the altar of frustration. Those who blame, in short, ought to be ashamed. We realized when God is giving swimming lessons, it’s not the time to demand a lifejacket. Just like butterfly cannot fly unless it strengthens its wings by tearing itself out of the cocoon, so too must people tear themselves out of the cocoon of complacency in order to win. Leaders do not need charity; instead, they need an example. Be the example for your team.
Wow! We are just two resolutions into the Private Victories and, hopefully, many readers are already recognizing areas where they can improve. I will pick up on the other resolutions in future blog posts. I remember when I sat down to outline RESOLVED, I imagined I was writing my last testament to my children and future grandchildren, explaining to them what Laurie and I learned about success and life on journey.
After reviewing the book recently, the 13 resolutions seem as solid to me today as the day I first outline them. They are timeless principles that work for anyone who will work with them until they become second nature. If you haven’t read this book, I encourage the reader to do so as the journey of success begins with a journey of self-discovery.
I pray 2017 is the reader’s year for breakthroughs as he master’s the resolutions to bless not only his family, but others as well.
Sincerely,
