Break Through Barriers--take One Step!

By Author: Marc
Total Articles: 3
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As a college speaker, I am constantly asked for one major tip to achieving my goals. The answer is always the same. Start now! By simply taking that first step you are closer than 99.9% of other people out there to achieving what you've always wanted.

This brings us to a basic question: why do most people never even attempt to reach their goals in life?

The simplest explanation can be seen in how we train elephants. Elephants are the largest land dwelling mammals on earth. A typical African Bush elephant weights up to 16,000 pounds (just imagine the weight of 100 average sized men all standing on the same scale!) and stands 13 feet tall. This creature is simply huge and very very powerful. A fully grown elephant can run through walls, flip cars and toss people with ease.

But, if you have been to the back area of a circus, you may have noticed that rather than being kept behind thick steel bars, elephants are often held down by a small rope or light chain. Given what we just learned about elephants, it seems ridiculous that a small rope can hold down an elephant. But it does, and here is how.

When ...
... an elephant is a baby, it weighs only a few hundred pounds and is weak. A trainer will have the baby elephant held down by thick chains and ropes. Then the trainer will continually hit the elephant to encourage the elephant to break out, but it's not possible for the baby elephant to break free. Finally after enough training, the elephant has decided that he absolutely cannot break out, ever.

After this distinction has been made by the elephant, a trainer can simply tie a much smaller rope around the elephant's leg and he will not attempt to break out. The elephant knows that escape is impossible. But in reality, all the elephant ever had to do was move his leg just a little bit to break free.

Sad.

Yes, and this is the same process that happens to people. When we are babies, we have unlimited potential. We believe that we can do anything! Yet, as we grow up, people around us begin to tell us what we can and cannot do. The unfortunate part is that we listen to these people who tell us: you can't do this, you're not capable of doing that, or, even worse, you're worthless.

Finally, by the time we are out of high school we have been fully programmed to fear the possibilities, so we never take action to achieve our goals.

Don't let this be you! Take that first step. Just think of that poor elephant that could easily break free if he just took one step. Then look in the mirror and ask yourself if you are capable of more. And, if you see me on the street or on stage as a college speaker, but sure to come up and tell me about all the adventures and happiness that all started with that one step.