“The saddest people are not the ones who tried and failed. The saddest people I ever met in my life are the ones who sold themselves short because they didn’t go for it.”
– Barbara Cochran
Barbara Cochran should know a few things about going for it, she takes plenty of action in her life as businesswoman, investor, speaker, consultant, syndicated columnist, author, and television personality, (Shark Tank).
I found her quote to be enlightening. If you don’t at least try to do what it is that you want, to reach big goals, then you always have the woulda, coulda, shoulda to look back on. Not the most empowering of thoughts and feelings to say the least. It all comes down to taking action, not just intending to do so. Action is the secret ingredient to success.
Consider this quote from Jeff Bezos, the founder and CEO of Amazon, arguably the heir apparent to Steve Jobs in terms of icons in American business: “You can take control of anything in your life, by simply taking action.”
Or from former British Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli: “Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without action.”
Action and happiness. Currently I am reading The 4-Hour Workweek, (http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/), by Tim Ferriss. He says the opposite of action and happiness is not sadness, it’s boredom. “Excitement is the more practical synonym for happiness, and it is precisely what you should strive to chase. It is the cure-all. When people suggest you follow your passion or your bliss, I propose that they are in fact, referring to the same singular concept: excitement. The question you should be asking isn’t, ‘What do I want?” or “What are my goals?”, but “What would excite me?”
Ferriss goes on to explain that a big goal creates adrenaline and excitement and there is actually less competition for big goals, because so few people attempt to achieve them. And it all begins with action. “I believe that success can be measured in the number of uncomfortable conversations you’re willing to have”, says Ferriss.
Get uncomfortable. Get up and get on with it. Don’t limit your thoughts or your dreams. But don’t just dream, take action. Go for it. Get happy.
Best quote of the day, the one I suggest you remember throughout this day and maybe write down and keep with you, comes from another business icon, Google CEO Eric Schmidt. It is his one word answer to this question that will make you think, “When have you been the happiest in your life?”
His answer? “Tomorrow.”
Until next time, thanks for taking the time.
Mark
Mark Brodinsky, Author
It Takes 2. Surviving Breast Cancer: A Spouse’s Story
#1 Amazon Best-Seller
www.amazon.com/author/markbrodinsky
markbrodinsky@gmail.com
Great post!
Thanks Bonnie!