What you cannot ever, ever do is give up. You cannot take your ball and go home when you’re losing the game. If you do, then all is lost. If you stick around even if the other team is creaming you, your luck might change. You have to stay in the game, no matter what, or you have zero chance for success.
Every time you want to quit and give up on your dreams, think about Kate’s simple advice. It’s not okay to give up. It’s perfectly fine to fail and have setbacks and even look like an idiot sometimes. It’s not okay to throw in the towel and surrender.
Read Kate’s words of wisdom out loud over and over like a mantra. Then find a quiet corner somewhere and close your eyes. Breathe deeply and let your mind roll over Kate’s words. Sit there quietly for as long as you have time. It might be five minutes or an hour. Feel the power inside you grow as you resolve to never give up.
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Aaron reminds us of another very important ingredient of success: kindness to others. You know how great it feels when someone gives you a compliment. When was the last time you gave one out? Are you stingy with praise?
Write in your journal today about how often you give out compliments to people. As you know, it is worthless to give meaningless compliments. You must be sincere. How many times this week have you given someone sincere praise? Do you remember how the person reacted when you gave them a compliment? How did you feel when you were able to brighten someone else’s day? Imagine the ripple effect that occurs when you throw a positive pebble into the pond by complimenting someone.
You don’t have to be stingy with praise. There’s plenty of it to go around. Don’t worry, you won’t run out. Find the good in people today, and let them know that you appreciate them in your life. It would be a pretty lonely world without them.
The second part of your assignment is to also spend some time writing about how good you feel when you receive compliments. What does that do to your self-esteem? How does it improve your overall day? How does it change your perception of the person who gave you the compliment? Now, remember that you have the power to make someone else feel that way. What a gift! It’s priceless, but it doesn’t cost a penny.
Give the gift of praise every day. Remember Aaron’s advice. It’s good to receive compliments, and it’s even better to give them.
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This is just great. It’s not enough that you have to do stuff for other people, but now you have to turn into some kind of manic cheerleader in order to achieve success? What will be next, motivational speaking? Evangelism?
You will be exploring enthusiasm for the next few days, but have no fear. You don’t have to get out the pom- poms and hop up and down like a crazy person. Enthusiasm is a little different than that.
Let’s start with a definition of the word. Enthusiasm originally meant inspiration or being in the presence of a god. Today, having enthusiasm is defined as; being excited, motivated, having an active or lively interest in something, or a certain intensity of feeling. Enthusiasm does not have to reach the point of fanaticism. It is a heightened interest.
Think about the successful people you know. They do have a sort of intensity, don’t they? That’s why they stick out from the crowd. They are fueled to accomplish great things, because they are extremely interested in what they are doing, and they believe in their work. They are inspired.
How can you cultivate your own enthusiasm? It’s not an easy thing to fake without looking completely insane. The key to finding enthusiasm is discovering what you love to do. What excites you? What do you do really well? You can’t be enthusiastic about something that barely interests you. Find your passions and pursue them. Your assignment is to write down what excites you or motivates you. What are you enthusiastic about today?
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What possesses some people to make heroic efforts and accomplish what no one thought possible? How do they get the strength and stamina to perform such valiant deeds? The spark is enthusiasm.
Harriet Tubman was born a slave in Maryland in 1820. She worked as a house servant as a child and in fields
