If you have been moving as slow as molasses toward your goals lately and cite lack of time or resources as the culprit, you are not going to like what I have to say. Not having enough time or money is not a valid reason for not doing something. Period. You aren’t doing it for one reason and one reason only: You don’t want it bad enough.
How do I know that? I know it because when you truly want something, all the way down to your toes, you will push, fight and climb your way over any mountain that gets in your way. You will make it happen. I don’t care what this “thing” is. It can be starting a business, buying a house, writing a book, running a marathon, whatever. Until you want something as bad as you want to be here on Earth, you don’t stand a chance of overcoming the challenges that you will face on your way there.
A Wake-Up Call
I was talking with a long-time friend recently who told me that her dream has always been to start a home-based scrapbooking business. She told me that, as a single mom, she simply cannot give up the income from her current job and is pretty much strapped for time between working a full-time job and caring for her two kids. She asked me if I thought she should let go of her dream.
I told her that her answer is simple, and it’s right in front of her. I asked her how bad she wanted it. Did she want it bad enough to give up sleep because she would essentially be working two full-time jobs? Was she willing to sacrifice some of her time with her kids because she simply wouldn’t be able to continue to be everywhere, all the time, for everyone? Would she tighten up her budget, cut expenses, and give up some of the luxuries she loves so she could save more and build up a cushion for if/when she decided to take the plunge?
She clearly hadn’t thought of it in those terms, which is not unique to just her. We all tend to think of an end goal or a dream as a big, fluffy cloud that is surrounded by rainbows and unicorns. Everything in our lives would instantly be perfect if only we could have ABC, or do XYZ. That’s called fantasy, folks. There is nothing wrong with dreaming, but at some point you need to return to reality.
It’s Not An Easy Answer
Going after your dreams is not a cut-and-dry decision. There are a lot of factors that go into a decision like this, but it ultimately comes down to your priorities and how hard you’re willing to work.
There is no right or wrong answer, but you DO need to get to AN ANSWER before you can take even a baby step toward your goal. You need to know what your priorities are and what your limits are. And you have to have a strong hold on the things that motivate you.
My friend decided that she wasn’t ready to do it. She simply didn’t want it bad enough, right now, to turn her entire life upside-down for something that may or may not be successful. That kind of decision takes guts. And it hurts. I was proud of her for making it.
And Now the Work Really Starts…
If you ask yourself the hard questions and decide that your dream is worth fighting for; that you’re ready to do whatever it takes to reach your goal; that you’re going to dig in your heels and gather your determination; that you’re willing to make sacrifices — good for you.
You may still be in for one heck of a fight, but you are most certainly in a better position now that you have discovered how bad you want this. Hang on to that fire and use it. You’re going to need it as you go after what you want.