When I started in this industry I thought if I can just apply my hard work and championship spirit and the same focus that got me in Olympic caliber shape, I would smash this thing. I knew everything there was to know about the body, getting in shape and what it took to run fast, but I learned more about the mind (my mind) in my network marketing  career than I ever had as a professional athlete.

I’ve written a few posts about the correlation between being a champion gold medalist and finding MLM success online, which I will outline for you below:

1. Both take extreme focus, dedication and commitment
2. Finding success at a high level is rare and not easy
3. Your “workout/business plan” is developed by the goals you want to achieve
4. Both take time and faithful execution before you begin to see any significant results
5. There will be times when you think “why am I putting myself through this” and want to give up.

The last point is crucial.  You will want to give up. At some point in the various journeys we embark on in our personal lives and careers, we get to a point where we feel like giving up. Sometimes we give up before we even start and other times we give up just before we are about to make that huge break-through that we have been putting so much effort in to achieve. It is how you deal with the thought of quitting that will make or break your success.

For many people, including myself, anything that requires you to continually give 100% of yourself, work tirelessly, and give more effort than you thought humanly possible (sometimes with little appreciation, reward or results)  will drive you to thinking of throwing in the towel.

• “I’m not seeing results…”
• “I don’t have the time…”
• “I want to quit…”
• “When is it going to happen for me…”
• “This is too hard…”

Have you said any of these things to yourself before?

Well I have…more than a few times. When I was training in 115 degree St. Louis weather, traveling to track meets every other day living out of my suitcase, not seeing my family for months at a time, all for the sake of chasing a dream. Yep I thought about calling it quits. When I started getting serious with my Internet network marketing business, I thought about giving up because I wasn’t sure if what I was doing was worth the effort. I was taking lots of time away from my family and friends, dedicated to building a successful presence online and a profitable business. And there were many times when I had to regroup and catch my breath because it was hard to keep up, I doubted my ability or thought I was in over my head.

I have many other instances in my life where I wanted to give up but you know what…I never did and I was not about to start now. What makes me sad is that I see so many people, with so much potential,  many who’ve already put in so much time and effort into going after their dream, just give up and it is my hope that the following list will nix the possibility of you ever giving up, because what you need to understand is that you could have something extraordinary, even if you don’t realize it yet.

1. Remember Why You Are Playing The Game
If I ever get an inkling of wanting to throw in the towel, I remember the reasons why  I am doing what I am doing in the first place. This is hard to do especially when you are frustrated, tired and just plain fed up. But sometimes all it takes is a conscious effort of remembering your purpose to put it all back into perspective and keep you on track.

2. Don’t Give Your Self a Way Out
It becomes commonplace to just say “Oh, if this doesn’t work out I’ll try something else.” Don’t make it easy for yourself to back out. Eliminate any options that allow you to not follow through.

3. Tell Someone What You Plan To Do Next
By telling others what your goals are and what you are planning next keeps you accountable. If you tell someone you are going to do something and don’t follow through, you might be seen as a failure (or a Liar) or feel like you let that person or group of people down. That feeling a failure is horrible and having someone there to constantly remind you of your goals is a sure way to keeping you moving forward.

This is something I recently started doing on The Gold Medal Marketer Blog. For instance, I announce projects or goals I want to achieve, many times even before I’ve begun because it forces me to get it done and see it through to completion.

4. Give Yourself a Deadline
If there is a due date or an established time line laid out, this minimizes the thoughts of quitting. So take the time to set a realistic due date on your goals and projects so you work toward accomplishing your tasks. Write the deadline down so it becomes ingrained in your mind. This way you’ll be reminded everyday that you should be doing something toward accomplishing that goal by it’s due date. (Click Here For MY downloadable Business Success Map Worksheets)

5. Find People With Similar Goals
When you are able to align yourself with people of common interests who have the same goals as you,  it allows you build a support group that motivates and keeps everyone accountable. There is something about being part of a team or community. You don’t want to let your peers down and you feel  even start to get a sense of friendly competition. You don’t want someone outdoing you so what do you tend to do? You tend to push a little harder, work a little longer and reach a little further.

That’s why it’s easier to get through a workout when you have a partner. It’s a great reason why I’ve been able to keep my blog and Internet network marketing business pushing. I’ve been fortunate to have quite a few “Internet pals”. Some of them are part of my network marketing business, others are just people who share the same interests and goals, others are part of a leadership mastermind community I’m in. We share our goals, our challenges and offer solutions and advice on building success.

I am driven because I don’t want to let myself down but I also don’t want to let my peers down either. I continue to work hard so I can keep up, do better, exceed expectations. It becomes a team sport in a sense, something we are all in together and want to be successful in together.

It all comes down to this: As Long As You Are Alive Anything Is Possible. The only valid excuse you have to give up is if you are dead. As long as you are alive (and healthy and free) you have the choice to keep trying until you finally succeed.

So what about you? What tricks or techniques do you implement to keep yourself from giving up?

To Never Ever Ever Giving Up On Your Dreams!