Have your chased a goal but come up short? Run after a dream that didn’t quite turn into reality? Looked to seize a new opportunity that slipped through your hands? If you’ve ever tried and failed, you know you have two options: give up or keep going.
Like Beyonce said in her song Freedom: “Imma keep running, because a winner never quits on themselves.”
To stay the course, especially when the outcome seems bleak at best is not easy. In fact, most people cave at the first sign of a challenging situation.
When I first made the decision to go from athlete to entrepreneur, I had a hard time figuring out what I was supposed to do to earn a living online and how I was supposed to do it. I was putting in countless hours and had nothing to show for it. I had no customers, no community, no cash.
I would write blog posts, update my social media accounts every hour and shoot videos daily but I just couldn’t gain any momentum. They say the definition of insanity is doing something over and over again, expecting the same results. There were days when I wanted to throw in the towel and conceded to the notion that maybe this “helping people online” thing might not be for me.
Now 5 years later I’ve helped thousands of people around the world turn their ideas into income, shared the stage with some of the most influential leaders in the world and built a business I am proud of…all while having the freedom to enjoy what matters most to me – my family!
While I am no where near where I ultimately want to be, I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am walking the right path and to think there was a moment where I came this close to quitting on this dream of mine, makes me that much more appreciative of what I have accomplished.
So instead of telling you all the reasons why you shouldn’t give up, I want to share with you 5 simple habits I’ve adopted that kept me out of loser-ville.
Here are 5 simple habits for people who never quit:
1. AFFIRM IT
Think of all the things that have already gone right thus far and express gratitude to the things you want to keep showing up in your life. While it’s easy and natural to get hung up on everything that not going as you’d expect, when you shift your focus to the things that are going well (even if it’s just ONE thing) your mood immediately begins to change.
You have hope that if ONE thing can go right, maybe something else can too. So each day you focus on the specific action steps that led you to success, rather than the mistakes that keep you stuck.
To achieve it you must affirm it. Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what you will do next.
I will be successful.
I will be happy.
I will win.
I will be unstoppable.
I will conquer.
I will be a champion.
I will create financial freedom.
I will…I will…I will!
2. REJECT IT
Reject anything that keeps you from your goals. Shun the naysayers, release the doubters, and never take “no” for an answer.
No matter what others say, don’t listen to them. You dictate how success shows up in your life. Don’t let your freedom, finances or fun hinge on other people’s agendas.
If someone says, “no,” use it as fuel to push you forward.
If someone says, “you can’t,” turn it into I can and I will. (Just watch me!)
If someone says, “not now,” re-write your own timeline and continue to work on your dreams.
No is never permanent.
3. REFRAME IT
If your plan didn’t pan out the first time, find a new perspective, another opportunity, another way. You can see failure as a dead end, or turn around and keep looking for the open window.
Reframe the problem, rework the plan, and try to come up with different solutions. Is there another way out? Can I take advantage of an overlooked opportunity that will help me move forward? Is there a way to turn this “sucky situation” into success?
Setbacks are setups for success and if you see your challenges as the learning experiences they are, you will never quit.
4. ADVERTISE IT
Even if it has not happened yet, go about your business “as if” everything you every dreamed of has already come to pass. Live as if you are successful and you will begin to attract success. Work as if you are already a millionaire and the money will catch up with the effort. Associate with winners as if you are already at the top of your game.
When you operate in the realm of “I AM” rather than focusing on what you “are not” you trick the universe into delivering what you’ve already professed.
Speak success over your life.
5. IMPROVE IT
When failure becomes the norm, it’s time to look at areas where you can improve. Be accountable and take responsibility for the level of success you desire by working on yourself first.
If success remains elusive don’t blame “bad luck” – the truth may be that you are not ready for success or the responsibility that comes with it. You may still need to work on:
Improving your attitude.
Improving your skills.
Improving your network.
The most successful people in the world are the people who have failed the most. Oprah was fired before she became one of the richest (and most influential) women on the planet. Michal Jordan was cut from his high school team before he became the greatest athlete of our generation. Why? Because they took the time to improve their skills instead of blame others for their failures. They continued to move forward in spite of the bad hand life had dealt them. They made changes in order to get better at what they do. Every time they failed, they didn’t quit but got valuable insight they used to improve.
Which habit do you need to work on? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!