from a Jeffery Gitomer newsletter written by Noah Rickun:
As I caught the pass and planted my feet, I looked toward the basket. It was the championship game in what would be my last season of organized basketball. I was twelve. I may have been the worst player on the team, but I loved the game and, thankfully, my coach always played me a few minutes in the first quarter.
As I took the shot, I heard someone scream from the stands, “Don’t shoot!”. It was my mom.
My mother loved me so much that she couldn’t stand the thought of my being upset from missing the basket (the odds of me making a jump shot were probably somewhere just north of 10 percent). It had nothing to do with how she would feel if I missed the shot. My mom just didn’t want to see me disappointed.
I took the shot anyway. And, I made it.
Often, your closest friends and family advise against taking your shot – not in sports, per se, but in your business or your life. They do it to protect you. They warn you of what might not work with your new business plan. Of what could go wrong if you land that big interview. Of how risky it is to open your restaurant.
They tell you they love you and that, “it’s not you, it’s the economy,” or, “you’re great but it’s such a competitive industry.” Your friends tell you about what can go wrong, but rarely about what can go right. It’s because they don’t want to see you get hurt.
What to do? Ignore them. Ignore your mother. Ignore everyone. Take the shot.
Take YOUR shot. Before you take your shot, here are five tips to keep in mind:
1. You will regret the shots you don’t take rather than the shots that you miss.
2. As Wayne Gretzky tells us, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
3. If someone gives you unsolicited advice, consider the source. If you don’t respect that someone for his or her accomplishments, erase the advice from your memory.
4. When your friends and family help you choose between two alternatives, they will most likely recommend that you choose the easier path. Choose the harder one.
5. Solicit only insight. Only you can make the decision. Only you know what you are capable of.
I live by the maxim, “Life is about success; and success comes from the Journey”
So Start. Go. Shoot. Leap. Launch. Ship. Stand. Become. BE. DO. Have.
Your mother (and your true friends) will be right behind you. And then you’ll be soaking up her words of encouragement and congratulations for your accomplishments.
Live with Intention,
Dr Bill
About Dr Bill Toth
Bill’s Background
I’m just an average guy who’s learned a few things about Life, Success and Personal Development – thanks to some incredibly good and bad experiences during the past 25+ years. I’ve made many mistakes and have learned to combine down to earth values with a unique ability to distill complex concepts into simple powerful strategies which can be immediately applied to produce measurable results. In short;
“I’ve traveled the territory, drawn a few maps and I’m happy to share them”
I do not consider myself to be an “expert” and my work is never presented as the definitive doctrine on how you should live your life or what it takes to be successful in your business. I am a work in progress and if you were to you join me on life’s journey by hiring me as your coach or partnering with us in business – our learning will very likely be a two way street. In fact, I expect it to be.
“What you know dies with you – what you DO leaves a legacy”
I was raised in upstate New York and eastern Pennsylvania. This rural upbringing is strongly reflected in my personal value hierarchy: Faith > Family > Friends > Fitness and Finance.
Education and a commitment to continuous improvement are next on the list. All these and more are strongly reflected in my coaching, teaching, writing and speaking.
While growing my private practice I also taught Orthopedics and Neurology at both the undergraduate and graduate level, produced a TV show on fitness, appeared on numerous radio and TV programs, authored numerous journal articles, chapters for medical texts, served as vice-president of my state medical association, and started a family. I have had the honor and privilege of consulting with and coaching a diverse population of people from royalty to prisoners, from children to CEO’s, from amateur to professional athletes from 41 countries and people of almost every race, creed, religious belief and nationality.
I am passionately committed to contribution and Living With Intention. Part of my philosophy is to think globally while acting locally. I am a very active member of my church, as well as several community organizations. After church, my favorite philanthropy is the Nourish the Children. I have also performed extensive volunteer work for both the Anthony Robbins Foundation, and the Make a Wish Foundation.
Why become an Entrepreneur?
I became an entrepreneur because after 5 years of Health Care Reform I found I was merely an employee of the various insurance company’s I was interacting with. I became painfully aware I was working more hours for less money and that what I was doing wasn’t working!
At the same time my beautiful daughter, Casey, was born. This was the first time in my life I started to think about my future, and of course hers. When children come into your life, your perspective changes from Firebirds and Ferrari’s to Gymnastics, music lessons, horseback riding and so forth. Suddenly, I had to think longterm – was what I was doing going to provide all the things that a father wants for his children?
In October of 1998 I started my entrepreneurial endeavors on a very part time basis. Less than 3 months later my New Year’s Resolution was to put my practices up for sale. In May of 1999 I sold them and began to work on my dreams and my fortune on a full time basis. From there, it took me a full five years to get to the point where I could do whatever I wanted to do. Along the way I wrote my first book: “Morning Moments”…as well as learning a few things about money, transitioning careers and happiness. I am happy to share what I know, in short again;
“I’ve traveled the territory, drawn a few maps and I’m happy to share them”
In summary; Transitioning careers was the hardest challenge I’ve ever taken up and it’s been the most rewarding! In so many ways, this is the very best personal development seminar I’ve ever taken because I met mySelf and my wife in the process…and every perceived adversity was worth it.
Today, with my wife Julie, we “get to” pay the gift forward by coaching, mentoring others through the same process. There is no greater pleasure than showing others how to earn their freedom and then observing what good they do with it.
Life Will Never Be The Same
