Rationalize Success Away

I was invited to do a Leadership workshop at a well known Fortune 100 company out in New Jersey. The all day event was geared toward their new crop of interns. At a point in my presentation I talked about the many reasons we come up with for not taking action. The many excuses we create in order to delay or defer acting on our plans to achieve success.

I talked about how we have a bad habit of 'rationalizing' why something can't be done or be accomplished. We procrastinate because we convince ourselves that: It can't get done, I don't have enough time, I have too much to do already, I'm short on money so now isn't a good time, My dog's sick so I'm not in the mood to start anything right now, I'm not smart enough, I'm not qualified?, on and on, blah, blah, blah. You get the idea! We rationalize why we can't get going.

Did you ever break up the word 'rationalize'? The ability to 'ration lies' to ourselves. That's what we do when we come up with all kinds of excuses of why we can't do something or why we haven't started on what needs to get done. We feed ourselves small doses of lies every day; to the point where we convince ourselves not to ACT.

Later on in this leadership workshop, a student asked a question about how to network into a job outside his current area of concentration. I responded by asking him what were some of the obstacles stopping him. He responded with a litany of excuses of why he wasn't able to do it (offices are not in the same building, hard to get a hold of people, it's a big company, etc). But each excuse, as I bluntly pointed out to him, was just that, an excuse. These were inconveniences, NOT obstacles. Huge difference!

I then questioned his commitment for change (i.e., how bad he wanted it). He stared at me in a way that indicated he had gotten the point. You see none of his excuses for networking and meeting people outside his group were valid. He was simply 'rationalizing' why he wasn't doing it. I too have been a victim of 'rationing-lies' to myself and procrastinating. But over the years I've gotten better at catching myself doing it and forcing myself to take action even when my mind wants to convince me otherwise.

I've concluded that dreams don't dissipate over night. The reason many people will never achieve their goals or realize their dreams is because they 'rationalize' them away, bit-by-bit, day-by-day, week-by-week and so on. Every year we make new resolutions only to relinquish them, not all at once, but slowly through the impotent-laden rhetoric of rationalization. Every moment you delay in starting your life's mission, that's one less day you have to work with.

So my question to you is this, "What have you been 'rationalizing' away?" "What dreams or goals have you been deferring, waiting for the right moment or timing?

Take action...don't rationalize your success away! Remember, success happens for a reason.

Victor Gonzalez, top Hispanic motivational speaker and author of "The LOGIC of Success". For more info go to: www.thelogicofsuccess.com or by email victor@thelogicofsuccess.com

---

Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Weakness, Struggle, Fear, Knowledge, Growth, Courage, Leader

Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most remarkable men in... Read More

Managing Monsters in Meetings - Part 4, Quiet Participants

There are many reasons why someone would decline to participate... Read More

Father Knows Best

A good strong example of a family leader would be... Read More

The Leadership Talk As A Living Hologram

The hologram is a three-dimensional photograph made on a flat... Read More

5 Tips to Help You Win Big & Become a Village Hero

A few years ago, I returned to my impoverished village... Read More

How To Get To Know A Disabled Person

When you first meet someone who is blind, deaf, or... Read More

The Defining Moment: The Straw That Stirs The Drink Of Motivational Leadership (Part One)

Decades ago, as a rifle platoon commander in the Marines,... Read More

Pay No Attention To The Man Behind The Curtain!

As the 'Great And Powerful Oz' once said to Dorothy,... Read More

The Power of the Leader Within - The Keys to Martial Arts Life Mastery, Key#1

"What do you want to be when you grow up?"Remember... Read More

The Leader Within

Each and every one of you has hidden deep inside... Read More

Leadership: Wisdom of the Ages

If you gather 100 experienced leaders together to share with... Read More

Seven Personal Characteristics Of A Good Leader

How often have you heard the comment, "He or she... Read More

Recommended Books on Leadership and Team Building

The single most important thing a leader can do is... Read More

In Leadership, Dreams Are The Stuff That Great Results Are Made Of

Leadership is motivational or it's stumbling in the dark. The... Read More

Being an Extraordinary Leader Through Tough and Challenging Times

Tough and challenging times will surely come. That is a... Read More

Mr. Shoaffs Simple Strategies to Success

(Excerpted from the Jim Rohn Sampler single CD)My first mentor,... Read More

Leadership Tips From My Dad

Lee (L.B.) Weiss (Sept. 21/25 ? April 30/82)My dad has... Read More

Transformational Leadership

"What is leadership?" When this question is asked most of... Read More

Awaken the Leader in You: 10 Easy Steps To Develop Your Leadership Skills

"The miracle power that elevates the few is to be... Read More

The Top 10 Questions for Socially Responsible Leaders

The assets of your business traditionally include property, plant, equipment,... Read More

Who Is Randy Gage and Why Is He One of My Mentors and Heroes?

Who is Randy Gage? I first read about him in... Read More

Always Be Open To Learning

"We should not only use all the brains we have,... Read More

The Challenge to Lead

The topic of leadership has been and continues to be... Read More

3 Elements of Leadership Power!

In an article discussing the need for innovative products and... Read More

Ten Qualities Of A Great Leader - Plus 1

Great Leaders are optimists first and foremost. Their tendency is... Read More