No one owes you a thing! You have had bad things happen to you just like every other person in the world. The difference in you and those successful people on the stage at your companies big events is not that they worry more lucky than you or started out more fortunate. The difference is they have the mindset for success that will not allow any setback, big or small, stop them from achieving their ultimate goal. I am going to tell you the story about the life of someone who chose not to let adversity effect their life.
Let’s call this person, John, for storytelling purposes. John was brought up in an upper middle class family. Although his family was doing well, his father never handed out money to him or his brothers. If they wanted anything, they would have to work, save, and then get what they desired. Work ethic was ingrained in him early in life.
Fast forward to junior year in high school and John is a semi star football player at his high school. At the end of football season, John and his buddies throw a party for a few friends that turned into a few hundred in a matter of hours. 12 hours later, the alcohol had long worn off and one of John’s classmates was pronounced dead from an accidental gunshot wound to the head in a room at that party. John struggled with this burden for several years after the event.
As a result, he fell into some habits that are not desirable for anyone (drugs, alcohol, etc.) underage especially. John is out with some close friends at a party and has to much to drink. His friends realized this and took the keys to his truck, however, some 4 hours later John was in the parking lot of a gas station in his truck that had flipped on its side and back over surrounded by Police. The truck was so badly damaged that no one knew how he was still alive, let alone only bruised.
John manages to start straightening himself up and manages to graduate from college. Upon graduation, he enters into business with his father. One construction related business spawns five more in 6 years time and the combined revenues of all the businesses is hitting anywhere from 5-8 million per year. Life is good and all the bad things that have happened seem to disappear.
Jump to the year 2008 and the housing market crashes sending John’s companies profits tumbling. Every effort was made to save all of the companies, but one by one they had to be shut down. Personally bankruptcy seems inevitable at this point as a result of the personally guaranteed debts of all of the companies.
What did John do? Did he fall back into some of his old habits?
Why don’t you ask him, because if you can’t figure it out, John is me. Does knowing my story make you feel sorry or think maybe your problems aren’t so big? No matter what you are thinking right now, the moral of this story is that everyone has problems and no amount of them entitles you to anything. The only way for you to be successful is for YOU to make it happen no matter what.
You get fired from your regular J-O-B, so what, that’s just another speed bump in your road to success. Take it in stride and let it feed your fire for success. You guys are the first people, other than those who know first hand, that I have ever opened up to about my life story. Not for inspiration, but for demonstration that you control your destiny and no one else! I could have easily given in after any of these things in my life, but chose not to and to move forward. It doesn’t mean I made all the right decisions, but I didn’t let the things that have happened to me end up ruling my life.
If you really and truly want something, no amount of bad, good, or indifferent will deter you from achieving that. What’s that called?
The Mindset For Success.
Eric McMillan
P.S. A special thanks to Chris Owen for letting me borrow his “Mindset for Success” topic.
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Thanks for sharing your story Eric,
You’re right — everyone has their own story, but not everyone can own their stories and share them like you just did.
I have no doubt that this latest setback was just a “bump in the road” for you…
Heck, it may even lead to bigger and better things!
Hey Derek,
The sad truth about most people is they try to justify why they did something wrong when questioned. Instead of accepting the things life throws at you as just part of it, they dwell on the reasons why this is a bad thing and why they can’t do something instead of using it as motivational fuel to push them to be their best.
Thanks for stopping by,
Eric, reporting from Cali.
Hey Eric,
Thanks for this story!
There will always be challenges that we have to face. Some of us are tested just a little bit harder than others. But when you walk out from it, you will always be ahead.
Once again thanks for sharing…
Josh
Hey John, sorry Eric (ha)
Some real challenges you faced there my friend, glad to see that you have not let it ruin your future goals for success.
You must have some real winning skills to have even have had multiple million dollar businesses. I am sure even Warren Buffet lost many battles before he rose to success.
Cheers for the post my friend.
Wayne Vassell, signing out…
What a great mindset reminder Eric.
Having a mindset for a successful life is what we are meant to have despite all of the adversities we are faced with. We rise above no matter.
Thanks man, I needed this (we all do, once in a while).
Jerome Ratliff
Hi Eric,
Telling our story can be hard, and I think it’s awesome that you told yours. It’s inspiring and motivating. You have risen above rough times and are still proving that you are on top.
Thank you for sharing with the world. Many people can benefit from reading your story.
Susanna
The thing about stories is they can be great motivators, but another thing about them is that everyone has a different one and understanding these differences is key to influence.
Hey Eric,
Inspiring story, great to see you chose the path you did. So many others would of gone off the rails and not come back.
I really believe that it’s not the events of your life, but the way in which you deal with and move on from them that define you as a person.
Thanks,
Matt
Hi Eric,
What a powerful story. Thanks for sharing it with us.
I am a believer that everything that happens to us that is a negative, is a growing test. We either grow stronger, learn from it, and move upward, or we fail the test and go down the wrong road.
Glad to see you’re a champ!
Twila
Hey Eric,
That was a powerful story, gave me goose bumps. How did that old song go, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going?” Sounds like you got going,
It makes you a special person because you were able to turn that corner and get on your feet. I have heard many, many stories of the ones that never got back on their feet. And then when life tried to chop block you again, you didn’t budge.
Glad I was able to share your story and the experience the difference you are making.
Peace!
Tommy D.
“The Prospecting Hero”
WOW “John”! Thanks for sharing that story!
You’re right, now matter how bad things may seem, there’s always someone out there who has overcome even bigger challenges!
Thanks for being an inspiration!
It was a good day to discover your blog. Interesting story. That’s the thing about life: it’s not fair. We can either whine about it, or pick ourselves up when we fall down and keep going. This is where the losers crawl off to wallow in self pity but the champions keep fighting until they achieve victory.
We can all stop at times like this and ask ourselves, “Which one am I- Loser or Champion?”
Hey Karen,
Thanks for stopping by. The key for anyone is to be able to appreciate their story, but also understand they are not ruled by it or circumstances. I like that question, straight to the point.
Eric