What’s your defining word?

Last week in North Carolina we had two of our large Success Starts Now! motivational public seminars. During the “Meet The Speakers Q and A” at the end of the day, a man who joined Top Producers Edge named Vernon asked us the question, “What is one word that defines you, your life, and that has helped you to get to where you’re at?” Have you ever thought about that question? What one word would you use to capture your essence? 

I guess most people, including myself, would’ve expected me to answer with “Discipline” which is obviously the core of my message and philosophy but somewhat unexpectedly a different word shot out of my mouth; the word was “Faith.” Looking back on it I’m realizing that the two words are inherently connected. For our purposes here I offer a simple definition that Faith is a general belief that things are going to work out for the best. The reason it takes Faith to lead a disciplined life is because Faith gives you the perspective you need to stay the sometimes difficult course of self-discipline. 

You may remember from the Law of The Pendulum that your real beliefs are revealed by how you act. But it takes having Faith that things are going to be worthwhile in the long term, in order to endure challenges and take action on the sacrifices in front of you right here and now. 

If you find that you’re not able to make the sacrifices and endure the pain of the short term then perhaps it’s because you are dwindling in your Faith that things are going to workout. Here are three strategies you can use to increase your Faith and in turn enhance your ability to follow through on your commitment to be more disciplined. 

1. Recognize how you’ve been Protected in the past when things went differently than you had planned. Hindsight is 20/20 and recalling the broken plans you had in the past will give you confidence that present un-planned challenges you may be experiencing will also likely lead to eventually prospering you.
2. Notice the Peace that comes from thinking about things that are beyond your control. Whether its nature’s miracles such as the mountains and the ocean, or man-made wonders like sky scrapers, there is a calmness that comes from reflecting upon the greatness of things that have taken shape beyond our control.
3. Gain Perspective from people who have endured incredible difficulties in their life. Learning from the stories of others not only gives us hope and inspiration but it reminds us to view our own lives with a greater scope of timeframe rather than just the here and now.

Many people have been asking for audio copies of my speech and I’m currently in the process of recording, packaging, and releasing my official Take The Stairs motivational speech on audio CD in the next few weeks. But to borrow a line from my contest speech at the 2006 Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking:

Faith gives you peace in times of frustration

Faith gives you protection in times of fear

Faith gives you perspective in times of failure

Ladies and Gentleman, Have Faith.

So as it turns out I guess Faith is my defining word. What’s your defining word? And this week can you develop the Faith required to “Take The Stairs”?

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See you in the stairwell,

Rory Vaden
Take the stairs – Success means doing what others won’t.

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