| How about that for a provocative | | | | good salary seemed very appealing. But |
| question! I'm sure your immediate answer | | | | it requires endless hours of hard work |
| is "Of course!" But many people who | | | | and continual development and this |
| answer in this way simply aren't really | | | | reality is far less appealing. |
| serious about achieving success. Let me | | | | 3. The man's father is paying for the |
| explain. | | | | course. He knows he can take as much |
| Recently, I had dinner with my best | | | | time as he wants because his father will |
| friend. I hadn't seen him for a while as | | | | pay for the extra study and the retaking |
| he is currently training to be a | | | | of exams. As he isn't paying for his own |
| commercial pilot. During dinner, we | | | | studies - and for his own mistakes - he |
| discussed the importance of having | | | | doesn't have the focus and urgency that |
| complete focus on achieving success. | | | | comes when you spend your own money. In |
| In my own case, I wanted to run an | | | | other words, failing isn't painful |
| Internet business and this meant giving | | | | enough for him. |
| up my full time job so I could focus on | | | | 4. Easily distracted. Instead of doing |
| learning the necessary skills and have | | | | extra study after classes, the young man |
| the time to develop and run my business. | | | | surfs the Internet. He's a keen sports |
| The process has required me to invest | | | | fan and spends hours on the web looking |
| lots of time, lots of hard work and | | | | at sports sites. They are wasted hours, |
| sacrificing a lot of other activities in | | | | hours that won't take him any nearer to |
| my life to concentrate fully on | | | | becoming a pilot. This distracts him |
| developing my websites. | | | | from the task at hand, as does: |
| For my friend, his determination to | | | | 5. Inviting his girlfriend over every |
| become a pilot has required an | | | | weekend. Instead of working, studying or |
| investment of around $100,000 to date. | | | | flying at the weekends, he spends it |
| He too gave up his job to pursue his | | | | instead with his girlfriend. They go |
| dream and he also gave up his | | | | shopping together, they watch movies |
| girlfriend. He has studied in 3 | | | | together, they dine out and you can |
| countries and has studied very hard, day | | | | guess the rest! My friend tried to point |
| and night, to attain the necessary | | | | out to him that he was wasting weekends |
| skills and qualifications. | | | | he could use to get more hours in. He |
| Conversely, we discussed how many people | | | | was met with the reply "Yes, but my |
| say they want success but aren't really | | | | girlfriend wouldn't be happy about that, |
| serious about it. A case in point is a | | | | we have to see each other" Despite my |
| young man my friend encountered on a | | | | friend saying they could spend lots of |
| course in Oklahoma. He too was studying | | | | time together AFTER he'd qualified, the |
| to become a pilot but was struggling to | | | | young man still invites his girlfriend |
| reach the required standard. Despite | | | | for weekends - and has recently failed a |
| having the ability, the young man failed | | | | third test. |
| his tests twice and my friend | | | | If you are to achieve the success you |
| highlighted the following reasons. As | | | | really want, it requires total focus. |
| you read, see if any apply to you:- | | | | You must be prepared to give it your |
| 1. Heart isn't in it. He left university | | | | full attention and be 100% committed to |
| and didn't have a clear idea of what he | | | | your projects. It must become the number |
| wanted to do. His father had found a | | | | one priority in your life. |
| pilot's course whilst surfing the | | | | So, are you REALLY serious about YOUR |
| Internet and mentioned it to his son. | | | | success? |
| Thinking that becoming a pilot would | | | | Until next time. |
| make his family proud, he signed up. He | | | | Chris Green is the author of the new |
| isn't doing it for himself. | | | | book "Conquering Fear", the acclaimed |
| 2. Sold on romance: The thought of being | | | | book that shows you how to turn fear, |
| a pilot with the prestige and respect | | | | your worst enemy, into your most |
| that comes with it and of course, the | | | | powerful ally. |