From defining your goals to moving past your fears, a great deal of focus has been given to the process of achievement. But what if the process never even begins? Every trick won’t do you any good if you don’t have the mindset to start. That’s why today’s message is focused on overcoming an obstacle that doesn’t just slow progress - it makes it impossible. And it’s not just advice that I want to share. Instead I have a true story that will give you the hope and inspiration you need to proceed with confidence toward your goals.

The Billion-Dollar Decision
Thousands cover the landscape from New York to California, from London to Tokyo. It doesn’t matter how young or old you are, chances are good that you’ve walked into one, most likely more than once. And regardless of what you think about its image and impact, no one can argue that McDonalds isn’t an empire in the world of business. The point of this McDonalds’s story isn’t about what they serve over the counter each day, nor does it have anything to do with the debate over where these restaurants should and should not be located. No, this story is different. It’s one of dreams and inspiration. And the leading role is played by its legendary leader, Ray Kroc.With the Super Bowl just ending, college basketball’s big dance on the horizon, and the Olympics just a little more than a year away, we are constantly reminded that greatness often begins at an early age. We hear of children becoming athletes only years after they learn how to walk, about young stars working decades to reach the pinnacle of their sport. This theme, success being achieved by those who started at an early age, is found in much more than sport.

Busting the Myth
Entrepreneurs like Bill Gates of Microsoft and Phil Knight of Nike, both beginning their drive toward success at an early age, lead us to believe that all success follows this path. And if success in life requires an early start, millions around the world have already missed their chance. But then a man named Ray Kroc comes along and gives us hope. He gives us proof that an early start isn’t as important as a deep desire to make the most of our lives. When most people believe their life is winding down and heading for retirement, Ray was just beginning to create one of the most successful businesses in history. To begin working toward his dream at twenty years of age would be quite amazing given the size and success of his company at the time of his passing. Thirty or forty years old would be almost ridiculous. So how old was Ray Kroc when he took the first step toward growing McDonald’s into a worldwide phenomenon? 52. Even now I can’t believe it. But it’s true, and it gives hope to every single person out there who feels that their time has passed. As long as you’re alive and breathing, your time will never pass. But the history of Ray Kroc and his decision to achieve a dream late in life is about much more than age. It’s about a lesson we all must learn if we are to be truly happy and successful.

What’s the Real Lesson?
What I want to do more than anything else is to get one point across: you must take all that you are at this moment and make the most of it. Excuses about age, time, money, and every other item we throw into the mix to help us feel better about putting our dreams on hold will end up killing our hopes for a happy and fulfilling life. Ray Kroc teaches us that age is never an issue when it comes to getting what you really want in life. Use his story to inspire action if you are at an age when you felt that your time had passed. But this is only one example. If you look hard enough you will find a story like Kroc’s that shatters every excuse we hide behind. People from every walk of life, facing extraordinary odds, have achieved great things and created truly amazing lives. Proof that you can do it as well.

An Exercise to Inspire Success
It’s time to take what we have learned and put it to use. If you’re human, you probably have a few excuses that you tell yourself about why you can’t do something about your goals today. Perhaps the time isn’t right or the time has already passed. Maybe the money isn’t there or the people around you just won’t support your plan. Whatever it is, I want you to make a short list of the most powerful excuses you tell yourself.

When you have them, I want you to do something a little different than usual. Instead of writing down all of the reasons why your excuses aren’t true, I want you to act as if you’re giving advice to a friend who has told you about his or her goal but ends it with the excuses you use for putting off following through. Think about it. What would you tell your best friend if he or she came to you and said…’I really want to (goal), but I can’t because (excuse).’ What would you say to change their mind? What would you say to motivate them past their excuses and onto success? When you know what you would say to them, say it to yourself and follow through. The reason for this role reversal is simply that we are great at giving advice but rarely as good at taking it ourselves.

By changing the roles you can get your best advice out of your head and hard to work for you and your future. When it comes down to it, you’ve got to ask yourself how much you want to change your life, how much you really want to achieve your goals. If they are worth it, which I know they are, put an end to the excuses and follow Ray’s lead. Accept the facts of your situation and move ahead with an unwavering confidence. You may not end up selling billions of hamburgers to millions of people around the world, but you will do something much more important - you will live your best life. As we wrap up today’s issue I want to share an exciting breakthrough with you.

Motivation, one of the most important skills you can have in life, isn’t what you think. Most believe it’s a drive that comes and goes without notice. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Ray Kroc could have used his age as an excuse to pass by the opportunity that brought him unimaginable success. He could have shrugged his shoulders and lowered his head in defeat. Instead, he grabbed life by the horns and plowed full speed ahead toward the dream he was unwilling to pass by. What I’ll say is… Follow his lead. Look for more interesting articles from The Millionaire Secrets.

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Posted on April 6th, 2007 by Shawn
Filed under: Motivation/Inspiration

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