They sometimes do it out of necessity or to solve a problem or because they have a passion for making a difference. They step toward action. They do not wait, hoping it comes to them.
W. Clement Stone was one of those people. Much of what is known about W. Clement Stone comes from his autobiography The Success System That Never Fails. In that book, he tells of his early business life which started with the selling of newspapers in restaurants. At the time, this was a very novel thing to do, which deviated dramatically from the normal practice of young boys hawking newspapers on street corners. He had his own newsstand at 13, and later founded what would become a multibillion-dollar insurance empire with $100 of his hard earned savings.
Stone's own rags-to-riches story convinced him that, with faith and a positive mental attitude, anyone could become successful. The formula for achievement that he believed allowed no room for procrastination, "When you wake up in the morning, start with the phrase, 'Do it now, do it now, do it now, do it now,'" he said, adding if you want to succeed, this is the start, you should repeat those three words 50 times in the morning and 50 times before bed.
The message he wanted to ingrain in our heads was simple: If you want to be successful, don't wait for tomorrow.
Just do it now.....START!
Stone, who died in 2002 at the age of 100, was a prime example of the power of starting. He didn't let significant obstacles deter him from becoming successful because he understood that the journey of a thousand miles really does begin with one step. And there's no time like the present to take that first step.
I don't know what you need to start.
But it doesn't matter.
Just start now.
What is stopping us? For most of us it is fear.
Anne Jackson author of Permission to Speak Freely wrote this:
Have you ever wondered who’s behind that little voice in your head that tells you, “you’re in this by yourself, one person doesn’t make a difference, so why even try?” His name is Fear.
Fear plays the role of antagonist in the story of your life. You must rid yourself of him using all necessary means.
We’re often impressed by those who appear to be fearless.
The people who fly to the moon.
Chase tornadoes.
Enter dangerous war zones.
Skydive.
Speak in front of thousands of people.
Stand up to cancer.
So, why are we so inspired by them? Because deep down, we are them.
We all share the same characteristics. We’re all divinely human.
Until Fear is gone, (and realize he may never completely leave) make the decision to be courageous.
The world needs your story in order to be complete.
I love what Anne wrote, because it is true for all of us. God has put a hero inside of you and me and the hero is ready to start doing heroic things!
So just start.....before it is too late!
"We are now faced with the fact, my friends, that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now. In this unfolding conundrum of life and history, there is such a thing as being too late. Procrastination is still the thief of time. Life often leaves us standing bare, naked, and dejected with a lost opportunity. The tide in the affairs of men does not remain at flood -- it ebbs. We may cry out desperately for time to pause in her passage, but time is adamant to every plea and rushes on. Over the bleached bones and jumbled residues of numerous civilizations are written the pathetic words, "Too late."
- Martin Luther King
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