SCRAP PLAN 'B'

Alexander Graham Bell said, "I shall create the telephone." Bell invented the telephone after much trial and tribulation, and in the face of much ridicule, but the point is, he didn't say, "I think I'll give it a try, and if I don't succeed in a couple of weeks, I'll do something else."

Henry Ford said, "I shall make automobiles so that they will be cheap enough for everybody to own one." He didn't say. "Well, I'll try to do it, but if I don't succeed, I'll just sell them to wealthy people."

And, Ray Kroc said, "I shall put a McDonald's hamburger stand on every street corner in America." He didn't say, "But, if it doesn't happen, I'll stay here in California and sell shoes, or something."

Now, it is accepted that mechanical things and electrical things can break down. And do! So having backup equipment, or a manual means of accomplishing what the machines normally accomplish, is to be recommended. So is backing up your computer files - we all know that little trick, although many people don't, and suffer for it when their computer goes on the blink. But, what would have happened, do you suppose, to the telephone, the automobile and McDonalds, if the aforementioned gentlemen hadn't pushed their dreams with such single-minded determination? It is all very comforting, and seemingly quite wise, to have a 'Plan B', but such 'Exit' strategies can be the death knell of dreams.

You might wonder what would have happened to one poorly educated, 65-year-old, broke and on Social Security, if he had had a 'Plan B'. Like so many in that situation, he would have certainly lived out his days in penny-pinching mediocrity.

But he decided to change his life. He didn’t wait to win the lottery. He just made a commitment to himself that nothing would stop him. And he would do it without a Plan B.

With few outside resources, he searched within himself for hidden talents, then remembered that friends and family always liked his chicken recipe. Since he had no money, he couldn’t start a restaurant, so he would have to sell his recipe in return for a share of profits.

He jumped in his old Chevy and set off to make his fortune, this 65-year-old. After approaching every restaurant in town without success, he set off to the next town. And the next.

Ask yourself this: How many rejections would you need before you quit? How many times could you hear the word 'No' before you gave up, and started working on Plan B?

Quitters never win: Winners never quit!

Although numerous doors were slammed in this man's face, after 1,532 rejections, the story goes, Colonel Sanders got a Yes, and the rest is history!

What is the true nature of success? Becoming powerful or successful, does not happen overnight. All true leaders have taken a long time and done a lot of work to get where they are. Real success has to be developed.

There are only two kinds of people in this world - those who are, and those who are not. Decide what you want to be, and be it! There is no trying, there is only doing!

Establish two principles for yourself - There shall be no Plan B. And: Failing is not an option! With that as your basis, there's nowhere to go but Up.