6

What are You Doing with What’s Coming Your Way?

Success_Quotes

Share this image with your social networks![social_share]

It’s not what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you that matters. Not everything is within our control. Weather, the economy, our competition, and any number of other factors can affect us and our businesses. But in every climate where some are failing, others are succeeding. In most cases, it comes down to a choice in how they respond to the events popping up in their lives.

The Sandcastle

There was a young child who was being laughed at on the beach by the older kids.  Everyone had built sandcastles but his was simple and unimpressive.  They get to talking and decide to take turns dumping buckets of sand all over his creation.  Eventually they notice that the small kid has been constructing a sand masterpiece will all the fresh material.  Soon they’re starting to bring him buckets of sand and placing them gently next to his workspace.  By the end of the day he’s got the greatest sand castle the beach has seen all summer.

Sticks and Stones

Bricks can hurt and they can come in many forms.  They can be personal.  They can be professional.  Even the most steadfast people sometimes are a little vulnerable.  During one of these vulnerable moments, something malicious could do some damage.  On the one had, you don’t want to overreact to what is probably petty.  On the other hand, there’s no reason to try and become inhuman.  Instead, put negative feelings to positive use and let what could have been damaging turn into something constructive.  Don’t be afraid of a few bricks being tossed your way.

Won’t Break Your Bones

What can seem like assaults can be seen just as easily as instructive challenges to overcome.  If you know the source of this resentment, the attacks instantly lose their power. Other people’s insecurities come out as aggression. The brick being thrown may be their disguised failures.  They may not know how to react besides hurling their pessimism toward you, hoping to draw you down to their level.  Let their failures be your success.  If someone is too stubborn to learn from their own mistakes, that doesn’t mean you can’t use their mistakes you your benefit.  Focus on your success and foundation and use their energy as fuel.

Jealous People

People will try and bring you down for all sorts of reasons.  All these reasons stem from one place, however.  Jealousy.  You shouldn’t get angry with people for behaving out of jealousy.  In fact, you should feel pity.  Maybe these kinds of people are rude and cynical, but remember; deep down they feel scared and powerless.

Constructive Criticism

On the other hand, don’t become impenetrable to every brick thrown at you.  Sometimes a heavy brick can really knock a new idea into your head!  Even a badly packaged critique may have something of value inside if you look hard enough.  Use every tool at your disposal to improve yourself and your business.

Success is the Finest Victory

Truly succeeding will give you the greatest satisfaction when dealing with brick-throwers.  As your business grows and grows, these types will continue to be stuck in a rut.  They have a new generation to hurl bricks at.  You can watch smiling now and see the young entrepreneurs that have a gleam in their eyes.  You can see them building their foundation.

Don’t be afraid of bricks in your journey toward success.  Use other’s ammo as fuel for your ultimate sandcastle.

Adam Toren is an Award Winning Author, Serial Entrepreneur and Investor. He Co-Founded YoungEntrepreneur.com along with his brother Matthew. Adam is co-author of the newly released book: Small Business, Big Vision: “Lessons on How to Dominate Your Market from Self-Made Entrepreneurs Who Did it Right” and also co-author of Kidpreneurs.

Comments are closed