Within the context of commitment

Wednesday, June 21, 2006
By Walt F.J. Goodridge
Special to the Saipan Tribune


The only way to take control of your life, raise your standard of living and move beyond merely surviving is to create your own unique product or service that you offer to increasing numbers of people in exchange for the things of value that you desire. This simple formula applies to countries as well as people. A self-sufficient economy has its own products or services of value to export to the world. Similarly, a self-sufficient individual has something of value to exchange in the global marketplace. That thing of value is based on your natural talent, skill, or interest—in other words, your passion!


Within the context of creation
Every challenge is a tool
Every obstacle will aid your growth
and failure is your fuel

Within the context of advancement
all distractions fall away
All the suffering is justified
and even work can seem like play

Within the context of achievement
every risk may lead to gain
And the unknown’s an adventure
with rewards beyond the pain

Within the context of improvement
facing fear becomes the norm
and your mission is your shield
that helps you weather every storm

Within the context of your purpose
all your fearfulness is cured
Former habits lose their grip
and all life’s pain can be endured

Within the context of commitment
the world becomes a different place
For what you once saw as a hindrance
spurs you on to win the race!

Just yesterday, a friend and I were reminiscing about our involvement in a business venture that required us to stretch ourselves and to do things outside of our comfort zones. Essentially we had to become salesmen in order to achieve the success we envisioned for ourselves. We had to conquer our fears of approaching people, our fears of rejection, and the tendency to settle for mediocrity. We had to subordinate our normal habits and tendencies in the interest of achieving a particular goal. Today, we can say we’re better individuals for having put ourselves through the ordeal. But, we asked ourselves, how and why we are able to do it?

The truth is, we never considered the tasks themselves to be “fun,” but we saw them as necessary in the attainment of our goals. We also had the benefit of working with other entrepreneurs and in an environment that made the experience tolerable and even quite enjoyable.

But the ultimate reason for our success was that we were committed to creating something. We were all about creating something for ourselves and for those whom we loved. We were on a mission to make our worlds better places. And within the context of that bigger dream of what we were creating, all the late nights, the fear, the weariness, the rejection, and the pain were all secondary, all minor, and all doable.

Today, much of what I do : writing books, doing workshops, and consulting, are all done within the context of my mission to "share what I know, so that others may grow." People say I work too hard. But, I’ve always thought that it’s not "work" unless you don’t like what you’re doing.

Whether you’re starting a new life, launching a new business, resuscitating an economy, there will be sacrifices necessary. But you’ll be able to endure them all if you focus on the bigger picture. Today’s bit of poetic motivation, therefore, is intended to encourage you to find the greater context for your own life that makes it all worthwhile! What shall you create today?

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Until next week, remember, success is a journey, not a destination!--Walt


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