With the Ironman World Championships in Kona three weeks away, I have been thinking about how the athletes who are competing there are spending these last few weeks in preparation for race day on the Big Island. They are letting their bodies recover from months of grueling training; they are staying mentally focused on the goal, and they are thinking (and rethinking) their plan for the days leading up to race day. Their preparations started months, maybe years ago. But like all of us who have a dream, who set a goal we'd like to achieve, they share a personal trait of all successful people everywhere:
THEY BELIEVE WITH CERTAINTY THAT THERE IS NOTHING THAT CAN'T BE ACCOMPLISHED
Many of us have a list of goals, dreams, big ideas we write down and revisit often.....but do we have a plan to achieve them? Do we take those important small steps every day to reach our goals? Have we developed the habits that bring structure and focus to out efforts and enable us to perform at a high level of personal effectiveness? Do we hold ourselves accountable for our actions and results?
But most importantly - do we start with the belief that anything is possible - if we are committed, focused, willing to make the necessary sacrifices and enlist others in our dream?
The Ironman athletes that are headed for Kona started with that belief. Successful corporate leaders do as well. They are not deterred by a challenging economic environment, doubting colleagues or changing corporate circumstances.
The Hawaiians have a word for this: "KALA" - which loosely translated means "There are no limits".
So what is your dream?
