Weekly Success Tips An E-Mail service from Tim Connor, CSP Speaker Trainer Author
No. 7 Avoid soothsayers
Sooner or later someone is going to cross your path and attempt to discourage you, dissuade you or even sabotage you. These people can take many forms. They can be a spouse, parent, friend, in-law, supervisor, child, neighbor or associate.
Turn them off. Get them out of your life. Delete them. Don't give them any room in your consciousness.
People often say, "I just want you to be realistic." Being realistic is often an excuse for being negative. Or, "I don't want you to be hurt, fail, disappointed etc. etc. etc."
Tune them out. Don't give them any room. Avoid them. Don't let them influence your dreams, desires, or life destiny. Let them worry about their own life.
I have had a few of these in my life from time to time. And I am sorry that I did not recognize them for what they were earlier. If I had I would have saved myself a great deal of grief as well as accomplished more sooner. Oh well, later is better than not at all.
I love the quote by the late Arthur Ashe, "True greatness is, start where you are, use what you have and do what you can." That says it all.
It doesn't say anything about - I'll try, some day, if I am lucky, if I meet the right people, when I have enough money, belong to the right groups or clubs, if I go to the right schools, have the right parents, am the right age, color or sex, I am too old or too young, too short or too tall, too beautiful or too ugly. That's enough Tim.
Who are your soothsayers? They can be easily recognized. They seldom encourage you, pat you on the back, support you or believe in you.
Get them out of your life, if not physically, then mentally or emotionally.