Keep the Brick Walls Out of Your Business

I was listening to the news a couple of days ago and something profound caught my attention. The tragic but inspirational story of Randy Rausch. In case you haven’t heard his story, I’ll briefly outline it before I go on to tell you why this is one of the most important lessons you can learn for your business, let alone how to change your life.

In 2007, Randy Rausch, was a pioneering computer scientist and a professor at Carnegie Mellon University where he gave the last of his lectures to a packed audience. He was diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Instead of giving up, Randy decided to share with the world the best things he’d learned in his life. The most undeniable truth he had learned was that we can’t change the cards we’re dealt. We can only change how we them.

Randy started his lecture with some push ups to show that he was still strong. He didn’t want his audience to pity him.

He joked, “I am dying and having fun and I am going to keep having fun.”

Randy talked about his childhood dreams, how he found that there are ‘brick walls’ or obstacles in front of every big dream.

His discussion about the brick walls hit home with me. I’ve never been one to let brick walls stand in my path to success. But this isn’t the case for most of the people in the world. Randy’s most profound statement should be permanently burned into your mind and into your heart, like it is with mine.

He stated, “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough. They are there to stop the other people!”

He nailed it. What more needs to be said? Remember this everyday and don’t loose sight of your dreams. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it, or make it, or earn it… especially yourself!

Don’t live in fear of failure, but take the steps you need to succeed to achieve your dreams. In your business, as well as your life, don’t be afraid to take risks or even simple steps because of the brick walls you or someone else has put in your way. Find a way around them. They may not even exist in the first place. We perceive many things and our emotions get in the way of our success. Fear is a very real emotion with us and it can stop us in our tracks.

Do you have a brick wall in your life? Does it seem like you have many? Do you feel boxed in by the walls with seemingly no path forward or around?

Try this first, sit down and think about the wall. Write down what it is. Wave your hand over it… crumble up the paper and throw it away. It’s that simple. It doesn’t exist any more.

Now go to another sheet of paper, take a few minutes to brainstorm things that can get you past the wall. Now do them. Check each off as you complete them, but keep track and do it! Forget the fear or anxiety you feel, just move on.

Most people’s brick walls are monetary. This may be a real wall in some cases, but how can you get over that wall? It’s simple, but many people aren’t willing to take the time to get over it. It’s a syndrome like our children have… you know what it is… you want it all right now! Don’t give up on your plan or your dream because you can’t afford to get there. Just lower your goal temporarily to get you started, then ramp it up as you see that you’re successfully scaling that wall. Break up your dream into smaller, achievable steps that you can recognize and appreciate the progress you make toward the final destination.

These walls we see in our path are perceived. Are they real? No. But the fear that we have to find a way past them keep us stationary in our path. It’s human nature. Recognize the barriers in your life… in your business… and waive your hand. Make them disappear and succeed!

Remember Randy’s message. Remember my words as well, “Plan where you want to be”.

Live by these two messages and you’ll find the extraordinary life that you seek.

Yours for Bigger Profits,

Stuart Scriven