By Herman Dixon, CLU, CLF, LUTCF, LTCP, RFC, MBA
NAIFA-West Virginia President
  
I have been very fortunate to have made some very sound business connections in the industry.  One of those connections is my good friend Dr. Mark Hillman.  Mark is an author, trainer, health consultant and executive coach among his many professional achievements.  He also provides a very simple energy gram that I like to read.
 
One of my favorites hit some deep roots and I wanted to share it with you.  I hope you find his thoughts engaging and useful in your business and personal life.  Though not a commercial or direct endorsement, I do feel that his website would be interesting for you to view.
 
* The goal of an argument should be progress, not victory.
* Winning isn't everything, but wanting to win is.
* Character builds slowly, but it can be torn down with incredible swiftness.
* The most difficult part of getting to the top of the ladder is getting through the crowd at the bottom.
* Success is not a doorway; it's a staircase.
* Feel the fear, and do it anyway.
* Declare your mission - and then live it!
* Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated.  You can't cross a chasm in two small jumps.
* Helping others harvest their triumphs brings more success than insisting everything be done your way.
* Say what you mean, mean what you say, just don't say it mean.
- www.drmarkhillman.com
 
So, what do these simple statements say to us?  Directly, that WE... OURSELVES... Yes, ME, YOU... control in the ultimate end, how we view issues; whether we respond or react to those issues; what we do about the issues; and, whether or not we see success in our efforts or setback.
 
It is easy to make excuses when things go wrong. It is easy to allow the "poor ole me" syndrome to rule our lives when things are not going our way.  But, it takes "grit"; yes, hard packed "grit" to seek solutions to life's problems whether business or personal, rather than to continue praising those problems and then blaming everything in sight for the problem being there.  Inactivity of action regarding a personal or business issue whether good or challenging is of no value.  Why?  Because the next morning and every morning there after we awake, it is staring us in the face.  Every day that we do not seek a different direction or a workable solution or an expanded action depending on the current situation, is one day lost that would rid us of negative thinking, and loss of self-esteem.
 
So, find the "grit" you need to tough it out!  If one door is closed, find another or build one!  No problem is too great, nor situation too dire that a workable solution cannot be found if we...YOU, ME, will invest the time, the thought process and the action to bring that solution to the forefront of our lives.  If it is to be...it IS in large part, UP TO ME!