Blog
Where am I already a success?
by Betsy Sobiech
June 26, 2009
Last night one of our Tiaras, Stacey Schieffelin, President of ybf Cosmetics (www.ybfstacey.com ) gave the Key Note Speech at the National Conference for NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) here in Chicago, IL, USA. It was great to see Stacey acknowledged for being such a fabulous and authentic – business woman. Several times in her speech she mentioned the need for women to recognize the things that are stopping them (or could stop them) from fulfilling on their dreams. I think Stacey was right on the money when she said: “. . . the thing that stops us most isn’t fear of failing or doing the wrong thing, but rather the fear of our own success – i.e., we might actually get what we say we want most.” Very interesting.
I can really see that . . . I call myself a risk-taker and yet there is this perverse “juice” that I get by saying that I am trying to make things happen, and that I’m striving for success. Like the striving is perceived as noble or something. Not only does it keep me very busy, but it also keeps me focused on what is not yet working for me. So what if? . . . what if ?. . . I just stopped striving and simply declared myself successful and went from there . . .
Benjamin Zander told a great story in his book, The Art of Possibility. He was teaching music to a group of incredibly successful and talented musicians. He started the semester by telling every one of his students that they had already ‘earned an A’ in the class. Now, he wanted them to play and focus for the semester knowing they already had the “A”. He said the results were extraordinary. His students were willing and able to take great risks in their development and as a result their growth as musicians was profound; far more than he could have anticipated in a normal ‘striving environment’.
So let’s do that – let’s declare where we are already a complete success in our lives! For me, I would say two areas jump out at me . . . turning ideas into new businesses, and always coming from win-win in every aspect of my life. Those are complete successes for me. How would you answer that question? Where are you already a complete success in your life?