Don't Listen

One of the biggest problems with achieving our goals and dreams is other people. And us, listening to other people. Truth is, other people don’t understand our goals. All they see is the reality in front of them and not what is inside our mind as to the why. They don’t see our passion, drive and desire to fulfill and live our dreams. So why do we listen to them and not our own amazing minds? Why do we give their thoughts more power than our own?

Wilma Rudolph was the twentieth of 22 children. She was born prematurely, and her survival was doubtful. When she was 4 years old, she contracted double pneumonia and scarlet fever, which left her with a paralyzed left leg. At age 9, she removed the metal leg brace she had been dependent on and began to walk without it. By 13 she had developed rhythmic walk, which doctors said was a miracle. That same year she decided to become a runner. She entered a race and came in last. For the next few years every race she entered, she came in last. Everyone told her to quit, but she kept on running. One day she actually won a race. And then another. From then on she won every race she entered. Eventually this little girl, who was told she would never walk again, went on to win three Olympic gold medals.
Wilma didn’t listen.

1927, the head of a drama school advised Lucille Ball to try another profession because she would never make it as an actress. She went on to have a history-making television series and eventually owned her own movie and television studio.
Lucille didn’t listen.

1944, Emmeline Snively, director of the Blue Book Modeling Agency, told modeling hopeful Norma Jean Baker, "You'd better learn secretarial work or else get married." She went on to become Marilyn Monroe.
Norma Jean didn’t listen!

In 1954, Jimmy Denny, manager of the Grand Ole Opry fired a singer after one performance. He told him, "You ain't goin' nowhere son. You ought to go back to drivin' a truck." He went on to become the most popular singer in America, named Elvis Presley.
Elvis didn’t listen!

Michael Jordan as a sophomore in high school, was cut from his school's basketball team. He wanted to play with the others, and was told that he wasn't good enough. Michael went on to become what many consider to be the best basketball player who ever lived.
Michael didn’t listen.

So why should we? We can achieve anything we put our minds to regardless of the people around us that tell us we can’t. These people are only obstacles in our path. If you want your dream bad enough, if you have the passion, and you can persist without exception in working to achieve your goals, you can reach them.
Others can stop you temporarily - you are the only one who can do it permanently.
Zig Ziglar
Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields to stern resolve. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind.
Leonardo Da Vinci

All of these people lived their dreams and you can too! As you pursue your dream you will run in to rejection and naysayers that are only obstacles to your success. Expect them. Use them as motivation. No one who ever achieves their dream will have a smooth path, and yet these rejections (what other people say) are what keeps most of us from living the life we want to live and doing the things we want to do.

As you set your goals, allow for the people that say you can’t, you’re not smart enough, and you are not good enough. Then, when you meet these people, you will realize you are on the right road and you won’t be deterred. It is you and you alone that determine who you listen to and whether you can have all that you have ever wanted.
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Obstacles can't stop you. Problems can't stop you. Most of all other people can't stop you. Only you can stop you.
Jeffery Gittomer

It is your amazing mind, and you are in control.

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