Earlier today, I was helping a friend of mine who's going through some seriously tough times. Without mentioning those specifics, we ventured off into familiar territory – success.

Now, it seems we’re all going after it, but only a few really appear to achieve it. Why is that? Even for me, the “Master Motivator”, I too have self-sabotaged my own success in various areas of my life…even to this very day. And, quite honestly, sometimes I just don’t know why! FRUSTRATING!!!!

Do we subconsciously think "I don’t deserve to <insert success>"?

Do we fear the failure aspect of TRULY going for it to have the "dream" crushed?

Does the fear of judgment and the need for approval of others get in our mental way?

Are we afraid of who we might leave behind should we really succeed?

Do we really want the success for all the right reasons?

In all my years, in all my experiences, I've learned the difference between those who have and those who have not, is they did what the others weren't willing to. They made the time, they asked for help, they pushed through all the pain, they kept the end in sight at all times and never gave up!

I've mentioned before, we're the sum of all our experiences, right up until this very point. Listen, "mistakes" and “failures” are ways to show what NOT to do next time. Falling down is NOT failure…staying down IS!

When I walk through the halls of my mom’s assisted living facility and look at the sad faces staring back at me – they scream “I wish I would have done such and such when I had the chance” or “If I could just do it over, I would do this and that…I wouldn’t have wasted so much time.” Will this be you?

YOUR life is NOT a dress rehearsal - please don’t think you’ll do it later…because I guarantee you regrets will hurt a lot more than any PERCEIVED pain you’ll feel if you try now and not make it. But at least you’ll have tried! And, if it’s a burning passion in your heart, you’ll find the energy, the time, the resources to make your dream a reality. I know this from personal and very recent experience.

All my best to you my friend,

Christopher