The Journey is Most Important
Oh the frustration I hear in peoples’ voices –
as well as in their letters and emails.
Almost always this frustration is due to having
the wrong view of life – the wrong object to
focus on.
I will tell you something that may shock and
startle you. You may not even believe it but
it’s true.
My greatest successes in life have come when
the journey to success itself was more fulfilling
than the goal itself.
Let me explain.
In 1997, when the final buzzer sounded in
the world championship match in Beijing,
China, I assumed my hand would be raised
in victory even though the score ended, 2-2.
The rules stated that in the event of a tie, the
person who scores first wins.
Yet, for my match, the Chinese referees changed
the rules and raised my opponent’s hand in victory.
Upon the rendering of this decision, with a smile
on my face, I walked over to my wife, who was
visibly upset. I shrugged, put my hand on her
shoulder and said, “Hey, don’t worry about it.
When in China, do as the Chinese do.”
I had just lost the world championship and this
was how I responded.
Why.
Because I knew in my heart that I had given my
very best. I knew I competed at a level way beyond
anything I had ever done before – and that knowledge
was more important to me than whether I won or lost.
If I ended up getting silver or bronze or nothing at all
– so long as I gave my very, very best – then in my
opinion, I would go home a winner. And if I were to
have won while giving a half-baked effort – well, how
can you feel proud of that. Where’s the honor and glory
in victory with no struggle.
That’s how I think.
Yes, I did go to China expecting to win the gold medal.
And yes I wanted to win it – but when it came time to
compete my focus was NOT on winning. It was on giving
everything I had.
To my surprise, a minute or two after losing the decision,
I was brought back onto the mat and an announcement
was made.
The referee reversed the decision and declared me the
world champion.
Being denied my gold medal in the first place made winning
it much sweeter.
When it comes to business, once again, my greatest successes
have not come by “chasing” or pursuing the almighty doll-hair.
They have come as a result of focusing on the right actions with
the right intention behind them. And that intention is the desire
to do my best. To give my business everything I’ve got.
That’s it.
Most frustrated business people are frustrated because their
focus is on the muney – not on doing their best – not on
giving it everything they’ve got.
At the end of the day they evaluate themselves based on what
they made – not on what they DID. This type of thinking will
always end up killing you and your dreams.
In business I have good days, great days, fabulous days and
bad days -in terms of income. But at the end of each I am
the same person. You never hear me whining or complaining.
Why. Because my focus is on what I’m doing.
The muney, the other rewards, they come as a result of doing
the right things in the right way.
Doing your very best is what matters most of all in life. If you
achieve a goal without doing your best – I don’t think of that
as a success.
If you want to put an end to feelings of frustration, put your
focus on what you are doing – and once your focus is there,
ask yourself, over and over, “Is this my best. Is this MY BEST.”
Matthew Furey
Zen Master of the Internet
P.S. When you remove the resistance from your life – you get
into flow. Nothing worse than having your focus on the wrong
things. This does nothing but derail you. Put your thinking on
the journey – Zero Resistance Living will show you how –