Why Do People Fail?
Here is the most common reason.
Success is defined as accomplishing an aim or purpose. The first step is to choose a goal. It is best if the goal is measurable. Otherwise, how do you know when it has been accomplished? Second step is to formulate a plan for getting there. An important part of the plan is having measurable small goals within the plan. If all goes well, you implement the plan. You complete the steps. You achieve the goal. Pretty simple. So, why do so many people fail?
It is rare that life goes according to plan. Then what?
Do you give up on your goal? Do you admit defeat? Or do you change the plan?
“I’m just not lucky.” I heard a man make that comment. I don’t believe it was true. First, he was born male. Second, he was born white. Third, he is taller than average. Fourth, he went to college. Fifth, he was admitted to a Ph.D. program. In my opinion, that is evidence of being in the top category of lucky. However, when he was confronted with adversity during his Ph.D. research, he dropped out. He became a tradesman. Why? “I’m not lucky.”
Contrast that to another man. Similar background. Faced adversity during Ph.D. program. He needed several hundred thousand dollars to fix his equipment. He buckled down and found the money. Not only that, but he also spent 8 years to get his Ph.D. Now he is a senior scientist for a startup energy company.
Luck? I don’t think so. I think it comes down to will power.
Will power is directing energy to accomplish our goals. Obstacles come up. We must either find the energy to overcome the obstacles or the energy to go around them. Flexibility, changing the plan without changing the goal, is key.
Another example is my physique goal. My father wore a size 44 jacket and 34 waist slacks. That is a 10-inch difference between chest and waist. The average for a man is 6 inches. I set my father’s physique as my goal. Dad was 6 feet tall. I’m 5 foot 9 inches. My goal should be according to our height.
Four or five years ago, I began lifting weights. I started with a gallon of water. Slowly, I moved up to 2.5 gallons of water. I switched from water to sand. I was getting stronger. I wasn’t improving my measurements much. I hurt myself. I quit while I healed.
Then I got the idea of exercising using concepts from isometrics. For example, I put my palms together in front of my chest and pushed as hard as possible. While holding that pressure, I moved my arms over my head, etc. I developed a routine that took about 5 minutes.
While at Walmart, I tried lifting a 40-pound weight. Couldn’t do it. I started doing the workout morning and night. After a year, I tried lifting the 40-pound weight. I curled it by cheating a little. It hurt my shoulder slightly. I doubled my workout to 10 minutes morning and night. After a year, I could barely curl the 40-pound weight without cheating. I began dieting. I got up to about an 7.5-inch chest - waist difference. In total, that took more than three years. I didn’t get hurt.
I dieted down to my high school weight. I was 147 in April. In May, I went with my wife to a seated yoga class. I was late and my wife brought the left-over 8-pound and 5-pound dumbbells to use. Although my relatives were impressed, they were using 2-pounds, I was a little embarrassed. I was much weaker than I expected.
Weight training has worked for me in the past. I get stronger quickly. I was resistant to buying weights or exercising longer. How much energy am I willing to expend? How badly to I want to change? Do I have the will to succeed?
I decided to buy a set of selectable dumbbells. I am exercising for 1 hour per day four days per week. I have now completed 9 weeks. I have gained about 10 pounds. My waist is about the same as my lowest weight. My goal is to improve on every workout. I either do one more rep or I add more weight. I’m now at the point where I must be careful not to get hurt. My chest-waist difference is about 8 inches. It is still a slow go.
I do feel different. It is interesting to feel muscles working as I walk. It is fun to know I have doubled my strength. Obviously, in addition to my measurements, I am tracking what weight I am lifting and how many reps. I am also tracking how much I weigh.
I haven’t reached my goal yet. I’m plugging away. Writing this has helped me remember to keep on keeping on.
When I’m pushing to accomplish those last few reps, I also keep in mind that I don’t want to be injured. Very rarely, I stop short of the daily goal. I give myself more time. I’m being flexible - not giving up.
If you are facing defeat, I hope you find some encouragement. Sometimes we need a little help to see how to be more flexible. Let me know if I can help.