Ken Poirot's Blog - Posts Tagged "courage"
George Washington, the average person, and "epic battles never told"...
So what do George Washington, the average person, and "epic battles never told" have in common?
...my thoughts as I penned this quote:
"Be Courageous: Succeed or Fail Monumentally!"
The photo quote can be found here:
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/author...
I purposely hunted for the iconic painting I had in mind: a public domain photo of George Washington crossing the Delaware River in order to depict this photo quote.
As many of you know, one of my interests is history, learning more about the history of the places to which I travel, as well as American history.
I grew up on Long Island, in a small village called Northport. As with many small villages and places on Long Island, there are signs (blue markers in this case) designating historical incidents in connection with The Revolutionary War.
I will never forget one of these signs in Northport; inscribed upon it is the story of a man who died defending his cow from seizure by the British (an historical marker placed to commemorate the approximate location) during The Revolutionary War. Just an average person...not the name of someone famous or recognizable from history.
Many times I have watched the well-produced series airing on "The History Channel" called, "The Revolution." I find it fascinating to learn about all the trials and tribulations of those times...all the events that played out behind the scenes. The drama present day Americans normally do not think about.
I am especially fascinated by the situations and circumstances surrounding George Washington during this time.
Many of you may be familiar with this series, "The Revolution," but for those of you who are not, it tells history by analyzing concurrent events from different points of view to help the viewer better understand the backdrop of the events described.
Scholars analyze and peel back the layers to uncover what was really happening at the time. Different opinions, perspectives, and the original thoughts in the minds of George Washington and his contemporaries are told by reading their actual letters written in response to specific events.
"The Revolution" reveals all the generals under George Washington who openly criticized him (in their own handwritten letters), his betrayal by Benedict Arnold (who many scholars believe would have been worthy of his own monument had he not become a traitor siding with the British), the lost battles, the under funding of George Washington's troops, the lack of even basic supplies, like food.
The series conveys the desperation and despondency George Washington must have felt at times, trying to fight the world's superpower, the British, on a shoe string budget, which sometimes meant troops literally without shoes or boots.
One of the most famous examples of this took place at Valley Forge. It is recorded, the lack of even the most basic resources for American soldiers during the Continental Army's brutal winter encampment there, forced some soldiers to boil their own shoes (the soldiers who actually had shoes) in order to eat them for sustenance.
The events leading up to that brutal winter at Valley Forge added to the sense of hopelessness most Americans must have been feeling at the time. It came on the heels of substantial, demoralizing defeats for the Continental Army, culminating in the loss of New York City to the British.
So what did George Washington do at Valley Forge?
He led his troops across the Delaware River, with some soldiers (who did not have shoes) wrapping their feet in rags, while leaving trails of blood in the snow from their poorly protected, frozen feet.
This malnourished, starving, battered, and disheveled American army surprised the British Hessian soldiers (German troops hired by the British) at Trenton on the other side of the Delaware River. This surprise attack orchestrated by George Washington gave the American colonists a much-needed, overwhelming victory, lifting their spirits.
Some scholars point to this victory at the Battle of Trenton as the single-most important psychological triumph in The Revolutionary War. This inspiring, courageous assault eventually led to America's supremacy in its fight for independence from England.
George Washington never gave up and continued to push on regardless of his circumstances.
Through all the obstacles, road blocks, uncertainty, back stabbing, betrayal, lack of resources, and with poorly trained, ragged average citizens as troops...George Washington still managed to prevail.
Many scholars have stated at times the Continental Congress even debated over the firing of George Washington as the commanding general of the Continental Army during this time.
After all this drama and with all the difficulties...George Washington led America to independence against arguably the greatest superpower in the world at that moment in history.
It is said George Washington invested so much personally in The Revolutionary War...of his own time, life (he was willing to die for the cause), and finances, that he even had to borrow money just to travel to his own inauguration as the first President of the United States.
George Washington was decimated financially by the war due to his complete commitment to the American cause.
Yes, there are monuments to George Washington and many of our Founding Fathers; they were victorious in the end against what many thought to be insurmountable odds.
...but what about the average person? What about the person who gives their all, gives everything for their dream(s), goal(s), or achievement(s)...and who does not win in the end?
Where are the monuments to these people...the ones whose stories we will never hear? What about their strife, or as I like to call it, their "epic battles never told."
As we know, life itself is a struggle. Every day can be an "epic battle never told" for the average person.
What is important is that no matter what happens in your life, no matter what obstacles you have to overcome to pursue your dreams...never, never, never give up!
Put it all on the line and risk it all for your beliefs and for your dreams. The small fraction who achieve astronomical success in life against all odds have monuments erected in their honor. Yet, those who strive, toil, struggle, and fail, fight "epic battles never told," never commemorated, or even whispered.
That average person, the farmer in Northport who died protecting his cow from the British, just happened to be memorialized by an historical marker. How many other average people died giving their lives for freedom during The Revolutionary War, whose stories, and "epic battles" we will never know?
What about your story? What about your "epic battles?"
It is better to give everything of yourself for your dreams, even if you fail in the end, versus not giving your all.
Live monumentally!
For if you toil, strive, and still fail in the end...it is better than not having the courage to give all of yourself completely, to lay all of yourself and your being on the line in order to achieve your dreams.
It is better to never have to ask, "What if?" about your life.
"What if" I had given it my all? What would have happened? How would it have changed my life if I had only had the courage to give all of myself completely to achieving my dreams or my goals? "What if" I had the courage to get up after being knocked down just one more time?
Courage is not lack of fear (a fear that paralyzes most people into lack of action); true courage is being afraid and taking action anyway.
Have the courage to never have to ask "What if?" about your life.
Live monumentally!
Give of yourself completely for your dreams. Invest all of yourself for what you want and what is most important to you.
Like George Washington, don't make excuses, hold back, or let any obstacle(s) defeat you!
Can you imagine if George Washington had just admitted the Continental Army could not win against the British due to the lack of funding, lack of resources, lack of supplies, back stabbing and betrayal by his generals, defeats in battle, and seemingly insurmountable odds against his better-trained and equipped British superpower opponent?
Never give up or surrender...no matter what the odds against you!
If you fail...fail monumentally by giving your dreams everything you have. If you get knocked down...get up again and fail on your feet.
It is better to be the "epic battle never told," to be the person who everyone can say never gave up or lost sight of their ultimate vision. Much better than just giving in or surrendering to defeat: being too afraid to fight an "epic battle" in the first place.
Never have to ask "What if?" about your life!
Engage your "epic battle." Confront the road blocks on your way to victory head-on. Have the courage to give of yourself completely to all that you do and set out to achieve.
When you succeed they may build monuments in your honor. At least live the "epic battle never told" and have the courage to never, ever give up or have to ask "What if?"
So I ask you...what are your obstacles? What are your insurmountable odds in the way of your success and your dreams?
When you feel defeated on the way to achieving your goals or dreams, think of that iconic image of George Washington crossing the Delaware River.
Yes, you may fail and you may be an "epic battle never told," or you may have monuments erected in your honor for your success in the face of insurmountable odds like George Washington.
Never, ever, ever give up! Never stay down after being knocked down in pursuit of your goals or dreams! Never surrender and never succumb to defeat!
Give it your all...give of yourself completely to the pursuit and achievement of your dreams! Never have to ask "What if? about your life!
"Be Courageous: Succeed or Fail Monumentally!"
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/author...
Warmly,
Ken
Ken Poirot
...my thoughts as I penned this quote:
"Be Courageous: Succeed or Fail Monumentally!"
The photo quote can be found here:
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/author...
I purposely hunted for the iconic painting I had in mind: a public domain photo of George Washington crossing the Delaware River in order to depict this photo quote.
As many of you know, one of my interests is history, learning more about the history of the places to which I travel, as well as American history.
I grew up on Long Island, in a small village called Northport. As with many small villages and places on Long Island, there are signs (blue markers in this case) designating historical incidents in connection with The Revolutionary War.
I will never forget one of these signs in Northport; inscribed upon it is the story of a man who died defending his cow from seizure by the British (an historical marker placed to commemorate the approximate location) during The Revolutionary War. Just an average person...not the name of someone famous or recognizable from history.
Many times I have watched the well-produced series airing on "The History Channel" called, "The Revolution." I find it fascinating to learn about all the trials and tribulations of those times...all the events that played out behind the scenes. The drama present day Americans normally do not think about.
I am especially fascinated by the situations and circumstances surrounding George Washington during this time.
Many of you may be familiar with this series, "The Revolution," but for those of you who are not, it tells history by analyzing concurrent events from different points of view to help the viewer better understand the backdrop of the events described.
Scholars analyze and peel back the layers to uncover what was really happening at the time. Different opinions, perspectives, and the original thoughts in the minds of George Washington and his contemporaries are told by reading their actual letters written in response to specific events.
"The Revolution" reveals all the generals under George Washington who openly criticized him (in their own handwritten letters), his betrayal by Benedict Arnold (who many scholars believe would have been worthy of his own monument had he not become a traitor siding with the British), the lost battles, the under funding of George Washington's troops, the lack of even basic supplies, like food.
The series conveys the desperation and despondency George Washington must have felt at times, trying to fight the world's superpower, the British, on a shoe string budget, which sometimes meant troops literally without shoes or boots.
One of the most famous examples of this took place at Valley Forge. It is recorded, the lack of even the most basic resources for American soldiers during the Continental Army's brutal winter encampment there, forced some soldiers to boil their own shoes (the soldiers who actually had shoes) in order to eat them for sustenance.
The events leading up to that brutal winter at Valley Forge added to the sense of hopelessness most Americans must have been feeling at the time. It came on the heels of substantial, demoralizing defeats for the Continental Army, culminating in the loss of New York City to the British.
So what did George Washington do at Valley Forge?
He led his troops across the Delaware River, with some soldiers (who did not have shoes) wrapping their feet in rags, while leaving trails of blood in the snow from their poorly protected, frozen feet.
This malnourished, starving, battered, and disheveled American army surprised the British Hessian soldiers (German troops hired by the British) at Trenton on the other side of the Delaware River. This surprise attack orchestrated by George Washington gave the American colonists a much-needed, overwhelming victory, lifting their spirits.
Some scholars point to this victory at the Battle of Trenton as the single-most important psychological triumph in The Revolutionary War. This inspiring, courageous assault eventually led to America's supremacy in its fight for independence from England.
George Washington never gave up and continued to push on regardless of his circumstances.
Through all the obstacles, road blocks, uncertainty, back stabbing, betrayal, lack of resources, and with poorly trained, ragged average citizens as troops...George Washington still managed to prevail.
Many scholars have stated at times the Continental Congress even debated over the firing of George Washington as the commanding general of the Continental Army during this time.
After all this drama and with all the difficulties...George Washington led America to independence against arguably the greatest superpower in the world at that moment in history.
It is said George Washington invested so much personally in The Revolutionary War...of his own time, life (he was willing to die for the cause), and finances, that he even had to borrow money just to travel to his own inauguration as the first President of the United States.
George Washington was decimated financially by the war due to his complete commitment to the American cause.
Yes, there are monuments to George Washington and many of our Founding Fathers; they were victorious in the end against what many thought to be insurmountable odds.
...but what about the average person? What about the person who gives their all, gives everything for their dream(s), goal(s), or achievement(s)...and who does not win in the end?
Where are the monuments to these people...the ones whose stories we will never hear? What about their strife, or as I like to call it, their "epic battles never told."
As we know, life itself is a struggle. Every day can be an "epic battle never told" for the average person.
What is important is that no matter what happens in your life, no matter what obstacles you have to overcome to pursue your dreams...never, never, never give up!
Put it all on the line and risk it all for your beliefs and for your dreams. The small fraction who achieve astronomical success in life against all odds have monuments erected in their honor. Yet, those who strive, toil, struggle, and fail, fight "epic battles never told," never commemorated, or even whispered.
That average person, the farmer in Northport who died protecting his cow from the British, just happened to be memorialized by an historical marker. How many other average people died giving their lives for freedom during The Revolutionary War, whose stories, and "epic battles" we will never know?
What about your story? What about your "epic battles?"
It is better to give everything of yourself for your dreams, even if you fail in the end, versus not giving your all.
Live monumentally!
For if you toil, strive, and still fail in the end...it is better than not having the courage to give all of yourself completely, to lay all of yourself and your being on the line in order to achieve your dreams.
It is better to never have to ask, "What if?" about your life.
"What if" I had given it my all? What would have happened? How would it have changed my life if I had only had the courage to give all of myself completely to achieving my dreams or my goals? "What if" I had the courage to get up after being knocked down just one more time?
Courage is not lack of fear (a fear that paralyzes most people into lack of action); true courage is being afraid and taking action anyway.
Have the courage to never have to ask "What if?" about your life.
Live monumentally!
Give of yourself completely for your dreams. Invest all of yourself for what you want and what is most important to you.
Like George Washington, don't make excuses, hold back, or let any obstacle(s) defeat you!
Can you imagine if George Washington had just admitted the Continental Army could not win against the British due to the lack of funding, lack of resources, lack of supplies, back stabbing and betrayal by his generals, defeats in battle, and seemingly insurmountable odds against his better-trained and equipped British superpower opponent?
Never give up or surrender...no matter what the odds against you!
If you fail...fail monumentally by giving your dreams everything you have. If you get knocked down...get up again and fail on your feet.
It is better to be the "epic battle never told," to be the person who everyone can say never gave up or lost sight of their ultimate vision. Much better than just giving in or surrendering to defeat: being too afraid to fight an "epic battle" in the first place.
Never have to ask "What if?" about your life!
Engage your "epic battle." Confront the road blocks on your way to victory head-on. Have the courage to give of yourself completely to all that you do and set out to achieve.
When you succeed they may build monuments in your honor. At least live the "epic battle never told" and have the courage to never, ever give up or have to ask "What if?"
So I ask you...what are your obstacles? What are your insurmountable odds in the way of your success and your dreams?
When you feel defeated on the way to achieving your goals or dreams, think of that iconic image of George Washington crossing the Delaware River.
Yes, you may fail and you may be an "epic battle never told," or you may have monuments erected in your honor for your success in the face of insurmountable odds like George Washington.
Never, ever, ever give up! Never stay down after being knocked down in pursuit of your goals or dreams! Never surrender and never succumb to defeat!
Give it your all...give of yourself completely to the pursuit and achievement of your dreams! Never have to ask "What if? about your life!
"Be Courageous: Succeed or Fail Monumentally!"
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/author...
Warmly,
Ken
Ken Poirot
Memorial Day: Lessons from Soldiers, D-Day, and Success...
Have the Courage to Take Action
How many of us are paralyzed by fear?
The fear of the unknown, the fear of failure, or the fear of getting hurt in relationships, just to name a few fears many people experience.
The result of fear: if we succumb to it and allow it to dictate the direction of our lives, then we are guaranteed to never achieve our dreams.
Taking action requires courage: the courage to commit to a goal or dream. The courage to plan for success and follow that plan. The courage to overcome obstacles along the way to success and repel any naysayers we may encounter along the way. The courage to overcome the inertia in our lives caused by the fear of failure or the fear of getting hurt.
The amazing thing about taking action to achieve your dreams is the reaction from others. You will encounter people along the way who will tell you that you can never achieve your dreams. Or even worse, you may encounter those who try to tear you down or undermine your efforts on the road to achievement.
As I wrote in Mentor Me, "The same people who told you what you can and cannot do are only saying that because they gave up on their dreams."
Two Crabs in a Bucket
There are two types of people in this world: those who will support you in your goals and dreams, and those who won't (including those who may even attempt to block or sabotage your efforts).
It is important to surround yourself with people who will give you positive support and cheer you on. Equally important is to separate yourself from those who try to beat you down, hold you back, or undermine you in life.
There is an old adage about crabs in a bucket that illustrates this point.
As the story goes, if you put one crab in a bucket it will easily crawl out.
...but, if you put two crabs in a bucket, the second crab will clamp its claw(s) onto the leg(s) of the crab attempting to crawl out of the bucket. Therefore, the second crab will actively hinder the first crab from escaping the bucket.
The end result is neither crab will be able to crawl out of the bucket.
"Crawling out of the bucket" is a metaphor for getting ahead in life, or achieving your goals and dreams.
The moral of the story: rid your life of any crab(s) who might hold you back and/or keep you from getting out of your bucket (achieving your goals and dreams).
Soldiers Exemplify Taking Action in the Face of Fear
So why do some people take action even though they experience fear, while others are so paralyzed by fear they quit or do not take action in the first place?
...or a better question, how can someone learn to take action in the face of experiencing fear?
I believe the answer to this question is best exemplified by the courage of our soldiers while encountering severe opposition and the real specter of death.
Soldiers come from every cross section of our society and they are taught to take action in the face of fear. They learn to control their panic in war situations which would prevent most people from moving forward; soldiers make decision/take action in circumstances which the average person would be paralyzed by extreme fear into quitting or inaction.
The good news then is this: the average person can learn to take action in spite of fear.
In other words, this is a behavior we can all acquire...the ability to take action in the face of fear!
The D-Day Invasion
First, I would like to take a moment to commemorate and remember all the soldiers, veterans, and our current, active military personnel this Memorial Day. All of these individuals are heroes in my mind.
Anyone who serves our country and is willing to give their life for the United States deserves our thanks and respect.
Likewise, any soldier who has fallen in battle should be honored for giving the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
I am using just one example of the heroism of our soldiers here, the D-Day Invasion, because it is an illustration for which most of us have studied or have a powerful visualization due to all the photos taken of this particular battle.
One cannot imagine the fear and terror soldiers engaged in the D-Day Invasion must have felt while riding in their transport ships to the shores of Normandy, France.
Listening to the seemingly infinite rounds of machine gun fire hitting the ramps of their transport ships, while waiting for those same ramps to be lowered to the sea, guaranteeing death to those stationed in the front of their ships.
As the ramps came down, rows of soldiers were struck and killed before they could even take one step into the ocean.
Soldiers behind them had to crawl over their wounded, dead, and bleeding buddies in order to get into the sea. Then push forward onto the beaches targeted by more machine gun fire, bombs, booby traps, and razor wire.
Sheer chaos and almost certain death enveloped these soldiers in the fog of war, smoke, explosions, and the screams of the fallen. Yet, through all this horror, the pieces of friends and fellow soldiers surrounding them, they still moved forward.
What we forget is, with all the planning that went into the D-Day Invasion and the 160,000 troops that took part in this operation: success was not guaranteed.
The price was high as more than 9,000 Allied soldiers died during this mission.
How can the average person develop courage?
So how can the average person be transformed into an heroic and courageous soldier?
Our soldiers had the courage to take action, to be brave in the face of the unfathomable hell that greeted them on the beaches of Normandy. Against all odds, almost impossible to imagine circumstances, and sheer terror, our soldiers showed unimaginable courage.
What can we learn from our soldiers and their heroism? What can we learn from their courage and how can we use their example to change our lives?
We can break this down into three steps the average person can use to overcome fear and take action in their lives, namely:
1) Commit to the Mission/Commit to No Return (Vision)
2) Implement Training and Practice (Planning)
3) Manifest Belief and Expectation (Execution)
Have Vision and Commit to "Death Ground"
It starts with having a vision and committing 100% to the achievement of that vision no matter what obstacles are encountered.
As General Dwight D Eisenhower said about the D-Day Invasion, "We will accept nothing less than full victory.” This same commitment was communicated throughout the ranks to every soldier under General Eisenhower's command.
This vision and commitment of our leaders/generals to the D-Day Invasion put 100% of those 160,000 troops into harms way with the only acceptable outcome: full victory (the outcome could have been complete annihilation or failure).
Looking back at the invasion it is easy to forget since we were victorious: the outcome could have been much different.
Heading into that day, no one could guarantee victory...failure and the complete loss of all 160,000 troops was one possible result of the D-Day Invasion.
Another illustration of complete commitment was written by Sun Tzu in The Art of War. He wrote of this complete commitment to moving forward and no return as creating "death ground." This "death ground" is defined as a place where an army is backed up against some geographical feature like a mountain, a river, ocean, or a forest which offers no possible escape route.
Per Sun Tzu, without a way to retreat (a complete commitment to move forward) an army fights with double or triple the spirit compared to combat on open terrain, precisely because death is viscerally present. The soldier has no choice except fight ferociously to live or die!
Sun Tzu advocated deliberately stationing soldiers on "death ground" to give them an edge of desperation which transforms people to fight like they never have before.
Our generals undoubtedly studied Sun Tzu and used this principal in the Normandy invasion. Our soldiers were shipped to the shores of Normandy and had no alternative for escape.
There was nowhere to hide in the waves of the sea where our soldiers were sitting targets for German bombs and machine guns. They were placed on "death ground" and they had no choice but to fight their way forward just for a chance to live.
Implement Training and Practice: Planning
So how can you take the average person who becomes a soldier and turn them into a hero who takes action in the face of fear?
For our soldiers it comes down to their training and practice. The constant drills, basic training, and live fire exercises. Getting used to the feel, sounds, sights, and smells of battle. The smoke, explosions, machine gun fire, and even the screams associated with the fallen.
These drills also expose soldiers to the mental, emotional, and physical stress of fatigue and adrenaline experienced in combat. They are designed as a total assault on the senses while teaching soldiers to maintain discipline, follow orders, control their actions, and press on while experiencing fear.
This training and practice helps to condition our soldiers for the terror they will experience in war. In other words, they undergo a great deal of planning for combat.
What we can learn from this is to plan for the fulfillment of our goals and dreams. Whatever your craft, practicing your craft, and training your skills for success are necessary. Also necessary is maintaining the control and discipline to follow the plan through the mental, physical, and emotional stresses along the way.
Above and beyond this practice and exercise, making a written plan (which also strengthens your commitment to that plan) is crucial for success. Additionally, pursuit of any goal or dream requires a total cohesive physical, mental, and spiritual vision and commitment to its achievement; never taking your eyes off the target and continually focusing (and refocusing) your thoughts on the achievement of that vision.
This is why I dedicated various chapters of Mentor Me to information/exercises designed to commit mentally, physically, and emotionally to creating a blueprint for goal achievement, as well as providing tools for garnering support on the path to success.
It is also why these same chapters are constructed to solidify the belief and expectation of success.
Manifest Belief and Expectation: Execution
As stated in the Bible, Matthew 17:20, "Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief: for truly I say to you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you."
The above passage is typically summarized as "With faith you can move mountains." When you have a deep-rooted faith (belief) and expectation of success, you are much more likely to achieve success.
Dwight D Eisenhower, our leaders, Allied generals, and our soldiers were all 100% committed to the vision of success of the D-Day Invasion. They trained, exercised, and planned for victory. Additionally, they believed in the mission and they expected to succeed.
This belief and expectation permeated all who executed this plan, from the leaders at the top down to the foot soldiers who carried out the invasion. All executed this D-Day Invasion plan with a deep-rooted vision, commitment, belief, and expectation of "full victory."
These were the thoughts I had when I penned the phrase, "Take Action: Success is not guaranteed but inaction will guaranty failure." For this reason, I purposefully chose a famous photo from the D-Day Invasion to illustrate this quote, which can be seen here at the link below:
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/autho...
Remember the sacrifice of our soldiers and fallen heroes today, this Memorial Day. Also remember to take action to achieve your goals and dreams on the way to transforming your life. Yes, taking action cannot guarantee success...but inaction will guaranty failure.
Remember, you can acquire the ability to take action to achieve your goals and dreams, even if you experience fear, by following these three steps:
1) Commit to the Mission/Commit to No Return (Vision)
2) Implement Training and Practice (Planning)
3) Manifest Belief and Expectation (Execution)
Have the courage to take action and live your life to the fullest in pursuit of your goals and dreams!
Have a great Memorial Day!
Mentor Me: GA=T+E—A Formula to Fulfill Your Greatest Achievement
Ken Poirot
Warmly,
Ken Poirot
How many of us are paralyzed by fear?
The fear of the unknown, the fear of failure, or the fear of getting hurt in relationships, just to name a few fears many people experience.
The result of fear: if we succumb to it and allow it to dictate the direction of our lives, then we are guaranteed to never achieve our dreams.
Taking action requires courage: the courage to commit to a goal or dream. The courage to plan for success and follow that plan. The courage to overcome obstacles along the way to success and repel any naysayers we may encounter along the way. The courage to overcome the inertia in our lives caused by the fear of failure or the fear of getting hurt.
The amazing thing about taking action to achieve your dreams is the reaction from others. You will encounter people along the way who will tell you that you can never achieve your dreams. Or even worse, you may encounter those who try to tear you down or undermine your efforts on the road to achievement.
As I wrote in Mentor Me, "The same people who told you what you can and cannot do are only saying that because they gave up on their dreams."
Two Crabs in a Bucket
There are two types of people in this world: those who will support you in your goals and dreams, and those who won't (including those who may even attempt to block or sabotage your efforts).
It is important to surround yourself with people who will give you positive support and cheer you on. Equally important is to separate yourself from those who try to beat you down, hold you back, or undermine you in life.
There is an old adage about crabs in a bucket that illustrates this point.
As the story goes, if you put one crab in a bucket it will easily crawl out.
...but, if you put two crabs in a bucket, the second crab will clamp its claw(s) onto the leg(s) of the crab attempting to crawl out of the bucket. Therefore, the second crab will actively hinder the first crab from escaping the bucket.
The end result is neither crab will be able to crawl out of the bucket.
"Crawling out of the bucket" is a metaphor for getting ahead in life, or achieving your goals and dreams.
The moral of the story: rid your life of any crab(s) who might hold you back and/or keep you from getting out of your bucket (achieving your goals and dreams).
Soldiers Exemplify Taking Action in the Face of Fear
So why do some people take action even though they experience fear, while others are so paralyzed by fear they quit or do not take action in the first place?
...or a better question, how can someone learn to take action in the face of experiencing fear?
I believe the answer to this question is best exemplified by the courage of our soldiers while encountering severe opposition and the real specter of death.
Soldiers come from every cross section of our society and they are taught to take action in the face of fear. They learn to control their panic in war situations which would prevent most people from moving forward; soldiers make decision/take action in circumstances which the average person would be paralyzed by extreme fear into quitting or inaction.
The good news then is this: the average person can learn to take action in spite of fear.
In other words, this is a behavior we can all acquire...the ability to take action in the face of fear!
The D-Day Invasion
First, I would like to take a moment to commemorate and remember all the soldiers, veterans, and our current, active military personnel this Memorial Day. All of these individuals are heroes in my mind.
Anyone who serves our country and is willing to give their life for the United States deserves our thanks and respect.
Likewise, any soldier who has fallen in battle should be honored for giving the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
I am using just one example of the heroism of our soldiers here, the D-Day Invasion, because it is an illustration for which most of us have studied or have a powerful visualization due to all the photos taken of this particular battle.
One cannot imagine the fear and terror soldiers engaged in the D-Day Invasion must have felt while riding in their transport ships to the shores of Normandy, France.
Listening to the seemingly infinite rounds of machine gun fire hitting the ramps of their transport ships, while waiting for those same ramps to be lowered to the sea, guaranteeing death to those stationed in the front of their ships.
As the ramps came down, rows of soldiers were struck and killed before they could even take one step into the ocean.
Soldiers behind them had to crawl over their wounded, dead, and bleeding buddies in order to get into the sea. Then push forward onto the beaches targeted by more machine gun fire, bombs, booby traps, and razor wire.
Sheer chaos and almost certain death enveloped these soldiers in the fog of war, smoke, explosions, and the screams of the fallen. Yet, through all this horror, the pieces of friends and fellow soldiers surrounding them, they still moved forward.
What we forget is, with all the planning that went into the D-Day Invasion and the 160,000 troops that took part in this operation: success was not guaranteed.
The price was high as more than 9,000 Allied soldiers died during this mission.
How can the average person develop courage?
So how can the average person be transformed into an heroic and courageous soldier?
Our soldiers had the courage to take action, to be brave in the face of the unfathomable hell that greeted them on the beaches of Normandy. Against all odds, almost impossible to imagine circumstances, and sheer terror, our soldiers showed unimaginable courage.
What can we learn from our soldiers and their heroism? What can we learn from their courage and how can we use their example to change our lives?
We can break this down into three steps the average person can use to overcome fear and take action in their lives, namely:
1) Commit to the Mission/Commit to No Return (Vision)
2) Implement Training and Practice (Planning)
3) Manifest Belief and Expectation (Execution)
Have Vision and Commit to "Death Ground"
It starts with having a vision and committing 100% to the achievement of that vision no matter what obstacles are encountered.
As General Dwight D Eisenhower said about the D-Day Invasion, "We will accept nothing less than full victory.” This same commitment was communicated throughout the ranks to every soldier under General Eisenhower's command.
This vision and commitment of our leaders/generals to the D-Day Invasion put 100% of those 160,000 troops into harms way with the only acceptable outcome: full victory (the outcome could have been complete annihilation or failure).
Looking back at the invasion it is easy to forget since we were victorious: the outcome could have been much different.
Heading into that day, no one could guarantee victory...failure and the complete loss of all 160,000 troops was one possible result of the D-Day Invasion.
Another illustration of complete commitment was written by Sun Tzu in The Art of War. He wrote of this complete commitment to moving forward and no return as creating "death ground." This "death ground" is defined as a place where an army is backed up against some geographical feature like a mountain, a river, ocean, or a forest which offers no possible escape route.
Per Sun Tzu, without a way to retreat (a complete commitment to move forward) an army fights with double or triple the spirit compared to combat on open terrain, precisely because death is viscerally present. The soldier has no choice except fight ferociously to live or die!
Sun Tzu advocated deliberately stationing soldiers on "death ground" to give them an edge of desperation which transforms people to fight like they never have before.
Our generals undoubtedly studied Sun Tzu and used this principal in the Normandy invasion. Our soldiers were shipped to the shores of Normandy and had no alternative for escape.
There was nowhere to hide in the waves of the sea where our soldiers were sitting targets for German bombs and machine guns. They were placed on "death ground" and they had no choice but to fight their way forward just for a chance to live.
Implement Training and Practice: Planning
So how can you take the average person who becomes a soldier and turn them into a hero who takes action in the face of fear?
For our soldiers it comes down to their training and practice. The constant drills, basic training, and live fire exercises. Getting used to the feel, sounds, sights, and smells of battle. The smoke, explosions, machine gun fire, and even the screams associated with the fallen.
These drills also expose soldiers to the mental, emotional, and physical stress of fatigue and adrenaline experienced in combat. They are designed as a total assault on the senses while teaching soldiers to maintain discipline, follow orders, control their actions, and press on while experiencing fear.
This training and practice helps to condition our soldiers for the terror they will experience in war. In other words, they undergo a great deal of planning for combat.
What we can learn from this is to plan for the fulfillment of our goals and dreams. Whatever your craft, practicing your craft, and training your skills for success are necessary. Also necessary is maintaining the control and discipline to follow the plan through the mental, physical, and emotional stresses along the way.
Above and beyond this practice and exercise, making a written plan (which also strengthens your commitment to that plan) is crucial for success. Additionally, pursuit of any goal or dream requires a total cohesive physical, mental, and spiritual vision and commitment to its achievement; never taking your eyes off the target and continually focusing (and refocusing) your thoughts on the achievement of that vision.
This is why I dedicated various chapters of Mentor Me to information/exercises designed to commit mentally, physically, and emotionally to creating a blueprint for goal achievement, as well as providing tools for garnering support on the path to success.
It is also why these same chapters are constructed to solidify the belief and expectation of success.
Manifest Belief and Expectation: Execution
As stated in the Bible, Matthew 17:20, "Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief: for truly I say to you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you."
The above passage is typically summarized as "With faith you can move mountains." When you have a deep-rooted faith (belief) and expectation of success, you are much more likely to achieve success.
Dwight D Eisenhower, our leaders, Allied generals, and our soldiers were all 100% committed to the vision of success of the D-Day Invasion. They trained, exercised, and planned for victory. Additionally, they believed in the mission and they expected to succeed.
This belief and expectation permeated all who executed this plan, from the leaders at the top down to the foot soldiers who carried out the invasion. All executed this D-Day Invasion plan with a deep-rooted vision, commitment, belief, and expectation of "full victory."
These were the thoughts I had when I penned the phrase, "Take Action: Success is not guaranteed but inaction will guaranty failure." For this reason, I purposefully chose a famous photo from the D-Day Invasion to illustrate this quote, which can be seen here at the link below:
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/autho...
Remember the sacrifice of our soldiers and fallen heroes today, this Memorial Day. Also remember to take action to achieve your goals and dreams on the way to transforming your life. Yes, taking action cannot guarantee success...but inaction will guaranty failure.
Remember, you can acquire the ability to take action to achieve your goals and dreams, even if you experience fear, by following these three steps:
1) Commit to the Mission/Commit to No Return (Vision)
2) Implement Training and Practice (Planning)
3) Manifest Belief and Expectation (Execution)
Have the courage to take action and live your life to the fullest in pursuit of your goals and dreams!
Have a great Memorial Day!
Mentor Me: GA=T+E—A Formula to Fulfill Your Greatest Achievement
Ken Poirot
Warmly,
Ken Poirot
I went Jesus and the money changers on them...
Confronting Evil
None of us is perfect and this is not meant to be a sermon on right, wrong, or religion.
This is a call to action against evil in all forms in our society.
Unfortunately, we are exposed to evil on a daily basis. I believe we, as a society, have an obligation to confront evil when we see it, to protect ourselves, to protect the weak, and to stop evil from inflicting harm on others.
Whether you are religious or not, I see it as our obligation to society to confront evil.
To be complicit when we encounter evil, or when we are wronged severely, knowing the same evil will befall our brothers and sisters of this world, is to allow evil to expand. It is up to us to eradicate evil, to prevent it from harming others around us, therefore, halting the spread of evil in its tracks.
My goal with this discussion is not to preach one religion over others, as I believe all the major religions of the world have at their core tenets loving thy neighbor and trying to lead a good life. I have a firm belief in religious tolerance and I accept all who contribute positively to society as a whole.
I have never set out to harm others or actively gone looking for evil, yet it seems there are those in society who do set out to prey on others. Especially those who present themselves as good, decent, and kindhearted people. I will say, for some, it seems nice and kind people appear as a weak or easy target.
No matter how many times I have warned people in my life to not take advantage of my good nature, there are still those who do not heed such warnings.
For those instances where I have seen the face of evil and confronted it, the guiding question I always ask myself is, "If not me then who?" Meaning, if I am not strong enough to confront evil, then who else will?
Confronting evil takes strength and courage. Unfortunately, the majority of people do not have the strength or the courage to take a stand.
I once heard a statement, "If you have no enemies it means you have never stood for anything." Standing up for what is right and confronting evil is not an easy task. Yet, if we all show more bravery and strength in the face of evil, then evil will have no place to hide in our society.
I challenge us all to not allow evil to grab a foothold, take refuge, or shelter in this world.
Have the courage and the strength to battle evil! For not to do so, is to be complicit and allow evil to multiply, spread, and prosper, to further prey on others.
Due to my upbringing and background, the only way I know how to frame a discussion on evil is to reference a book for which most of us are familiar, The Bible.
The Bible's Message on Confronting Evil
So what does the Bible say about our obligation to confront evil?
Psalm 94:16
Matthew 18:15-17
From the passages above, what the Bible tells us is that people have a divine obligation to stand up to and stamp out evil!
We are all called upon to confront those who commit evil against others.
In fact, the Bible is very explicit that if someone who is conducting evil will not listen to us one-on-one, or with a few others, we are told to call out the evil acts publicly; to make sure everyone knows about it so together, we as a society can rebuke and cast out evil.
Christians often ask, "What would Jesus do?," in certain situations they encounter in life. What I would remind everyone is Jesus was not always the quiet, "turn the other cheek" person we mostly associate with our thoughts.
Let us look at a situation when Jesus confronted evil with force, specifically, when the money changers were conducting business, cheating people, and doing so in his Father's house (church).
John 2:15
Mark 11:15
Oh my! This does not sound like the quiet, passive Jesus Christ figure we all think about, does it? Putting cords together to form a whip, chasing after people, physically over-throwing their tables, and driving them out. Sounds a bit angry/violent, doesn't it?
It is clear this is a firm message about the need to stand up against evil. Specifically, in this case, it is an example of acts which were cheating others.
The Fate of Some Evildoers in The Bible
Let us not forget the fate of some in the Bible who were considered evil, which seems in direct contrast to the commandment, "Thou shalt not kill."
There are many of these cases in the Bible, Sampson, Moses and the Egyptians, Sodom and Gomorrah, Noah and the Flood, David and Goliath, etc... just to name a few.
Let's look at the classic story of David and Goliath to see what the Bible says:
1 Samuel 17: 49-54
Now, I am not advocating violence or illegal means to stamp out evil. What I am saying is, there is a clear message that we all have an obligation to confront evil.
I will give you an example from my life when I confronted evil legally, using the courts to make a stand.
My Personal David Versus Goliath Story
In my youth I landed a job for a large multi-billion dollar company, which promised to teach me a new profession while paying a stable salary of $24,000 per year plus earned commissions.
This was a very large company and the offer was written in black and white, so who would question such a printed statement, made in good faith (seemingly), by such a well-known, large American company, right?
Well, unfortunately, after working for the initial probationary period of 12 weeks (a test to get into the company), during which the company withheld all commissions, everything changed.
The "salary" became a draw, and then expenses were also added that were expected to be paid. None of this was stated up front, and in fact, the written offer pledged a $24,000 per year salary plus commissions (no mention of any draw and no mention of any expenses).
Many people in the same program at the time, were much older than me, married, had family obligations, mortgages, car payments, education expenses for children, etc... In other words, a lot of people suffered in their marriages, financially, and personally due to this blatant lie.
Approximately 16,000+ people went through the same program over the decades before me. Per my knowledge, none of them were strong enough to take a stand and do anything about it.
So I said, "If not me then who?," to myself. If I am not strong enough to stop this, and it appears that most are not (16,000+ others in this case), I must do something about this to prevent others from suffering the same fate!
For this reason, I used an image of David slaying Goliath to depict the quote, "If not me then who? Confront evil!," which you can see here:
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/autho...
So I sued the multi-billion dollar company...little twenty-something me. I am bound by a confidentiality clause to not identify the dollar amount of the settlement (which was minimal after attorney's fees), but I did force the multi-billion dollar company, by using our legal system, to change; I made them stop cheating people.
I confronted evil; I did it legally and within the confines of modern civil society using the courts. I made the company see it was going to be potentially very expensive to continue their wrongdoings (imagine a class action lawsuit with 16,000+ other people as the class), so I forced them to change their actions moving forward.
Due to my stand against evil, the company changed their program and began paying a real salary (not a draw minus surprise expenses).
Unfortunately, this is not my first or last confrontation with evil. It is just one example I can point to where I can honestly say, I performed my obligation. I stood up to a large company and by doing so I defended myself and protected others against future evil acts.
So if you are a Christian, and you often ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?," then I will remind you about the story in the Bible of Jesus and the money changers.
Whether you are religious or not, and regardless of your religious affiliation, I will say, it is in the best interest of society as a whole for everyone to confront evil.
I believe we are all obligated as a society to confront evil, stamp out evil, and to do our best to prevent evil from hurting others who might be preyed upon.
I will say with that large corporation, I am glad "I went Jesus and the money changers on them." The end result was I protected others in the future from suffering a similar fate to me; I took a stand and because of it, no one else would get cheated in the same manner as me.
Here is this quote depicted in graphic form with a photo quote:
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/author...
Think of this the next time you are victimized by evil. Ask, "If not me then who?," take a stand, and do what Jesus would do (or what you feel is right based upon your religious or personal beliefs).
Together, we really can make the world a better place for everyone. We just have to make a commitment to have the courage and strength to confront evil, call it out, and not allow evil to spread or victimize others.
Have the courage and the strength to confront evil!
Warmly,
Ken Poirot
Mentor Me: GA=T+E—A Formula to Fulfill Your Greatest Achievement
Ken Poirot
None of us is perfect and this is not meant to be a sermon on right, wrong, or religion.
This is a call to action against evil in all forms in our society.
Unfortunately, we are exposed to evil on a daily basis. I believe we, as a society, have an obligation to confront evil when we see it, to protect ourselves, to protect the weak, and to stop evil from inflicting harm on others.
Whether you are religious or not, I see it as our obligation to society to confront evil.
To be complicit when we encounter evil, or when we are wronged severely, knowing the same evil will befall our brothers and sisters of this world, is to allow evil to expand. It is up to us to eradicate evil, to prevent it from harming others around us, therefore, halting the spread of evil in its tracks.
My goal with this discussion is not to preach one religion over others, as I believe all the major religions of the world have at their core tenets loving thy neighbor and trying to lead a good life. I have a firm belief in religious tolerance and I accept all who contribute positively to society as a whole.
I have never set out to harm others or actively gone looking for evil, yet it seems there are those in society who do set out to prey on others. Especially those who present themselves as good, decent, and kindhearted people. I will say, for some, it seems nice and kind people appear as a weak or easy target.
No matter how many times I have warned people in my life to not take advantage of my good nature, there are still those who do not heed such warnings.
For those instances where I have seen the face of evil and confronted it, the guiding question I always ask myself is, "If not me then who?" Meaning, if I am not strong enough to confront evil, then who else will?
Confronting evil takes strength and courage. Unfortunately, the majority of people do not have the strength or the courage to take a stand.
I once heard a statement, "If you have no enemies it means you have never stood for anything." Standing up for what is right and confronting evil is not an easy task. Yet, if we all show more bravery and strength in the face of evil, then evil will have no place to hide in our society.
I challenge us all to not allow evil to grab a foothold, take refuge, or shelter in this world.
Have the courage and the strength to battle evil! For not to do so, is to be complicit and allow evil to multiply, spread, and prosper, to further prey on others.
Due to my upbringing and background, the only way I know how to frame a discussion on evil is to reference a book for which most of us are familiar, The Bible.
The Bible's Message on Confronting Evil
So what does the Bible say about our obligation to confront evil?
Psalm 94:16
"Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?"
Matthew 18:15-17
"Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother.But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church..."
From the passages above, what the Bible tells us is that people have a divine obligation to stand up to and stamp out evil!
We are all called upon to confront those who commit evil against others.
In fact, the Bible is very explicit that if someone who is conducting evil will not listen to us one-on-one, or with a few others, we are told to call out the evil acts publicly; to make sure everyone knows about it so together, we as a society can rebuke and cast out evil.
Christians often ask, "What would Jesus do?," in certain situations they encounter in life. What I would remind everyone is Jesus was not always the quiet, "turn the other cheek" person we mostly associate with our thoughts.
Let us look at a situation when Jesus confronted evil with force, specifically, when the money changers were conducting business, cheating people, and doing so in his Father's house (church).
John 2:15
"And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables..."
Mark 11:15
"And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them that sold doves..."
Oh my! This does not sound like the quiet, passive Jesus Christ figure we all think about, does it? Putting cords together to form a whip, chasing after people, physically over-throwing their tables, and driving them out. Sounds a bit angry/violent, doesn't it?
It is clear this is a firm message about the need to stand up against evil. Specifically, in this case, it is an example of acts which were cheating others.
The Fate of Some Evildoers in The Bible
Let us not forget the fate of some in the Bible who were considered evil, which seems in direct contrast to the commandment, "Thou shalt not kill."
There are many of these cases in the Bible, Sampson, Moses and the Egyptians, Sodom and Gomorrah, Noah and the Flood, David and Goliath, etc... just to name a few.
Let's look at the classic story of David and Goliath to see what the Bible says:
1 Samuel 17: 49-54
"And David put his hand in his bag, and took thence a stone, and slang it, and smote the Philistine in his forehead, that the stone sunk into his forehead; and he fell upon his face to the earth.
So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but there was no sword in the hand of David.
Therefore David ran, and stood upon the Philistine, and took his sword, and drew it out of the sheath thereof, and slew him, and cut off his head therewith. And when the Philistines saw their champion was dead, they fled.
And the men of Israel and of Judah arose, and shouted, and pursued the Philistines, until thou come to the valley, and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell down by the way to Shaaraim, even unto Gath, and unto Ekron.
And the children of Israel returned from chasing after the Philistines, and they spoiled their tents.
And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armour in his tent."
Now, I am not advocating violence or illegal means to stamp out evil. What I am saying is, there is a clear message that we all have an obligation to confront evil.
I will give you an example from my life when I confronted evil legally, using the courts to make a stand.
My Personal David Versus Goliath Story
In my youth I landed a job for a large multi-billion dollar company, which promised to teach me a new profession while paying a stable salary of $24,000 per year plus earned commissions.
This was a very large company and the offer was written in black and white, so who would question such a printed statement, made in good faith (seemingly), by such a well-known, large American company, right?
Well, unfortunately, after working for the initial probationary period of 12 weeks (a test to get into the company), during which the company withheld all commissions, everything changed.
The "salary" became a draw, and then expenses were also added that were expected to be paid. None of this was stated up front, and in fact, the written offer pledged a $24,000 per year salary plus commissions (no mention of any draw and no mention of any expenses).
Many people in the same program at the time, were much older than me, married, had family obligations, mortgages, car payments, education expenses for children, etc... In other words, a lot of people suffered in their marriages, financially, and personally due to this blatant lie.
Approximately 16,000+ people went through the same program over the decades before me. Per my knowledge, none of them were strong enough to take a stand and do anything about it.
So I said, "If not me then who?," to myself. If I am not strong enough to stop this, and it appears that most are not (16,000+ others in this case), I must do something about this to prevent others from suffering the same fate!
For this reason, I used an image of David slaying Goliath to depict the quote, "If not me then who? Confront evil!," which you can see here:
https://www.goodreads.com/photo/autho...
So I sued the multi-billion dollar company...little twenty-something me. I am bound by a confidentiality clause to not identify the dollar amount of the settlement (which was minimal after attorney's fees), but I did force the multi-billion dollar company, by using our legal system, to change; I made them stop cheating people.
I confronted evil; I did it legally and within the confines of modern civil society using the courts. I made the company see it was going to be potentially very expensive to continue their wrongdoings (imagine a class action lawsuit with 16,000+ other people as the class), so I forced them to change their actions moving forward.
Due to my stand against evil, the company changed their program and began paying a real salary (not a draw minus surprise expenses).
Unfortunately, this is not my first or last confrontation with evil. It is just one example I can point to where I can honestly say, I performed my obligation. I stood up to a large company and by doing so I defended myself and protected others against future evil acts.
So if you are a Christian, and you often ask yourself, "What would Jesus do?," then I will remind you about the story in the Bible of Jesus and the money changers.
Whether you are religious or not, and regardless of your religious affiliation, I will say, it is in the best interest of society as a whole for everyone to confront evil.
I believe we are all obligated as a society to confront evil, stamp out evil, and to do our best to prevent evil from hurting others who might be preyed upon.
I will say with that large corporation, I am glad "I went Jesus and the money changers on them." The end result was I protected others in the future from suffering a similar fate to me; I took a stand and because of it, no one else would get cheated in the same manner as me.
Here is this quote depicted in graphic form with a photo quote:
http://www.goodreads.com/photo/author...
Think of this the next time you are victimized by evil. Ask, "If not me then who?," take a stand, and do what Jesus would do (or what you feel is right based upon your religious or personal beliefs).
Together, we really can make the world a better place for everyone. We just have to make a commitment to have the courage and strength to confront evil, call it out, and not allow evil to spread or victimize others.
Have the courage and the strength to confront evil!
Warmly,
Ken Poirot
Mentor Me: GA=T+E—A Formula to Fulfill Your Greatest Achievement
Ken Poirot
