Warning: Avoid This!

 by: Jonathan R Taylor

Throughout life, we can expect to live around cynical individuals who are quick to criticize our ideas or tell us why our plans for success won’t work. This week, I met with a client who was feeling discouraged after she had shared her goals for becoming self-employed with some of her friends and relatives.

All of the excitement and momentum she had in following through with her action plans had come to a screeching halt because of a few doubtful phrases like, “What if you fail- then what are you going to do?” (Most of the time, it’s the way they say this.) Or one of my personal favorites, “You should go back to school instead and get your Masters degree.”

Nay-Sayers will often tell us that they have our best interest in mind, but do they really? It reminds me more of the story about black crabs that Robert Kiyosaki tells in his book Rich Dad, Poor Dad. He says that if you gather several crabs together and put them in a bucket, you might be surprised to find that not one of them will escape. Why? Well, it’s very simple. As one crab reaches the top of the bucket to pull itself over the edge, his friends at the bottom will grab him with their claws and pull him right back down.

Unfortunately, this scenario is much like what my client experienced this week. She is around people, who like those crabs, are quick to pull her right back down to their level of thinking.

Ask yourself who the Black Crabs are in your group. I certainly wouldn’t suggest avoiding family members completely, but you may want to limit the amount of time you spend with them. Instead, seek out people who are successful. One of the common characteristics of successful people is that they network and associate with people who perform at high levels themselves.

Find winners and avoid the whiners!

“Make no friendship with an angry man, and with a furious man do not go, lest you learn his ways and set a snare for your soul.” Proverbs 22:24-25

Need some inspiration to counter negative thinking? Check out Dan Miller’s new book The Rudder of the Day or download fr^ ee inspirational material.