The big secret behind the life-changing phenomenon “The Secret” is that its principles have been known for thousands of years by millions of people, but used and applied by a relatively few. Called by many names, these ageless, timeless, treasured truths of wisdom and inspiration have massively changed lives and even the world in which we live. Authentic principles of power and causes of action, the foundation for many of them is found in the inspired writings that have been preserved and handed down for centuries. Those who have studied them understand they have multiple levels of interpretation and application and that they readily fulfill the declaration that “when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
This is from a series that focuses on one such principle at a time to provide a brief business and/or personal success application that may act as a “teacher” with a personal message for you. As you are “ready,” may you be inspired and prosper abundantly, as you define that. Most especially, I urge you to commit to take action to develop and apply these spiritual secrets of success in your own life and business to enjoy greater success – starting today.
The Principle
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
—Proverbs 22:6
Application – It is significant to note the proverb doesn’t say “tell a child” or “show a child”, but rather “train up” a child. We’ve all trained something – our pet, our hair, our muscles, our voice, our hands to play a piano or guitar, our ability to aim at a target, etc. It takes focus, time, patience, consistency of effort, and repeated action toward a specific result within the framework of a pre-determined purpose.
Among the many qualities of children are their ability to be both flexible and resilient, their desire to please, their level of trust, their wanting to “do things right” and their need for clearly delineated limits to successfully accomplish this and feel good.
Whether you’re beginning a new personal relationship, a new job, closing a deal with a new customer, accepting a new client, or setting a new goal it is important for you to set the standards – the bounds and limits of the relationship – right from the start. This will clearly “set the expectations” for the relationship as well as encourage maximum performance by both of you. This is the surest path to have it the way you want it to be so you can maximize your opportunity to serve that individual or client as you intend and achieve your desired results. “Train up this new ‘child’ in the way it should go” and you will be able to enjoy the fact that as time passes it “will not depart.” Then, you’ll be living your life by choice, not chance, and that’s The Winner’s Edge.
Action Steps
Identify one key relationship, activity, transaction that is either frustrating you, depleting resources, or not generating the results and opportunities you need. Evaluate how clearly the boundaries and expectations have been set, determine how best to change those, and go to work to increase the clarity of these in the minds of all parties, starting with yourself.
Next, select one or two high-leverage/high-yield actions you can engage to begin reinforcing these boundaries and expectations that clearly “define” the direction things will be moving. Then be consistent, even if at times it’s inconvenient, as you’re teaching a principle and teaching others how to treat and respond to you.
Until next time, here’s to your success.
Larry H. Gassin
