Small Business Today Magazine NOV 2014 EXHIBIT NETWORK | Page 26
EDITORIALFEATURE
Probabilities
and Possibilities
By three-time Olympian, Ruben Gonzalez
I
finish my speeches by saying, “What are the chances that
someone like me was going to make it to the Olympics? I
wasn’t a great athlete, I didn’t get started until I was 21 years
old, and to top it off, I live in hot and humid Houston and
I chose to compete in the luge for Pete’s sake! What are the
chances? - One in a million? - One in ten million? I probably had
a better chance to win the lottery!”
I was just an ordinary kid with an extraordinary dream. I wasn’t
a big shot. I was just a little shot that kept on shooting. And that’s
something you can do too. If you make a decision to become a
little shot who keeps on shooting, the world is yours.
Believe it or not, the secret to creating an extraordinary life
is right in those words. Most people look at their dreams and
start calculating the odds of them ever happening. They can tell
you the probabilities and that number keeps them from even
getting started.
They don’t understand that the probability at any one time
has nothing to do with success because if you don’t even get
started, the probability of success is zero - zilch - nada.
They don’t realize that they can change the probabilities.
Every time you take action in the pursuit of your dream, you’re
increasing the probabilities of reaching it. It’s all up to you. You
have control over the probabilities.
Once you buy into that, it’s easier to make a decision to take
massive action. Understanding that makes it easier to commit
to your dream. Once you commit to your dream, burn the
bridges, and make a decision to do whatever it takes for as
long as it takes, the probability of success increases dramatically. Why? Because 99% of the people will NEVER do whatever
it takes!
When I called the people in Lake Placid to ask for help in getting started in the luge, the guy on the phone laughed at me. He
said I was way too old to get started. He said,“If you want to do
it at your age and in only four years it will be brutal. Nine out of
ten people quit!” When I heard that, I got excited. I got excited
because I could see the opportunity. And I simply decided that
quitting would not be an option for me.
24 SMALL BUSINESS TODAY MAGAZINE [ NOVEMBER 2014 ]
Focus on your dream, listen to your gut
feeling, and follow your heart
wholeheartedly.
Once I made that decision, all I had to do was to outlast everyone else! The guy on the phone saw my probability as one
out of ten. But I saw it as 100% (as long as I was willing to outlast everyone else). Four years and a few broken bones later, I
was competing in the Olympics (it wasn’t quite that simple, but
focusing on the possibility got me to do what I needed to do to
become an Olympian).
Stop focusing on the probabilities. Focus on the possibility. Ask
yourself, “What is my dream? Is it a dream that takes my breath
away? Is it something that excites me and gives meaning to my
life?” And if it is, ask yourself, “If it is possible, then why not me?”
Don’t focus on the probabilities. Focusing on the probabilities
will kill your confidence. Once you lose your confidence, it’s easy
to quit. And stop hanging around people that talk about being
realistic. Realistic people are mediocre. They live lukewarm lives
and NEVER do ANYTHING with their lives.
Start hanging around winners. Hang around achievers. I have
NEVER heard a real winner talk about being realistic. Realistic
stinks! Think about three people you truly admire. I guarantee
you that they did not get where they are by being realistic!
Focus on your dream, listen to your gut feeling, and follow your
heart wholeheartedly. Ask yourself,“Why not me? Why not now?”
and, “What can I do right now to get me closer to my dream?”
When you ask yourself the right questions, focus on the possibilities, and hang around like-minded people, your confidence will
soar and you’ll be on the road to realizing your dream.
Do that, and at the end of your life you will be able to look back
and say, “I lived a magnificent life!
Ruben Gonzalez is an award-winning keynote speaker and the author of the critically acclaimed book, “The Courage to Succeed.” His experiences as a three-time
Olympian and as the owner of two businesses give him a unique perspective on how
to conquer the corporate struggles of today. For his free 10-Part Success eCourse,
visit www.StartWinningMore.com or contact him at 832-689-8282.