Underdogs and entrepreneurs have “great hearts”

January 22, 2008 · Posted in Daughters, Entrepreneurship, Inspiration, Motivation, Self-help, Success, The Law of Attraction 

We all love stories about underdogs. This is how you can explain why movies like “Rocky”, “Rudy”, and “Hoosiers” do so well at the box office. There is something very inspiring about watching the “little guy” overcome adversity and go on to make a great showing of himself or herself. It is pure motivation!

I am inspired because the underdog has the one trait that cannot be taught – heart! This quality reveals itself in the following ways:

1. Underdogs and entrepreneurs are willing to do whatever is necessary.

Like the underdog, entrepreneurs understand that their success is a directly related to the amount of time they spend learning, training and developing their skills. Entrepreneurs know that in order for them to succeed, they alone are responsible. They do not wish to and cannot “pass the buck”.

  • We (entrepreneurs) like to create. But creation is just a small part of the process of becoming successful. Most people can create, but few ever follow through with their ideas. In my experience, almost everyone has had a great idea. However, the comfort of mediocrity, the stability of the status quo or the fear of the unknown keeps so many people in their rut, that most of these great ideas never see the light of day.
  • Entrepreneurs are devoted to learning. We do the research. We know that in order to succeed, we must arm ourselves with as much knowledge about our prospective business or idea as possible. This is a necessity because we are likely to have to explain to investors:
    • what our idea is
    • what the market outlook for our business or idea is
    • whether any competitors exist and what their market share is
    • why our idea is better than our competitors
    • what our competitive advantage is
  • If no business model exists for our new idea, we are willing to develop one. I am faced with this quandary right now. I am involved in the development of a great and unique idea. However, because it is unique, we have to develop a plan to implement it. The answers don’t just fall out of the sky. You have to work long hours, but you understand this and this willingness to do whatever is necessary is what coaches like to call having a “great heart”.

2. Underdogs and entrepreneurs don’t quit.

Like the underdog, entrepreneurs refuse to quit before acquiring their goals. Quitting is not in us. I have always been involved in athletics and as a result, I am a highly competitive person. It is part of who I am. In high school, I played football on a team that was not championship quality. Consequently, we lost more games than we won. I could see heads drop and eyes glaze over late it the games when we were behind. That was my first experience with people who did not have the heart of a champion. It was then and is now, an unfathomable idea to me. How do you just quit?

  • Quitting becomes habit forming. My parents explained to me at an early age that quitting was not an option. If I signed up to participate in some event or sport then I was expected to fulfill my obligation. This quality was further instilled in me by my father who was a drill instructor in the Army. After I reached the age of about ten, during the summer months when I was out of school, my father would sometimes let me go to work with him. He would let me participate in physical training right beside grown men. I loved every minute of it. It was also the first time that I ever witnessed someone giving up during training. I did not like it then and I don’t like it now!
  • Quitting sets a bad example. My daughters watch me. They want to know about Daddy’s “businesses”. They are almost five and seven. If I quit, what does that show my daughters?
    • It’s O.K. to quit if things get hard?
    • That I am frivolous and don’t take my obligations / commitments seriously?

Underdogs and entrepreneurs know that quitting never leads to winning. Don’t quit.

3. Underdogs and entrepreneurs believe that they can win.

I have a hard time explaining this concept to some people. There is this feeling that overcomes me and lets me know that I will accomplish any goal that I have set for myself. If you have read the book “The Secret”, then you have some kind of idea of what I am trying to say.

  • I know that people and events are conspiring to help me reach my goals.
  • I know deep inside that I am and I will be successful in all my endeavors. This self knowledge is an inner confidence that is not based on what I can do, but on what I am and that by believing in myself and others, my success is a foregone conclusion.
  • I know that I attract to myself the things necessary for my success. If I need something, it will reveal itself to me.
  • I know that I am a small part of a greater plan and I am willing to shoulder my part of the load.
  • I know that I am successful and I will continue to be successful as long as I keep my priorities on helping others reach their goals.

Underdogs and entrepreneurs have great hearts. They are willing and able to work hard, they never, ever quit, and they know that their efforts will be rewarded. Be an underdog. Overcome your obstacles and reach your successes.

Tags: , ,

Tags: no tags

rss button for soupornuts.com Get the latest soupornuts.com via rss feed

Comments

4 Responses to “Underdogs and entrepreneurs have “great hearts””

  1. Alex Liu on January 22nd, 2008 11:51 pm

    Yup! I agree those are the spirit of entrepreneurs. It is never easy but we will go on and be one!

    Alex Liu
    How To Be A Millionaire
    http://secretsofunlimitedwealth.com

    Alex Liu’s last blog post..How To Talk Like A Millionaire? -Part 1

  2. Chris Melton on January 23rd, 2008 12:23 am

    Hi Alex,

    I like your attitude. I’ll see you at the top.

  3. Damin on September 7th, 2008 11:38 pm

    “I know deep inside that I am and I will be successful in all my endeavors. This self knowledge is an inner confidence that is not based on what I can do, but on what I am and that by believing in myself and others, my success is a foregone conclusion.”

    Wow. i am digging you blog and these words are ringing through my ears.

    Damin’s last blog post..Trango Superfly Screw Lock Carabiner

  4. Chris Melton on September 10th, 2008 3:16 am

    Damin,

    I’m glad that you feel and understand what I’m trying to convey. So many people don’t understand that they are the creators of their lives.

    Once you begin to realize the power of your thoughts - you begin to grasp the the idea that “everything and anything is possible”.

Leave a Reply