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I’ve just come from reading a forum thread. A struggling entrepreneur has asked for help. Let’s call him Mr G. You can tell by the choice of Mr G’s words, he is more than a little anxious. Nothing new there. We see this happen all the time on countless forums all over the Internet and social networks. Reading through the fantastic advice given by other experienced members of the community, I couldn’t help but think wow! This is great stuff.

But sadly in his replies, Mr. G although thankful for the attention and help, doesn’t seem to actually hear (or see) what people are really saying. Whenever a good idea to help him comes up, he replies with something like,

Thank you, you’re right, I wish I could find an opportunity like that

or

Thanks, but I can’t do that because…

or

Thanks, but can it really work? – this asked of people who are living and walking proof that it can and does work

It is because of those responses, I feel the NEED to write this. Last week, I had a revelation. It’s been a while since I’ve had one so I’m definitely ready and so thirsty for one and I am absolutely glad it came at this time. Part of the revelation is the absolute truth that what you focus on grows.

Here is great advice, freely poured onto Mr. G but he doesn’t really hear those suggestions at all. He’s too busy listening to the negatives. What he really hears is,

• I am not fortunate enough to find that opportunity
• I can’t do that because my situation is unique
• I don’t believe I can
  

When others are showing him how he can and giving him ideas where to find the opportunities.

You know, I can somewhat relate to Mr. G. I am by nature a pessimist, skeptic and a loner. Whoa! Talk about a load of negatives. It is unbelievably difficult to think of anything positive when you’re in a rut where all you can see is the but’s the can’ts and the why-mes. As a matter of fact, I was totally there 2 weeks ago and have just now begun to snap out of it. Why?

Because I don’t want the negatives to grow anymore than it has. It’s a monster as it is. It must stop there. There’s a lot of uncertainty facing us all the time but probably more in recent times than ever. And you know what?

I fear the negatives growing more than I fear the uncertainty.

If you’ve ever watched the show Nemo, remember how Dory and Marlin were stuck in the whale’s mouth and Dory said the whale told them to go to the back of the throat. Marlin replied, “Of course, he wants us to go there that’s eating us!” Later, as they were hanging on to the tongue about to fall down the throat, Dory says, “He says we have to go now and it’s OK, everything will be alright” Marlin asks, “How do you know? How do you know something bad isn’t going to happen?”

Dory answers, “I don’t”

We don’t know. We don’t know if something bad is going to happen. On the same token we don’t know if something good is going to happen. The only way is to hear the positive, believe you can and just keep swimming.