Success ::

DESSERT : :

APPETIZER : :

ENTRÉE : :

SIDES : :

FAMILY : :

GIFTS : :

PUDDING & PIE ::

4German Apple Pie

4Figgy Pudding & Hard Sauce

4Caramel Apple Pudding Cake

4Chocolate Pots de Crème

  HOW SWEET

   CHICKEN FAVORITES

   APPETIZERS

   Criticism...

An Unfortunate Part of Success

                                                                        by Dennis Harting

          The controversy surrounding Barry Bonds' pursuit of the all-time home run record is well documented. If you are not familiar with the affair, there are allegations that Bonds used performance enhancing drugs during his career. These drugs, according to many, gave him an unfair advantage that players in the past did not have. It is this belief that leads many to feel that Henry Aaron is still the home run champion.

     We are not here to discuss the merits of Aaron versus Bonds. What is interesting is to see how people criticize Bonds during the pursuit. In an interview, he was asked about being booed by all the fans in Dodger Stadium if he would indeed get the record there. His response was a classic. He said, “you have to be pretty good to get booed by 50,000 people”. What a way to keep things in perspective. Ponder that for a moment. How often do fans ride the backs of utility

players? Obviously, this is not done very often. The ones who become targets are the stars. They become open game for the media, fans, and opposing players. It is a price they pay for being at the top of their profession.

     There is an old saying that goes, “they never erected a statue for a critic”. Consider the audacity of a person in the media criticizing a professional athlete. In the example of baseball, there are roughly 750 people in the major leagues at one time. Anyone on a roster is one of only 750 men in the world who are good enough to play at that level. This is from a sample of millions who start playing baseball as children. Yet the critics sit in judgment by proclaiming someone a failure, terrible, or some other derogatory term. This without playing one minute at that level themselves.

     If you are going to be a success in any endeavor, the harsh reality is that you will not be without criticism. The more successful that you become, the more that people will attempt to tear you down. Unless you prepare yourself for this, you can be caught totally off guard. All the emotional joy received from the success at that endeavor is lost by the pounding you take emotionally from others. Unfortunately, it can come from some of the people closest to us.

     Often, people who criticize are trying to make up for their own inadequacies in life. They subscribe to the belief that misery loves company. Why should you be happy and successful when they are not? The fact that they cannot do what you did is irrelevant to them. Look at the professional baseball player again. Have you ever heard someone preclude the criticism by mentioning that this individual is one of the best in the world and that the announcer could go no further than high school baseball.? The odds are that you never witnessed this.

     Most people are unfulfilled in their lives. Ironically, it is these same people who are quick to tear down another. Be extremely careful of these individuals. If you attempt to satisfy them by defending what you are accomplishing, you are like the dog chasing his tail. It will not get you anywhere. You will have to learn to turn a deaf ear to criticism. The actions you take will need to be done in spite of the verbal assault that might ensue.      Do not alter your plans to please these individuals. It will not make their lives any better. In the end, you will only be hurting yourself.

     Keep in mind the way Barry Bonds was approaching his critics. Each time someone tries to tear you down, just tell yourself that you must be pretty good to have them “booing” you. It will enable you to take the action required for success despite what others think. Let criticism be a barometer for you to judge you progress. The more you are receiving, the more successful you are becoming.

“50,000 people do not boo a utility player”.

Dennis Harting is the Head Coach at Your Rich Life. He is an acclaimed speaker, trainer, and best-selling author. His books include Your Easiest Million and The Ultimate Procrastination Handbook. His programs and more information can be found at:

               http://www.yourrichlifeinc.com

MORE BY DENNIS HARTING:

4 It Starts With Our Thinking

4 The Parable of Faith

4 Procrastination - The Silent Killer

4 Persist to Succeed

4 Bigger Thinking Leads to a Bigger Life

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It Starts With Our Thinking  Everything stems from our thoughts. The present circumstances that we are in are a direct results of the choices we made. These choices often are dictated by our default thought process.

What Lessons Can We Learn From The Yes Man  Danny Wallace listened to a stranger on a bus and his life changed for the better, just by Saying Yes More. What changes in your life could happen if you too became more open to opportunities around you.

Pay Yourself First  This article covers how the wealthy utilize the principle of paying themselves first. The average person who is struggling operates from the exact opposite perspective. Their idea is that they will invest if they have anything left over at the end of the month. Naturally, there is never anything left over.

It Will Be Alright  Learn how to keep a long term view of things. Do not let the minor situations in life get you down. Hold your attitude up by knowing that everything works out.

Success: There Are No Excuses  Successful people get it done. When they don't, they accept responsibility. Learn how this one difference can alter your life.

When Toasting Success, Don't Spread On The Butter  Which three letter word can cause praise for success to be diluted, or even nullified? Read on to find out the word and why.

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Procrastination - The Silent Killer Procrastination destroys more lives than any other single factor. This habit can grow so out of control that it literally paralyzes a person from taking action. It kills relationships, careers, and self esteem without regard. The key to success is action. Therefore, overcoming the inactivity caused by procrastination is vital.

Persist To Success  The successful persevere through all conditions. Developing persistence in all that you do is one of the key components to attaining success. Life has a way of giving us lessons in the form of negative situations. Learn the lesson and move on. You will be able to apply it in the future.

Bigger Thinking Leads to a Bigger Life  All success begins with your thinking. Most people limit the quality of their life by the size of their thinking. The general tendency is to simply think too small. This creates a ceiling on the life that one can have. Begin to expand the potential of your life by expanding your thinking.

The Parable Of Faith Most of us think that we know what different situations mean. Oftentimes in life, things occur that seem terrible in the moment only to be viewed differently in hindsight. Our perspective tends to change as we receive more information. This parable tells of a man who didn't rush to judgment.

Stop Exchanging Time For Money  The majority of the population exchanges their time for money. Their pay is dependent upon the hours that they work. At the end of the pay period, they receive a paycheck in exchange for the hours worked. The wealthy do not operate under this premise. They put their money to work for them.

Deadline - A Major Variable To Getting You To Take Action  Most people are controlled by deadlines. That is because they are set by external factors. However, we can set our own deadlines and use them to our advantage.

Fear Is Not Real  Fear is one of the main factors that stops people in life. Unfortunately, it is all in our head. Fear is an illusion that does not exist. Allowing it to control us is like believing in the tooth fairy.

Expect Success  Our intentions have a bearing on the results that we get. To create a better life, it is important that we raise our level of expectations. Learn how vital it is to expect success in all situations.

Kickstart Your Life - 9 Ways To Revitalize Your Life  Learn 9 techniques that can be implemented to kickstart your life. Utilize these ideas to get your life back on the path that you desire. Repetitive implementation will enable you to create what you truly desire.

Dreams - A Lost Art  As children we dream the grandest of dreams, knowing no boundaries. When we mature, we are instructed to keep our feet on the ground and be realistic. This kills the desire to dreams which is the beginning of all of great successes. Learn how to release the desire to dream again.