LOVE THE OPPORTUNITY – Article by Jim Rohn

Somebody said you have to love what you do, but that’s not necessarily true. What is true is that you have to love the opportunity. The opportunity to build life, future, health, success and fortune. Knocking on someone’s door may not be something you love to do, but you love the opportunity of what might be behind that door.
For example, a guy says, “I’m digging ditches. Should I love digging ditches?” The answer is, “No, you don’t have to love digging ditches, but if it is your first entry onto the ladder of success, you say, ‘I’m glad somebody gave me the opportunity to dig ditches and I’m going to do it so well, I won’t be here long.'”

You can be inspired by having found something; even though you are making mistakes in the beginning and even though it is a little distasteful taking on a new discipline that you haven’t learned before. You don’t have to love it, you just have to learn to appreciate America, appreciate opportunity and appreciate the person who brought you the good news; that found you.

Appreciate the person who believed in you before you believed in yourself, appreciate the person who said, “Hey, if I can do it, you can do it.”

If you will embrace the disciplines associated with the new opportunity you will soon find that your self-confidence starts to grow, that you go from being a skeptic to being a believer. And soon when you go out person to person, talking to people, you will find it to be the most thrilling opportunity in the world. Every person you meet – what could it be? Unlimited! Maybe a friend for life. The next person could be an open door to retiring. The next person could be a colleague for years to come. It’s big time stuff. And sometimes in the beginning when we are just getting started we don’t always see how big it is.

So, before you are tempted to give up or get discouraged, remember all success is based on long term commitment, faith, discipline, attitude and a few stepping stones along the way. You might not like the stone you are on right now, but it’s sure to be one of the stones that lead to great opportunities in the future.

To Your Success,
Jim Rohn

 

A Salesman’s Prayer

Og Mandino wrote a small sales classic years ago called The Greatest Salesman in the World.  If you haven’t read it – it’s more than worth it’s weight in gold.  I love the Salesman’s prayer in the book… And it goes like this:

Oh creator of all things, help me.

For this day I go out into the world naked and alone, and without your hand to guide me I will wander far from the path which leads to success and happiness.

I ask not for gold or garments or even opportunities equal to my ability; instead, guide me so that I may acquire ability equal to my opportunities.

 

You have taught the lion and the eagle how to hunt and prosper with teeth and claw.

Teach me how to hunt with words and prosper with love so that I may be a lion among men and an eagle in the market place.

 

Help me to remain humble through obstacles and failures; yet hide not from mine eyes the prize that will come with victory.

 

Assign me tasks to which others have failed; yet guide me to pluck the seeds of success from their failures. Confront me with fears that will temper my spirit; yet endow me with courage to laugh at my misgivings.

 

Spare me sufficient days to reach my goals; yet help me to live this day as though it be my last.

 

Guide me in my words that they may bear fruit; yet silence me from gossip that none be maligned.

 

Discipline me in the habit of trying and trying again; yet show me the way to make

use of the law of averages. Favor me with alertness to recognize opportunity; yet endow me with patience which will concentrate my strength.

 

Bathe me in good habits that the bad ones may drown; yet grant me compassion for weakness in others. Suffer me to know that all things shall pass; yet help me to count my blessings today.

 

Expose me to hate so it not be a stranger; yet fill my cup with love to turn strangers into friends.

 

But all these things be only if thy will.

I am a small and a lonely grape clutching the vine yet though hast made

me different from all others. Verily, there must be a special place for me. Help me. Show me the way.

 

Let me become all you planned for me when my seed was planted and selected by you to sprout in the vineyard of the world.

 

Help this humble salesman.

 

Guide me, God.