Dear John, In 2008 I embarked upon a campaign to do a video every day. The target audience was attorneys and law firms. During that era, this was a monumental task. It required significant set-up time and massive editing. I keep up with this program for several months and created a significant body of work. In 2015 I took up this challenge again and launched a daily video show called Four Minute Fixation. The target audience was entrepreneurs. I kept up this schedule for several months and then stopped. During both of those attempts at daily video posting on YouTube, my visibility increased, people watched those videos and they helped me improve my credibility, and I was viewed as different than everyone else who does what I do. Yet I stopped doing the videos. Why? Because people criticized me for what I was doing. Some people said it was goofy. Some people said it wasn’t polished enough. Some people said my hair was too short or that my bottom teeth were crooked. During both of these attempts at doing regular video, I believed I was failing because only a handful of people were watching each day and I was being criticized. The reality (which I realized only years later) was that I was creating assets that would work for my business for years to come. Those videos still help with visibility, credibility and differentiation. I’ve received inquiries from people who have become clients and invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in my services after watching those videos. My point: I didn’t fail on either of those attempts at daily video because I’m back, for my third attempt, with all the lessons I’ve learned under my belt. This time around, I know that I will receive a return in investment of my time in this endeavor. I’m confident there will be a positive outcome. Do you want to know why business leaders, sales executives and entrepreneurs fail to achieve their goals? It’s not because they lack funding. It’s not because they lack resources. It’s not because they lack opportunity. Most business leaders fail to achieve their goals because they lack courage. People fail due to fear. They fear failure. They fear the embarrassment of it. They also fear success and the embarrassment that comes along with that outcome. When you fail you’ve taken a chance that has not worked out and everyone sees it and they talk about you behind your back. When you succeed you’ve taken a chance and it has worked out and everyone sees it and they talk about you behind your back. You’re damned if you do and you’re damned if you don’t. All you can do is plow forward through the resistance. I’m through being embarrassed. I’ve stopped giving a crap what anyone thinks. I’m going to do what is right for me, my family, and my business. People can say whatever they want. I’m more afraid of being irrelevant than I am of what people will say about my success or failure. How’s that for a resolution? Don’t let fear hold you back. Take a high profile and move forward rapidly toward your goals. Be true to yourself and let the chips fall where they may. Take a chance. Right now. I will support you. Have a great week! Regards, Dave Lorenzo 888.444.5150 |