Thursday, [8:39] AM
Dear Friend,
I started a small coaching group recently.
It’s a brand new experience for me… and I’m learning a lot.
The FIRST thing I learned was I drastically UNDER-charged for it. It’s a lot more work than I expected.
I COULD make it a lot easier on myself by farming out the e-mail support, giving out template answers and “phoning in”, as they say in Hollywood, all the preparation for the webinars. (“Phoning in” means doing a half-assed job just to get the gig over with as quickly as possible so you can get paid.)
But I simply can’t do that.
My proteges deserve the best from me.
They are the precious few…
… the 1%…
… the doers…
… the warriors…
… the “Atlas” people… (That one’s for you, Ayn Rand fans.)
In my 39 years <he said with a devlish grin> of life on this planet and the thousands of people I’ve known, I’ve only met a HANDFUL of people like that.
And when I DO meet an “Atlas” person, I CHERISH them. They are more valuable than all the gold that was stolen from Fort Knox.
By the way, if you want to know what an “Atlas” person is, pick up the book Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand. It is one of the two most important books I’ve ever read.
Where was I?
Oh yeah… my proteges.
In spite of whatever personal challenges they’re going through, my proteges have made the commitment of time and money to do what I tell them for the next eight weeks.
And I’m pouring my heart and soul into them.
If you knew about some of their challenges it would blow your mind.
Some of these guys have every excuse to sit on the couch, be depressed, mad at the world, “nurse their wounds” and do nothing.
The soul-wrenching, life and death situations they’re dealing with… well… nobody would blame them for their inaction.
But a warrior doesn’t think like that. He or she moves forward and takes action, no matter what the challenges.
If you’ve been sitting on your hands, letting fear paralyze you, sucking your thumb and making all kinds of excuses for your inaction, you’d be ashamed if you knew some of the stuff my proteges are dealing with.
But here they are, on the front line with me… taking action, moving forward, problems and challenges be damned.
It makes me feel… hmmmm… “proud” isn’t a strong enough word.
What’s the word I’m looking for?
I got it! It makes me feel…
Respect!
I want my proteges to be as successful as possible… because I view them as an extension of myself. If they’re not successful then I’m not successful… and I’m not going to let that happen.
Now, it IS possible a few J.A.F.O.’s slipped through.
What’s a J.A.F.O.?
I don’t want to offend your virgin ears. Check out the movie Blue Thunder from back in the 80’s if you want to know what the acronym stands for.
Basically a J.A.F.O. is somebody who just stands around sucking up valuable resources but never taking action.
Some of them talk a good game… but never DO anything.
Some like to give the ILLUSION of doing something… searching on the internet, shuffling business cards, organizing their desk, incorporating, setting up their business account… basically only doing L.M.S…. but never taking any REAL action… the stuff that makes things happen.
(“L.M.S.” is a Halbertism, a saying I learned from Gary Halbert. I’ll let you figure it out for yourself along with J.A.F.O. If I tell you I’ll have a bunch of easily-offended whiners posting nasty comments on my blog… and I am NOT in the mood to deal with it today.)
I have some close friends who are J.A.F.O.’s. Love ’em like a brother… but sometimes I just wanna slap them upside the noggin with a phone book several times in a row.
It really frustrates me that a person born with all the intelligence and talent they need to accomplish great things chooses to be a J.A.F.O.
I just don’t get it.
I’ve been trying for almost 25 years to motivate a couple of them that are close to me. But they’re still sitting in front of the TV… doing nothing.
I feel sorry for them. And their families.
There’s nothing I can do for them… except keep moving forward and HOPE something will motivate them one day.
That’s why I’m really enjoying my coaching group. No J.A.F.O.’s there. If by a very slim chance any slipped in, they’re gonna be washed out after next week’s webinar.
Why am I sharing all this with you today?
I want you to be honest with yourself. Are you a doer… or are you a J.A.F.O.?
If you’re a J.A.F.O. you can change that… right now.
It’s simple. Suck it up, set a goal and make a commitment to take action.
And “commitment” doesn’t mean doing it when it’s convenient. It means taking action regardless of the challenges that face you.
I want to be completely honest with you about something so you’ll be prepared.
The very MINUTE you make a real, honest to God commitment, the challenges are going to start. It’s the universe’s way of testing you to see if you really have the balls to keep your word and do what you said you were going to do.
If you DO, then the universe will find you worthy and reward you. The reward may not come as soon as you want… or exactly as you expected… but it IS coming. And many times it’s even BETTER than you expected.
If you’re a J.A.F.O. and end up back on the couch drinking beer in front of the TV… AGAIN for the umpteenth time, the universe will NOT reward you.
No.
In fact, you will be punished.
A man who doesn’t keep his word… who breaks his commitment with himself… is punished with the most painful castigation there is…
Loss of Self Respect.
And that hurts.
You know what hurts even WORSE?
The look in your kids’ eyes.
They may not say it out loud but you can see it. All your lecturing goes in one ear and out the other because they’re thinking…
“YOU don’t keep your commitments, Dad (or Mom). Who are YOU to lecture ME? Your actions speak so loudly, I can’t hear a word you’re saying!”
Old DD’s getting a little tough with you today, huh?
I’m only doing it out of love.
And I’m not parroting something I read in a self help book or learned at a seminar. I’ve LIVED this for the past 20+ years.
You see, I’ve been on both sides of the fence.
I’ve been a J.A.F.O. who only ran his mouth about what I was GOING to do… and I’ve suffered the pain of lost self respect.
And I’ve been a warrior, staying in the fight in spite of HUGE heart-breaking challenges… and enjoying the rewards that GREATLY exceeded my expectations.
You don’t have to suffer the humiliation of being a J.A.F.O. I don’t care if you’ve been one for the past 20 years. You can make the decision to be an “Atlas” person right now… today.
As soon as you do, you’ll discover a whole new world.
Opportunities will come to you that you never could have imagined.
Other “Atlas” people will be attracted to you. Relationships will form and circumstances will come together for your benefit.
It’s almost as if the world is arranging things to happen to help you reach your goals. And it seems that way because it IS that way.
And the key to making that all happen is simply…
Taking Action And Keeping Your Commitment…
No Matter What!
That is the key that unlocks all the magic.
Just get in the game with the rest of us, OK?
It won’t be easy… but it will be worth it.
I promise.
All the best,
P.S. A big welcome to all the new subscribers John Forde sent me over the past few days. I’m glad you’re here.
I hope I haven’t scared you off.
I only get tough like this every now and then. The rest of the time I prefer to put my arm around you, tell you how much I appreciate you, encourage you and love on ya a little bit.
If you stick around I think you’ll be glad you did.
Talk soon.
