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Have you ever accomplished something that
required you to put forth great amounts of effort? I’m sure you have. Have you ever seen someone else
post-triumph? I’m sure you have seen
that. In the moments after
achievement one can look back at the road
to victory. I’m sure you have
thought about how you made it to that winning moment, or have seen a glimpse of
another’s path to success.
The picture that comes to
mind is someone accepting an award or being commemorated. Traditionally a few words are offered by the
recipient of the recognition. These are
most often words of thanks that are directed toward teammates, mentors, soul
mates, coaches, family, friends, co-workers or other members of their support
network. These are people that have
helped to bring the individual to new heights by providing emotional strength,
bestowing knowledge, offering guidance, collaborating, motivating, inspiring,
and caring.
I believe this network is
very important in aiding an individual’s pursuits, but I believe that a
different network creates a far superior desire and motivation for
success.
I like to call the other
group the opposition network.
The opposition network is
filled with naysayers, fierce competitors, disapproving individuals, and those
dishing out the cold hard truth. It is a
network that mines deep within your soul and starts a fire that emits sparks of
doubt, pain, punishment and fear that reach every part of your being. In response to this the body overpowers the
flames and infuses elements of desire, meaning, drive, purpose and
justice.
Although it is powerful, the
support network will not allow you to reach your full potential. I see the support network as being a set of
individuals with positive outlooks; these outlooks can delude them and the
individual they are supporting. There
seems to be a lack of truth and reality in this network. That is where the opposition network comes in.
The
opposition network completes the picture, offering a clear view. It enhances purpose and motivation. It gives you someone to prove wrong, others
to compete against and critics to learn from.
It is a relentless force that can push you to the limits and in turn
reach greatness.
In an effort to build this
network, which I highly suggest considering the benefits, try to:
Pinpoint
Competitors
A competitor
will keep you on your toes, offer you a way to measure yourself, and push you
to perform at your best. This
competition can range from a friendly contest to an intense rivalry in which
there is a single focus on outdoing the other in a quest to be number one.
Find The
Naysayers
Listen
closely to find those around you that either do not believe in you or believe
in what you are pursuing. Use this as
motivation to show them you CAN and to prove the worthiness of your pursuits.
Seek The
Truth
In an effort
to develop, you need to be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. You need to know the ins and outs of your
efforts and the variables present in your environment. Find the people that will offer you the truth
without regard for your feelings. The
raw information will be the feedback necessary to focus your attention on areas
that need improvement.
Finding the optimum balance between
your support and opposition will give you the best chance for success.
Use the opposition!
