We all have desires and ambition in our careers, business and life. We are all also surrounded by a glittering temptations. With exciting opportunities, fast people and even faster money swirling around us… it is like being a child in candy store.
Simply put, we will be tempted to make a grab for the shiny things and opportunities. All the time. However we need to discern the difference between what is merely worthless glitter and what is pure, valuable gold. We must not fall into the trap of short-term gain for long-term pain.
But how do you prevent being easily influenced and misled by the glitter? You have to know exactly what you want in our journey, understand and accept what can be truly classified as gold — and stand our ground. Don’t hesitate. Don’t compromise. Don’t settle for less.
If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Yes, it’s an old saying and you’ve probably heard it millions of times, but that doesn’t make it any less important to keep in mind. If something looks too good to be true, be suspicious, be determined to research it closely, and be on your guard.
Ambition: Assess the person delivering the opportunity or offer. Do they have a history of delivering gold or a reputation for just talking the talk. Do a bit of digging around, contact people in your network, and see what you can find out about their past performance. It’s getting harder for people to conceal details, and a bit of sharp research should reveal whether or not you should deal with this person.
Are you tempted to make an impulsive decision? Give yourself a 24- or 48-hour cooling down period. This will ensure you are over the hype of the opportunity and can make a sound decision. Don’t ever be swayed by emotion or the shiny promise of the glitter.
What is motivating the decision? Often glitter tickles our selfish desires of today, but won’t sustain us in the long term. Admit to yourself your real motive and then decide whether it is quality or not.
Re-evaluate your ultimate goal. What is it? What do you need to acquire to reach that goal? The second we take off our blinkers and see what others are doing we may fall into a state of panic and start taking anything and everything we see without testing its value for our brand.
