Learned Helplessness

[StartALawnCareBusiness]

I had a great discussion with a close friend tonight. We discussed some of the aspects that cause people to fail at business (and life). When you have a quiet 30 minutes, sit down and read this article on "Learned Helplessness." I find it fascinating to think that situations we encounter in our early years can have dramatic effects on how we problem solve cirmcumstances years later. As you read this, can you think of instances in your past that interfere with you being the best person you can be, today? I know I can. I would love to hear your thoughts. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Learned_helplessness Keith

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[Steve]

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I am glad you brought this up. I don't think we have enough philosophical discussions on business and life on here. We need more of it because this is the underlying part which the business level is built on top of. I can't remember off the top of my head which book I read this in, but I remember it was talking about how some people feel that the world effects them and they are powerless to do anything about it. Others feel like they effect the world and they have the power to change things. We all have the power to change things if we allow ourselves to be positive and think we can. It is very possible the vast majority of people in society feel powerless to change anything. This is absolutely something taught to us by society and it could very well be explained as "Learned Helplessness." Why do some people want to be an employee? Why do some want to be a boss? Why do some want to be owners? Do they think they can do it or can't do it? Maybe they simply don't care and a weekly paycheck is enough to keep them from caring? I think a big part of why this site was created was to help teach as many as would read it, that success is within the reach of everyone who is willing to learn and then do. There will be those who feel they can do nothing and they won't take the time to read and learn. Learned Helplessness could explain why. We discussed some of the aspects that cause people to fail at business (and life). What other thoughts were you able to come up with as to the cause of failures?

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[StartALawnCareBusiness]

Originally Posted by Steve

some people feel that the world effects them and they are powerless to do anything about it. Others feel like they effect the world and they have the power to change things.

Steve, you are so right. We all have power to affect change in the world arround us. Do you think the difference in wildly successful entrepreneurs is that they know how to channel that energy?

Have you ever met people who can walk into a crowded room and the whole room brightens in a positive light? Other people are naturally drawn to those people.

What's more; great ideas gravitate toward them and nothing seems impossible.

The ability to affect change positively and help people believe in you and your visions (whether it's a sketch of a small planter for a residential customer or a vision of a huge landscape project for an industrial plant) is a sure path to success.

Keith

[Steve]

I am reading a book on Arnold Schwarzenegger right now called Fabulous. It is a fantastic book. He is a guy that convinced himself he could do anything. His dreams were always so much larger than anyone around him at the moment could even imagine.

The thing you have to take out of that book is, it was the big dreams that pushed him to strive for greater success. You can't grow that big otherwise.

Think to yourself, what are your biggest goals? What are your biggest dreams? Are they big enough at the moment where your friends or family think you are nuts? Well if they are, then maybe they are big enough.

Most of us just don't dream big enough. Arnold is a great example of how a guy born in Austria can come to America at (19 or 20) and decide he wanted to be the best body builder ever, a politician and a movie star.

WHO WOULD THINK HE COULD HAVE DONE THAT?

He could barely speak english when he came to the U.S. and look what he was able to accomplish!

But I guess the next question is, do most people want to be that successful? Or is that even successful to most people?

Maybe most of us just don't want to think that big for a reason.

What's your view on why most of us just don't think big? And is that something that is necessary to lay the ground work for such success?