The call came in at 10am. There was a polished sounding voice on the other end.  Jackie was head of a large organization and she wanted me to transform their entire culture. Of course I said yes, but at that moment something inside me stirred. It wasn’t the stirring that comes from excitement or being overwhelmed with the magnitude.  At the time I wasn’t even aware it was there. It was that feeling, that stirring, that completely changed the results of that conversation.
 
 I didn’t get the contract, but it wasn’t because I wasn’t qualified or that they didn’t want me. It was me. Now at the time I blamed everything and everyone else, but it wasn’t anyone else. It was me. I made a series of decisions that prevented me from getting the contract. Now I know what you must be thinking.

But stay with me...Why, you might ask, would any sane person do such a thing?
 
To be completely honest, at the time, I was not consciously aware of what was happening.  In fact, I truly believed it was everyone and everything else. I had studied leadership and I had the skills of how to do “leadership”, so to speak, but I was missing an important piece. That important piece became my lid. And it wasn’t until many years later and numerous discussions with high level John Maxwell certified trainers and mentors that I was able to achieve the high level of awareness needed in order to recognize the true driver of my results.
 
The problem…
 
The problem was a belief system that no longer served me. It was a pattern of thinking that had served me well in my comfortable life, but now that I wanted to expand my experiences, those old patterns were hijacking my success. 
 
When I became aware of the real culprit for my mediocre results I was able to be free….really free. Free to achieve successes I never imagined. Free to achieve amazing and incredible things I never dreamed. I had awesome within me, but I was unable to fully activate it. Until the day I raised my awareness and changed my old belief system into a new success driven one.
 
What about you? What would you like to do and achieve? What’s really stopping you? What belief systems are you holding onto that no longer serve you?
 
When you think differently you do differently. 
Live Awesomely,
Angela Decoteau (Deck-uh-toe)
Success Strategist, Awesome Activator
Activate your awesome, grow your business,
and transform your life.

This three letter word will stop you from achieving greatness unless you eliminate it from your vocabulary.
 
When I hear this word, I know it is coming from a person who is stuck on average. The gap between dreaming and achieving is so large that he cannot move forward in his life. Like a hamster on a perpetual wheel he will look back on his life and see that nothing was accomplished and all his great talent was wasted on effort while missing the mark on achievement. 

It is a word that many people use. In fact, most people equate the use of this word as a just description of their effort. But in reality, this word forms the mental picture of effort without accomplishment. It depicts an image of a long and winding journey will be long, and they relish more of the fact they are on a journey than arriving at a destination.
 
That word is “try”. 
 
I often hear people say they are “trying” to lose weight. Now when I hear that phrase, I know right away they are not achieving the end goal of shedding a number of pounds each day or week. This would be accomplishment. Instead they are making some effort toward the goal with the psychological intent to remain in an effort without achieving the goal. 
 
Do you see the difference? If you wish to mentally prepare yourself for achievement, then you must describe your end goal in a definitive manner. "I will reduce my carbs by ½ each day in order to lose 1 pound per week. If I don’t achieve my goal after two weeks, I will adjust another area of my diet."
 
You see how adding definitive and measurable achievement in your effort to achieve a goal makes a huge difference?
 
So, what are you “trying” to do? Have you done it? I would wager that you very likely have not. Our thoughts drive our actions and our spoken words have the power to direct our thoughts. Words are very powerful. So begin to train your mind to think in definitive goals and achievements.
 
Look at an area in your life or business today. Stop “trying” to get the team motivated, stop “trying” to call clients, stop “trying” to…………..
 
And start doing, achieving, and accomplishing your goals.
 Live Awesomely,
Angela Decoteau (Deck-uh-toe)
Success Strategist, Awesome Activator
Activate your awesome and transform your life.