I’ve been writing a lot about the negative side of the success equation, and that is because Bill’s and Phil’s book is focused on the things people do to guarantee failure.When we eliminate these failure actions we can soar. It’s like a seabird trying to cross the ocean with an anchor tied to its leg. Until it gnaws off the rope it will never get out of the water, let alone sail the sky like it was meant to do. We all were meant to fly and yet so few do. Buy the book and take a good hard look at the anchor you’ve tied to yourself. Cut it away. You don’t need it.

I attended a seminar style meeting yesterday hosted by a new client of mine, Kevin Hall.  He is almost ready (today I hope) to go to press with a book he has been writing for many years dedicated to the power of words. The book is  Aspire.  The root word “spire” means spirit. Aspire means to share spirit. Inspire means to breathe in spirit. No it was not a religious gathering, in fact the speakers were very scrupulous in reinforcing the message that none are excluded. Who was included? It was an interesting list of up-and-coming, and major influences on the business scene. Successful people one and all. I wasn’t really sure why I was invited, but thrilled to be there.

Zig Zigler, famous PMA speaker said, “You can get everything in life you want if you will help enough other people get what they want.”I don’t know how many years have passed since I first heard that sentence. Every time I heard it repeated I would say, “Yah!” It sounded like truth and in my own small way I have been trying to implement this advice in furthering my career. I am a printing broker. My whole working life has been dedicated to helping clients get their printed projects done right, on-time, and at a competitive cost. My income has consistently been over six figures for the last twenty years or so. I believe that you truly can get everything in life you want if you will help enough other people get what they want. You might ask, “Bill do you have everything in life that you want?” No, is the answer. I have a lot but not everything. You see, there is a second part to it. The more people you help get what they want the higher you can go.

As a hands on print broker I can only effectively handle the needs of a limited number of clients. I thought I’d reached an impasse. My time was maxed out and my income topped out. Then in the last quarter of 2008 everything took a nosedive. When companies find they have to cut back what is the easiest thing to cut? Right–the printing. We can hold off on that brochure. Let’s not do the direct mail campaign just yet. Companies have cut and printers around the globe are feeling the pressure. Unfortunately it is very difficult for printers to retrench. Modern printing presses can cost millions of dollars, and if the press is running, it’s making money. If it sits idle for lack of business it is a huge drain. I’d be surprised if any of you readers don’t know a printer that is either going out of business, or has closed shop.

You can guess my frame of mind (See Rule #7: It’s always someone else’s fault) as I took my seat in what they called, Power of Words Self-Mastery training. I hoped that no one could see the anchor of dread that I have been lugging around. I would be embarrassed if they did, but whether they see it or not it sits on my chest day and night. Is there anyone else experiencing the same thing? I’m sure I’m not alone in this.

So here I was among a group of high fliers, thinking I didn’t belong, when Kevin Hall introduced a seven-figure a year public speaker. His name is Chad Hymas. Chad didn’t walk into the room, he rolled. There is a natural fear of standing in front of a group of people and delivering a speech, well Chad can’t stand, but he wishes he could. Years ago he suffered an accident that left him, according to the doctors, a quadriplegic. He works diligently on physical training to recover as many motor skills as he can and he has recovered a great deal (See Rule #9: Do the least that is necessary for success).

Chad described his experience lying in a hospital bed where his father broke the news about the severity of his condition. His great fear was that he wouldn’t be able to provide for his family, that he would be an anchor to them. He was told to look for his God given talents and develop them. He did. He struggled to be a public speaker and I can tell you that as an audience member I was ashamed of my attitude of defeat. Did I see a weak, damaged human being in front of me. No, I saw a dynamic, confident, and self-assured man whom I instantly admired. Now I’m going back to Rule #1 (Resist learning anything new that could lead to more responsibility) and I’ve decided to retrain my brain and lift that anchor off my chest for once and for all.

Written by Bill Ruesch blog author of Talking Through My Hat, A Print Broker’s Ruminations www.billprintbroker.com