{mosimage}One of my favorite quotes goes something like this: “Jealousy is the tribute mediocrity pays to excellence.”

It reminds me of the scene in the inspirational movie “In Pursuit of Happiness” when aspiring stockbroker Chris Gardner played by Will Smith tells his son “Don’t ever let somebody tell you you can’t do something, not even me.” In this powerful scene, he goes on to teach his son that there are people everywhere who are quick to tell you that you can’t reach your goals or achieve your dreams. Because of their own mediocrity and failure these people discourage success. They are jealous of and hate anyone who wants to be or achieve more and they will do almost anything to bring everyone down to their level.

The problem that faces dreamers is that these people make up the majority of the population. Just think about it. 90% of the people in this world are fighting over the same bone and when a dreamer comes into their midst and says, “You can keep that bone I’m going to start my own business, I’m going to make presidents club, I’m going to get a promotion, I’m going to write a book, I’m going to run a marathon,” the horde of mediocre people simply cannot accept it and they immediately attempt to tear the dreamer down with discouraging words and worse, deliberate roadblocks. And when words or roadblocks don’t work the dreamer is simply labeled as crazy.

The sad thing for me is that too often these discouraging tactics work to generate self-doubt in people for whom encouragement would have otherwise fueled the fire. Instead of following through on their goals and dreams they give up and go back to their mediocre and unfulfilled life. And then they justify their failure to act by telling themselves that what they wanted was “impossible anyway, they didn’t really have what it takes, or that the timing was just wrong.” And unfortunately, they wake up one day regretting having never followed through on their true dreams and goals.

So here is my message to you. Don’t ever let anyone tell you what you can’t do. Ever!

When you say you can, there will be losers there to say you can’t. When you dream there will always be someone there to demand that you wake up. When you believe in yourself there will be others who will try to create self-doubt. When you act there will be short-sighted people who will work to slow you down with roadblocks. And when you achieve, when your dreams have come true, when you cross the finish line with your hands in the air, the mediocre will not welcome you, they will not learn from your example. Instead the only tribute you will receive from them is their jealousy. But as the mediocre go back to fighting over the same old bone, you will stand on your mountain top, high above the fray, living the life that you deserve.

Here are four PowerPrinciples for living your dreams:

Remove Self-doubt: Each of us has a picture of who we are which is influenced both by what we say to ourselves and what we hear others say about us. What is also true is that what we believe about ourselves - about how we act, how we look, how smart we are, our talents, skills and abilities - will determine who and what we are and what we become. The key to removing self-doubt is to manage what we say to ourselves and to manage what we take-in from others. Pay attention to your inner voice and make a habit out of saying positive things about yourself. Stay away from negative people. Your relationships have a direct impact on your belief system and attitude. Surround yourself instead with high achievers. When others try to pull you down, your high achieving peers will support and encourage you to break through the self-doubt and win.

Create Positive Affirmations: As losers work to tear you down, your belief system may take a hit. You may even begin to doubt yourself and your abilities. A strong belief system is vital for success. Affirmations are nothing more than positive self-talk that help you maintain a strong belief system. They are simply words that you say to yourself to help you create a positive attitude that expects to win. Take time to write down positive affirmations that will move you closer to your dreams and repeat them to yourself each morning, afternoon and before you go to bed. Words like: “I am a winner!”, “I am a successful business owner.”, “I am talented”, “I achieve my goals”, “I outwit my competition”, “I am the best salesperson on my team.”, help you remove self-doubt and create a winning attitude.

{sidebar id=14}Expect to Win: Whenever the game is on the line true winners want the ball. Why? Because in their minds and in their spirit, they expect to win. While others calculate the cost of losing, winners see only the rewards of victory. It is critical that you develop an attitude that expects success. Create a habit of managing your self-talk and focusing your mind and spirit on only the rewards of reaching your goals and dreams.

Turn Your Haters into Motivators: No matter what you do there will always be those who will hate you for your success. Learn to welcome your detractors. Learn to channel their hate into motivation. By turning your haters into motivators your drive to succeed will become stronger. Determine in your mind that whenever someone lays down a roadblock that it is a sign that you are getting closer to your goal. Invest in yourself to get better, stronger and become even more powerful in your skills. Never let anyone tell you what you can’t do.