The Most Important Question of Your Life

I know you have heard this question many times before, BUT have you honestly, in your CORE, answered it?

If you could do anything in your life and you knew you could not fail, what would you do?

This is such a powerful question that I will ask you again:

If you could to anything in your life, anything really, and you were absolutely certain that you could not fail, what would you do today with your life?

Would you be living in a different part of the country or in another country?
Would you have a different career or job?
Would you be in a different relationship?
Would you be playing sports or music professionally?
Would you be acting?
Would you have your own business?
Would you be traveling the world and writing?
Would you be a professional DJ?
Would you be a professional fisherman?
Would you be a full-time writer?
Would you be a real estate investor?
Would you be a professional speaker?
Would you be doing non-profit work?

If you are one the few people who is already living your answer, congratulations!!

If you are not yet, please keep reading…

I am serious! Really, what would you do?

Don’t you think that it is time for you to stop and ask yourself this question? If not now, when? Would you stop and answer this question when the economy gets better? Of course not, you will not ask then, because you will be “way to busy” making money…

I believe that finding and living the answer to this question is one of the most important things you can do in your life, for your family life and your happiness.

Why?

Because you have just one life to live and the clock is ticking. This moment is all we have. We never know when we are going to have another tomorrow. You do not want to be 99 years old looking back on your life and regret not having the life that you wish you could have had.

I have asked this question to thousands of people in my coaching, training and speaking career, and what I found is that less then 1% of the people that I came in contact with are living their own answers.

(btw, William Marsten, a prominent Psychologist once asked 3,000 people the question “What have you lived for?” and 94% of the respondents said they had no definite purpose!)

Usually people tell me things that are totally different from the lives that they currently have. They say things like “Well, if I could do anything I would have my own business” or “I would be working with kids” or “I would be a fashion designer” or “I would be traveling around the world”.

Because I am a curious guy, I always want to know what is stopping them, so I usually ask them:

So why are you not doing that right now?
Why are you not that person right now?
Why don’t you have that right now?
What is stopping you from experiencing that now?
What is preventing you from getting this?

Through out the years, I have collected their responses…here are the top 7 reasons they are not living their answers…

• That is impossible, I am too old now
• I have to pay the bills, I can not afford to follow my dreams.
• I do not have the time to make that happen, I come home and I am exhausted
• I am not that smart to actually pull that off
• It is going to be too hard, you have to know people in this industry, and I do not know anybody.
• I don’t have practical education in that field
• It is too risky

Whatever the answer they give me, I know deep in my heart that is not the real reason. If you analyze their answers and keep asking questions, 99% of the time it will come down to one major reason: lack of belief in themselves (which can lead to fear and uncertainty)

Belief is simply an emotional validation to our thought process. Our thoughts usually come from an experience we had in the past (something we saw, heard or experienced). At some point in our life, we “emotionally validated” these thoughts and we acted (or didn’t) upon them, and consequently beliefs are formed. Your belief system, both positive and negative, impacts YOU in ALL areas of your life.

Let me give you a common example of how a negative (also known as limiting) belief can impact you:

Something that I saw: I saw this little girl being humiliated in school when she stood up in front of the class. I remember kids making fun of her.

What I experienced: The first time I remember speaking in front of the class, I was nervous and I did not do well.

Thought Process: I was not born a speaker and public speaking is terrible.

Emotional Validation: Yes, that is true, I remember when I tried again 2 years ago and I sucked when I spoke in front of my coworkers.

Action (or lack of it): I was invited to speak again, but I said “no” because I had butterflies in my stomach and I don’t want to fail again

Belief: I am not a good speaker, I don’t like to speak in front of people and I can prove you!!

As you can see, our beliefs will determine our future outcome in your life.

Therefore, if you are truly committed to answer and live the question “If you could to anything in your life and you knew you could not fail, what would you do?”, you must have the right beliefs in place.

Here are some of the beliefs that I believe will help you:

1. It is possible for you to do anything you put your mind into it (yes, there are some physical exceptions, if you are 95 and you want to play at NBA you may be too late, but for the most part, it is possible for you to do anything)
2. It is possible for you to do anything and you are ABLE to do anything (you can learn any skills)
3. It is possible for you to do anything, you are able to do anything (you can learn any skills), and you WORTHY of achieving it.

Remember, it is POSSIBLE for you, you are ABLE to do it, and you WORTHY of achieving it.

BTW, when it comes to those “reasons” that other people have told me before for not following through, here is what I have to say :

• That is impossible, I am too old now.
  That is an excuse: Ruth Flowers is 70 is a DJ rocking in Europe. http://youtu.be/Dzy3JxOJupM.
• I have to pay the bills, I can not afford to follow my dreams.
  That is an excuse: Find an investor or work part-time towards your dream.
• I do not have the time to make that happen, I come home and I am exhausted. That is an excuse: We all have 24 hours a day. Just manage your time better, watch less TV and get support from your family and friends.
• I am not that smart to actually pull that off.
  That is an excuse: Get a coach, a mentor or a partner who can help you with the skills you need.
• It is going to be too hard, you have to know people in this industry, and I do not know anybody.
  That is an excuse: Arnold Schwarzenegger moved to US when he was 21 and did not know anybody. Had no acting training or political background. He conquered both fields.
• I don’t have practical education in that field.
  That is an excuse: Tony Robbins is the highest paid speaker in the world and he has coached 2 US presidents, top notch athletes and he has a high school degree
• It is too risky.
  That is an excuse: Risk is living your life knowing you should be doing something but you don’t because you are afraid.

It is time for you to ask yourself this question, answer it and follow through, so tell me:

“If you could to anything in your life and you knew you could not fail, what would you do?”

Roberto