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"The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a . . ."

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Cornerstone Business Group Inc 0225086119

"The mind is its own place and in itself, can make a Heaven of Hell, a Hell of Heaven", John Milton.  Milton may have struck upon one of the greatest dichotomies of the human experience.  A man with great talent may become a great failure.  Or, a woman of unequaled beauty may spend a lifetime trying to be beautiful. Why? The disconnect with reality in the mind.

One of the greatest battles we face in life is the battle that rages between our ears. All men are born equal, but not all men will have equal outcomes of life. There will always be those who will excel and accomplish things that amaze, but why do equally gifted and talented individuals never accomplish much of anything?

There is an old Henry Ford quote that says, "If you believe you can, or you believe you can't, either way you're right." Starting a successful business begins when you believe you can create a successful business. You may, and probably will, need to learn the mechanics of business, the pitfalls to avoid and the shortcuts that others have found, but the ability to be successful is inside you. It's in the incubator of the mind. If you can overcome the doubts that try to rob you of courage to start, you've taken the first to success.

One of the great feeders of doubt to a great idea comes from those who know and love you. They may be family, friends or co-workers who don't have the vision you have. They can't see what you see, so they can only offer input from their limited resources. I would encourage you to create and lock in your plan before you seek input from those who are not going to be an integral part of your business plan. You don't want someone who will not be a primary asset in your idea to be a primary discourager to your success.

Milton is right, "The mind is its own place and in itself . . ." is greatness or failure. There is the ability to create and the ability to destroy. There is unlimited resources for success, and there are the demons of your own demise. You, and only you, have the power to create Hell of Heaven, or Heaven of Hell.

 

Comments(40)

Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Thank you, Sheila.  Have a great Monday.

You bet, Michael.  Many races are lost before they start.

Aug 04, 2013 10:49 PM
Fernando Herboso - Associate Broker MD, & VA
Maxus Realty Group of Samson Properties - Clarksburg, MD
301-246-0001 Serving Maryland, DC and Northern VA

I believe the book "think and grow rich" was revolutionary on this idea. .the power of influencing your mind is available to all of us and . .what a great and easy way to chart your own  destiny. . .

Good post Mike

Aug 04, 2013 10:55 PM
Brenda J. Andrew
ULTIMA REAL ESTATE - Willis, TX
Professional Realtor in Conroe/Willis, TX
This is so true. I needed to hear about sometimes not letting the discourages in on the goal. It doesn't help to hear the negative input. Thanks for posting.
Aug 04, 2013 11:05 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Thanks, Fernando.  I love that book.

No it doesn't Brenda. 

Aug 04, 2013 11:14 PM
Tom White
Franklin Homes Realty LLC (615) 495-0752 or www.FranklinHomesRealty.com - Franklin, TN
Franklin Homes Realty LLC, Franklin TN

Mike, great post and very thought provoking! I absolutely agree that the easiest way to derail a great idea is to share it with naysaying friends and family. You want them to be supportive and encouraging--but sometimes their vision is just too limited!

Aug 04, 2013 11:34 PM
Kelly Taylor
Keller Williams - Lakewood Ranch, FL

What a great post. This was absolutely what I needed to hear this morning. I just started as the marketing director for a large multi million dollar team. I know I can help grow this team but the self doubt was creeping in. Thanks for the answer.

Aug 04, 2013 11:35 PM
MaryKay Shumway
The Kellstrom Ray Agency, Inc. (Est. 1948) - Sister Bay, WI
Door County Wisconsin's Real Estate Expert

Great post.  A good reminder for a Monday morning.

Aug 05, 2013 12:07 AM
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Actually the cause of all our woe is the deal we made to activate that brain to God status....something that it was never intended to be.

Aug 05, 2013 12:15 AM
Team Honeycutt
Allen Tate - Concord, NC

The John Milton quote is a new one for me and I appreciate your sharing it with us. The Henry Ford quote is one of my favorites and I use it for one of my daily quotes on our Team Honeycutt voice mail.

Betty

Aug 05, 2013 12:57 AM
Norma Toering Broker for Palos Verdes and Beach Cities
Charlemagne International Properties - Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Palos Verdes Luxury Homes in L.A.

A great "power post" to start the week off strong--good stuff. 

Aug 05, 2013 03:25 AM
Tamra Lee Ulmer
Arizona Resource Realty - Payson, AZ
NRBA ~FORCE~ Over 1000 REO Assets SOLD!

Very inspiring Post! Thanks for sharing this!

Aug 05, 2013 06:13 AM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

My greatest battles are always with myself :)

Aug 05, 2013 07:35 AM
Ricki Eichler McCallum
CastNet Realty - Corpus Christi, TX
Broker,GRI,ABR, e-Pro, TAHS

Hi Mike,  Wonderful post!  Thanks for it, I will share with my agents tomorrow! :)

Aug 05, 2013 08:45 AM
Donna Quinlan
Keller Williams Realty - Newburyport, MA
Keller Williams Realtor & Career Consultant

Mike - I agree totally! "Change the way we look at things, and the things we look at change"  Great post!

Aug 05, 2013 09:00 AM
Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

You wrote: "I would encourage you to create and lock in your plan before you seek input from those who are not going to be an integral part of your business plan." or any plan in life. For some reason when it's given away before we ever start, the nay-sayers are sure to show up. If I listened to the nay-sayers I wouldn't have continued to apply for my real estate license. 

Everyone told me how difficult the test was, and how so many intelligent people they knew had failed it. Thankfully, I didn't listen, since my desire to enter real estate was so strong that it must have been by divine force; I passed the state exam on the first try. 

My point is, don't share too much or it's possible to become discouraged. Go ahead, make the plan, and follow through with it. Thanks for your inspiring post today. You rock.

Aug 05, 2013 09:04 AM
Anthony Rollins
Keller Williams Realty-Overland Park - Overland Park, KS
The Adam Butler Team

Mike,

Thank you for posting on the power of thoughts and how they determine our experience.  You couldn't be more right about protecting your dreams from those you lack the same vision and passion as you...I call those people dream killers!

Cheers!

Aug 05, 2013 09:48 AM
Brenda Mullen
RE/MAX Associates - San Antonio, TX
Your San Antonio TX Real Estate Agent!!

Wow Mike I really needed this today lol :)!  You are right of course..sometimes our worst detractors are those that love us...they are only trying to "help" us and usually don't understand that they can "help" to keep us bound :).  Thank you for your inspriing post today :)!

Aug 05, 2013 09:55 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Thanks for all of the great comments.  I've been off in the mountians, so I missed a lot of them until now.  Thank you for stopping by and sharing your wit and wisdom.  You're the best.

Aug 05, 2013 11:08 AM
Brian Sharkey
SharkeyRE LLC - Singer Island, FL
SharkeyRE

That's a great quote, at the beginning of the article and the part about protecting your dreams.

Aug 05, 2013 11:14 AM
Kate Elim
Dockside Realty - Spotsylvania, VA
Realtor 540-226-1964, Selling Homes & Land a

Hi Mike...We have no idea what we are capable of achieving unless to test ourselves. One of the greatest things we can do for our children is to encourage them to reach high and work hard.

Kate

Aug 05, 2013 12:17 PM