Sometimes, to unwind, I sit and watch TV (wink, wink) with my husband. Many times, I pay no attention to the talking heads. Instead, I surf the internet and read. Tonight, I came across an excerpt from the book “Shut Up, Stop Whining, and Get a Life: A Kick-Butt Approach to a Better Life” by Larry Winget. He is sometimes referred to as “The Bulldog of Personal Development” – and that could possibly be the understatement of the millennium.
Winget is extremely direct (which I can relate to), and confrontational in his approach. He is all about personal responsibility – “manning up” and taking the heat for you lack of action, bad choices and wrong mindsets. Confessing it, owning it, and then moving on.
I have been told that I sometimes rub people the wrong way. And over time, I have learned to be okay with that, as I personally value being respected more than being liked.
What I am not accepting of is the mindless sugar coating of truth and the enablement of people to remain mediocre (at best). The most highly sought after coaches are tough, direct, and have very high expectations of their team mates, clients, and themselves. They are in your face, on your toes, and they make you a little angry at times. The good news is, if you are hacked off (temporarily) – then you are opened to being challenged, but only by someone you RESPECT; and not necessarily “like”. This willingness to be challenged is what facilitates growth.
As a leader or mentor, it is much easier to give in to a whining baby than to stand firm and teach the lesson that must be learned (this is also true in parenting).
No one ever gets better by being coddled. People who baby you and tell you what you WANT to hear are not helping you – conversely, they are hindering you. If your goal is to live your dreams and be your best in life, what you need is someone who cares enough to lovingly kick your backside!
My suggestion? If you are currently in a business relationship with someone who babies you and makes all your shortcomings okay – FIRE THEM. Then immediately hire someone who cares enough about your success to look you square in the eye and say “shut up, stop whining, and get a life”!
I Love it! Jack Canfields book "The Success Principles" says the same thing. Chapter 1 of his book and the biggest chapter is all about taking personal responsibility, 100% responsibility for your actions and where you are in life. Somewhere sometime you have make decisions or taken some action that set you on the path to where you are right now, and the sooner you realize that and own up to it, the sooner you can start making better decisions and doing the right things to get you where you want to be!
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