Ambitiously Pursuing Your Own Self-Direction
by Jim Rohn
Excerpted from "The Power of Ambition" series
What is the origin of true ambition? There exists really only one place to find true ambition and that is within you – in every thought, in every movement, in every motivation. Your ambition is an expression of who you truly are, your own self-expression.
Self-expression. Isn't self-expression really self-direction? How you think, how you move, how you motivate yourself. Ambition is a result of self-direction and self-direction is one of the six key principles necessary for building ambition.
Positive self-direction says, "I know who I am and I know where I want to go. I'm accumulating knowledge and experiences and feelings and philosophies that will help prepare me for opportunities that I know will show up without notice or any help on my part."
Because you know where you want to go, you have already been working on the parts of your personality that will make you better. Working on your attitude, working on your health, working on your time management skills. Putting it all down on paper. And you constantly see yourself in the place you want to be, going in the direction you want to go.
Direction determines destination. So here is a question you must ask yourself, "Are all the disciplines that I'm currently engaged in taking me where I want to go?" What an important question to ask yourself at the beginning of the month, the beginning of the week, the beginning of the day. Because here is what you don't ever want to do - kid yourself. Kid your neighbor, kid me and kid the marketplace, but don't kid yourself - fingers crossed - hoping you will arrive at a good destination when you're not even headed that way.
You have to ask yourself often, Am I? Am I doing the disciplines that are taking me in the direction I want to go? Don't neglect to ask these important questions, questions that help determine your direction, the set of your sail, your destination.
Is this the direction I want for my life?
Is this someone else's direction?
Is this a goal I have been ingrained with since my childhood?
Is this goal my parent's, my spouse's, my boss', my children's or
-- is it Mine?
Ask yourself these questions and then debate them. After you have answered these questions within yourself, then take it one step further and ask, "What am I doing that is working or not working?" Debate it all. Work with your mind to figure out the best possible direction for you - your self-direction. And then ambitiously pursue your own self-direction. Let the power of your own ambition take you where you want to go, to do what you want to do, to create the life you want to live!
To Your Success,
Jim Rohn
Special Note: This is a great time to Plan, Do and Review. Are you focused and on course for reaching your goals? Are you on the right track mentally, physically, spiritually, financially, relationally, etc.? The 12 Pillars of Success
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About the author: Jim Rohn has helped motivate and train an entire generation of personal development trainers as well as hundreds of executives from America's top corporations. He's been described as everything from a master motivator, to a modern day Will Rogers... to a legend. Visit his website: www.jimrohn.com
Copyright © Jim Rohn. All Rights Reserved.
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by Jim Rohn
Jim Rohn is a philosopher, motivational counselor, business executive, and best-selling author. He has been recognized as the greatest motivational speaker of all time. He is one of the world's most sought-after success counselors and business philosophers with some of his most thought provoking topics being: sales and entrepreneurial skills, leadership, sales and marketing, success and personal development.
