JORGE RODRIGUES SIMÃO

Trying to attain great success in life is like trying to climb a great mountain. They both involve substantial risk, a chance for major disappointment, and a sense of adventure. On your journey to success you will encounter many new problems - but you will encounter many new opportunities and wonderful experiences as well. You must be warned, however, that attaining your goals will likely take a lot longer than you may think. Not only does the mountain always look closer than it is, the mountain gets steeper as you get closer.

Dream - Motivational Video

One day German poet Otto Erich Hartleben consulted a doctor about his health problems. The doctor advised Hartleben to quit smoking cigarettes and to stop drinking alcohol. The doctor added, "This visit will cost you three marks." "I'm not paying you," retorted Hartleben, "because I'm not taking your advice." Undoubtedly, you have found this out through experience: Most people won't follow advice - regardless of how good it is - as was the case with poet Otto Erich Hartleben. Your advice may very well be helpful, but if it means that the recipient of the advice must put in some work and effort, he or she will likely discard it. Giving advice may not only be a waste of your time and energy - it can be dangerous as well.

Have you ever thought about someone you know who has succeeded in something quite remarkable? This could be starting a highly successful business, writing a blockbuster-selling book, designing an award-winning house, or going out with a stunning member of the opposite sex. You are wondering how someone like this could pull it off. The individual doesn't appear to have as much talent as you, be as smart as you, or be as attractive as you. If this person can do it, why can't you?

Common sense tells us that we shouldn't waste time on things that we can't change. This applies, not just to situations and events, but to people as well. Yet all of us fall into the trap of trying to change people to the way we would like them to be. If you fall into this trap yourself, you should question whether it's wise to try to transform others. Everything can make perfectly good sense if you never really think about it all that much - but sometimes you must. Fact is it's all too easy to overestimate your ability to change others. This includes friends, relatives, lovers, and neurotics.