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As I was driving down the highway a few weeks ago to visit a friend, for some reason I began to take notice of the many distractions and obstacles to my travel. The first thing I noticed was that the car didn’t move on its own. I had the steering wheel, and I was in control of the direction I was headed. The engine was in tune and running so the car accelerates when I apply pressure to the gas. The tires should be in good shape too for the best chance to have a safe trip. Many things are within my control as I drive my vehicle towards my destination. When I hit the brakes, as long as I have kept them maintained, the car slows and eventually comes to a stop.

There are many things that are beyond my control that I have to deal with, adjust to, or just plain avoid. The weather is the first thing I noticed as I drove into the sun and had to deal with trying to see the road as the sun was low in the sky. But, rain can also obstruct your vision, and even can make the roads slippery and dangerous, and sometimes under water! In the northern states, snow and ice can make travel treacherous, or just down right impossible. We must also, on occasion, deal with high winds, making it difficult to drive and blowing debris onto the roads.

Then there is traffic. I hate traffic! Commutes make me sick to my stomach! Too much traffic can make for a longer trip. Careless drivers weaving in and out of traffic at high speeds, putting make-up on, texting and talking on the phone, eating their breakfast, and taking notes (all at the same time!!), can make your trip quite interesting too! My personal pet peeve is getting behind an 18-wheeler in the passing lane, who just seems to enjoy slowing everyone down, bringing me to the point of road rage – another traffic issue. Construction zones, damaged roads, and detours are also among the many obstacles to driving.

There are many issues that we face when we drive our vehicles down the highway, and life is exactly that way too! Think about it. There are only so many things that you have control over in life. You can control your decisions, your reactions, the friends you keep, the food you eat, the clothes you wear, and a number of other trivial details.

But, for the most part life happens to us, doesn’t it? The doctor hands down a diagnosis, you find the pink slip in your paycheck envelope, wall street lets you down, taxes go up, your parents divorce, it rains on your cookout, your team loses…and I could go on and on. Beyond that your life is full of marital issues, dating issues (if you’re single!), personality issues, parenting issues, day to day financial issues, office issues, church issues, issues with your neighbors and so on. Then, add the list of issues that come with being an entrepreneur (employees, accounting, overhead taxes – again!?), and it sometimes feels really hard to overcome it all, and stay on the path of success in business.âeuro¨âeuro¨So how do we do it? How do we succeed in this journey down the highway of life, much less finish? And how do we win as entrepreneurs? With so many things to drag us down, how do we continue to forge ahead and make any progress towards success? Now, I believe we all define success in different ways, so the end game may be different for each of us. But, these three tips will be worth applying to your life, no matter where you may be going.

If we are going to win as entrepreneurs we must:

1) Have the Right Attitude.

A good driver attitude would be one that has a healthy respect for others, and the dangers that come with driving. Having the right attitude as an entrepreneur means that we will never settle for “status quo.” Being average or mediocre is unacceptable! Striving for excellence in all we do drives us to run in such a way as to win the race. There can be no whining or complaining either. Circumstances, obstacles, and challenges come, and they will go. They are out of our control, and will always be there. Our life will ultimately be measured not by how difficult our road was along the way, but by how we navigated the course – how those challenges made us better or worse. Finally, there can be no excuses. One thing I have heard and experienced is that in business, we will either make excuses or money, but never both. Whiners are never winners.âeuro¨âeuro¨

2) Get the Right Training.

We must go to driving school, pass a written exam, and a driving test in order to be licensed to drive. We must be well trained if we are going to drive our businesses in the right direction. Now, I happen to be part of an education company that has the best training and trainers on the planet! But, it makes no difference in my life if I never learn and apply it. We don’t always have the advantage of great training, so the same principle applies. We must do the due diligence to train ourselves. We have resources at our finger tips and if you don’t believe me, just ask Google! It is always up to us to learn all we can, practice all we can, and become all we can so we can win in business and in life.âeuro¨âeuro¨

3) Keep the Right Focus.

It is quite pointless to drive without a destination in mind! We usually get in our cars to go somewhere, but when we do, the steering wheel tends to turn in whatever direction we are looking. Distractions are everywhere so it takes a measure of focus to stay on the road, and ultimately reach our destination!
God has placed each of us on this earth for a reason other than taking up space, sucking up air, and breathing carbon dioxide! We are made with a purpose! What is yours? It’s our pleasure to live that purpose to the fullest! Whatever it is, write it down. Create a vision statement and keep it in front of you at all times.

Set some goals and objectives that will keep you on track to achieving your purpose, and adjust when necessary. Write and review your vision statement and your goals every morning, and every night. There are many distractions: new deals, new products, and the “latest and greatest” everywhere. Staying in your goals keeps you grounded with your eyes straight ahead focused on your ultimate destination.

Keep them in front of you – I have an acquaintance who keeps his all over the house, and even posts them on the dashboard of his car. Post them on your mirrors, on the refrigerator, create a screen saver, design a new wallpaper for your computer or smart phone, place them on your night stand, write them in your planner. The possibilities are endless, but keep them out in front of you, and then relentlessly pursue them with passion! Look straight ahead as you focus on the finish line! Keep your eyes on the prize, and let nothing, or no one distract you!

Having the right attitude, getting the right training, and keeping the right focus are keys to winning as an entrepreneur. Navigating the challenges along the road of life isn’t easy, but these three principles will help. I encourage you to pass them along to others who may need some travel tips. I wish you the best as you travel down this road of life and achieve your ultimate success – whatever that may be.

-Jerry Spangler
904-233-2452