Jan/102
limited possibility perspective?
Do you suffer from LPP? A lot of people do and don’t realize it. What is it?
Simply put… the Limited Possibility Perspective is thinking that you can’t, more than believing that you can. It is operating from a scarcity mentality that tells us that dreams cannot or do not come true.
Great things are accomplished by those who dare to dream.
Those who refuse to accept the status quo.
Those who take intelligent risks and live on purpose.
Those who embrace and expand their perspective of possibilities.
Those who courageously step out and take action over apprehension… often in the midst of adversity and uncertainty.
If all this sounds like a bunch of positive thinking, motivational and inspirational nonsense to you… then you are likely suffering from acute LPP right now.
Limiting our possibilities makes the world appear very small. Physics tells us that when spaces get small, the pressure goes up. The world of possibility is vast. Options and opportunities are everywhere. But you have to look for them. You have to see them. Sometimes “seeing things” is the best thing.
But this same world is full of nay-sayers and dream stealers ready and willing to tell the rest of us what can’t be done and isn’t possible in their opinion and from their perspective. It appears as though they get great joy from pounding and pouncing on others’ ambition when in fact they are just running scared themselves. Run from these people. Distance yourself from dream stealers and instead surround yourself with dreamers who decide to do each and everyday.
Regardless of our individual definitions of success, or the actual outcomes, greatness is reserved for those who pursue it. And this greatness exists within the pursuit of possibility.
“Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who believed that something inside of them was superior to circumstance.” – Bruce Barton
©2010 Tom Leu
Jan/090
three kinds of people
Why do some people take action and accomplish much in life while others do not?
When referring to stepping up, accomplishing goals and making dreams a reality, people generally fall into one of three categories:
1. Those that DO.
Doers don’t ask, they just act. They don’t declare, they just do. They are the embodiment of persistence as evidenced through the enthusiasm for what they do. They may be fearful at times; have occasional doubts; and periodically get down; but this is most often short-lived as these kinds of people have an inner strength that transcends their 
circumstances. Quite simply, they become successful because they HAVE to. Not doing what it takes is NOT an option.
2. Those that DON’T.
These are people who are victims, not victors. They constantly make excuses while rarely executing anything. They reject responsibility and routinely place blame. They are usually a part of the problem and unusually a part of the solution. They are quick to tell you why not and slow to tell you why. They may have dreams, but lack the courage to really pursue them. It’s easy to dream. But it’s very hard to continually muster the necessary courage, often in the face of opposition, to persevere and see things through… to do what they say can’t be done!
3. Those that THINK they DO.
This is arguably worse than #2 because the illusion exists that real progress is being made when it really is not. Most of these folks are convinced that they’re making progress because they are “busy” all the time. Their to-do lists are usually long, but their real output toward high-payoff activities is low, although they don’t see it that way. They frequently confuse busyness with productivity. They ARE NOT the same thing. These are the people that do a lot of talking about what they are going to do, what’s gonna happen, and what their plans are. Planning and preparation are good and necessary to get things underway, but ultimately, talk is cheap. You’re either DOING what you say or you’re not. To paraphrase Tony Robbins, ‘when you’re constantly saying you should be doing this and should have done that, pretty soon you’re shoulding all over yourself.’
Make up your mind; talking and taking action are usually mutually exclusive.
So which kind of person are you? Which category do you find yourself in most often? And is that OK with you?
©2009 Tom Leu
Dec/080
action over apprehension
Think about this: Knowing how to run assumes you’re already walking. In terms of success in life, many people think they’re running when in fact they’re barely walking; some aren’t even standing yet. So how do you turn your passion into purpose; your desire into decision; your excitement into execution? Action Over Apprehension… More than just a tag line, this is about the art of eating an elephant, one bite at a time. Action is fear’s antidote. It kills it, fast. But there is a continuum that exists between preparation, perfection, and procrastination that’s important to recognize:
Preparation = the pre-polishing = the required foundation.
Perfection = the polishing = the necessary distinction.
Procrastination = the re-polishing = the debilitating destruction.
It’s important to objectively observe where you are at with any given project, assignment, or task at hand. Don’t kid yourself. Where are you really? Are you researching and creating in the preparation stage; building the foundation? Are you refining for excellence in the perfection stage; separating yourself out from the competition? Or are you rehashing the preparation and controlling the perfection stages thus procrastinating your progress? Your truthful assessment here will influence and affect your outcome.
“If everything seems under control you’re not going fast enough.” - Mario Andretti
Sometimes things happen gradually, but they do happen provided you do something first. I didn’t exactly set out to write my first book. I started by writing a weekly column of about 500 words each for a local newspaper. In my mind, that was doable, but not an entire book…are you kidding me? The same thing happened when one 60-second radio spot per week eventually turned into an entire audio CD program that I engineered, produced, and published. This wasn’t exactly on the radar at first either. I often think of the cold water in the swimming pool analogy… do you jump in, wade in, or opt out altogether? You have to make the decision to turn negative debilitating energy into positive, dynamic energy. You have to be “soldiers under command”… going into the fray, yet afraid.
Everyone gets scared and apprehensive at times, it’s normal. But when you’re scared, uncertain, or not confident… those are the times that action is an absolute must. Get up and DO something, anything. “Failing Forward” is better than “Stagnating Still.” Turn and run straight into the unknown by facing your fears. By simply taking small action steps each day, you are systematically disassembling and deactivating the fear that is attempting to paralyze you in the first place. This action builds on itself geometrically – eventually fueling you on to greater achievements and accomplishments than you ever thought possible. If you have the courage to begin, you’ll have the courage to succeed.
“Some people take no mental exercise apart from jumping to conclusions.” - Harold Acton
Finally, you have to learn how to separate your intentions from your actions. We measure ourselves by our intentions while everyone else measures us by our actions. Nobody really cares what you’re going to do tomorrow; they want to know what you are doing today. The late Nascar great, Dale Earnhardt used to say, “Don’t tell me what you’re gonna do; tell me what you did.” At the end of the day, that’s all there is… Action Over Apprehension.
©2008 Tom Leu
Nov/080
enduring uncertainty
The ability to endure through uncertain situations or unpredictable times of life demonstrates the necessary amount of faith and belief in ourselves that transcends circumstance. A 
seemingly invisible, yet undeniable drive underlies all attitude, effort, and action. It’s this consistent focus that harnesses hesitation, produces action over apprehension, and capitalizes on chaos with a solution-oriented perspective.
Sticking with things after we’ve stuck our neck out is a virtue that reveals character. To endure means to face with courage. Though giving up seems like the easier, softer way at times; the long-term consequences of quitting often far eclipse any apparent short-term gains in certainty and stability. Enduring uncertainty requires an attainment of presence in the present. Presence is recognizing the now today… by accepting yesterday… while embracing, not fearing tomorrow.
©2008 Tom Leu
Oct/080
common sense?
I often hear people critcize or dismiss other’s ideas by labeling it as “common sense.” Common sense indicates that the majority of people intuitively understand and already “know” the information that is being presented. And this fact of knowing indirectly asserts that the information is somehow less valuable because it’s “common” and therefore a commodity. So labeling something as common sense carries a deragatory connotation… but herein lies the irony:
Common Sense does not equal Uncommon Success…
Knowing and doing are two completely different things. Yes, it’s true that we all know many, many things. We may intellectually understand and often agree on a vast amount of knowledge about ourselves and about our world. But equally true is that most people do not DO what they know. This is not a judgement, but a statistical reality. Generally speaking, most people are not successful at applying the knowledge that is available to them. Proclaiming something as common sense seems to become a defense mechanism people employ to manage their disappointment around their lack of productive activity. Uncommon success in any area of life requires taking common sense on the road. It’s not enough to know something or to simply talk about something. You have to do something and make things happen for the common to become uncommon.
Smoking is an obvious, yet powerful example. No one will argue that smoking is hazardous for the health of the human body. It causes disease and people die from it everyday. We can call this common sense because everybody knows it. Yet millions still smoke despite this common knowledge. So what do we call common sense that is unacted upon? The norm… unfortunately. History proves that the most profound wisdom and universal truths are simple to understand but difficult to implement. Identifying something as common sense then is the beginning, not the end.
“Common sense is the collection of prejudices acquired by age 18.” – Albert Einstein
Of course what some call common sense, others call crazy. It becomes a matter of perspective based on one’s social, cultural and educational background. So maybe we could benefit from re-learning some universal “common sense” principles that affect our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being. But more importantly, maybe we can then learn to apply some of this knowledge and information to improve not only our own lives, but the lives of those around us. Sounds like common sense to me…
©2008 Tom Leu
Aug/080
the suite oblivion
The “suite oblivion” is a metaphorical place or a state-of-mind that most of us go to and reside in at various times in our lives. Oblivion is defined as the state of being disregarded or forgotten; total forgetfulness. Simply put, we often “forget” who we are and why we are really here. We then digress by consciously or unconsciously distracting ourselves with artificial realities, superficial relationships, or misguided 
endeavors.
We need to be reminded that each of us has a purpose and a reason for being. But the chaos of life often clouds our view of this purpose. While we can’t see exactly where we’re going, we live and work and interact day-to-day in our many unsatisfying suites of oblivion until we reach a threshold and decide to make some changes. Great pain usually precedes significant change. But unlike the “Hotel California”… you can check out any time you like AND you can always leave the suite oblivion if you choose. It starts with awareness, moves to a decision, and then has to be followed by deliberate action to truly escape.
©2008 Tom Leu
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Tom Leu is a writer, speaker, photographer, and teacher with degrees in Psychology and Sociology. Tom's RockStar Way™ brand uncovers the extraordinary "images" within music, marketing & motivation.
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