"Protester" or "Producer" ?

I heard that line recently from human achievement expert, Dennis Waitley, and it stuck with me. He said: "in life, you can either be a protester or a producer, but you can't be both"... How true.

Have you noticed nowadays that a large segment of the population are always complaining, pointing fingers, justifying, and blaming someone or something for their shortcomings (protesting)? While a much smaller segment of the population are quietly creating more value, inspiring, and influencing others positively with their ideas and actions (producing)?

Unfortunately, the latter group is shrinking and the former group is growing, fast. You see, the latter group feels it is "someone else's" responsibility while the former group feels it is "their" responsibility. A monumental difference. And a difference that, no doubt, separates one from happiness, success, and prosperity in all areas of their lives...

I bring this up here today because as we start a new month, the first month of the second half of the year, this is an ideal time to identify whether or not YOU have been a "protester" or a "producer" in the first half of 2010....

I've always looked at July 1st every year as a second chance, another shot at YOUR "big thing." It is the exact mid point of the year. A perfect time to re-analyze where you're at with your New Year's goals and big ideas. Many fall short a few weeks into the New Year, others a few months into the New Year. But here's what almost everyone makes the mistake of doing...

They stop.

They chalk it up as a loss because they fell off course. They say: "oh well, maybe next year." And ya know what happens?

Year after year goes by... and no "production." And then they "protest." They start placing blame, pointing fingers, justifying, and making excuses. It's a vicious cycle. It spreads like wildfire...if you let it.

I'm asking you to draw a line in the sand right now, right here at the mid point of 2010, and to reject those thoughts. I'm asking you to take responsibility for your outcomes, to stand for nothing less than deliberate "production" in all areas of your life, both business and personal. I'm asking you to no longer stand for blaming, finger pointing, excuse making, and "protesting" of any kind.

I've lived my life this way since I was as a young boy in high school. Playing football at a highly competitive level in both high school and college began this journey for me.

How?

Because I forced myself into an environment that, initially, was way over my head. On paper, I shouldn't have even played the game. I was too small and not fast enough. I was cut from my freshman high school football team. I could have made every excuse in the book not to continue. My best friend at the time did. He was also cut. We never really spoke again...

Instead of making excuses and pointing fingers, I persisted. I even had to play little league football that year, as a high school freshman, with all the 7th and 8th graders. Embarrassing. I worked through the pain, frustration and discomfort though. I took responsibility for my short comings and I improved in all areas I could.  By the time I was a senior, I led the entire school in touchdowns that year and was the only player who went on to play football at a Division 1 college...

Somewhere in your life you may be pointing fingers or making excuses for not being where you want to be, and justifying why. You may not be forcing yourself into an environment that forces you to step up, step out of your comfort zone, and "produce." You may not be asking enough of yourself. It's common. But, it should be unacceptable to you....

You can get past it though... if you want to. You"ll first need to relinquish all blaming, excuse making, and justifying... all "protesting." When you do, you can't help but "produce." Trust me.

I promise you this... the feeling you get, the control you gain, and the liberation you'll feel, is like no other when you take responsibility and make the choice to live this way, to push yourself a little bit more, to live as a "producer" not as a "protester." It, also, spreads like wild fire...if you let it.

You up for my challenge?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on this. Leave your comments and feedback below. I'll be watching...

Best,

Andrew J. Cass