Reaching for Success in 2021

By Roger Crawford. This was originally published on Roger's blog.

One of life’s greatest joys is being a grandparent. My granddaughters, Alex Jean and Bridgette, are treasures, and I cherish every moment with them. I don’t have the traditional name of Grandpa. Mine is a bit more contemporary. They call me Pop Daddi!

I love it when the girls run up to me and say, “Pop Daddi, please read us a book!” An author whom I connected with as a young boy has also captured the girls’ fascination, and that’s Dr. Seuss. If the great doctor were alive today, he would be 113 years old.

Think of the countless children and adults that have been inspired by his work. Reading Dr. Seuss is one of the best remedies I know of to dispel discouragement.

Reach for success in 2021!

As we transition into the new year, I would like you to think about this Dr. Seuss quote from Oh, the Places You’ll Go: “And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed).”Although this was written 30 years ago in a children’s book, these words have relevance for any age or stage in life.

Dr. Seuss teaches us that our attitude, self-belief, and sense of purpose determine success and are more important than talent or ability. When you believe in yourself, endless possibilities open up in your life, and your dreams can become a reality.

His first question is, “And will you succeed?” Think about all you’ve accomplished in life. Wasn’t it a result of initially believing success was possible? If you believe something can’t be done, you can find reasons to support what you believe is true. That’s why the way you choose to answer his question determines whether you see opportunities or obstacles in your future.

When Dr. Seuss says, “Yes! You will, indeed!” he is encouraging you to believe that, yes, you can do it. The first step is believing that success is possible. The second is believing that you have what it takes. Once you have a rock-solid belief in yourself, you can lean into your dream, develop a plan, and then execute it.

Finally, “(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed)” reminds us there are no certain outcomes in life. There are no guarantees, only possibilities and what we choose to do with them. Our mindset gives us the best chance to unlock our potential and perform our very best. There is one way to guarantee failure, and that is to not try.

During this next year, if you need inspiration, remember these words from Dr. Seuss:

“You’re off to great places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting,
So . . . get on your way!”

Wishing you an awesome 2021!

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