10 Reasons Why You’re Probably Going to Fail

A couple weeks ago, Tony Morgan from NewSpring Church (Perry Noble‘s church) wrote about 10 Reasons Why You’re Probably Going to Fail.

I was going to comment on each of these, and in fact had written my thoughts and applied each to my life, but decided to let them stand as is. Instead, I invite you to examine your own life, to discern those areas where you are failing, consider why this is and then do something about it.

10 Reasons Why You’re Probably Going to Fail

01. It’s not your passion.
If it doesn’t make your heart beat fast or cause your mind to race when you’re trying to sleep, you’re probably doing the wrong thing.

02. You don’t have a plan.
You need a vision, and you need to identify specific steps to make that vision become reality. That includes a financial plan. (I happen to believe you need direction from God on this.)

03. You’re waiting for it to be perfect.
Test-drive it. Beta-test that new idea. You’ll fall into the trap of inaction if you think it has to be absolutely right from day one.

04. You’re not willing to work hard.
Everything worth pursuing in my life has involved discipline and perseverance.

05. It’ll outgrow you.
Keep learning. Keep growing. But more importantly, build a team of people including leaders that can be who you’re not.

06. You’ve had success in the past.
I’ve watched organizations hang on to a good idea for too long. Time passes. Momentum fades. It’s risky to let go of the past and jump on the next wave.

07. You’re unwilling to stop doing something else.
Complexity is easy. Simplicity takes discipline. You can’t build a healthy marriage if you’re unwilling to give up dating other women. Who/what do you need to stop dating?

08. You won’t build a team of friends.
Anyone can hire from a resume. You need to find people you want to share life with. In the long run, great relationships will get you out of bed in the morning.

09. You won’t have the tough conversations.
When breakdown happens (and it always does), someone needs to put on their big-boy pants and initiate the difficult conversation that leads to relational healing.

10. You’re afraid of failure.
When fear consumes you, it will cause you to do stupid things. You’ll let negativity distract you. You’ll embrace the known, and grow comfortable with mediocrity. The more often you fail, though, the more often you’ll find success.

I will share that #3 is the one I have always struggled with the most and #1 is the one I’ve thought about the most lately.

Number three summarizes what I consider my tragic flaw, in the same vein as Hamlet…and we know how that ended… I feel the need to gather information, research, plan things out, make a list and check it twice, make sure everthing is perfect and in place, wait for the burning bush as a sign – all before I will take a risk, take the leap. This is a huge lack of faith on my part, something I’ve been challenged hard on in recent months.

Having a new job, classes – an overall busy schedule – that has led to exhaustion, yet still I’m left feeling unsatisfied and unfulfilled has let to thoughts about number one – passion. I’ve really had to re-evaluate my activities and where I’m investing my time and energy. I’ve had to consciously consider if the activity in which I find myself involved is truly in my sweet spot, or just something I’ve found to pass the time. I’ve realized just how much time I’ve been wasting on things for which I have no passion, and how much time I’m losing which could be spend on those things for which I do have passion.

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