Think Big and Kick Ass- Anything IS Possible Now

This is the title of a book by Donald Trump and Bill Zanker. I have recently read it and many of the concepts are timeless. They are very applicable to recent events and these same recent events had me think about my own situation, which is similar to many others… But before that, let me share some take aways from the book.

• You gotta dream big and aim high, followed up with action.
• Be creative and solution oriented.
• Have passion for what you do.
• Have Integrity
• Hard work improves your luck

We have heard the rhetoric from motivational speakers or read the books and many of them repeat each other over and over. I used to wonder why there is so many motivational authors and just as many motivational speakers; all of whom make a good living telling us to keep a possitive attitude, set goals etc. The reason these people are successful is because for the most part we are all surrounded by negativity. We have friends or relatives reminding us how our dreams are fantasy, our plans will fail, and we should just follow the sheep and get a “real Job”; We also have the news reminding us about the negative world whether regards to security, the economy, crime etc. With all of this negativity being jammed down our throats, we need a strong regular dosage of positive messages to counteract everything else.

Two Huge events that happened recently provide ample evidence to the power of Thinking Big and Kicking Ass. First is that the Arizona Cardinals have made it all the way to the Superbowl. Here is a team that has never been to the Superbowl and left St. Louis under a dark cloud as the St. Louis fans refused to build a stadium for a losing team. There was animosity and disgust toward the owner Bill Bidwell etc. Well now look at where they are. The current coaching staff and individual players have been able to come together and work as a successful team and have the Big Hairy Audacious idea that they could go all the way to the Superbowl.

The Arizona Cardinals worked toward that end despite the negativity and doubts from people like me who never thought we would see the day come (I grew up in St. Louis).

The next Huge event is the election and inauguration of Barack Obama, America’s first black President. This will be the last time I mention his color, as I believe it shouldn’t matter in the 21st Century. Here is a man who can be a poster man for America. I say this from a marketing perspective. Think about it. This man was born from a Caucasian American woman and a Kenyan man, grew up with a single mother and later raised by his grandmother; despite that, he attended Harvard Law and spent a very short time in the Senate. Through very effective marketing (with the hijacking of the Pepsi logo-the taste of a new generation, the President for a new generation) using social media and smooth rhetoric which energized and attracted so many young voters, he has been elected as our President even though he had zero executive experience. Talk about thinking big!

So, now that these two monumental and historical events have taken place, anything truly should be possible. This gives me hope for our future and mine. I try to stay positive, but sometimes I fall. When I see the economy and so many talented professionals and executives being laid off, I wonder when will it end? What hope does someone else have when these top execs are having trouble?

That is when I need to suck it up, stop whining and get back in the fight. Yeah times are tough. So what! Life isn’t fair! Get over it! Things are never easy for anyone. We all need to fight for each step up. That is why America is such a great country. We are a nation of fighters. We love winners. We love the sting of battle. Life hits hard and we gotta hit back. If you got laid off from a job that you didn’t like, you should be happy that you can move on to something better or even start something new. Yeah it can be scary; change always is, but it is the only constant. For those suckers out there who talk about job security – The only job security is your ability to find a new job.

Now I don’t mean to sugar coat this. I for one have presented the big ideas to superiors just to have them fall on deaf ears. I have been subject to office politics and backstabbing. The point is not to complain but to share that we have all been there and we all need to get over it and keep thinking big and kick ass because now more than ever,

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.