I love the idea of being out on tranquil waters in a rowing boat. Perhaps I have watched too many romantic movies in my youth, and I crave the serenity of calm waters and beautiful days.
It always seems so idyllic. But have you ever actually tried rowing? I can see why so many times, men are the rowers. Yes, there is romance and chivalry and all those wonderful things that dreams are made of.
But actually, rowing is rather tough.
Surprisingly after carrying three children, I do not have great upper body strength. Men are naturally physically stronger than us and unless I am going to race off to the gym and spend hours of endurance and strength building on the rowing machine, I am content to let my husband do the rowing.
There are some dreams that we have that require us to get into the boat ourselves, metaphorically speaking of course.
When you are starting something new, you have to ask yourself, who is rowing in your boat? Here are a few things that you can apply to your dream.Deal with Self Doubts
At first rowing like anything seems undoable. Your new venture or skill base that you are learning seems undoable. You may be tempted to feel that while others can you do it, you are just simply not cut out for it.
Self-doubts are very normal. It is just your brain trying to stop you from experiencing pain. But like birth, there can be the pain with a purpose. New things are birthed from pain. All successful athletes have learned to push beyond pain.
You may need to toughen up
First-time rowers may feel that the oars start to cut into their hands and cause blisters. When we are learning a new skill set, getting into our own business or starting a network marketing business, things will start to get uncomfortable. As time passes, you will build resilience and get into a rhythm that works for you.
Give yourself time
Have you ever met up with a friend that you have not seen in a few months and then you notice that they have lost weight? They look wonderful and you wonder how they got there so quickly. One minute they were over weight and now they are at goal weight.
Or someone who was struggling with finances and now they have a successful business. Mastering a new life or new skills takes time. If those friends were honest, they would tell you that the change felt like it was too slow., but in the end, they got there.
In rafting, when you begin to view the upcoming rapids with enthusiasm and not fear, then you know that you have progressed. Give yourself the time to get better.
Choose a coach or a mentor
Someone who has never been a parent, can't teach you about parenting. We all know some of those people who never sat up all night with a crying baby and had to work at peak performance the next day. The person who tells you how to raise a teen, when they don't have one of their own.
That is why so many parents start to change their friends after a baby arrives. It is simply easier to hang out with people who know where you are at, and who will support and guide you through it.
This is why I am flabbergasted at people who start a new business or network marking business, go out share their plans with people who have never actually had a business or been in network marketing. Then when these people tell them not to do it, they quit.
Choose someone to guide you that has walked your journey.
Align with a team whose goals and vision match yours
In a rowing team, everyone is focussed on one goal. They each know their purpose. In rafting, the person in the front can see where they are going. The team leader in your team has to know where you are going, know each person's strengths and place them accordingly.
When you start a new venture, know who you are and what you can contribute and get team members that compliment you. It does not mean that they have to be like you, but they must be able to complement your skill set.
Help each other to go the distance
A team needs to work together. That does not just mean doing the physical rowing. Sometimes it is a bit of a pep talk when you are down. Go the distance, pull your weight and encourage others to do so as well. Fatigue will sometimes set in, but with the right encouragement, you can help each other to keep going.
Once you have learned to start rowing in rhythm, together, you can cover the distance, far faster.
Embrace the leverage principal
You can move faster and go further with a team rowing your boat. It is still your boat and your vision. But bringing the right people to be part of your dream team, will help you to achieve far more than you could alone. Celebrate this basic law of the universe.
Go out there and win your race.
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