Raise the bar!

I am continually shocked by the people who lower their bar consistently and predictably. They lower their expectations for themselves, and thus the expectations others have for them. I am sure that the psychology behind it is about not disappointing themselves or others, or maybe just because they feel entitled to put forth the least amount of effort possible while using up valuable resources on this earth.

I am pretty convinced it backfires and there is a profound loss of personal respect on all ends. I have a hard time imagining a day where I wake up and say "Gee, how little can I do today and get away with it?" Absolutely blows my mind...those people exist, and to them I say...I am getting a little tired of tripping over your bar!

I have made it a personal habit of mine to surround myself with people who are smarter than me, more successful than I am, and are continually raising their own bar. I motivates me to become better and raise my own bar. My motto for years has been this:

Wake up tomorrow better than you were today.

Yes, it requires focus, determination, and good old fashioned hard work! Basic physics lesson...raising something makes you stronger. Training to jump over it makes you more powerful and confident that great things are possible.

Lowering something hurts your back, makes you stoop over, and whine and complain about how heavy the bar is. Some people just don't ever pick up a bar, which causes someone else to have to do it. Then they complain again because they have no control or power.

I think you have choices in this life. Raise your bar, accept the possibility of failure and redirection, or keep lowering your bar and let others trip over it. Any time, you can decide to raise that bar. A little at a time, one day at a time, maybe even an inch at a time. I guarantee if you keep at it. Your respect for yourself will grow, and others will begin to respect you too!

Answer the question: I want to be a better ____________. Then set tangible and obtainable goals and maintain your focus!

Oh, and don't forget to ask for help! Lots of bar raisers love to help others do the same!

Raise it and praise it!