Step Out

Living your successful life requires you to step out. I remember as a teenager, right out of high school, learning this valuable lesson. Now - 15 years later - my life is the result of habitually stepping out.

The scene is Naval Recruit Training Center in San Diego, Ca. There I am, standing poker-straight in a line with some 15 other recruits as the Southern California sun tans our young faces.

"I need a volunteer," shouts the drill instructor. "Take one step forward!" The first thing you're taught in boot camp is never volunteer for anything. Of course, I wasn't very good at conforming and stepped right out.

The drill instructor approached. Standing nose to nose with me, he stated in a quiet "Dirty Harry" kind of voice "Pollock, do you know only true leaders step out front?"

John F. Kennedy, echoing Theodore Roosevelt, stated the idea more eloquently when he said:

"The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best, if he wins, knows the thrills of high achievement, and, if he fails, at least fails daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Living your life on your terms means stepping out on a regular basis. You have a song in your heart. Will you step out from the crowd and sing that song? Will you risk appearing the fool to live your dreams?

It may seem frightening and lonely to step out front. It is, but only for a short time. The comfort of conformity soon pales in comparison to the power, passion and excitement that comes with any bold, new, purposeful action.

You'll soon find others who've stepped out front with you. They're people like you who've grown weary of living a mediocre existence. They - like you - will have heeded the whisper of God within, which quietly says "It's your life. Make it great."

Step out front this week. It doesn't have to be a big step. Maybe you've been thinking about starting your own home based business. Perhaps you have an idea for your own newsletter. Maybe there's a class you've been wanting to take. Whatever it is, take your first step this week.

If you're not sure what that first step is for you, shoot me a message and we'll come up with it together.

Step out and have a great week!

It's your life! Create it the way you want it.

About The Author

Michael Pollock is a popular online writer and Personal Coach. He empowers proactive individuals who've decided to live a passionate, prosperous and power-full life. Visit his website at http://www.successfulifecoach.com You may also subscribe to his free weekly newsletter It's Your Life at subscribe-ItsYourLife@successfulifecoach. com


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Boston Globe

Atoning for Week 3 debacle vs. Miami should be ample motivation
Boston Herald, United States - 7 hours ago
If the Pats need any more motivation than that, they don’t deserve to make the playoffs. The Pats were flat out humiliated from top to bottom. ...
Patriots Out for Revenge in Miami Sports Network
Miami mouth runs; Patriots pass Boston Globe (registration)
Joey Porter on Pats: 'We don't like them, they don't like us' USA Today
Palm Beach Postall 419 news articles

Cal still has plenty of motivation
San Francisco Chronicle,  USA - Nov 22, 2008
Cal's preseason goals of winning the Pac-10 title and playing in the Rose Bowl are no longer attainable, so senior defensive end Rulon Davis called a ...
The Big Game will be a big game for Stanford Arizona Daily Star
Cal players motivated to get Axe back San Jose Mercury News
Cal still smarts from '07 defeat Contra Costa Times
Daily Californian - San Francisco Chronicleall 356 news articles

Lowell's Grubbe draws motivation from teammates in football semistate
Munster Times, IN - 4 hours ago
Grubbe said he received motivation from Lowell senior running back Cody Midgett, who ran for a 44-yard touchdown earlier in the third quarter. ...
Saints seek to avenge loss to Devils Fort Wayne Journal Gazette
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Washington Post

UA/OSU notebook: Motivation present
Tucson Citizen, AZ - 19 hours ago
“He is very confident and very motivational too us. He is an emotional person. We all feed off that,” UA offensive guard Joe Longacre said. ...
Rivalries spice up Pac-10's final weeks Arizona Republic
Oregon State at Arizona Football Odds Locksmith Sports Picks
Gimino: OSU's Rodgers the perfect little guy Tucson Citizen
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Bombing suspect's ex-wife questioned his marriage motivation
Canada.com, Canada - 8 hours ago
OTTAWA - The American ex-wife of a man accused in one of Europe's most shocking terrorist incidents suspected their marriage may have been a ploy to get an ...

Army football preview: Mooney has plenty of motivation
Times Herald-Record, NY - Nov 21, 2008
But personal achievements aren't Mooney's motivation when he takes the field at Rutgers Saturday. "It's really for the program right now as far setting them ...

Seattle Post Intelligencer

Michigan has plenty motivation to beat Buckeyes
Chicago Tribune, United States - Nov 18, 2008
"Our current players have not gotten a win over Ohio State, so that's probably the motivation for us, particularly our seniors. ...
Rich Rodriguez coached by many on OSU-Michigan tradition Detroit Free Press
OSU-UM Rivalry Up Close: Antwerp's Bryan Gray in his senior season ... Defiance Crescent News
OSU chasing Big Ten title Independent Collegian (subscription)
Toledo Blade - OSU - The Lanternall 1,580 news articles

New York Daily News

Oklahoma's Stoops: This game is motivation enough
Dallas Morning News, TX - Nov 17, 2008
"We've got all the motivation you need without having to bring up the fact they beat us a year ago," Stoops said. "It's all about this year and what the ...
Sooners looking for victory, not revenge RedRaiders.com
Big 12 Matchups AthlonSports.com
Oklahoma’s win earns lots of BCS style points Muskogee Daily Phoenix
Protrade - DeathRattleSports.comall 1,356 news articles

Bleacher Report

Oakland Raiders: 41-14 Will be the Motivation for Sunday's Rematch
Bleacher Report, CA - Nov 21, 2008
by greg pitsch (Columnist) When the season was just getting started, the Raider Nation was in full force to deter the haters that always seem to find us, ...

Pitt State running back cites mother as motivation
Pittsburg Morning Sun, KS - Nov 20, 2008
His mother’s motivation does not take away the love he has for his son, who lives in San Jose, Calif. “I always think about him,” Brandon said. ...
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