The biggest marketing tool in your armoury is your attitude. If you believe it can be done, are focused on the way ahead with plenty of commitment - watch out!

I recently read an amazing book called 'Dream On' by John Richardson. An ordinary business guy from Northern Ireland who decided to see if it was possible for an regular (not good!) golfer to be able to play one single scratch round inside 12 months. He thought people would support him and give him loads of encouragement and was astonished when so many people told him 'it couldn't be done'. It seemed they were so vested in their own lack of vision it caused them pain to help him with his. Even top pros in the golf world were disparaging.

Well, with a lot of hard work and determination he did it with just four days to go,after masses of training, a big focus on his psychology and attitude, and an invisible friend called Seve!

It reminded me of how often people's ideas for their businesses are quashed by others who seem happy with status quo, telling anyone with a vision that 'the market's not right, no-one's buying' or simply 'it will never work'. The fact is, the biggest marketing tool in your armoury is your attitude. If you believe it can be done, are focused on the way ahead with plenty of commitment - watch out!

At the end of his book, he describes the guy he was with on the day he achieved his scratch round (one under par in fact) ....

The great thing about having him along was his attitude.

Richard is the most can-do sort of person I know. Having sailed competitively round the world twice, he has absolutely no time for people who say things aren't possible. He is that rare breed who just does, without going on about how hard it is.

I had talked to him a few times during the year about the project and his attitude had always been very positive. Struggling with a couple of issues at one point, I'd told him I was concerned about my progress. He calmly turned to me and said: "I don't see what the problem is. You seem to have worked enormously hard, you've made incredible progress, so I've no doubt you'll do it. I really don't see what you have to worry about.'

It wasn't so much what he said, but the way he said it. His voice was full of admiration and encouragement. Not one of your 'Oh come on!' motivational speeches, just a simple state­ment of the f'acts as he saw them. He regarded my success almost as a done deed. No one else had spoken to me in quite the same way throughout the entire year. He was a perfect partner for the day.

This is the final passage from John's book and it really inspired me ...

"And now I challenge you, not necessarily to look at your golf and address the comfort zone that you may have slipped into but, much more importantly, to dig out an old dream and pur­sue it with everything you've got. Think back to that teenage version of yourself and the dreams and aspirations that you once had.

There is bound to be something you once wanted to do, try out or achieve that you gradually put to one side because people repeatedly told you it wasn't possible, or a parent, sibling or friend dismissed as a silly notion. Perhaps you had an inadequate teacher at school who sucked a bit of life and enthusiasm out of you and put you off a subject that you might have otherwise enjoyed, or a boss who discouraged you from applying for a promotion or training opportunity you were keen on. Maybe from time to time you think about that dream or idea or subject or job and think to yourself 'I wonder ... ' or 'If only .. .' or "I wish ... ' Well, you know, it's never too late. Take it from me. Resurrect that old passion or dream. Do it today.

Granted, very few of us have the relentless dedication of Michael Schumacher, Tiger Woods or Ben Hogan, or the raw talent of Seve Ballesteros or Ayrton Senna. Even fewer of us have the true grit of the amputee golfer Bob MacDermott. Most of us allow the daily grind of life and circumstances to trample on our dreams. But please don't let your final living thought on this earth be: '[ wish I had ... ' Far better that it was, 'I'm so glad I did .. .' And be sure to ignore anyone who says it isn't possible. Just go for it.

Dream on.

You must always make your own decisions - don't let the unimaginative sceptics be the reason not to do something you really want to do.

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/hide comments

Show/hide comment form