Week of Wisdom, Day Five: Hope is not

What a week! Each of us probably had better things to do, but if you kept up with the "Week of Wisdom," it was worth it. We are now at Day Five, the end of the week, and the final piece of advice I can offer, pulled from years of professional and personal experience.

I tend to not be a fan of Larry Winget, the so-called "Pit Bull of Personal Development." If his methods work for you, however, then they are right for you and the wisdom of Day One is proved once again. However, I do think that Mr. Winget is dead on with one of his primary pieces of advice, which runs counter to the lexicon and beliefs of most of us.

Whether you are trying to just get started, or people start taking notice of your actions, or you face the cold discomfort when everyone agrees with you, or you need to take the next step in developing relationships of substance, there is a common thread that should always exist. It does, and I sense it in the efforts of most successful people. However, I also tend to notice that it is substituted with a far less powerful mentality that often leads people with even the strongest ideas and best intentions on a road to nowhere.

The greatest weakness we have as a society is "hope." It is also often the most significant roadblock an individual possesses, inhibiting them to reach their full potential. If we are taught to define hope as the feeling that better things are ahead, then the reality proves that focusing on hope leads to the opposite.

Take a few minutes to express your anger at the computer, if you feel that way. I completely understand.

The actual definition of "hope" provides insight into its weakness. Hope is about emotion. It can feed off of our energy and focus when people area drawn into frenzy, especially when led by someone or some group that understands the potential of this power in a collective capacity. Hence, hope is often the mindset du jour of the downtrodden and impoverished, as well as those who experience failure after significant success.

Energy and focus are critical to the development of passion. We must draw from these personal spiritual resources in order to exercise the creativity, commitment, and dedication necessary to build a business or start and flourish in a chosen career. If we spend out time focused on "hope" for a future that does not incorporate action, goals, or substance, then we deplete ourselves of critical internal resources.

Winget puts it simply that successful people choose to believe rather than hope. This is not an easy transition, as believing in others and yourself can be a little problematic if someone or something in life fails. If failure turns believe into self-doubt, then it is the same as loosing trust in someone who does not respect our believe in them.

Belief must be measured in respect to faith. Those who profess believe in others must do so with internal assurance not to place fellow man before God with respect to priority or admiration. Balance, just like with other philosophical dichotomies, is critical.

As you set forth, considering the ideas brought forth this week, encourage yourself to approach your friends, assignments, challenges, and opportunities with a spirit that will allow you to pursue passions with the focus and intent necessary for achievement. This is not possible until we each recognize that hope is not, when compared to the personal power of belief.