'Never Take Your Eyes Off The Horizon...' by David Ledoux
There is something life-altering about leaping from a perfectly good airplane
with 12 lbs. of silk and string tied to your back while flying at 10,000 feet.
Like many other enthusiastic hobbyists, I fondly recall my first experience
with skydiving. It was about ten years ago when I was in the Northwest
Territories in Canada. I went through the standard lecturers and trainings from
experienced teachers, but nothing can prepare you for the initial terror of
crawling out on the wheel of a tiny airplane about the size of a Mercedes.
The first blast of air that hits you at 120 miles an hour wakes you up to the
reality that you are two miles above the Earth, preparing to jump. You take a
deep breath, hang from the wing strut, smile nervously at your teacher, and
release your grasp.
The first moments of anything new can be unsettling, and leaping from 10,000
feet is no exception. You feel the sensation of weightlessness as you remember
to do as you were instructed. 'Arch! Arch!' You silently scream to yourself as a
dizzying, spinning blur comes into view.
Your senses begin to realize that the twirling blue line is where the ground
and sky meet. You recall your instructor's words, 'Never take your eyes off the
horizon.' As you crane your neck to stay focused on one spot the world stops
spinning out of control. You stabilize and begin to enjoy the momentum of free
fall, plummeting earthward at over 100 miles an hour.
Believe it or not, it takes a full 45 seconds to free-fall a vertical mile.
After the chaotic first few seconds, you have what seem like a lifetime to
ponder, internalize and enjoy life before your altimeter reminds you to throw
your pilot chute.
While screaming down at 100 miles an hour you calmly reach down to your belt,
grab a 2 foot square of silk and toss it into the air with the hopes that the
drag caused by the pilot pulls your larger, life-saving chute open.
You count silently to 5 and feel the welcome tug as your chute fills with air
and you peacefully glide down to earth!
Building your networking business is a lot like skydiving for the first time.
People tell you how to do it, you read about it, you watch others do it, but
there is still incredible apprehension in attempting it for the first time.
Family and friends try to tell you you're crazy. 'What if you fail?', they cry.
The last seconds before you take the plunge are filled with self-doubts. 'What
if I really do screw-up?'
You finally work up the courage to leap, only to find your world spinning out
of control moments later in unfamiliar surroundings. Panic sets in, and unless
you take control of your situation you'll quickly give up, merely another
statistic of failed networkers.
What is the solution?
Focus your entire being on your desired outcome and ignore the distractions.
Pick that one spot on the horizon that represents your goals, dreams and
aspirations and stay focused no matter what.
Watch as the annoying, spinning distractions drop away and life comes under
your control once again. Feel yourself and your business accelerate towards
breathtaking momentum. Notice the onlookers on the ground cheering you on.
Enjoy the excitement!
Continue the ride until your trusty altimeter tells you it's time to prepare
for a soft landing.
The parachute called 'Time and Financial Freedom' is what turns an exciting
ride into a life-changing one!
Passive income is one of the true rewards of a successful networking career.
Nothing worth having in life comes without effort.
It takes the same courage to leap from an airplane as it does to make a
life-altering decision to take control of your financial destiny. Remember that
although it seems like a long and scary journey ahead, in reality life goes by
faster than we ever believed as kids.
The first few chaotic moments will give way to breathtaking speed and
excitement. Squeeze every moment of opportunity out of life and take nothing for
granted!
Until next time,
David Ledoux
