Building the future

“And when I visualize success it looks like right now.”

– Nipsey Hu$$le

Most of the people that you idolize were probably considered losers at some point in their lives. Normal people don’t desert the army to lift up pieces of iron, drop out of school to make music magazines, or spend decades playing guitar in a glorified garage band.

Normal people bury their childhood dreams, go to a job they hate, squander their money, and count down the days until they die. And they scoff at anyone who does otherwise. They’re the folks who’s vision only extends to Friday night.

As corny and cliched as it sounds, visualization is a key component to being successful. If you can’t imagine the rewards in your future, you’ll never have the incentive to pursue them. Creating a mental image of your future victory is something that separates goals from wants.

Every guy wants to be rich, date a model, and have an awesome body. Of the few guys who might try and obtain these things, most will quit. They won’t see the bigger picture and will quickly lose interest.

When Natan Sharansky was locked up in solitary confinement, he’d play himself in mental Chess. During his imaginary games, Sharansky would tell himself, “I might as well use this opportunity to become world champion!” In 1996, after defeating world champion Chess player Garry Kasparov, Sharansky attributed part of his success to the use of visualization.

On a personal level, when I wanted to travel outside the country, I envisioned myself relaxing on a tropical beach and having the time of my life. Every time I felt like my goal was too hard, I just remembered that image. Doing so would get me back on track and I’d work harder to make my dream a reality.

The next time that you feel like quitting, I suggest visualizing everything that you’d miss out on from giving up. It’s a great motivator.