Everyone has wishes albeit winning the mega million dollar lottery, tossing a penny in the wishing well, even rubbing on Aladdin’s Lamp and making 3 wishes. We have seen wishes come true when people from all walks of life become instant millionaires. In today’s social world we watched the modern day rags-to-riches story of YouTube sensation Ted Williams go from homelessness to “heaven” in just a few short days. Ted held up a sign on the side of the road that said he had a God-given talent. His voice is so smooth, it would even make Don LaFontaine (movie trailer guy) blush with envy. Suddenly, every company clamored in hopes of having his brass pipes promote their product. Like most people whose fortunes have changed instantly, Ted’s heaven turned into his own personal hell spiraling him from fame to family feuds, to rehab; the weight of his past and present causing him to revert to his old, bad habits. Most lottery winners end up worse than before winning; a large percentage of them losing everything and becoming bankrupt and even homeless in just a few short years.  Long-term success is attributed to becoming who or what you desire to be instead of wishing which can have the life span of lit flash paper. Author Darren Hardy illustrates becoming with that of a thermostat.  Set your temperature as high as your expectations and your opportunities will adjust accordingly. An oven doesn’t suddenly get hot, it takes time to heat up to the desired temperature- so too are your successes.

A wish is a want or desire without the legs of action. It only takes a thought to create a wish, but can vanish if no action is taken. Everyone has had a wish while taking a shower; it is the one who dries off and seizes those opportunities of becoming his desires. Many find it difficult to become who or what they want because it takes a long term perspective. There will be short term successes and a string of failures, but you must have an unshakeable belief that in the long run you will become what you are working for. There are 4 pillars to help you stay on track toward your goal and help you become all you can be.

• Becoming takes time. Grow into what you wish to become. Get the microwave theology out of your mind and develop a mindset of an oven; it takes time to warm up and will work more efficiently once the desired temperature is reached. No athlete made it to the hall of fame by his or her name alone. It took hard work- pushing themselves to the limit, learning how to overcome failures, and a long term objective to become world class.
• Becoming requires you to be attractive. If you want to become befitting of success, you must attract it. Remember success is reciprocal; attractiveness attracts success; the same is true for negativity and defeat. You are what you think, eat, say, and do.
• Becoming takes discipline. You cannot get away from this one. This is the main reason why many people quit. Motivational icon Zig Ziglar said, “Most people fail in their dreams not from lack of ability, but from lack of commitment.” If you want to become a better parent, be debt, lose weight, be a master closer, or a better communicator, it requires you develop a regimen in order to improve your skill in that particular area. Think of discipline as encompassing the very word; become a disciple in what you wish to become (DISCIPLinE).
• Becoming takes responsibility. You are accountable for what you become. The economy, weather, your childhood, or Martians on Mars have nothing to do with who you want to be. You are in complete control of you. When you recognize your gifts, you can change anything. “If you don’t like how something is going for you, change it. If something isn’t enough, change it.  If something doesn’t suit you; change it. If something doesn’t please you, change it. You don’t ever have to be the same after today. If you don’t like your present address, change it—you’re not a tree,” reminds legendary Jim Rohn. Become a lifetime student of your YOU-niversty.

Whatever you “wish” to “become”  begins now not tomorrow.  Leonardo da Vinci’s advice rings true 492 years later after his death, “Iron rusts from disuse; stagnant weather loses its purity and in cold weather becomes frozen; even so does inaction sap the vigor of the mind.”  Choose not to walk around and WISH, accronymed “What If Something Happens?” I have news for you it won’t. The Be-Back Fairy will not show up and sprinkle be-back dust all over prospects with 700 credit scores nor will the Up-Bus crash in front of the dealership ejecting disoriented credit worthy customers wishing to sign paperwork and not negotiate. Instead believe that what you choose to BE will COME to you. To become requires you to BeCOME:

BE  Clear with what you want to achieve.

        Own up to your decisions and tweak the results good or bad-you don’t have to live with results.

        Make a move. Don’t just sit there and wish for something different.

         Encourage yourself and others. Success comes by positive affirmation.

(originally printed in AutoSuccess Magazine)