Continued From Page 3The "I" ProblemTrying to do everything yourself leads to a cascade of negative events. It looks like this:
Individualism Isolation InactivityLet's look at each more closely.
IndividualismWe've talked a lot about how our culture is steeped in individualism. The idea that we have to get ahead on our own grit is an idea that pervades our entire world, whether we're watching television, reading a book or the newspaper, or talking to friends or family.
Take a really mundane example. Think about the last time you could have used a hand emptying your garage or cleaning your house. Did you ask friends and family (other than your spouse) to help you out? I'm guessing the answer is no. But wouldn't you have gotten the job done in half the time if you had?
We're so used to the idea that everything we do in our lives is up to us that we usually don't even consider the kinds of resources and talents our family, friends, and acquaintances can bring to any of our endeavors. In
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Mark Twain's hero is given the job by his aunt Polly of whitewashing the picket fence. By pretending that only very gifted artisans could be entrusted with such a delicate task, Tom cleverly induces his friends -- in exchange for numerous gifts -- to take over his whitewashing duties. Before long, he is relaxing under the shade of a big old tree, and his friends had given the fence three coats of whitewash. A perfect example of using your LifeNet!
Now let's look at our finances. Ask yourself why you haven't achieved the kind of wealth you'd like. Below I've listed some of the most common reasons people give for their inability to get ahead financially. Do any apply to you?
- I don't have enough time.
- I have too much debt.
- I'm afraid of running out of money.
- I'm confused about where to start.
- I'm worried about the loss of prestige -- I have a good job now!
- I can't risk being unable to support my family.
- I'm the only breadwinner.
- I'm too old to start a business.
- I'm too young to start a business.
- I'm interested in too many things -- I wouldn't know where to begin.
- I don't have enough education or training.
- I've tried starting a business -- and failed.
- I'd need a lot of money to start, and there's no way I'd get a loan from a bank.
- I've been turned down once before and don't have the courage to start again.
- I need to come up with a good idea.
Do any of these excuses sound familiar? All are normal fears that many of us have felt at one time or another, even those who are already in the Millionaire Zone. Unfortunately, if you adopt just one of those beliefs, it's enough to stop you in your tracks, without ever trying to turn your passions into profits. Of course, doing it all on your own
is daunting. It makes sense that you'd be worried!
The beauty of the LifeNet approach is that you don't have to do it all on your own. The more you share these concerns with the people around you -- your family, your friends, and your community -- the more likely it is you'll find solutions. These solutions will soon start to stare you in the face, once you take the necessary step of including your family, friends, and community in your dreams.
IsolationThe most immediate by-product of our focus on individualism and the do-it-yourself myth of wealth-building is that you feel isolated. No surprise there. After all, you're doing this on your own! But if creating a business or starting a venture is supposed to be so empowering, why are you feeling so lousy?
I remember sitting in business school some years ago and feeling like something was wrong. Every course seemed designed for someone who was part of a larger organization. Excuse me, but if I'm going to work my butt off, I want the upside potential to be unlimited. Yet going it alone seemed incredibly daunting. There were not many classes teaching how to make that happen, though it's changed since then. I had to learn it the hard way.
