My name is OBSTACLES, and for you English speakers it’s Greek, so it’s pronounced “Ob-stock-a-leez.”
I am your worst enemy. It is my pleasure and privilege to haunt your every move toward self-improvement and success.
I have many weapons I can use against you. And I am so confident that they are superior to your pathetic little assaults on success that I can even tell you about them and it will make no difference. So here they are. (Maybe by knowing them, you can at least make it a contest between us. I’m getting rather bored. After all, there have been very few Tim Marks to come along and really beat me despite my best efforts to do my worst).
· Criticism: This is one of my favorites! I am always surprised how much you ambitious ones are slowed down by the negative inputs of bystanders! It cracks me up, actually. If you spent half as much time worrying about your own future as you do about what others think you would be stinking millionaires!
· Self Doubt: This one is fun, too. I can convince you that despite all those other great things you’ve done in your life you are not worthy of your latest endeavor. This is the one you should see right through immediately, but, alas, many of you don’t.
· Discouragement and Frustration: These are a joy to use. They stem from the most common of human indulgences: self-pity. If I can get you thinking you’ve paid a high price for very little gain, you will slow down and start thinking about yourself instead of the task at hand.
· Complacency: This is one of my most sneaky. It basically involves convincing you that you are already doing “pretty good”. After a few doses of this, you will be lucky if you can even get yourself off the couch.
· Distraction: Oooooh boy do I love this one. You get running toward success with all kinds of enthusiasm and then wham! Off to the side you go, chasing some little this or that which will add up to nothing in the long run. I can throw this one at you in the form of family changes, a promotion at work, a sports team that does well, a fight with your spouse, it’s pretty easy, actually. And then years pass and it’s too late! I love it.
· Arrogance: Yep, this is another reverse-screen-play. Sometimes you guys actually resist many of the above devices and make it this far into my defenses. That’s when I hit you with cockiness. It’s pretty easy, actually. Because if you make it through all of the above then you probably have a pretty secure self-image. It’s a lot like martial arts where one opponent uses the weight and momentum of the other opponent against him. Here you come charging ahead, all gung-ho for success, full of confidence and focus, and then I release it. You puff up like a peacock all sure that you are the end-all know-it-all. And you know what they say, pride cometh before the fall. Ooooh boy, how I love to watch them fall!
· Suspicions: If I can’t get you to doubt yourself, and then if I fail to get you cocky and overconfident, then almost certainly I can throw a little ‘blame’ temptation at you. Just how much do your mentors really care about you? Can’t you see, after all, that they aren’t perfect? Yep sir reee! This one is a real hoot. It’s great!
Well, that’s probably enough for now. Don’t want to give away all of my trade secrets in one blow. No matter, though, I’m confident I can still decimate the masses that think they’re heading towards their goals and dreams. In no time at all I can send them back to their previous 95% lives, watching television and heading nowhere.
I am the unstoppable!
I am OBSTACLES!!!!!
Come on, you guys. JUST WIMPIFY!!!!
(You know you want to!!)
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