These are reprints of a column entitled ATTITUDE DEVELOPMENT written by David Humes in 1988-89 for Musician's Referral newspaper, 40,000 distribution, in the San Francisco bay area. Reprints are permitted as long as 1) credit is given to the author (David Humes), 2) with a live link to http://DavidHumes.com/ and 3) they are not sold.
GET OFF YOUR ASSETS!
© 1988, David Humes http://DavidHumes.com
What is an asset? Webster defines it as "A useful or valuable quality or thing." We all have assets. And we all have liabilities.
Lao Tzu said "The journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step." One of the first steps requires an ingredient that most people don't have, but all can acquire. It is also an essential part of the "formula" for success. That word is guts.
Once you have defined your direction in life, next you have to have guts to face yourself: to look at, understand and except your assets and your liabilities.
It seems a lot easier to sweep the garbage (that we are trying to hide) under the carpet. But in the long run, it's not. The pile of garbage under the carpet eventually ferments and grows so big that it can over take the entire room (your life) it's in and may even cause an explosion from the gases the fermentation produced!
Michael Jackson's "Man In The Mirror" song is right. Be honest with yourself and admit where you are right now. Then you can get your bearings, plan your next step, get off your assets and move toward your goal!
Most people "sit" on their assets without ever taking advantage of them. The most counterproductive ingredient for success, and unfortunately the most popular nation on planet earth, is procrastination. It doesn't have to be that way. One on my mentors once said about the subject of complaining about what we don't have or how bad things are, is to "Do the best with what you [do] have."
So, keep taking that next step. Keep moving! You're either growing or dying. When you're green you're growing, when you're ripe you begin to rot and eventually die. Stay green and go for it!
There's as asset in your hands at this very moment that begs to be utilized. There are over 600 members subscribing to the Music Referral newspaper. They all have free classified ad privileges. They could use this asset to place ads to sell equipment, look for new equipment or band members, offer their musical services, etc. Yet how many of these subscribers are using this service?
Music Referral wants you to succeed. That's the purpose of this newspaper. Use it to sell equipment you're not currently using to raise money for the equipment your current situation requires. Or use the money for private lessons. And advertise your services each month. If you're a subscribing member, they're free.
Very rarely, you'll see someone who "climbed a mountain," or who made it in the "big time" in one step. If that were the case, eventually they would have to go back and learn what they skipped along the way. In most cases, though, the ones who appeared to have made it overnight, have actually used their assets wisely all along the way to ensure their success.
I believe you must keep one eye on the top of the mountain (the goal) so you know where you are going, and the other eye on the ground where you now stand so you don't fall.
There are many assets you now possess or can possess in the future, both tangible and intangible: musical equipment; a healthy body; a positive mental attitude; your freedom to choose; your master mind (see last article) and life itself, to name a few.
I'm sure you've heard the old clichés "Getting there is half the fun," "Success is a journey, not a destination" and "Success is always under construction." Loving what you do, in itself, is an asset.
Also, accepting yourself for who you are and getting on with life in spite of yourself, is an asset. Don't do what most people do: have "Pity parties" and/or "Poor me seminars." Accept that you are your greatest asset...or liability.
Become your own best friend. Focus on your assets and they will grow. If you focus on your liabilities, they will grow.
Make a list of your assets. Knowing what they are is a start. What you do with them will determine your direction in life: up or down; growing or dying; positive or negative. We hope your chosen direction is up, growing and positive!
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