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Courage: Its the Secret to Getting Everything You Want in

LifeBy Preston Ely on Jul 01, 2014

When I was in seventh grade, I got beat up by a skinny little girl with an umbrella.

To paint that picture perfectly clear, Im saying a girl about 3/8 my size took her umbrella and beat the ever-living crap out of me with

it. In front of people. It was a Hello Kitty umbrella to add insult to minor injuries. It seemed a little immature to bring a Hello Kitty

umbrella to school at that age, but I was in no position to judge.

When I was in junior high, I got beat up by a fifth grader. Bad. I got beat up badby a fifth grader. Like blood-and-black-eyes bad. Iwish this was a joke, but its not. Its historymy personal pathetic history.

All throughout school I did everything I could to avoid fights. I mean, if a skinny little seventh grade girl could do that much damage

with a plastic Hello Kitty umbrella, just imagine what a regular boy my own age could do to me with some more normal, heavier

inanimate object! Screw that, I laid low. If someone wanted to fight me, I just gave them money. Im not kidding. I did that a few times.

Now the question youre asking yourself, which Id like to answer as quickly as possible so I can get to the part in the story where I

learned mixed martial arts and sparred with professional UFC fighters, is this:

Why were you such a sissy, Preston? Ive actually never heard of anyone being so much of a sissy as youve just described yourself

as being.

Great question. The answer is that my physical impotence was an outward manifestation of my inward lack of courage, the abi lity

to take risksand act in the face of danger either without or in spite of fear. For whatever reason I just didnt have any.

My lack of courage spilled over into my young adult life and resulted in dysfunctional relationships, financial chaos, emotional

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instability and a bunch of other stuff that sucks. And the reason is because it takes courage to be successful in life. Im tempted to

say its the root causeof success, but every time I think Ive figured out the root of success I find something even rootier. Lets just

say its one of the core fundamentals.

Eventually I started to work hard to develop this missing attribute. Once I got i t solidly in place, everything changed. I now walk with

my head high, wallet thick and heart happy. Anyone who pulls that umbrella gimmick on me again will have a serious problem.

Heres how to go from being wussbag to warrior in 3 easy steps:

1. Figure Out What Happens When You Die

I was at a doctors office the other day, and a young intern was asking me questions. I could tell something was wrong.

Are you OK? I asked.

Sure, he replied. Just a little nervous about school.

Do you have some fears about something? I queried.

Of course. Everyone does. Dont you?

No, I dont. Let me ask you a question. Whats the worst thing that could possibly happen to you on any given day?

I could die, he responded.

Right. Well, if you know where youre going when that occurs, and that place happens to be better than this place then what is

there really to fear?

Sir, you just made my day, he said.

Well, me making your day just made my day. So its a great day. Best of luck to you, I said as he walked out the door with a new

look of courageon his face.

Many psychologists believe the fear of death is the number one underlying motive for everything we as humans do. I suggest you

get rid of it.

2. Hang Out with Courageous People.

Duh.

3. Write a List of Every Single Thing You Are Afraid Of. Do Them All.

Scared to ask people out on dates? Go to the mall and ask out every single person you see all day long. Theyre just people, not

vampires. Usually. Youll be over your fear by probably the 10th rejection or so. Heres a good pick up line that I just made up ...

Excuse me, do you happen to have directions to Build-A-Bear? My compass is broken. As a matter of fact, Im building this for a

little homeless child that the government is ignoring for some reason. Maybe you should definitely help me build it. Cmon. Then just

grab their hand and walk them to the store. Trust me, this will work. Ive got a good feeling about it.

Scared of heights? Go bungee jump at the county fair. You have a better chance of getting shot by gang members at that fair than a

tragic jump.

Scared of public speaking? Join Toastmasters.

Scared of reading the very very best, most entertaining yet highly educational articles on the Internet? Youre facing that fear right this

second! Congratulations!

It wasnt until I was well into my adult years that I realized I was still scared to fight. I was rich, happy and healthy, but I decided I

needed to face my biggest fear fighting.

So I did what any abnormal personal would do in that situation I paid a professional UFC fighter to beat me up on a regular basis

literally. I told him if I wasnt bleeding or bruised significantly at the end of each session, I would stop paying him.

I got black eyes at least once a week. I got a broken nose that leans to the left now. I got broken ribs. I got beat up so bad that I

literally cried like a baby one timein front of people.

But I also got courage.

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From the Editors

Why I Replaced My Backhand with a

BarrebyJennifer Changon Jul 22, 2014

From Darren Hardy's Blog

Awaken Your Inner Hero (2 of 2)

7/22/2014

Last week in part 1 of our Hero series, I shared

how the greatest leader and hero that you can

look up to is in you, right now. This week I will

share the action plan on how to wake up the

hero within. I think it is appropriate to

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Bump or Brick Wall: How to Determine Plan BbyPatti Johnsonon Jul 10, 2014

Have You Thanked a Hero Today?byDon Yaegeron Jul3, 2014

Courage: Its the Secret to Getting Everything YouWant in LifebyPreston Elyon Jul 1, 2014

Latest Audio/Video From SUCCESS

Can a Two-Minute Email Change Your Life?on Jun 25, 2014

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The cool thing about courage is that if you gain it in one area, it trickles over into every other area of your life. Ever since I learned

how to pretty much kill a man with my bare hands, things like speaking in front of people have gotten a lot easier.

He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life. Muhammad Ali

Preston Ely

Preston Ely is founder and CEO of realestatemogul.comand freedomsoft.com. His businesses are consistently on Inc. Magazine's

list of fastest growing companies, and he was voted one of Fast Company's "Most Influential People On The Internet." He makes $0

a year teaching success principles; he makes millions of dollars a year applying them to his own life and businesses. He writes

articles for SUCCESS magazine for the fun of it. Check him out at PrestonEly.com.

2014 SUCCESS Magazine

All Rights Reserved

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