(Newswire.net — April 21, 2014) Boulder, Colorado —
Debra-Sue Cope asks Entrepreneurs: “Who transcends the game of football through character, performance, and humility?”
Answer: Emmitt Smith, the only running back to ever win the NFL MVP award, the NFL rushing crown, and the Super Bowl MVP award – all in the same season!
“I promised my dad when I was 8 yrs old that I would play for the Dallas Cowboys. When I got a call from them as the first-round pick in the 1990 NFL Draft, I felt like I was fulfilling my promise and my dream. When Dallas played Buffalo in the Super Bowl, I knew I had arrived.”
If you missed the event, no worries. Debra-Sue presents Emmitt’s Top 10 Small Business Insider Truths to entrepreneurs who courageously pursue their own dreams:
1. Find Your Place In The World
You must have a reason to get up every morning and love what you’re doing. Keep your goals bigger than the opportunity. And be ready for what’s next.
Never be satisfied with anything. Nothing. Whatever success you ever have – enjoy it for 24 hours and get back on the saddle again.
2. Write Down Your Goals
What you seek is only a dream until you write it down, and then it becomes a goal. That’s when you can execute against your game plan and the journey begins.
3. Deal With Change
Change is a word that we all must deal with. Change scares people to death.
When I started with University of Florida we played against Alabama. I made 2 touchdowns and we won. Then I got the call from Dallas – should I stay and finish school or leave? I had to make a business decision.
When you want something, you must prepare for the test. I chose to leave school to embark on an opportunity I’d wanted since childhood – the opportunity to go pro.
4. Avoid Negativity
Your attitude determines you altitude. My #1 method to stay positive and overcome obstacles is first to get down on my knees and pray about it. Then I go to what I call my “library of life” – I ask myself, have I gone thru this before, or seen someone go through it?
When you are faced with a challenge, think humm,
“I’ve been here done that, and this is how I overcame it.”
Then ask yourself,
“Does that apply to this situation?”
5. Build On Your Accomplishments
Know what you’ve accomplished already and build on that. Look at your body of work and assess where you are in your ‘library of life”. I learn tools and techniques to help me persevere and try to use them every time.
6. Step Outside Of Your Zone
Dancing with the Stars in 2006 was WAY out of my comfort zone. It was never a goal or a dream – not even on the radar. It took a mind shift to do it. My pedigree with sports prepared me. With Cheryl Burke as my dance partner, we won!
7. Plan For Adversity
Adversity will come your way. To pursue your dreams you have to overcome your fears. There will be tough challenges – you got to get out there and do it again.
8. Learn From Others’ Mistakes
Memorize the mistakes of others and don’t do the same thing. They are showing you what not to do so you will know what to do.
9. Acknowledge Those Who Help You
No one becomes successful alone. You can overcome your own fears through the help of others. Remember that and keep your humility. I was Rookie of the year in 1990, and lead the league in ‘91 and ’92. But I kept my humility. That is the one thing that keeps you hungry. It gives you something to look forward to.
Once you get to #1, how do you stay #1? You put people in front of you.
10. Stay Balanced
With a family of 5, published author, speaker and owner of a construction company, here’s how I keep it all balanced:
I’m home for dinner, and Saturdays I’m all theirs. Every Friday night is date night with my wife. We go out and do normal things. I access my celebrity side only when I need it. Otherwise I’m just like you. Humility is part of my life.
As a father, I make sure I give each child one-on-one time and stay involved with their sports. Between acting as their father and their coach, I remain on the father side.
What I tell my children:
Love your work and be passionate about it. Then life becomes fun. You’ll never work a day in your life. Get a great education and be productive citizens. You have to earn your way through life. My success is mine, it doesn’t make you successful – You make you successful.
Then I’ve done my job as a father.
About Debra-Sue Cope: A marketing strategist, communications expert (copywriter) and catalyst, she launches direct response marketing systems that transform her clients’ revenue streams and profits. Expert implementer trained in Chet Holmes’ Core Story, Dan Kennedy’s Magnetic Marketing and more. Debra-Sue Cope lives in Boulder, CO and can be emailed at Debra-Sue@keymarketstratgy.com. Find out more at http://keymarketstrategy.com or visit Debra-Sue at Google+.
https://plus.google.com/u/0/b/100365666953366688079/100365666953366688079/about