Life Coaching Articles and Free eBook

Chapter 3
AN IRON WILL

Our series of life coaching articles continues as we address the power of possessing an iron will. Being resolute in your beliefs and persistent in making continual progress toward your desired goals are critical traits for success.

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Every man (or woman) stamps a value upon himself, and you are great or not, based on your own free will. Teachers throughout history have often preached about one’s ability to use willpower as a success system.

They would not accept responses of, “I don’t know,” “I can’t”, and “It's impossible”. Instead, they groomed their students to think in terms of actions such as Learn - Do - and Try!

One writer of a life coaching article stated, “There are three kinds of people in the world. The Wills, the Won’ts and the Can’ts. The first accomplish everything; the second oppose everything; and the third fail in everything.”

History has shown time and time again that the man or woman who possesses a resolute will, tends to eventually win the day. The person always pressing forward and never giving up is always more likely to achieve a goal or objective. While it might take more time that originally intended, the goal is achieved.

Nothing is impossible to the man or woman who has the grit and persistence to will it into reality.

In another life coaching article, Foster said, “The shores of good fortune are littered with the stranded wrecks of men of brilliant ability, but who have lacked the courage, faith, and decision, and have therefore perished in the sight of less capable men who possessed a greater will.”

Historians have learned that one secret of England’s great power over her colonies and those of other nations has been a forceful will to maintain her power.

But England did not remember that her children were of the same blood. As an example of this strong will, Patrick Henry wrote: “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but, as for me, give me liberty or give me death.”

Awakened by such a spirit, the American colonies will could not be broken and they could not be conquered.

Those who wince at opposition or difficulty tend to die during pre-flight. In other words, a man or woman can possess a high degree of education, a special gift in the arts or industry, but without the determination to carry them through adversity, they will not meet their calling in life.

What can an employer do with a person who has an invincible will; who never knows when he is beaten; who thrives upon chaos and who is stimulated by difficult situations? If the employer is smart, he pays that person whatever he must to hire him!

Nothing is impossible to the one who has a strong will. The one who learns that something is necessary in order for progress to be made, and who instinctively decides that it shall be done without hesitation – understands clearly the natural law of success.

Ben Jonson, a playwright, once stated that whenever he decides to do something, he does it like a tailor’s needle – “I go through with it.”

Napoleon said it best when he stated, “Impossible, is a word found only in the dictionary of fools.”

Gladstone’s children were taught by their famous father to accomplish to the very end whatever they might begin, no matter how insignificant the undertaking might be.

Feltham says, “He that shoots may sometimes hit the mark; but he that never shoots will never hit his mark.” The man who is trying to decide, forever twisting and turning, hesitating, splitting hairs over this or that – will never accomplish anything.

On the other hand, a man or woman who can commit to one specific course of action, turning neither to the right or left whenever tempted, who keeps her eyes squarely upon the goal – is sure to succeed.

"The iron will of one stout heart shall make a thousand quail."

- Bismark

Life Coaching Article Activity

Complete the following exercise...

Describe a recent instance in your life where you experienced adversity. Something that was not expected, and it required you to make a decision to press forward or to move in a different direction.

In hindsight, are you happy with your decision or do you wish you would have responded differently? Rate yourself on a scale of 1- 10 on how persistent you are in the face of adversity.

Given what you know now from reading the above life coaching article, do you wish to improve in this area of your life? If yes, explain what you need to do differently in order to gain better results in the future.

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