It Sucks Right Before Success

 “One who gains strength by overcoming obstacles, possesses the only strength which can overcome adversity “- Albert Schweitzer[gn_divider top=”0″]

I just returned from speaking at the Ambitious Women’s Conference in Dallas, Texas. The title of my talk, “Who Will You Be If You Succeed?” Posed the question, what is success for you?

Is success the relentless acquisition of stuff and awards? Or is it overcoming the scariest and toughest moments of your life? Only you can define what success is for you. But make no mistake the road to success very often sucks before it feels like success.

At the conference I met three amazing women who shared their stories with me and forever impacted my life. These women have endured situations in life that absolutely suck. But they successfully face each day with courage, faith, hope and perseverance. These women define their own success even though some days really, really, really suck.

Who Will You Be If You Succeed?

1. A Walking Example

The first ambitious woman I met literally stopped me in my tracks. She was the mother of three boys. Two of her sons had already passed away with the debilitating disease of MS. Her third son is living but has also been diagnosed with MS. She said in a quite voice, “I didn’t know I was a carrier of the gene”. I was speechless. What do I know about that level of suffering and the incredible strength that she has to find every single moment of her life? She should be the one on stage talking about “Who You Will Be If You Succeed” because just waking up each day and continuing to move forward with that much sadness and heartache is the very definition of success.

2. A Voice of Fearlessness

Meet Rainey. What a blessing this lady is to all who know her. She intentionally reveals her own struggles so that others may succeed. Rainey had a stroke. She had to learn how to speak and learn to do the simplest of task all over again. The stroke also changed the sound of her voice. She now speaks with an accent. Rainey sounds like she is from another country although she is from right here in the USA. But she uses that voice to speak power into everyone she encounters. Her new voice and cadence gently rocks you like a peaceful rainfall on a warm summer night. Rainey is a super success. Borrowing a phrase that Rainey often uses to describe inspirational women, I say Rainey, YOU are fierce, fabulous and free!

3. A Reminder That Anything is Possible

My third encounter was with a woman named Sunny. An energetic ball of fire that lit up the entire ballroom. Sunny is a mother on welfare who has never experienced a great dinner out, a fabulous haircut, or even one of those $5.00 extra skinny vanilla latte’s that we all think we can’t start our day without.

Sunny has so little and yet she’s excited about the possibilities and the opportunities in her business and life. She lives with hardships that many of us will never have to experience. Yet her attitude about her past, present and future is incredibly grateful and positive. She isn’t waiting until she” makes it” to live life fully alive. Sunny absolutely touched my soul and brightened my day. Thank you Sunny!

The road to success isn’t easy. Sometimes, many times, it sucks. But these women are walking, talking, breathing examples of how to define success on your own terms and live ambitiously and full of life, now.

Always S.N.A.P. See new achievable possibilities in business and life!