Permission to Succeed

I remember as a child when the local Youth Club was first established and my parents encouraged me to join. The choice of activities was mine. So at 11 I became a marching girl, at 13 a hockey player and at 16 I started to learn judo. I only realized it recently but when I joined both my parents and the instructors gave me permission to succeed. All the youth club members were learning to play to win – to achieve awards and win competitions. There was no shame if you lost. But we just never went along for something to do. We were there every week giving 100% and striving to achieve our personal best.

When I was a teenager, my dream was to be a teacher. It came apart when my father died unexpectedly. A year later again my mother gave me permission to succeed by telling me that if I won a teacher’s scholarship she could find the funds to help me achieve my dream. I had a goal – something to focus on. Study had a purpose and not once did I believe that I would not achieve it. Someone who cared about me believed in me. Like a child on a swing here was the push. It was up to me how high I flew.

Can you remember coming home and telling your spouse, partner, parent or family member that someone mentioned an interesting business option you might like to follow up. If the response you got was ‘go for it if you want it’, you also got that permission to succeed. The doubts disappeared and you went for it. I’ll bet you got it because that belief in you propelled you forward.

A number of years ago while teaching I took over looking after the school’s four hockey teams. Each Saturday as they boarded the bus an hour or more before the game, it shocked me to hear them discussing how many goals they would be beaten by. No one had given them permission to succeed. When they saw I was serious about making changes, their responses amazed me. I had aimed only to improve their self-esteem. Giving them permission to succeed and permission to win brought back many club players who were not currently playing for their school. It had the girls seeking out great coaches and it energized the parents into giving generously in all sorts of ways to support their daughters and me in building teams of winners. There was a mind shift and our goals changed. Four years after I started we had a premiership winning team and 56 girls who were proud to say they were school hockey players.

Giving yourself or someone else ‘permission to succeed’ is the most powerful gift you can give.

When you are tired out and pressured at work, the days seem never-ending. You want to make changes but may fear the unknown. Stop! If there’s no one else who will give you permission to succeed and permission to win, you CAN give it to yourself. Permission to succeed at whatever you set yourself as a goal has the effect of giving your life meaning. There’s a reason to bounce out of bed in the morning. There’s a reason to learn that new skill. There’s a reason to revitalize your work, your family or your relationship. You become determined to find a way to write that new script for your life. Having put the intention out there God, the Universe, the Angels (whatever you believe in) gets to work to help you with opportunities and ideas you would not have thought possible before you gave yourself that permission to take control of your future.

My husband and I six years ago bought a Lilly Pilly plant. The label stated ‘shrub – maximum height 2 meters’. We planted it in the front garden. Four years later given water, sunshine and a sunny position, it was at least 5 meters tall and still growing. A beautiful shrub/tree given permission to succeed just grew to its maximum potential. Plants can’t read. Be like our Lilly Pilly. Ignore the labels on your life.

If you have that secret dream or are unsure what to do next, give yourself  ‘permission to succeed’ and see what happens.

Words of Gratitude: This article was inspired by a talk by Iven Frangi recorded on an early Business Swap ‘Sound Advice’ CD. Amongst other points, Iven spoke about the CEO of Porsche giving his Research Department ‘Permission to Perform’ and then Porsche won Le Mans 4 years in a row.

Tags: Articles, Mindset, Mindset Article