[Book Excerpt] Want to Succeed? Put Your Weight Forward

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire essence of a book, while others instantly resonate with readers and create a connection with the text. Here, we introduce meaningful sentences selected from books.

This book, authored by a prominent motivational expert in the United States, addresses the challenges faced by those who hesitate to take action. It delivers just two essential principles necessary for designing small actions. First, do not be deceived by non-existent fears and anxieties that cause you to settle for your current reality. Second, learn to develop automated behavioral patterns where your body moves first. According to the author, 97% of the worries we have never actually happen. Instead of spending time worrying, the book advises taking action. The outcome of our efforts toward a goal is always one of two things: achievement or non-achievement. The author emphasizes that once you take action, anxiety disappears and you move closer to the life you desire.

Fear is designed to help us avoid dangers that may arise in the future, but at the same time, it triggers our imagination of future pain, which can hinder our actions. However, if I were to make one prediction for you, it is this: for those who do not take action, future pain is inevitable. Everything in the world comes with a price. You will inevitably pay the price for 'not acting' yourself. <Page 41>

Many people dream of business success, but when asked what 'success' truly means, few can give a clear answer. Can someone who doesn't even know what success is actually achieve it? The problem with setting vague goals is that those goals can mean entirely different things to different people. What do phrases like financial freedom, peace of mind, inner tranquility, healthy relationships, and self-satisfaction truly mean? These words are not specific at all. <Pages 90-91>

"Rather than making excuses about not having enough time, it's better to honestly admit that you simply aren't interested in the goal." It may sound blunt, but it is something everyone should take to heart. People always make time for things that matter to them. Saying you don't have time to exercise means that exercise is simply not that important to you. Saying you lack time to build a business may mean that business is not that important to you either. <Page 103>

Do you think you are a lazy person? You are not. You have simply chosen a lazy way of life. Do you think you are a procrastinator? No. You have simply chosen the path of procrastination. At first glance, there may not seem to be much difference between the two statements, but the first describes your identity, while the second refers to your choices. If we see ourselves as having the identity of a lazy or procrastinating person, we will act accordingly. <Page 144>

"How do you find time to get all those things done? Did you learn that in the military? What's your secret?"
"It's thanks to learning how to live with strength in my forelegs." That friend said that people can live with their weight on their forelegs or on their hind legs. When we put our weight on our forelegs, we naturally move forward, which is an attitude that takes initiative and upgrades our lives. On the other hand, if we put our weight on our hind legs, we inevitably end up stepping back without realizing it. With such a passive attitude, it's difficult to move forward. <Page 175>

"People do not decide their future. Rather, they decide their habits, and their habits decide their future." If you can train your brain to develop habits that work in your favor in daily life, you will gain a new superpower. The brain processes habits unconsciously. <Page 261>

Action Conquers Anxiety | Written by Rob Dial | Translated by Park Youngjun | Seosamdok | 20,000 KRW