How to Start a Fire

Have you wished that you could find something that will start a fire in you, that in turn, propels you on to success?  We all know that fire in our gut when we have hit on something great.  All our energy goes to finding out more and doing everything we can to keep that fire going.  American author, Arnold Glasow gave us the answer to this dilemma when he said, “Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire.”

 You got it.  If you want to know the drive of a passion that fires you up and drives you to achievement, you have got to start that fire yourself.  If you are waiting for it to just happen, (and many people do), then you will be out of luck.  We have to build the fire and we have to keep it going.

So how do we get this fire started?  The answer is not that difficult.  The fires of success come from learning.  Not just learning anything, but learning what excites us and what we are passionate about.  There are many who believe that education is a drag and they avoid it at all costs.  That is because they are learning about things that really don’t interest them.  The fire of learning comes when we learn what we want to learn.  When we discover our purpose and we build on that dream.  Just because something is your job or even that you are good at something does not mean you find it interesting.  The fires of learning come from within.  As Irish poet, William Butler Yeats said, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.”

When I am talking education, I am not talking about formal education.  I mean the education that you find yourself in books, classes, people and experience.  The truth is, most formal education teaches us more of what we do not want to know and do not need than they do what is our interests.  It is good to know a lot of different things, however, the fire of knowledge comes from interest and experience.

I know of no better way to fuel that fire than for the success-minded person to be an avid reader.  You can find all the information you need on any subject in the world in books.  Do not use the excuse that you do not have time to read; you have the exact same amount of time as everyone else and successful people always have time to read.  No excuses about being a slow reader or not liking to read.  Reading is not a race that we start to see how fast we can finish.  Also, success-minded people must seek out reading material that informs them, inspires them and teaches them what they want to know.

What is it that you really want to do?  What excites and motivates you to move forward.  Start reading for 20 minutes a day on that topic.  Read, grow and use what you have learned.  You will soon find that the fire is so big, you just can’t put it out.

To discover how you can achieve the dream you have believed was impossible for too long, read On The Journey To Achievement by John Patrick Hickey.  You can get a signed copy for yourself and get one for a friend, by going to http://www.johnpatrickhickey.com/it-is-good-to-set-goals-better-to-achieve-then/.  Now available on Kindle, Oops! Did I Really Post That? Online Etiquette in the Digital Age by John Patrick Hickey.

© 2016 John Patrick Hickey. No part of this may be reprinted or published without permission of the author.