When I am making a big decision, and many times even for the smaller ones, I tend to consult my friends and family. Doing so has helped me make a lot of good decisions and pass on a lot of bad ones. It is a great idea to learn from others mistakes. However, there are also times when you must trust your own judgment and pursue your own goals regardless of what people tell you. This is especially true when you are doing something out of the normal.

If you decide to do something out of the ordinary, something new, or something that is difficult; your friends and family may try to advise you against it. Now it is important to listen to someone who has been through a similar situation, but just because they failed does not mean that you will as well. In fact, understanding their failure may help you succeed.

There will also be people who tell you that something is impossible even though they themselves have never done it. Even though they know very little about the subject and may have no experience, they may be able to give you a million reasons why you can’t do it. Though they are really giving you reasons why they can’t do it. If someone is afraid to do something they also want everyone else to be afraid. If everyone is afraid then it is the normal and they can feel better about it.

I have made a number of decisions in my life that have been out of the normal and I have received quite a bit of resistance from friends and family at times. Choosing to study in Japan, to work in Tokyo, and now to quit my job and start my own business to name a few. There are a few things I have done that have allowed me to follow and succeed at my dreams.

1. Research- Try to gain as much information about a subject as possible. The more you know about something the less risky the decision is.
2. Know yourself-know your limitations, strengths, and weaknesses when starting something.
3. Finish what you start- The more you complete the confidence and motivation you will gain.
4. Know who to ask for advice- Some people give much better advice than others. Note it may not always be the advice you want to hear.
5. Think big- Set your goals high. These are usually the things with the biggest rewards.
6. Don’t be afraid to fail- Some of the biggest successes come from huge failures. You will never learn if you are afraid to fail.
7. Tell the “negative people” once you have already started- They will be much less likely to try and stop you are moving forward.

I have received a lot of great advice over the years, but I have also received a lot of bad advice. The one important thing is to follow your dreams. If you want something bad enough and are willing to persevere, then you can do it.

Thanks for reading. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe to my RSS feed. I would also love to hear your thoughts, so please feel free to leave a comment.