TIME TO MOVE YOUR MOUNTAIN
"Sometimes, it feels as if we're lost in our journey through life and that our problems are like huge mountains stopping us from reaching our goals. We need some encouragement and advice to help us conquer these obstacles and reach for our dreams.”
Using experiences and examples drawn from the everyday life of an ordinary person, this book provides an encouraging guide to taking action to find a solution to our problems.
BOOK SUMMARY
Introduction
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In 1945, my father returned home from the Second World War with no money except a shilling or two in his pocket. He came from a battle field that represented nothing less than death and no hope, having had one of his best friends shot dead while standing next to him. You would have to agree that he had every reason to give up. But home to New Zealand he came, not to a limousine waiting for him. He chose to start out just like anybody else in society at that time. Having missed his dream of living on a farm, owing to his parents being casualties of the Great Depression in the 1930s, he embarked on a career in carpentry. Dad started an adult apprenticeship, qualifying as a tradesman in carpentry. He then became a foreman for a local construction company prior to starting his own business in 1960 which he continued in for the next 30 years before ‘handing the reins’ to me.
He started with nothing—but from nothing, he met and married his lovely wife, whom he has been married to for over fifty-four years. They have three children, now grown up with their own families and challenges. Dad and Mum have a beautiful home and garden, which he still tends to daily at the age of eighty-nine, annually winning best garden awards. He is also very active in various other activities.
All this—as well as providing a wonderful lifestyle for us all and now having a comfortable retirement with my Mum. This wouldn’t have been possible if he came home in 1945 and simply gave up. Today, we hear about all sorts of people who, for some reason or other, feel they can’t go on and choose not to.
The key here is choice, as you have seen. My father chose to move on with his life and not give up. Through Dad’s experience, I have learnt that giving up would mean depriving myself of the chance to grow stronger as a person or to build my inner character and become successful in the fullness of life. Through this book, you will also look at what real success is and how to discover it.
When my wife, Phillipa, and myself, along with our children, decided to relocate from Christchurch, New Zealand, to Melbourne, Australia, we had no idea what to expect. Nevertheless, we embarked on a journey that has shaped our lives into something that could not have been experienced without stepping out of our comfort zone.
Although we chose to move countries, this did not mean leaving home—maybe just a change of attitude.
The attitude of never giving up will be emphasised throughout this book. So join me as we go on a journey together. It’s time to move our mountains to enable us to step out of our comfort zone and into a life of fulfilment and success.
CHAPTER HEADINGS
Mountains Ahead
How to recognise what stands in front of you: So often in life different situations present themselves to us when we thought the road was straight and flat. The real point is, no one said that this is the case. In this chapter Stuart speaks about different situation that do present themselves through everyday life that case unexpected bumps and bends in the road. The key Stuart shares here is, how do we respond to these situations?, therefore enabling us to handle them.
Identifying The Mountain
Know what confronts us to enable us to deal with it: As our response to various situations can vary it is important to identify each one for what it is, to enable us to face positive consequences rather than negative one. Here Stuart describes the importance to identify each situation and the importance of making good choices.
Looking beyond where you are
Don’t be daunted by the here and now; instead look forward: Here Stuart shares about the important key of looking beyond the current situation. This is not always easy, yet a necessary key for us to keep moving forward. He shares some personal experiences of how this works in his life and that the key can be applied to many situations.
Preparing Yourself
Be ready for possible situations that may face you in life: This is more often than not, easier said than done. Yet there is a way to be prepared. While it can be difficult to be prepared for many instances’ in life, Stuart shares some really personnel experiences here to show that some things in life are thrown at us, but it is possible to manoeuvre through them.
Setting Goals
Stepping Stones that enable your dreams to become reality: The key Stuart shares with us in this chapter is, that some things may not happen in an instant but when they do they can be rewarding. Setting goals is a key to achieving the dream, but this is a way of setting the goal and seeing it come about. Stuart shares some experiences of how this has worked for him and can work for you.
Preparing and Actioning a Plan
You need a plan to put into action: You cannot build a structure without a plan. Even an army require one to take action. There are ways of setting up a plan and taking action. In this chapter Stuart speaks about his life experiences this far, of how he built plans and then prepared for action. It can be a really exciting journey following this key.
Stumbling Blocks
Obstacles can trip you up along your journey of life: This can be so true in all our lives, but how we view them, treat them or even look out for them can determine how our journey will develop. Stuart speaks about how he sees them and how he uses and views the stumbling blocks to allow him to stay on the path of his journey.
Choosing Your Vehicle
Identify what type of vehicle will get you to your dream: We use different type of vehicles to get us to different types of places and destinations. Our choice of vehicle is one of importance so it assists us and doesn’t hinder us. This chapter is all about choosing the right vehicle for our journey. Enjoy discovering this key as you read this chapter.
Defining and Pushing the Boundaries
Discover what boundaries work for you: Like this word or not but we all need boundaries otherwise we can wander anywhere but where we should be. Discovering what boundaries work for our own journey of life can be very strategic but yet simple. In this chapter Stuart talks about the key that works for him through his experience that can enable you to discover your boundaries in life.
Putting up & Pulling down
Putting strategies in place that work: Businesses who put good strategies in place will have good success. Yet this isn’t meant to be for just them. There are simple ways of putting strategies in place that work for our individual lives. Chapter ten gives example and experiences that Stuart has encountered to enable him to have strategies that work for him.
Never Give Up – Perseverance
Keep pressing onto the dream: One of the easiest things to do in my life or yours is to give up, yet it can be one of the most destructive things to affect our journey of life. Not giving up can be harder than some of us would like to think. Here Stuart talks about what can happen if we keep pressing on and choose not to be a specialist in giving up.
Staying on the Path Ahead
Don’t be distracted by events unrelated to the dream: Often we can easily get distracted by issues around us that can draw our attention away from the task at hand. That isn’t to say we don’t care but sometimes we get distracted and wonder why we don’t achieve our dreams. In this chapter are some life experiences of Stuart’s of how not be distracted by unrelated events.
Being in Control
Learn how to steer the vehicle in the direction you have chosen: If we turn a wrong corner we could more than likely miss our destination. To reach our desired destination we need to make sure that we are steering our vehicle in the desired direction. This can be so true in our everyday lives. In this chapter we are encouraged to be determined to steer our personal vehicle in the correct and honest direction of our daily life.
Drawing Strength from within
Pouring fuel into our engines to keep going: Our car will not run without fuel no matter how we try. What an effort it would be to push it everywhere. The key here in this chapter is about how to pour fuel into our engines; being us. Stuart shares some experiences here of how he re-fuel his life from day to day. He also speaks about the foundation from which he achieves this.
Discovering what works
What works becomes a treasure: Finding treasure can be so rewarding. What works for each of us becomes our treasure. Discovering what works for ourselves can be challenging, time consuming but rewarding. Read how Stuart’s discovers what works and becomes a treasure for him.
Victory
Walk through Life experiencing the dream: What joy or exhilaration it is to be a winner. Yet we are all winners of our own race. You are a special person, unique with your own special talents and dreams. Here in this chapter Stuart shares some experiences and examples which will enable you to discover how you can also walk through life a winner experiencing your dream.