Millennials have so much potential.

 

Growing up, I was always somewhat envious of those naturally smart students.

 

I was always a B/C student and no matter what I would do and how much I would study, I was never competition to those top-level students.

 

I even began to notice that when I actually tried to study more for an exam, I would do worse on it…can someone explain this phenomenon to me?

 

So what was my solution?

 

 

Aim for Bs, study less and focus on the concepts I know will be on the exam.

 

If you are a typical highly ambitious millennial, you are probably thinking: “This guy needs to raise his goals. He will never accomplish greatness with that mindset.”

 

Well I am here to tell you that you are wrong, leading me to my first thing stopping millennials from success:

 

3 Things Stopping Millennials From Success

 

 

1. High Expectations

 

We all want to be the next Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. The unfortunate reality is that you won’t. Those spots are already filled.

 

Our generation has been raised with these stories and our parents were telling us you can be anything from the day we are born.

 

What did that do to us?

 

Well it certainly gave us extremely high expectations.  The issue is that 99% of us simply will not reach the top 1%… It’s impossible.

 

I have recently re-watched the first Harry Potter movie. There was a part where Harry goes in front of the Mirror of Erised and sees his parents (who have passed away). Ron also looks at it and sees himself as a champion Quidditch player.

 

 

Later on in the movie, Dumbledore explains to Harry that this mirror shows you what you desire most in this world.  Dumbledore then tells Harry that many men have wasted away their lives in front of it. 

 

J.K Rowling was right.

 

Millennials set their expectations very high, they visualize it, they dream about it and… that’s about it.

 

Setting extremely high expectations from the start can be very damaging. It’s what I learned with my tie bar business as well.

 

When you do not see the results you expected, you begin to get unmotivated. When you start dreaming of your end goal again, you realize how far it is and in many cases, people just stop what they are doing. Many never start in the first place.

 

I would recommend adjusting your expectations as you go.

 

First expect to only get 1 client. Then 10. Keep adjusting based on success.

 

If my expectations were to have a 250 clients in the first year, I would be horribly unmotivated and likely quit after that first year. I would feel like a failure.

 

2. No Plan

 

Never set expectations without a map.

 

Imagine having a GPS where you input New York, and all you get is the arrival spot along with some stunning photos of Manhattan.

 

You would probably buy a different GPS.

 

 

Setting your expectations and goals without actually having a plan is as crazy as a GPS that doesn’t provide directions.

 

Creating a plan is very scary. People like to avoid it because this is where you actually need to work. You will see how difficult each step is and the effort required.

 

You also have to stop dreaming. This is the part where many are forced to quickly adjust their expectations which may feel like a failure already.

 

I assure you, it is the exact opposite.

 

If my original goal was to get 250 clients in my first year, that would mean I need about exactly one client per working day of the year. Slim chance of that happening while establishing my self on the market and developing my circle of influence. 100 seems like a more realistic goal.

 

Now I need to get about 2 per week. I can do that. Motivation has increased by 10 points!

 

How will I do it?  I will market my website, distribute flyers and develop my partnerships.

 

Once I hit my first 100, It is time to make a new plan to hit the 250.

 

Take it slow, build a base and adjust as you go. It is not a race, it’s a marathon.

 

3. No Action

 

This is without a doubt the number one reason millennials can’t find their success.

 

I have read this so many times in many different ways:

 

• Millenials are a Generation of All Talk and No Action 
• Millenials: The Lazy Generation
• Most Young People Care About Issues – But Not Enough To Take Action

and on and on…

 

Well maybe they are kinda right?

 

 

We don’t really like the action part. Visualizing is fun, planning is less fun but has its moments. The actual working part and getting dirty is definitely not fun.

 

Well too bad. If you want something, you need to go and get it.

 

Potential is nothing without action. This is where many millennials find themselves. They try to get by on potential alone.

 

As Thomas Edison said “Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration”

 

It’s all about the sweat.

 

You won’t get fit sitting on the couch imagining being fit. You won’t learn how to swim without getting into the water. You certainly won’t get wealthy by just expecting it.

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

 

My fellow millennials: you are smart. You are intelligent. You are educated and you are creative.

 

You have the tools to do well in this expensive time.

 

Now all you need to do is set realistic expectations, make a plan and finally, get it done.

 

Don’t be a victim of tough times. Be the victor!

 

What are some of the things you have seen stopping millennials from finding success?