February 22, 2010 Matt Morris -
Written By Matt Morris -

A ‘Squirrely’ Motivational Lesson

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Motivational Monday #17

I’ve always been entertained from watching squirrels but I never thought I would feel motivated from watching squirrels!

In fact, this baby squirrel was so inspiring that I actually watched the video over and over again so I could take some notes…

Don’t Be a “Try-Baby”

If you want to achieve any goal, your first step is to declare it. These squirrels started their day with one goal in mind – get the baby squirrel at the top of the wall!

They took 100% responsibility for creating the goal and did not stop until the baby squirrel made it to the top of the wall! As far as setting goals and actually achieving them, squirrels have a major advantage over humans…

The words “hopefully,” “can’t,” “maybe” — and the ultimate death trap for goals — “try” do not exist for squirrels! At one point in our lives, they didn’t exist for us either…

When we were children, we had an amazing ability to dream! What was your dream job as a child?

As a child, you never said “I’m going to try to be a (insert your dream occupation from childhood here).” You said “I’m going to be a _____!”

Today I challenge you to forget what everyone like your parents and teachers said about “being realistic” or “getting your head out of the clouds…” Forget your goals of having just enough money to pay the bills and rent for next month!

Start dreaming big again TODAY! Believe it or not, it just takes a little more effort to achieve a big dream than it does to achieve a small one!!

Surround Yourself With Greatness

As these adorable squirrels proved, it’s a fact of life that people tend to mimic what they see around them. The baby squirrel watched the big squirrel dart up and down the seemingly ‘HUGE’  wall like it was nothing…

After a little encouragement from the big squirrel, the baby squirrel was eventually able to dig up the courage to make it to the top!

The same thing goes for you… If you surround yourself with successful people, then you’ll want to fit in and be successful, too!

What do you think happens when people surround themselves with negative people with small dreams??

They forget their big dreams and start accepting that ‘realistic’ life everyone kept telling them about…

Final Question

What was your favorite lesson from the squirrels? I’d love to chat about it with you in the comments section so be sure to share your answer below!

MattMorris.com underwent some maintenance over the weekend and two of my posts from last week were lost in the process but they’re back: Motivational Monday #16 and Never Judge a Book By It’s Cover!

P.S. For even more insight to try babies, get your copy of The Unemployed Millionaire and check out pages 49-50: http://www.MattMorris.com/book. You’ll also help me feed 5 hungry children and receive over $2,000 in bonus personal development education!

  • David

    I found it interesting that the squirrels did not accept the ‘outside help’ until they were assured of it’s safety. They left and watched until they were satisfied that they were not to be harmed by the ‘outsiders’.
    They wanted to avoid the ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’, however, they were curious and determined enough to try that which was left for them.

    When they achieved that goal they went on to the rest of their task without dwelling on the achievement and losing sight of their ultimate goal, the tree.

  • Stefan

    If something is too hard and you are very cute and helpless, someone will be along shortly to help.

  • Kathy

    Such a perfect lesson for today! I had a bit of a temporary set-back this morning that left me feeling like the baby in your video, with an insurmountable “squirrel wall” ahead of me.

    Then a good friend brought in a bit of “outside help” and invited me to your site, Matt. Thanks my friend – you know who you are!

    And thank you, Matt, for reminding us that even the smallest creatures know how important it is to focus on the positive and help one another. And – after exercising a bit of caution, of accepting outside help as needed to achieve their goals.

    They don’t “try.” They never give up. They just Do It!

    Dare to Dream – Work to Win!

  • http://facebook Ron Frazier

    That was VERY inspiring, I love to watch animals and the way act.

  • http://facebook Ron Frazier

    Thank you Matt for your VERY inspiring video and book.

  • http://www.lyndave.com Lyndave Leisure

    When you make your goals… Dream BIG! Work hard to get to the goal and if it is too big for one person to achieve alone don’t worry the people around you see you giving your all and most times will come to assist you without doing it all for you. Just give you a little leg up so YOU can achieve YOUR goal.

    I Truly Loved this Motivational Monday Matt. Thank You for giving us the little leg up from time to time, it is appreciated!

  • Christine

    So inspiring to watch the baby squirrel reached the top of the wall.

    Most important lesson learnt, NEVER QUIT! go for your dreams, you will always find somebody more experienced to land you a hand!

    On that note have a great evening everyone as it 10pm UK time,x

  • http://www.get-rid-of-acne.com JohnTheJock

    Magic.

    It’s all about creating your goal and never losing sight of what you want to achieve.

    If you hold the vision of your goal, outside influences manifest themselves to overcome obstacles and help you achieve it.

    It is a kind of magic!

    • Deb

      JohntheJock — you said it! “If you hold the vision of your goal, outside influences manifest themselves to overcome obstacles and help you achieve it.” I like.

  • Matt

    As Helio Gracie-grandmaster of Gracie Jiu-jitsu- once said, “If you never give up, then you never lose.”

    Sometimes the way we map out our blueprint for success does not always follow to the letter. However, if we are diligent in our efforts and possess unshakeable resolve, we can achieve our desired goal(s) just the same.

    Way to be squirrels…way to be.

  • http://www.theresek.mionegroup.com Therese Kutscheid

    Thank’s Matt,
    for me is not to give up and stick to you goal and if you can’t suceed on you own accept or ask for help.

  • http://www.platinumrecipescollection.com Patrick

    This is stupid. It would have been interesting to watch what happens without human intervention. Then, if the baby squirrel somehow makes it over the wall, it would be interesting and inspiring. Since these are “natural” animals which live away from humans, a measure of intelligence, determination or success can only be achieved under natural circumstances. So what if it were a wall deep in the woods? What would happen? Would the squirrels have been deemed foolish for “imagining a vain thing which they cannot carry out”.

    That is the great question mark: whether the squirrel makes it over the wall or not without human intervention. Then there would be a lesson for all.

  • http://waytooeasymarketing.com Kong Yee Onn

    Vincent Kong Yee Onn,

    Thank you for sharing this amazing video.

    As I watch the baby squirrel tried to jump

    the wall and failed,I come to realize that

    this is quite similar to our attempt to

    acheive our goals and failed. In life

    we have tried to achieve our goals without

    success,it is then we needed some higher

    interventions in whatever forms. Like

    the baby squirrel which focused on only

    one thing to reach the top of the wall.

    So if we focuse on the most important

    things,we want to achieve we have a

    better chance to succeed,rather than

    doing many things at one time.

    From this video I have a great lesson.

    Regareds,

    Vincent Kong

  • Edward G. Beagles

    A simple video with an important message. It’s a great lesson on the power of persistence and focus. Thanks Matt.

  • Jodie

    Matt,
    I’m not sure why you used the phrase, “I’m going to be …”. I use to say that – for years. Now I say “I am …” and things feel like they happen for me pretty fast now, where as before it felt like it was miles away.

    • http://www.mattmorris.com Amanda

      Hi Jodie,

      Thanks so much for taking the time to submit that comment. I’m pretty sure Matt said “I’m going to be a…” because he was reflecting on how we stated our dreams when we were children.

      That’s wonderful that you’ve found success with “I am a…!” As you know and as Matt explains in Episode 16 of The Unemployed Millionaire Show: Goal Setting is For Losers, stating goals in present tense is an imperative part of reaching success as an adult!

      Thanks again for your support!

      Sincerely,

      Amanda Troxell
      Personal Assistant to Matt Morris

  • Eddie Ruiz

    I took it as the baby squirrel had such a big dream to be as successful as the big squirrel. Some time us we set our dreams so high and so big and when we look at it we see ourself so small to our dream. The squirrel had such a big dream but he was so small. Then the baby squirrel realize in order to reach his goal he need something to help him. The same goes to us our dreams are so big we need help from our mentor and leader so that we can go over the wall and reach our dream. Like Zig Ziglar said in order to get what we want in life we have to help other get what they want first. Our mentor and leader are our stepping stool to success. Thank Matt for the video

  • http://damonjennings.com Damon Jennings

    Gone One Matt! I Liked That A Lot!

  • http://- Yeshwantr

    Hello,
    Its nice example of squirrel.One must have
    a high aim of reaching the top with the
    positive thinking.A man is known by the
    company he keeps.
    Best Regards
    Yeshwant

  • http://www.150774.successuniversity.com segakolodi c ntebele

    indeed success is about thinking big, no matter what others think about you, believe in yourself.

  • http://www.christiandestiny.blogspot.com Christian O. Achogbuo

    Awesome stuff, Matt!…

    I’ve equally come to the humbling and amazing realizations that there’s nothing like a self-made man or woman on the face of this Planet called Earh… Like the mother Squirrel playing a pivotal role in the life, and ability of the baby squirrel – to make it to the top of the wall; we equally need motivators, not cynical and jealous demotivators, or critics, etc. We need people who’ll genuinely believe in us, despite our obvious limitations and weaknesses.

    Above all, we need to believe in ourselves and especially believe in the God that first believed, still believes and will forever believe – in us!

    Remain a blessing!

    Cheers.

    Chris.

  • http://thenpn.com/at/?id=29708 Willie Robertson

    Hello Matt,

    This video was very inspirational and I saw quite a few life lessons in it.

    First I saw the need and the power of a having a “MENTOR”, (the big squirrel,) someone that has already achieved what it is you want to achieve, (your goal/dream,) and that believes in YOU.

    Secondly, the mentee, (the little squirrel,) “BELIEVED” in and was “WILLING” to “FOLLOW” the lead of the mentor.

    Thirdly the mentor “LEAD” the mentee through all the steps necessary to reach the end result goal/dream, (getting over the big wall,) yet the mentor did not “DO” the steps “FOR” the mentee, even though he wanted to see the mentee reach the end result goal. (He knew the only way for the mentee to really appreciate his success was to experience it, good or bad, by using his own efforts.)

    Fourthly the mentor kept encouraging and showing the mentee how it was done as well as the fact that, “IT COULD BE DONE,” and the mentor never left him.

    To the credit of the mentee, he trusted his mentor enough to know he would not lead him in the wrong direction.

    Also the mentee believed in himself, therefore he refused to give up. He wanted to achieve what he saw his mentor had achieved. He wanted to go where his mentor was going.

    As hard as the little mentee tried he just seemed to keep falling a little short of the mark. Yet he “refused” to quit.

    I also like the fact that there were others beside the mentor who saw what the mentee was trying to achieve, they too believed in the little mentee, so they began to give input and provide tools (back packs/bags) that the mentee could use to reach his goal.

    Although the humans seemed to scare the little squirrel, causing him to run away, yet still having the end goal in mind, he returned to investigate the tools, and see if and how they could help him to get over the wall so he could continue to be with and follow his mentor, the bigger squirrel.

    Notice that though the humans and their tools were “unfamilair” to the little mentee, he took advantage of and excepted the generiousity of others to help him and used the tools to reach his goal.

    After multiple tries and failures, the little squirrel, reached his end result goal, getting over the big wall, to be with his mentor.

    So, we need a mentor who we believe in and who believes in us. We must believe in ourself. We must be willing to except help from others along the way. And we need to overcome our fears, use the tools we have available to us and to walk out in faith, the necessary steps to reach our dreams/goals.

    And most importanly, help someone else in their journey.

  • http://www.weight-on.com Alex

    Hi Matt,

    Your success university website is down…

    http://successuniversity.com/

  • http://www.talktometoday.com Aleta

    Reminds me of daughter when she was five. She wanted to jump her rope 10 times in a row before she quit. So, she started…went 5 times, started over, went 6 times in a row…started over (with Greater determination than ever) jumped 7 times in a row … and missed. Started over (now red faced and VERY frustrated) jumped 9 times in a row (crying and throwing herself on the floor from frustration). Gets up with tears running down her cheeks and red faced and jumps TEN TIMES in a row. She would NOT quit. It was NOT in her vocabulary and is not to this day. She is an inspiration to me and others. She was that baby squirrel who would NOT quit and would achieve it or die trying. There was no TRY for her.

  • http://www.howtomakemoneyinrecession.com Thomas Hoi

    Hi Matt,

    Thanks for the video… i immediately saw myself as the small squirrel who need help seriously from the big squirrel who had know how to “do it and done it”….

    Also from your book, i learnt that you should model after someone whom you want to be and get help from a mentor, even from books.

    I found this to be so true… I have seek out mentors already and paid for their guidance.

    I know i should have done that earlier but pulled back whenever i saw the expensive price tag…

    Just like what your good friend Johnny Wimbrey said:” Information costs, but it pays for itself” ….

    That was my biggest breakthrough….

    Blessings,
    Thomas Hoi

  • Dennis Schmidt

    Inspiring video,
    I’m leaning more in the direction of enabling though. Figure it out for your self! That’s how you learn, from your mistakes and your successes. If you have a question ask it, otherwise figure it out. There is great pride in being able to figure it out for yourself. Obviously the squirrel couldn’t ask any questions but now he might start to rely on humans for help. If you always help your children with their problems they begin to rely on you to figure it out for them. When they grow up they haven’t a clue as to what to do, you did it all for them.

  • Dennis Schmidt

    I did however like when the mother squirrel hung her tail over the wall as if to say, ” here, just jump up and grab on to my tail ” That’s team work at it’s finest!

  • Tarsier

    Remember the words of Calvin Coolidge

    Nothing can take the place of PERSISTANCE
    TALENT will not-nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent
    GENIUS will not-unrewarded genius is almost a proverb
    EDUCATION will not-the world is full of educated derelicts
    PERSISTANCE and DETERMINATION alone are OMNIPOTENT

    IN ORDER TO SUCCEED.. YOU MUST
    KNOW.. What you are doing
    LIKE What you are doing
    BELIEVE In what you are doing
    ……and never give up, beware of the dreamstealers

  • WATFORD

    Remember the words of Calvin Coolidge

    Nothing can take the place of PERSISTANCE
    TALENT will not-nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent
    GENIUS will not-unrewarded genius is almost a proverb
    EDUCATION will not-the world is full of educated derelicts
    PERSISTANCE and DETERMINATION alone are OMNIPOTENT

    IN ORDER TO SUCCEED.. YOU MUST
    KNOW.. What you are doing
    LIKE What you are doing
    BELIEVE In what you are doing
    ……and never give up, beware of the dreamstealers

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  • http://www.globalresortsnetworkonline.com Michalpha

    That was GREAT!