<B>Is it really a mountain? Or is it that you see a mountain?</B>

The task before you could be a 1500-meter climb, a 5,000-meter race, to organise the Olympic Games, buy a carton of milk at the corner shop or keep to your schedule to please an important client. The task before you is indeed a mountain if that is what you see!

Take a good look at what lies ahead of you. Lets say you have a relatively short time to organise a meeting for your regional director. If the first thing that pops into your head is that you probably wont achieve it in time, therein lies the problem. Without this preconception, your job is a simple undertaking. But, when you have convinced yourself it?s not possible, you have just created Mt. Fuji when, a moment earlier, it was a mere baseball mound. Give yourself some credit. You didn?t get to where you are now by selling yourself short! Bring the baseball mound back.

<B>Go around the mountain</B>

It is important to do some research first. There are always many possible answers to the one single problem. We all know it is easier to work our way around the hill than tackle the peak itself. Is the goal to climb to the peak or simply to get to the other side?

If your destination is just to get to the other side, then adjust your plan accordingly. Conserve your energy for those things that are indeed closer to your heart.

<B>Do you really need to climb the mountain? </B>

Why are you going to climb this mountain? Is it because deep down you really want to accomplish this feat or is it to please somebody else? This is probably the most important issue. If you climb for the wrong reasons the chances are; at worst, you will fail and, at best, you will have a feeling of unfulfilling from within.

Don?t do anything simply to please someone else. It will severely deflate you. You are the most important person in the world. Treat yourself with the respect you deserve. If you don?t, others may infinitely be pressing your buttons. If you?ve wanted to get to the peak of this hill then, for heaven?s sake, go there and achieve it. The feeling will be exhilarating.

<B>Don?t do it alone! </B>

A group of individuals with the same common goal have a habit of drawing incredible power and strength from one another. Plan your trip carefully with experienced mountaineers. A team with the same target has a much greater chance of success than a lone ranger with summit fever.

In relation to your professional life it is important that you seek out as much knowledge and professional advice as possible from the wealth of information available from others. Tap into as many different success formulae as you can. Educate yourself in your field, absolutely! Become an expert. Even if you are already an expert in your field, there are always mountains.

<B>by Sandhya Luchoomun Boygah</B>