It is a simple fact of life, at some point we all run into barriers. In fact, the more chances you take, the more opportunities you step into, the higher levels of success you achieve, the more barriers you will actually face. Any time you move forward in your career, business, finances or personal life, there will be barriers.

So, you have two choices: You can let the barriers hold you back… or you can find a way around them.

You may be wondering what I mean by barriers and I’ll give you some examples shortly.

But first, you have to understand one thing. It is never circumstances determining your success in life. It’s how you deal with the circumstances that makes the difference.

If you have spent any time at our live events or listening to our shows, you’ve probably heard about the 98% and 2%. If this is your first time hearing from me, you have NO idea what I’m talking about – and that’s okay!

Simply put, 98% of the population will be dead or dead broke by the age of 65, dependent on their friends, family or the federal government as their main source of income. (Can you say, NO THANK YOU?!) Only 2% are doing well financially.

So, what’s the difference between the two groups? The way they think.

How do 98%-ers think? To begin with, 98%-ers fluently speak the language of EXCUSES! You and I both know our world is suffering financially right now. So many people are out of work. Families struggle to put food on the table. Companies go out of business right and left. This is no secret. Sure, times may be tough for a lot of people, but what’s even worse is so many people actually choose to stay there.

Think about it… opportunity is literally everywhere you look. Now, whether or not you see it in front of you is a different story.

Here’s what I mean…

Imagine a man who was laid off and looking for work. He struggles to take care of his wife and 2 kids. He has applied for a few jobs here and there, but he hasn’t gotten anything yet. The man hears about an open position and they want to hire immediately. The job is across town, and the family only has one car.

Discouraged, he says, “Man, I wish I could take this job. There’s no way it would work, because we have only one car. We have to get the kids to school, soccer practice, softball and piano lessons, and my wife has to get to work every day, too. I can’t work all the way across town if we only have one car!”

Instead of finding a way around the one-car barrier, the man lets that barrier stop him from taking this answer to his financial struggles. Now, someone else (who is willing to find a way around their barriers) will get that job.

Or, think about a woman who just started a business. Her business starts to grow slowly, but she is frustrated by how long it’s taking to become as successful as she’d like. She says, “I just want to be at the top already! It’s taking too long to get there and there’s too much to learn. I wonder if it’s even worth it.”

Do you see the barriers she builds every time she says or thinks these things? Instead of continuing to take the small steps leading her to bigger steps and bigger success, she complains about not being where she wants to be. She doesn’t realize everyone has to start with those first steps. Everyone has to start somewhere and everyone has a learning curve. She could do several things to minimize the learning curve and speed up success, but she just doesn’t see those things. She only sees the barriers in front of her.

There are all kinds of barriers – “I can’t afford it”… “I don’t know where to start”… “My spouse doesn’t support me”… “I don’t have time!”

You have barriers popping up in your life every day. How do you deal with them? Do you find a way around them, or do you let them dictate your next steps?

Now that you’ve had a look into the mind of a 98%-er, let’s look at the 2%-er and see how they are different: A 2%-er does not wait for someone else to solve their problems; they find solutions. They are not afraid of problems. They have a no-excuse mindset. They get the job done, no matter what. They work with excellence, diligence and integrity. They go the extra mile. They are driven and self-motivated. They are willing to do whatever it takes to succeed. They will overcome any barrier in front of them, because their mindset is completely different from the majority out there.

It’s almost like 98%-ers are looking for a reason not to succeed. Any little thing in front of them will cause them to run away, with their tail between their legs. But 2%-ers… well, there’s no stopping them! Everything could be going wrong for a 2%-er, but they look for just one thing they can use to their advantage. And guess what? When you look for that one thing, you will find it!

I really believe that. Whether your barrier is not having enough money, being unemployed, having a stagnant business, kids who misbehave, a boss who doesn’t see how hard you work, coworkers you don’t get along with or relationships that are struggling, if you choose to look for a solution to overcome that barrier, you will find it.

So today, focus on finding solutions. Stop focusing on the barrier. Stop focusing on what you can’t do, what you don’t have or what’s not going fast enough. Focus on finding a way around those things. You will be amazed by what happens!

Hey, I don’t know if today’s message gave you any help. But I do know there are people all around you and me, who so desperately need to read this. Whether you see the barriers your friends, family and coworkers are facing today – or not – believe me, they are there.

You can save a company, a job, a family, or even a life, today by simply forwarding this message. Share this post on Facebook and Twitter and let’s get it out there. I would also really love to hear your thoughts about The Daily Fix today. Your comments mean the world to me, and I read every single one of them, so please share your thoughts below.

And, be sure to tune in for The Dani Johnson Show today for more wisdom, tips and strategies to improve your life! You can find the show on your TV and radio and please remember you can always stream today’s show right here on our website.

In great faith,

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