| Almost every goal you want to achieve: losing | | | | I looked at my fellow recruits, I thought, "If they can |
| weight, earning more money, or eliminating debt, has | | | | do it, so can I." I dwelled further on that thought and |
| been accomplished by many other people. In fact, | | | | felt an immediate relief from the fear and worry. |
| the exact amount of weight you need to lose and | | | | I gained back some optimism on my first night in |
| the precise amount of income you want to earn has | | | | boot camp as I put things into perspective. I did the |
| already been accomplished many times before. Are | | | | math: each week, 300 new recruits graduate from |
| those people any better than you? No! They merely | | | | Marine Corps boot camp in San Diego, California. That |
| understood that if someone else did it, so could they. | | | | is about 15,000 per year! More recruits graduate from |
| I remember my first night in boot camp like it was | | | | the Marines Corps' other boot camp in Parris Island, |
| yesterday. I was afraid. It was late and I was lying | | | | South Carolina. I realized that from the time of my |
| motionless on the top rack of my bunk, but I was | | | | birth until I was eighteen years old, over half a million |
| unable to sleep. I kept thinking, "What have I done?" | | | | recruits, just like me, made it through boot camp and |
| Three weeks earlier, I had turned eighteen. I was | | | | earned the title of U.S. Marine. |
| hanging out with my friends back home and I had no | | | | As boot camp progressed, new challenges came my |
| worries. But right now, I was in Marine Corps boot | | | | way, but I continued to months later, I graduated |
| camp and a tremendous amount of fear was | | | | with a platoon of forty-eight. Our drill instructors |
| occupying my mind. I was afraid of what tomorrow | | | | were right; not everyone made it! |
| would bring. I was afraid of the unknown. I was | | | | Since that night, I have constantly tapped into the |
| afraid of failing. | | | | power of "If they can do it, so can I." You can use |
| That night, it was silent in the barracks. The | | | | this same concept to increase your mindset as you |
| moonlight shining in the windows was just enough to | | | | strive to accomplish your goals. |
| allow me to see the others sleeping in their bunks. As | | | | Think GREAT! |