Page 45 - Standard Workbook 8-27-18

TOPUCU Standard Workbook Lesson 7: Part 1

LESSON 7: PART 1
"There's no abiding success without commitment." — Tony Robbins
BURN THE BRIDGE Dick Hoyt burnt the bridge to what his commitment. If they say they’re committed

life may have become and made a total to doing something, but then something
commitment to his son Rick. Let’s fast- else comes along that they’d rather do, the
forward to today. Rick and Dick have commitment is broken. Sure, we understand
Today’s lesson is titled “Burn the Bridge.” There are numerous instances throughout competed in over 1,000 endurance events; that there are emergencies that can bring
This saying has been used in a number of history where you can see this kind of including 72 marathons and six Ironman about a break in commitment, but that’s not
ways throughout time. Often, it’s used as commitment. For example, there have been Triathlons. And, in 2008, they were inducted what we’re talking about. We’re talking about
cautionary advice to encourage you not to times when an army would land in a foreign into the Ironman's Hall of Fame. The story an accepted idea that has been passed
destroy relationships that could potentially country and the commander of that army of Team Hoyt is the epitome of commitment down from generation to generation that
be beneficial to you at some point in the would order the soldiers to “Burn the ships!” and a prime example of burning down an individual’s commitment is dependent
future. Someone might say, “Don’t burn The idea here is pretty simple: conquer this the bridges that can impede the process on how that person feels at the time. The
that bridge,” as a way to explain why you nation and have them build new ships to of moving forward toward positive acceptance of not finishing has become the
should have an amiable discussion with a get home or be driven back into the sea. transformation. Are you holding on to things norm and not the exception. We continue
person that wronged you instead of You can imagine that this motivated the army that are keeping you from achieving the to keep the bridges to our past open just in
chewing them out. to fight a little harder. goal you set for yourself in Lesson One of case the road we have chosen becomes too
this Starter Program? You need to continue difficult or challenging or uncomfortable. We
But for the purposes of our discussion, we Maybe you’ve heard of Team Hoyt. Rick Hoyt making steps in your progress just like Team must change this way of thinking. We have
WANT you to burn the bridge. Listen, if you was born in 1962 and shortly thereafter was Hoyt did. As the old saying goes, “It’s one to build the word “commitment” back to its
are going to be successful in changing that diagnosed with cerebral palsy and confined step at a time.” true meaning. If you say you’re going to do
bad habit or reaching that transformation to a wheelchair. Furthermore, doctors something, do it!
goal you’re working on through this program, suggested he be institutionalized for the rest If you look up the word “commitment” on
you will have to burn the bridge. Burn the of his life. But his parents thought otherwise the Internet you’ll find it defined as, “an To conclude today’s lesson, let’s touch on
bridge that links you to the negativity in and decided to work with him to discover his obligation that restricts your freedom or your this interesting fable about a chicken and a
your past. Burn the bridge that reminds you full potential – whatever that might be. actions; a promise to do something.” This pig. One day the two of them were walking
of things that are holding you back from When he was 11, his parents had him fitted is why so many people are conflicted when down a path at the farm and the chicken
reaching your full potential. Burn the bridge with a computer that enabled him to it comes to this area of the program. Total says to the pig, “The farmer has been pretty
to the excuses that have kept you from communicate and it became clear that commitment usually causes discomfort. nice to us. Let’s make him some ham and
taking that next step. Burn the Bridge! Rick was quite intelligent. And as we’ve talked about many times in eggs tomorrow morning.” The pig says to the
previous lessons, people don’t like to be chicken, “That’s just a simple donation from
Everything we have spoken about in He began attending public school and went uncomfortable. Most will do anything they you but it’s a total life-changing commitment
the previous six lessons is useless if you on to graduate from Boston University in can to avoid discomfort. But as you learned from me.” Sure, this is an extreme way of
try to hang on to the past. In order to 1993 with a degree in special education. in Lesson Three, “pain is a must.” If you’re looking at it, but the point is clear: when you
move forward you have to make a total Undoubtedly, an amazing accomplishment, not feeling pain or discomfort you’re not make a commitment to change, the idea of
commitment to your future. And that’s but let’s focus on what happened in 1977 growing. And as you know, this program is all going backward cannot be an option.
what burning the bridge is all about. Making when Rick asked his father if they could about change and growth.
a commitment. In the first part of this lesson, run a race to benefit a schoolmate who had Why don’t you be the one that changes the
we’re going to stress the importance of become paralyzed. His father, Dick, was 36 Commitment is a dying art. We know that definition of commitment? Be the one in your
commitment and give you several examples years old and wasn’t a distance runner at there are exceptions to this, but if you look family that looks forward and not backward.
of people who have epitomized this principle. the time, but he decided to take his son out back throughout history you’ll read stories Be the one among your friends that chooses
In the second part of the lesson, we’re going and push him around the 5-mile course. Rick about when a handshake was all that was to be the finisher. Become the one that
to present you with some tools and secrets told his dad that when he’s running it feels needed when an agreement or commitment others can rely upon. Be the one that burns
that successful people have been using to like he isn’t handicapped. And that was the was made. Do you remember the principle, the bridges to the past and forges new paths
keep themselves committed to the goals beginning of Team Hoyt. “What you accept you teach”? Most people toward a better future.
they are striving for. today accept that commitment isn’t really

44 45