What does 'dance until it rains' mean?

I am currently at the age of 40 plus GST as I sit here and write this! When I look back over my life to this point I consider the many things I have achieved and haven't achieved and the things I have observed from other people. I have come to the conclusion that there is one major determining factor that separates those that succeed and those that don't. There is just one simple decision that makes the difference between having optimal health or disease, having fulfilling relationship or being isolated and alone, having financial abundance or financial stress. That is the decision to 'Dance Until It Rains'.

I know you are saying; "so what does it mean?" I can tell you are intrigued and you wish that I would just get on with it. I would like to share with you a story that one of my amazing mentors shared with me that is shaping who I am becoming and what I do:

"It is a story about the Red Indians living off the land in the prairies and plains of the United States of America. it was a very challenging time. The land had suffered from drought for a long period and the tribes were suffering as a result of the lack of water, lack of vegetation and lack of food.

Across the land, and in this time of desperation, the legend grew of the tribe that could dance and make it rain.

The other tribes set the goal to make it rain. Some would dance for 20-30 minutes but stop with no success. Others would dance for hours until their feet blistered and give up. Some tribes would even dance for days on end but give in to their aching backs and the ridicule from neighbouring tribes. They would all give up disheartened and just as dry as when they started.

A decision was finally made to track down this legendary tribe and find the secret to their success. So the chiefs from all the tribes took off in search of this one tribe. When they found the tribe, they sat at the feet of its chief and pleaded; "Oh great chief, we have tried to make it rain, we are suffering, we need your help. How can you make it rain? What is your secret?"

"There is no secret,” Explained the chief, “Our method is simple - WE DANCE UNTIL IT RAINS".

In my life I have missed many opportunities to create amazing outcomes because I didn't understand the power of persistance and perserverance. why is it that most people never achieve the things they want in their lives? Is it a lack of ability? Is it a lack of knowledge or access to knowledge? Is it lack of eductaion? Is it a lack of resources, lack of family support, the weather or any of the other plethora of reasons that we use to justify our lack of results? NO, it is one thing and one thing only - it is because we give up too soon! When you begin something there are two possible outcomes; success or quit!

If I could pass on one idea to you that you could take away and apply to every one of your endeavours in life, it would be to 'Dance Until It Rains'. Stop making excuses why you can never achieve the things you want - there will never be that perfect time you are waiting for. Decide what you want, focus on it with all your heart and keep going UNTIL you get the results you want.

When I look back at my life I kick myself at opportunities I missed because I didn't learn how to 'dance'. At the age of 17 I found myself at the St Kilda Football Club, in the AFL. For 6 years I tried hard, played 24 senior games and then found out, after reading in the newspaper one Saturday morning just after the end of the season in 1987, that I had been de-listed! Did I get angry and say "F&#@* them" and have the attitude of I will 'keep dancing' until I have been accepted by another AFL club? No, I sucked my thumb for a while, got drunk and acted like a victim! 'Poor little ole me!' By the time I had matured enough to realise what I had missed, it was too late to do anything about it.

I don't want to depress you with any more of my woeful stories. All I know is that I could have done so much more with the early part of my life, but didn't because I didn't truly understand this most powerful concept. What about you? What is it that you could achieve if you just hang in their and keep going irrespective of how you feel and irrespective of circumstances?

What I do want to do is to share a couple of stories that I hope will give you some perspective and impact you as they have me.

The first is about a man that you know well. His name is Colonel Sanders. At the age of 65 he was unemployed, broke and alone but with qualities that most people in his position would never consider. He had a recipe for chicken, he had faith, but most of all he had persistence and the courage to dance until it rains. He had no money to start a business and he didn’t have skills or the contacts to make it work.

What he did have was an idea and an impenetrable belief. He started approaching chicken fast foods stores. He offered them his recipe and asked only that they pay him a percentage of every piece of chicken that they sold using this recipe.

So off he went. Well, many people laughed in his face. They said, "Look, old man, get out of here. What are you wearing that stupid white suit for?" Did Colonel Sanders give up? Absolutely not! Instead of feeling bad about the last restaurant that had rejected his idea, he immediately started focusing on how to tell his story more effectively and get better results from the next restaurant.

How many times do you think Colonel Sanders heard no before getting the answer he wanted? He was refused 1,009 times before he heard his first yes. He spent two years driving across America in his old, beat up car, sleeping in the back seat in his rumpled white suit, getting up each day eager to share his idea with someone new.

Let’s just let that sink in a bit 1009 no’s!! How many people do you know could handle 1009 rejections? What about 10? That’s because it’s not about the rejection or bad news, it is about our response to it. Colonel Sanders was totally focussed on the result he was after, so it didn’t matter how long it took him or how many no’s he got. He 'Danced Until It Rained' and boy did it rain for KFC!

The second story is about someone you don't know, but someone is very close to my heart. My mum Sue Jobling died of cancer in late 2004. It was a devastating event that has fuelled my passion to help others prevent the same outcome.

Throughout her life she developed habits that compounded over many years and lead her to a point where in 1988 she was diagnosed with breast cancer. After having the cancer removed and some post operative radio therapy she was given a clean bill of health. Yet 18 months later secondary cancer appeared in her liver. I want you to take note and learn this lesson well. She then started 'dancing' and did absolutely everything possible to beat a disease that would never rest and she achieved some amazing things in the 15 years as she fought this disease. However she lost the one thing that she so dearly wanted to keep...her life!

Why am I telling you this? My mum danced and danced and danced for 15 years. She danced long and she danced hard and she has inspired me every day of my life, but she started dancing when it was too late. TAKE NOTE - you have a choice right now to start to do the things you need to do be happy, healthy and prosperous. Start dancing now, don't wait until the choice is taken away from you.

If you are sitting there reading this and saying "she'll be right mate", then I will pray for you.

Take control of your life now. Make a decision, focus on what you want and then simply 'Dance Until It Rains'.

I would love to hear your story of how you 'danced until it rained'. Please share and have a great day

Andrew (AKA; Jobbas)