When Positive Thinking Falls Short

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'Let the fear of danger be a spur to prevent it; he
that fears not, gives advantage to the danger.'

- Francis Quarles (1592 - 1644)

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As I travel throughout the world presenting seminars to various clients I get a common response to my seminar topic 'Using Violence As A Survival Tool'.

Most of the attendees are wildly successful individuals and influential in the business and political circles of the countries they live in. They often are very calculating in their business and political lives -- always with multiple back up plans.

Yet after my presentation they often tell me that, prior to my talk, their answer to potentially facing violence was one of thinking positively and not allowing such thoughts of possibly facing asocial violence to enter their lives. Believe it or not this is a common theme with many of my clients, wealthy or not.

I have a very personal experience with the failure of positive thinking.

Most that know my background know that at a very early age (14) I was introduced to the US Navy SEALs. I lived in Navy Housing across the street from their training center in Coronado, CA.

When I found out that you could get paid to hang out at the beach, shoot automatic weapons, blow stuff up, parachute, and dive, I realized had found my calling! (Ah, the simplicity of the 14 year old mind)

There was just one catch -- I had chronic ear problems throughout my childhood, resulting in over 9 operations which barely saved my hearing, let alone would hold up to the rigors of combat diving. But I read many books on people who had overcome adversity and won. I was determined not to let this little genetic defect keep me from my destiny.

And I almost pulled it off!

After college I was selected for one of only 2 slots available that year for officers to attend training. During my years as a Navy Brat in Coronado, I befriended many SEALs who gave me all the insider tips on how to train in order to succeed in training: cold showers, prescribed calisthenics, swim and running programs. I used this info during college to prepare for SEAL training.

More importantly they gave me great tips on how to complete various stages of the training. How to pace yourself, hide food, keep the instructors off your butt. All great stuff -- and my boat team benefited greatly from the tips.

Problem was, at some point my ears were going to be radically tested for combat diving. That day didn't come until all the 'hard parts' of the training were completed. This was the stage most people easily completed and graduated from the program and went to a SEAL team. I had a couple of easy dives that everyone cruised through that week -- except me.

My eardrums ruptured spectacularly. The docs tell me today I'm lucky to have my hearing. But my eardrums now have the flexibility of cardboard. Every ENT doctor that sees my ears calls nurses and associates to check out the 'war zone' inside my ear canals.

That accident ended my dream of becoming a SEAL Officer. I was medically disenrolled from SEAL training and instead slotted to the intelligence community.

It all worked out OK for me as I got an incredible job supporting the SpecOps Community and was introduced to the base hand-to-hand combat system from which I later developed my program, Target-Focus Training.

Then, after my military career I was able to work as a civilian close-combat instructor in a company I co- founded. We had clients from the various elite branches of the military, law enforcement and corporate community. I couldn't have designed a better outcome. I love it.

I was lucky, though. The folly of believing that mere positive thinking would overcome a serious genetic weakness only cost me a career objective.

But people who believe positive thinking will protect them from asocial violence truly are taking a much higher risk.

When their positive thoughts fail -- they have no back

up, nothing else in their toolbox. Unfortunately when random asocial violence enters the life of someone unprepared -- that person often finds himself maimed, crippled, or killed.

These newsletters are to get you thinking about putting together your backup plan when positive thinking fails.

What's in your toolbox?

Until next time,

Tim Larkin
Creator of Target-Focus(TM) Training
www.targetfocustraining.com

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