By nature, I'm a positive thinker. For example, as a young man, I once asked out a woman who was less than enthusiastic about dating me. In response to my question of when we would go out for a date, she replied, "When [you-know-what] freezes over." My response was: "What time should I pick you up - 7:30 or 8:00?" Seriously, I'm just the kind of person who expects to succeed in any endeavor; whether it is creating a company, writing a book, being a parent, you name it.

That being said, I firmly believe that there is a fine line between self-confidence and self-delusion. Therefore, while I may have a strong expectation of ultimate success, I have an equally strong expectation of initial failure. I am a firm believer in Murphy's Law - everything that can go wrong will go wrong and at the worst possible time. And I suggest that you become a believer as well.

Contrary to popular belief, the key to success isn't to develop a positive mental attitude that borders on denial. You can't simply expect that everything will work out for you, because it won't. Life is tough. Yet, it's infinitely easier for those who are prepared for the worst. And by "prepared," I don't mean worrying about future problems; I mean actually preparing plans to overcome them when they arise.

Think about it. When is the best time to learn CPR - now or after a loved one has collapsed at your feet? The obvious answer is now. In fact, in that situation, if you don't prepare yourself to deal with the possible problem ahead of time, it's too late. During a life-or-death crisis, you simply don't have time to take a class or read a book on CPR. You need to be able to act at a moment's notice, which means that you must have prepared in advance.

This same principle even applies in less dire situations. For example, when is the best time to develop a contingent financing plan for your business - now or after your investors pull out at the last minute? Likewise, when is the best time to insure your home - now or after a fire starts blazing through your neighborhood?

Obey Murphy's Law (Part II)

And while all of this may seem elementary to you, for most people planning for the unexpected is a secondary consideration; if that. Far too many people take the attitude of "I'll cross the bridge when I get to it." My question for these people is: "What if the bridge is out when you get there?"

That is also my question for you. What if you're laid off or fired from your job? What if you're unable to practice your current profession? What if all of your customers start buying from a competitor? What if the people whom you depend upon let you down? What if tragedy strikes a loved one? And I could go on and on. What are you going to do if Murphy's Law throws the book at you?

And let me be clear about something here. The purpose of these questions isn't to get you depressed or to cause you to worry. In fact, the purpose of these questions is just the opposite; to remove worry by allowing you to take action to alleviate the threat now. For instance, I sleep well at night knowing that my home, cars and business are insured against loss. However, just imagine how much I'd toss and turn at night if I was constantly in danger of losing some of my most valuable assets?

Likewise, you'll sleep much better knowing that you have adequately prepared for the loss of a job, a career change or some other financial challenge. The same is true for other challenges. You will be much more at ease dealing with a major health crisis if you've already figured out how you will replace your income during this time and who will take care of your other responsibilities while you recuperate. On the other hand, if you wait to "reach that bridge when you come to it," you'll not only be a physical wreck, but an emotional and mental one as well.

Therefore, my advice is to obey Murphy's Law; or at least take it into consideration. Take some time to think about all of the things that could go wrong and then develop a plan to deal with these challenges if they arise. That way, if Murphy's Law strikes (and its bound to sooner or later), you will be able to spring into action. Also, in the meantime, you'll rest a lot easier knowing that you're ready to handle whatever life throws at you. And take it from me; life has a wicked curve ball.