Releasing Your Brakes

© 2002 Boaz Rauchwerger

While on a trip in Western Austria, I had an opportunity to do what I might have done in another life – to drive like a race car driver.

Not on a track, but on the Autobahn in Germany. Other than an occasional lighted speed sign to indicate a construction zone, there is no speed limit on the Autobahn.

Once you get on that highway, it takes a little adjusting. I was told, by one of the locals in Salzburg, about the rules. No passing on the right. Do not stay in the left lane unless you’re faster than everyone else. Watch for lights in your rear view mirror. That means a fast approaching car wants you to get out of the way.

So, on a day trip to visit castles in the beautiful Bavarian region of southern Germany, I drove on the Autobahn in a rented Fiat. European speedometers are marked in kilometers. The top kilometer number in the Fiat was 240. That translates to 140 miles per hour.

At first I kept up with the slower traffic in the right lane. The other cars were traveling at about 90 miles per hour. Then, as I got the courage, I picked up speed and started passing. In miles, I sped up to 100 and then 110. My foot was to the floor as the Fiat maxed at about 115 miles per hour.

It was exhilarating! It was as if I was flying. However, at my maximum speed, I often saw lights in my rear view mirror. I moved to the right lane, still going 115. Then they came. The pride of Germany – Mercedes and BMW. With me at 115, they flew right by, having released their brakes, at an estimated 140-150 miles per hour.

What if you could perform in life the same way as the fastest cars on the German Autobahn? What if you could release your own brakes and fly into an incredible future? What if you knew you couldn’t fail?

Let’s identify some ways that people put on the brakes in their own lives. Not furthering their education. Not pursuing an advancement opportunity. Not starting a business. Not traveling to other lands. Not learning a new occupation. Not expanding personal talents. Not saving money.

Your life is your vehicle on the road through time. With any of the above examples, you’re slamming the brakes and causing your vehicle to slow down or stop. Then you’re relegated to watching others, who’ve released their brakes, pass you by.

By hitting the brakes, you’ll likely get to a destination you don't like. The signpost says, "Welcome to the twin cities of disappointment and resentment."

This trip to Salzburg is a good example of releasing the brakes. Traveling out of North America has been a goal of mine for many years. I kept saying to myself, "someday I’ll do that." There were always excuses. I finally realized that, as Benjamin Franklin said, the word "someday" is equivalent to failure. Thus, a date was finally set and I suddenly found myself flying on the Autobahn.

It is true that a mind once expanded never returns to its original size. The trip to Austria, finally taken, had exactly that effect in expanding my mind and my future. I had released my brakes in this very important part of my life.

What have you been thinking about for a long time? What have you wanted to do, but haven't taken action? If it’s a thought that comes to you often, it’s important to pay attention to it because it’s obviously important to you.

Don't use the excuses of being too old, too young, too settled or the lack of money. As I've noted before, "When the WHY is big enough, the HOW doesn't matter." In other words, when the goal is important enough and specific, the way to get there will appear.

Let's say you want to change careers and know exactly what you want to do. Don't worry about the HOW. Take some initial steps toward the goal and you’ll suddenly feel an incredible sense of excitement. Here are some specific steps: Identify someone who is very successful in your chosen career and ask them for advice. Be persistent. Make that person your mentor. Ask them what specific steps they would take if they were you. Follow that guidance and report back to your mentor on a regular basis. Many successful people would be pleased to mentor someone and will go out of their way to help.

Welcome to the Autobahn of your life. Release your brakes and take off. There is no speed limit!

A Daily Acceleration Affirmation

I am now releasing my brakes and taking decisive action on what is important to me!