When thinking about success in life, I asked myself what is main thing that has held me back. If you had to trace all your major successes and failures, what is one thing that you feel caused difference between succeeding and failing?

If you really look deep inside yourself, you will realise one surprising thing. It is: you have probably had many ideas on how to improve your life. If you are anything like me, though, you probably never made a start on most of them!

Why is this? The reason, of course, is that we dismiss most of our ideas as impractical, unworkable and impossible. "This idea would work if I had capital, time and business ability" or "People like me should not think of impractical ideas like this." You get idea....

When thinking about verysuccessful people, one thing stands out.....a lot of these people risked and even failed a lot before they succeeded. Thomas Edison apparently made over 1000 failed attempts to create electric lightbulb. Not once though did he dismiss idea as impractical or impossible. He, of course, eventually did it.

Another example is life of Sir Richard Branson, owner of Virgin. After high school he decided to start a mail-order record company. His 2 close friends thought he was crazy, but had nothing better to do! They are now directors in Virgin, and are thanking their decision to go along with Sir Richard's "impractical idea".

MY FOUR-MINUTE DANCING CAREER

A few years ago, I decided to pursue my dream of being a dancer. I was 37 years old and being a dancer was on my list of things to do before I die, so I thought I'd better get cracking before osteoporosis or some other age-related malady took hold of my body.

My goal was not to become a Vegas showgirl or to star in next Flash Dance, but to learn how to dance and perform on stage … just once.

I attended dance classes every week without fail for 10 months and hipped and hopped until I almost dropped.

Soon June rolled around and my group was scheduled to perform in two year-end recitals.

I tossed around idea of quitting to avoid making a fool of myself on stage, but I had put myself into this situation for a reason.

I sought out support of friends who I knew would encourage me and not let me back out.

They told me all of things I needed to hear ... I was good, I had moves, I could have been a professional! (Thank goodness for friends with a lot of hot air and big hearts!)

Thanks to encouragement of my friends and 13-year old niece who wanted to see "Auntie shake her groove thing," I went ahead with commitment to perform on stage.

Because I knew I was going to be on display for so many eyes, I turned up volume on my practicing. I performed my routine over and over again on my back lawn, in my basement, in my garage, at work in my office.

I couldn't remember more than two or three combos to save my life and wanted to back out.

It was then big guns had to be drawn. My husband stepped in.