Don't Cut the Limb You're Standing On

Success requires protecting what you've already built instead of unconsciously destroying it through carelessness, arrogance, or distraction. The metaphor of someone cutting the tree limb they're standing on perfectly illustrates how we often sabotage our own achievements.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Life is waiting for you each day and you have to
prepare for each challenge alongthe way towards success.
It's not simple, but it can bedone.
Welcome to my Common SenseMotivation episodes.
I'm Chris Fantastic Powell.
Don't cut the limb you'restanding on.
I want to dedicate this episodeto my cousin, ricardo.

(00:22):
He told me a story I will neverforget, one that painted such a
powerful picture of life'smistakes it's almost impossible
to get out of my head.
There was a man high up in atree standing on a limb and,
with a new saw in his hand, hebegan cutting the very limb he
was standing on.
If no one stopped him, therewas only one possible outcome

(00:43):
disaster.
As I pictured this man high upin the tree cutting at the one
thing holding him up, I thoughtabout how many people in life do
the exact same thing, not withtrees, not with saws, but with
their decisions, their pride andtheir choices.
We all know them.
The employee who finally has agood job, steady pay and

(01:06):
opportunity ahead, yet stormsinto the boss's office fueled by
anger and says you'd bettergive me a raise, and the next
day they're cleaning out theirdesk.
The spouse who is blessed witha loving family, stability and
future, but says I'm bored andmakes reckless decisions that
shatter the home they built.
The little boy who, frustratedwith this teacher, decides to

(01:30):
yell and disrespect her, only tofind himself suspended and
behind in class.
The zookeeper, who feeds thelion every day but teases it,
laughs at it, forgets the dangeruntil one day he leaves the
gate open by accident and thelion is standing there waiting.
It's the same pattern peoplecutting away at the very limb,

(01:52):
holding them up.
The truth is, sometimes we don'trecognize how blessed we are in
the moment.
We don't stop to appreciatewhat we worked so hard for
because we're already chasingthe next thing.
We run right past the dream weonce prayed for.
When you can't appreciate whereyou are, you will sabotage it.

(02:12):
When you can't see the value ofwhat you've built, you will
unconsciously destroy it.
I've seen people fight for yearsto reach the top financial
freedom, a dream business, abeautiful family only to lose it
because of carelessness,arrogance or distraction.
They think the higher theyclimb, the more untouchable they

(02:33):
are.
But the truth is, the higheryou are, the more careful you
must be.
One bad decision, one recklesschoice, one moment of neglect
and it's not just a stumblechoice.
One moment of neglect and it'snot just a stumble, it's a fall.
Here's the lesson Don't cut thelimb you're standing on, don't
destroy the very thing that'sholding you up.
Protect your blessings, guardyour opportunities, value your

(02:57):
relationships and take care ofyour success.
Like it's fragile, because itis, of course.
Aim higher and, yes, dreambigger, but do it from a place
of gratitude, not from a placeof greed, boredom or ego.
Sometimes the wisest thing youcan do is stop, look around and
realize I'm already standing onsomething worth keeping, because

(03:22):
the climb is hard, but the fall, that's instant.
So keep your balance, keep yourfocus and don't cut the limb
you're standing on.
Make it happen.
I'm Chris Fantastic Powell.
Thank you for listening.
For books, ebooks or audiobooks, visit chrisfantasticpowellcom
or find them on Amazon.