In 1997, Michael Dell of Dell Computers publicly stated that the best thing Apple computers could do to avoid financial failure was to dissolve the company and return the money to the shareholders. Obviously, Steve Jobs saved that message because on Friday 13th, 2006, Mr. Jobs sent an email to all employees sharing how Apple's shares are now worth more than Dell's. (Source: New York Times, John Markoff)

The best thing that happened to Apple in the 1997 outside of rehiring its founder was the gauntlet that Dell threw at the feet of Steve Jobs. Coming in as CEO, Jobs had an enormous challenge, but he and his team persevered and accomplished what many in the industry thought impossible.

Motivation is a tricky thing. By its definition, motivate means an inner drive. Yet, so much can quench that inward movement from existing belief systems to outside external forces. To keep that flame of motivation burning brightly within every individual is an ongoing challenge. Occasionally, we may have unintentional help from outside sources as in the case of Mr. Dell's remarks.

How many times have you been ready to quit, give up and then someone throws a personal challenge or a gauntlet at your feet? All of the sudden you realize that only difference between can't and can is one simple apostrophe and the letter t. Your thoughts are now full o

f positive energy that is pumping throughout your body. The childhood story of the Little Red Engine becomes your personal mantra, "Yes, I can, Yes, I can…” Success is now so much more real.

Who knows whether Apple would have surpassed Dell without the false prediction of Michael Dell? What I do know that in working with my small business coaching clients is that everyone can benefit from the likes of those who believe that they can foretell the future. For we all know the future is what we make it to be and not what someone wants it to be.

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