Introduction
The
English idiom/phrase, "taking the bull by the horns" means
to manage a
situation or problem using strength and determination; to take charge of a situation, usually forcefully and with vigor, often
with the accompanying responsibility. It
means to
deal with a difficult and/or dangerous situation in a very direct way: to handle
things on your own, with strategic focus,
rather than
trusting someone else to do it.
This idiom also calls
on people who have been postponing an action for some time, to finally resolve
it. Whatever the problem is, you have to grapple it face on.
According to Tom Bowen,
lexographer at onestopenglish.com, “the expression probably
originated in the American West where it was a common, but dangerous, practice
to wrestle with steers. This was not only done for entertainment at rodeos but
was part of the everyday working life of ranchers and cowhands throughout the
west. To control a bull or a steer (a young bull) the cowhand would first have
to catch it. Trying to grab the neck or legs of a dangerous creature like this
was not an option. The only solution was to take a deep breath and face the
problem directly by grabbing the bull by the horns and then pulling it to the
ground. This expression now means to confront a problem directly without
“beating about the bush”.
Why Grab the
Bull?
Every teenager looking to make headway
in the world needs to be familiar with this idiom in order to prepare to deal
with any situation with determination and bravery. You have your whole life
ahead of you. God willing, you have probably, up to fifty years of working
strength to utilize. Any moment now, you will cut loose from the direct care of
your parents and explore the world. What do you want to achieve in life?
The way I see it, the bull refers to the numerous
opportunities available out there, waiting for you to just…grab them with
dedicated focus and intention setting. Whether you want to pursue a career in
the professions or you are keen on entrepreneurship, or looking to fight/defend
a cause, the journey to achieving that dream life of yours will throw up occasions
that will demand that you confront a difficult, dangerous, or even unpleasant
situation or problem head on, in the most direct way, decisively.
How to Grab the Bull
The
secret to successfully, grabbing that bull by the horns has to do with the
level of your preparation and determination. How hungry are you to achieve what
you’ve always hoped for? It isn’t always simple but if you
follow the four steps provided by Kevin Harrington, you can — and will —
achieve that feat;
1. Figure
Out What You Want
If you don’t know what you
want, then you can’t go out and get it. It’s really that simple. Before you can
make your plan of attack and go out and achieve your goals and dreams, you have
to figure out what you want first. You should spend a lot of time on this step.
You don’t want to chase the wrong dream for an extended period of time, after
all. At the same time, it’s okay to change your goals and dreams as much as you
want. It’s your life!
2. Figure
Out How Far You Are Away From Your Goal/Dream
After you have finally figured
out what you want to be in life, you need to figure out how far you are away
from this dream. You need to know how long it is going to take you to hit each
milestone/goal. If you don’t do that, then you are never going to know when you
are supposed to hit your goals — because you won’t really be holding yourself
accountable to them — and you will likely never achieve your dreams as a
result. Also, you don’t want your goals to seem too far out of reach. You might
never meet them if they are. As for your dreams, you can reach for the stars —
and beyond. Your goals do need to be challenging … yet reachable.
3. Make
the Necessary Changes
After you have figured out what
you want to be and how far you are away from your new life, you need to start
making the necessary changes. If you don’t make these changes, then you will
never grab life by the horns and you will never get what you want.
This step involves taking
action. If you need more schooling to get what you want, to tackle the job of
your dreams, then you need to figure out your best schooling options. If you
are working at a dead-end job, then you need to get out of it and find a new
job/profession. If you need more money for your goals and dreams to come true,
then you need to start saving said money. Whatever the case might be, this step
is all about making the necessary changes. Without these changes, your goals
and dreams will never become a reality.
4. Fake
It Until You Make It
You have figured out what you
want, you have assessed how far you are away from your goals/dreams and you have
actually started to take action — what’s next? Well, now that your plan is in
place, it’s time to fake it until you make it. Faking it until you make it gets
you into the mindset of a person who is in the process of living out his/her
dreams. This builds confidence. This makes you believe that you are capable of
anything. If you are really good at the concept that is faking it until you
make it, then people will start believing in you as well.
Now, faking it until you make
it doesn’t — and shouldn’t — come with a bag of lies. This should just be a
process of you believing in yourself, finding all the answers along the way and
trying to live in the shoes of someone who has made it. If you do this for long
enough, you will eventually make it as well.
Conclusion
