Daily Boost — Motivation and Coaching

Opportunity Discrimination Do you have too many options and are having a difficult time choosing? There is a concept called "Opportunity Cost.” It is simply the value gained or the value lost in deciding what opportunities you will pursue. I tend to focus on another question entirely - "Does an opportunity provide the fastest and most direct path for me to reach my goals?" It's easy to look at almost any opportunity and justify a path, especially if you are being persuaded by someone else. It’s more difficult to make a choice. If you want to break free from a stalled life, you must eliminate anything that takes you off course and stay focused on your goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's Your Long Game? Many years ago a friend passed along a pearl of wisdom that has served me well. Larry was a business person and mentor. I was an eager young man who wanted everything now. That's when Larry said - "Scott, sometimes you have to hang around long enough for folks to see that you are the real thing before they'll do business with you." He was right. Over the years I've learned that amazing results can happen quickly through hard work and focus. The best results seem to arrive once you have proven yourself to others through over time. What's YOUR long game? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listening to Yourself First Growing up, I was an energetic, enthusiastic, and excitable child. I never let a day go by without challenging something - usually with my mouth. Thanks to those responsible for turning me into a good person, I learned a valuable lesson when they said- “Listen twice as much as you speak. You have two ears and one mouth for a reason.” You’ve heard that before, and in today’s fast-paced world, knowing when to put a zipper on your lips is critical. But I’ve also learned to take that advice to a new level to get what I want. I call it going “Dark.” When you go “Dark,” you have chosen to listen to others less. Yes, you are still listening, caring, and interacting with those around you. You’ve decided to listen to yourself twice as much instead. The world we live in today makes it seem as though it’s impossible to get what you want without others. There are endless hours of interacting, Googling, ZOOMing, Texting, and more. It’s as if we’ve lost permission to think and do for ourselves. We can’t move forward without the social approval of those around us when the exact opposite is true. Something extraordinary happens when you give yourself space to listen to yourself more. Your creative mind and talents flourish—your positive energy rebounds. You feel more present and find more meaning in your life. Going “Dark” makes your life brighter, and good stuff happens. When you take the time to slip away into your own space, you develop into the person you were meant to be. Removing yourself from the buzz of the world gives you a new kind of energy. And you do it without anybody’s permission or without anybody knowing. When you emerge, everybody will notice that you are different. They will listen when you speak, seek your advice, and be attracted to you in a new way. Who knew that listening twice as much as you speak works even better when you listen to yourself twice as much as you listen to others? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Types of Clarity You Need Understanding what you want in life is the foundation of all success. There are four types of Clarity: 1) Clarity of Purpose: Knowing what drives your heart and soul is the fuel that will propel you to your dreams. 2) Clarity of Task: What tasks fulfill your purpose? Knowing will reduce stress and create daily satisfaction. 3) Clarity of Process: Ritualistic and consistent dedication to your proven process leads to happiness. Learn what works. Do more of it. 4) Clarity of Outcome: Know what prize you are seeking, and always keep your eye on it. When it comes to understanding what you want in life, I believe in the power of simplicity. Simple works. It's the key to unlocking the 4 types of Clarity that lead to success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Steps to Achieve Greatness Do you dream of greatness? Instead of rushing through life, why not change your mindset and actions? It's time to become the person you were meant to be. Here are a couple of ideas: 1) Use your imagination to form images, thoughts, and sensations in your mind. You don't need anybody's help. Trust yourself. 2) Enthusiasm is living life with excitement and PASSION. Only involve yourself in activities that make you enthusiastic. 3) Persistence is the art of doggedly persisting until you get what you want. Stay in the game long enough to get what you want. 4) Having faith means living your life with trust and confidence - even when you're unsure. Imagination. Enthusiasm. Persistence. Faith. That's a great life. Now, imagine how good it could be with Gratitude. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Make the Law of Attraction Work for You I've always believed the Law of Attraction should be called Law of What You Think About Most. Like attracts like. What you think about, you get. If you think, "I won't get it because I never do" - you are correct. Dreaming of a new life while focusing on your current problems is a sure way to keep spinning your wheels. The trick is to focus your attention and actions on what you want to attract. That will require a dedicated effort. Vision Boards, lists of Goals, daily journaling are all great ways to stay on track. The Law of What You Think about is magical and straightforward — Decide what you want. Believe it is possible. Focus on the future, not the past. Don't stop until you get it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Starting Over What actions would you take if forced to start over again? Here’s what I would do: 1) Get absolute clarity and focus. What ONE thing do you want your life and lifestyle to be? 2) Confirm your WHY. Success takes time. Long-lasting success isn’t guaranteed. Owning a strong WHY will allow you the flexibility to persevere forever. 3) Clear the clutter. You can’t move forward with the weight of your past on your shoulders. Debt? Bad relationships? Health issues? Fix them and move on. 4) Take control of your schedule and your time. Of everything you own, time is your most valuable asset. Don’t squander it. 5) Massive Imperfect Action. You will never be stuck as long as you keep shaking the trees. Do something. Anything. Notice your results. Do it again. Do it until you get what you want. It’s not about learning more. It’s about taking control of the basics and using what you already know. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Discover What's Blocking You If you find yourself spinning your wheels, remember this - You must know where you are before going where you want to be. It's time to inventory your life as it exists today. Examining your finances, jobs, relationships, responsibilities, and dreams for a few hours can be eye-opening. It's also the only way to deal with many of the demons that hold us back. It can be scary to dig into the dark corners of your life. But I promise, when you shine a light on everything you don't want to see, you'll find yourself free and able to move toward your dreams. I'll repeat it. You must know where you are before going where you want to be. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Caring What People Think is Holding You Back Do you know anything about other people? Not a week passes without us hearing about somebody who did something out of character and caught us off guard. The truth is, none of us know about anybody else, and nobody knows about us. So, have you ever wondered how this knowledge can empower you? Are you dreaming of doing something different? Do you have a case of "Whatwilleverybodythinkaboutmeitis?" It's time to get over it. Nobody in the world knows your true inner self. They only see what you present. If you're getting pushback, it's because of what you've been presenting. Change that, and everything else changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Time To Be a Good Quitter Has anybody ever said to you, "it's good to be a quitter?” Probably Not. That’s why it’s so important today that you pay attention today. Being a good quitter isn’t an excuse. It should never be an option for making things easier. Instead, quitting is a wise choice. You choose to quit when your progress has you going around in circles or has stopped. That's when things get interesting. Once you are committed to an idea that is important to you, can be difficult to allow yourself to quit. Stuck in a lousy job, terrible relationship, destructive behavior? Your internal sense of "Identity" will compel you to hold to the very end. That may not be wise. Listen closely when your inner-voice begins to sound a warning. There's no need to wait for the inevitable. Trust your gut and change your direction fast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stand Up, Take a Step, Repeat Recipe It's the world's most straightforward recipe for success: Stand up, take a step, REPEAT! A member wrote asking how to use such simple advice best: 1) Stop whatever you are doing. Find a place where nobody will interrupt you for at least 5 minutes. 2) Focus on YOU. 3) Ask, "How is my life going?" Open your mind and let your thoughts flow to the different roles of your life. Bring them into focus. 4) For areas going well, continue your momentum. For areas of concern, ask," What CAN I do to make it better?" 5) Immediately take action based on your answers. Never stop. 5-minutes a day is all it takes to stay on track. Check in with yourself. Adjust. Keep moving. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How To Create More Time Wouldn’t it be great if you could create more time in your day without giving anything up? The secret is how you prioritize the projects that are already on your plate. That requires a simple understanding: 1) Working on multiple products simultaneously only delays completing all the projects. 2) When you complete a product, not only is it off your plate, but it begins producing the expected results. This frees up time to move on to your next project. The next time that you are trying to find more time, ask - “What can I finish right now that will give me more time tomorrow - and every day after that?” You will love how much more time you have in your day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happier No Matter What Would you like to be happy every day of the week? Maybe it's time to start thinking like a happy person. There's no magic to being happier. Rose-colored glasses are not required. Just start looking at your day-to-day life the way a happy person does. Give this a try: 1) Accept that merely being alive means encountering occasional challenges. 2) Realize that dealing with challenges is a privilege that comes with being alive. 3) Welcome frustration. That means that you are not satisfied and are beginning to make adjustments. 4) Accept responsibility for solving your challenges. Run forward and fix them as soon as possible. 5) Deal with everything that life throws at you. Get a great night's sleep. Have another great day tomorrow. It's amazing how that kind of mindset makes most challenges never show up in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Characteristics of Success Could you find a mentor to help you along the way? Every mentor I’ve ever had has validated that I possessed three characteristics for success. Would you pass their test? 1) Do you have a burning desire to achieve your goal? 2) Are you open to learning and ready to embrace the wisdom and guidance from a diverse range of voices? 3) Are you willing to undertake all actions to achieve your success? Wouldn’t you want this in someone that was asking for your help? Walk your talk. Talk your walk. That’s a great life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What's Your Life Vision? Do you have an image of what you would like your life to be - except when life gets in the way? There's no doubt that daily life events have a funny way of distracting us from reaching goals. It's just too easy to put them on the back burner. That's why you need to become the keeper of your vision. Every day thousands of opportunities will arrive on your path and detour you from what you want. That's why it's up to you to guard your vision by asking a simple question - Will this opportunity move me closer to the lifestyle I desire or further away? Simple. Know YOUR vision. Defend YOUR vision. Live YOUR Vision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stoic Philosophy Rules That Apply Today In 300 BC, political life was driving people crazy. To calm the masses, several schools of philosophy popped up. Stoicism was one of them. Many of its teachings resonate today. 1) The mind is your power. It is not an outside event. 2) Time is your most precious resource. There is no time for regrets. 3) Be present. Stop and spend time with yourself. 4) Be grateful for what you have by imagining how much you would miss what you have. 5) Don’t look for happiness in the material. Wealth is in having few wants. 6) See that everything you experience originates from within. Your perception is all that matters. 7) Have a role model to measure your character. Once you find them, you’ll have a benchmark to gauge your progress. 8) Change your perspective on failure. Failure itself is no misfortune; to endure it and prevail is great good fortune. 9) Apply what you learn. Learning is like training weights for your mind. Be sure to use your new strength. Why reinvent the wheel when some old-school wisdom already has it figured out? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Day is a Do-Over Day Is it me, or does living life these days make you feel like Bill Murray in the movie, Groundhog Day? When it comes to working toward goals, that can be a tremendous asset. It's also something that will break you free when things don't feel like they are going your way. Everybody has ups and downs. Up days are lots of fun. Down days make you want to crawl under a rock. But like the movie, with the right mindset, you always get another chance to try again. How would you feel if every day was a chance to tweak, adjust, flex, or reinvent your approach to living? What if everything got more comfortable as you built your knowledge of what works best for you? How empowered would you feel if you knew that every day was a do-over day? As long as the sun rises and the sun sets, it doesn't matter if you succeed or fail the previous day. Today is always a new day for making your dreams come true. That'll make you get out of bed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transformational Stages Is there something you would like to transform about your life? These days you are not alone. Stop smoking, lose weight, get a better job - or another job? Transformation always follows the same predictable stages: Stage 1: Pre-contemplation. This stage appears when an idea pops into your head for the first time. Stage 2: Contemplation. This middle ground is where most folks get stuck. It can go on for a lifetime. Stage 3: Determination. Moving past contemplation, you make up your mind, dig in your heels, and make your plan. Stage 4: Action. There is no turning back until you get what you want. Stage 5: Maintenance. This stage is all about keeping what you have acquired - no matter what. This stage may also last your entire life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Three Step Productivity Not a day goes by when somebody doesn't ask me how to manage their time and be more productive. I wanted to share my simple, non-AI approach to getting things done. It's crucial to understand that productivity systems are not one-size-fits-all. They should be tailored to your unique needs and goals, which can evolve with your changing roles and responsibilities in life. I'm now living in the wisdom role and not the get a thousand things done a day role. Still, no matter what role you play, productivity comes down to three elements: 1) Holding space on your calendar. If you need help deciding when to do your whats, you must spend more time learning that skill. 2) Task Management contains all the little things you must do during the time set on your calendar. And no, they never go on your calendar. 3) All projects and their millions of details live in a separate project management document, file, or software. You reference it when you need it. Any task that needs to be done finds its way to your Task Manager. That's it. Only three tools are needed for productivity: a calendar, a Task Management System, and a place for project details. Never the three shall mix. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reinvent Yourself With No Plan In the last couple of years, I made a decision that changed everything about my life. And no, when I began personal Operation Reinvention, I didn't have much of a plan. I wouldn't say I was winging it, but sometimes you have no idea what kind of plan you need. What I did have was a mindset. I wondered - "What single change can I make - a change that would automatically and positivity disrupt everything in my life and put me in a better place?" I followed that with… "I don't know WHAT it's going to be, but it's not going to be THAT!" While I didn't know exactly how to get there - or even what 'there' was, I knew I would recognize it when I saw it. Goals are cool. You should use them. Sometimes, you must follow your gut, go with the flow, and figure things out along the way. By the way, the single change turned out to be a massive rethinking of how I use my time. I create time freedom - and everything else begins to arrive. What change can YOU make that would automatically and positively disrupt everything in your life and leave you in a better place? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Non-Optional Time Suckers It happens to all of us. We're going about our day, hot on the trail of checking off items on our never-ending To-Do list. Then, we discovered that we didn't get everything done before time ran out. When my son was entering the workforce, we would often find time to catch up on weekends. He was trying to navigate the business world while balancing his life. He had a fast-paced job and had become a productivity ninja. He was proud of his color-coded To-Do list and calendar, but he had a problem - "Dad, no matter how organized I am, I still can't get everything done. I'm writing everything down, and I'm working through it, and I still run out of time. What am I not doing right?" My first thought was how happy I was that he had the clarity of mind to look beyond the obvious solution. Then, I had a few questions - You say you have accounted for everything. How much time did you allocate for eating lunch or running down to the coffee shop today? How many times did you visit the restroom, and how long did it take? On your commute, how much time did you spend at the traffic lights? I stopped. "What does that have to do with my getting my work done?" he asked. Nothing, but you still have to get that stuff done. And thanks for making my point. What my son had discovered is what I call "Non-Ops" — the non-optional things of life. Non-Ops are a never-ending string of activities that require our attention. They never go away and sneak up without you knowing. If you don't account for the Non-Ops of life, you'll never get to the optionals of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Set Expectations and Get Results I can’t remember a time in my life when expectations didn’t significantly impact every minute and hour of every day of my life. No matter who you are, you have a million expectations inside your mind — and don’t get me started about expectations that others have for you. Years ago, I developed an awareness of how expectations control our lives and settled on an engineering model to guide me along my path. The model is called the Feed-Forward/Feedback Model. The first step in the FFFM model is to become aware of everything happening in your life. Next, set an expectation for any event, goal, relationship, or life situation that you have in your life. Once set, your only job is to observe whether you are getting what you desire. If not, and there is always an if not, notice the discrepancy and update your expectation based on real-life results. Continue observing your result and making adjustments until you get the expected result. It looks like this: expectation, observation, discrepancy detection, change in exception, expectation. Life is not rocket science. It’s engineering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two Words That Will Change Your Life: Slow Down While recovering from Total Hip Replacement, I engaged with a client on a Zoom call. He shared one of his favorite sayings, “Slow is fast, fast is slow,” which made me angry. Why? First Responders practice “Slow is fast, fast is slow” all the time, so you never see them running to the scene. Pacing themselves is simply safer, more effective, and faster. A more real-life example of why it’s a good idea to experience a risk-taking, lane-shifting driver passing you five times only to end up sitting next to you at the stop light—or worse. The reason I was angry was because I had not yet listened to the advice I give high-performance and driven individuals every day of my life — “SLOW DOWN! Step off the hamster wheel of life, wait for the wheel to stop spinning, and only then, begin your journey to whatever you want.” What I realized in my recovery from THR was my pre-surgery hamster wheel was still spinning on pure adrenaline, even though my medications and mobility had forced me to a stop a few days earlier. Once I recognized what was happening, I breathed and began my slow journey back to myself. If you struggle to implement a plan, I can promise you that you are pushing too fast, and until you force yourself to STOP - everything will keep spinning out of control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Total Control: Pre-Planned Responses Imagine if you could always know what to say in any situation. Having the right thing to say is possible. The trick is to think about all the possible ways a conversation may go and create a Pre-Planned Response. The secret is to work it from every angle until you have covered everything possible. Leave no stone unturned. So, what happens when the conversation arrives? 1) You will be calm and collected. 2) You will not be surprised. 3) You will have the right thing to say. What happens if you are surprised? It's impossible to predict what everyone will say. But you can focus on the unexpected because you have everything else covered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mapping Your Success Have you ever heard people preach, "Get out of your comfort zone, try new things, always stretch!" While true, it's only part of the story. Look at anybody who has achieved goals and maintained success over a period, and you'll find: 1) Motivation. Successful people do whatever they can to stay motivated. It's not an occasional thing. It's an always thing. 2) Accountability. Successful people accept responsibility and ask others to hold them to their plan. 3) Planning. Successful people understand that no plan survives the first battle. They plan, work, and adjust until they get what they want. 4) Systemization. Successful people believe success is sequential and built level-by-level. Once achieved, it is systemized and maintained. 5) Sustainability. Successful people know that everything has an expiration date. Continuous monitoring and adjustments allow for long-term success. I call this system MAPSS. It's all you need to get anything you want in life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Productivity Efficiency I think it’s time we stop seeking more productivity. It’s too much work! I prefer being more efficient and effective. Here are a couple of ideas that will help: 1) Say “No” to meetings if possible. If you must, keep them short and sweet. 2) Delay paying attention to incoming communication. It’s nothing more than somebody else’s to-do list. Do your stuff first. 3) Daily interruptions will never go away. You may as well expect and plan for them. 4) Only schedule up to 50% of your day. This will give you more time for unexpected events. 5) No more multi-tasking. Finish one task before the next. The fastest way to be more productive is to make your ‘Did I Do It’ list as short as possible. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How To KNOW You Are a Success Have you ever had a crazy day that involved putting out fires and wondering when it would be time to go home? And did I mention you were doing what you love and want to be doing successfully? Why is it that life gets crazier when things go well? There’s a simple answer. No matter what you do, your life will change when enough people begin paying attention to you. Some folks will love you. Some will hate you. Others won’t have an opinion but will say something anyway. Many will be jealous. Lots will be proud. It doesn’t matter what you do. You will know when you have succeeded when lovers and haters come out to play simultaneously. Focus on the lovers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop Driving Yourself Crazy Whatever you desire in your life, everything starts as a thought. It will demand your attention. You have three options: 1) Deny it and keep moving. 2) Do it - put it into action. 3) Delay it and drive yourself crazy. Deny it. Do with it. Delay it. The quality of your life will be a result of your choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You Don’t Need Plan B Have you ever wondered how the most successful people in the world get that way? Could it be their timing is right? Do they “know” somebody? Luck? That’s it. They get lucky! Maybe, but I think there is more to it. Every person I’ve ever known who achieved remarkable success did three things: 1) They recognized what they wanted and envisioned themselves living that life. 2) At some point, they commit and go all in. Their dream IS going to happen. There is no “Plan B.” 3) They practice never-ending flexibility and perseverance regardless of what gets in the way. They keep going until they get what they want. Yes, it seems that you must pay a price for living the life of your dreams - and it's not money. It's YOU! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is Always a Way When life gets in the way, do you get frustrated about being blocked? I used to be that way. Something changed. I learned long ago that getting blocked would be an everyday occurrence. And, the bigger my goals, the more blocks would arrive. I could live with endless frustrations - or find a better way. It came down to this: 1) Blocks have nothing to do with who I am. They could be self-inflicted or caused by others, but they still have nothing to do with me. 2) If you want something, there is always a way to get it. Always… always… always. You may not like the path, your ego may get in the way, or it may scare you, but there is always a way. The next time frustration gets in your way, blow it off and keep moving. There is always a way to get what you want. Find it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Living Your Default Mode Would you like to make life easier for yourself and everybody around you? It’s time to establish a “Personal Default Mode.” Success in all areas of life smooths out when you know what to expect of yourself. It gets better when others know what to expect of you. A “Personal Default Mode” is a consistent way of acting in different areas of your life. For example: 1) How do you respond to stress? 2) What happens when you don’t get what you want? 3) Is there a behavior you expect from others? Do they know it? Most things run on autopilot when you understand how you handle day-to-day situations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Never Triggered Again Have you ever caught yourself doing or saying something you swore you would never do? You are TRIGGERED! It can be frustrating when you set and don't follow the rules. Sometimes, you put your foot in your mouth. Sometimes, you put the pizza in your mouth. In any case, your emotional habits usually trigger your actions before you can do anything about them. Controlling behaviors that have been on auto-pilot for years takes: 1) Catch yourself after the fact. Notice your mistake and find it sooner next time. 2) Catch yourself being triggered. You’re getting better. 3) Catch yourself before you act and stop it. GOAL! Don’t let Emotional Triggers throw you off track from your goals. Pay attention to your behaviors and make minor adjustments until you get what you want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are You The Monkey in The Middle? Have you ever found yourself stuck in the middle? I was speaking with a client trying to be everything to everybody. His business was not growing. His life was not happy. He couldn’t seem to find a way to make progress. That’s when I said… “My friend, you are stuck in the middle. Nothing good happens when you are in the middle.” In business and life, having low expectations and being surrounded by like-minded folks is okay. It’s also okay to reach for your dreams, has high expectations, and expect that of others. What happens if you’re in the middle? When low and high expectations combine, confusion is the result. Mediocrity overtakes quality. Frustration will be your daily friend. The choice is yours. If I were you, I would make the decision never to get stuck in the middle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

5 Words To Succeed at Anything When I was a baby DJ in broadcast school, I spent a lot of time learning the rules of journalism. While that subject fills books, almost everything we needed to know was - Who? What? When? Where? Why? If you know that information, you can tell a complete story. Years later, I re-arranged the formula for personal growth. Every time I set goals and consider a different direction, I ask - What? Why? When? Where? Who? Occasionally I need to ask HOW I will accomplish my goal - but that usually takes care of itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let Your Greatness Shine Whether in business, having a job, going to school, or living your life, your ability to present well will supercharge your success. Here are five tips I use every day: 1) Understand that most folk only expect you to wow them. They are not expecting bad. You shouldn't either. 2) Join the conversation THEY already have inside their head, not the one YOU are having. 3) You'll move faster if you drop the small talk and dig into the meat of your communication. You can fill in additional information later. 4) The sooner you get people to suspend disbelief and engage with you, the sooner you will succeed. 5) Stop overkill. Find the first best place to take your exit and bring your meeting to an end. You're going to be amazed at how well this works. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Focusing on YOUR Important As a child, I remember heading out the door for a day in an endless adventure. It usually concluded with a game of Hide-And-Seek. Those days seemed to last forever. These days, most of us are still running until the sun goes down. But there's so much to do that we rarely have time to ponder the bigger picture. Remember- You will always find time for your most important tasks. You will eat, sleep, pay bills, feed the dog, and take care of your children - no matter how crazy life gets. When life gets crazy, and you scream, "Something has to GIVE…" it's usually your dreams for the future that get put off. Steven Covey reminded us how important it is to focus on what's important as much as possible. Make sure you put yourself on the list too. Then, when life goes off the rails, fix it as soon as possible, get back to what's essential, and keep moving. Not all dreams come true, but the important ones always seem to come your way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Will and Way of Change in 30 Days Only a silly person thinks you can change everything about your life in 30 days - right? Call me silly, but everything I've ever done was rooted in a 30-day sprint - even if I didn’t know it. Here's how you do it: 1) Set what Napoleon Hill calls a Major Definite Purpose or a Big Ass Goal. 2) Stop negative self-talk. Others may throw sticks and stones; don't throw them at yourself. 3) List all the reasons you CAN be successful. Make it a long list. 4) Decide that you will do whatever it takes to reach your goal. For the next 30 days, nothing will stop you. The impossible becomes possible when you are focused, willing to take massive imperfect action, and won't take no for an answer. By the way… When you seek or follow your purpose in life, your life will become one big non-stop happiness sprint. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Interpreting Your Calling Is the Universe whispering and nudging you to move in a specific direction? Before I go on, I must admit that I am certainly not an expert in the Universe or if it works in our life. The magic of gravity is enough to blow my mind, and the only Secret I know is that you are the only one in charge of getting what you want in your life. But what if you know that Universe is speaking to you? Calling you, compelling you to get off the sofa and do what you say you want to do? But you still won’t do it? Many years ago, I was in the habit of listening to those voices whispering inside my head and following whatever I thought they said for me to do. Eventually, after many false starts, I realized the messages were not black or white. There didn’t seem to be any particular order, and they were almost always out of context with my life. In other words, mindlessly following my feelings often ended with me not getting what I wanted, and whatever I wanted to get away from became more assertive in my life. One night at about 3 AM, a thought popped into my head— “Maybe I’m not supposed to do what I’m hearing? Maybe I’m stuck in my thinking, and the Universe is giving me more of what I’m focused on. You get what you focus on. That’s a basic rule of life. It made sense to me that whatever I was focused on would linger in my brain until I questioned it from a different angle - whether I wanted to your not. That’s when I started flipping the script and created my 180 Degree Rule. Now, when a thought pops into my head and convinces me of the direction I’m supposed to run with all my enthusiasm, I pause and ask— “What if it really means I’m supposed to move away instead of forward?” With that new way of thinking, everything changed. It didn’t get easier, and sometimes took time to choose a path. Still, questioning the context of the wisdom as it applied to my current life and experience allowed me to avoid dead ends and frustration. And another thing happened… My life became more balanced and calm by going into “trust but verify” mode. Instead of chasing dreams of what might be a reality, I focused on adjusting my reality to be more like the vision I held in my heart. When the Universe speaks to you, it doesn’t always include context and directions. Take a minute to decide if you’re supposed to move toward or away, and clarity will emerge. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Daily Rules for a Happier You Every day, we all jump into the craziness of life without much thought of the basic rules we use to run our day. Here are a few of mine. You can borrow them if you would like: 1) Do what makes your heart sing. You'll always feel better when you are dancing down your path. 2) Believe anything is possible. As soon as you believe - everything IS possible. 3) Be nice to others. Expect them to do the same. No further explanation is required. 4) Believe in people and encourage their dreams. When you do, they'll return the favor. 5) Do the right thing. If you mess up, say you're sorry, try again. 6) Meet people where they are in their lives and walk with them to where you both want to go. 7) Do what you say you will do. It's always better to under-promise and over-deliver. 8) Make lemonade out of lemons. Everything is fixable if you have the right mindset. 9) Keep things simple. Yup. 10) Relax. Life is short. Double yup. Focusing on life's big picture makes it easier to enjoy your daily experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 Stoic Rules for Happiness I'm a fan of Stoic Philosophy. While it may be over 2,000 years old, its practicality is still valid. These rules to live by will help you have a happier life: 1. If you're going to learn and succeed, be humble. There is always someone more intelligent, more successful, and wiser. 2. Find the right scene. Choose your friends and situations. If you want to rise in life, you can't allow yourself to be held down by others. 3. Protect your time. Seneca said, "We're tight-fisted with property and money, yet think too little of wasting time, the one thing about which we should all be the toughest misers." Life is short. 4. Never do anything out of habit. Always think about how you can do things better, and always question yourself. 5. Keep it simple — do your job. Approach every task as if it were your last because it very well could be. 6. Adapt and learn from failure. Using your success to justify complacency is common. It's also easy, which is why most people do it. You can do more and be better. 7. Live below your means. The more you need work to maintain your needs, the less you will enjoy what you have. Everything in life comes down to keeping things simple and mastering the basics. That's how you get the success you deserve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opening New Doors Fuel Your Dreams One of my favorite questions is, “What CAN I Do?” No matter how challenging a situation. Answering that question always reveals a clear path. As they navigate our new world, I hear my clients ask me that question, too. My answer usually goes something like this - “Can you do it? When you open a new door, you will find a new opportunity. Start opening more doors.” Feeling empowered in a world that is draining your energy is like Tesla on a cross-country trip without charging stations is difficult. To ensure you are never running low, remember that dreams, possibilities, potential, and a feeling of certainty are all powered by new opportunities. When you open a new door, an opportunity reveals itself. Your challenges will fade as you focus on the new way. But you must be willing to open a new door to find it. The key to thriving in uncertain times is finding opportunities behind new doors. All you have to do is open the door. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do This Instead of Setting Goals Do you still dream of what you will be when you grow up? Do visions still keep popping into your head? Is there a mission that seems to be calling you? What’s your BAM? What’s your BIG - AWESOME - MOTIVATING - MISSION? What gives you pleasant dreams and a feeling of happiness? What scares yet excites you? What makes you smile and say, “If I could only get myself to…” Stand up? Take a step? Repeat? There’s no need to wait. You can start right now. Really! Right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Focusing on Your Twenty Percent If you’re like many folks, you have so much on your plate that it’s challenging to keep up— forget about moving closer to your goal. There’s good news: you are not alone. Everyone lives according to the 80/20 rule, which almost everybody has heard about. The Pareto Principle states that 80% of outcomes result from 20% of all causes of any event. However, to get what you want in life, there is a slight twist to the equation that says, 80% of the things you focus on have nothing to do with what you ultimately want. They are simply the busyness of life. 20% of the things you focus on in your life have everything to do with getting what you want and will yield the most significant return for your efforts. When you eliminate, delegate, or ignore the 80% and hyper-focus on the 20%, the math changes, and suddenly, you are living your best life 100% of the time. Focusing on your best 20% changes everything. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Using Natural Law to Be Your Best Personal growth is a journey. It can be a lot of work. It’s also more fun to follow the rules of ‘Natural Law.’ 1) The Law of Vibration states that thoughts are things. They are one of the most potent forms of energy. What you think about, you bring about. Pay attention to your thoughts. 2) According to the Law of Polarity, nothing exists without an opposite. Love, hate, hot, cold, yin, and yang. Opposites are different forms of the same thing. Embrace them. 3) The Law of Rhythm states life is a pendulum. What swings left must swing right. 4) Every effect must have a cause; every cause must have an effect. That’s the Law of Cause and Effect. Everything in life is perpetual and never-ending. You can speed up your success by understanding how these always-present forces are at work in your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your Desire Comes From Their Desire Not a day passes by without someone asking, "How do I get another person to help me get what I want?" Persuading others is one key to getting what you want in life—and here's a big secret: It's NOT about you! You'll get what you want faster by focusing on how you can help others solve their problem - and "Ladder of Desire." This is how it works: 1) Most folks lecture others. That's a low level of communication and rarely builds a real connection. 2) A more practical solution is to show others the way and explain how to solve their problem. 3) The most potent way is to offer to take care of their dilemma. That is the top rung of the 'Ladder of Desire.' Everybody wants their problems to disappear. Make that happen, and you'll be a Hero! When you follow this approach, you make friends, prove your value, and are more likely to have your favor returned. Do good first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Next Week Begins This Week I have a saying - “Next year begins THIS year. Next month begins THIS month. Next week begins THIS week.” If you want to stay on track, accomplish your goals, and enjoy life more - you MUST take control of your calendar. It’s easier than you think: 1) Life will come at you FAST! Schedule any significant and can’t-miss life events at least one year in advance. Put it on the calendar and block it out. You can always change your mind. 2) Hold your space. Decide in advance what you will be doing with your days. When will you work on projects? When will you see clients? When will you have fun? 3) Conclude each week by securing your schedule for the next - and adhere to it. Consistency is key. The future is always brighter when your day-to-day focus fulfills your goals this week. Focus, my friend. Focus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happy No Matter What Would you like to be happy every day of the week? Maybe it's time to start thinking like a happy person. There's no magic to being happier. Rose-colored glasses are not required. Just start looking at your day-to-day life the way a happy person does. Give this a try: 1) Accept that merely being alive means encountering occasional challenges. 2) Realize that dealing with challenges is a privilege that comes with being alive. 3) Welcome frustration. That means that you are not satisfied and are beginning to make adjustments. 4) Accept responsibility for solving your challenges. Run forward and fix them as soon as possible. 5) Deal with everything that life throws at you. Get a great night's sleep. Have another great day tomorrow. It's amazing how that kind of mindset makes most challenges never show up in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prioritize Yourself First If you spend any time listening to me, it won’t take long before you hear me screaming from the top of the mountains to ignore the agenda and propaganda-filled world we live in and focus on yourself. Here’s the truth... Nobody is thinking about you and what you do. That means you need to pay attention to yourself because everybody else is busy with themselves. Some folks find that way of thinking difficult because society makes you believe you must do what everybody else does to be successful. But lets think about that for a minute. Is everybody more successful than you, or is everybody in the same boat? If you are being honest, you know the answer. So, who is more successful than you? It’s those crazy people that are out in front leading the masses. You know, the ones who paid attention to what they wanted, ignored what others thought, took action, and convinced everybody else to support them on their mission. Here’s another truth… Like they say, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me!” But never forget, when you think about yourself first, you’ll have more time to think about others too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hope, Fear, Faith, and Courage Have you ever paid attention to the process that moves you forward - or stops you in your tracks? All change begins with Hope, a feeling of expectation, and a desire for a certain thing to happen. Right after hope comes fear, an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous and likely to cause pain or a threat. When you commit to making your dreams come true, you move into Faith; you have complete trust or confidence in someone or something. Finally comes Courage, the ability to do something that frightens you. Don't allow yourself to get stuck along the way; your dreams are waiting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop Waiting to Get What You Want I was sitting at the dining room table of a friend. We had been solving the problems of the world in an hours-long conversation when she asked, “What are you talking about on tomorrow's podcast?" When I told her that I hadn't thought about it yet, she said, "Why don't you talk about why people don't take big chances and stay in their comfort zone for their entire life?" My mind did an instant review of my life and all the areas I had stumbled before I got out of my own way. I also remembered conversations with clients over the years on the topic of life's leaps. Before I could say anything, she said, "I know what it is. People get so comfortable with what they've built, and they don't want to chance losing it. Their money, their home, they wonder what their family will say?" Is there anything else? "Yes. Everybody gets scared and freezes. I'm like that, but I've learned to push through fear and go for it - as long as I'm mostly sure I won't lose what I've built." We talked a bit more about what it takes to make the changes you want in life and came to three conclusions- When you have a growth mindset and believe that anything is possible, you can do anything. Holding on too tightly to what you have sends the wrong energetic message. When you are willing to expand - you will. Next, as a human, you will never be comfortable gambling on the very thing that allows you to dream. The solid foundation that takes care of your personal needs is the very reason you desire to self-activate. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs taught us that. Your foundation must remain while you expand. Finally, fear will always be present when beginning a new adventure. The cure is knowledge. When you know what you have, see your path forward, and have prepared as much as possible for your journey, you will find yourself willing to go for it. Anything is possible when you protect your foundation, respect the challenge, and honor the dreams that are whispering to your soul. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices