Daily Boost — Motivation and Coaching

Why Thursday is The Best Planning Day I have a saying - “Next year begins THIS year, next month begins THIS month, next week begins THIS week, and that happens on a Thursday.” If you want to stay on track, accomplish your goals, and enjoy life - 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 event at least one year in advance. Put it on the calendar and block it out. You can always change your mind. And do it on a Thursday. 2) Hold your space. Decide in advance what you will be doing next week. When will you work on projects? When will you see clients? When will you have fun? And do it on a Thursday. 3) Never end one week without locking in your schedule for the next - and stick to it. And do it on a Thursday? Why Thursday? Because it allows you to completely relax for the weekend by already knowing what the next week will bring. 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

Reach Your Dreams By Avoiding Resistance Does this happen to you? A great idea pops into your head. Your heart fills with excitement. Nothing can stop you - except that you feel like you are stuck in quicksand. The more you fight, the deeper you sink. The only way out seems to be to give up on your dream - again. Let’s not do that this time. Feeling inspired to make a change in your life is terrific. It can also be scary. The result is nearly always feeling a sense of resistance as you move forward. This happens because your mind is wired to survive. That means avoiding anything bad and seeking everything good. Until you know it’s good for sure, everything is bad. Resistance is the automatic result. When you are ready to act on your inspiration, focus on the good coming and do your best to resist your natural inclination to fall to the evil power of resistance. You could say, “It’s about resisting your resistance.” Inspiration Without Resistance. That’s how you live the life you’ve always wanted. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Practicing the Focus-Finish-Focus Model Wouldn’t it be great if you could create more time in your day? One way to think about it is to prioritize the projects already on your plate. That requires a simple understanding: 1) Working on multiple products simultaneously only delays completing all the projects. Your mind can only focus on one thing at a time. 2) What makes this such a great practice is that when you complete a project, not only is it off your plate, but it begins producing your expected results and also 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?” Psychologically speaking, when practicing a focus-finish-focus model; your mind also experiences time differently. In the moment, time seems to be faster. After your projects are completed, your memories expand, and it seems like time has slowed down. That’s what they call a Mind Warp - and it happens daily. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Opportunity Cost Decision Making Do you have too many options and are having difficulty choosing? You may have heard of a concept called "Opportunity Cost." Some consider it a fancy term for "trade-off." In other words, every time you choose, there is a trade-off to consider. I find it easier to use extreme discrimination to weed out less-than-ideal opportunities. And you can do that with one question - "Does this opportunity provide the fastest and most direct path to reach my goals?" Before we go on, it's easy to look at almost any opportunity and justify a path, especially if you are being persuaded by someone else. And Opportunity Cost is not some personal development success hack. It's actually in your mind as a survival tool. It's your mind deciding how to expend energy most efficiently. What was that question again? "Does this opportunity provide the fastest and most direct path to reach my goals?" If you want to break free from a stalled life, you must eliminate less efficient opportunities. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Letting Mentors Find YOU You've set a goal and are working hours to get what you want. Why is everything moving so slowly? Larry was a mentor of mine when I was in my twenties. He owned a business, made an exceptional living, and, after hiring me to work for him, took me under his wing. It was a relationship that lasted for years - although I'm sure I didn't make it easy. That's the thing about being a young, bright-eyed dreamer with lots of talent and little patience. It's easy to see what others have, set an arbitrary date on a calendar, and expect everything to go your way. One day, I pinned Larry in his office and was making my best case for a raise. I was sure he had gobs of cash, and I deserved my share. After all, I was 26 years old, so it was time that I had a big house and a fancy car like him. That's when Larry said something that changed everything - "Scott, sometimes you must keep showing up long enough for the right people to notice. Keep doing a good job, and they'll step up." Of course, Larry was already stepping up and was being very generous. I'm not sure I knew that, and I wouldn't say I liked his answer. I'm also sure I stomped out of his office and gossiped about him in the kitchen. Over the years, though, I noticed there seems to be a hidden layer of successful people all around me. They were keeping an eye out for somebody like me. Larry was right. The person who can help make your life better is not always the person standing in front of you. It might be the person off to the side that is watching your actions. If you give it enough time, no matter what you do, when you least expect it, somebody will say, "We need to talk. It's time we do something together." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don't Become a Negotiating Underdog I was rushing through Atlanta Airport after an entire day of negotiating with a client. My flight was in 30 minutes, so I was beginning to think the deal would not happen. That's when things got interesting. I've spent many days negotiating over the years and have grown confident in closing deals. I always think I'm going to win. Still, today's game wasn't over. As we approached the Gate area, my client guided me into the Food Court. He pulled out the contract and replaced my fee with a smaller number. Then, he handed me the pen and said, "If you can do it for that, I'll sign right now." Checking my watch and not wanting to miss my flight, I almost took the deal. After all, winners get deals done. But, experience has taught me something else. Business deals that start poorly rarely get better. I decided to turn his less-than-classy negotiating gambit on its head. As humans, we are hard-wired to survive and thrive. As much as I wanted to take the deal to feed my family, I knew I wouldn't be thriving. I also knew my client needed what I would do for him; my price was fair, and more importantly, he feared I wouldn't do it. We all feel like the underdog when negotiating. It goes both ways. With that I said, "If you can sign the original deal before I get on the plane, I'll do it. Otherwise, I'll have to pass. I've enjoyed spending the day with you." He who speaks first loses. I kept my mouth shut. Thirty seconds later, he signed the original deal, gave me a deposit, and asked, "When can we get started?" The relationship lasted for years, and we never had that experience again. It turned out to be an excellent deal for both of us. Always keep in mind that we all feel like the underdog when negotiating. It will serve you well. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leadership in Times of Conflict I know that you want to be a better leader. I also know that you hate and don't want anything to do with conflict - especially since I can hear you saying — "Why can't we all get along?" I get it. Saying the word "No" is hard enough. Sometimes, saying "Yes" when others agree or disagree with your choice can be even more difficult. "Why can't we all get along?" The answer is that we can. However, the truth is that conflict will always happen whenever more than two people get together. Even if there is a common goal and everyone is on the same page. Conflict will always play a role in your success. What? We're on the same page, agree with each other, want the same result, and there's still conflict? "Why can't we all get along?" Yes. No matter how positive your project is, everybody has a different idea of how to reach the outcome. Everybody has an individual right way and wrong way of doing things. As a leader, when you approach conflict as a simple "Y" on the road of progress, things change. It becomes a decision that is part of the process and leads to the outcome everybody desires. Leaders, Managers, heck, Mom's and Dad's - anybody responsible for moving forward eventually learns to navigate through conflict. It’s just a part of life. Leaders don't get emotionally fired up, yell and scream, or freak out in some other creative way. Conflict is just an indication that you are progressing closer to your goal. The faster you accept conflict, the sooner you can resolve the obstacle and reach your goal. Everybody will respect and appreciate you. They will also remember you for helping all involved achieve success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happiness Is Learning Something New In my work, it's not unusual for somebody to seek guidance. Most are contemplating a change or frustrated with the status quo. Every conversation begins with me asking — "What are you trying to figure out?" To which people say, "I don't know, that's why I'm talking to you! I want to start over." Now, there’s a funny thing about living inside of your own head for your entire life. You probably already know what you want and just won’t admit it. Usually a combination of fear of change and FOMO, fear of missing out is driving your forward while locked in the same place. If you find yourself stuck, you may find yourself thinking that you just want to toss everything out and start over. Forget the fact that it’s not possible anyway. There is good reason not to start from scratch. Remember all those years living inside your mind? Somewhere inside of you, there is lots of experience and wisdom. Over the years, you paid a hefty price for that knowledge. Although it may sound like a good idea, not only should you never give up what you've learned. It's not like we have a Men In Black "Flashy Thing" to reformat the hard drive you call your mind. A better way is to become an absolute beginner and learn a new skill, preferably with a mentor's help to show you the way while your previous experience guides you. Sometimes, as you grow older, getting wiser requires going back to 1st Grade. When you do, your brain uses its incredible plasticity and gets excited by learning something new. Then, it integrates it with what you already know. You are, in fact, a beginner and a Master at the same time. That creates excitement, motivation, and happiness, and we all can use more of that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Passion Creates Motivation Motivation is always lurking in our minds. Even if we're not thinking about it. My wife, Joi, is a good example. Take one look at her, and it's easy to see Joi takes care of herself. She gets up every day and eats a healthy breakfast. Then, she dresses in her workout clothes and, without exception, exercises. No matter how late she went to bed or how late I slept in, Joi gets out of bed and heads to the gym. Since it's evident that Joi walks her walk, it's not uncommon for people to ask, "How do you do it?" — as if she is a member of "The Secret Society of Highly Motivated People Club." It's not that complicated. I joke with Joi that she is my sexy, predictable, exciting, and somewhat dull wife. While that may sound terrible, and I wouldn't say it around Valentine's Day, I probably should. Joi takes it as a compliment — "I know. It's who I am and what I do. I don't think about it. I want to feel and look a certain way, so I do what it takes." Don't let her fool you. She thinks about it a lot, or at least she does until the magic of motivation arrives in full force. Her vision of herself becomes her passion. That leads to massive motivation, discipline, and action. As good results arrive, the repetition action transforms into life-long habits and delivers life-long results. That's how you get what you want. The pain of exercising your motivational muscle always feels better than the frustration of thinking about what you want for too long. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some Things Are Not Optional 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

Are You Pushing Too Hard? Have you ever found yourself in a motivated state of mind and pushing through the day? Do you feel like everybody is hitting you with everything they have? Blocked. Stalled. Frustrated. It is easy to want to push harder. When I was a teenager, I liked to play football, not with the school team. Uniforms and protective equipment made that too easy. It was more fun to get together after school for a rough and tumble. A game of shirts and skins with the same guys who typically wear protective gear was much more fun. One afternoon, in a particularly spirited game, though, I wasn't having as much fun as I usually did. My attitude that day was one of total domination. I arrived at the field of battle with the absolute intent of pushing as hard as possible and winning the day. The only problem was another player had the same intention. And he was knocking the crap out of me with every hike of the ball. Play after play, we would crash into each other as much force as we could muster. Neither would back off. We kept hitting as hard as we could and inflicting more pain in a so-called fun game. Finally, in tears from my last pummeling, I said, "Why are you hitting me so hard? Stop hurting me. We're supposed to be having fun. Stop it!" I'll let you fill in the more colorful words, emphasis, and emotional craziness. I was in pain, frustrated, cold, and mad as hell. But that's when my opponent made me realize something I had been missing. He said, "Me hitting you? You've been bashing me all day. What did I do to you? Why are you hitting me so hard?" The emotions of that moment and the lessons learned are still with me all these years later. Sometimes, when we get pumped and on a mission to achieve our goal, we get lost in our emotions. Not everybody is getting in your way. They are playing the same game, have the same plans, and are fighting to get what they want - like you. After we realized what was going on, the game continued. This time, it wasn't about hurting each other. We stopped pushing too hard and played the best game we could to see who would come out on top. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Self-Inflicted Changes ROCK A couple of years ago, the world changed when we were all introduced to Coronavirus. It was as if we were racing down the Interstate at 75 miles per hour, slammed on our breaks, and directed off the nearest exit on an undefined detour. It all seemed to happen in an instant. The pandemic caused real pain and loss for some. Fear and stress for others. Still, as surreal as it was, it wasn't long before most people began to notice the craziness of our previous lives replaced with a 'new normal' - one that felt more like a 'new nothing.' Much to our surprise, life slowed to a crawl, schedules changed, and we found contentment by not chasing every shiny object that life presented. The pandemic pause caused people to reevaluate life from the inside out. While it happens all the time, this time, we noticed it. How many times have you found yourself in an impossible situation that ended with one action? You paid off debt, quit a job, you said goodbye to a bad relationship? How many times have you decided to try something new, and the past instantly disappeared? Did you decide to move into a new home, start your own business, or return to school? How many times have the worst pains and your biggest joys been the catalyst of an exciting new beginning? A death, wedding, or the birth of a new child? While some situations in life are unpredictable, the lessons learned and wisdom gleamed remind us that anything can and will change in an instant. Knowing that grants you immense power over your destiny - especially if it's self-inflicted and you are in control. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Powerful and Purposeful Goal Setting I've always believed goal setting is the heartbeat of our lives. Goal setting is one of the most powerful tools you have to create your best life. My question to you is… do you know what your best life is supposed to be? I came upon my belief not from a book or a guru but from a realization I had many years ago. I found I was happy when I was chasing something bigger than myself that was also in alignment with how I felt on the inside. I was unhappy when I was checking items off my list and not honoring my true self. After years of pondering, I concluded that a purposeful outcome would eliminate frustration and boredom and generate excitement and enthusiasm. That leads me to the two definitions of goals: 1) The end toward which effort is directed. 2) An area or object toward which players in various games attempt to advance a ball or puck and usually through or into which it must go to score points. Most people treat goals like the number two, a To-Do list, with a short-term outlook. People who focus on the first definition are long-term thinkers. But what's the real difference? What "end" do you place your focus on? Heartbeat goal-setters know there are many "ends" before the ultimate termination point we call goal achievement. That's what excites and drives them. They purposely focus on that 'end.' Everything else is a step in the journey that is only needed to get to their pre-determined outcome. Heartbeat goal setting. It's purposeful goal setting that ignites a fire in your belly, gives you a mission, and makes you happy. Everything else is an item on your To-Do list. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What? The Best Death Ever? You are a goal-setting machine. That’s not to say you are setting, working toward, and accomplishing more goals than anybody else. It’s the way your brain is wired. If that’s the case, why is it that reaching your goal can leave you feeling lost? In 2006, I had a life-changing moment that happened in the middle of the night. My wife, Sheryl, was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and my world crashed. Even worse, they told me there wasn’t anything I could do about it. In my world, those are fighting words. The following six weeks were a whirlwind of miracle-searching activity, including a trip to Costa Rica for alternative treatment. As the weeks passed, the reality of what was coming became real. Sheryl would not survive. We called Hospice. In the coming days, we settled into a routine that no family ever wants to go through, and that gave me the idea to call a meeting. I proposed a new goal with my kids around my wife’s bed. “If this is going to happen, why don’t we make it the best death ever?” The initial response was silence - until my wife said, “Well, if I’m going through this, we should enjoy the experience - right?” From that point forward, even in the most challenging moments, we all lived life to the fullest. Family, friends, and everybody in our circle knew the goal and did their part to help us reach it. Exactly 100 days after diagnosis, Sheryl passed away. It hurt like nothing any of us had ever experienced. Still, we found ourselves with a warm feeling about how we had handled things. In time, our conversations turned to our goal of making it the best death ever. We realized we had achieved it. That's the thing about goals… All the excitement of setting a goal happens while you’re in the middle of your journey - and you are always in the middle. Easy or difficult. When you choose to pursue a plan, the destination doesn’t matter except that it serves as a starting point for your next journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Knowing Your Why AND Why Not Getting what you want in life will be two things… It will be easier than you can imagine or harder than you ever thought possible. The journey will be exciting and scary. Looking back, you will be glad you did it, yet wonder if you will ever do it again. That's why WHY is so important. You must know WHY you are doing anything to sustain your efforts. And it must be YOUR why, not somebody else's. You must own your WHY, understand your WHY, and live your WHY. Many folks are not clear on WHY, or they do it for others or other reasons. Sometimes, you might put up with one thing, hoping you'll get something else. I’m sure that you’ve found that's not the way it works. Remember, what you focus on expands. That means you’ll get more of putting up with stuff if that's what you focus on. It's true. Knowing WHY you don't want to do something is as essential as knowing WHY you want something. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leveraging Life Cycles My friend Louis Gates introduced me to his Life Cycle theory years ago. I’m in an inspiring year. Where are you? Cycles begin at birth and advances every nine years like this: Year 1: You decide what you want and start asking for it. Year 2: As the pieces come together, you narrow your focus. Year 3: The resources you need begin to arrive. Year 4: You find yourself moving toward your purpose in life. Year 5: Re-evaluation begins. Toss out what you don’t need and keep what works. Year 6: Your focus intensifies, and you work with the resources you’ve decided will benefit you. Year 7: You take stock of things that no longer serve you. Year 8: Clearing the clutter begins. It’s almost time to start the next cycle. Year 9: You explore and decide what you want to do in the next cycle. Look back on your life and notice how your Life Lifecycle is always in play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life-Changing Success Habits Whatever results you want in your life will be produced by your thoughts, actions, and daily habits. Most people work hard every day to make their world better. But, no matter how hard you work, life will get in the way. That’s life. That’s life’s job. That will always be life’s job. No matter how much you try, life will get in the way - and you may have noticed - you can’t think your way out of it. But what if you didn’t have to? What if you could stop life from getting in the way of what you want? In a survey of 233 self-made millionaires, there was a huge difference in what they do daily vs lower-income earners - and they do it automatically. They use the power of habit—figure out what they want and how to get it, and keep repeating until they get what you want. Set it and forget it. Right now, you might be sleeping in, reading occasionally, and going with the flow instead of focusing on your flow. Successful folks get up early, read a lot, and spend 15-30 minutes daily on focused thinking. Today, you may let yourself get out of shape, spend too much time in your head, and never seem to reach your goals. Successful people prioritize exercise, spend time with people who inspire them, and pursue their goals. Do you struggle to get enough sleep, don’t have enough money, and hang out with folks who are doing the same? Successful people get enough sleep, have multiple incomes, and avoid time-wasters. The success you want is is hiding in the distractions of your life. To get it, you only need to create your thoughts, design your actions, and establish a habit. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Focusing ON Focus Here we are, entering the most distraction-filled time of the year. How can you keep moving toward your goals when everything else is in the way? With Singular Focus. Singular means extraordinary, remarkable, and exceptional. Focus is a central point of attraction, attention, or activity. It’s time to focus on one activity that will move you forward. You simply won’t have time for everything else. How do you get Singular Focus? 1) Reduce your things-to-do Universe. Choose an essential item and get it done during the upcoming busy season. 2) Remember. You can have everything, but not at the same time. 3) Reduce as much interference as possible. With all the buzz coming, plan small amounts of time to work on your goal. It’s a simple truth - When you are busy with life, too many extras will bog you down. Apply Singular Focus to your most important goal. Save the others until next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Success Principles You Need You may have heard that you will elevate your station in life to the degree that you elevate yourself. Since you are reading this today, consider yourself elevated. Even more so if you do these: 1) Acknowledge that all emotions come from within you. 2) Seek out someone you respect. Let them keep you honest. 3) Recognize there is life after failure. 4) Read purposefully. Apply your knowledge. 5) Challenge yourself to be brutally honest in everything you do. 6) Reflect on what you spend the most time on. 7) Remind yourself that you weren’t meant to procrastinate. 8) Put the phone away. Be present. 9) Time is your most precious resource. Fact. Can you imagine how much you can change in your life when you live by those principles? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Waking Up With Gratitude I woke up this morning with an incredible zest to expand my feeling of gratefulness. Well, there is not so much to expand as to recognize all the things I am grateful for but haven’t thought about lately. That’s the thing about living in a fast-paced world where our daily activities, big and small, fly by and are quickly forgotten. It’s always been that way. There is nothing new in the world. That got me thinking about one of my favorite quotes — “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.” —Robert Brault As a no-regrets guy, I admit to sometimes not living in gratitude. Thankfully, the wisdom of others is always making sure I remember what is important— Here are a few of my favorites. “If a fellow isn’t thankful for what he’s got, he isn’t likely to be thankful for what he’s going to get.”—Frank A. Clark “Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.” —Eckhart Tolle “Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.” —Estonian Proverb “Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: It must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.”—William Faulkner “Enough is a feast.”—Buddhist Proverb “When you are grateful, fear disappears, and abundance appears.”—Anthony Robbins “When eating fruit, remember the one who planted the tree.”—Vietnamese Proverb “Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.”—William Arthur Ward “A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue, but the parent of all the other virtues.”—Cicero “Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.”—Robert Brault I’m grateful for YOU! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You Will Change When You Wear Yourself Out Many have said, "Life is a marathon, not a sprint." But what happens when you find yourself doing both at the same time? If you've been living on this planet for any time, you've figured out life is a long game made of day-to-day sprints. You make small deposits over time if you want a big bank balance. If you want to lose weight, you make small reductions over time. If you want to get a promotion at your job, you do well every day. The challenge happens when you have not defined the marathon you are running. A lack of a specific goal can only lead to daily activity that may or may not get you to your destination. If that happens to you, you may feel worn out, frustrated, and wondering when things will turn around. There's good news. That kind of thinking means you are on the right track to success. Certain stamina is required to reach any goal. And society today celebrates your ability to put in the hard work no matter what. There's only one problem. If it's not working for you, it's not sustainable behavior. Sooner or later, you will decide to make a change - usually abruptly. Here's the truth: you will change when you wear yourself out. Reluctant, fearful, or hard-headed, you will only put up with a less-than-satisfying path in life for so long. Eventually, you will wear yourself out. When you've had enough, even if the timing is not perfect, you will change when you wear yourself out. Everybody knows it. The marathon we call life will continue until it doesn’t. Why wear yourself out? You may as well skip the bad stuff and get to the good stuff right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why You Should Set Impossible Goals I recently attended a conference where I enjoyed a presentation by Psychologist Dr. Benjamin Hardy. Honestly, I’ve been a fan of his work for a couple of years and am familiar with most of his working concepts. This time… one stood out. In my day-to-day work, it’s not uncommon for clients to struggle with narrowing a goal to one with enough meaning to propel them into action. In most cases, it’s a struggle between the important and the impossible. A goal must be important enough to excite you, but that can also make it seem impossible and scare you. But that’s what you want and need. According to Dr. Hardy, when you limit your goals to only the most important and almost impossible from where you are today, you are forced to use a very tight filter to figure out how to make it happen. In other words, taking random action will not help you reach an impossible goal. Only a highly filtered, very disciplined, and nearly surgical approach will make it happen. If you are doing anything else, your goal isn’t big enough. Instead of go big or go home, go big and figure it out is the way to success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How Purpose and Passion Make a Better Life From the time I was very young, I've been drawn to living a passionate life - no matter what gets in the way. I've also had a solid purpose to impact people's lives while living a passionate life positively. Something can be challenging to archive 100% of the time. But isn't that the point of Passion and Purpose? Isn't it something that you just DO? Amazingly, for all the focus on living a purposeful and passion-filled life, there has been very little research. A solid definition has only been agreed upon in the last few years - and it says a lot. I'll let it speak for itself. Passion is defined as a strong inclination toward an activity that people like, find important, and in which they invest time and energy. Purpose is defined as a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something personally meaningful and, at the same time, leads to productive engagement with some aspect of the world beyond the self. As I've always said, "If you don't know your purpose, your purpose is to find your purpose." And the best way to do that is to follow your passion. (Read the above description again for more impact) Purpose and Passion. It's like Chocolate and Peanut Butter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Start With Definiteness of Purpose The more days that I leave footsteps on this planet, the more I realize that everything we need to know to become a better version of ourselves has already been invented. Not only that, but everything that you could use to improve yourself has been tested by millions over thousands of years. It has either proven to be effective… or not. Napoleon Hill’s The Law of Success is one of those that works. While it is filled with action steps to achieve whatever success you desire, my personal experience, and that from working with others, has convinced me that if you get the first one right, everything else falls into place. Definiteness of Purpose. Specify EXACTLY what you want. Specify EXACTLY when you want it. Specify EXACTLY what you are willing to do. Specify EXACTLY why you want it. Yes. It can be confusing and frustrating to figure out your Definiteness of Purpose. But when you do, your life changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unleash Your Potential with Anticipation I love how kids live in the moment while also getting excited about the next fun thing coming. Maybe it’s time we all begin acting like kids again. Since you were young, special events excited you enough that sheer anticipation would drive you all day and keep you up at night. Would you like that back in your life? The trick to harness the power of anticipation is to keep a steady stream of exciting moments in your future. I call this the Anticipation Engine. There are two things to keep in mind: 1) Your energy is dependent on getting excited about your future. Keep your list long. 2) Once an event passes, your excitement will disappear. Enjoy the current moment. Don’t rush ahead, but always have something fun coming next. Living a life of anticipation always gives a natural energy boost. If your life is bland - schedule something fun and get excited again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Embrace the Power of Goals and Live with Purpose Are you feeling excited to be alive today? It might be an excellent opportunity to become an intentional goal-setter. Goals are the heartbeat of your life. They are tangible expressions of your Values. There's nothing more satisfying. You will always enjoy pursuing goals that align with the most significant Values. Goals are also automatic. Others will set them for you if you don't set them for yourself. You haven't set meaningful goals if you're not enjoying your life. It's simple. Decide what you want. Set a Goal. Create a plan. Set a deadline. Get to work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Invisibility to Prominence By Tooting Your Own Horn When I was a teenager, I was a weekend moviegoer. It was the age of Rocky and Star Wars, after all. While the experience was fun, something has stuck with me. The movie theatre always ran a commercial during the previews before the film. They wanted local business owners to buy an ad before every show. It went - "What happens when you don't advertise? NOTHING!" Yes, that's a great lesson for business owners. But what about YOU? If you want something more in your life, you need to toot your own horn so others can help you get it. That's how you manufacture endless opportunities in your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You Should be Unapologetically Unreasonable Are you a reasonable person? Maybe it is time for you to change. A reasonable person settles for the mundane and says, "It IS what it IS!" An unreasonable person says, "That's fine, but I don't like it that way, and I don't accept it!" They change people's perception of what is. They create a different reality. They don't accept the norms. Someone once told an off-color joke at a dinner party being held by Maya Angelou. She stopped the party and said, "I don't have that in my house. You will have to leave. Even after an apology, she stood her ground. "That's fine, that's for another time, but for today, you have to leave." Some people are so afraid to offend that they are willing to be reasonable. Be UNREASONABLE about your beliefs. Take a stand and become known for it! The world wants you to be reasonable and fit in. Don't do it. Be unreasonable! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Proven Methods for Maximum Productivity With only so many hours in the day, let’s start the week with a few ideas for being more productive. 1) Avoid meetings if possible. If you must, keep them short and sweet. 2) Incoming communication is nothing more than somebody else’s to-do list. Do your stuff first. 3) Organize your daily interruptions. They will never go away. You might as reasonably expect them. 4) Never schedule more than 50% of your day. That way, you can finish what you started. 5) No more multi-tasking. Finish one task before the next. BAM! You just added 50% more productive time to your day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An Uncomplicated Life The Easy Way Do you ever wish you had a uncomplicated your life? If you are a normal person and are NOT flying an airplane or performing brain surgery right now, there’s a good chance that you are are overcomplicating everything. These rules will help: Rule #1: Practice the rule of "Good Enough." Perfectionism is overrated. Rule #2: Say No. Repeat it. Say NO a lot! Rule #3 - When you find yourself so busy that you can't keep up, resolve to complete what you are doing, and NEVER do it again. Yes. It’s possible. Leonardo da Vinci said, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." Why not show everybody how sophisticated you are today? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Accept Your True Purpose Today, I predict that there is a question floating deep within your mind that’s going to pop up and demand your attention very soon. What’s the question? Is this all there is? Isn’t my life supposed to be more? Am I destined for something bigger than myself? Okay. That’s three questions… and you may be hearing all of them. Always remember - Discovering YOU is not so much a search. It's more of an acceptance. It's about accepting WHO you are by being honest about your past actions. It's accepting WHAT you do when you're doing you. It's not a thing; it's a feeling. It's accepting WHEN you want to be true to yourself. Discovering your true self doesn't require a life-long search. It's a matter of accepting your daily actions as your choice. If you don't like them - change them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are You Causing Your Own Challenges? Are you the kind of person who is always running around putting out fires - fires you set? I think it is time that we take away your matches and lighter fluid. Keep these tips in mind: 1) If your life is non-stop drama, stress, and craziness, there is a good chance that YOU are the cause. There is also a good chance you won’t see it that way. 2) Living with your hair on fire will keep you so busy and you will spend years wondering why you can’t get what you want. 3) When you STOP doing anything that results in more craziness knocking at your door, you will find that life is pretty quiet - and quiet is where all good stuff happens. It’s a Universal truth. You are 100% in charge of any action you choose. Choose good ones. It makes life more fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Learning is Holding You Back Have you ever felt as if something is holding you back? Maybe you are spending too much time learning. The challenge begins when your mind gets confused and you start searching for answers. The problem is that learning feels like doing. Your mind can't distinguish between perception and reality. Yes, you may be getting more intelligent, but you're not moving forward. Here are some simple truths: 1) Learning new skills is fun and required for a better life. 2) Learning alone will not produce results the results you desire. 3) You don't have to learn everything. You already know enough to get started. You will make massive progress when you transform your knowledge into physical action and fast and consistently as possible. It’s time to take massive imperfect action! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How To Help Others Have you ever felt the desire to help others? Do you want to help them figure things out? Make more money? Recover from a bad experience? Maybe you want to make a difference in the world yourself. I’ve always believed that our power to help others is a side benefit of being ourselves - and having a structure to follow - 1) A person in need desires an outcome. It makes no sense to offer advice until we know what they seek. That puts us on the same page. 2) Next, find out their problems, actions, and results. Then, relate them to what you have found works. 3) Now that you’ve heard their struggle, you can make specific recommendations to move their life positively. Helping others is a lot like being a Doctor. Listen. Examine. Prescribe. Take action. Follow up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why You Should REST More Steven Covey called it sharpening the saw. If you take a break to sharpen the blade, you will always cut more wood. The same applies to life. My formula is Ritual, Rest, Rejuvenate, Reactivate. Repeat: 1) Success comes when you perform ritual actions every day. Figure out what works and do it. 2) Running full-out all the time is not sustainable. You must stop and rest. 3) Resting allows your body and mind to rejuvenate and become healthy again. 4) When you are ready, it's time to reactivate into action mode. 5) Repeat until you get what you want. It's easier to cut more wood when you take a break to sharpen your saw. A walk in the park on a busy day counts too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jerry Seinfeld’s Success Secret I’ll never forget the day a friend called and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse - and I didn’t. Rob was an event promotor who had snagged the chance to book an up-and-coming comedian named Jerry Seinfeld into a local venue. He needed somebody to warm up the audience and introduce Jerry. I was all in when he agreed to cover my drink tab and let me hang out with Jerry before the show. It was 1986, and Jerry’s television series about nothing was still in development. I know that because it’s what we talked about before the show. As he munched on veggies and sipped sparkling water, I’ll never forget how focused he was on getting what he wanted. Tired and worn out from living on the road, I asked how he managed to keep going. He said — “I know exactly what I want. I’m a comedian, so I have to be funny. The only way to be funny is to write funny jokes. The only way to write funny jokes is to write every day. So, I write every day and put a big red “X” on the calendar. Eventually, there is a chain of X’s on the calendar. My goal is not to break the chain.” Then, in a very Seinfeld way, he screamed, “Don’t break the chain! That’s how you get what.” Over the years, I’ve read that others have had the same conversation with Jerry. I’m guessing it was a rule of success that he practiced and shared often. I’m happy he shared it with me. As we begin 2024, pick an action and do it every day until you get so good people notice. And, whatever you do, “Don’t break the chain!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are S.M.A.R.T. Goals Really SMART? I’m a big fan of setting big-ass goals. Dreaming BIG is my natural state - which is why S.M.A.R.T. goals are not all that smart. S.M.A.R.T. stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time-Bound. While it may seem like a good plan, I can't wrap my head around not setting goals because they don't seem achievable or realistic. Excuse me? Since when did big - goals seem achievable and realistic? If that were true, you would already be doing them. Anytime you are moving from dreaming into doing, you will be living in the land of crazy and scary. If you hold yourself to what is achievable and realistic, you might as well keep doing what you're doing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your Rules of Success If you study people who have had success in any area of their life, you will find they have much in common. Not only do they follow a set of rules, they follow those rules no matter how much life gets in the way. What are those rules? The person who has the strongest "Why" wins. The person who shows up wins. The person who shows up on time wins. The person who is most persistent wins. The person show never assumes wins. The person who is the best at what they do wins. The person who plans and documents their journey and interactions wins. The person who never gives up total control to others wins. The person who acceptances responsibility for themselves wins. The person who serves the most wins. The person who is grateful for everything wins. The actions you take automatically become the life you experience. It's essential to be mindful of where you are heading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s Your Word? Around this time every year, successful people are planning next year and many, declare to me the WORD they have chosen to guide their life. I like words - especially when combined with wisdom and a few wisecracks - but that might be just me. Still, I'm always amazed at how excited people get and how much they believe their WORD will guide them into the next year. I'm jealous. I need a WORD, too - and that's where the trouble begins. I can't imagine choosing a single word to represent 365 days of getting after it. However, having a WORD is an emotional trigger and fires neurons in your brain to keep you moving, so why can't my WORD be several WORDS? Just like magic - they arrived… Simple. Sophisticated. Focused. Automated. Delegated. Deleted. Ritualistic. It's a little Stoic, and a lot of Scott LOGIC - it works for me. Still… I missed one. And it turned out to be the GLUE that held all those other words together. Resilient. That’s the key to success. If you could use an emotional supercharger, choose a WORD… or WORDS for next year… and see how everything goes your way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Run Your Life Like a Business Not a day goes by without someone asking how to get what they want. I almost always say, "It's all about return on investment." After all, it would be a shame to work hard toward your goals and end up with less than you started - right? That's why you should run your life like a business: 1) Decide what you do when you are living a happy life. Be very specific. 2) Be flexible in your approach. When you find what works, lock it in, refine your method, and keep doing it. 3) Set benchmarks and measure your progress. You can only get where you are going when you know where you are. 4) If you don't achieve your milestones, immediately adjust and get back on track. Life is better when you get a positive return on your efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Overcome Bad Experiences Do you ever get stuck on memories from the past? Bad memories? Unpleasant memories? Focusing on the good is good for the soul. Dwelling on bad is terrible for everything. The other day, my wife asked, “How do you completely disconnect from bad experiences? It’s as if you don’t see them.” Trust me. I do. A long time ago, I made a couple of distractions that guide me: 1) If you dwell on the past, you bring those experiences into your life. They become real again. You also neutralize positive energy. You will be stuck. 2) Lessons from the past are valuable. Even bad experiences yield wisdom when not attached to negative energy and emotions. Hang on to those lessons. 3) Some bad experiences are pesky. You will have difficulty shaking them from your mind. The solution is defining actions that will put them to rest. You become what you think. Dwelling on past negative experiences will create more of them in your future. Instead, look for every opportunity to think good thoughts, do good things, and enjoy a good life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Surviving Holidays with Family It’s that time of the year! Millions of folks will soon be heading over the river and through the woods, hoping for a special celebration in the coming months. In the spirit of good times, here are a few ideas on surviving upcoming conversation bombs: 1) It’s a stressful time of the year. Money. Kids. Travel. Show empathy. It’ll go a long way. 2) If Uncle Bob speaks his mind, it’s time to practice self-control. There is no need to add fuel to the fire by adding your two cents. Smile. Nod. Exit stage right as soon as possible. 3) Show interest in others and redirect conversations back to the person standing in front of you. They will love you even more. 4) Give yourself plenty of space. Don’t fill every moment with others. Take a walk. Sleep late. Enjoy a cup of coffee. That should take care of almost everything. If not, repeat number four. As the season approaches, focus on the meaning and celebrate with your heart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stay Focused on Your Goals in 5-Minutes It's the world's most straightforward recipe for success: Stand up, take a step, REPEAT! A member wrote asking the best use of that simple advice: 1) Stop what you are doing. Block out everything. Focus on YOU. 2) Find a place where nobody will interrupt you for 5 minutes. 3) Ask yourself, "How is my life going?" Open your mind and let your thoughts flow into your life's different areas and roles. Bring them into focus. 4) For things to go 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. Checking in with yourself 5-minutes a day is all it takes to stay focused and on track toward your goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Define Your Life Values As you stroll through life, you will find opportunities that will present you with a VALUE choice. Your response speaks volumes about your character. There's no right or wrong. Only your inner voice guides you in your destiny's direction. One selection moves you away. Another moves you closer to the person you want to be. Values are your GPS to navigate life—rules you choose to follow. Honesty, integrity, family-focused life, and work-life balance are all examples of positive Values. Others are not so positive. My number one Value is to do my best to do the right thing based on my rules. If I mess up, I say, "I'm sorry," and try again. Something to think about. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Breaking Bad Habits the Easy Way Have you struggled to break a habit? Bad habits are not good. They will mess up your day. They are also not permanent. You weren’t born with bad habits and are not required under penalty of law to keep bad habits. Since there’s no real reason to keep bad habits, let’s replace them easily. Nobody likes to give up what’s comfortable - even if it’s not serving you. Instead, start a new behavior and replace the bad before it messes up your life again. Breaking bad habits is doing new behaviors instead of old behaviors. No muss. No-fuss. Be consistent and persistent, and you will forever wipe that old habit away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Success From Doing Nothing Before I begin, I want to define what I mean by doing nothing. I don’t see doing ‘nothing’ as something unproductive. Instead, I see ‘nothing’ as a protected personal space between your thoughts and actions. It is a place that provides a contemplation and planning opportunity before launching into massive and focused action design to reach your outcome and achieve your goal. It is a holding space where inspiration, desperation, motivation, and even intimidation bubble into your consciousness and await your next action. Instead of moving your thoughts immediately into action mode or never moving at all, both of which cause unnecessary drama, you purposefully quarantine your thoughts until you are assured of your success plan or decide to take a new direction. Doing nothing looks like this: 1) All thoughts and potential actions arrive in your mind and are held for evaluation. 2) Unless based on a previous decision and cleared for instant action, you always take the time to ensure that your actions will lead you to your vision. 3) If you don’t know the absolute endgame of your journey, you are still on another path. Don’t step until you know where you are on your new path. Ultimately, doing nothing is a place in your mind where you choose your path, direct your actions, and create your legacy. It is a place of personal respect built into you and will allow you to impact yourself and the world around you significantly. I don’t know about you, but I get a lot of good thinking when doing nothing. That time is priceless. If doing something takes you off track, you might be better off doing nothing - at least for a little while. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Change Anything in 3 Steps Is a title like "Three Steps Required to Change Anything" an oversimplification of what it takes to get what you want? Or… is it the acceptance that everything is simple - until we complicate it? If you guess the second, you will get along just fine. So, what are those three steps? The first step to getting anything you want is to KNOW what you want. Many will argue that the first step is the most difficult. Like they say, "work with the outcome in mind." I don't see it this way and believe it's not more complicated than what follows. Next, you need to know how to accomplish your goal by establishing a framework or roadmap. No, you won't see every step you must take, but unless you are living under a rock, you will know the significant accomplishments that must happen. Just look around, and you'll see them everywhere. Finally, you must take consistent and disciplined action toward your goal with every waking moment. You take longer to reach your outcome every time you allow your focus to drift. So, there it is. While many nuances will challenge you, the basic steps to getting what you want are simple - Know it. Map it. Do it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Believing in Your Future Self I’ll never forget the day a mentor of mine said to me — “You have to become the person you want to be before becoming the person you want to be.” What? So, do I have to fake it until I make it? Heck no! I’m not going to change who I am - no way! “No. You’re not changing who you are. It’s just that you have to understand that in the future, you will have a different set of beliefs than you hold right now. That’s called growth. Whatever you believe, you will become.” At first, I thought he meant I would have to sell my soul to the devil and take on beliefs, not mine, to get what I wanted. But one day, I realized that day-to-day living is changing me anyway. I may as well make a choice myself. My thinking went like this — If I hold a self-image because of what I believe, all I have to do is create a future self-image, decide what that person would believe, and design a set of rules and actions that make those beliefs happen. What’s the best part? There’s no waiting. The very minute you decide what you believe, everything begins to change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Your Morning Routine Focused You hear a lot about using morning rituals to get more done. But what if you could use your mornings to get more done for YOU? In the fast-paced world we live in today, there seem to be two groups when it comes to how to use mornings—personal and productivity. Once folks remove themselves from the craziness of jumping out of bed, taking care of the kids, and hitting the drive-through, they choose one of the two. But what if there was a third group that was more satisfying? Before I go on, I need to admit that I didn't use to be a morning person and didn't like getting up early at all. I even quit my first couple of jobs as a morning radio host so I could sleep. Later in my career, I would hit my desk at 5 AM and pound through my to-do list as fast as possible. I must have been saying, "I…MUST… GET… IT… DONE!" That didn't work well because I didn't see the purpose of getting out of bed early if it was only to work. For a few years, I spent my mornings reading and meditating before heading off to the gym. I got in better shape, but my bank balance was less, and my future goals were seemingly unreachable. Then, one day, out of pure frustration and sporting a brand-new I don't give a heck attitude, I asked myself a question that changed everything - "What's the first thing I should do tomorrow morning that, if I do, will allow me to live a life of my design?" Notice that I didn't ask about work or what was on my to-do list. It had nothing to do with getting more done or getting in better shape. I focused on the lifestyle I wanted to live - and it was life-changing. In the years since I made that decision, I've started my days doing the most important thing I deem required to live the life of my choosing, and I've been happier for it. I've also come across dozens of morning do-gooders who are getting everything done except what they dream of doing, and when they realize it's not their fault, everything changes. They get caught up in the buzz of life, and everyone does. But, the minute you focus on YOU before anything else, you start making real progress. When you focus on what is important to you, you get what is important to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Secret to Taking Action Is today the day that you self-activate and step into your power? After all, your dreams are waiting. Feeling intimidated and unsure of the next step on your life journey is easy. Nobody likes leaving their comfort zone - even if it will someday make them feel more comfortable. Remember this. Everything in life happens when you realize that you control your destiny. Even if you do nothing at all, you are in control. Deciding to walk your true path is a simple act of self-activation. It is choosing to remove yourself from the masses and stand up for yourself. It is exploring the possibility of life and making a difference. Is today the time to declare your power, self-activate, and show everybody who you are? Don’t wait. The world is waiting for you to come out of your shell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices