Daily Boost — Motivation and Coaching

Over the past few years, there has been a trend in business toward an open, communicative, friendly, and supportive environment. While I believe that’s the way it should be, there has also been confusion amongst everybody in the company and customers. Who’s in charge? Who’s the leader? Where are we heading? Without a strong vision applied to the entire momentum of the company, there will be no momentum. And while ideas percolate from everybody involved, somebody needs to gather them into a vision that everybody can understand, believe in, and work toward every day. I spend much of my time consulting business owners who are running face-first into this issue, as well as employees who are experiencing it from the other side. Here’s where the first link in the chain breaks. Yes. Employees want to feel heard, valued, part of the team. And they love it when their bosses are part of their tribe and work to create an environment that makes them all feel respected and equal. But… the boss is still the boss. Speaking of the boss— Anybody who runs a company wants to be part of the company tribe, feel like one of the team, and get into the trenches to help everybody succeed. But… the boss is still the boss. This dynamic will always be present since there will always be a divide between the leader and those being led. The solution is to look at it differently by remembering— Everybody on your team is a member of the tribe, and everybody has a job. That includes the boss. But there is a difference. Yes, employees may love it when their leader is also one of them, but they also need that person to cast a vision, move the team forward, and help them achieve their dreams. In other words, when all are equal, yet everybody respects their different roles, your culture gets stronger, your momentum increases, and everybody gets more success. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is the Universe whispering to you and nudging you to move in a specific direction? Before I go on, I need to admit that I am certainly not an expert in the Universe or 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 it said for me to do. Eventually, after many false starts, I realized that 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, blindly following my feelings often ended with me not getting what I wanted, and whatever I wanted to get away from became stronger 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 just 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 Universal 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

When I began training and competing with my dog in agility, I made a rookie dog trainer mistake. I wasn't consistent, and my dog was getting confused. One day, my trainer said, "For a dog, one time means all the time. Every time you let them do something new, they're just going to keep on doing it." Now, as silly as it sounds, that came to mind a couple of weeks ago when my wife, a creature of routine and habit, did the same thing. We were invited to attend Thanksgiving with family, and Joi's training kicked in instantly— "I like going to their home, but what about leftovers? I like leftovers?" Now, as a guy who has experienced Joi's "No eating out at the restaurant until all the leftovers are gone" rule, I knew this was a big issue. But, like a good husband, I got out of the way and let her figure it out. A couple of weeks later, after enjoying a nice day, I watched as Joi carried her share of leftovers to the car, thinking to myself, "Good. She got her leftovers." Boy, was I wrong— Joi came home from the gym the following day, headed for the kitchen, and started cooking - LEFTOVERS! She wasn't re-heating them. She had purchased a small turnkey and all the ingredients she needed to keep with her routine for the weekend. At that moment, I couldn't control the look on my face. "What? I like leftovers, and I look forward to it. It's what I do, and it makes me happy." Like a good husband, I didn't say a word. My only thought was, I guess we're not having pizza tonight. Do leftovers make you happy? Not really. YOU make you happy. Do what you do. We can always have pizza next weekend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I was on the phone with a client that was in a bit of a rut with her Real Estate business. It had been a good year, yet she found herself coasting and feeling like nobody wanted anything to do with her. “What should I do? I know I can do more? I don’t know what to do?” I think most people feel like that from time to time. When that happens to be me, I always remember two things: “What you practice in private you will be praised for in public.” “The fortune is in the follow-up.” While that sounds good, the reality is that you will be spending a lot of time alone with your thoughts and discipline, building your future while everybody else is living and having fun. And follow up? What do I say? Who am I going to call? What if they don’t want to hear from me? Word for word, that’s what my client said. My advice was simple: “You need to stay focused on how YOU do things so that you are prepared to show up and impress, and that’s the practice part. Next, you need to start “Making The Five.” “Making the five?” Yes. You need to connect with five people every day, no matter what gets in the way. “So you’re telling me I need to make sales calls?” she said. No. I’m telling you to make a relationship call. I’m telling you to reach out and check in with folks to be cool. I’m telling you to call your kids, clients, spouse, boss — anybody you can think of and see how they’re doing. “Oh. I can do that, and I like to do that. But what about making more sales?” Don’t worry about that. Just connect with five people every day. Do it as if there is nothing more important and nothing to gain. With that, she told me she trusted me and would start making her calls to reach the goal of three more home sales before the end of the year - only two months away. Today, as I write, I received this text message: “Hey Scott, good news.. that showing I had after our coaching call the other day… We are under contract and closing before the end of the year, and also it was a multiple offer bid that we won :-)” Wow! You are rolling, girl! Congrats! That’s 4? Right? Yes! Isn’t that amazing? I thought I had nothing going on, LOL! Yes. YOU are amazing, and YOU have it going on. All those other folks were waiting for you to show up, you did, and it’s working. Practice in private and make the five. I promise it will change your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you knew me as a child, one thing would be true; that I was 100% a non-adult and would maximize my time getting away with being cute and funny. That’s what kids do - and I love it. Children don’t generally ask for permission or forgiveness. That’s has nothing to do with what they want to do. It never enters their mind. It doesn’t matter if it’s a good or bad decision. Once a child decides on their path, nothing will stop them. Most times, exploring Life isn’t an issue. Unless it is dangerous when most parents say— “Oh, they’re kids. Let them have some fun…” “They have to learn somehow…” “They’ll grow out of it someday…” But sometimes, parents intervene, stop the madness, and crush another childhood dream. While the kids may not know it at the time, Life just got in the way — something worthy of a temper tantrum of epic proportion, and that leads to a realization. “Someday, when I grow up, I’m going to do what I want to do, and you won’t be able to stop me.” Fast forward a few years, and the day arrives that every child steps into the real world - only to find out Life has built a big wall in front of everything they ever wanted, and it seems to stop them at every turn. And forget that instead of letting you run free in the world, your parents passed their responsibility of getting in your face and denying your dreams to people who call themself Boss, CPA, Tax Man, Grumpy Old Guy… Shall I go on? Life. It can be a tricky thing that can shut down your dreams, make you turn on your autopilot, and lead you to count the days until you get to retire and have fun again. Or maybe… What if it was an imaginary wall? Nothing more than an illusion? What if all those people who are stopping you don’t care about you at all? Are they just on autopilot too? What if the reason Life gets in the way is to clear the road for folks like you to follow your dreams while the others are building fortifying the wall? Always remember, when Life gets in the way, YOU are the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My wife and I were looking for something on Netflix and found ourselves repeating the scroll a couple of times. Finally, the screen changed, and the graphic offered us a choice. It said, "just play something?" Yes, please. Just play something, so I can put the remote control down and get back to petting my dog. Thinking back on the moment, I was reminded of a book I read a long time ago. In 2005, Barry Schwartz wrote Paradox of Choice. It challenged the traditional thinking that said the way to maximum freedom is to maximize choice. It may feel good, but too many choices lead to decision fatigue. Yes, too many choices are not necessarily a good thing, and they can create paralysis. Not to mention, no matter what you choose, you'll always wonder if you could have done better. Here's my advice to you: 1) Limit your choices. Having every option won't serve you. Narrow your list to things that truly get your attention. 2) If you find yourself confused, permit yourself to try other options. 3) If in doubt, choose to spend your time and attention on what you know gives you the results you want. There will always be too many choices in our modern life, but that doesn't mean you need to accept what is offered. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I’ve noticed in my life that humans are hoarders when it comes to keeping stuff in their life that works and doesn’t work. They keep hanging life their life depends on it. Now, before I go on, I think there are two situations at play here: 1) Hanging on to what has worked well but needs to go so you can do more of what you want to do. 2) Hanging on what doesn’t work in hopes that it will work well someday. Both can go on for years and lead to nothing but frustration as you continue to long for something else. I was on the phone with a client this morning, and we ran into that situation. We began dealing with it a few months ago, and it’s still rearing its ugly head in her life. After exploring it from every angle— Should I keep it? Should I put it to the side and come back to it? Should I toss it and start over? Should I… should I… should I. I finally said the only thing that came to mind - “The mere fact that you keep questioning it tells me that you want to drop it. You’re just worried about what comes next, which is strange because what’s next is what you want. Let me ask you a question— How would you feel if you just dropped everything that is holding you back and woke up in the morning with a clean slate and ready to move?” She smiled. You know, with that almost embarrassed look that people get when they can’t pretend anymore. She was busted, and she knew it. That’s when she said— “I’m not going to lie. That would feel great!” We had a “moment,” and everything changed. I suggested a 30 cooling-off period, but with the understanding that she is moving forward and not backward. A few hours later, she sent me a note. It said, “I don’t need 30 days. Thanks.” It’s simple. When you are making a life decision, if you stay, you can’t go, and if you go, you can’t stay. Make your choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I was riding my Harley-Davidson Road King a few days ago when my mind suddenly thought - “The Chinese Philosophical concept of Yin and yang describes how opposite or contrary forces may be complementary, interconnected, and interdependent in the natural world.” What? What? Huh? It happened right in front of the Daytona Speedway and got me thinking about advice I give my clients about slowing down. It goes like this - “You must slow down to get what you want.” Advice like that is why I get the big bucks for what I do. No, not really. I get paid because nobody believes me, and it’s up to me to prove it. Let’s go riding. Whenever I’m cruising on my motorcycle, I love fast and loud, and it makes me smile. That’s the Yin of riding a bike, but you can only go fast and loud for so long before the light turns red in front of you or blue behind you. Occasionally the place you were speeding toward gets congested, and you have no choice but to slow down. But when you are a high-performance machine designed to go fast, slowing down can be challenging - especially on an 800 pound Harley. That’s where the Zin of riding a motorcycle comes into play. Slowing down is the opposite of fast, yet it can yield the same result - if you know what you are doing. Whether it’s your life or a motorcycle, success requires precision control. If you get it right and trust yourself and your machine, you will continue to make progress. On a motorcycle… 1) Slow down but keep moving. Never stop. 2) Rev your engine so that you always have power to your wheels. 3) Since the motorcycle wants to go faster, pull the clutch into the friction zone between nothing and everything while putting your foot on the rear brake. What? Slow down? Rev your engine? Hit the brakes? Yes. That combination virtually assures that you keep moving forward in any situation, in full control, until it’s time to open it up again. That same thing happens in life. You can’t run full out all the time, and sometimes you need to a complete stop. For everything else in between, you keep moving forward - no matter how slow you go. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"You need to get out of your comfort zone if you want to succeed!" I can't tell you how many times I've heard that. Thankfully, that silly advice is something I've only accepted a couple of times. I hated every second of it, ran right back into what makes me comfortable, and have never told anybody to get out of their comfort zone. "But, Scott? Isn't getting out of your comfort zone how you get what you want?" Yes, and no. Don't get me wrong. I firmly believe that you should continually be expanding the limits of your comfort zone so that you can grow into the next chapter of your life. I think you should be pushing the boundaries of your comfort zone right up until you feel the bubble around you about to burst. Why do I believe this so strongly? Because you will never perform to your full potential if you are not comfortable with your situation, environment, skill set, and just about anything else. Yes, you will do things that scare you from time to time, but you will only grow when the drama subsides, and you return to a place of clarity and comfort. From there, anything can happen. I was chatting with my daughter on the phone the other day and asked what her boys were doing - other than driving her crazy. Her answer made me smile - "Oh, they've been working hard on school stuff today and were hitting the wall. So I released them into their native habitat to get back to themselves." Native habitat? "They're in the backyard digging up worms. They're happy, and I'm happy." From that day forward, whenever I want to grow beyond where I am today, you'll hear me say, "I need to get back to my native habitat so I can get things moving." Do what you do in a way that makes you feel like YOU. The rest will take care of itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sometimes, I scratch my head when people say something that I can’t believe is true. That has happened over the years when my wife, Joi says silly things like - “I like to paint. It’s fun. I don’t like to do it all the time, but I like to paint.” I guess it’s a perspective thing. I’m not particularly eager to paint and would prefer to pay someone to paint. Joi likes to paint and chooses not to pay something to paint. So, if it makes her happy, I let her paint, which leaves me in an awkward situation of meandering around the house feeling guilty that she is painting and I’m watching paint dry. I wonder if she hatched this evil plan to make me feel like a lazy husband? It’s good she works out so she can keep climbing that ladder? Is that paint on that expensive workout outfit? Hmm… she does seem to be enjoying it. Oh well, happy wife, happy life - right? I guess it’s a perspective thing. One day, Joi was painting my office. I walked into my world domination chamber and she was up on a ladder with a confused look on her face. “How high do you think this ceiling is? 12 feet? 14 feet?” No, honey. The ceiling is 10 feet high. “Really? It looks higher from up here. Are you sure?” Yes. I’m sure. Everything looks different depending on where you are at the time. It’s a perspective thing. Joi continued painting, I started fixing lunch, and my mind settled in on two thoughts… That experience is going to be a podcast and… Perspective is everything in life. When you take a second to recognize that not everybody sees the world the way you see the world, everything gets better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There’s a lot of talk about “ideology” these days, and it’s usually not in a good way. But what about YOUR ideology? Do you know who you are? Before I go on, ideology is simply a creed, culture, dogma, outlook, philosophy, theory, or view. And let’s not forget ideas, principles, and tenants. At the end of the day, an ideology is what you stand for in this world. And, if you do it well, it’s also how other people know what you stand for in this world. It’s also up to you to decide that for yourself. After all… If you don’t know who you are and tell the world, the world will decide who you are and tell you who to be. That’s why I have a living document that establishes who I am, what I believe, and serves as a foundation of growth and change as I live and evolve. I call it my “Who I Am” document. It’s all mine, and I share who I am with the world through my actions. How do you see yourself? How do others see you? How do you act in situations? What do you believe? What kind of people do you hang out with? What are the rules you follow for YOU? This list is endless and should be. After all, you are a complicated and ever-changing person. Can I make you a promise? It’s easy these days to seek sources outside of yourself to find out who you are on the inside. It’s also easy to let the agenda of others infiltrate your thinking and pull you down a path that isn’t who you are meant to be in this life. The very instant that you sit down and document who you are and want to be, nothing else will matter. And the more dedicated you are to documenting YOU… the more you will get to be YOU. How do you do it? That’s easy too. Just ask yourself who you are in every area of your life, document your answer, and live it every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you were to ask my wife if I was always a happy and positive person, she would likely say, "Hmm… it's complicated… but yes." As a proud high-maintenance man who has never met a conversation I didn't want to see how deep we could go, I would have to agree. It's complicated. But, the answer is yes. I'm happy every day of the week. Not because I was born that way. Nope. As my Italian friends would say, "I had a good learning." Many years ago, right after high school and just after entering the adult world, I realized that life is complicated and that it wasn't going to change. I also had another learning… I noticed that no matter how difficult things were, some people I met were happy as they embraced the suck. I wanted to be one of them. I wanted to be the person that didn't need rose-colored glasses to be satisfied. That meant I needed to think like them… Can you accept that merely being alive means you will run into occasional challenges? Can you realize that dealing with challenges is a privilege that comes with being alive? Will you welcome frustration and be satisfied that it only means you are moving forward? Are you able to accept responsibility for solving your challenges? Do you have a "bring it" mindset for everything life throws at you? Finally - Are you expecting to get a great night's sleep, no matter what happened today or will happen tomorrow? That's how happy people think. That's how you should think too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I have to admit that I get in trouble because some of the Scott logic that comes out of my mouth doesn’t sit well with lots of folks these days - and they let me know. One of the biggest comments… “You seem like such a positive guy, and then it’s like something clicks in your head and go negative and ruin my day.” While I don’t think I ever go negative, I’ve heard that many, many times. Here’s the thing… It would be easy for me to get caught in the feel-good trap of chasing positivity - if only for the sake of being positive. But I’m not interested in that. I am interested in the results. For me, that is a peaceful, content, joyful, and meaningful life. If you’ve been alive for more than a couple of decades, you know all of that is found lurking in the truth. That’s why I consider myself a practical positive guy, and you should too. I believe an optimistic attitude is a power in life; I also think that you can never be truly happy until you are willing to dig deep into the not-so-positive challenges in life. Until you do that, you’ll you blocked. That’s why you’ll always hear me cover both sides. Frankly, I’m not interested in what we can and will do in our lives, I’m interested in the millions of interactions, decisions, and feelings we encounter every day that become the life we will have lived someday. Stephen Fry said, “sticks and stone may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Almost everything that freaks folks out begins with words that come from others and yourself. Keep that in mind because… When you choose to be positive, practical, and ground yourself in the truth, you will become at peace with everything around you - including yourself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“Please! Can somebody stop the world? I want to get off!” Okay. Just for you, I pressed the magic button, and the world stopped. Whatcha gonna do now? If you don’t have an answer, there’s no need to freak out. It’s common for people to get slowed down, think about what their life could be like, and I have no idea. But let’s say you are one of the few who decide the time has come to turn directly into the challenge? Many years ago, I adopted a philosophy that became the driver that would change everything. I decided I would always turn face-first into any challenge that stood between me and my dreams. Yes, I would face my passion head-on and do whatever it takes to make it real. Do you know what happened next? I tripped, stumbled, and fell into a pile of my own crumbled dreams. That’s when I realized that deciding to face your passion was only the beginning. Before you can face your passion and live your dreams, a few more things must be faced first. You must face your stress. You must face your relationships. You must face your health, finances, and spiritual beliefs. You must face your friendships, the clothing you wear, what you eat, what you dream. Yes, living the “I know there must be more lifestyle” is freakishly simple and no big deal; you do whatever you want whenever you choose to do it. But it doesn’t take long to realize that getting whenever you want requires that you face a few things first. It’s simple. As scary as it may feel, no matter how much you don’t want to do it, everything becomes possible when you deal with all the stuff in your life and take control. So, the next time you find yourself trying to figure out what’s stopping you from living your dreams, there might be a few things that you want to handle first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When will you get yourself to do what you say you want to do? More people than you know lose sleep over that question. If that sounds like something you have experienced, you’re not alone. Almost everybody begins their journey when a thought pops into their mind. Then, day-to-day life keeps them busy, and they spend frustrating months fixin’ to get ready. You know, starting to prepare… so you can begin to do… so you can do… and say you did. If that doesn’t work, you summon your friend, Will Power. Will is not a person, but more like a kind of friend that you don’t know why you keep letting into your life. They are a bit of a slacker, live rent-free in your mind, say they want to help, and never deliver on their promise. Will’s job description should read -- to force you to do things you say you want to do but can’t get yourself to do. When you give up, Will leaves. The good news is, there’s no need to force yourself to do anything. Achieving your biggest goals in life has nothing to do with Will Power. Instead, shift your mindset - “To act at your discretion without constraint.” That’s the definition of Free Will, Will Powers, good cousin. Use your Free Will to harness your excitement and choose the path of least resistance. Start making the slightest changes in your life. Those steps will lead to big results sooner than you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When I was a teenager, I was a weekend moviegoer, and it was the age of Rocky, Star Wars, and Jaws. Besides, with only three channels on television, getting out of the house was the top item on my to-do list. As a kid with big dreams, it was easy for me to slip into the fantasy world of films and let my mind run for a couple of hours. By the end of the film, I was always excited to get on with life and become like the folks I watched in movies. That’s when life got in the way. Like many young folks, I graduated high school, charged into the world, and waited for Somebody else to lift me into my dreams. Well, things didn’t work out the way I expected. That’s when my mother-in-law gave me some very useful advice that I needed to hear — “You know, right now, Somebody needs what you have to offer, but because you’re sitting around the house, they don’t even know you exist. Get out there and let them know you are here.” I can’t tell you how many times in my life I’ve said to myself — “Somebody out there needs what I have to offer. My job is to find them and let them know I’m here.” It’s the same for you. If Somebody needs what you have to offer, your job is to find them and save their day. That’s how you write and star in your own life movie. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 that 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 kind of 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My friend Louis Gates introduced me to his 9-Year Life Cycle to understand how we progress through life. Cycles begin at birth and advance every 9 years and go 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 in 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 9-Year Lifecycle is always in play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Many years ago, a friend passed along a pearl of wisdom that has served me well. Larry was a mentor. I was an eager young man who wanted everything now. I'll never forget sitting in the chair in front of his desk discussing all the ways I would dominate the world during my life. I still remember the look in his eyes as he pondered what advice he was going to give. 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." I was 24 years old at the time; still, there is one thing I knew for sure. That old guy was out of his mind, completely wrong, and in my way. But, I had to follow my life-long rule... When people I respect drop a knowledge bomb on me, I listen and do what they say. Why? Because when I do, I get what I want faster, and they give me more shortcuts to success. When I don't listen, everything slows down, and the advice stops coming. Over the years, Larry's advice turned out to be correct, and almost every success I've had along the way arrived when I was patient enough to prove myself to those that were watching. As I have done so, one more thing has happened. That conversation has repeated dozens of times, with me behind the desk and others in front of me. I'm sure they noticed the look in my eyes too, and I only hope they recognized the wisdom that I was passing on to them. Success in anything in life comes down to how good you play your long game. Keep practicing. It's how you get what you want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we enter the holiday season, have you taken a few minutes to consider what you would like to do in 2022? Getting started now will allow you to relax and enjoy the next few months. It begins by asking yourself, "What can I do?” But this time of year, we need to reach deeper by asking, "What can I do in a year?" Most people overestimate what they can do in a few weeks. They underestimate what they can do in a year. The difference is enormous. Focusing on the short-term picture can lead to lots of stress. Expanding your thinking to an entire year allows more breathing room. I would focus on two areas: 1) What will you accomplish for the remainder of 2021? 2) What will you accomplish in all of 2022? So, “What can you do in a year? Once you can visualize your big picture goals, it gets a lot easier to focus on the details of getting things done. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 length of time, you've figured out life is a long game made of day-to-day sprints. If you want a big bank balance, you make small deposits over time. 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 is happening to you, you may feel worn out, frustrated, and wondering when things will turn around. There's good news. That kind of thinking means that 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 only so long. Eventually, when you wear yourself out. When you've had enough, even if the timing is not perfect, you will change when you wear yourself out. You know it. I know it. Everybody knows it. So, what's the fix? The marathon we call life will continue until it doesn't, and there are three things you can do to make it better. The first is to define your destination with clarity. Next, match your daily activity with your goals. Finally, accept that if things don't go your way, you're going to change directions anyway. You will change when you wear yourself out. You may well skip the bad stuff, make an adjustment, and get to the good stuff right now. There's no need to wait. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People have always sought change for themselves, their life, or the world. There is a constant truth if you want to change; you must change before anything else changes. Many intelligent folks agree - Mahatma Gandhi said, “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” Leo Tolstoy, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.” What about Albert Einstein? “The world, as we have created, is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.” Do you want to change something about today, tomorrow, or the future? You must change before anything else changes. Have you learned lessons from past experiences? You have already changed, and your future is better for it. Rumi said, “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.” If tomorrow you want to be better than today and Yesterday, something has to change. That something is you. If you want to make more money, serve more. Do you want to be happier? If you want this life to be well-lived, something has to change today. That something is you. What if you want everything about your life to be perfect? Listen to Winston Churchill. “To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” It’s so simple. You Must Change Before Anything Else Changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What do I want to be when I grow up? The first time you ask yourself that question is when you are very young - if you ever asked it act all. Frankly, somebody else usually asks you, and you probably didn't have an answer and just took off running with this thing called life. And then it happens — Forty or fifty years later, people start asking themselves that question again after a family and career. The lucky ones don't confine it until they retire; instead, they begin to question who they are right now. It can be a scary time. If you are looking for a change in your life, here are a few things to understand— You can't move forward by hanging on to what you have. Remember, you get more of what you focus on in your life. If you're focusing on what you are giving up, you'll get more of that. Instead, you must direct your focus into the unknown future and look for clues about what you will do. I call the process "Exploring Your Possibilities. Imagine if anything is possible and there is no limitation or consequence. There is no commitment required, and money doesn't matter. Time has no impact. None of that matters because, once you stumble upon what you want, you will have arrived, and everything will be forever different. How do you make this happen? The secret is to put the breaks on what you are doing while you seek new adventures. It will take time to find a good fit, so you'll have to ensure that you don't slide back into your old ways. No matter how comfortable it may feel to get back in your comfort zone, don't do it. Pump the brakes. Hold on to the space you've created. Explore your possibilities, and let life unfold in front of you. It may not happen overnight. Then again, maybe it will? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

"I never have time to work on what's important to me!" I hear that every day from people all over the world. Every one of them is so busy attempting to master the latest productivity hack they end up spending most of their time running like a hamster on a wheel. Frankly, I was doing the same thing when my new business was sucking the life out of me and demanding all of my focus. One day, I realized my focus was in the wrong place. The problem was that I ran my day based on events on my calendar, and all of those red and green blocks were controlling my life. Without thinking, maybe to become more productive, I added more and more blocks to my day. While I got more done, I wasn't doing the things that were important to me. Out of pure frustration, I asked myself a question… "How do I want my calendar to look?" My honest answer was EMPTY! While it may sound like a silly goal, I have no interest in focusing on more colored calendar blocks, I want more time to do what is important to me. At that moment, I realized the secret I was looking for was hidden in plain sight - the space between events. Since then, I've seen the space on my calendar as 100% mine that I can use in any way I decide. When an event is scheduled, I interrupt my flow, deal with the event, and immediately get back to focusing on what is important to me. It's a small distinction that yields huge results. Now, to make this work, two things are required: 1) You must know what is important to you and have it at the forefront of your mind. Those goals become your primary focus and not a maybe/someday goal. 2) You must know what actions are relevant to getting the results that you desire. That's it. All that remains is for you to grab all the open space you can get and start having fun with your stuff instead of everybody else's stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Daily Boost with ZERO commercials and more coaching too! Go to MotivaitonToMove.com to get started. Have you ever wondered why some things and not others motivate you? The evolving Science of Motivation has your answer. In a nutshell, motivation is complicated and layered. If you didn’t already know that, you have felt it many times. But it all begins with 4 kinds of motivation: 1) Extrinsic motivation comes from outside of you, and you do it because you are compelled to - usually by someone else. 2) Intrinsic motivation is done for internal and personal reasons. This can be called your WHY. 3) Introjected motivation is similar. The difference is that if something is not done, you feel guilty. 4) Identified motivation is when you know something needs to be done but have not decided to do it yet. What kind do you have? All of them! All types of motivation can be in play at any time, and they can also overlap. However, when you discover your Intrinsic motivation - your WHY- you will find the momentum you seek. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Painting Your Way to Success My wife and I are settling into our new home, and she has assigned herself the job of painting every inch in the house. Not because we couldn’t hire somebody to do the job. Strangely, it’s because she loves to paint. I’ll admit that I’ve felt a little guilty leaving her with a rolling brush and a couple of gallons while I find something more interesting to do - which is pretty much anything. Still, last weekend I offered to join the painting party and speed up progress in the largest and most challenging room, she accepted my offer, and off we went. If I haven’t made it clear, I don’t love painting. The only thing more painful for me is listening to a boring conversation I’ve heard a thousand times before. Still, brush in hand, I began my journey that day while sharing my philosophy with my wife. That’s what she gets for locking herself in a room with me and a paintbrush. While it played out over a couple of hours, here’s what I said — I’m okay with painting. I am. In fact, I see every situation in life, like painting a huge and complex room. You know, a room with lots of windows, corners, and trim. One that requires physical contortions to reach every inch that you would never do in real life. If you want to get the job done. Heck, if you want to get anything done, you keep painting. Keep painting. Keep painting. Keep painting. As long as you keep painting, you’ll eventually be finished and get what you want. If you stop, not only is your room going to be a mess, you don’t get what you want. So, whatever you are painting in your life, keep rolling until it’s done. No grind. No hustle and no glamour or drama. Just painting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Relative Time Management In my entire life, I've always found it interesting that there never seems to be enough time in the day. Still, most days, everything seems to get done. If it doesn't, the world didn't come to an end, and I survived to check off another item from my to-do list tomorrow. I know I'm not the first human on the planet to face the problem of time, but I do think I'm one of those smartypants people that have figured out how our time works in real life. And it was 180 degrees from what I felt that time was all about. Pay attention now. How you look at time is about to change. First, when you run as fast as possible to get things done, time moves quicker, and less gets done. Even worse, with every minute filled, there is never enough time to do the things that make your heart sing. If you're like me, that will eventually lead you to sabotage your list so you can do something fun for yourself. It's a never-ending cycle. On the other hand, when you slow down, hold space for yourself, and focus on results relevant to your goals, time slows down, and you get more done. Not only that, you magically find yourself with lots of free time that you need to fill. Finally, a chance to read a book, binge on Netflix or hang out with family and friends. The choice is yours. Of course, if you've ever studied Einstein's Special Theory of Relativity, this sounds familiar. As he determined—time is relative. In other words, the rate at which time passes depends on your frame of reference. So, what is your frame of reference? In our case, I'm not asking whether you are moving fast or slow; I want to know if you are focused on the essential things in life that matter to you? Everything else disappears when you do, times slow down, and you enjoy your day like you were born to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Leaders Look For Conflict I admit the title, "Leaders Look For Conflict," might a little over-the-top. But 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. Saying "Yes" when others agree or disagree with your choice can be 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. Especially when 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?" It's not that. It's just that no matter how positive your project is, everybody has a different idea of how to reach the outcome. Everybody has a different right way and wrong way. As a leader, when you approach conflict as a simple "Y" in 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 accept conflict. Leaders don't get emotionally fired up, yell and scream, or freak out in some other creative way. Conflict is another step in the process. The faster you can 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

Stoic Happiness I'm a fan of Stoic Philosophy. While it may be over 2,000 years old, its practicality is still useful. 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 smarter, 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 to 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

Get Off The Fence And Get What You Want Okay, I'm feeling a little bit lazy today, so I'm going to cut to the chase and bestow upon you the secret to success you've been seeking. Are you ready? Success requires that you do the hard work. Bam! Hmm… I think I'll take my advice and rethink that lazy thing. I want to set a good example. It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that if you want more, you will have to do something to get it. Still, we live in a world that makes it seem like it should be easier, and it's not. Success takes a lot of hard work - even if you don't see it. Successful YouTubers make it look easy - after thousands of hours of trial and error. Musicians are seemingly living their dream - after years of living in a tour bus and making pennies after their agents get paid. Even people who do nothing but accept the generosity of society to make their way are working hard at a life that you would never want. It doesn't matter what you want, good or bad, prosperous or not, happy or sad; it's going to take a lot of work to accomplish it. If you have a choice, and you do, why wouldn't you choose to work hard to bring goodness into your life? You become interested in making a change. The problem is, interest is only the beginning, and you never get beyond your fascination. You decide what change you would like to create and begin working hard to get it. Then, life gets in the way, and you stop. What's missing? Commitment. Life doesn't give guarantees, but you tend to get what you want when you commit and go all-in on your mission. That's just how it works. I'm interested in many things and work hard at making magic happen in my life, the lives of my family and friends, and even yours. Only a solid commitment to how I spend my decades on this planet allows that to happen. Whatever you do - get committed, and you'll see how things change. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is The Universe Whispering to You? I’m not sure how you feel about the Universe and how things work in the world, but does the Universe whisper to you? Now, before I go on, you need to know that I can go pretty deep into the world of woo-woo in my beliefs. Still, the real-world dude in me makes me realize that while it may be fun to ride a unicorn to the coffee shop, I haven’t yet been able to request one from Uber. You may believe that your life is already planned for you or that you can ask for what you to manifest. One or both, you can’t deny that something is whispering directions to you all day long. Are you listening? While there are many ways people seek to receive messages of guidance as we make life decisions, my favorite has always been events the occur in triplicate. If something happens three times, I pay attention. Call me hard-headed, distracted, or set in my ways, but life has taught me that wisdom tends to come in whispers - usually when our thoughts are screaming in our head and drowning out our dreams. Now, let me be clear... A friend calling three times to go out on the town doesn’t count in my book. Snoozing your alarm clock three times isn’t a message from the Universe that you should sleep in more. The grocery store being out of your favorite chips three times is not a sign that you should go on a diet. All that is what they call the “stuff that happens while you’re alive.” So what counts? If I were to describe messages that resonate with me, it would be… 1) Seemingly random situations and people that happen in quick succession or at the same time. 2) They are different in their approach and appearance, yet each delivers a similar message. At first, it may seem disconnected, but in relation to the other messages, you begin to notice 3) The message you receive is likely something that has been on your mind, keeping you awake a night, and speaks to you. Even though you may not immediately recognize its impact, you find yourself slightly redirected in your search for answers. Your path altered. While this is undoubtedly only my description of how I know it when the Universe is ganging up on me, I have learned to allow space for a message to arrive. Whether I realize the impact or not, I have also known that it always motivates my decisions, choices, and future actions. In other words, things change with little effort. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Empower Your Emotional Triggers I don't know about you. I love it when we miraculously put together the perfect day and then life decides to get in the way. Well, not life, and maybe I don't love it, but occasionally something or someone will cross your path and cross your wires. I don't know anybody who doesn't get hit smack in the face with a situation that triggers a feeling deep inside their soul, stirs emotion, and results in a reaction or response that makes you say, "Why did I say that?" Of course, we are emotional creatures, so it makes sense that robust emotional responses are a thing for most of us. Still, a little common sense will tell you that it doesn't always serve us. It gets even worse when people sedate their emotions to protect themselves. Not only do they miss great opportunities, when they are triggered, it becomes an 8.0 earthquake. So, how do you deal with it? The way I handle it is to understand that triggers usually happen when I least expect them. Still, my Scott LOGIC tells me that once I experience the trigger and learn the lesson, a little discipline in my actions tends to smooth things out the next time. Here's what happens. When I get triggered, a feeling emerges inside of me. Like me, the problem is that most folks jump from a feeling to an emotional response before their mouth knows what's happening. A better way is to recognize the feeling, pause, review the emotional dialog running in your mind, and then allow your throughs to become your words. Life gets better when you have the discipline to recognize what you've learned from a previous trigger, audit your reactions, and deliver your response. Strangely, it becomes as if you were never triggered at all. Look, we live in a world filled with shoot-from-the-hip opportunities, many of them purposely put in front of us to get a response. Don't fall for it. Keep your mind on how you want to experience the world and stick with it. You'll be amazed how all the drama goes away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Daily Boost FIVE days a week and more at MotivationToMove.com. I have an admission to make on your behalf. If I may - You and everybody on the planet talks bad about themselves. Heck, some folks do it every day. If you are really good, you might fall into the category of a professional self-trash talker and even dream bad stuff about yourself. Yes, are THAT good! I have another admission. I do it too. I’m good at it. Better than you. Not only that, I like it when I dig deep and bury myself in the pain of talking trash about myself. It’s like watching a horror movie about my life without the nine-dollar popcorn. But why is it good for you? I work with clients who have a natural tendency to talk bad about themselves in their quest to make their lives better. It usually shows up as a reason masquerading as an excuse, which turns into a tool for them to explain their current situation to blame and link to past behavior. That’s as far most people go, good momentum stops, and bad momentum continues. When you link your old bad stuff with your new bad stuff, you reinforce that behavior. Most folks have done it so many times they give up and go back to their old ways. So how do you make talking trash about yourself a good thing? Just like we learned in grade school, stop, drop, and roll. 1) Stop and recognize what you are doing. I know. It’s hard. But you can do it! Just stop talking bad about yourself. Don’t worry. You’ll get to do more in a minute. 2) Drop in and dig deep. Now that you are stopped drop down into the landfill that you are saying your life and get ready to get messy. 3) Start rolling in the stinky muck at the bottom that you say about yourself. Take a deep breath and say - “That’s not real. What’s the real truth? How do I deal with it? How do I climb out of this landfill before I puke?” Feel free to leave out the puke part. Look, everybody feels down on themselves from time to time. That’s what life does to all of us. However, when you choose to see those moments as your inner voice screaming for your attention like a baby crying in their crib you can deal with it directly. When you do, you end up in a far better place. Talking trash about yourself only happens when you are not clear about where your life is heading. It’s also a clue about what you want. Are you listening? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There is not a single day that I don’t end up saying to myself, “What are you doing, Dude?” The only thing that makes me feel better is there seems to be a pandemic of that kind of thing going around these days. In my case, I usually have decided what bad habits are getting in my way and have at least a small clue as to what good habits I should be doing every day but… I’m the BOSS OF ME! Why would I tell myself what to do and not do it? Hmm… I’ll have to get back to you on that. Nope. Why wait? The truth is that I’m pretty good at doing what I say I’m going to do, as long as I do a couple of things first. If I don’t, can drift more than a rudderless sailboat. Let’s lay some solid groundwork: 1) Everything about your life is a result of an action or inaction you take. One is productive, the other is lazy, and both are life-changing. 2) Any habit performed in a ritualistic manner will give you results. Good habits make life better. Bad habits make life worse. 3) If you want to take it the hard way, focus your attention on giving up bad habits. If you want the easy way, focus on establishing good habits. What you need is a Good Habit Generator process - something I could spend hours telling you about, or you can do this starting today: 1) Make a list of good habits you must bring into your life. Shorter is better. 2) Decide what single good habit you will do today and do it. 3) Repeat the same habit tomorrow while also choosing another from your list to begin that day. 4) Repeat the process no matter what gets in the way. Keep things simple, and remember that some habits happen every day while others are weekly. Some only take place once a year, and others are only required occasionally. Don’t try to do everything at the same time. Sprinkle them in slowly, as needed, and commit to making them part of your life. Ultimately, your focus should be making so many new habits that you have no time for old and destructive habits. It takes some top-of-mind awareness, but it’s worth it. Faster than you think, if you’re committed, non-productive behaviors will fade into your distant past. If you give it a chance, life is much easier than you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you the kind of person who is searching high and low for anything that will make you happy, get you married, bring in more money, or allow you to ignore the crazy world we live in today? If I may, it’s time that stop searching and do this - Accept that ONE good idea, ONE good realization, or ONE good action can and will change your life instantly. Before I continue, I'm not saying to focus on ONE thing as you'll find in Gary Keller's book. Nope. The ONE thing I'm talking about comes way before that. It has nothing to do with productivity, and it has everything to do with mindset and being specific. You don’t have to listen to me, but I’ll give you a pat on the back if you at least consider it. You see, everything gets easier when you develop, understand, and trust that ONE idea combined with day-to-day committed action will lead you to your dreams. And that's not 16-hour, hair on fire, run as fast as you can, bend all the rules, shatter relationships, and get what you want at all cost days. No. It's the exact opposite. When you buy into the mindset that ONE idea can and will change anything, you give yourself kick in the butt that launches you in a mindful and disciplined approach to find that ONE idea… or things… that you need. After that, steady plodding is all it takes. Hmm… where did I hear before? Another I hear came from Zig Ziglar. He said, "Most of us are walking generalities. What you need to be is a meaningful specific." Owning a ONE idea mindset makes you and your journey meaningful. All you have to do is specifically target the actions required to get what you want every day, and the rest will take care of itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you standing on the edge of your dreams that haven’t become reality? Steve Harvey is a funny man. He is also a wise man. He says, "You must jump. If you want to be successful, you must jump into your dreams, take a leap of faith, and go for it." Many times we stand on the cliff of life and watch others enjoying the success you deserve. They jumped, their parachute opened, and life is good. You must jump. When you finally decide to jump, your parachute will not open right away, and you will get bumped and bruised, but your parachute will open. You must jump. Look, let me get real. If you want success, you must jump to your dreams so your parachute will open. If you don't jump, it will never open. If you are standing on the edge of your dreams, the question is simple. You either you do or don't. If you do, JUMP. If not, find another edge - but make it one that makes you excited to jump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get coaching that goes deeper than tips and tricks with Daily Boost PREMIUM. Find out more HERE. Change Your Stories, Change Your Life Today we begin with a truth that on the surface may not seem very motivational. However, accepting this truth will be the singularly most freeing and motivating thing you can do for yourself. We live in a world dominated by agendas. These 'plans of others' are broadcast to propagandize your mind into believing in a way that will pull you off your path and put you on the path of another. Worse, the stories you tell yourself, your Personal Propaganda, is doing the same thing. That's not good. That's not bad. That's the truth. It has always been, and it always will be. In choosing to live life your way and experience freedom at its highest levels, there is a rule that I have always followed - The truth is the most motivating power you can access. If you dare to see and accept the truth in all areas of your life, you will then have the power to respond and act in ways that will change your life - instantly and for the long term. Living your life on your terms isn't about fighting the good fight until you get what you want. It's about accepting the truth of who you are, ignoring the agendas of others, re-writing the stories you tell yourself, and acting in alignment with who you are on the inside. It's simple. When you change your stories, you change your life. That begins by accepting the truth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Daily Boost is available as a stand-alone podcast or included in our coaching program FIVE days a week. Get it HERE! Responding To Your Inner-Voice Inside all of you right now are dreams, desires, and visions of your future. If you pay attention, you can hear your inner voice nudging you in that direction. Something it’s been doing for years. Whether your inner voice is whispering for you to begin moving toward your dreams or stop a behavior that’s holding you back, it will never stop reminding you until you take action. That is where challenges happen. It’s common for a person who finally listens to their inner voice to react eventually. They spring into action mode and begin moving as if it were an emergency, and they are driving the rescue vehicle 70 miles per hour to their destination. The result of reacting is almost always ending in disaster and making the problem worse. There’s a reason they don’t call them ‘First Reactors.’ If you’ve ever observed a first responder in action, you have noticed that they are trained, equipped, follow a plan of action, and never react. They always respond in a thoughtful and calculated manner and are entirely focused on their mission and outcome. The next time your inner voice provokes you to move, take a minute, think long-term, and respond with actions that will move toward your outcome. That’s how you build never-ending momentum. The Daily Boost is available as a stand-alone podcast or included in our coaching program FIVE days a week. Get it HERE! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Daily Boost FIVE days a week at MotivationToMove.com. Over the year’s the most popular question I get from the MOVERS around here is - “How do I find my purpose and face my passion?” If I were to expand on that question, it would be - “What can I do today to find my purpose and overcome the fear of living my passion?” In other words, it’s one thing to find it; it’s another thing to get yourself to do it. Today we’ll focus on finding it. In my quest to always be passionately living, I always turn to a 5-step process for discovering and facing your passion. It has never failed me. 1) Explore the possibilities that are available to you. The more, the better. Many things will interest you, and you should be willing to allow them into your life. 2) Pay attention to what gets and keep your attention. Don’t fight the feeling. Just follow the urge to explore. 3) Deep dive into the things that are shoving themselves into your life and immersing yourself. 4) When you find yourself fascinated and nearly obsessed, even if it makes no sense at all, you are heading a new path. Don’t be surprised if it is nothing you’ve ever considered before. The formula is simple: Exploration + Fascination = Facing Your Passion While there can be several strategic steps within the steps above, the more significant challenge is to allow yourself to follow what you find. Once you find it, be sure you live it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Daily Boost FIVE days a week at MotivationToMove.com. Are You Self-Sabotaging Your Success When I started my first real business 20 years ago, I found myself stressed, working long hours, missing workouts, sleep, and family. I was determined to be a success - even if it killed me. I'm not sure it would have done that, but I was a least on my way to wearing myself out since I was in my office at 2 AM on a Saturday, with a big bottle of wine. Frankly, I was mad that day and was thinking bad things about myself. Feeling a little lost, as well, and a bladder full of wine, I stumbled to the restroom. That's when my reflection in the mirror stopped me in my tracks. The man looking back was not the man I was on the inside. I could tell by the look in his eyes that he wasn't mad. He was sad. Success was proving harder than he thought it would be, and he was lying to himself about why. No. I was lying to myself. In a surreal moment, I realized that I was questioning my commitment. How could I get up every day and say that I was committed and yet allow myself to self-sabotage? How could I commit to taking on a difficult challenge and complain that it was difficult? How could I ever get what I wanted if my commitment was a big lie I was telling myself. Either I was committed to my goals, or I wasn't. I looked into the eyes of the stranger in the mirror and saw a glimmer of my old self. I realized that everything I was doing was self-inflicted, and I was ready to stop blaming my challenges. It was a moment of reckoning, and I could see my commitment returning as a sparkle emerged from my eyes, and relief appeared in my shoulders. My inner Yoda also spoke to me - "Succeed or do not succeed. Both are self-inflicted. There is no try. There is only commitment." After that, I had a very good night's sleep. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keep yourself on track with the Daily Boost FIVE days a week at MotivationToMove.com. From time to time, almost everybody will feel as if they can't do IT anymore - whatever IT is. Something has to change, and they have no idea how. It's called burnout. The good news is that you don't ever have to get burned out. The better news is that it's easy to keep yourself motivated, energized, and looking forward to every new day. But what happens if you feel burned out today? Let's start with something that may not be obvious to you. If you just figured out you were burning yourself out, everybody around you knew it a long time ago. We can always see burnout in somebody else before we can see it in ourselves. So, now that you've joined the burnout party, let's dig in a bit more. People get confused about burnout and tend to blame it on working too many hours, with too much stress, not enough respect, and the feeling there is no way out. When that happens, dreams die, and you feel stuck. You may indeed find yourself in a burnout crisis, but you don't have to stay there. In fact— You don't have to get more sleep… You don't need to ask for a raise… You don't need a long vacation… While all of those things are good and will improve your life, the secret to not getting burned out, getting out of burnout, and never burning out again is simple; switch your activity's focus to things that excite and drive you. How many times have you been dead tired yet found time to do something you love? How many times has an old friend called after a long day, and your mood was instantly brightened? How many times do you remember being in so in the groove that nothing else mattered? You're not burned out. You are doing stuff that you don't like, and it's time for a change. But what? But when? But how? All good questions and the answers will arrive the minute you focus your mind and actions on meaningful and exciting thoughts and ideas - and start doing something about it. Keep yourself on track with the Daily Boost FIVE days a week at MotivationToMove.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Daily Boost FIVE days a week at MotivationToMove.com. If you're spending any time trying to create a more fulfilling life, have you ever found yourself unable to work on meaningful projects? Of course, we all have. Here's what usually happens: 1) We make a decision, conscious or unconscious, to spend an entire day or week charging through your project. 2) We "chunk" our project into 15-30 segments that we work on throughout the day. The challenge happens when we never seem to be able to focus our attention for days or weeks at a time. Years pass, and nothing happens. Changing our approach to short chunks is equally frustrating because it never allows enough time to get into a flow. That leads to stopping, starting, and not wanting to start again. Years pass, and nothing happens. A better approach is to block your time into creative chucks and focus on a single project. After that, you can move on to less important items, take a break, and fire up another two-hour block. You could continue your previous focus, or switch to an entirely different project. In any case, days pass, and lots happens. Without getting too deep, the process works because our focus will naturally diminish in two hours. With practice, you may be able to attain four to six hours. After that, you’re toast. If you want to get something meaningful done, focus on it two hours a day, every day, and it will be done before you know it. Get the Daily Boost FIVE days a week at MotivationToMove.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Daily Boost FIVE days a week and supercharge your motivation! As a child, I wondered why I couldn't always have my way. Mom and Dad were so mean! I couldn't wait to grow up, move out, and experience being an adult. Everything would be different - or so I thought. After stepping into the adult world, it didn't take long to realize that not much had changed. It turns out it wasn't my parents. It was life turning down my requests. Life was getting in the way. What was even worse was that I was getting in my way. I've joked over the years that if I'm the Boss of me, so why don't I do what I say? Eventually, I realized having a big ass goal, being on a mission, and most importantly, motivation on demand was the solution. Motivation is a powerful, if not fleeting, tool that we all need. But we need to understand how our minds generate motivation— Your physiology dictates your feelings. The easiest way to break free of a slump is to stand up, take a step, and REPEAT. Movement wakes your body up, guides your emotions, and makes anything feel possible. Focus fuels your fire. If you're feeling unmotivated, you are also drifting in the wind with no direction. Shifting your thoughts in a positive direction and toward what excites you will break you out and get you moving. Setting big ass goals with further fuels your focus while it also serves to define your purpose. There's nothing more motivating than having a goal to pursue. When life gets in the way, remember that the words you say create the emotions you feel. Negative self-talk will drag you, and everybody else, down. Everything changes when you make the words you say to yourself, internally and externally, positive and uplifting. In the end, you're human, and your brain isn't wired to stay motivated all the time. However, when you give it a helping hand, it will always help you get what you want. Get the Daily Boost FIVE days a week and supercharge your motivation! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the coaching version of the Daily Boost with no commercials and more. Go to MotivationToMove.com. You’ve likely heard that “Changes happens in an instant” - which is entirely accurate. But… Is there one ‘instant’, and when will it happen? Are there more than one ‘instants” required to get what you want? If so, when will they happen? If you’ve ever worked toward a goal, you’ll find there are usually a series of small changes that happen in sequence. Whether they are slight shifts in your mindset or actions, or actual physical changes in your life, one thing usually leads to another. Over the years, I have noticed a predictable one, two, three patterns that clients always follow in seeking change. 1) Step one is the clarity and figure things our phase. It is a time when you decide that you want to change something about your life. You may not know what or how, but you are now searching with a specific mission in mind. You are no longer looking backward. You have changed. 2) Once clarity emerges it is accompanied by excitement. This is the time to map out a path and choose strategies that move you closer to your goal. This could be called the ‘How’ stage. You being to create your roadmap. You have changed. 3) At this point, you are approaching the natural starting point. You know what you want, how to get it, and the time has come time to execute your plan with daily action. You are now committed to moving forward. You have changed. It doesn’t matter what you want to change, you will always follow those three steps. Whether it’s a goal that will take a day to accomplish or a year, you'll always get what you want if you sequentially move through the process. The more action you take, the more you get small changes leading to your eventual goal. Get the coaching version of the Daily Boost with no commercials and more. Go to MotivationToMove.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Daily Boost commercial-free and 5 days a week at MotivationToMove.com Last week in Daytona Beach, I noticed the seasons were changing. It may be too early for the leaves to change colors, but the license plates of our winter residents are beginning to take over the roads - and they sure are busy. I like to keep life simple, so I notice when, even while beginning an exciting adventure, people seem to lose all common sense, embrace complexity, and lose track of how simple life can be. My mind drifts in observational moments like these— "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication." ~ Leonardo da Vinci "Life is simple, but we insist on making it complicated." ~ Confucius "The art of being wise is the art of knowing what to overlook." ~ William James And possibly the most appropriate. "Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough." ~ Charles Warner Your life will get more complicated without even trying so why not… 1) Practice the rule of "Good Enough." 2) Say No. Repeat it even if it's to yourself. 3) Remember, you're supposed to be happy. Today, why not make an effort to simplify everything that crosses your path. It will make you and everybody around you happier. Get the Daily Boost commercial-free and 5 days a week at MotivationToMove.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How are you going to influence the world today? What do you think about starting with yourself? Getting what you want in life begins when you know what you want and believe that you can accomplish your goal. Does that sound like you? Simon Sinek calls it "The Golden Circle." If you're like most folks, you spend a reasonable amount of time focusing on "What" you want and "How" you're going to get it. Your "Why" tends to arrive last. When you think that way, you'll find yourself wandering in the direction of what you think you want. And, nobody can help you because there is no belief and passion behind what you are doing. On the other hand, when you begin with Why, the How becomes automatic, and the What tends to define itself. When you know your Why, you become an inspiration to yourself and everybody who crosses your path. That's how you influence the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Daily Boost five days a week at MotivationtoMove.com Have you noticed how few things in life require absolute attention? Sure, occasionally, you will be served a little more than you think you can handle, but you always manage it. Sometimes you will worry a little more about things than you should. No matter how detailed you cook up and plan your worry in your mind, you always get through it. Does somebody looks at you the wrong way or, worse, say something that hurts your feelings? You might freak out a bit but always get back on track. Today, and nearly every day of your life, virtually everything that crosses your path will have no long-term impact on your life. It simply doesn’t matter. John C. Maxwell said it best, “You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything. In most cases, almost any reaction you have to the actions of others never amounts to anything. So, why not stop reacting like it’s important? Why not stop carrying the worry that often comes as part of the package. Why not just keep an eye on YOUR prize of a happy life instead of worrying about others? After all, that’s about all that matters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daily Boost FIVE days a week will change your life! Get it at MotivationToMove.com. For most of the last two decades, I've made my living my passion - a dream most people have. That doesn't mean it's been easy, but it does mean that I've learned a few things about how to create what you want. Let me begin by saying that most folks have difficulty breaking free from past limiting beliefs and creativity, creating a compelling future. I believe that happens because all of us are thrust into being "common folks" who must fit into society. Abe Lincoln may have said— "God must have loved the common people, for he made so many of them." He was wrong. There is no "common man"—no standardized, common pattern. He would have been nearer the truth had he said, "God must have loved uncommon." If uncommon is your normal state, how do you create a different life from anybody else? While there are many behavioral subcategories and skillsets allow us to achieve our dreams, it all begins with deciding to script your success — just like we do in business. Now, if you're not in business, hang in there for a minute while I explain a simple strategy that can change your life. A business person will succeed or fail based on their ability to do business with a certain customer, with a certain product in a certain way. Certain meaning "free from doubt or reservation, confident, and sure. In other words, 1) They choose the perfect avatar for their perfect customer. 2) They select the perfect product and solution that would solve their customers' problems. 3) They fulfill their promise to their customer via a product, service, or plan. Just for grins and giggles, what if you did the same for your life? 1) Dig deep inside yourself and script the perfect avatar that reflects the real and future you? 2) What if you took the time to determine the exact solution that would create the life of your dreams? 3) What if you scripted a series of beliefs and actions that would lead you to your perfect life? Frankly, if you held yourself to the same return on investment standard as a business, your life would change instantly. That's what happens to a business when customers realize they must have the solution they offer. Sales explode! The same thing will happen to you. Daily Boost FIVE days a week will change your life! Get it at MotivationToMove.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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-ass goals seem achievable and realistic? If that were true, you would already be doing them. Anytime you're 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. Being specific and measurable is all it takes. Hey, if you think my real-world, results-oriented, and somewhat offbeat and occasionally crossing the line style speaks to you, you should become a premium member and get the coaching version of the program 5 days a week. Yes… I said coaching version that’s recorded separately from the program you just listened to. There are no commercials or sales. Just me and you getting stuff done. Look, I’m not for everybody so if you’re on the fence I think you should think about it for a while. If that’s not you… go to MotivationToMove.com to get signed up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get more straight-talking success strategies on the Daily Boost FIVE DAYS a week. Go to MotivationToMove.com You might not be surprised to hear me say that everybody I know has moments when they ponder their purpose in life and wonder if they are on the right track. You might also agree with me that everybody wants more happiness in their life. There’s no doubt, the twin pursuits of searching for purpose and happiness are baked into our DNA, but there is a better way to think about it. A better mindset, if you will. Purpose is simply expressing yourself fully throughout your lifetime. You are likely doing that now in some capacity. If you are unfulfilled, you only need to find a new way to express yourself. Or, as I’ve said for years— “If you don’t know your purpose, your purpose is to find your purpose.” When you feel as if you are expressing yourself fully, you are living within your purpose. Now, about happiness. Most folks tend to define happiness as something that arrives “because” of something else. They make their happiness conditional. When you get a new job, home, relationship, you’ll be happy. But it’s easier than that. Happiness is in and of itself a mindset that you choose to hold. It’s nothing special and it lives within you. You are happy, or you are not. It’s that simple. When you choose the happiness mindset, you form a happiness habit that becomes part of your personality, and you wear throughout your life. No matter what happens, you choose to be happy. If happiness results from conditions that you choose, choose the condition of being alive. In the end, there is no need to pursue your purpose or happiness as if it’s a goal. Both are within you right now if you choose to recognize them. Why wait for your success? Get the Daily Boost FIVE DAYS a week. Go to MotivationToMove.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices