Daily Boost — Motivation and Coaching

People miss one challenge when they decide to pursue the “get what I want life” of their dreams. It’s going to be difficult. That’s the bad news. The good news is that once you accept difficulty, everything else gets easier. Over the years, I’ve noticed deciding to change creates two pressure points. The first is the circumstances that drive you to do something different. It could be people or situations. Frustration or boredom. Even good-old-fashion fear of missing out. In any case, something has to change. The second pressure point is the future that is in front of you. It could be people or situations. Frustration or boredom. Even good-old-fashion fear of missing out. In any case, something has to change. Did I say the same thing? Yes, and it isn’t a typo. Although the particulars may be different, the same feeling is there. You are being pushed away from your past and pulled closer to your goals at the same time. Getting closer should make things easier. The actual feeling is driving 100 MPH toward a great abyss that has formed in front of you. Best of all, it is all self-inflicted. In times of transformation, life can seem at its most brutal and complicated. Once you accept there is difficulty on both sides of the abyss, you will also realize that your change has begun. There is only one thing to do. Remember when you were racing 100 MPH toward your dreams? Very soon, the time will come when you will reach a point of no return. When that happens, mash the accelerator to the floor, and start racing into your future. My late Mother-in-Law would say to me, “Scott, sometimes you have to slam the door behind shut and ram the door in front of you open. Get your butt moving, and everything will work out fine.” I have to say; those are some sage words from a wise lady. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Call me crazy, but I've always believed life should be simple - and there's no better way than to follow an uncomplicated structure in everything you do. I call it MAPSS. Motivation. Everything begins with the motivation that comes from the inside out. Know your "WHY," get excited, and get moving. Accountability. The next step is to put benchmarks in place that allow you to keep track of your progress, providing more motivation. Planning. Plan your work, work your plan. Never begin until you know at least your first and second steps. Systemization. Routines and rituals will make staying on your path easy. Lock in your process and repeat it unit you get what you want. Sustainability. You build momentum in life by stacking accomplishment upon accomplishment. Never build a house of cards. Make sure you set yourself up for the long haul. It’s easier to get what you want when you follow a map. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With everything going on in the world these days, it isn’t easy to make good decisions. Being a former fat guy living in a relatively thin body, I learned a life lesson I still use every day that helps. As a kid, going out to eat was a special occasion. One weekend my parents introduced me to the concept of an all-you-can-eat steak house! I knew that I would be living in my Husky pants from that day forward until I found a solution. Years later, I did. In the beginning, I adopted a philosophy when it came to choosing food of “Stop. Think. Order.” If that didn’t work, I employed my advanced version, “Stop. Think. Think again. Order.” Years later, I streamlined my thinking to “Stop. Think. Think again. Act.” I began using it for everything I do. One day I mentioned my newfound thinking to my Mom. She said, “That’s kind of like listening before you speak and thinking before you act? That sounds like something I may have said.” I’ll never admit it. Stop. Think. Think Again. Act. Today is going to be awesome. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have dreams of what you want for the future? Have you ever wondered your inner voice will lead you in the right direction? These four questions will help sort out everything for you: 1) What is it? Do you understand exactly what you want? 2) How does it work? How will you go about reaching your goal? What will likely be the outcome? 3) Can you do it? Is your plan reasonable? Do you have the time, skills, money? 4) Are you sure? If you are willing to put in the effort, are you confident you can achieve your goal? Why hold yourself back from turning your dreams into reality? All you need is a little clarity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did you know that happy people view the world differently? They don't wear rose-colored glasses. They have a better way: 1) Happy people accept that life brings problems. 2) Happy people recognize that problems are a privilege that comes with being alive. 3) Happy people get frustrated but don't give up. Problems are normal. 4) Happy people accept responsibility for solving problems. 5) Happy people deal with anything life throws at them, get a good night's sleep, and do it all over again. I wonder? If you view problems with a positive attitude - was there ever a problem? That'll get you thinking. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Productivity is a big deal for any high-performance person in today's fast-paced world. Almost everybody's life revolves around how much they can squeeze into their calendar. Something I don't agree with at all. I was chatting with a client recently when he commented that I must be swamped. He wondered how I kept up with everything I had to do. I decided to share my calendar with him and asked, "So, what do you see?" "Well, I see that you only have three appointments on most days. That surprises me." Yes. I average three appointments per day—none on Friday through Monday. So I asked him where he thought I put my focus? On my scheduled appointments, or in the space in-between? "I assume that you focus on your appointments, but that leaves a lot of time in your day. What am I missing?" The answer is that I focus on the unscheduled time on my calendar. My goal is to create entire days with no scheduled appointments. I want to own the space between interactions with others. I consider it an "Invisible Appointment" I make with myself to use as I wish. It is also the most valued time that I own. That's the thing about time — Time is your most valuable asset. It should never be allocated to anything other than what is most important in your life. Yes, you will still honor your obligations. Yes, you will still make time for friends and family. Yes, you will get stuff done. But something else will happen. When you choose to value the space between schedule time, you enter the world where the most creative, productive, and highest performing people live. It is a place where they focus on their contributions to the world and stay undistracted from day-to-day activities. People who make and keep "Invisible Appointments" with themselves are the difference makers around us. They're not chasing the crowd. They are leading the way. Schedule less and you’ll get more - that’s a promise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I love the quiet peacefulness of mornings, but I'm not too fond that mornings happen so early. Still, the focus, creativity, and feeling of momentum that comes with getting up before the chickens have such value that I needed getting up a bit easier. My solution to drop the complicated and establish a simple routine. I begin by deciding the area I’m currently prioritizing and choosing a "first thing" task to move me closer to my goal. Next, I set myself up for success the night before. Depending on my task, I make notes, organize my desk, get my gym clothes ready - whatever it takes to prepare. Finally, when I wake up, I get licked by the dogs, take care of my personal needs, read something inspirational for five minutes or less, and start my day. No distractions. No email, social media, or news. Just start. My goal is to make my primary focus the first thing I do in the morning before life gets in the way. It works like a charm. There's a reason the Marines do more before 9 AM than everybody else. Now it's your turn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over the years, most of us have heard that anything is possible. Our mentors say, "If somebody else is doing it, you can too!" When Roger Bannister broke the "four-minute mile barrier" in 1954, 1,400 other runners followed in his footsteps. I was watching American Ninja Warrior recently, female after female climbed the 14-foot warped wall. Something impossible before Kacy Catanzaro did it in 2014. This past week as we attended the Medical School graduation of my step-daughter. I was reminded of how her journey began nine years ago, sitting on my office floor in tears. Deciding to do something that seems so far off can feel like an impossible and scary thing. Even if you have an "if they can do it, I can do it attitude." A journey of a thousand miles is always filled with doubt until you arrive at your destination. After an hour of imagining the scariest things that could happen on her journey, Alayna's tears died up. She took a breath and asked, "What should I do, Scott?" Since it seemed that she had made up her mind, had assessed all the possible challenges, and wanted it more than anything, the only question I could think to ask was, "Do you have a Plan B?" She repeated her answer dozens of times over the years as she navigated the up and downs of achieving her goal. On graduation day, I overheard her saying the exact phrase to anybody who congratulated her on her achievement, "Thank you. You know - there wasn't a Plan B. There was nothing else I wanted to do or be. I had no choice, so here I am!" We all know Alyana had a choice. We always have a choice. No, that doesn't mean that you always get what you want. But you increase your chances of success when you cut off all your other options and go for your dreams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Daily Boost Commercial-Free! Have you ever had one of those days when it would be nice if somebody would pat you on the back and pump you up? The only problem is, nobody seems to be stepping up? Relying on others for motivation is a great way to get what you want. We all need the external encouragement of our peers. However, your internal motivation is stronger. Having a quick way to cheer yourself on is even more powerful. My friend, Terry, owns a martial arts school in Memphis, Tennessee. Martial artists are positive people, and Terry was no exception. Especially when leading a classroom filled with young Teens. But what he did at the end of a class was brilliant. As the kids were wrapping up and cooling down, Terry had them stand at attention and hold one arm over their head. Then, he instructed them to lower the raised arm to the opposite shoulder and said, "Never forget that you are your own best cheerleader. Pat yourself your back and say I done good!" The entire class did what he said, broke into an energetic laugher, and headed home feeling great. A few weeks later, I found myself about to enter a meeting and feeling a bit nervous. Before walking into the room, I ducked into a hallway, raised my arm, patted myself on the back, and said, "I've done good to get here. I'm going to walk through doors and get what I want." At that point, I gave myself a hard slap on the back and walked into the meeting. It was a raving success. In the years since I've made it a habit always to be my own best cheerleader. I always hold myself responsible for keeping myself motivated and feeling good. And I gave my little strategy a name— When you need a motivational pick-me-up, slip off by yourself and say, "It's time for a PYOTB!" Then, pat yourself on the back and say, “I done good!" As silly as it sounds, it's will become a secret weapon that works every time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People have always sought change for themselves, their life, or the world. If you want to change something about your life, there is a constant truth; you must change before anything else changes. Many smart 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, and be happier next year, something has to change this year. That something is you. 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 rlse changes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A funny thing happens when we graduate from High School and enter the real world; dreams change. When my Son was in his early 20's, he announced that he was heading to Los Angles to pursue his dream of becoming a Rock Star. He would be a singer in a rock and roll band, and he was on a mission to achieve his goal. When I heard his idea, I had a question - "What happens if you become a member of the band instead?" He had a perplexed look on his face. I'm not sure if he was angry or confused. It seemed that the concept of playing any other role never occurred to him. I continued. "Would you be okay with that? Are you willing to do what it takes to rise to the top? And if you don't get what you want, will you be happy settling something different?" That's when he said, "No. I wouldn't be happy. I'm a Rock Star, and that's what I'm going to do.” The following day he began his journey and chased his dreams for a few years. While he had success and enjoyed his Rock Star status, something else began to emerge. He discovered a new passion that fit him like a glove. He started to dabble in graphic design and music promotions and soon found himself loving being in a more supportive role. He wasn't on stage; he was playing in the band. But there was no doubt he was a star in his new world. His life was different than he thought it would be, but he found his day-to-day experience to be a much better fit. You will always get what you want if you are willing to do whatever it takes to get it. But you might be surprised when you find your real passion along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most potent and respected skills you can own is the ability to make a decision. Having a clear mind is essential. This means using your emotions is not something most people would recommend. However, since you're going to use your emotions anyway, you may as well harness the power of your heart. If you're like most people, your most important and fun decisions have been very emotional. Whether to get married, move to a new home, or buy a new car, emotions are always the first step in decision-making. But, sometimes, you choose to approach your decision-making from a logical point of view. The logical side of your brain kicks, and you dig deeper. You check off all the boxes and do your due diligence—waiting for a clear answer to appear. Whether it's emotion or logic, both aim to find approval, go forward, or disapprove and turn away. But black and white rarely make for a good life. In 300 B.C., Stoic Philosophy first brought to mind that decision-making follows a simple formula; emotions + logic = outcome. That's what happened when my wife and I first discovered the 12-acres the would become our new home and Alpaca farm. When we first discovered the property, we were both excited and overwhelmed at the scope of our new adventure. But it didn't take long before our logical brain stepped. It was time to double-check our intentions and confirm our emotions were on the right track. Once verified logically, overwhelm disappeared, the excitement grew, and we were off on our new adventure. As a human, no matter how hard you try to hide your feelings, you are an emotional person. It's the fire that drives you. Disciplining yourself to follow a formula and confirm your 'gut feeling logically' is how you make great decisions in every aspect of your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Choosing to take a different path in life can take years and happens in stages. But there is one stage that is always present before you succeed. One joy of doing my work is the relationships I have with thousands of people - many on a one-on-one basis. In most cases, these folks have decided to move away from their old life. They are heading off in a new direction, and most have begun their journey. And that's when things get complicated. Their decision to change is usually the result of repeating behavior that continues to deliver unwanted results. Eventually, they reach a point where there is no choice but to consider something different. That's what happens when you wear yourself out, get your ego out of the way, and decide to get moving. It's an exciting time, filled with dreams, ideas, and energy. But it can also be a time of confusion. As you seek to find the combination of thoughts and actions that will create your success, building a roadmap is your top priority. And that takes patience. One day, you realize that you haven't achieved your goal. Nobody has given you the answer you seek, no matter how well-meaning. Frustration sets in. You almost give up. You find yourself mad as hell and not wanting to take it anymore - and magic happens. When you understand that the only person who can answer your dreams is you, your dreams will become real. Your energy will serge. You will find yourself with all the motivation you need to create the life that you have been wanting all these years. You will break free of whatever is holding you back. You decide you can't go back, you won't hold back, and your time has arrived. What happens next? Since the journey is not the destination, you begin to embrace every step you take along the way. You start getting what you want today and even more tomorrow. It never stops. Frustration is your friend. Stand up. Take a step. Repeat. Keep moving until you create the life of your dreams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Join Daily Boost Premium today... Over the years, many teachers have told me that I needed to practice more. They said, “Practice makes perfect!” Yet, the more I practiced, the more I noticed that something else happened instead. Practicing, it turns out, only produces perfection when you practice perfectly. When everything is correct, you know what you are doing and can catch your mistakes. But, if that were the case, why would you need to practice? Practice does not make perfect. Practice makes permanent. If you practice bad thinking, you will get all the bad thoughts you could ever want. Do that long enough, and your life is full of bad thoughts. Practice makes permanent. Practice bad manners, and you are sure to get better at being rude to others. You will likely get the same treatment in return. Practice makes permanent. Practice bad relationship skills, and you are guaranteed to miss out on the best life has to offer. Practice makes permanent. However, if you practice being positive, forward-thinking, and believing that life is good, that’s what you will get. Practice makes permanent. Practice being a good person that is always thinking of others. You will find yourself surrounded by good people who think of you. Practice makes permanent. Practice being present, respectful, and loving in your relationships. You will never be alone. Once again, practice makes permanent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want more? Get Daily Boost Premium! There’s a saying among dog trainers that for a dog, one time is all the time. Whether it’s good behavior or bad, once a dog learns what it can get away with, it’ll do it forever. A couple of weeks ago, I visited a friend who is also a big-time animal trainer for film and television. While I was at her home, she introduced me to her Golden Retriever. I recognized his expressive eyes. It was Duke from the Bush Beans commercials we’ve all seen so many times. My friend is an upbeat and positive person. A trait that works well for training performance animals to shine on command while on the set. While we were chatting, Duke was interactive and well-behaved. I had to ask how she trains him to be such a great actor? Her answer sounded a lot like a lesson in human potential training. “When a client hires me to train a dog for a movie, the first thing I want to know is what the dog supposed to do? Like anything else in life, if I don’t understand what’s required, there’s no way I can get a dog to understand it. Next, I figure out all the actions, behaviors, and skills needed and break them into small chunks. Then we practice until the dog understands how to perform each small step. Finally, I connect the steps into a chain of behaviors one by one until the dog completed the sequence. Once that happens, we reinforce the training so that we get the same performance every time we ask for it.” I suppose it can be said that you can achieve any significant goal in the same way. Ask yourself, “What’s that dog supposed to do?” Then get busy practicing the pieces until you get what you want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the daily success you deserve! Join MotivationToMove today! One of the most empowering mindsets you can own is knowing that you are never alone in this world. I received an email I wanted to share with you. Hi, Scott - I got something so positive from your message today. You talked about getting out of your comfort zone. I thought that all I have ever wanted was to experience a little Comfort Zone! I realized from today's podcast, people who have enjoyed living in their Comfort Zone have their struggles. It is hard to do scary things when you don't have to. So you stay where you are and feel frustrated. I have had success these last few years, but it has been challenging. I have had to take actions I didn't want to take. Dig deep when all I wanted to do was bury my head in the sand. I wanted a happy, stable life so bad, and it kept me going. With my bad marriage out of my life, selling my big burdensome house, and the bonus of cash in the bank from the sale, I feel a little Comfort Zone on my horizon. And honestly, I am ready. Am I wrong? Isn't the Comfort Zone a completely different place when you have had to fight so hard for it? A new Comfort Zone is not a different place when you fight for it. It's a state where Judith Bardwick said people operate in an anxiety-neutral condition. That's where most people live until you feel the need to change. When that happens, you will feel the need to transition from safe and in control and to something new. First, you enter the Fear Zone. If you keep fighting, you transition to the Learning Zone. Continue to drive yourself, and you will arrive at the Growth Zone. That's where you are now. I've always visualized a Comfort Zone as the bubble I live. As grow and expand, my bubble connects with the bubble next to it. When it does, I arrive in a new safe and in control Comfort Zone. From there, I explore the possibilities of life until I begin the process all over again. Why? Because according to Abraham Maslow's Theory of Human Motivation in 1943, "What a man can be, he must be." I guess we can say you are "musting" right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the written version of the Daily Boost. Have you ever found yourself setting out on a big mission yet not being able to define what you want? When I was a young man, I trained in journalism as part of my broadcast career. Radio stations would send me to the local town meetings and political events. Anything newsworthy. My job was to write a story and deliver it on the air, and I thought I was doing a great job - until my boss called me into his office. He wanted to know why I wasn't getting to the critical part of the story faster. He said I was distracting from what is important. In my mind, I was doing no such thing. I told the story how it sounded best in my mind, but nobody was listening long enough to hear what I had to say. All these years later, I've learned the "I want to get more out of life" crowd does the same thing. Recently, I spoke with a client when I realized she was very good at shifting to the unimportant—finding more time, learning more, and getting more advice. Even cleaning the garage was more important. In the middle of her wandering story, I stopped her, "Why are you avoiding what is most important to you? Cut to the chase, say what you want, and go do it." Her response came with a few tears. "I thought I was talking about what is most important. Now I realize I'm telling myself a story that is comforting and sounds good to in my mind." She is burying the lead in journalistic terms, busying herself with secondary details, and growing frustrated. How does this relate to improving your life? Do you say, "I can't focus?" Nope. You are focusing on the wrong things. Do you say, "I can't get myself moving?" Truth? You are moving - in the wrong direction. Do you say, "I don't have enough money?" Wrong again. What you need is more money! If something is important to you, give it the honor, respect and focus it deserves. Lose the drama, get to the point, and start getting what you want right now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the beginning of time, successful people have given this sage advice; you must set goals. In the human mind, setting goals are the heartbeat of your life. Setting a goal will harness your focus, give you meaning and purpose, and drive you forward. It gets even better if you place a deadline. If your goal is essential, timely, urgent, you will likely do anything possible to get it. Yes, likely. You may have also heard that understanding WHY you want to achieve your goal is critical to your success. "Knowing your WHY will allow you to deal with every challenge along the way,” is what they said. But sometimes, you fall short. Losing weight is a good example. Every year, millions of people set the goal of losing a few pounds. Most end up failing. But if you think about it, that makes sense. Nobody ever wants to lose anything. That's against every survival instinct you have in your body. When you set a goal that takes something away, your mind will fight you every step of the way. So what's the fix? If your goal is to lose 10 pounds, focus on the real reason and the benefits you will receive when you reach your goal. That will become your mission beyond your why. It's not losing weight. It's feeling better inside and out. It's not losing weight. It's building your self-confidence. It's not losing weight. It's having unlimited energy and stamina. Any goal that focuses on loss alone lacks the positive motivation you need to succeed. No matter how bad you want it. When you think about your daily process as steps on a mission beyond your why, everything changes. More success and happiness are in your future, and your possibilities are endless. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Want more motivation? Go to Motivationtomove.com right now! Do you get out of bed every day, plant your feet on the ground, and start getting things done? Do you do it with intention? If you take a minute, you’ll notice the happiest, most successful, and content people live a life of intention. But having an intention is not a magical force reserved for the special few. It implies little more than what you plan to bring about in your life - something I was about to do. In the months after meeting my future wife, I realized an intention was emerging in my mind. With every passing day, that intention transformed into a goal. Soon, I had a plan along with a timeline. I became obsessed and was on a mission to succeed. I had, as they say, “Good intentions.” But, good intentions are rarely enough to get what you want. In my case, I knew where I was heading; Joi was only beginning to understand what was on my mind. That’s when she asked - “So, Mr. Smith. What are your intentions, exactly?” Without missing a beat, I said - “My intentions are simple. I’m going to do everything I can to get you to fall in love with me, marry me, and spend the rest of our lives together.” Her jaw dropped. She smiled, took a sip of wine, and said - “Well, I guess we’ll keep going and see what happens.” What? We’ll see how things go? I already know where this is going. Why do we need to wait? I know my intention, and I’m to get it! Of course, I didn’t say any of that to her. Yes, getting what you want in life requires knowing your intentions. Transforming them into goals and action is next. But, you and your dreams are not living on an isolated island. If others are involved, you must let them know what you have on your mind. But, because you said your intention, does that mean you will get what you want? No. It means that you now have a partner in your quest. Your intentions are about to merge. If all goes well, your actions will create success for everybody. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get the Daily Boost commercial-free and more. Visit MotivationToMove.com. Over the years, I’ve learned there is one trait responsible for holding people back. While it lives at the front of your mind and affects everything you do, it is also invisible. You are too vague in your vision. When most people build a successful life, they often do so with a lack of clarity or precise vision of their future. They have a vague idea. The Universe kicks in gear, an opportunity arrives, and life is good and satisfying—until it’s not. A day will come when you desire something more. You may find yourself stuck behind an obstacle of indecision and frustration. Confused, lacking direction, fearful, and seeking the motivation that will drive you forward. It will feel as if there is a cloudy haze over your future with no clear path to success—and no motivation to go for it. But there is no need to worry. Another day will dawn. You will realize that a general and non-specific approach to your future is not the fuel that will power you. Being too vague doesn’t build a vision. A time will come when you choose to be specific in your wants, needs, and desires. You will seek absolute clarity and turn your head away from anything the doesn’t provide a clear path. It may take time, but you will discover your first step. When you do, magic will happen. On the day that you define what you want, vagueness will disappear. Your new focus will create excitement and will manifest into automatic motivation. You will move toward your new experience. If you want something different in life, clearly and precisely express what that means to you. When you do, you will strike gold in time and will be off and running on your new adventure—automatically. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you have long-held dreams and goals that you need a little motivation to get yourself moving? Laura and I have worked together for over a decade on various projects. Her latest was a move from a long-time career into something she was in which she was more passionate. After several months, her dream transformed into a goal. The roadmap was in place. Action was the only thing needed to turn dreams into reality—then nothing happened. Months passed by with little or no action. It seemed that life was always getting in the way of Laura's dreams. When I asked what was going on, she said, "Oh… I don't know. I always seem to have something more important on my mind." That's common, and what John Lennon meant when he said, "Life is what happens while you are busy making other plans." Over the years, I have found that people tend to ACT and DO what serves them best at the moment. All while dreaming and planning what they want. It's an exhausting way to live, but you can set yourself free by asking yourself a simple question - "How bad do I want it?" Truthfully answering that question will do one of two things. It will propel you into action or have no impact at all. If you find yourself motivated and moving, all is well. If not, you have another question to ask - "If I don't want it that bad, should I drop it and move on?" Everybody has ideas and dreams that enter their mind throughout their lives. The important tend to cause automatic forward action. Your life transforms, and everything begins to go in a new direction. For the others, you may want to consider that it's not as important to you as you thought. The best thing is to get your ego out of the way, scratch it off your list, and make room for something that excites you. When you do, incredible new opportunities that have been hiding from you for years will enter your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

There is a significant benefit of growing older and wiser, figuring out what works in most areas of life. The school of hard knocks is a great place to master most areas of life - including productivity. I'm always amazed at how much time people fritter away deciding how to be more productive—always trying to keep up with their never-ending daily list of things. Eventually, though, we all learn that a good life will always offer more opportunities than you can ever use. The day will come when it becomes easier to focus on what’s important and yields consistent results. I ran into that when I learned to fly little airplanes. Aviation is over one hundred years old. That means new pilots experience information overload as their Instructor crams their brain full. And flying airplanes can be unforgiving when you get things wrong. That causes you to micro-focus on little details - especially when performing your Pre-Flight Checklist. One day, while walking to our airplane, I was freaking out. I was finding it impossible to remember the thousands of items that make for a safe flight. I remember saying - "There is so much on my list, and I keep thinking I'm going to miss something and get myself hurt… or worse." My Instructor smiled… "That's not a list of everything you need to do. It's a Checklist for what to do now. I like to think of it as my DID I DO IT LIST. That way, I'm only double-checking that I did the important stuff." Pure brilliance! From that day forward, I embraced the "Did I Do It" philosophy in flying. It also became the mantra for how I go about getting things done. Why does it work? A "Did I Do It List" assumes that you already know what you must accomplish. All you have to do is make sure you've done it. It allows you to release the stress of information overload and enjoy yourself more. Plus, the serotonin boost you get from seeing how much you have accomplished feels great. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices