Daily Boost Motivation and Coaching

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

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

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

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

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

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

Why Next Week Begins This Week I have a saying - ?Next year begins THIS year. Next month begins THIS month. Next week begins THIS week.? If you want to stay on track, accomplish your goals, and enjoy life more - you MUST take control of your calendar. It?s easier than you think: 1) Life will come at you FAST! Schedule any significant and can?t-miss life events at least one year in advance. Put it on the calendar and block it out. You can always change your mind. 2) Hold your space. Decide in advance what you will be doing with your days. When will you work on projects? When will you see clients? When will you have fun?  3) Conclude each week by securing your schedule for the next - and adhere to it. Consistency is key.  The future is always brighter when your day-to-day focus fulfills your goals this week. Focus, my friend. Focus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Prioritize Yourself First If you spend any time listening to me, it won?t take long before you hear me screaming from the top of the mountains to ignore the agenda and propaganda-filled world we live in and focus on yourself.  Here?s the truth... Nobody is thinking about you and what you do. That means you need to pay attention to yourself because everybody else is busy with themselves. Some folks find that way of thinking difficult because society makes you believe you must do what everybody else does to be successful. But lets think about that for a minute. Is everybody more successful than you, or is everybody in the same boat? If you are being honest, you know the answer.  So, who is more successful than you? It?s those crazy people that are out in front leading the masses. You know, the ones who paid attention to what they wanted, ignored what others thought, took action, and convinced everybody else to support them on their mission. Here?s another truth? Like they say, ?If it?s to be, it?s up to me!? But never forget, when you think about yourself first, you?ll have more time to think about others too.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

Are Good Intentions Enough? 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 more than good intentions is needed 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 will do everything possible to get you to fall in love, marry me, and spend the rest of our lives together.? Her jaw dropped. She smiled, took a sip of wine, and said - ?Well, 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. The next step is to transform them into goals and actions. 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, and if all goes well, your actions will create success for everybody. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Automatically Motivate Yourself 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 that 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 be off and running on your new adventure automatically. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are You Focused on The Wrong Things? 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 was 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

One Thing Turns Dreams Into Reality Do you have long-held dreams and goals that require 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, and nothing happened. Months passed by with little or no action. Life seemed to always get 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, people tend to ACT and DO what serves them best. 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

Remove Your Fear of Change I woke up this morning with the realization that a life-changing event was looming in my future. I needed to wrap my head around the mindset adjustments I would need to make before changing my mind and running the other way. All of us have made decisions that, if we did, would change our world overnight.  Are you heading off to school for the first time? Are you getting married after being single forever? Could it be accepting a new job in a strange town?  It doesn't matter how excited you are. It doesn't matter how well you have justified your upcoming change. It doesn't matter how adventurous your spirit is. Life-changing decisions can feel like you?re launching on a mission to mars without your space suit.  But there's one thing I know for sure - Life is all about getting from where you are today to where you will be tomorrow. It's the transformation from what you have to what you could have that excites growth in our lives.  So, what is that uncomfortable feeling that you have in your gut? Every one of us views ourselves as who we are on the inside?our identity. Since life is real and the future is not realized, feeling apprehensive is a natural response.  What you need is a "Transitional Identity" to get you from today to tomorrow. "I've always been a hometown person, and now I'm learning to become a citizen of the world." "I've always been single, but I'm becoming the best relationship person I can be. My future spouse deserves that." "I've never climbed this high on the corporate ladder; now I'm becoming the leader everybody deserves." Transitional Identities are a simple way to ease the fear of the unknown?even if it's self-inflicted. As your future becomes more accurate, your Transitional Identity will transition you into a new life, and you will become a new you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Calculating Your Success You have big dreams, and you've set your goals. Filled with excitement and setting your fears aside, you are off and running toward your success, but it's more complicated than you thought it would be. What's going on?  That was the question on my client's mind when I stopped by for a visit. His new business was growing but slower than expected, and he was beginning to wonder if his dreams would come true. Stress was high, and time and money were running out. Having seen these situations before, I decided to walk him through three questions that, while they would have been better answered before starting the business, there was still time. My first question was, "How long will it take you to learn the skills required to succeed? Sales, Marketing, Customer Service, anything and everything needed to run a successful business. Everything takes time, and you need to be able to survive the learning time. Next, I wanted to know how long he would churn and work at the goal. Was he committed for as long as it takes, or was there a set deadline? Building momentum in anything can be exhausting. How long can you keep going? I saved the most important question for last. How long will it take until you burn through your resources? Cash, credit lines, free rent on your building, favors from friends and family? Knowing the answer to that question can be humbling and scary, but it can also set you free. After several hours of our learn, churn, and burn conversation, he could pinpoint exactly how long they had to reach their goal. With a definite timeline, the entire team focused their energy on the minimal viable actions that would achieve success and fit their schedule. Within months, they reached their goal and have enjoyed a successful business. Whether you own a business or not, any worthwhile project has a far better chance of success when you are realistic about the process before you get started. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Identify Opportunities From Obstacles When you boil it down, all the activities that keep you busy every day lead to one destination?happiness.  It doesn't take a scientist to figure out that none of us are chasing misery.  But what happens when you have too many options and keep choosing those that throw you off course? My dog, Levi, and I have had a standing appointment with Mindy for years. She's a dog agility world champion and knows a thing or two about training champions. She's also very good at teaching us to negotiate a field of obstacles successfully while running as fast as we can.  When we begin to run a course, we aim to complete it as fast as possible with no mistakes. Follow the numbers from lowest to highest correctly, and everything will end well.  But life gets in the way, even in dog agility. Mindy is an expert at setting traps designed to distract and pull us off course. Since a dog can't read numbers, I must discriminate between the correct and the false path. The wrong choice will cause us to go off course and not reach our goal. If you live an active, growth-oriented life, you will encounter distractions. Many are placed in front of you by well-meaning people. They look like opportunities. In reality, they are obstacles that will cause you to veer off course?potentially for years. You will go off course if you take a job that is not aligned with your goals. If you negotiate a deal on a new home that leaves you underwater, you are off course from the start. If you enter into a relationship that doesn't match your values, you will have no numbers to follow.  Setting well-defined goals is the first step in knowing the difference between opportunities and obstacles. It is a skill that will serve you well. Everybody heads down the wrong path from time to time. It takes time to recover. The fewer times you do that, the faster you reach your goals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life Changes When You Are Most Tired 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 yet to define the marathon you are running. A lack of a specific goal can only lead to daily activity that may or may not get you to your destination. If that happens to you, you may feel worn out, frustrated, and wondering when things will turn around.  There's good news. That kind of thinking means that you are on the right track to success. Certain stamina is required to reach any goal, and society today celebrates one's 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 put up with a less-than-satisfying life path for so long. 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. Just skip the bad stuff, adjust, and get to the good stuff right now. There's no need to wait. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recovering When You Feel Lost When life gets in the way, it can be challenging to know what to do next. No matter how motivated you are to achieve your goal.  Thinking like a Pilot can save the day when that happens. A few years ago, I was a 150-hour pilot. I was flying a Cessna 172 to pick up my daughter for a weekend visit from the University of Florida?a trip I've made a dozen times. It had been an uneventful flight, then, about 15 minutes from landing, it happened? Maybe it was the heat of the day or the drone of the engine. In any case, I had the sensation that I had no idea where I was. I could see the airport in front of me, so I was aware of the situation. But I had no idea how to get to where I wanted to go. It was a terrifying feeling.  Knowing I had to call the Tower in minutes, I turned to my training and followed three rules that any pilot knows will get them back on track. The first is to continue to fly the airplane and stay safe. That may sound simple, but how many times have you wanted to cover your eyes and hide when things got challenging?  The second is to break through your confusion and figure out where you are on your journey. If you can keep yourself stable, you'll have time to snap out of any momentary rough spot and get focused. The third rule is to communicate with people who can help. With only a few minutes before entering the airspace illegally, I called Tower and said,  "I'm a low-hour pilot, a little South of the field, and I am confused. There's no emergency, but I could use some guidance." That simple commutation gave Air Traffic Control everything they needed. In minutes, they lined me up on the runway, and I impressed them with a perfect landing. "Not a bad landing for a lost pilot," they said. All I could do was laugh and be grateful. Sure, my ego took a hit. But I learned a lesson, picked up my daughter, and had a great flight home. Aviate. Navigate. Communicate. It'll get you there every time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A Different Way of Planning I was on the phone with a client this morning when he said, ?I don?t know why I have such a hard time planning my day-to-day stuff. I want my day to be easier!? I get it. Everybody does. And to make that happen, you need a mindset shift. First to consider is that non-stop and continuous planning of every task every day is exhausting. It only adds another level of stress to your day. Instead, planning should be done occasionally with a broader focus on the short, medium, and long term. The goal is NOT to spend your life planning. It is creating containers where you plan to do your work or play. Once you have your containers, you load them with goals and tasks and get them done. When things require adjustments, make another plan. Make your plan and work your plan. Don?t keep changing things. That?s how you get what you want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

How to be Effortlessly Creative Over the years, I have produced over 12,000 podcasts; everyone begins with the written word. Even though that makes my mouth and fingers my most exercised body parts, it has also given me many opportunities to learn to keep my words flowing. If you're like most people, you have found yourself sitting in front of a blank screen, praying for inspiration. It could be writer's block, procrastination, or maybe you watched Netflix late. In any case, a simple solution can alleviate this feeling of being stuck, always providing a starting point. Any project I need to wrap my head around begins by capturing the ideas that flow into my mind throughout the day. Even turning the radio off on a 20-minute drive can provide a treasure-trove of useable nuggets.  Next, I tuck those ideas away in a safe place without organizing, editing, or rewriting. I grab the thoughts, jot a note or record a memo, put them away, and let them simmer. When I'm ready to get to work, I take 15 minutes the day before to review my creative genius list, toss out what is not relevant, create a simple outline, and walk away with a sense of readiness, knowing I am fully prepared to begin. The next day, I can't wait to sit in front of a blank screen and let the magic start flowing effortlessly from my fingertips. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mindset For Happiness I spend most of my days finding ways to keep tens of thousands of people worldwide motivated and moving - and that always comes down to a strategy for mindset. Here are a few things you can do - today! 1) Remind Yourself of Your Gratefulness Who or what are you most grateful to have in your life? Sometime today, pause, close your eyes, and fill your mind with the people and things that make your life good. Remember, reminding yourself of why you are grateful makes you unstoppable. 2) Your Actions Reveal Your Purpose What will make you feel like you are living your true self? The items that move you closer to who you are are hidden in your to-do list. What are they? Focusing on fulfilling actions means that you are living your purpose. 3) Strategize THEIR Feelings in Advance You can make someone feel great today. Who will that be? Take a moment and review the people you will interact with today. How do you want to make them feel? When you make others feel good, you feel good too. 4) What CAN You Do? Choose a challenge that has stuck and ask, what can I do? List three challenges that have you stuck and ask what can I do? Then, do it. Nothing can stop you when you ask what can I do? 5) Hold Space For Your Dreams Since today may get busy, what space are you holding for yourself? The space between your appointments today belongs to you. How will you use it to make your dreams come true? When you hold space for your dreams, your dreams always come true. If you feel like a challenge, turn these into rules and affirmations to live your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Motivational Laws You Should Respect Specific actions, thoughts, and feelings have revealed themselves to be the truth.  If you want to better yourself, here are my Top 10: 10) Purpose And Passion Come From Clarity of Thought. 9) Purpose And Passion Begin With Acceptance. 8) Faith and Courage Power Transformation. 7) The Secret Lies Within You. 6) Some Doors Must Close Before Others Open. 5) Strong Values Create Strong Passions. 4) Goals Are The Heartbeat of Your Life. 3) Emotions + Logic = Change. 2) Momentum Is The Result of Planning. 1) Everything Happens When Something Happens. The path to all success is well-worn. Follow the path that others have blazed. Your dreams are waiting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Strangest Secret For Success Earl Nightingale produced ?The Strangest Secret? to motivate his insurance company sales force. It is now a motivational standard. The secret is simple: 1) You become what you think. 2) You must pay the prices. 3) You must control your thoughts. 4) Cut away the limitations of your mind. 5) Set a clearly defined goal.   6) Act promptly when your path is clear. 7) Save at least 10% of every dollar. What do you want more than anything else?   Do more than you must. Do more than anybody else. Do it better than anybody else. Are you ready to make it so nobody can ignore you? Commit today to do more than you must to get what you want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How To Figure Out Your Purpose Over the years, 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 live passionately, I always follow 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 grabs and keeps your attention. Don?t fight the feeling; just follow the urge to explore. 3) Deep dive into the things shoving themselves into your life and immersing yourself. 4) When you find yourself fascinated and nearly obsessed, you are heading a new path, even if it makes no sense. 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

How Do You Feel Sessions How much better would your day be if you knew what surprises lurked around the corner? While you can?t predict everything, you can prepare for most things using ?How Do I Feel Strategy Sessions.? Here?s how it works: 1) Once a month, take a few minutes and review what?s going on in your life. Your job. Your vacations. Your relationships. Your goal is to recognize what is likely to require your attention. 2) As you form your list, consider every possible scenario and expected outcome. Imagine what may happen and craft a plan for handling it in your favor. 3) When the situation arrives, remember how you decided to handle it and stay in control. Using a pre-planned response is a great way never to be surprised again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seize Control With No More Waiting When you feel in control, are you happier?  I created 'Do What Makes Your Heart Sing a few years ago.' While it was about being happy, it's core teaching became my best practice. 1) Stop fixin' to get ready. If you want something, there is no reason to put it off. Could you go out and get it today? 2) Ask for help. We all need help. Millions of people are waiting for you to ask them. 3) Slow down when it gets bumpy. Going after big goals will lead you down rough roads. Those are when you slow down, stay focused, and keep moving - as fast as possible. 4) Fly it into the barn. Good pilots continue to fly their airplanes until they are safely tied down on the ground. Keep going until you get 100% of what you want. 5) Be smart?set goals. Don't argue. This one is simple. Trust and use your wisdom and instinct. Set goals to keep you reaching for what you want. Seek solutions that keep you moving. 6) Don't give monkeys piggyback rides. If you let them, other people will happily put THEIR monkey on YOUR back. Deal with your challenges. Let them do the same. 7) Practice daily P.Y.O.T.B. You are your own best cheerleader. Be sure to pat yourself on your back and say, "I done GOOD!" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Decisions Made Easy Have you ever noticed how forward momentum completely stops when you can't make a decision? There's no doubt; that the ability to make a decision is a power skill worth developing. I learned mine from my Mom. I grew up in the small town of Manassas, Virginia and I couldn't wait to graduate and begin my life adventure. My focus was on becoming a top-rated morning radio host, making lots of money in a big market. But I had a problem... The day came for me to decide how to begin my career. I narrowed my school choice and had to commit to enrolling - and commitments can be scary. As excited as I was to begin, I was also confused. That's when my Mom stepped in with a solution. Mom was a Legal Secretary and pulled out a yellow legal pad she kept handy. She drew a line down the middle of the page from top to bottom. Oh, no. We're not going to do the old Pro and Con thing again? That never works! Have you ever tried to make a decision using a list of positives and negatives? It only causes more confusion. But that wasn't going to happen this time because Mom had something else in mind. She drew another horizontal line, from left to right, across the middle of the page. Then she said, "This is different. It's about what is going to happen when you make your decision. Try it." With that, I made a list of everything that WOULD happen if I DID commit and get myself moving in the top left of the page. On the top right, I made a list of what WOULD happen if I DIDN'T do anything. Then, things got interesting? On the bottom left of the page, I listed what WOULDN'T happen if I DID. I filled the bottom right with what WOULDN'T happen if I DIDN'T. Clarity emerged, the fear disappeared, and excitement took over.  If you find yourself needing to make a decision, you can sort out anything, break free, and build fast and massive momentum with those four questions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Create Your Average Perfect Day How would you feel if every day, on average, was as you wanted?   It's time to make your dreams come true and create your "Average Perfect Day."  Here's how it works: 1) Find a quiet spot and write a detailed description of your perfect day. Let your fantasies flow onto paper until you've mapped out morning until night. 2) Focus on your daily experiences, not material goods. In other words, if you want a sports car, focus on how you feel in the driver's seat.   3) Fight the urge to judge. The goal is to slow down, tap into your core, and get excited about what's possible.  There is one last rule that you must follow. There are no limitations and no consequences. Let yourself be free to dream. You are going to be surprised how many start coming true. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Daily Rules for a Happier You Every day, we all jump into the craziness of life with little thought to the basic rules we use to run our day.  Here are a few of mine. You can borrow them if you would like: 1) Do what makes your heart sing. You'll always feel better when you are dancing down your path. 2) Believe anything is possible. As soon as you believe - everything IS possible. 3) Be nice to others. Expect them to do the same. No further explanation is required. 4) Believe in people and encourage their dreams. When you do, they'll return the favor. 5) Do the right thing. If you mess up, say you're sorry, try again.  6) Meet people where they are in their lives and walk with them to where you both want to go. 7) Do what you say you will do. It's always better to under-promise and over-deliver.  8) Make lemonade out of lemons. Everything is fixable if you have the right mindset. 9) Keep things simple. Yup. 10) Relax. Life is short. Double yup. Focusing on life's big picture makes it easier to enjoy your daily experiences. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Power of Stop, Think, Think Again With everything happening in the world, 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 daily 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! From that day forward, I knew I would live in my Husky pants until I found a solution. Years later, I did. In the beginning, I adopted a philosophy of choosing food that said, ?Stop. Think. Order.? If that doesn?t work, I employ my advanced version, ?Stop. Think. Think again. Order.? Years later, I streamlined my thinking to ?Stop. Think. Think again. Act.? I also began to apply it to everything I do. One day I mentioned my new-found thinking to my Mom. She said, ?That?s like listening before speaking and thinking before acting. Hmm? that sure sounds like something I may have said to you before.? 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

Change Everything With a Magic Wand So you know you want something different than what you have. You can?t seem to put your finger on what you want. And, the big one, you don?t know where to begin. In my years of helping others reach their dreams, I?ve learned a couple of things - For most of us, our lives are pretty good. They could be more exciting, and you could make more money. Your relationships could sparkle a bit more. Still, you may feel frozen from a fear of what you might lose. It may be from a fear that you won?t get what you want. Is it possible that you are living in a someday-maybe mindset? In the business world, things are more apparent. If you want to succeed, you only need to offer something your customer wants or needs and provide a solution. It?s simple math. The customer will take you up on your offer, and your business will thrive. Or, they won?t even notice your business and your competition will succeed. Your personal life is the same way. You recognize that your desire is a problem that needs a solution. Or, you stay forever and frustratingly in a someday-maybe mindset. But what if there was a magical question you could ask yourself? A question that would transform your trajectory if you are willing to accept the answer?  I asked a confused client on a recent call, ?If I could wave a magic wand and transform your life into exactly what you wanted - what would that look like?? The first few seconds were silent - until the floodgates of her imagination opened. The picture was painted, and she could see the future.  She let out a deep breath, relaxed, and said - ?Thanks for getting me to admit what I wanted, finally. I?ve been thinking about it for years. I was afraid to say it out loud. It feels good.? It always feels good when you release the dream locked inside of you. Now, accept that you want it and get work making it real. If in doubt, wave your magic wand! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maslow?s Hierarchy of Needs Your best life is built sequentially, one level at a time. Forget the elevator. Climb all the stairs to the top, and you?ll have lasting success. In 1954, Abraham Maslow released Motivation and Personality. His Hierarchy of needs theory is all about climbing to the top. Maslow suggested that to reach your full potential: 1) You must provide for your physiological needs. Food, clothing, shelter, money, and more.   2) You must feel safe. Personally, emotionally, financially, health and well-being, and against accidents and illness. 3) Socially, you need to feel love and belonging.  4) Esteem and the desire for acceptance, respect, and value by others is your next step. Self-actualization requires mastery of your previous needs. Maslow said, ?What a man can be, he must be.? 5) Self-transcendence removes you from your ego and begins your focus on the greater good. Your best life is built sequentially, one level at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Never Miss a Good Opportunity Getting what you want always comes down to knowing what it is, deciding to go after it, and not stopping until you get it.  But what happens when you need somebody's help to get it, and they won't step up? I'll never forget that warm September day I made up my mind to get a membership at a new gym. They had been in pre-sale for months, and I had finally decided to drag myself off the sofa and grab a pre-opening special before it was gone. When I walked through the door, it was a beehive of activity. People everywhere packing up equipment. They were moving to the new location across the street. At that moment, I thought I missed my chance, but I stepped up to the counter anyway, "Can I get signed up?" The young girl behind the counter said something that blew my mind. "I can't help you. The computer is unplugged. Besides, you've had a couple of months. You're kind of late." Let me get this straight.  This business, whose only reason for existence is to get members, can't because their computer is unplugged, and it's my fault? I was picking my jaw up off the floor when the owner saw what was happening. He stopped what he was doing, grabbed a contract, and said, "Of course we can. We'll do it the old-fashion way and enter it into the computer tomorrow. You can pay when you come to work out." With that, I walked out with my new membership. I started working out the next day, and the actions of that day changed my life. How? I had been working out for a few months, and the owner noticed my results. Knowing I had a martial arts background, he asked if I would teach a few kickboxing classes. I agreed, and Motivation To Move was born a few months later. Nothing has ever been the same. I learned a valuable lesson about business and life that day. Once you decide what you want, whether running a business or on a treadmill, never miss out on an opportunity to get what you want. Even if the computer is unplugged. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Six Mindset Shifts For Better Results On your last day on earth, the person you became will meet the person you could have become." ? Anonymous You're smart. You're not going to let that happen to you - right?  Here are six mindset shifts to make sure you are living on purpose right now - 1) Live a good lifestyle. Eat good stuff and exercise. 2) Think long-term. Find your groove and stick with it. 3) Play BIG. Small thinking is not why you were born. 4) Be responsible. No more excuses. That?s the only way to be happy. 5) Learn to be more flexible. Stop being hard-headed. Go with the flow to get what you want. 6) Embrace hard work. There is no Magic Bullet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Behavior Hacks For a Better Day Your mind is the most potent super-computer ever created. Here are a few ways to hack it and transform your life. 1) Start using a "Good Enough" approach. Perfectionism is doing nothing to move you forward. 2) Use your ONE mind to do ONE thing. Multitasking is splitting your focus and energy. It's also delaying your success. 3) Let go of control. Some things are up to someone else. Figure out what they are and move on. 4) Say NO to anything that does not directly support your Goals. Do what you KNOW will get you what you want. Don't do something in hopes of getting what you want. 5) Hang out with supportive, positive, and nurturing people. Let toxic people create their group. 6) Be willing not to be liked. If you avoid making folks unhappy, you're not moving toward your dreams. 7) Focus on the story of YOU. Minimize social media and television. When you do, you also minimize the influence others have on you. Notice how most h acks are simply relying on yourself first.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clear Your Clutter, Clear Your Mind I?ve noticed in my life that humans are hoarders when it comes to keeping stuff that works and doesn?t.  They keep hanging on; 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, leading to frustration as you 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 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 a question? How would you feel if you dropped everything 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-day 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 making a life decision, if you stay, you can?t go; if you go, you can?t stay.  Make your choice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why a Balanced Life is a Myth I always hear, "My goal is to balance my life better." It's as if balancing is static and can be achieved and maintained once you have it. Balance is dynamic, fleeting, ever-changing, and always challenging. Sure, it feels good when you reach equilibrium, but what about all that fun you had on your way there? I learned about balance when I worked in radio. My job was to balance the new music everyone wanted to hear, and the old music folks loved to remember. We balanced male and female bands, duos, and anything else musicians would toss at us. That sure sounds like life.  Imagine a life of rotating the new and exciting with the mundane and routine. Time for yourself and time for your family. A bit for the boss and time to play.   Never too much. Never too little. You are always changing. That's balance. Embrace the journey of the day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imperfect Steps to Perfect Dreams Do you love the feeling you get when an exciting idea pops your head?  The most appealing aspect of anything new in your life always happens initially -when it?s still a dream inside your head. It?s when it?s time to take actual action that folks slow down - fast! Here?s how to break free: 1) Dreams only come true when you take massive action and establish momentum. 2) Fear of the unknown will stop you. What do I do? Where do I start? Will it work? No worries. One word will change everything. 3) The next time you don?t know what to do, embrace your inner NON-perfectionist. Take ?Massive IMPERFECT Action? until things start to move forward. Sometimes, your feet must travel down the path of your dreams before you see the entire picture. Stand up, take a step, and repeat. You?ll figure it out! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Endure to Earn. Questions For Resilience A few years ago, I was chatting with a friend about business. He owned a struggling martial arts school and was crafting a master plan to grow in the coming year.   I had four questions: 1) How long do you think it will take to learn what it takes to succeed? 2) How long are you willing to work to reach your goal? 3) How long will your money last?   4) When will you begin earning - and how much? Be prepared before you begin. Consider those questions before you set off on your journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rough Roads Smooth Successes Life is a long and winding road. It has many ups and downs and a few surprises along the way.  Here's what you can expect:  1) Follow your passion, and the money will arrive. It may take longer than you think. It may be less than you believe. It doesn't matter. You'll be happy. 2) Nothing will happen until you move from daydreaming to daily action. 3) The road will be rough. Then, it will smooth out. Then, it will be rough again. 4) Whatever path you thought you would travel will change. 5) You will find speed limits. Sometimes, you will move slowly. Sometimes fast. Pay attention to the signs that arrive in your life. 6) Frustration will be a constant companion. So will excitement. 7) You must be strong to stay focused on the big picture. 8) When you arrive, you will find yourself seeking another adventure.   Success is a journey that brings out the best in you. Arriving at your destination will make you desire another journey.  Stay busy, my friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Becoming Aware of Your Passions Are you aware of your passions?  If not, I have a question for you - What do you do when you are doing YOU?  Why spend your days searching your mind to figure out your purpose when you are most likely living it daily? When you take a minute to inventory how you spend your time, you will see what you enjoy doing. Do you read, write, exercise, or work?   How about walking, talking, playing, fighting, laughing, or watching television?   Do you quilt, garden, volunteer, socialize?   Passion in life is not about finding something to do. It's about noticing what you do naturally - and doing more of it.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Filter, Focus, and Prioritize Your Path My wife and I were having dinner this weekend. She finally asked, ?Are you going to tell me what you?re doing for Operation Reinvention this Summer? I want to help.? I said, ?I won?t need your help. I need your support.? She had a puzzled look. I don?t blame her. But, I am locked in on my Goal - and that needs two things: 1) The ability to filter out what doesn?t matter and prioritize what does. 2) Accept 100% responsibility for reaching your Goal. As they say, ?If it?s to be, it?s up to me.? Anything less will remove you from control. You?ll find many well-meaning people offering support if you miss either one. The problem? The suggestions they make will be different from how you imagined your journey. As soon as that happens, you have pulled off your path. If you are setting off on a life-transforming Goal, it?s okay to accept the support of others. Remember, your most important supporter is YOU! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

It?s All About ONE Important Thing I have a question for you. What is your ONE most important activity?   What is the ONE core activity that, if you do, everything else is fine? What is the ONE core activity that, if you don?t do it, causes everything to fall apart? Many people focus on anything but the most critical activity in their lives. They are usually surprised when things fall apart. Is it showing up for work on time or doing a great job? Could it be your unflinching attention to your family? Does your business have ONE activity that causes people to buy from you? When you focus on your ONE most important activity - everything else will take care of itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Freedom and Growth Between the Lines Are you a fun-loving, carefree person who prefers to drift with the wind? Are you happier following the rules and staying within the lines? Whichever you are, happiness and success will arrive when you combine both: 1) Too much flexibility in life doesn?t allow for compounding your life experience. Like money in the bank, leave it alone once you know what works. 2) Too much structure will limit your ability to discover growth opportunities. Don?t get stuck. Donnie and Marie said it best in the ?70s, ?I?m a little bit country, he?s a little bit rock and roll.? Combine the best of both.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices