Perspective in Struggle

None of us like to struggle. There really is no other way to respond to difficult things than you say, “this sucks!”

But if you stop there, difficulty wins, dreams die, and regrets take seed.

Perspective and mindset give you the tools to look past struggle and see yourself where you want to be. Now, the naysayers will tell you that having a perspective like that is something Pollyanna or “woo woo.” (I know, I used to be one of them)

Making this change in my head and heart has changed my life. More importantly for this discussion, have a mindset that is focused upward and onward, my business, life, health, spirituality, all of it have momentum in a way that I have never known before.

That is why I am so passionate about coaching you and sharing my journey with you.

Having a project, business interest, or relationship not go as planned is tough. The frustration and angst are real—I in no way diminish the challenges we all face.

However, I make a willful choice not to leave it there and not to allow a struggle to define me or limit me…and neither should you.

Your greatest treasures of wisdom are most likely hiding in the depths of places where we have struggled.

I encourage you to take a fresh look back and consider what about a past struggle has made you stronger. The answer might surprise you.

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Legendary Truth

Zig Zigler is one of my favorite motivational speakers and authors. There are so many talks and videos that I’ve seen that have had an enormous impact on me over the years.

 

One of the quotes that I love most is this idea that “there is no elevator to success, you have to take the stairs.”
I’m a full believer that mindset is the driving force of everything that we do. That’s why I created Mindset Engine —first for myself, and now to share with you.

 

But even with a healthy, functioning mindset, there is no excuse for lack of hard work.

 

You have to take the stairs. You have to do the work. You have to work with discipline to be able to make things happen. How I know this? Because that’s been my life story over and over again.

 

In the past, I would fall into a trap of procrastination or I would make excuses of not having enough time. Eventually, I would just stop trying.

The truth is…I was afraid. I used procrastination to hide the fact that I was afraid someone might not like my idea or product.

 

Then, I realized that through a focused mindset, I not only have the ability to take the stairs, but I can start taking them at two and three steps at a time.

 

It speeds up everything in my life and turns to momentum.

 

Hard work is much like exercise. The more you do it, the better you get at it. The faster you get, the more disciplined you are. Ultimately, momentum becomes the norm.

 

Think about that.

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Exercise and Training Required

One of the most powerful tools any individual can possess is the ability to laser-focus your mind.

Having expertise, capability, and skill is a beautiful thing, but those things will only get you so far.  Just ask any professional athlete. A mindset that is developed, honed, and exercised is like a healthy physique it can move you to places you never thought possible. It can also give you an unfair advantage.

Even as a skeptic, as an introvert, and as someone who may not always be positive-minded (which by the way is me), your mind can be proactively directed toward positive thoughts and actions.

When you do, your life will start to change. How do I know this? Because that is my life story.

Any time in my history where I’ve allowed myself to get down, to get afraid, to be in a place of fear or negativity, everything around me begins just to close up and kind of get harder sort of like walking in mud. By stopping to evaluate and refocus my mindset, everything turns and works in momentum WITH me and FOR me.

Now this is not just a warm and fuzzy feeling. Mindset and visualization are well-documented skills among thousands of the world’s top athletes. If you can learn how to drive rather than respond to your mindset, you have the ability to create your future rather than be limited to only chase it.

Take Action:
Look at the Vision90 resource tool in the Tools and Resources tab of this app.  This simple exercise has become the central driver of my success.  I use it every day to focus on quarterly and yearly goals.  For me, it has made all the difference.

Think about that.

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Often Overlooked

Paying close attention to your health is as much a business decision as it is a health decision.  Of course, there are great benefits from a healthy lifestyle.  However, what is often overlooked is the distinct business advantage from being healthy.

 

For years, I really never thought that much about it.  I would make a healthy choice here and there, but overall I just did (or did not do) whatever I chose and did not think that my health had that much to do with my business.

 

I could not have been more wrong.

 

Now I will admit.  I am a foodie.  I love great food, wine, all of it.  But everything in moderation is a principle that rings true.

 

Within about three to four days of re-working my personal nutrition and workout routine, my mind gained clarity and focus like you would not believe. It actually surprised me quite a bit.

 

So I encourage you to think about how you can improve your nutrition, workout, water intact, sleep schedule, etc.  ALL of these things have a significant factor in how your body serves you in your goals.

 

I am certain you will be pleasantly surprised.

 

Take Action:

Grab your journal, the app journal or some note-taking mechanism and begin right now listing all the food, water, other beverages, snacks, and things you take in your body today.  Continue this tracking for a full even days.  Just take notes, don’t make a huge adjustment immediately.

 

Let your body tell you what it is consuming. You may be shocked (like I was).

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A Personal Note

I have had fairly significant adverse events in my life.

 

Some because of my own doing, others completely out of the blue. But through all, I’ve learned the best thing to do is to realize that a failure is not an ending.

 

A failure is merely a pause—a comma in the middle of one of life’s sentences where you get to make the choice which way you’re going to respond.

 

I have learned to say, “Either you win, or you learn.”  There is no failure.

 

You can either absorb a failure, internalize it, and it will do nothing but grow fear and anxiety in your heart and mind.  Or you can see a failure as a beginning, a place where you can start again, but now with greater wisdom, deeper knowledge, a unique experience.

 

Whether in business or personal life—strive for a place where you look at “failures” as a place of wisdom and learning.  Once you do, you will find a path to healing and even greater success.

 

Take Action:

 

Right now, take a few moments and write 2-3 sentences about the last “failure” you can remember.  Now ask – What did it cost me?  What did I learn from it? What did I discover about myself?

 

Those three nuggets of truth can quickly become the stepping stones to a higher and greater future.

 

Think about that.

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Giving to Find

Many entrepreneurs often fall into the trap of myopic inward focus. Because we are so driven, we sometimes struggle to look up and realize where our true power and genuine success lay.

 

While in pursuit of income, notoriety, and freedom, we fail to understand that giving to others and investing in others unlocks incredible creativity and insights.

 

Giving away rewards us too.

 

But giving is much more than just a simple random act of kindness.  I have found that it allows you to discover your life’s purpose.  There is something wildly clarifying that comes from the act of giving.

 

So what gift do you have to invest in the world?

 

Take Action:

Before sundown today, I encourage you to find three people in your day to whom you can give of yourself.  Perhaps you buy a stranger their coffee this morning, or stop to help someone stranded on the roadside, or make time to stop in to visit someone who has very little company.

 

Your effort does not have to be large; it just needs to be heartfelt and genuine. I assure you, this action will reward you emotionally and offer significant clues to your life’s purpose.

 

Think about that.

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I’ll just say it…Ouch!

Sometimes the Mindset of the Day just stings a bit, and today’s is no exception. Getting comfortable in your own skin sounds easy but it can fool you.

 

Why is that? The primary reason is fear and the secondary reason is comparison.

 

Fear over whether or not we will be liked, believed, or laughed at; And, when comparison creeps in—which is the thief of joy—we are sunk.

 

It took me quite some time to get comfortable in my own skin from a business standpoint.  I was sure everyone—and I mean EVERYONE—was doing far better than me.

 

Yeah…no.

 

These days it no longer matters to me if I am doing better or not.  I focus on what I want and how I am going to get there.  Then, I pay attention to execute better than anyone else.

 

Some days I still stumble from time to time, but overall I like where I am and who I am.

It takes time and practice.  Plus, I will tell you the sense of being settled and at peace is spectacular.

 

Go ahead. Give it a try.

 

Think about that.

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How Are Ya Livin’?

One of my best friends, client, and business partner is Dr. Rick Rigsby.  He tells a story of his dad who was a third grade dropout and used to ask him all the time when Rick was young, “Son, how ya livin?”

 

Now at the time, Mr. Rigsby was making sure his boys were staying in check behaviorally.  Today I want to ask it a little differently.

 

All too often, we slip into living in our fears. We get spooked and see risks as bigger than they are—if we even see them at all.

 

I prefer to live in my dreams, but honestly, I often backslide into old habits.

 

That is why I practice intentionality in every area of my life that I can.  I know that my business, my life, my joy, my relationship, my spirituality, and my life’s purpose all hinge on how I am diligent to work on those areas.

 

Success does not just spontaneously appear, you have to create it.

 

So, how ya livin’? In fear or in fierce?

 

Think about that.

 

 

 

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An Upward Word

I am always cautious when addressing anything around the topic of religion and faith.  I want to be respectful of your tradition or freedom to not have a tradition.

 

That being said, faith is very important for me and the role of prayer is central to who I am as a human being.

 

I do not see prayer as a “Lord, gimme…” situation.  No, rather I see prayer as a time for me to become quiet, centered, and let the act of prayer change me over my circumstances.

 

I use prayer to seek out ways and places where I can serve others.

 

As a result, prayer really is the most important conversation of the day.  Without it, I find myself scattered. I prefer to be centered and grounded.

 

So my hope for you is this—no matter your tradition—find your higher power and speak often.

 

The practice and the quiet will do you good.

 

Think about that.

 

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Future-vesting

Emotions are funny things. Not only do they control a lot of our here and now, so often they control our ‘laters’ and our tomorrows.

 

Why is that?

So much of the time we take our emotions at face value rather than what they really are—momentary flashes of color.  They are not the final decree of reality.

 

Our emotions lie to us all the time.

 

We get angry when we have no real reason to be. We get perturbed over something that is honestly trivial. We get caught up in ourselves and our thoughts and never really think if this emotion will be important 3 or 4 years from now.

 

I bet it won’t be.

 

Yet, we still allow them in and allow them control.  That is why I choose to use my good energy for

today to light my path tomorrow.

 

This simple act of personal kindness changes my day and my outlook every day.  I simply take the good from today and future-vest it into my tomorrow.

 

Amazing things happen when I do.

 

Think about that.

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