Daily Boost Motivation and Coaching (Scott Smith - Motivation and Coaching)

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

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

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

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

Get your Daily Boost five days a week at MotivationToMove.com. Returning To Your Dreams Can you remember a time when you filled your thoughts with dreams and ambitions?  That’s how most of us live our early lives - until the real world splits into two distinct periods: 1) BEFORE life gets in the way. Anything IS possible. It’s a beautiful time when you run as fast as you can toward your goals. Even if your parents disagree. 2) AFTER life gets in the way. Anything WAS possible. Life is good, but it’s not what you expected. Your parents would have said, “I told you so.” What if it was possible to remember what you wanted and why you wanted it? What if you could stand on a foundation of wisdom and experience? What if you combine what you have now with what you want?  That would be a great new life, wouldn’t it? Wait. It is possible.  All you have to do is remember what you wanted all these years and start running after it again. Run fast. You’ve waited long enough. Get your Daily Boost five days a week at MotivationToMove.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

I’ll never forget the day a friend called and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse - and I didn’t. Rob was an event promotor who had snagged the chance to book an up-and-coming comedian named Jerry Seinfeld into a local venue. He needed somebody to warm up the audience and introduce Jerry. I was all in when he agreed to cover my drink tab and let me hang out with Jerry before the show. It was 1986, and Jerry’s television series about nothing was still in development. I know that because it’s what we talked about before the show. As he munched on veggies and sipped sparkling water, I’ll never forget how focused he was on getting what he wanted. Tired and worn out from living on the road, I asked how he managed to keep going. He said — “I know exactly what I want. I’m a comedian, so I have to be funny. The only way to be funny is to write funny jokes. The only way to write funny jokes is to write every day. So, I write every day and put a big red “X” on the calendar. Eventually, there is a chain of X’s on the calendar. My goal is not to break the chain.”  Then, in a very Seinfeld way, he screamed, “Don’t break the chain! That’s how you get what.” Over the years, I’ve read that others have had the same conversation with Jerry. I’m guessing it was a rule of success that he practiced and shared often. I’m happy he shared it with me. As we begin 2022, pick an action and do it every day until you get so good people notice. And, whatever you do, “Don’t break the chain!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's the time of the year when it seems almost everybody is setting new goals. It's also the time of year most folks will quickly give up on those goals. There has been a lot of research about how long New Year's Resolutions last. On the short end, most folks give up at 12 days, the most committed stay in the game for an entire month. Now, since it takes 66 days to set a new behavior, it's no wonder people have such a difficult time changing.  Here's an exciting way to think about that problem. Setting a goal is a conscious decision that is an executive function of your brain - which operates serially. While you may think that you can multitask, your brain processes one item at a time. That means it must prioritize what's most important so it can work on it for you. When you set and prioritize a goal, you are essentially eliminating other alternatives that may be more important to you. When you do, your brain views taking action as a potential opportunity lost and makes any new tasks difficult. How do you make it easier? The answer can be found in the word ''Alternative'' because the inverse is true— Any new goal will feel easier when it is more important to you than the alternative choice. In other words, choose wisely. If you want to set great goals, pursue them, make a significant change to your life, the secret is to make your goal more important than any alternative that may be lurking in the back of your mind. When you choose correctly, you'll find yourself automatically motivated to reach any goal you have successfully. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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 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 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 that were 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 when 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

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the middle? I spoke with a client 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.” In business and life, it’s okay to have low expectations and surround yourself with like-minded folks.  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

If you study people who have had success in any area of their life, you will find they have much in common.  Not only do they follow a set of rules, they follow those rules no matter how much life gets in the way. What are those rules? The person who has the strongest "Why" wins. The person who shows up wins. The person who is most persistent wins. The person show never assumes wins. The person who is the best at what they do wins. The person who plans and documents their journey and interactions wins. The person who never gives up total control to others wins. The person who acceptances responsibility for themselves wins. The person who serves the most wins. The 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

There's an idea floating within your mind. Soon it will demand your attention.  Is this all there is?  Am I destined for something bigger? Your real purpose will arrive in your life when you: 1) Accept WHO you are and have always been. You are beautiful just the way you are. 2) Accept WHAT you do when you are doing you. Life is far more enjoyable when you spend most of your time in your comfort zone - and step out occasionally. 3) Accept WHEN when you want to start living in the moment. Now is a good time. 4) Accept WHERE you are in your life. As long as you know where you are, you can go anywhere. Accepting your real purpose is revealed by daily actions. If you want to go in a new direction, change what you do. Start today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

You hear a lot about using morning rituals to get more done. But what if you could use your mornings to get more done for YOU? In the fast-face world, we live in today; there seem to be two groups when it comes to how to use mornings—personal and productivity. Once folks remove themselves from the craziness of jumping out of bed, taking care of the kids, and hitting the drive-through, they choose one of the two.  But what if there was a third group that was more satisfying? Before I go on, I need to admit that I didn't use to be a morning person and didn't like getting up early at all. I even quit my first couple of jobs as a morning radio host so I could sleep.  Later in my career, I would hit my desk at 5 AM and pound through my to-do list as fast as possible. I must have been saying, "I…MUST… GET… IT… DONE!" That didn't work well because I didn't see the purpose of getting out of bed early if it was only to work. For a few years, I spent my mornings reading and meditating before heading off to the gym. I got in better shape, but my bank balance was less, and my future goals were seemingly unreachable. Then, one day out of pure frustration and sporting a brand-new I don't give a heck attitude, I asked myself a question that changed everything - "What's the first thing I should do tomorrow morning that, if I do, will allow me to live a life of my design?" Notice that I didn't ask about work or what was on my to-do list. It didn't have anything to do with getting more done or getting in better shape. I focused on the lifestyle I wanted to live - and it was life-changing. In the years since I made that decision, I've started my days doing the most important thing I deem required to live the life of my choosing, and I've been happier for it. I've also come across dozens of morning do-gooders who are getting everything done, except what they dream of doing, and when they realize it's not their fault, everything changes. They got caught up in the buzz of life, and everyone does. But, the minute you choose to focus on YOU before anything else is when you start making real progress. When you focus on what is important to you, you get what is important to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Have you ever caught yourself doing or saying something you swore you would never do?   You have been TRIGGERED! It can be frustrating when you set the rules and don't follow them. Sometimes you put your foot in your mouth. Sometimes you put the pizza in your mouth. In any case, your emotional habits are triggering your actions before you can do anything about them. Controlling behaviors that have been on auto-pilot for years takes: 1) Catching yourself after the fact. Notice your mistake and see it coming sooner next time. 2) Catching yourself being triggered as it's happening. You're getting better. 3) Catching yourself before you act and stop it. That's the goal. Emotional Triggers can throw you off track from your goals. Pay attention to your behaviors and make minor adjustments until you get what you want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 When I first met my wife, Joi, I knew we would be married and live happily ever after. But there was a problem. Joi didn’t see it that way - at least not right away. If life has taught me anything, it’s that almost nobody is on the same page when they first meet. We might be in the same book but not on the same page.  In the early weeks of our relationship, I was in full-on action mode, and I was on a mission to achieve my goal as quickly as possible. I was also getting frustrated since Joi didn’t seem to share my urgency. She was enjoying our relationship and in no hurry. One day, I decided to take action - I dragged myself out of bed at 4:30 AM, drove 30 minutes, and waited for Joi to arrive at the gym. I met her when she stepped out of her car, nearly scaring her to death, and said, “I love you. What do I have to do to catch you? We should…”  Stopped by a kiss, she said, “We’ll know in about 6-months. Let’s enjoy the ride.” It wasn’t the answer I was looking for, but Joi had given me something even more powerful. She gave me an expectation, I knew her rules, how to play the game, and that she was right.  All relationships, romantic, friendship, or professional, follow the same path. There is an initial spark, a period of trust-building, and finally, commitment. In time, the relationship grows stronger or will fade. Time will tell. That’s how it works and how it went for us. Exactly 6-Months later, to the day, I asked Joi to marry me, and she said yes. That was 15 years ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do you ever wish you had a less complicated life?  Even if your job and life are overcomplicated out of necessity, like launching a rocket or performing brain surgery, you can still simplify everything. How do you do it? The fact is, the actions you are taking in your life and your job are probably not causing the overwhelm. It's the people and the results that are causing you to feel that way. The easier way to under-complicate is to begin saying "No" to the arbitrary and unattainable demands of others and focus exclusively on the results you want.  Here are a couple of ideas: 1) Practice the law of "Good Enough." Perfectionism is over-rated. It will waste years of productive time that you could use to enjoy life. Set your own standards and rise to them. 2) Get good at saying "No." Make that two-letter word your default answer for everything. And remember, sometimes, saying nothing at all gets the same result. 3) Keep in mind that the only thing you must do in life is taking a BREATH. Everything else is optional and self-inflicted.  Leonardo da Vinci said," Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."  Why not show everybody how sophisticated you are? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Is it me, or does living life these days make you feel like Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day?  When it comes to working toward goals, that can be a tremendous asset. It's also something that will break you free when things don't feel like they are going your way. Everybody has ups and downs. Up days are lots of fun. Down days make you want to crawl under a rock. But like the movie, with the right mindset, you always get another chance to try again. How would you feel if every day was a chance to tweak, adjust, flex, or reinvent your approach to living? What if everything got more comfortable as you built your knowledge of what works best for you? How empowered would you feel if you knew that every day was a do-over day? As long as the sun rises and the sun sets, it doesn't matter if you succeed or fail the previous day. Today is always a new day for making your dreams come true. That'll make you get out of bed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

A client asked me, "What do you pay attention to most of the day to keep yourself on track?"  I said,  "I pay attention to MY agenda first. When I cross paths with the agendas of others, it doesn't have to be my way or the highway, but I must continue to live the life I desire and get the results I want without delay and distraction. The truth is, I want us both to do that." As long as you know what you want in life, getting is a matter of moving forward a little bit every day and staying on track. Since every person you meet is on their path, you will always find yourself with the opportunity to willingly or unwillingly be pulled into their agenda. If you do, you detour yourself from your dreams. Take control of your agenda before somebody does it for you.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everybody has dreams. Daydreams, dreams while you sleep, and dreams of what you wish for the future. I’ve always believed that dreams are goals you have nurtured to become real in your life.  But how do you know if the voice speaking to your heart will lead you in the right direction? Brant Pinvidic’s book, The 3-Minute Rule, has four questions that will help: 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? Use these when something is holding you back. I promise. The clarity you are seeking is around the corner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everything you do is guided by what you think is logical in your mind. Just like everything I do is directed by my Scott LOGIC. Is it common sense? Is it experience-based? Is it how you choose to live? Yes. But mostly, it is the filter in your mind at work. Here are a few of my filters: Life is long enough. But not for everybody. Life goes quickly. But not if you're bored. Life passes slowly when you are fishing. Some people are too serious. Others are not serious enough. Both disagree with the other. You must stand in another person's shoes to understand how they see you. The reward for hard work is a chance to work more. The reward for laziness is a chance to be lazy more. Turning off your phone means it won't ring. Most things in life should be in moderation. Excess is good now and then.   It takes a fraction of the time to read a good book as it does to write one. That makes reading a book a good investment of your time. People who read more good books earn more money. People who don't read don't understand why others earn more. Saying "I don't care" means you do - at least about something. Everything you experience is filtered through what you hold as the truth. Choose what you hold carefully. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I speak about being joyful often and get lots of questions about making it happen.  First, there is no magic to being joyful, and rose-colored glasses are not required. In fact, the more precise you see the world, the more joyful you will be. When you accept that merely being alive means you will run into occasional challenges, you will be more joyful. When you realize that dealing with challenges is a privilege of being alive, you will be more joyful. When you accept that frustration is part of life, you will be more joyful. You will be more joyful when you deal with everything that life throws at you without skipping a step. Being joyful essentially comes down to having a great day, getting a good night’s sleep, and repeating it over and over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Being a Good Quitter Has anybody ever said to you, "it's good to be a quitter?” Probably Not. That’s why it’s so important today that you pay attention today. Being a good quitter isn’t an excuse. It should never be an option for making things easier. Instead, quitting is a wise choice. You choose to quit when your progress has you going around in circles or has stopped. That's when things get interesting. Once you are committed to an idea that is important to you, it can be difficult to allow yourself to quit. Stuck in a lousy job, terrible relationship, destructive behavior? Your internal sense of "Identity" will compel you to hold to the very end. That may not be wise. Listen closely when your inner voice begins to sound a warning. There's no need to wait for the inevitable. Trust your gut and change your direction fast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Best Kind of Relationship The quality of your life is a direct result of your relationships. Tony Robbins said that.  There are three ways to play the relationship game, whether it's a personal, professional, or business relationship. There is only one way to win. 1) All relationships begin with two independent individuals. If you remain independent, you will never connect. 2) Some relationships become co-dependent. Developing this kind of relationship means losing individuality. Isn't that what attracted you in the first place? 3) Combining your skills, passions, and identity is the best way. The result will be an interdependent relationship.  The strength of an individual. The power of a team. It doesn't get any better than that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stress-Free Weekly Productivity 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! Be sure to 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) Never end one week without locking in your schedule for the next - and stick to it.  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

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

How to Be Your Own Cheerleader Do you remember what it was like to be in 1st grade? It was a time when everybody lavished you with encouragement for being YOU - and because you finished your art project without eating the glue. Those were beautiful times. But you may have noticed things have changed since you were okay to take a nap in the middle of class. You grew up. Yes, growing into an adult brings many mentors your way. They do their best to motivate and inspire you. But you know in your heart that they can only do so much. It's up to you to drive yourself in the direction of your dreams. That's called adulting. I say it's time to PYOTB, my friend!   YOU are your own BEST Cheerleader. Don't sit around waiting for somebody to make you feel good. Pat yourself on the butt. Scream, "I done GOOD!"   It's going to be the best day ever! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Faster Goal Achievement I need to pass along a way to achieve your goals faster than you thought possible. If you are ready for success to arrive, here are three simple rules to help you realize your dreams: 1) Play to your strength. Do what is comfortable for you. 2) Only commit to activities that will lead you to your goal. 3) Never let a day pass without reminding yourself of your strengths. Consciously direct your focus. You can reach your goals faster when you avoid distractions stranding everybody else in place. Focus. Do. Focus again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Replace Your To-Do List I'm sure you have a lot to do. If you use a To-Do list, I'd like to pass on advice that will make your days much more fun. LOSE your "To-Do List." Replace it with a" Did I Do It List."   To-Do Lists make you a slave to the checkmark. They cause more stress the longer they get.   A" Did I Do It List" assumes you know what must be done. Instead of chasing, you are checking to make sure you did it.   An un-focused path produces additional tasks to fill your day. A "Did I Do It List" will focus on your goals and create quick results. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Too Many Choices Paralysis Do you have too many choices in your life? Is it confusing and making you feel distressed? In 2005, Barry Schwartz wrote Paradox of Choice and challenged traditional thinking. He said the way to maximum freedom in your life was to minimize choice.   Too many choices are not a good thing and can create paralysis. Not to mention, no matter what you choose, you'll always wonder if you could have done better. Distractions are your enemy, and focus is your friend: Here's how to free up your life: 1) Limit your choices. Narrow your list to items you have already experienced. Having every option won't serve you. 2) Be sure to permit yourself to try other possibilities IF needed - but only after you've vetted your first. 3) Stay in your lane and keep it simple.  Too many choices are part of modern life. If you can't make a decision - shorten your list of options to what is important. Ignore everything else. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4-Step Success System Wouldn’t it be great to have a plan to help you get what you want?   What you need is M.A.P.S. - a system that gets thinking out of the way and focuses on actions in four areas: Motivation - Everything begins with motivation and knowing ‘WHY’ you set your goals. Stay motivated. Accountability: Being accountable and accepting responsibility for your results will empower your success. Saying, ‘If it’s to be, it’s up to me’ is a great way to get started. Planning: Plan your work. Work you plan. It’s simple. If you can’t plan it, you won’t be able to do it. Systemization: The first steps of any worthy goal are difficult. As you get more comfortable with your process, lock in the actions and repeat them until you get what you want. Sustainability: Everything takes longer than you think. Momentum is built in life by stacking your accomplishments sequentially. Make sure you set yourself up for the long haul. The freedom you desire rests on a stable and repeatable foundation. Motivation, Accountability, Planning, Systemization, and Sustainability.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Taming Your Crazy Life Are you finding yourself distracted and unfocused?  If you look around, there is an epidemic of craziness. It's so bad even the squirrels have started chasing shiny objects.  Imagine if they had a Facebook account like you? If you're ready to stop the insanity, remember this: 1) Getting caught up… in the caught up… will catch up with you when you least expect it. Can you feel it coming? 2) While it doesn't feel like it, the pre-crazy world you miss still exists. Nothing has changed. Turn off the phone, internet, and TV for 24 hours, and it will magically re-appear. 3) You will be far happier and progress more when you step off the spinning wheel of life. A slower, more methodical, and ritualized approach is the way. Play the long game.  Putting an end to the craziness in life is like ripping off a Band-Aid. Do it fast, and your life will get better instantly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Getting What You 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 of the keys 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 powerful is offering 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

Who is Influencing You?  Did you know that the power of Influence is ruling your day? Your subconscious mind is listing. Opinions are formed. Actions begin. It usually happens without your awareness. The dictionary definition of Influence is; the capacity or power of persons or things to be a compelling force on or produce effects on the actions, behavior, opinions, etc.. The degree of success you have in life results from who influences you. How you influence others. The Influence you have on yourself. Pay attention and choose the influence that is good for you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Prioritize Yourself First 'If you spend any time listening to me at all, it won’t take long before you hear me screaming from the tops 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 that you need to pay attention to yourself because nobody else will. Some folks find that way of thinking difficult because society would make you believe that you must do what everybody else is doing to be successful.  Let’s think about that for a minute. Is everybody more successful than you or is everybody pretty much in the same boat as you? You know the answer. So, who is more successful than you? It’s the people that are out in front leading the masses. You know, the ones who paid attention to what they wanted, thought it through, and convinced everybody else to support them on their mission. Here’s another truth… When you think about yourself first, you’ll have time to think about others too. Like they say, “If it’s to be, it’s up to me!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More Productive One Week at a Time What if you could maintain never-ending momentum while you work toward your goals? No matter how long it took? The 'MTM Rolling 7' is the solution you need to get the life you've always said you wanted.   It works like this: 1) Set your short-term and long-term goals.   2) Decide what past achievements you enjoy and that you want to defend. Many current successes must be maintained while you pursue your new adventures. 3) Decide what future goals you are ready to 'activate' and achieve. 4) Next week begins this week. On Thursday of this week, make your plan for how you will defend, activate, and create your dream life next week. Spend the next few days thinking about your plan. You'll amaze yourself at how you begin making progress one week at a time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Clutter-Free Living Now that 2022 is well underway, it's time to get busy making room for all the success you will have this year. The simple fact is that you will never have time to get ahead when you live a chaotic life: work clutter, home clutter, and emotional clutter. Something will always get in the way.  Here's how you can get control: 1) Schedule a time and begin tossing out the old. It may take months. Don't stop until it's gone. I promise you will know when that day arrives. 2) Fight the urge to reverse your purge once you are free. Keep your life lean, mean, and agile. You will love the freedom. 3) Enjoy your new life of less clutter and more meaning. Spend your time accomplishing the goals that will give you the life you've always wanted. Moving toward your goals should be your top priority. That is only possible when you have room to maneuver.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is Your Real Purpose is Waiting For You? There's an idea floating within your mind. Soon it will demand your attention.  Is this all there is?  Am I destined for something bigger? Your real purpose will arrive in your life when you: 1) Accept WHO you are and have always been. You are beautiful just the way you are. 2) Accept WHAT you do when you are doing you. Life is far more enjoyable when you spend most of your time in your comfort zone - and step out occasionally. 3) Accept WHEN when you want to start living in the moment. Now is a good time. 4) Accept WHERE you are in your life. As long as you know where you are, you can go anywhere. Accepting your real purpose is revealed by daily actions. If you want to go in a new direction, change what you do. Start today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  Have you ever caught yourself doing or saying something you swore you would never do?  You are TRIGGERED! It can be frustrating when you set the rules and don't follow them. Sometimes you put your foot in your mouth. Sometimes you put the pizza in your mouth. In any case, your emotional habits are triggering your actions. Usually, before you can do anything about it. Controlling behaviors that have been on auto-pilot for years takes: 1) Catching yourself after the trigger, notice your mistake, and stop it sooner next time. 2) Catching yourself while you are being triggered. Get control as soon as you can. You’re getting better. 3) Catching yourself before you ae trigger and avoid it altogether. Your life is now in your control. Don’t let emotional triggers throw you off track of your goals. Pay attention to your behaviors and make small adjustments until you get what you want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why a Boring Life is a Great Life I live by a mantra that says - “Almost everything in my day-to-day life should be routine. Consistent. Predictable. Between the lines. Boring. But, occasionally, it’s good to get out of the box, a little on edge, a bit scared, and a lot excited.” The truth is, you need both. There is also another truth. Most things that make you happy and successful are pretty mundane. Improving and enjoying your home… Paying bills, investing, and saving… Spending time with family… Yes, regular life is a boring life. But it’s your consistent routines that are focused on what’s essential that allows you to have incredible highs in your life too! Have fun and stick to what feels comfortable and works for you.  After all, most things that make you happy and successful are mundane. It’s not a rut; it’s your comfort zone.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Make Your Life Feel Longer I want to live forever! Well, that’s what I used to say when I was a kid. As I passed a few birthdays and dealt with life’s challenges, I started thinking differently with a realization — My life, all of our lives are spent learning and figuring things out. While it can be tiring, it’s also what pours energy and meaning into our days. As we age, our knowledge deepens, our day-to-day get less attractive, and we lose our youthful drive. But Scott doesn’t do that. I’m way too stubborn. So what have I learned from being such a hard head dedicated to living a life experience like no other? The first thing is to slow down. That means breaking free from all those dull and automatic behaviors that are not serving you. Moving as fast as you can through hundreds of activities won’t get you anywhere. Eventually, you’ll realize that a slow, more focused approach is more effective. The next thing to do is study and learn as much as possible, and your perception of time will feel longer. And perception is reality. This works because as we get older, we know more, so life is easier. But, it’s the act of learning something new that creates stackable memories that make your life fill full, vibrate, and exciting. Finally, fire up your Anticipation Engine by taking the time to create 6 to 12 event horizons per year. In other words, schedule something in the future that gets you excited and never stops. Having positive anticipation in your life is a driving factor in living a happy life. Slow down, study, and anticipate. It turns out that living a long and happy life only requires that you think and act like a child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Keep What You Have and Get What You Want If you’re going to drive across a bridge, it’s best if there is a solid foundation on both sides.  The same happens when you cross a metaphorical bridge to the next chapter in your life. Having a solid foundation on both sides is the goal.   But what happens when you get stuck in your foundation before you cross?  It’s common for folks to build such a solid foundation in their current life that it becomes difficult to move forward. If you’re happy, the bills are paid, and everything is okay - what’s the incentive to shake things up? You are stuck in your comfort zone. Well - Because the only way to live the life you’ve always wanted is to believe in your WHY - and take your first step as soon as you can see the other side. Yes, it can be scary. Then again, staying where you are for the rest of your life is scary too. Keep what you have and get what you want. That’s the goal.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What Life Used to Be Like Can you remember when you filled your thoughts with dreams and ambitions?   That’s how most of us live our early lives - until the real world splits into two distinct periods: 1) BEFORE life gets in the way. Anything IS possible. It’s a beautiful time when you run as fast as you can toward your goals. Even if your parents disagree. 2) AFTER life gets in the way. Anything WAS possible. Life is good, but it’s not what you expected. Your parents would have said, “I told you so.” What if it was possible to remember what you wanted and why you wanted it? What if you could stand on a foundation of wisdom and experience and combine what you have now with what you want?   That would be a great new life, wouldn’t it? Wait. It is possible.   You must remember what you wanted all those years ago and start running after it again.  Run fast. You’ve waited long enough. 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 Boost FIVE days a week at MotivationToMove.com. Over the year’s the most popular question I get from the MOVERS around here is - “How do I find my purpose and face my passion?” If I were to expand on that question, it would be - “What can I do today to find my purpose and overcome the fear of living my passion?” In other words, it’s one thing to find it; it’s another thing to get yourself to do it. Today we’ll focus on finding it. In my quest to always be passionately living, I always turn to a 5-step process for discovering and facing your passion. It has never failed me. 1) Explore the possibilities that are available to you. The more, the better. Many things will interest you, and you should be willing to allow them into your life.  2) Pay attention to what gets and keep your attention. Don’t fight the feeling. Just follow the urge to explore. 3) Deep dive into the things that are shoving themselves into your life and immersing yourself. 4) When you find yourself fascinated and nearly obsessed, even if it makes no sense at all, you are heading a new path. Don’t be surprised if it is nothing you’ve ever considered before. The formula is simple: Exploration + Fascination = Facing Your Passion While there can be several strategic steps within the steps above, the more significant challenge is to allow yourself to follow what you find.  Once you find it, be sure you live it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Do you have an image in your mind of what you would like your life to be - except when life gets in the way? There's no doubt that daily life events have a funny way of distracting us from reaching goals. It's just too easy to put them on the back burner. That's why you need to become the keeper of your vision. Every day thousands of opportunities will arrive on your path and detour you from what you want. That's why it's up to you to guard your vision by asking a simple question - Will this opportunity move me closer to the lifestyle I desire or further away? Simple. Know YOUR vision. Defend YOUR vision. Live YOUR Vision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Whatever you get in life is a result of your daily habits. What is a habit? According to the dictionary, it is a settled or regular tendency or practice. It is also something that is especially one that is hard to give up. Good habits or bad habits are hard to give up. If that’s the case, you may as well choose good habits. In a survey of 233 self-made millionaires, here’s what people who are successful at anything have in common: They get up early, read a lot, and spend 15 to 30 minutes each day on focused thinking. Good habits, done daily, create success. They make exercise a priority, spend time with people who inspire them, pursue their own goals. Settled habits maintain success. They get enough sleep, have multiple income streams, avoid time-wasters. If you want better results, it’s simple as having a solid list of good habits that you do every day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rules For a Happy Life 300 BC, political life was driving people crazy. To calm the masses, several schools of philosophy popped up. Stoicism still resonates powerfully today. 1. Don't enslave yourself to annoying people. 2. Choose reasonable expectations. 3. Pre-meditate those expectations. 4. You are a mind that is operating a bag of chemicals you call a body. 5. Stop pretending you know that things are bad. 6. You were put here to reason, so use it already. 7. Life is NOT too short. 8. Feel your emotions like a Stoic would. They are your power. 9. Anger is a choice. 10. When it comes down to it, we are dogs tied to the back of a cart. Sound wisdom never goes out of style. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are You Choosing a Word For The Year? Around this time every year, people begin to declare to me the WORD they have chosen to guide their life for the following year.  I like words - especially when combined with wisdom and a few wisecracks - but that might be just me.  Still, I'm always amazed at how excited people get and how much they believe their WORD will guide them into the next year. I'm jealous. I need a WORD, too - and that's where the trouble begins. I can't imagine choosing a single word to represent 365 days of getting after it. However, having a WORD is an emotional trigger and fires neurons in your brain to keep you moving, so why can't my WORD be several WORDS? Just like magic - they arrived… Simple. Sophisticated. Focused. Automated. Delegated. Deleted. Ritualistic.  It's a little Stoic, a little Tao, and a lot of Scott LOGIC - it works for me. If you could use an emotional supercharger, choose a WORD… or WORDS for the year… and see how the next year ROCKS! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

Don’t Break Your Success Chain I’ll never forget the day a friend called and made me an offer I couldn’t refuse - and I didn’t. Rob was an event promotor who had snagged the chance to book an up-and-coming comedian named Jerry Seinfeld into a local venue. He needed somebody to warm up the audience and introduce Jerry. I was all in when he agreed to cover my drink tab and let me hang out with Jerry before the show. It was 1986, and Jerry’s television series about nothing was still in development. I know that because it’s what we talked about before the show. As he munched on veggies and sipped sparkling water, I’ll never forget how focused he was on getting what he wanted. Tired and worn out from living on the road, I asked how he managed to keep going. He said — “I know exactly what I want. I’m a comedian, so I have to be funny. The only way to be funny is to write funny jokes. The only way to write funny jokes is to write every day. So, I write every day and put a big red “X” on the calendar. Eventually, there is a chain of X’s on the calendar. My goal is not to break the chain.”  Then, in a very Seinfeld way, he screamed, “Don’t break the chain! That’s how you get what.” Over the years, I’ve read that others have had the same conversation with Jerry. I’m guessing it was a rule of success that he practiced and shared often. I’m happy he shared it with me. As we begin 2023, pick an action and do it every day until you get so good people notice. And, whatever you do, “Don’t break the chain!” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Morning Routines That Work For You You hear a lot about using morning rituals to get more done. But what if you could use your mornings to get more done for YOU? In the fast-face world, we live in today; there seem to be two groups when it comes to how to use mornings—personal and productive. Once folks remove themselves from the craziness of jumping out of bed, taking care of the kids, and hitting the drive-through, they choose one of the two.  But what if there was a third group that was more satisfying? Before I go on, I need to admit that I didn't use to be a morning person and didn't like getting up early at all. I even quit my first couple of jobs as a morning radio host so I could sleep.  Later in my career, I would hit my desk at 5 AM and pound through my to-do list as fast as possible. I must have been saying, "I…MUST… GET… IT… DONE!" That didn't work well because I didn't see the purpose of getting out of bed early if it was only to work. For a few years, I spent my mornings reading and meditating before heading off to the gym. I got in better shape, but my bank balance was less, and my future goals were seemingly unreachable. Then, one day out of pure frustration and sporting a brand-new I don't give a heck attitude, I asked myself a question that changed everything - "What's the first thing I should do tomorrow morning that, if I do, will allow me to live a life of my design?" Notice that I didn't ask about work or what was on my to-do list. It didn't have anything to do with getting more done or getting in better shape. I focused on the lifestyle I wanted to live - and it was life-changing. In the years since I made that decision, I've started my days doing the most important thing I deem required to live the life of my choosing, and I've been happier for it. I've also come across dozens of morning do-gooders who are getting everything done, except what they dream of doing, and when they realize it's not their fault, everything changes. They got caught up in the buzz of life, and everyone does. But, the minute you choose to focus on YOU before anything else is when you start making real progress. When you focus on what is important to you, you get what is important to you. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Questions To Ask Before You Begin Everybody has dreams. Daydreams, dreams while you sleep, and dreams of what you wish for the future. I’ve always believed that dreams are goals you have nurtured to become real in your life.  But how do you know if the voice speaking to your heart will lead you in the right direction? Brant Pinvidic’s book, The 3-Minute Rule, has four questions that will help: 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? Use these when something is holding you back. I promise. The clarity you are seeking is around the corner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Steps to Change Your Life Creating a difference in your life is a non-stop process that requires simple actions to help you get what you want. And it is, after all, about getting what you want and keeping what you love. You’ll always go through these steps: 1) Decide. Everything begins with your decision to head off in a new direction. While sometimes you may feel like you’ve made a decision, if you’re not moving, you haven’t. 2) Define. Aimless wandering is fun when that’s what you’ve decided to do. Otherwise, it’s frustrating, exhausting, and takes place more than you think. When you define your path, you get to walk your path. 3) Deploy. As dull as the advice may be, putting your plan into action is the only way for you to get what you want. If you don’t deploy, you don’t get it. 4) Defend. After working so hard to get what you want, you can guarantee that something or somebody will try to take away your results. That’s not good or bad. That’s life. When you find what you love, be sure to defend it so you never lose it. Simple. I like simple Simple works! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You Deserve to Say YES to Yourself Do you ever wish you had a less complicated life?  Even if your job and life are overcomplicated out of necessity, like launching a rocket or performing brain surgery, you can still simplify everything. How do you do it? The fact is, the actions you are taking in your life and your job are probably not causing the overwhelm. It's the people and the results that are causing you to feel that way. The easier way to under-complicate is to begin saying "No" to the arbitrary and unattainable demands of others and focus exclusively on the results you want.  Here are a couple of ideas: 1) Practice the law of "Good Enough." Perfectionism is over-rated. It will waste years of productive time that you could use to enjoy life. Set your own standards and rise to them. 2) Get good at saying "No." Make that two-letter word your default answer for everything. And remember, sometimes, saying nothing at all gets the same result. 3) Keep in mind that the only thing you must do in life is taking a BREATH. Everything else is optional and self-inflicted.  Leonardo da Vinci said," Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."  Why not show everybody how sophisticated you are? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Face Your Passion: Building Your Bridge Changing something about your life is pretty straightforward.  Figure out what you want and change it. Are you done laughing? Most folks fall on the way to their dreams because they don't move, move at the wrong time, or move too fast. That's why, once you know what you want, it's time to build your bridge. Here’s how: 1) Fortify your current foundation. Save money, pay bills, do whatever it takes to create a firm and peaceful base to build. 2) Begin constructing the foundation for your new life. Go to school, network, research, and plan. Do everything in your power to assure your success with no regret. 3) When you're ready, leave your past behind, cut off the old, and begin living your new life. Be patient. Wait until you are at least 70% ready to succeed before you cross to the other side.   Success arrives when you move from a strong TODAY to a stronger TOMORROW. Don’t leap too soon, but don’t delay either. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Winston Churchill’s Steps For Change As we get into the New Year, I've noticed that people are getting back to their old ways. That's okay. It's a journey. But what is that journey? Winston Churchill said, "To improve is to change, so to be perfect is to have changed often."  And it helps if you understand the stages of change: 1) Pre-Contemplation. You may intend to take action but are unaware that your behavior is the problem.  2) Contemplation. You recognize the problem and start to debate the pros and cons of your actions. 3) Preparation. You intend to take action soon. You may even begin small steps. 4) Action. The process of making the specific changes required to create your new life begins. 5) Maintenance. Sustain your efforts for at least six months. You will likely achieve a life-long transformation. 6) Termination. You have zero temptation and are sure you will not return to your old unhealthy habits. Winston Churchill said something else - "For myself, I am an optimist — it does not seem to be much use being anything else." Daily Click For myself, I am an optimist — it does not seem to be much use being anything else, said Winston Churchill. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listening to Yourself First 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 going “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. Something extraordinary happens when you give yourself space to listen to yourself more. 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 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

Wisdom Starter Thoughts Everything you do is guided by what you think is logical in your mind. Just like everything I do is directed by my Scott LOGIC. Is it common sense? Is it experience-based? Is it how you choose to live? Yes. But mostly, it is the filter in your mind at work. Here are a few of my filters: Life is long enough. But not for everybody. Life goes quickly. But not if you're bored. Life passes slowly when you are fishing. Some people are too serious. Others are not serious enough. Both disagree with the other. You must stand in another person's shoes to understand how they see you. The reward for hard work is a chance to work more. The reward for laziness is a chance to be lazy more. Turning off your phone means it won't ring. Most things in life should be in moderation. Excess is good now and then.   It takes a fraction of the time to read a good book as it does to write one. That makes reading a book a good investment of your time. People who read more good books earn more money. People who don't read don't understand why others earn more. Saying "I don't care" means you do - at least about something. Everything you experience is filtered through what you hold as the truth. Choose what you hold carefully. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life in Default Mode There is a myth floating around that life is more fun when you are spontaneous. That’s true, but not all the time. Happiness and success are most common among folks who live in a Default Mode.  In other words, they figure out what works for them and keep doing it. Living in Default Mode makes life predictable for you and everybody around you. It limits decision-making and establishes continuity. It’s a behavior that reduces stress and improves happiness. Living your life in Default Mode is the fastest way to reaching your goals - your way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hungry Pilots, Hot Donuts, And Your Goals Have you noticed that airplanes fly crooked? It makes you wonder how the Pilot ever gets where they want to go. Hmm… they must have a great goal!  Here’s what happens when you set a goal or fly an airplane. In an airplane heading to a destination, winds will do their best to blow you off course. That’s why pilots turn their aircraft into the wind. They call it Wind Correction. The same thing happens when you set a Goal. While you may prefer a straight path, you will likely run into winds that will blow you off course. Your spouse disagrees with your plans. Your boss demands more hours. Your kids, friends, and responsibilities keep you further away from your dreams. I think it’s time to start thinking like a hungry pilot who sets their flight plan to a distant city with a Kristy Kreme donut store that is just about to turn in the ‘Hot Donuts’ sign. What’s the lesson? Keep an eye on your final destination. Always set goals that factor in winds that will blow you off your course. Make minor corrections until you get where you’re heading. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How To Create More Time Wouldn’t it be great if you could create more time in your day without giving anything up?  The secret is how you prioritize the projects that are already on your plate. That requires a simple understanding: 1) Working on multiple products at the same time only delays the completion of all the projects. 2) When you complete a product not only is it off your plate, it begins producing your expecting results. It also frees up time to move on to your next project. The next time that you are trying to find more time ask - “What can I finish right now that will give me more time tomorrow - and every day after that?” You are going to love how you have so much more time in your day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Get Lazy Success I have an admission to make.  I'm a bit lazy. Yes, I also like to work harder than most people. Still, I'm lazy when doing things I don't want to be doing. It's been said that when you do what you love to do, you will never work another day in your life. Frankly, I've found it to be quite the opposite. What I do is difficult and takes a lot of time and effort.  But I enjoy it?  Still, I'm lazy. I want everything to be easy, and I want it now. I don't think I'm different than anybody else. I'm lazy. I'm driven. I'm lazy. I think I made my point. And if you know me well, you may be thinking; he's not that lazy.  Oh yes, I am… While it may take a long time to master the skill required to make things easy for myself, I'm only willing to go through the hard work if it allows me to be lazy - eventually. And do you know what the coolest thing is about being lazy? Your initial hard work allows you to be lazy and makes what you do look easy to others. Too bad for them. I guess they were sleeping and binging Netflix when you were preparing to make it look easy and be lazy. Here's today's life lesson. It's good to be lazy, as long as you are willing to do the work required to allow you to be lazy - someday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the craziness of life, are you having difficulty breaking through to the greatness that is YOU? What does greatness take? 1) Imagination. Your ability to form images, ideas, and sensations in your mind. Without help from anything or anybody. 2) Enthusiasm. Living life with the excitement of feeling is PASSION. Only involve yourself in activities that you are enthusiastic about. 3) Persistence. Life is long. Things take time. Learn to love being doggedly persistent. It will serve you well. 4) Faith. Live your life in complete trust and confidence in someone or something. Have faith in yourself. Imagination. Enthusiasm. Persistence. Faith. That's living. Imagine how good it could be with a bit of Gratitude? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Is it me, or does living life these days make you feel like Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day? When it comes to working toward goals, that can be a tremendous asset. It's also something that will break you free when things don't feel like they are going your way. Everybody has ups and downs. Up days are lots of fun. Down days make you want to crawl under a rock. But like the movie, with the right mindset, you always get another chance to try again. How would you feel if every day was a chance to tweak, adjust, flex, or reinvent your approach to living? What if everything got more comfortable as you built your knowledge of what works best for you? How empowered would you feel if you knew that every day was a do-over day? As long as the sun rises and the sun sets, it doesn't matter if you succeed or fail the previous day. Today is always a new day for making your dreams come true. That'll make you get out of bed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Focusing on Positive Self-Talk I've been listening to clients tell me the story of their life. I can't help but wonder why they keep beating around the bush. In journalistic terms, these folks are burying the lead. Instead of getting to the point, they begin with secondary details. How does this relate to improving your life? Many say, "I can't focus on anything." No. You are focusing on the wrong things. Sometimes I hear, "I can't get myself get moving." Truth? You are moving - in the wrong direction. They may say, "I don't have enough money!" No. You need more money. Don't get caught up in the unimportant yet dramatic parts of life. Focus on the cause of your challenges. The results will change automatically. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn. Churn. Burn. Earn.  I was chatting with a friend about his business a few years ago. He owned a struggling martial arts school and was crafting a master plan to grow in the coming year.  Based on my that every worthy goal requires learning, churning, burning, and earning - 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 CHURN away while you work to reach your goal? 3) Do you have resources to BURN? How long will your money last while you move forward?   4) When will you EARN your reward for your hard work?   Be prepared before you begin. Consider those questions before you start. The journey may be longer than you think. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Do Anything for 30 Days Call me crazy, but everything I've ever done had its roots in a 30-day sprint - and it's a long time.   A week is easy, crossing several weekends and life events will make it seem like forever.   Here’s how you do it: 1) Set what Napoleon Hill calls a Major Definite Purpose, otherwise known as a big-ass goal. 2) Stop that silly negative self-talk. Others may throw sticks and stones; don't throw them at yourself. 3) Start thinking of all the reasons you CAN be successful. Make a list.   4) Decide that you will do whatever it takes to reach your goal for the next 30 days. Nothing will stop you. Decide that you will do whatever it takes to reach your goal for the next 30 days - and you will. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Get Things Done (GTD) I’m a fan of David Allen’s Getting Things Done. His book spawned an entire industry. It also causes a lot of stress. A few years ago, David was speaking at a conference, and folks asked how he managed to get things done: 1) Nothing gets done until I process everything. No cheating.   2) I process everything into a single “trusted” place when I have time. Some folks use a journal. Others use software or an app.  3) I review my potential work weekly and decide if I still need to do it. Nothing added to your list is more important than tasks already there. Processing everything together will reveal the best path. Stay focused, my friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mapping: Your Success System Wouldn’t having a plan to help you get what you want would be great?   What you need is M.A.P.S.S. - a system that gets thinking out of the way and focuses on actions in four areas: Motivation: Everything begins with knowing ‘WHY’ you set your goals. Stay motivated. Accountability: Being accountable and accepting responsibility for your results will empower your success. Saying, ‘If it’s to be, it’s up to me,’ is a great way to get started. Planning: Plan your work, work you plan. It’s simple. If you can’t plan it, you won’t be able to do it. Systemization: The first steps of any worthy goal are difficult. As you get more comfortable with your process, lock in the actions and repeat them until you get what you want. Sustainability: Everything takes longer than you think. Momentum is built in life by stacking your accomplishments sequentially. Make sure you set yourself up for the long haul. The freedom you desire rests on a stable and repeatable foundation: Motivation, Accountability, Planning, Systemization, and Sustainability.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stoic Rules For a Happy Life 300 BC, political life was driving people crazy. To calm the masses, several schools of philosophy popped up. Stoicism still resonates powerfully today. 1. Don't enslave yourself to annoying people. 2. Choose reasonable expectations. 3. Pre-meditate those expectations. 4. You are a mind operating a bag of chemicals you call a body. 5. Stop pretending you know that things are bad. 6. You were put here to reason, so use it already. 7. Life is NOT too short. 8. Feel your emotions like a Stoic would. They are your power. 9. Anger is a choice. 10. When it comes down to it, we are dogs tied to the back of a cart. Sound wisdom never goes out of style. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

You Were Born to Do YOU Can you imagine what might happen if you dared to think like your true self, act your true self, and share your true self?  That makes you smile - right? Or maybe you feel that living from the inside out and being fully authentic with the world is self-centered, egotistical, and not how you should be. Still, I bet you’re smiling, at least a little, at the thought. You were born with two things that are yours, and you alone to use as you see fit - or not. The first is Free Will, and without digging into the spiritual and scientific reasons, no matter what happens in your life, you are always doing things YOUR way. Even if you feel that your destiny is pre-determined, you will do it YOUR way.  Imagine what would happen if you choose to do the things you love and do them your way. You were also born with a Unique Ability that you don’t share with anybody else. It has always been there and will never leave you. Imagine what would happen if you were to choose to use it in everything you do. The next time you second-guess yourself, remember to ask yourself one simple question — “What do you do when you’re doing YOU?” When nobody is telling you what to do, when you’re on your own to fill your time, when you are making the rules, what do you like to do, and how do you want to do it? It’s okay to be yourself. I promise that nobody is judging you. In fact, they are most likely waiting for you to show up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Your Purpose is to Find Your Purpose This time of year most people are setting Big Ass Goals and working on the daily baby steps it takes to achieve those goals. It’s an activity that has proven effective ever since humans figured out that we are hard-wired to seek purpose in our lives. Let’s pause for a light-hearted lecture, shall we? If you are not setting goals that excite you and establishing small habits that make them a reality, you may as well skip into a Las Vegas casino and trust that the ‘house’ has your back and is setting you up for the big win. I have news for you. That’s not their Purpose, so you better know yours. But wait? What if I don’t know my Purpose? A long time ago, I realized that it was well beyond my pay grade to know somebody else’s purpose so I began giving this advice — “If you don’t know your purpose, your purpose is to find your purpose.” As simple as it sounds, it’s amazing how freeing it can be to realize that searching for what you want is living on purpose. Psychologists define Purpose as a stable and generalized intention to accomplish something personally meaningful that simultaneously leads to productive engagement with some aspect of the world beyond the self. What could be more meaningful than happily seeking your Purpose through daily activity? Yes, maybe one day you’ll find the purpose you are seeking, or maybe, you’ve already found it. That’s something to consider, for sure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s Time To Explore What’s Possible I’ve spent the last couple of days saying things like — “What do you do when you are doing you, and your purpose is to find your purpose?” Now, I realize that something so simple is also something most people will ignore.  I also realized that for some people, as soon they begin reading and realize they’ve already heard it, tune out and open the next email.  That’s unfortunate. Studies have long ago proven that repetition is the Mother of all skills. Yes, it takes time to learn new things and master them. But getting a new skill is not the value of repetition — it’s the doors it opens. When you opened my email yesterday, you were a different person than now. And tomorrow you will be different than you will be by the end of the week. As you explore your day, you’ll figure out what doesn’t work, lock in what does, and update your worldview. You will see things differently. The wisdom you collect will transform your personality as you explore your life and you will begin becoming the person you are meant to be. Of course, this should be no surprise since you’ve been doing it your entire life.  But what if you purposefully did it every day? What if you chose to purposefully explore all the possibilities of your life in hope that it will lead to your destination? What if you explored the possibilities with full faith and trust that you are following your path, the correct path, and the one that will lead you to everything you desire? It’s not a what IF. It’s what IS.  It’s your choice to make that happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Specific, Time-based, Goals It’s the time of the year when people want more success in their life and start setting goals. Frankly, it doesn’t matter if you achieve your goal. The mere act of setting a goal will drive you closer to what you want - but you need to be careful: 1) Goals should be painfully specific. I say “painfully” because most people find difficulty in choosing a particular outcome. They don’t want to limit their options. But isn’t that why you set goals? 2) Goals should be outcome-based and not time-oriented. Keep working toward your goal until you reach it, not when your self-imposed time limit runs out.  3) Long-term goals should not be a variation of your short-term goals. If you want to make a million dollars a year, setting a goal to increase your income by 100k a year may make sense. In reality, your mindset is ten percent of what you need, and it will take you ten times longer to reach your goal. There’s no need to achieve one goal before going for another. Decide what you want and get it today. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Say YES to Yourself More This Year Do you ever wish you had a less complicated life?   Even if your job and life are overcomplicated out of necessity, like launching a rocket or performing brain surgery, you can still simplify everything. How do you do it? Your actions in your life and your job are probably not causing the overwhelm. It's the people and the results that are causing you to feel that way. The easier way to under-complicate is to begin saying "No" to the arbitrary and unattainable demands of others and focus exclusively on the results you want.  Here are a couple of ideas: 1) Practice the law of "Good Enough." Perfectionism is overrated. It will waste years of productive time you could use to enjoy life. Set your standards and rise to them. 2) Get good at saying "No." Make that two-letter word your default answer for everything. And remember, sometimes, saying nothing at all gets the same result. 3) Remember that the only thing you must do in life is take a BREATH. Everything else is optional and self-inflicted.  Leonardo da Vinci said," Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."   Why not show everybody how sophisticated you are? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

The Best To-Do List EVER! I'm sure you have a lot to do today. You’re probably in for a busy day if you use a traditional To-Do list. If I may, I’d like to pass on some advice to make your days much more fun. LOSE your "To-Do List." Replace it with a "Did I Do It List."   Of course, a traditional To-Do list will get the job done. But it’s far too easy to focus entirely on your list of things to do instead of what you're supposed to be doing. Don’t get me wrong, when you are inside any project, you may need a list. I can’t imagine myself in the kitchen without a recipe to follow. To-do lists have their place. For everything else, there’s something better. You should be using a “Did I Do It List.”  As simple as it sounds, instead of chasing and stressing about what you must do, you are simply ensuring you’ve done what is needed. Yes, it’s a simple mindset change, but it will change everything about how you get things done — and you’ll have far less stress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another Day Another Chance Is it me, or does living life these days make you feel like Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day?  When it comes to working toward goals, that can be a tremendous asset. It's also something that will break you free when things don't feel like they are going your way. Everybody has ups and downs. Up days are lots of fun. Down days make you want to crawl under a rock. But like the movie, with the right mindset, you always get another chance to try again. How would you feel if every day was a chance to tweak, adjust, flex, or reinvent your approach to living? What if everything got more comfortable as you built your knowledge of what works best for you? How empowered would you feel if you knew that every day was a do-over day? As long as the sun rises and the sun sets, it doesn't matter if you succeed or fail the previous day. Today is always a new day for making your dreams come true. That'll make you get out of bed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Happiness Doesn't Require Permission My friend Sid called to tell me he had found his next big thing. He decided to take flying lessons and couldn't wait to get started. After hearing my Mom's stories over the years, I have always wanted to learn to fly. Her father was a contractor in Wilmington, North Carolina. When an airport client couldn't pay, he offered lessons. She was 15 years old. Her stories of landing on the beaches of North Carolina were thrilling. Flying Solo before an arriving hurricane was captivating. We'll forget that she 3-days short of being legally old enough. Her adventurous spirit took control. With a hurricane coming, she wasn't going to ask for permission. She took command, and it put her in the record books. By the time I began flying 50 years later, things were more controlled, and speaking on the radio to Air Traffic Control was required - and challenging. Being nervous, I often asked for permission when I wanted to do something. I would say, "This is Cessna 67508 requesting permission to…" One day, while waiting for their response, my instructor taught me a lesson I could have learned from my Mom, "You're the Pilot in Command. Your seat is moving, and theirs isn't. Don't ask for permission. Tell them what you want and let them work it out." What?  I don't have to ask for anyone's permission to do what I want.  I never asked again, in flying or anything else in life. I decide what I want to do and do it. If somebody else needs to know what I'm up to, I tell them, work out the solution, and keep moving. If not, I keep moving. Some days, it feels like we need permission from everybody else. Don't fall into that trap. Your destiny is your choice and yours alone. And what happened to Sid? He asked his wife for permission, and she said "no." He never took a single lesson. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Make The Law of Attraction Work The Law of Attraction should be called the Law of What You Think About Most. Like attracts like, what you think about, you get.  If you think, "I won't get it because I never do," - you are correct. Dreaming of something new while focusing on current problems is a sure way to keep spinning your wheels. The secret is to focus your attention and actions on what you want to attract. That will require a dedicated effort. Vision Boards, lists of goals, and daily journaling are all great ways to stay on track.  The "Law of What You Think About" is magical and straightforward… Decide what you want. Believe it is possible. Focus on the future, not the past. Please don't stop until you get it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Success People Know This Mark Cuban is a pretty successful guy with some good advice: “Work like someone is working 24 hours a day to take it away from you.  “It’s not the dreaming; it’s the doing. If you spend your time dreaming, you will never grant yourself the opportunity to see what you are capable of accomplishing.” “It doesn’t matter if the glass is half-empty or half-full. All that matters is that you are the one pouring the water.” “Wherever I see people doing something the way it’s always been done, the way it’s supposed to be done, following the same old trends, well, that’s a big red flag to me to go look elsewhere.” “Every no gets closer to a yes. “No’s” are part of your story. If you keep working hard, they will lead to many “Yeses,” which often become better opportunities.” Good stuff. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are You Listening to Yourself? 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 go “Dark.” When you go “Dark,” you have chosen to listen to others less. 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 like 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. Something extraordinary happens when you give yourself space to listen to yourself. 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 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

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

Focus on What’s Important. Ignore The Rest. Are you the kind of person always running around putting out fires - fires you set? I think it is time that we take away your matches and lighter fluid. For the remainder of the year, keep these tips in mind: 1) If your life is non-stop drama, stress, and craziness, there is a good chance that YOU are the cause. There is also a good chance you won’t see it that way. 2) Living with your hair on fire will keep you so busy you will spend years wondering why you can’t get what you want. 3) When you STOP doing anything that results in more craziness, you will find that life is pretty quiet. That’s when good stuff begins to happen. It’s a Universal truth.   You are 100% in charge of every action you choose - or not. Choose good ones. It makes life more fun. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Steps to Getting What You Want — and Keeping It. Creating a difference in your life is a non-stop process that requires simple actions to help you get what you want. And it is, after all, about getting what you want and keeping what you love. You’ll always go through these steps: 1) Decide. Everything begins with your decision to head off in a new direction. While sometimes you may feel like you’ve made a decision, if you’re not moving, you haven’t. 2) Define. Aimless wandering is fun when that’s what you’ve decided to do. Otherwise, it’s frustrating, exhausting, and takes place more than you think. When you define your path, you get to walk your path. 3) Deploy. As dull as the advice may be, putting your plan into action is the only way to get what you want. If you don’t deploy, you don’t get it. 4) Defend. After working hard to get what you want, you can guarantee that something or somebody will try to take away your results. That’s not good or bad. That’s life. When you find what you love, defend it so you never lose it. Simple. I like simple. Simple works! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Questions Before You Begin Anything Everybody has dreams. Daydreams, dreams while you sleep, and dreams of what you wish for the future. I’ve always believed that dreams are goals you have nurtured to become real.  But how do you know if the voice speaking to your heart will lead you in the right direction? Brant Pinvidic’s book, The 3-Minute Rule, has four questions that will help: 1) What is it? Do you understand precisely 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, and money?  4) Are you sure? Are you confident you can achieve your goal if you are willing to put in the effort? Use these when something is holding you back. I promise. The clarity you are seeking is around the corner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Operation Reinvention Without a Plan Last year I made a decision that changed everything about my life. And no, when I began "Operation Reinvention," I didn't have much of a plan. I wouldn't say I was winging it, but sometimes you have no idea what kind of plan you need. What I did have was a mindset.  I wondered -  "What single change can I make - a change that would automatically and positivity disrupt everything in my life and put me in a better place?" I followed that with… "I don't know what it's going to be, but it's not going to be that!" While I didn't know exactly how to get there - or even that 'there' was, I knew I would recognize it when I saw it.  Goals are cool. You should use them. Sometimes, you must follow your gut, go with the flow, and figure things out along the way.  What change can YOU make that would automatically, and positively disrupt everything in your life and leave you in a better place? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices