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

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

Daring Yourself To Live Your Dreams ?Please! Can somebody stop the world? I want to get off!? Okay. Just for you, I pressed the magic button, and the world stopped.  Whatcha gonna do now? If you don?t have an answer, there?s no need to freak out. It?s common for people to get slowed down, and think about what their life could be like, and I have no idea. But let?s say you are one of the few who decide the time has come to turn directly into the challenge. Many years ago, I adopted a philosophy that became the driver that would change everything. I decided I would always turn face-first into any challenge that stood between me and my dreams. Yes, I would face my passion head-on and do whatever it takes to make it real.  Do you know what happened next? I tripped, stumbled, and fell into a pile of my own crumbled dreams. That?s when I realized that deciding to face your passion was only the beginning. Before you can face your passion and live your dreams, a few more things must be faced first. You must face your stress. You must face your relationships. You must face your health, finances, and spiritual beliefs. You must face your friendships, the clothing you wear, what you eat, and what you dream. Yes, living the ?I know there must be more lifestyle? is freakishly simple and no big deal; you do whatever you want whenever you choose to do it. But it doesn?t take long to realize that getting whenever you want requires that you face a few things first. It?s simple. As scary as it may feel, no matter how much you don?t want to do it, everything becomes possible when you deal with all the stuff in your life and take control.  So, the next time you find yourself trying to figure out what?s stopping you from living your dreams, there might be a few things that you want to handle first. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

Somebody Need You Right Now 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

Wisdom of Gratitude I woke up this morning with an incredible zest to expand my feeling of gratefulness. Well, there is not so much to expand as to recognize all the things that I am grateful for but haven?t thought about lately. That?s the thing about living in a fast-paced world where our daily activities, big and small, fly by and are quickly forgotten. It?s always been that way. There is nothing new in the world. That got me thinking about one of my favorite quotes ? ?Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.? ?Robert Brault As a no-regrets kind of guy, I admit to sometimes not living in gratitude. Thankfully, the wisdom of others is always making sure I remember what is important? Here are a few of my favorites. ?If a fellow isn?t thankful for what he?s got, he isn?t likely to be thankful for what he?s going to get.??Frank A. Clark ?Acknowledging the good that you already have in your life is the foundation for all abundance.? ?Eckhart Tolle ?Who does not thank for little will not thank for much.? ?Estonian Proverb ?Gratitude is a quality similar to electricity: It must be produced and discharged and used up in order to exist at all.??William Faulkner ?Enough is a feast.??Buddhist Proverb ?When you are grateful, fear disappears, and abundance appears.??Anthony Robbins ?When eating fruit, remember the one who planted the tree.??Vietnamese Proverb ?Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.??William Arthur Ward ?A thankful heart is not only the greatest virtue but the parent of all the other virtues.??Cicero ?Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things.??Robert Brault Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

The Freedom Formula - Choice and Means Every time I walk into the gym, I pump myself up to exercise my body and have somebody else exercise my brain.  This morning I found myself in a conversation when Ron asked me a question? ?Since you?re a Coach, tell me if I?m right. Your most important goal is always to have freedom in your life - right?? You should have seen his face when I said, ?Nope.?  Don?t get me wrong, I?m an American, and freedom rings in my bones - but there is a cost to getting that freedom, which makes life fun. I went on to tell Ron that, after a lot of experience, I have settled on two driving forces: the ability to choose and the means to make it happen.  I believe true freedom comes from choosing the path that makes you a better and happier person AND makes the world a little better because of your choice. I also believe that having a true choice almost always comes down to having the means to make it happen. Whether it be skill, friends, or money, without the means, you have a minimal choice. Choice + Means = Freedom. That?s a winning formula no matter where you are in your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Instant Gratification is The Secret to Success Russ, from North Carolina, is asking for help with an instant gratification issue. He wrote- So many people want everything now, thanks to modern technology. Educating people is becoming more difficult because they are looking for instant gratification. If their empty void is not filled quickly enough, they get easily frustrated and give up. Please do a podcast on converting from instant gratification to goal-driven. My take on this is probably not what Russ is expecting because instant gratification drives people to get what they want.  Let me apply a little Scott Logic? First, there is not one person on the planet who doesn?t want what they want right now. No matter how satisfying hard work is, nobody in their right mind willingly puts off getting what they want. That?s not how humans are wired. While I know it can be frustrating, business people, governments, and great communicators figured out a long time ago that everybody wants what they want now. That?s never going to change.  But I have a different take? ?I want my cake and to eat it too? - and there?s nothing you can do about it! In other words, I want little bits of instant gratification to enjoy while working toward my BIG ASS goals. That?s what they call motivation! So does everybody else. It?s widely known that humans have an attention span that?s less than a goldfish - but as long as I?m willing to keep dropping food into the tank, I can keep their attention. BIG ASS goals are driven by little bits of reward along the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ugly Sweaters Make Good Conversation With the arrival of ugly sweaters and too much egg nog, the holiday season is upon us, which means that you may find yourself involved in more conversations with more people than you do at any other time of the year.  To make sure you enjoy every conversation you have, I want you to remember two things? First, unless you live under a rock, you will find yourself in the middle of a calorie and alcohol-induced conversation that, as Dave Ramsey would say, 'That's stupid!' When you find yourself in that situation, keep those two words in mind, keep your mouth shut, smile, change the subject, and take a walk outside. Never let anybody else ruin your day. Now that we have the negative out of the way, let's talk about being the most fun and interesting person at any event you attend. If you do nothing else, remember that everybody is listening "WIIFM' broadcasting live in their mind. All anybody cares about is 'What's in it for ME?' The secret to starting or participating in a conversation that will make you a communications expert is to never make it about you and always make it about who you are speaking with. When you do, magic happens? When you make OTHERS the most interesting person in the room, YOU become the most interesting person. So, take a breath, enjoy the season, and see if you can learn a little bit about every person you meet. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Where Did Your Motivation Go? Today is the day I use my Perfect Week Planner to figure out where I will spend my time next week. And, like every week, I have the same realization? Where the heck did my week go? And now, with the weekend in sight, my mind moves to riding the motorcycle mode and all best are off. Oh well, Monday is coming - right?  More on that in a minute. Wait, Scott!  How the heck are we going to stay focused, progress toward our goals, and get important stuff done if we run out of juice before the week is over?  Why does that Monday motivation that has my hair on fire run out before I get everything done?  Okay, let?s cover two things: 1) Motivation is a finite resource that will fade. On average, your brain runs out of motivational calories after about 48 hours of focused work. It would help if you had a recharge. 2) God willing, no matter how much you don?t get done this week, there is always the next week in your future. Yes, another Monday is coming. What doesn?t get done this week will get done next week. A long time ago, Tony Robbins said, ?Most people overestimate what they can do in a week and underestimate what they can do in a year.?  Keep your eyes on the prize that is driving you. Your goal should be to reach your stated outcome, no matter what gets in the way or how long it takes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why You Don?t Need a WHY A while back and friend and I were chewing the fat about getting what we wanted out of life. It?s a common topic among my friends and should be among yours. It makes sense; what you focus on is what you get - right? As we talked, I realized that as I?ve bumbled and stumbled my way through a very colorful life, I?ve also stumbled upon a simple idea? Getting what you want in life requires that you know what you want in life. But what happens when you have no idea how the best things arrived in your life? I get that kind of thinking blows away the theory of WHY most of us talk about. Yes, your WHY is why is going to get you through the tough times of life. Sometimes it?s the only thing that will. But in my world, I?ve learned something else? Sometimes, the most happiness we find in life comes when we?re entirely unaware of WHY we are doing whatever we are doing. Huh? And I can?t tell you how often my wife has asked, ?Why are you doing that?? My answer is usually, I?m not sure. I guess it needed to be done. So, as I sit here listening to ?Girl Named Toms? new Christmas album, I can?t help but wonder what magic you are missing out on because you are spending too much time seeking a mystical WHY instead of honoring the choices you have already made in your life. My Scott Logic tells me that when you explore the possibilities when they arrive in your life, without thinking about it, and go with the flow, you will be happier - even though you might not admit it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scared, Excited, or Something Else  A few days ago, I stumbled into a conversation with a young man working behind the counter at a store I visited. It didn't take long before we knew a lot about each other. He was a student at Emory Riddle Aeronautics University here in Daytona Beach. I run into a lot of those kids. Being a pilot myself, we instantly bonded. Then he asked a question that caused me to pause? The Daytona/Port Orange area population is very diverse - with more than a few retired. Since I'm a guy with a bit of gray hair, a couple of wrinkles, and seemingly lots of free time on my hands, he asked? "Are you retired?" I shot back, "Not yet - in a couple of years!? What he said next stopped me in my tracks. "Does that scare you or excite you?" I have to say. I don't get stuck with words very often. But after a few seconds, I said - "Neither! I love what I do and how my life is going, and I am thrilled about tomorrow more than today!"  That's when he said, "I hope I'm that way when I get older - not to say you're old. Always remember - When you do what makes your heart sing, life gets better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Creating Your Wonderful Life With the holiday season on its way, wouldn't it be great if you received the gift of the wonderful life of your dreams?  What if you could have lots of free time, less stress, more money, and great relationships?  In my years of coaching folks all over the world, I've learned a few things about lifestyle design: 1) Everything begins when you become aware of what you want and accept that it's up to you to get it. 2) If you believe your dream can be real as soon as you start living it - it will be. 3) You are the Boss of you, so there's no reason for a delay. Stop planning and start doing. Forget wishing, hoping, and dreaming. Start with little bits of happiness and work toward living your dream every day.  Most people are drifting in the winds of life. True happiness arrives when you start driving through life. Living your wonderful life is entirely up to you. Be aware of the change you desire; believe it can be yours, and start living it now.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are You Stuck in The Middle?  Have you ever found yourself stuck in the middle? I was speaking with a client 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, having low expectations and being surrounded by like-minded folks is okay.  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

Fake it Until You Make It (Really?) Have you allowed yourself to become the person you are on the inside?   We all make decisions that change our life trajectory without much thought. That can lead to feelings of being lost on you your life path. Maybe it's time to create a new way of seeing yourself. Using a Transitional Identity is a great way to feel confident when you can't believe in your future.   The trick is to focus on the smaller steps to your destination. That will allow you to move away from who you are, yet not jump to who you want to be in one big step.   "I'm running a successful small business and laying the foundation for my empire. All I have to do is keep moving." "I'm a great student. Very soon, I will be a great teacher to others. All I have to do is keep moving." "I'm incredible at losing 1 pound at a time. Soon I'll hit my goal and lose 100 pounds. All I have to do is keep moving." Transitional Identities are temporary and ever-changing. They are helpful when destinations are hard to see before you take your first step. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Promote. Prevent. Protect. Every day I hear from folks living in a state of suspended animation. The light at the end of the tunnel is unclear. Life has paused.  In times like these, three items should be on the to-do list of every individual or business owner: 1) Promote yourself or your business. It?s time to go on the offensive and seek opportunities to move you in a positive direction. 2) Have a prevention focus. The game of life is played in two directions. Go on defense to avoid losses and downside risk. 3) Protect what is important. Decide what you must have in your life and protect it. Everything else is negotiable. Choose the battles you fight, and you will win more than you lose. You don?t need to wait to see how the story ends. Write your own story and make sure it has a happy ending. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Law of Large Numbers Do you ever get out of bed and wonder when you will achieve your desired success? Better yet, what if it was predictable and up to you? Here?s how it works. Take action toward your dreams once a week, and you will see results. Do it for a year, and the ?Law of Averages? will tell you what to expect - but it?s wrong. Limited action over an extended period is no more accurate than flipping a coin 10 times and believing you?ve spotted a trend. You haven?t. The sample is too small. On the other hand, taking action every day for a year raises your sample from 52 to 365. That?s where the ?Law of Large Numbers? illuminates what is giving you the best results - and becoming very predictable. It?s all about numbers. The more action you take, the more predictable your success will become. You can take that to the bank. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Framework For More Energy 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) Ritual: Success comes when you perform ritual actions every day. Figure out what works and do it. 2) Rest: Running full-out all the time is not sustainable. You must stop and rest. 3) Rejuvenate: Resting allows your body and mind to rejuvenate and become active again. 4) Reactivate: When you are ready, it's time to reactivate into action mode. 5) Repeat: Keep going until you get what you want. You'll always be more productive 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

How to Achieve Your Most Ambitious Goals  Have you ever wondered how the most successful people in the world get that way? Could it be their timing is right?   Do they "know" somebody?  Luck? That's it. They get lucky! Maybe, but I think there is more to it. Every person I've ever known who achieved remarkable success did three things: 1) They recognized what they wanted and envisioned themselves living that life. 2) At some point, they commit and go all in. Their dream IS going to happen. There is no "Plan B."  3) They practice never-ending flexibility and perseverance no matter what gets in the way. They keep going until they get what they want. Yes, it seems that you must pay the price for living the life of your dreams - and it's not money. It's YOU! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What You Need to Feel Safe and Happy Success in life happens on top of a solid foundation of basic needs.  In 1954, Abraham Maslow released Motivation and Personality. He expanded on his Hierarchy of Needs theory. Maslow suggested that to reach your full potential: 1) You must provide for your physiological needs. Food, clothing, shelter, money, and more.   2) You must feel safe. Personally, emotionally, financially, health and well-being, and against accidents and illness. 3) Socially, you need to feel a sense of loving and belonging.  4) Esteem and the desire for acceptance, respect, and value by others is your next step. Maslow said, ?What a man can be, he must be.? Self-actualization requires mastery of your previous needs. 6) Self-transcendence removes you from your ego and begins your focus on the greater good. Your best life is built on a sturdy foundation. Make sure you can eat, pay your bills, feel safe, and have friends. Then you can change the world. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Better Connect With Others Every day I spend time on the phone with excited folks who know they are close to getting what they want. They can't figure out how to get their hands on it.   Let's start with the following: 1) Anything you want in this world is owned or controlled by somebody else. 2) If you want their help, you must get their attention. It always comes down to three things. In this order: 1) What problem are they having? No, it may not relate to you. It doesn't matter. If you can help, you will get their attention. 2) What's your solution? How can you fix it? When can you fix it? You'll know when you are close when you see the excitement in their eyes. 3) What's your offer? What must they do to get you to help? What do you want?   It's simple. Address another person's problems with a robust solution and an offer they can't refuse. That's a real win-win. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Your happiness begins today Do you ever wake up in the morning and jump straight into your To-Do list and forget about what you want? With so much on our plates, it can be easy to lose track of the big picture and lose track of where you were heading.  That?s why we always do our Homework on Monday. It?s a powerful way to ?Overlay? what is essential in your life while you get the day-to-day stuff done. Here?s how I do it: 1) Check in with the ?Roles? and ?Goals? you have in your life. Do you like what you have or need to make a change? Decide the ?next? action that you will take this week. 2) ?Hold Space? on your calendar to move your ?Roles and Goals? in the direction of your dreams. Don?t let day-to-day challenges through you off track. 3) No matter how busy you get, review your homework throughout the week. Focus on your future. Remember -  Tomorrow?s happiness is built on a foundation of today?s focus. Don?t lose track of that. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Make Your Own Motivation As a child, I wondered why I couldn't always have my way. Mom and Dad were so mean! I couldn't wait to grow up, move out, and experience being an adult. Everything would be different - or so I thought. After stepping into the adult world, it didn't take long to realize that not much had changed. It turns out it wasn't my parents. It was life turning down my requests. Life was getting in the way. What was even worse was that I was getting in my way. I've joked over the years that if I'm the Boss of me, why don't I do what I say? Eventually, I realized having a big ass goal, being on a mission, and most importantly, motivation on demand was the solution. Motivation is a powerful, if not fleeting, tool that we all need. But we need to understand how our minds generate motivation: 1) Your physiology dictates your feelings. The easiest way to break free of a slump is to stand up, take a step, and REPEAT. Movement wakes your body up, guides your emotions, and makes anything feel possible. 2) Focus fuels your fire. If you're feeling unmotivated, you are also drifting in the wind with no direction. Shifting your thoughts in a positive direction and toward what excites you will break you out and get you moving. 3) The words you say create the emotions you feel. Negative self-talk will drag you, and everybody else, down. When you make the words, you say to yourself, internally and externally, positive and uplifting, everything changes. Words matter more than you think. You're human. Your brain isn't wired to stay motivated all the time unless you are willing to give it a helping hand. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Helping Others in 3 Steps Have you ever felt the desire to help others? Do you want to help them figure things out? Make more money? Recover from a bad experience?  Maybe you want to make a difference in the world yourself. I?ve always believed that our power to help others is a side benefit of being ourselves - and having a structure to follow - 1) A person in need desires an outcome. It makes no sense to offer advice until we know what they are seeking. That puts us on the same page. 2) Next, find out the problems they have, the actions taken, and what was the result. Then, relate them to what you have found works.  3) Now that you?ve heard their struggle, you can make specific recommendations that will move their life in a positive direction. Helping others is a lot like being a Doctor. Listen. Examine. Prescribe. Take action. Follow up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Must-Have Life Habits Motivating yourself to reach your goals is a never-ending process that kicks into high gear this time of year. Most folks have a long list of new routines and habits they want to put into place - it may be too long. Many years ago, I decided to control my mornings by establishing actions that I would take upon waking. While I had great intentions, I found myself floundering and eventually losing focus.  Why? I realized that the habits I was trying to establish had no real meaning other than checking them off my list. Instead of feeling motivated and inspired, I felt bogged down. I decide to make things simple. These days, I only establish minimum viable habits in my life. In other words, I only commit to the minimum number of behaviors that deliver the results I desire. Anything more is excessive, distracting, and frustrating. Life is much simpler when you keep it simple. A wise person would spend time on the fewest number of actions that provide the most significant results.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

#1 Thing You Must Do For Success Steve Harvey is a funny guy. He's also a wise man.  You may have seen his video teaching the one thing you must do if you want to be successful.  You must jump. If you want to be successful, you must jump into your dreams, take a leap of faith, and go for it. Often, we stand on the cliff of life and watch others fly by, enjoying the life you desire. They jumped, their parachute opened, and life is good. You must jump. When you finally decide to jump, your parachute will not open right away. You will get bumped and bruised, but eventually, your parachute will open. You must jump. If you don't jump, your parachute will never open. Is today the day you jump? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Reach Goals - 3 Steps Goal Setting There are so many choices in front of us every day. Each has the power to determine when and whether you will achieve your goals. Once you know the outcome you desire, these questions will help: 1) What CAN you do today that will lead directly and quickly to achieving your goal? 2) What SHOULD you do today that will lead directly and quickly to achieving your goal? 3) What MUST you do today that will lead directly and quickly to achieving your goal? It?s simple.  Make your next action the one that gets the result you want as fast as possible. Everything else can wait. I dare you to try it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Reduce My Stress Levels Unless you are living in a cave, you may have more Stress and less Hope in your life today than you did a short time ago. Pandemics can do that. So can life. Over the years, I?ve learned that Stress is usually a result of fear. Feeling Stress of never getting off the hamster wheel. Feeling Stress and fear from uncertainty.  Feeling Stress from a lack of adequate information.  It doesn?t matter where your fear originates. The solution is re-framing your mindset to see things as they are. When you do that, you can see things that can be.  Having a re-frame mindset will allow you to create Hope, Reduce Stress, and become unstoppable. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Stop Procrastination The Easy Way Are you a member of the Procrastination Club?   Procrastination is the intentional and systematic postponement of an essential task.   Is that what you are doing? Even if you are putting things off, is it possible that you are not procrastinating? You may force yourself to do something you don't need or want to do.   Yes, you must complete tasks to get ahead in life. That's being responsible.  However, if your list of un-done keeps getting longer, it might be time to ask yourself a question - Is what you are procrastinating on essential? Do you need to do it at all? It's not always procrastination. If something is essential, you always get it done - right? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

Stop Embarrassing Yourself Now 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) Catch 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

Happiness Magic Formula Is there a magic formula for happiness? Yes. It comes down to how you look at the world. Most folks do one of two things: 1) They view everything from an emotional place. When life is good, everything is excellent. When things go wrong, life is terrible. Remaining stuck in the emotional zone is like writing a letter in the sand with a rising tide; it will never stick around long enough to make you happy. 2) Others view the world from a black-and-white and logical perspective. Using your analytical brain for everything is like painting a wall black and expecting a rainbow of colors. But life is not always rational. I?ve found the best way is to naturally ride the highs and lows of emotions, tap into logic to navigate what crosses our path, and get back to the fun of emotions as soon as possible. Emotion + Logic + Emotion = Happiness. First and foremost, humans are emotional creatures that will not change. But logic allows us to sort through our feelings and make the best decision. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Path to Greatness 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. Use yours. Trust yours.   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. Have faith in yourself. Live your life in complete trust and confidence in someone or something. 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

Why Wisdom is Your Superpower There are lots of folks in the world who are seeking change in their life. They usually say - ?I want something entirely new! I?m tired of how things have been! I want to start over!? Please don?t do it!  Change doesn?t mean getting a do-over. It?s more of an iteration or course correction. Starting at the beginning has two problems: 1) It has taken you a long time to earn the wisdom and momentum you already have. Giving it up will mean losing your most potent tool.  2) All your knowledge will make it impossible to erase and start over anyway. You are too wise for that. The solution is to leverage your wisdom and use it as a foundation for everything you seek in the future. Build on your knowledge base using intent, focus, and direction.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

4 Requirements of a Good Relationship Every day we navigate the world - which usually involves other people. Depending on how you process relationships, that can be good or bad. The quality of life is dependent on the quality of relationships. It makes sense that we follow four steps to making them great: 1) Curiosity - Everybody is curious about the people they meet. The more curious they are about you, the better. If you want to meet great people, be engaging. 2) Enlightenment - Once curiosity peaks, interest will be to grow. People want to know more about you. 3) Commitment - With more knowledge, connections deepen. 4) Action - Once you reach commitment, people become open and willing to join your world. Whether personal or business, all relationships evolve on the same path. Allow time for things to unfold.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Create a Morning Routine Every successful person has a morning routine. The use it to ground themselves before the day gets in the way.  There are many morning routines you can follow, but you should make sure that - 1) Morning time is sacred. It is your first and only priority. 2) It should be purposeful. Your actions should support your needs. 3) Be consistent and ritualistic. Create peace. What kind of routines work for most? 1) Wake up on your time. 2) Hydrate, eat well and move. 3) Read, write, or meditate. Keep it motivational and inspirational. Once you have yourself grounded for the day, jump in and take on your most important task. That will make everything else that day easy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

How to get Unstuck and Find New Opportunity Do you sometimes feel stuck and overwhelmed? Feeling as if there is nothing you can do? It happens to everybody. You are not alone. However, people who break free understand three things: 1) Everything in life is temporary. Good or bad, nothing last forever. 2) No matter how stuck you feel, there is always more opportunity. More than one person could ever take advantage of in a lifetime. 3) Even though you don?t feel it, successful people start shaking trees until the fruit falls to the ground. There is always fruit. It will always fall. You?ll never feel stuck again as long as you know the world has more of whoever you want just waiting for you to go for it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How To Be a Good Leader - It's Simple Is your hair on fire for success?   There's a phrase that sums up what it takes to get whatever you seek.   "The faster the leader's speed, the faster the pack's speed." It's a simple truth; success likes speed. It's very sexy and desirable to others. Knowing your goals and taking massive imperfect action always speed up success.   Why? People get caught up in the belief their leaders cast. When you crank up your energy and urgency, others feel your passion and support your mission. Whatever your dreams, it is time for you to fire up your inner supercharger and get ready for the ride of your life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What To Do If You're In A Rut - Nothing? I live by a mantra that says - "Almost everything in 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 excited." The truth is, you need both. There is also another truth. Most things that make you happy and successful are pretty mundane ? taking care of your home, paying bills on time, spending time with family. Consistent routines focused on what's important are how you achieve success.  Have fun and stick to what feels comfortable is working for you. After all, it's not a rut; it's a routine.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Influence Yourself 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

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

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

Three Big Success Principles Where do you begin when you want success?   What's your first step?   Over 2000 years ago, the philosophy of Stoicism led the way in creating success. Their lessons still apply today: 1) Clarity. You must see where you are heading. Anything less, and you will spend more time figuring things out than moving forward. 2) Clear The Clutter. Once you know where you are heading, you'll need to make space. Finish old projects, pay off debt, and organize the garage. Adding more stuff to your stuff will only create frustration. 3) Action. Focused action will get you anywhere fast. However, since activity creates activity, any movement will yield results.   Know what you want and create the space to bring it into your life. That's the perfect time to take massive imperfect action and get what you want. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Friends Holding You Back The success and happiness that you have in your life is a direct result of something your Mom was always asking - Who are your friends? If they are positive, you will be positive. Are they negative? You will be negative. If they have money, you will have money. Are they broke?  You get my point. Your life will become exactly like the people that are closest to you. Choose wisely. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Turning Obstacles Into Opportunity Have you ever wondered how much easier things would be if you didn?t have to think so much? What if the future or your past didn?t matter? Imagine if you didn?t worry about the possessions, success, or drama of others. What would happen if you believed that YOU were in control?  Now you are starting to think like a Stoic Philosopher. Stoicism is about paring down and simplifying. They eliminate unproductive traits that define the majority of the population. One of the most common is turning obstacles upside down, creating opportunities, and seeing them as teachable moments. For a Stoic, every bad thing becomes a new source of good.  Marcus Aurelius said it this way,  ?The impediment to action advances action. What stands in your way becomes the way.? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices