Everyone who disagrees with you believes they are correct.

Isn’t that something?  

If they didn’t think they were correct, they wouldn’t disagree with you.

Sometimes – they are correct.

You should want to be proven wrong so you can change your mind if you are.

Right?

Energy without clarity is noise

Energy follows purpose.  

Without purpose, your energy is scattered and meaningless.

If you were going to “get after it”, what are you getting after?

When clear and focused, you can do amazing things.

What is your purpose?  Your goal?  Your reason for getting up?

You are what you think you are

Character, good or bad, is not accidental. 

It is shaped by persistent thinking over time.

Whatever you think you are, that is what you are.  

You can change what/who you are by changing who you believe you are.

Who do you say you are?

Pass the test to level up

Bad things keep happening to you.  The same bad things.

You lament – “I’ve been here before.”

Yes.  But you have not been beyond it.  

The world will keep throwing the same test at you until you pass the test.  Then you get to move on and up.

What is the universe trying to teach you that you are so far unwilling to learn?

Believe in yourself

If you don’t believe in yourself, why is anyone else going to believe in you?

Make small promises to yourself and keep them.  Start developing self-respect and self-discipline.

Do the right thing when no one is watching and when no one will notice.

Stick with something uncomfortable and don’t give up until it’s done.

Then do more with bigger challenges.

Build your own belief in yourself. 

You will never outperform it.

Uncomfortable facts

Uncomfortable facts are often the most helpful to us.

The fact that we caused our own problems is one that is likely to make us uncomfortable because we were denying it for so long.

But we can’t fix it until we see and accept it.

A fact is a fact.  We are the ones that make it an “uncomfortable fact”, and the reason we do that can be the gateway to fixing it.

Before you make that promise….

Consider the cost of keeping a promise before making it.

You want people to know that when you say you will do something, you do it.  

Some people don’t have any intention of keeping promises when they make some of them.

Others are just too optimistic and like to say they will be helpful, with the best intentions, but they promise too much.

Some promises take 3 minutes – “I promise I will take the garbage out”.

Some are long-term commitments – “I will homeschool my children” or “I will serve on the board of directors for your organization”.

Will the feeling and motivation you made your promise in run out before the promise is fulfilled?  Probably.  Then it’s about discipline.

Making promises and keeping them is a highly respected and valued thing in the world.

So that your word is gold, consider the time and energy cost of keeping a promise before making it.

Criticize ideas, not people

Some people are smart with information, and stupid with people.

If you tell people they are stupid because they have an unworkable idea, you have lost them.  They will escalate and dig in, or check out.  They won’t listen to you anymore and will not want to be around you.

But if you offer better ideas and discuss what you know about why their idea is not the best one, showing you care about the outcome for them and the group, that will get a very different response. 

Your tone of voice in it is a huge factor.  Show you care, be patient, and don’t try to show you are smarter or superior.

Be smart  – and good with people.

Offer dignity

When someone makes a mistake, what do you do?

When someone doesn’t know something, what do you say?

When something embarrassing happens to someone, how do you react?

When someone has a problem or needs help, what is your attitude toward them?

Offer them dignity.

People will remember those who were kind and understanding to them when they could have laughed, scoffed, acted superior, or rolled their eyes.

Those people will be your greatest friends and allies.

Imposter syndrome

“Imposter syndrome is real and it arrives whenever we are doing important work.” – Seth Godin

Imposter syndrome is when you doubt yourself and feel you are inadequate, not supposed to be here, aren’t good enough to do this, and feel you don’t deserve to be successful.

You won’t feel it when you are doing the same thing you have always done – you are an expert at that.  It shows up when you are out of your comfort zone, doing some higher-level work, breaking new ground, and doing something for the first time. 

I have walked on stage in front of 1000 people doing keynote speeches, lined up at the starting line on a dirt bike for a 1000-mile race, and flown airplanes by myself – I know all about this feeling.

But remember – if anyone can do it, than anyone can do it.  And if they have done it, they have done it the first time.  If you want to, you can too.

All growth is outside your comfort zone.  Growth is not for sissies.  It takes courage.

Control your thoughts, believe in yourself, and keep moving forward.  

You got this!