Daily Boost - Clarity for Life and Work

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 WayWhen 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 NumbersDo 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 EnergySteven 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 HappySuccess 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 OthersEvery 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 todayDo 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 MotivationAs 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