Daily Boost Motivation and Coaching

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

Toss Your To-Do ListThis is the time of year when people start thinking about getting more productive in their life. Over time, I've learned there is a significant benefit of growing older and wiser, figuring out what works in most areas of life, and learning to avoid the school of hard knocks.I'm always amazed at how much time people fritter away deciding how to be more productive— trying to keep up with their never-ending daily list of things. Eventually, though, we all learn that a good life will always offer more opportunities than you can ever use. The day will come when it becomes easier to focus on essential and yield consistent results. I ran into that when I learned to fly little airplanes. Aviation is over one hundred years old. That means new pilots experience information overload as their Instructor crams their brains full. And flying airplanes can be unforgiving when you get things wrong. That causes you to micro-focus on tiny details - especially when performing your Pre-Flight Checklist. One day, while walking to our airplane, I was freaking out. I was finding it impossible to remember the thousands of items that make for a safe flight—"There is so much on my list, and I keep thinking I'm going to miss something and get myself hurt… or worse."My Instructor smiled…"That's not a list of everything you need to do. It's a DID I DO IT LIST. That way, you’re only double-checking that you did the important stuff."Pure brilliance!I embraced the "Did I Do It" philosophy in flying and everything I do from that day forward. It also became the mantra for how I go about getting things done.Why does it work?A "Did I Do It List" assumes that you already know what you must accomplish. All you have to do is make sure you've done it. That way of thinking allows you to release the stress of information overload, enjoy yourself more, get lots done, and celebrate your victories. Plus, the boost you get from seeing how much you have accomplished feels great. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I can't tell you how many times I've heard somebody say—"If I knew I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself and saved more money."True or true?Modern times are interesting times, and when it comes to living a long life, people either think life is too short or long. If you do things correctly, long enough is the best answer, but 200 years ago, most folks didn't have the luxury of thinking about things like that.If you lived during those times, you lived at a slower and harder pace. And, since time is relative, your perception was slower, as well. Everything was slower. It would be like a two-week, off-the-grid vacation in a mountain cabin without your phone in modern times if you think about it. That used to be daily life.Yes, time-wise, living to the ripe old age of 40 felt like living to 100 today - if something simple didn't take you out sooner. When California had open land, low-priced real estate, and gold in them-there-hills, almost everybody died much younger than today. Usually from an exotic disease like a toothache.  If you lived a couple of centuries ago, the simple life meant simple goals:Survive childhood.Buy a horse.Get married.Buy another horse.Build your first house on your 40-year old Grandparents' property.Get your kids through 5th grade so they can graduate to help you plow the field.And if you were a planner, plant a tree on the hill a soon as you can so that it is big enough for your kids to bury you under when a toothache took you out.While it's easy to make fun of the old days, one thing rings true—If you lived in the past, wondering what you would do next in your life would never be an option. Since you have that option, the question is, what are you going to do with it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My friend sent a note on a subject that profoundly resonates with me. He asked me, "What's more important, passion or money?"Ask any person who knows me, and they will tell you that I am all about doing what makes my heart sing - PASSION! After all, you know what they say —"Do what you love, and the money will follow!"I bet you've heard that most of your life. I will also bet that you have personal experience that would suggest otherwise, and there are millions of starving artists, writers, actors, and other creative types that would agree with your observations. That list should also include stay home moms and dads, school teachers, police officers, and many more. I believe there is no happier life than living a passionate life.I also believe that everybody has different monetary requirements that make them happy.And, I know that, while our quest to live with passion may be why we live a prosperous life, it's also what gets in the way of that life.If you desire to do what makes your heart sing and live a happy and prosperous life, there are two things to remember:1) Focusing entirely on your passion at the expense of other and more routine aspects of life eventually stops you from living your passion. Life will get in the way.2) Focusing exclusively on money and other routine aspects of life will force you to postpone doing what you are passionate about - possibility forever.I know many will disagree with this statement, but my experience and ScottLOGIC has taught me something —Life is long, and it is impossible to focus on ONE thing without covering everything else. It may work short-term, but acting that way is a recipe for disaster and frustration.The solution comes down to a simple equation—Passion + Realty + Discipline = Everything you want!Like it or not, when you obsess and demand that you do what you love, accept the reality and costs of real life, and discipline yourself to strike a balance, you will get everything you want in life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Let me start by saying that goal setting is powerful, and you should be doing it - but there is a good chance that you are overdoing it.It's human nature to set goals, and you do it every day without thinking. That's why it's so powerful. It's also why it's so easy to set so many goals that you can never get any of them done. Let me define how I see goals.No matter what distracts me, I've come to think of goals in two ways:1) Legacy Goals that I will spend my entire life achieving.2) Living Goals that will propel me to my Legacy Goals.I didn't think this way for much of my life, but one day, I accepted that no matter what I was chasing, it was the "who I would become in my life and how do I get there" thoughts that were always rolling around in my head. My internal ScottLOGIC told me that if I'm thinking about something anyway, I might as well think about it purposefully.Also, since I've never met anybody who was happy to pursue daily activities that didn’t lead to something bigger, I knew that everything should always lead to something bigger. Anything else will eventually break your spirit - and that should never happen.As you set yourself up for a life of satisfaction, no matter how much life gets in the way, think of "Legacy Goals" as the top of a pyramid that is built on a foundation of "Living Goals." "You must build up your life action by action, and be content if each one achieves its goal as far as possible — Marcus Aurelius.Your mission is to focus on daily "Living Goals" that are designed and intended for you closer to your "Legacy Goals," Stoic philosophy also says —The culmination of human endeavor or end is "happiness" or "flourishing." For some, the idea of a single "Legacy Goal" may seem impossible. After all-How can you possibly know who you will become after an entire lifetime of living?How is it even possible that you can reach a goal you can't define?How is it possible to stay focused on one goal your entire life?Frankly, understanding how that works is something we don’t need to worry about today. It's been debated, analyzed, and tweak for eons. There's no need to overthink, only accept.If you live a happy and flourishing life, your Legacy will define itself. Someday, you will arrive at the person you are meant to be - and be happy for it.One goal is all it takes. Everything else is a step on the journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When my wife and I were first married, it wasn’t long before I learned that waking up at 5:45 AM, and every step after that, seemed to be programmed into her DNA - and I was not too fond of it.Over the years, I had grown to dislike mornings. Mostly because I found myself doing one of two things; the hustle and bustle of the daily grind or what the self-help gurus were telling me I “should” be doing with my mornings.Sometimes it worked. Sometimes it didn’t. My wife, on the other hand, doesn’t do that. Unlike most folks in the world that are caught up in the drama of life, she operates with a “figure out what works, keep doing it, never think about it again” mindset. If I’m being honest, as a widely creative, spontaneous, and go-for-it kind of guy, Joi’s mindless persistence drives me crazy. But, since there is no way to change her ways, I have no choice but to find my way.Besides, as a guy who has worked with tens of thousands of successful people, I’ve seen the same behavior so many times there is no denying that a simple and constantly repeating morning routine is where success is born. After all, the early bird gets the worm!But that still leaves us to figure out what our routine should be? For me, that boiled down to one simple question—What’s the most important thing I can do that will make everything else possible?Now, I’ve found when I ask a question like that, the answer comes flying at me like a brick falling off a roof and hitting me right in the forehead - and it happens fast. I may not like the answer, but sometimes the truth hurts.If you want to lose weight and get in shape, the most important thing is to exercise.If you want to make money, your most important thing might be to invest.If you want to write a book, your most important thing is to write.In my case, I have legacy dreams for myself, my family, my business, and you. To make that happen, the most important thing I can do is write in the morning. Once I made that decision I…Wake up, get out of bed, shower, and dress, eat a quick breakfast, sit at my desk, and write for the next three hours. No distractions. No questions asked. So, how do I get everything else done?Frankly, once you take care of what is most important to you, there isn’t much else. Still, when the time comes, I ask myself what the next most important thing that will make everything else possible - and do it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you a person who always does things the same way or prefers to change things up at every chance?If you’re lucky, you are both.Traditions are the secret sauce behind the emotional connection we feel at this time of year. Family get-togethers, office gatherings, crazy shopping crowds?Yes. I know we’re in a pandemic, and not everything is as it used to be - but it is in our minds. The traditions make our lives unique and are always present, never forgotten, and form the fabric of our lives. They are very human, and they are essential.But let’s get back to my earlier comment that “traditions make our lives special.”The fact is, somebody has to make the tradition. Is that you?My wife and I were walking in the neighborhood and noticed that Janice was almost finished with her Christmas decorations. I stopped and said—“Wow. That looks like a lot of work!”“Yes, it is. But I love it, and it’s my tradition,” she said.“Well, thank you for making Christmas for the rest of us.”She didn’t know what to say, but she understood what I was meant.Whether it’s Christmas, New Year, or any other time of the year, traditions are the same as habits and rituals. They make our lives more fulfilling. But always remember, somebody has to make the tradition so that all of our worlds are a better place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

My mind is constantly searching for a simple, three-step process for anything that will help me get what I want, and that usually comes down to something I talk about a lot; making a decision. I speak about decision-making much of my day because it’s the most dynamic tool you have in your personal development tool kit. It should be easy —Almost everything you will ever want to do in life has already been done. The solution to getting what you want should be based on logic and proven steps. In other words, figure out what works and do it. But, as much as we can all agree that it should be easy, using logic to get what we want doesn’t have much to do with being a human—that’s where emotions and a more phycological approach come into play. “Come on, let’s just do what we know works?” You say.“No. I’m not feeling it. Let’s go with the flow and figure it out?”Logical vs emotional thinking is an epic battle that could be told by Stephen Spielberg in a blockbuster movie. Oh, wait, it always is!Let’s take a side trip to the movies and prove my point.The Hero has a problem in a movie, and something has to change, but they don’t know what to do? Professionally speaking, they are an emotional mess, no matter how real it may be.Then, in a movie, their situation suddenly thrust them into taking action to solve their problem. Logic kicks in, and they get busy fixing life.But, in a movie, life gets in the way, their actions are not working, and their emotions take over. It seems that all is lost, but never fear.Before any good movie ends, our Hero figures out precisely what needs to be done. One. Two. Three. Victory is at hand. Somebody, please roll the credits.What’s the lesson in the story we are writing?Everything that you want to do has already been figured out. Your job is to set your emotions aside, go into logic mode, and take the fewest steps possible to reach your dream. They’re no need to wait. Hero’s don’t wait. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we approach the most spiritual time of year, I find more and more of my thoughts are focused on what my future will bring. But instead of drafting a list of goals, my mind seems to settle into a different place—What if I could give myself a gift that would instantly give me what I want?What if I don't have to chase my dreams and start living them instead?What if there was nothing in my way - ever?While that way of thinking may seem out of touch in today's world, it's not. It happens every day for millions of people worldwide, and it can happen for you too.Here's a simple truth—Everything changes instantly and, very likely, forever when you make a decision. If you hate your job and decide to quit, everything changes.Everything changes instantly if you decide you need some space for yourself, turn your phone off, and take a walk in the woods.If you decide to say "Yes" to yourself and "No" to others more often, you experience change.I could go on forever, but I don't need to. If you've been alive for any length of time, you understand that you're only stuck until you decide not to be stuck. Once you make that decision, you're moving again. That's life.Is it easy? Are the limitations? Are there consequences? Maybe, but many of them are good! The point is that any directional change in your life is possible the instant you decide to recalculate the path you are walking.So this year, why not give yourself the gift of considering the possibility that the only thing standing in your way is you? I bet that you already know that. If that's the case, why not get out of your way and just do what you say you want to do?Yes, I know you may not know what to do?Yes, I know you may not know how to do it?Yes, I know you may wonder how your life will be?All of that is true. But you know that you want something different?Do you know what's not working?Do you know what you don't want in your life?That should be all the motivation you need to go for your dreams. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I can’t remember her name, but I can tell you she was not a happy person. It was a hot, hazy, and humid Virginia day when I arrived for a class reunion. As I stepped toward the check-in table, a friend of more than thirty years locked eyes with me, broke into tears, and screamed—“Oh Scott… can you help me? I’m not happy!” Next, she bolted out of her seat, ran around the table, and hugged me… and hugged me… and hugged me… and hugged me. This is not the first time this has happened, and being a professional, I knew what I was going to say, “Of course I’ll help, just let me get settled, and we’ll talk later”. Frankly, I was buying time to figure out why somebody I have never known not to be happy was not happy. What had changed?Nothing!My friend found herself a full-fledged member of The Always Club, as in “I always wanted to be thin and in shape… I always wanted to find my purpose in life… I always wanted to make more money… I always…I was a member of The Always Club myself, along with about a gazillion other folks collectively trying to figure out life’s secrets. Who knew it would take most of us thirty years of post-high school living to realize we’ve never done what we have always wanted to do? If that sounds familiar, it’s not your fault, and it’s more common than the common cold. But unlike the common cold, you can’t just sit around and wait seven days for it to go away, or you’ll remain a member of The Always Club for the rest of your life. So what did I say to my friend?“What you have always wanted is not something you have been denied. It hasn’t disappeared or passed you by, and somebody else didn’t take it. You have been happily living your life, and there is nothing wrong with that. Just remember, your “always wanted” is alive and well, living in your future, just waiting for you to go after it.”And she hugged me… and hugged me… and hugged me.So what are you waiting for? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices