Be willing to be bad at it

Many people don’t try new things because they don’t want to look like a beginner and make mistakes.

We are experts being who we are and doing what we always do.  We are good at that.  But that’s all we do.

If we try something new we are not an expert anymore.  We are a clumsy apprentice who hopes nobody is looking.

We are the CEO at the company party looking at the mechanical bull or line dances, but we won’t try it.

“It is impossible to get better and look good at the same time.  Give yourself permission to be a beginner.” – Julia Cameron, The Artists Way

Tell your ego it’s ok, and try new things.

Live like you know what you want

Most people let life’s circumstances determine their path.

But you are a creator.  You just have to know what you want to create.

What are you trying to create in your life? 

Be clear, and decide.

Then get up every day and create it.

Optimizing your self-image

Your self-image is what makes you act like you.

You are with yourself 24/7 and are influenced by your own self talk more than any other factor.

Move in the direction of a better you – when you do something average or something you are not proud of say “That’s not like me”.

When you stretch, break new ground, step up, and/or outperform your average say “That’s like me!”.

Talk better to yourself. 

“That’s like you!”

"No entitlement attitude"

“Money earned ethically is a byproduct of value creation.” – Dan Sullivan

A “no entitlement attitude” means you don’t expect anything to be given to you without creating value first.

Create value for others – you go first.

Be a giver, not a taker

If you are a taker, people figure it out and they don’t want to deal with you much or are cautious if they do.

If you are always contributing, asking, listening, and helping others, you will have more people that –

-are glad to see you

-take your call

-want to be around you

-will help you when you need it

-want you on their team

Be a giver, not a taker.

Some things don't change

“U.S. eating habits decried by visitors.

Although the average American is eating bountifully, some French visitors find his sense of taste and eating habits wanting.  Constantin Francois de Chasseboef, Count of Volney, has decried the amount of lard, butter, salt pork, greasy puddings, coffee, and tea Americans consume.  And Francois Jean Marquis de Chastellux, in his “Travels in North America”, says days pass “in heaping indigestions upon one another,” noting that Americans’ consumption of spirits completes “the ruin of the nervous system”. 

This was written in 1807!

Back then great tasting poor quality food was far less available than today. 

I do note they had bacon though!

Experiencing Stress

If you’re experiencing stress, you’re probably not responding to life; you’re reacting to it.

What is causing you to react?

Can you see that how you are mentally processing what happened or is happening is causing your stress?

Your response is a choice.

“Let it go.  Whatever it is, let it go.” -Michael Singer, The Untethered Soul  (Read this book if you are in a bad place!)

What rituals or activities can you put in place to turn things around?  Reading the right books.  Eating healthy food.  Getting enough sleep.  Walk out in nature.  Exercise (very good!)

Take control of your mental processes and your worldly experience.

It’s your mind, and you are in charge.

Mental Strength

People understand big muscles and speed and strength.

Mental strength is harder to articulate – bit matters more than almost any other factor in who goes farther in any endeavor.

Mental strength comes from working, from falling down and getting up, from practicing, and doing what you must do when you must do it whether you like it or not, and then doing more.

Those with mental strength will still be there long after others have given up.

Everybody likes to think they are tough and giving it their all.  But there is a lot more in you to tap.

How would you rate your mental strength?

Be in the top 10%

What if your company faced an external circumstance that forced them to downsize and get rid of 1/3 of the workforce?  Leaders had to decide who the bottom 1/3 of employees were who were least valuable (relative to what they were getting paid).  

Would you be cut or be saved?

What if they had to cut 2/3 of the workforce?  Would you be cut or stay?

What if they had to cut 90%?

Your job is to be in the top 10%.  If you are you will not only never have to worry about this unlikely 90% scenario, but you will realize so many other benefits as well.

Top people are always highly valued.  

Be one of them.

Attitude changes your world

“Could we change our attitude, we should not only see life differently, but life itself would be different.  Life would undergo a change of appearance because we ourselves had undergone a change of attitude.” – Katherine Mansfield

In large measure, you see and get what you expect.

The world is your own reflection.

What is your attitude?