Category: Uncategorized (Page 11 of 145)

It would seem nowadays everyone is looking for overnight success, beauty, riches and notoriety. Hoping that one TikTok, that one podcast or that one get-rich scheme will pay off over night.

Odds are they won’t. What will? Small incremental steps over time that begins to sculpt and mold us into the kind of people that can attract those things we’re looking for.

The secret is not to chase them, but in becoming the person that can attract those successes into our lives.

Become the person who is savvy with finances, the person who is healthy and the one who is wise in your chosen field. Success follows the hard work, the wise and the prepared.

Everything else is snake oil.

I’m not exactly sure how certain beliefs became part of who I am, but occasionally I will sort through the countless certainties unable to recognize their value in my life. Or even worse, identify them as holding me back from becoming better than I was the day before.

As I get older, I have realized one that doesn’t serve me much in any positive way is: “You can’t teach a dog new tricks.”

I’ve confronted this belief more than once in my life and will continue to search for new paths as I work to develop new skills.

One of those skills was deciding to learn how to play the drums after the age of 50. Now, I’m no Neil Peart, but I’ve been at it long enough to learn about a dozen songs and am able to play along with a guitar and a singer. It’s kind of like being in my own rock band. A dream every boy had at some point in time I would think.

And the truth is, I never considered myself a musician. Who said, you can’t teach a dog . . . .

I heard a line that resonated with me and I wanted to expand on it. I say “line” because it was actually from a movie. I don’t know about you, but this isn’t the most common place to produce an abundance of sage advice. But nevertheless, if it’s good then . . . .

The advice the one character was giving to the other was this, “Progress not perfection.” He was referring to moving forward towards a goal that the other character didn’t know whether or not he could achieve, but desired.

I know that sounds elementary, but this is exactly what is achievable on a consistent basis for us. To make small and measurable progress towards a desired goal each and every day that compounds over time.

It’s the tortoise and the hare. And the tortoise wins every time!

It’s much harder to listen than spouting off your insight and advice to another person, whether that’s solicited or not. I know that’s true for me.

I find that the truly wise individuals don’t say much. They listen.

I’ve recently have been aware of my behavior and vow to change.

More listening and less talking. I think we have enough talkers in the world.

I can find myself getting frustrated when I tell my 15 year-old son something and his response is, “I know.”

And of course my reply is always the same; “If you know, then why didn’t you do it?” Or “Why did you do it, then?”

I can’t blame the kid. I’m a 55 year old man and I do the same thing. Why?

Because doing the right thing – whether that’s eating healthy foods, working out or making those phone calls to prospective clients is NOT FUN. It’s a grind. You’re working towards a future-based goal in which you won’t receive that instantaneous surge of dopamine like you do when on social media. That’s a fact.

But, what we have to understand is those brief shots of dopamine and extended hours glazed over while locked into our screens are empty promises in which a fulfilling life CANNOT be built upon. That’s no secret.

So, let’s find moments in our day to take one step up the grand staircase of intention towards meaningful goals in our lives.

That’s what I want to get addicted to.