Don't set out to build a wall.

 

"You don't set out to build a wall. You don't say 'I'm going to build the biggest, baddest, greatest wall that's ever been built.' You don't start there. You say, 'I'm going to lay this brick as perfectly as a brick can be laid.' You do that every single day... and soon you have a wall."

-Will Smith

 

This is perfect.  How many times do we hear "just take it one day at a time"?  Here is the little bit of insight that I would like to add to this: If we start laying these bricks without any sort of plan or end goal, we don't know what will come out.  But if we only dwell on that end goal and not think about laying each brick, or living each day, our final outcome will be greatly disappointing.  So briefly look ahead, make sure you are heading in the right direction, then refocus your attention on what you are doing each and every day.  Best of luck!



Fuel your passion.

"Find what makes your heart sing and create your own music."

-Mac Anderson

 

Today is simple... just like any car, lawn mower, or computer, your passion or dream also requires fuel or power.  We have to continually fuel up or power up our passion.  How do we do this?  Well it varies from person to person.  Myself?  Nothing gets me more pumped than watching videos of some of my running idols or athletic motivational videos.  For some people all it takes is a great song, other people... maybe a spiritual reawakening.  Whatever it is, find what works for you and stick with it!

The "Treadmill" attitude.

"The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I'm not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be out-worked, period. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, you might be sexier than me, you might be all of those things... But if we get on the treadmill together, there's two things: You're getting off first, or I'm going to die. It's really that simple.

 

You're not going to out-work me. It's such a simple, basic concept. The guy who is willing to hustle the most is going to be the guy that just gets that loose ball. The majority of people who aren't getting the places they want or aren't achieving the things that they want in this business is strictly based on hustle. It's strictly based on being out-worked; it's strictly based on missing crucial opportunities. I say all the time if you stay ready, you don't have to get ready."

 

-Will Smith 

 

This is a mindset that I have recently gained, and today I want to share it with all of you.  Do you remember the quote I shared with you a while ago?  The one that stated: "When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful."  Well this goes right along with that.  The difference is this quote compares yourself to the competition... however 90 percent of the time your competition is yourself.  Are you going to be better today than you were yesterday?  Well I will tell you this much... I will die trying.  If we truly gave everything we had...  If we never held back because of fear... If we would just push away all of our daily distractions and have this mindset... well, we would never fail.  Period.  It is just not possible.  Take a look at your mindset, make adjustments where needed, and press on.  Best of luck!

Are you finding excuses?

"If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don't, you'll find an excuse."

-Unknown

 

Hello everyone!!  Another week is at hand, let's make the best of it!  I will keep today short, sweet, and to the point.  This quote really hits it on the head.  There is no gray area, you are either making things happen, or you are making excuses.  One or the other.  Period.  This week I challenge you to step back and find out what you tend to do on a regular basis.  If you are finding you tend to make more excuses, make a change.  Best of luck!

The greatest sacrifice.

"The most important thing is this: to be able at any moment to sacrifice what you are for what you will become."

-Eric Thomas

 

Ladies and gentlemen, good morning!  Today is going to be a great day!  Why?  Because I decided it was going to be!  This quote is so important.  We, as human beings, create habits.  We fall into these habits, and some of us let these habits destroy our very being.  We let these bad habits destroy our dreams.  At any moment, if you truly want it bad enough, you will say no.  You will beat it.  You will not quit.  You will succeed.

 

It could be anything.  Maybe you have a hard time finishing a workout.  Maybe you get tired too easily and quit studying.  Maybe you see someone better than you and get frustrated, letting that frustration control you.  Whatever it is, you have to be willing to let that go.  You have to be willing to fight, to become that who you want to become.  It comes down to a choice.  It can be as easy or as difficult as you want it... but I promise you this... if you really want it, if you are willing to lay everything on the line, just remember that and say no.  Just remember that and fight on.  Just take it one day at a time, but today is that day.  Best of luck, champions. 

Hardwork.

 

"Dear Hard Work...

 

I used to hate you. When you called my name, I heard it, but ran away from you. When I knew you were coming, I used to hide from you. When you influenced others to talk to me, I quickly made excuses to get away from you. Afraid of the pain because I didn't want to get hurt. Afraid to fail, so I didn't even try... and afraid of your name, because of what you have done to others.

 

Who do you think you are making me so afraid of who you are? Reflection in the mirror, shadow behind me... I take one step and you are still ahead of me. Sweat in my face, tears in my eyes. Is there anything that you can't do?

 

Now look at me. You made me who I am today, and because of you, I have this never loosing, never giving up attitude. Quitting? That's not in my vocabulary. When they quit, I keep going. When they sleep, I work harder. When they say that I can't and count me out, I show them that I can. When I tell them about me dreams, and they laugh, I make sure I laugh last. I am a dream chaser. That means I chase my dream and no one else's. Only I can defeat me. It's me against this work you put on me.

 

There is no loosing... I will not lose...

 

I came this far, and I am not stopping now. Oh, Hard Work, my dad was right about you, you do pay off, and because of that... I love you. How can I not? I am no longer hiding from you... I am waiting for you. As a matter of fact... where are you?

 

I need you.. because in Hard Work I trust."

 

Our perspective on our position.

"Some people see the glass half full. Others see it half empty. I see a glass that's twice as big as it needs to be."

-George Carlin

 

"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses."

-Abraham Lincoln

 

"It is the obvious which is so difficult to see most of the time. People say 'It's as plain as the nose on your face.' But how much of the nose on your face can you see, unless someone holds a mirror up to you?"

-Isaac Asimov

 

Now from these few quotes it is probably evident what today's post is about, perspective.  We are our own worst critics.  Especially those who aim high and are pursuing their own form of perfection, which can be achieved might I add.  When we become that awful critic, it usually does not end well.  Let me explain.  There are times when self evaluation is critical.  The problem is so many of us try to do this from a very obscure and unclear point of view.  The end result... a complete massacre of our own self confidence.

 

Today look at where you are, who you are, and the direction you are heading.  Our goal is to improve each and every day.  We cannot expect to achieve that perfection in anything right this second, it is a working progress.  As long as that motivational compass is pointing in the right direction, you cannot fail.  So do a quick self evaluation.  Are you doing the things that will help you get one step closer to that dream, big or small?  If so, keep it up, you are heading in the right direction, even if sometimes it doesn't feel like it.  If not, well, you know a good place to start.  It's the small things that sometimes matter most.  It's your point of view and perspective that can make or break your own self confidence and your own motivation.  Best of luck, friends.



Want a change? Make a change.

"If you wait, all that happens is you get older."

-Larry McMurtry

 

Today goes out to all those people who want a change in their life, but don't know where to start.  Now I do not have all the answers, so my goal today is to hopefully prompt you enough to at least consider trying something new.  Try anything, because if you do not, nothing will change.

 

This is a great concept to consider when dealing with "Distraction."  Things happen, there is nothing we can do about that.  We only have control of how we will react.  If something is standing between you and your dream, you are held responsible to do something about it.  I highly advise to not try and wait it out.  99.9 percent of the time, it will win, whatever the distraction may be.  Make a change.  Do something to overcome the distraction, and get one step closer to achieving your dream today. 

Pain is temporary.

"Pain is temporary. It may last for a minute, an hour, a day, or even a year... But eventually it will subside, and something else will take it's place. If I quit, however, it will last forever."

-Unknown

 

Now at first glance a lot of athletes and people with some sort of physical goal will easily be able to apply this to their life, but anyone with any dream will also be able to apply this.  There are two forms of pain.  There is a pain where something is seriously wrong, and one may injure themselves, but there is also a pain we call discomfort.  It is so important to learn the difference between the two.  When the pain is merely a discomfort, we have to learn how to tough it up and push through.  When one quits from discomfort, there will be a moment right after they have recovered enough to know they are not injured, when regret and disappointment will sink in.

 

The pain that will last forever will be the pain of not knowing.  Not knowing how good you could have been.  Now knowing where in life you could have gone had you toughed it up when times got hard and you experienced a little discomfort.  Not knowing if you would have become the man or woman you always wanted to become.  I can tell you first hand, that I have had workouts, weeks, even months where I let a little discomfort shatter my world.  Luckily, I was able to experience this and recognize this at an early age.  It is never too late.  Gain an understanding of this concept, and then... go live it.  Best of luck, I'll see you tomorrow. 

No matter how bad it gets...

"Just know, when you truly want success, you'll never give up on it. No matter how bad the situation may get."

-Unknown

I want to apologize for missing my posts the last few days.  This quote really hit home for me this last week.  I hope in one way or another it can help all of you as well.  This last week I had to ask myself if I really wanted it, if I would really give everything to achieve what I have set my heart on.  No excuses and no holding back.  I found my answer.  I hope you can too.