Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images | Life.com

In my last post “Put Two Feet In” I mentioned that we must be quitters at quitting. I will stand by that statement and guard it with my life.

Take a second to reflect on the past. I’ve been doing quite a bit of soul searching and self-reflection lately and realized that I have quit many things during my short 23 years on this planet. I didn’t practice the piano when I was younger and stopped receiving lessons, I got bored with Tae Kwon Do and quit, I dedicated countless hours to practicing and playing baseball wanting to play in college and decided not to play, and I could keep going if I wanted to.

Why have I been doing a lot of soul searching and self-reflection lately? Because I’m not really enjoying life right now. We all have these dreams of our ideal lives and…most of the time…it doesn’t work out as planned. I never, for the life of God, even wanted to consider about getting a sales job post college, but I did. And like I’ve mentioned in previous posts I’m actually enjoying it to an extent. However, lately I’ve had probably a million thoughts running through my head. I wanted to write this in my journal, but decided I’d rather share it on my blog for others to relate to. Sharing is giving, right?

Anyway, during the last few weeks I haven’t been performing very well out in the field. Specifically, the week of August 2nd through the 7th. During that week I closed two accounts. Fuck. As the week went on I felt like giving up. Quitting a job that I, in a sense, voluntarily show up to every morning since I don’t clock in. I was having a hard time out in the field letting objections from customers get to my head. It was affecting my performance and day after day I was letting it drag me deeper into a hole. Instead of walking door-to-door thinking about how I could have better rebutted the previous customer the thoughts running through my head were somewhere along the lines of, “fuck my life why the hell am I doing this?,” “this is bullshit I could be doing something else,” “I’d rather be working for minimum wage,” and the list goes on. I was putting a front up at the office. Smiling and appearing as if I was still confident and happy, when inside I was hurting and down right miserable.

Fortunately, on August 5th, 2010 I knocked on the door of a man by the name of Frank in Yorba Linda. I saw him the previous day and he blew me off. Since I was in a shitty mood I decided to knock on his door again and see if I could get my pitch and presentation in before he closed the door on me. First of all, I was shocked he actually answered his door. I had knocked on his door a previous six times without him answering knowing he was home. Frank comes out stands behind the gate and listens to my pitch. As I moved into the why I was there he stopped me and said that he didn’t want to upgrade his services, but wished me luck going to the doors down the street. This kind of caught me off guard, but I went into deeper questioning and so forth. Skip forward a bit, he looked at me straight in the eyes without the slightest of movement. Our eyes locked and after a few moments of silence he said that my pitch was good, my overall appearance was good, and that I was personable–to him all great qualities to have in the field. He said that he understood what I was going through. I asked him how he knew what I was going through? He pointed to his withered faced and said “I’ve done sales my whole life. Started off commission only just like you going door to door and made a damn good living off of it.” I asked him is he had any advice for a young guy like me just starting off. Frank said, “Stick with it and don’t give up. You’ll have your ups and downs, but guys who can overcome the downs and stay persistent will make it.” He also told me not to rely on what we call “go backs” that they mean shit. The only day that matters is the day you speak with the person and you better damn well get them to sign on the dotted line.

He also told me many things of which I’ve learned in the office. Set short-term goals and learn from the best. To set realistic goals, ones that I don’t fall short on every day, week, month, but ones that I accomplish and set a higher standard for next time. To look at the best performing person in the office as my mentor. To ask questions and keep track of my closing ratio always trying to improve on it. To have a vision that’s crystal clear. A plan of exactly how I’m going to get to where I want to be a year from now.

As I walked away from Franks house I had more thoughts and emotions running through my head. This guy has done sales his whole life and has obviously done well for himself. He was a complete dick, asshole for that matter, the first time I saw him outside and that day he shared with me his story and gave me advice and words of encouragement that will stick with me for the rest of my life.

I’ll be honest, I was going to quit my job after the 7th. I was going to set up a one on one and tell my leader that I was throwing in the towel and calling it quits. But after my encounter with Frank my whole perspective changed. I also couldn’t build the courage to actually tell David face-to-face that I was done. I look up to him and he’s done a lot for me. I didn’t want to see the disappointment on his face after I told him that I was quitting. I’m glad that I became a quitter at quitting.

Now you’re probably wondering how I did the following week (this last week August 9-14). I started the week strong by closing 2 accounts on Monday. I thought to myself that “hmm, something’s working here,” and came to the conclusion that it was the change in my attitude. I finished the week with 6 accounts ending up 2 short of my goal of 8 for the week. I’m going to be fully committed this upcoming week. I’ve decided that I’m going to stick with this NO MATTER WHAT for at least a year and see where I get.

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2. To Wake Up with a Smile
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Photo by Flickr User klorrainegraham

So, where to begin. These last four weeks have been exhausting. I’ve been working literally 12 hour days with my sales job. To top that off I haven’t had a day off from work because I spend my weekends working at a restaurant in Fashion Island in Newport Beach. Now you’re saying to yourself, “man Gregg must be making some big bucks.” Not yet. I’m still working on that part. I’m doing alright, but not performing at the level I know I can perform at. It’s rough though, I just want some time to myself and to be able to have the freedom to do the things that make me happy. I just don’t understand how people manage to work their whole lives. How they’re content with mediocrity and with the same rituals and habits everyday living paycheck to paycheck. I want more in my life and am willing to sacrifice anything to get to where I want to be.

I mentioned that the job is challenging, fun, and discouraging and I mean it in every sense possible. It’s challenging because I’ve never done entry-level sales business-to-business or business-to-residential. I’m not going to lie, I’m a shitty sales person and I know that I have a lot of ground to make up if I ever want to be a top dog high rolling the office every week. It was a reality check when I saw my name at the bottom of the production list last week. I never want to see my name at the bottom again and I never want to feel the punch in the gut I felt when I saw my name at the bottom. It was like, damn this is embarrassing I don’t want to experience this feeling of shame ever. I’ve always been good at anything I do…but I’ve never been great. So now I’m challenging myself to be great at what I do (sales for the time being).

I was fortunate enough to have the chance to listen to a bronze medalist speak at my office earlier this week. His name was Simon Cho. This kid is 18 years old. He grew up on skates since he was 3 years old and it’s the only thing he knows. I was able to take a lot away from the things he said, which I hope to apply to my life in general. First of all, Olympians are the top 1% of athletes IN THE WORLD. You don’t become an Olympian by half-assing it all the time when you’re training. You must have the willingness to sacrifice everything else. Like I said, you can’t half ass something and expect to be great. For Simon, he put 100% of his time into skating. This made him better than his fellow peers because they were putting 50% towards skating and the other 50% towards their studies in school. You must have the diligence and consistency to keep at it. It takes someone special to keep doing something for 10 years and not giving up. To stay motivated you must be able to answer the question why you’re doing it. Simon, for the longest time, was doing it for his father. He saw how much time his father sacrificed for Simon’s career to get him where he is today. Simon finally began skating for himself and not his father. We have to be doing something that we want to and not because someone else wants us to. You must have the support and atmosphere to act as a backbone when you truly just want to call it quits because you don’t think you can take it anymore. Athletes mentally quit all the time and lose track of their vision and don’t see the future. When Simon wanted to quit and didn’t think he could make the Olympic team. He was having a bad season so he called his Dad and said “get me out of here,” and his Dad said that he believed in him. He was right. We all go through struggles and have to overcome those struggles. Quitting cannot be an option. We must be quitters at quitting. When standing on the podium Simon said that is was like a piece of Utopia. He had flashbacks of all the hardships he overcame to get to that point. It was the journey that got him there that’s been the most valuable.

Now that I got through that I wanted to bring up the fact that you should ALWAYS have a student mentality when it comes to any endeavor you take on personally and professionally. Knowledge is priceless and I’ve realized that I can learn something new every day as long as I apply myself and am willing to grow as a person mentally, physically, and emotionally.

My job is also fun. I get to surround myself with a bunch of young, like minded individuals who want more out of life than to settle for average. I’ve never been in an atmosphere with so many young go getters who are also there to support each other every day while at the office and in the field. It truly amazes me how much of a family everyone is outside of work as well.

Lastly, working in general is discouraging, but sales has made me feel quite discouraged at times. I’ve learned that I must keep my head held high and a positive attitude. Not to let the little things get to me and know that there’s always tomorrow. It’s discouraging when you come home from a long days work and didn’t close an account. “Fuck, I just worked a 10+ hour day for absolutely nothing.” There’s nights I’m driving home constantly asking myself “what the fuck did I get myself into” or “why the hell am I putting myself through this/doing this when I could work a shitty job for a wage that’s less demanding and requires less energy.” Yup, that’s what goes through my mind. Then I take a step back and realize that I need to take a deep breath and focus on how and what I need to improve.

Overall, the experience has been great. Having experienced first hand entry-level sales has allowed me to develop a skill set I can take with me anywhere I go for the rest of my life. Sales is a great vehicle to develop a strong root system and grow from that point on. At first I was worried about the performance based commission only structure, but have become fond of the whole structure. This is because at a job that pays a wage the employer pays his employee just enough so he doesn’t quit. The employee works just hard enough not to get fired. With a commission only structure I have to work my ass off to get paid. I have to be willing to learn and stay motivated in order to succeed out in the field. It lights a fire under my ass because if I slack off I won’t close any accounts and if I don’t close any accounts the bills don’t get paid.

What I wanted to get at is that in whatever you pursue you must be willing to put two feet in. You’ll never reach your true potential if you never dedicate 100% of your efforts towards whatever it is you want to excel at. That’s why my short-term goal is to close enough accounts in during the week (8 accounts) so I can generate a steady income every week high enough to quit my job at the restaurant. This is so I can work my sales job Monday through Saturday with nothing else on my mind and have one day (Sunday) to relax, reflect, and gather my thoughts for the upcoming week.

And no, I wouldn’t trade this job in for anything else. Give me one year and we’ll see who’s on top!

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The way I interpret it is that we are afraid, as individuals, to step out of our comfort zone. That we second guess our ability to succeed, create our own identity, or as Ralph Waldo Emerson best said it, “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” If we never take the necessary risks to reach a higher level of satisfaction mentally, physically, and emotionally we’ll always be asking ourselves what if. Remember, that your prior actions determine future options. If you don’t change anything nothing different is going to happen. You have to be willing to change because change is the only constant.

In regards to change, I want to mention something that I heard on a conference call one morning. If you’re sitting here reading this take the time to do this. Take out a piece of paper and draw one circle. In that circle write down things that you know could use improvement in your personal life and lifestyle. For example, you could write down that you need more money to pay the bills, your marriage could be better, your relationship with your kids could be stronger, there’s no time for vacation…anything you can think of. Done? Good! Now draw a second circle. In the second circle write down what you just wrote down in the first circle. Guess what? If you don’t make a change today to better your life, to follow your dreams, or achieve your goals then 1, 2, 3, 4, even 5 years from now you’ll still be in the same situation you’re in right now. Empower yourself to do great things.

So get out there and be yourself!

This kind of relates to a previous post where I posted this quote as well, but I really felt compelled to write about change today!

P.S. I’d really love to hear your thoughts about this quote or any stories you may have regarding change! Feel free to post your thoughts in the comments section or contact me directly through my contact page!

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Photo by Flickr User Pixelinthebox

Some of you may recognize this poem, some you may not. I came across this poem in Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, of which I’m currently reading. It was written by Jessie B. Rittenhouse.

In this economy many people have been hit hard. It has forced the masses to think differently and redefine the conventional way of doing things. For some, that may come in the form of inventing products or services that improve our way of life and for others it may be to improve upon what is already existing by effectiveness and efficiency.

Let me tell you something. I’m a dreamer. Not just a dreamer…a BIG dreamer. You’re probably a big dreamer as well. What we all have in common is that we let others tell us something can’t be done and that whatever it is that we’re on a mission to accomplish is impossible. GET THESE PEOPLE OUT OF YOUR LIVES! THEY’RE POISON. The difference between you and those people is that you have not been defeated. “No one ever is defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality” (Napoleon Hill). Dominating thoughts, negative or positive, consume our mind. Our minds are like a magnet and will ultimately believe what we think and what others tell us. If, for some reason, you believe you can’t do something, guess what? Whatever it is that you thought you couldn’t do or accomplish will become a reality. If you believe you can do something you WILL be able to do that something. It’s not that hard of a concept to grasp. Magical isn’t it?

There’s nothing wrong believing in a dream or goal that is not yet tangible; something that’s just a pigment of your imagination. If you believe in a dream or goal so much that you believe it’s really there, actually happening, it will become a reality sooner or later. Assuming that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to get there! To have faith, overcome obstacles, and have courage when it seems like you have nothing more to give. Believe in your dreams and goals and they will eventually come true.

I hope this lesson has helped you in some small way. It may seem like I’m regurgitating what is said in Think and Grow Rich. My word may not seem a lot to you, but take it as you please. I was in a position, we’ll say 3 weeks ago for the sake of this post, where my mind was full of misdirection and doubt. I have finally understood what others have been trying to tell me and the message authors such as Napoleon Hill try to help guide people and understand. To think positively about success and put that energy in my daily life to attract the things I desire. To believe in myself.

Don’t get me wrong either. I still have days of doubt, but I’m working on it. What I’ve realized is that it takes time and that I must have the courage and desire to change. If I don’t have the willingness to change or take risks than the lifestyle I’m living won’t change. If I don’t change my bad habits, thinking process, or take on challenges that seem impossible to overcome then what I want and desire will never become a reality (so help me God if anyone or anything gets in my way!). I’m finding out that I must grasp onto what I desire most and run with my gut feeling, my first instinct, and what I believe in most. I don’t want to get old sitting around regretting decisions I made in the past. We only live once and I want to make the most of it. Personal development is something I must accept. It’s been a rough journey really thinking about why I want to change. I know what I want in life and it’s just a matter of getting there.

All I want for you to get out of this is that you should follow your dreams and believe in yourself. There’s no reason why you should be working for another man’s dreams your whole life. We all have aspirations, dreams, and goals. Too many people have thrown those aspirations, dreams, and goals out the window because they lose faith in themselves. Regain that faith and know that you are capable of doing anything you set your mind to.

I keep hearing successful people say that the journey to the top was the most gratifying thing and what they appreciate most. That the journey was worth it. My journey hasn’t been quite so sunny…pretty gloomy if you ask me, but I know when I finally make it to the top by accomplishing my personal and financial goals. I’ll be able to look back and appreciate everything that I will have learned and the person I became.

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Photo by Flickr User jtravism

I have really been troubled the last few months. It seems as though the direction my life is headed in is uncertain. I hate not knowing what’s going to happen, where I’m going to to be, and who I’m going to become. Thus far, it seems as though many of the decisions I have made lead me in the wrong direction. That everything I have done has been a waste of time. I want success so badly that I can taste it at the tip of my tongue and I’ll do anything to achieve the level of success I desire. I’m willing to make commitments. To put in the effort. To put in the time. To learn.

Why am I bringing this up? Because I think about my future literally everyday. I realize that the decisions I make today will directly affect the outcome of my life. It seems as though my conscious has placed two miniature Greggs on each of my shoulders telling me to do something completely different. It’s tiresome and, quite frankly, irritating.

I’ve tried so hard to land a job after graduating from a “respectable” university only to be declined time and time again. My moral has reached an all time low. I feel betrayed. Betrayed that the thought and expectations of our society telling us to pursue a higher education beyond high school will, somehow, guarantee a better way of life [and guarantee us entry-level positions in Corporate America]. Oddly enough, statistics show that higher education does, in fact, help one achieve a higher level of income during his/her lifetime. However, I still feel discouraged. Discouraged to the point where I want to give up. I’ve come to conclusion that there really are no guarantees in life. Everything is based on the individual–what that individual is willing to do and what sacrifices that individual is willing to make. “One-half of knowing what you want is knowing what you must give up before you get it” (Sidney Howard).

So here I am today. Stuck with a few more difficult decisions to make. They have required me to dig deeper and think harder than I ever have before. It seems as though I’ve been caught in a web and can’t figure out a way to escape. That the spider (failure) is breathing down my back ready to make me its 6 o’clock meal.

There’s one side of me that wants to be conservative and play it safe because there is no certainty of my success. Then there’s the other side of me that says to take that risk, it’s a great opportunity. Isn’t it weird how all tough decisions come at a time when uncertainty is surrounding your life? When a would be not-so-tough decision at one point of your life is now, all of a sudden, becomes one of the toughest decisions you’ll make because of the current circumstances you’re in (in this case that I’m in). It seems like I’ve been walking around with the weight of the world on my shoulders.

It’s tough to choose and make a decision for the “what will improve my way of life” and “what’s the best for my future” factors. It’s tough to leave a surrounding I’m comfortable in. To leave behind people I truly and dearly care about. Ultimately, I have to look out for myself and answer the question; what is best for me? Sadly, I know the answer to that question but acting upon the answer is a lot harder than I thought it would be. And I have no freakin’ clue as to why.

What are the facts to consider? The fact that I’m young. I really don’t have any commitments or obligations being 23 years old. I don’t have a family with children, a house, or life savings to worry about. I can afford to risk a year, or a couple of years, of my life pursuing and doing something that may or may not work out. If it doesn’t work out hopefully I will have learned something that will help guide me in the right direction for future endeavors. In order to be successful I’m going to have to make decisions that take me out of my comfort zone. I’ve gotta start somewhere, right?

I just hope things turn out the way I hope for them to turn out. Lately, my life has been filled with disappointments and just plain bad luck. People say that the when you’re ready to quit is when you’re closer than you think. I sure hope it’s true…

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Photo by Flickr User duncandavidson

For those of you who don’t know what GoDaddy is here’s a little background. GoDaddy is a domain registrar and web hosting company. Today, GoDaddy is the largest ICANN-accredited registrar on the internet.

I stumbled upon Bob Parsons’ blog in 2006 when I was first trying to learn everything there was about the internet. His 16 rules for success in business and life in general not only connect with me on a personal level, but have helped motivate and empower me during the many times I have felt discouraged or giving up on my endeavors and journey to become successful. I hope that you find these 16 rules helpful just as I have.

1. Get and stay out of your comfort zone. I believe that not much happens of any significance when we’re in our comfort zone. I hear people say, “But I’m concerned about security.” My response to that is simple: “Security is for cadavers.”

2. Never give up. Almost nothing works the first time it’s attempted. Just because what you’re doing does not seem to be working, doesn’t mean it won’t work. It just means that it might not work the way you’re doing it. If it was easy, everyone would be doing it, and you wouldn’t have an opportunity.

3. When you’re ready to quit, you’re closer than you think. There’s an old Chinese saying that I just love, and I believe it is so true. It goes like this: “The temptation to quit will be greatest just before you are about to succeed.”

4. With regard to whatever worries you, not only accept the worst thing that could happen, but make it a point to quantify what the worst thing could be. Very seldom will the worst consequence be anywhere near as bad as a cloud of “undefined consequences.” My father would tell me early on, when I was struggling and losing my shirt trying to get Parsons Technology going, “Well, Robert, if it doesn’t work, they can’t eat you.”

5. Focus on what you want to have happen. Remember that old saying, “As you think, so shall you be.”

6. Take things a day at a time. No matter how difficult your situation is, you can get through it if you don’t look too far into the future, and focus on the present moment. You can get through anything one day at a time.

7. Always be moving forward. Never stop investing. Never stop improving. Never stop doing something new. The moment you stop improving your organization, it starts to die. Make it your goal to be better each and every day, in some small way. Remember the Japanese concept of Kaizen. Small daily improvements eventually result in huge advantages.

8. Be quick to decide. Remember what General George S. Patton said: “A good plan violently executed today is far and away better than a perfect plan tomorrow.”

9. Measure everything of significance. I swear this is true. Anything that is measured and watched, improves.

10. Anything that is not managed will deteriorate. If you want to uncover problems you don’t know about, take a few moments and look closely at the areas you haven’t examined for a while. I guarantee you problems will be there.

11. Pay attention to your competitors, but pay more attention to what you’re doing. When you look at your competitors, remember that everything looks perfect at a distance. Even the planet Earth, if you get far enough into space, looks like a peaceful place.

12. Never let anybody push you around. In our society, with our laws and even playing field, you have just as much right to what you’re doing as anyone else, provided that what you’re doing is legal.

13. Never expect life to be fair. Life isn’t fair. You make your own breaks. You’ll be doing good if the only meaning fair has to you, is something that you pay when you get on a bus (i.e., fare).

14. Solve your own problems. You’ll find that by coming up with your own solutions, you’ll develop a competitive edge. Masura Ibuka, the co-founder of SONY, said it best: “You never succeed in technology, business, or anything by following the others.” There’s also an old Asian saying that I remind myself of frequently. It goes like this: “A wise man keeps his own counsel.”

15. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Lighten up. Often, at least half of what we accomplish is due to luck. None of us are in control as much as we like to think we are.

16. There’s always a reason to smile. Find it. After all, you’re really lucky just to be alive. Life is short. More and more, I agree with my little brother. He always reminds me: “We’re not here for a long time; we’re here for a good time.”

The original article can be found here.

The above (or following) article (or rules for survival) is included with the permission of Bob Parsons (http://www.bobparsons.com) and is Copyright © 2004-2006 by Bob Parsons. All rights reserved.

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I wanted to say thank you for helping me realize that we all can, in some small way, help others with our efforts. That no matter how small we may be, in comparison to the world, we can never know when our words will inspire and reach others. I may not be an expert in my field or profession, I may not be a well-known motivational speaker, I may not be a celebrity or popular athlete, but I am human just like the rest of them. Though my level of influence may not be as great theirs I hope to inspire others just as they do.

Here is the email I received:

Hi Gregg,

really nice site. I will keep this short. I really liked your goals & buckets.
Now even I’m planning to write down my to do things with life. I think it really
helps to see whether we are on right track pursuing or chasing our dreams
however small or big. I really liked particular goal of yours i’e, your desire
to see sunset & sunrise in 20 countries. Such a nice thought. Very much
attainable. Really, Mother nature has answer to everything but we hardly ask
her. I’m basically a photographer, a learner of photography rather. so I relate
or ask many question with her & she mesmerizes me every single time. Hope your
dreams come true & you achieve your goals.

Best Wishes,
Sanath

To which my response was:

Hey Sanath,

I appreciate your feedback! I’m glad that you checked out my website and in some small way it has helped you want to follow your dreams and make your own goals/bucket list. I have found that writing things down really does help–especially in motivating my drive to want to succeed and pursue what makes me happy.

A lot of my list hasn’t been completed, but I plan on accomplishing a lot of those things within the next year (money is a factor unfortunately).

You’re actually the first person to contact me since I’ve redone my website and I’m receiving anywhere around 50-100 people visiting everyday. So thank you for taking the time to write. I was wondering if you would be willing to share with me your list once you’ve completed it? Also, could I share what you wrote in your email in a future post on my blog?

Lastly, do you have a website I could visit?

Regards,
Gregg Hawkins

I do hope the best for Sanath and your development as a photographer. Maybe we’ll see many pictures of the sunrises and sunsets you capture through the lens around the world sharing, giving, while providing hope and inspiring others at the same time.

With that said, if anyone is reading this and would like to contact me feel free to do so! I always love to meet new people and see what other people’s dreams, goals, and bucket lists are. Maybe I can put up a page dedicated for my reader’s goals and bucket lists if I get enough people contacting me wanting to share.

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Photo by Flickr user TylerKnott

Take a minute to reflect upon the past. Not the recent past, but when you were between the ages of 5 to 10 years old. When you were a little kid not yet a “grown up” you probably had a lot of ideas and dreams. Big, out of the ordinary, what the heck was I thinking sort of ideas and dreams. Your parents, while speaking about you, would say “my kid’s a dreamer.” Everybody thought you were crazy–except you. You believed in every idea and dream that you conceived in your mind. You could and would build a rocket ship, fly to outer space, and land on the moon. You would become an astronaut. You would become a fighter pilot. You would be the pitcher or batter in game 7 of the World Series in the 9th inning with two outs, bases loaded, and a full count. You could be anything. You thought the impossible was possible. ANYTHING you could dream of was a reality. Nothing held you back and nobody told you that it couldn’t be done.

Let’s flash forward 10, 20, 30 years to the present. Where are you now? Did those ideas and dreams become a reality? In most cases, those ideas and dreams were tossed out the window many years ago. Why? Because we were told over and over that it wasn’t possible and that it couldn’t be done. Our optimistic outlook was challenged by pessimists. Eventually, we began to let the negative overcome the positive.

Why is it that we let others and our society dictate our beliefs, the way we think, and what we individually value in life? I just don’t understand. I’m a victim of it all as well. I used to dream big, I’m not afraid to admit it, and I’m not afraid to share my dreams. However, this is going to sound hypocritical to the last sentence, but I still dream big. The problem now is that I sometimes doubt myself, my knowledge, and my ability to become who I want to become. When I was younger I used to never doubt or even question what I wanted to do or who I wanted to be like. I vision my future and let me tell you…it’s pretty extraordinary. Will my dreams come true? I hope so… No. Wait. I know so. I’ll make the assumption that, in my opinion, we were all once big dreamers; gratefully, some of us still are. The problem today is that as we grow up and mature we set boundaries, which limit our success. We put up these invisible and imaginary walls, which stop us from achieving and becoming who we want to become. We set these boundaries and put up these walls that used to never exist when we were younger. Those ideas and dreams we thought were possible are now, for some reason, unreasonable or unrealistic. We lose faith in ourselves.

Many of us have heard or read about O.J. Simpson’s story. For those of you who haven’t here’s the short version of it. In his childhood, O.J. Simpson developed a disease called Rickets in his legs. This left him pigeon towed and bowlegged unable to be a normal kid. He had to wear braces on his legs and was the subject to constant ridicule by his peers. One day he met Jim Brown, a phenomenal running back, and told Jim that someday he would break all of his records. Guess what? Those records were broken.

Just because our society, or friends, or family tell us that something can’t be done doesn’t mean that it can be done. For many of us, life becomes a daily routine. There’s the expected, conventional way to do things and the, what is considered ‘risky’, unconventional way to do things. What we used to believe in is now a distant thought and breaking the boundaries is oddly looked down upon by some. There’s this understanding of how to do things the “right” way and rather than being our own unique individuals we let ourselves be governed by the explicit and implicit rules or social norms.

I think that sometimes people are afraid of what they’re capable of. That they’re afraid of success because they’ve grown away from it for such a long time they have forgotten what success actually feels like. Everyday we see people achieve something that we always dreamed of accomplishing. We see that 10,000 people completed an Ironman event–surely I could do it if they could do it. But now look at it. What if only 1 person EVER, was to complete an Ironman event–it was just THAT difficult. In this situation some people wouldn’t give themselves the light of day and would never try. Some people would say that it’s unreasonable or unrealistic to complete the event themselves or to see 100 people complete an Ironman event. They have the wrong mindset. The perspective you have to look at it from is that if 1 person was able to complete an Ironman event it can be completed by yourself as well as many others. If I was approached by someone and they were to tell me, “Hey Gregg, I have this business opportunity for you. There’s one million people doing this thing, but only 1 person is making millions while the rest of the 999,999 people are only making a couple thousand of dollars.” Some people would run away and never look back. I wouldn’t let that opportunity pass. If 1 person can achieve a level of success it can be achieved by someone else. It may require a lot of time, effort, and work but it isn’t impossible. It shows me that it isn’t unreasonable and that it isn’t unrealistic.

I guess what I’m trying to say is that you should never question your ability to succeed based on how many people have accomplished something before you. If something hasn’t been accomplished yet, then why can’t the first person be you?

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I have found that it’s true…if you read, listen to, or watch something positive everyday for at least 15 minutes it changes the way you process things. It’s amazing what happens to your thinking, to your beliefs, and your commitment level towards wanting to be successful, the desire to accomplish something, and to achieve a goal.

With this post I wanted to get into what makes a good leader. You’ve probably noticed that I’ve added a MonaVie page and banners to my site. That’s because my brother and I have become independent distributors for the company. That’s a whole other post, though. Anyways, I was reading one of MonaVie’s on the move magazines from last year and a Hawaiian Blue Diamond Executive, Paul Barrios, made a list of what makes a MonaVie leader. I don’t think that this applies to ONLY MonaVie, but other professions and areas in life as well. Here’s the list:

• A leader doesn’t look at how things are; A leader looks at how things can become.
• A leader knows time will expose you; A leader also knows time will promote you.
• A leader will never succeed with self-doubt; A leader has complete belief in his convictions.
• A leader is not lazy and never procrastinates; A leader knows that nothing happens without a sense of urgency.
• A leader remains consistent; A leader does not want to become non-existent.
• A leader doesn’t ask, ‘why me;’ A leader asks, ‘why not me.’
• A leader knows that it’s not the skill of the man; A leader knows that it’s the will of the man.
• A leader is never arrogant; A leader is humble and always ready to learn more.
• A leader is not afraid of the future; A leader looks forward to the future, full of courage.
• A leader understands that he is not the leader of his group; A leader is a leader in his group.
• A leader knows when it’s time to quit; A leader will never quit if the dream is big enough.
• A leader knows that tough times never last; A leader knows that tough people do.

There are many areas that I agree with Paul Barrios and can relate to. I know that I’m a great leader, or so I think I am, but I also know that there is always more to learn and improve on. I really like the last line “A leader knows that tough times never last; A leader knows that tough people do.” It’s about overcoming adversity in every aspect of life and never giving up. We’ve all heard the cliché, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” I wish life was easy, but I know that in order to become who I want to become and to live the life I envision myself living in the future that I must face each challenge that presents itself with courage and the heart of a lion. I must be persistent and consistent to find success and to be a good leader.

Leaders instill in their people a hope for success and a belief in themselves. Positive leaders empower people to accomplish their goals. -Unknown

It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up. -Babe Ruth

The difference between the impossible and possible lies in a person’s determination. -Unknown

I dream of men who take the next step instead of worrying about the next thousand steps. -Theodore Roosevelt

Leaders are not born. They are made. They are made just like anything else…through hard work. That’s the price we have to pay to achieve that goal or any goal. -Vince Lombardi

A leader is one who knows the way, shows the way, and goes the way. -Unknown

Real leaders are ordinary people, with extraordinary determinations. -John Seaman Garns

Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he
wants to do it. -Dwight D. Eisenhower

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Photo by Flickr user dip108

Would you agree with the statement that there is ALWAYS somebody looking? You probably read that sentence and asked yourself, looking for what? Keep on reading and then figure out whether you agree with the statement or not.

People are always looking. Looking for opportunities. Opportunities to better their financial standing, health, family environment, and of course the list goes on. In business why do you think that companies advertise over and over? Because they want to generate awareness for their product or service as well as increase the consumer’s purchase intentions for that product or service they’re advertising. A lot of people say that, in order for a person to remember an ad or want to purchase a product or service they must see it at least seven times. Whether or not you agree with that is up to you. Let’s go back to why do you think companies advertise continuously. They’re creating brand awareness, but they’re also seeking to connect with the consumer who is actively “looking.”

There’s one company that sticks to my mind when I think about advertising. Allstate. It’s not because Dennis Haysbert appears in their commercials that I remember their company so distinctively. It’s the message Allstate promotes. Their television commercials connect with potential consumers on a VERY personal level. People remember their advertisements because they can personally connect with the message portrayed in the 30 second time slot. People care about their loved ones and Allstate will put you and your loved ones in good hands. The reason why I brought up Allstate’s advertising was because if I were to ever want to purchase insurance in the future I would probably do additional research and consider their company. Right now I’m not actively looking for insurance, but in the future I guarantee you I will be looking for car insurance and Allstate will pop into my mind.

No matter what you do or who you are never assume that someone isn’t looking (in a business sense). Assuming, will only cause you to miss out on potential (business) opportunities. In sales you can’t assume that someone won’t be interested in the product or service you’re selling. If you don’t knock on the door or pick up the phone you’ll never know. The person you assume won’t be interested, and will ignore your knock or hang up on you, may become someone else’s account. That girl standing on the opposite end of the bar may be looking for her prince charming. If you don’t approach her because you assume she has a boyfriend or is already married you may have missed out and at the very least, missed out on a great friendship. There are countless examples of missed opportunities and these are just a couple. People are always looking for something to fulfill their needs, wants, and desires.

The reason why I bring up the fact that people are always looking is because Rob, who I mentioned in my post What is the Key to Staying Motivated?, brought this topic up as well. I was listening to the radio the other day and my new favorite station 89.3 K-LIFE (positive alternative) told a story. A Christian singer, I believe it was the lead guy from Seventh Day Slumber, mentioned that a fan of his was looking for a positive inspiration in his life. This fan was at an all-time low in his life and was considering suicide. The lyrics from a song helped this guy view life in another perspective and literally saved him from ending his life.

You never know when you can act as a positive influence on someone else’s life. I don’t want to make it seem like people are always looking only in a business atmosphere. People are always seeking out and looking for new friendships and people to help guide them in the right direction. Go out of your comfort zone and approach people, let others into your inner circle, offer them your support, and be open to anyone and anything that presents itself. Someone you met in your social network may have just lost their job and you may have the perfect solution to their need that could change their financial situation. Someone may be looking for a shoulder to cry on, possibly yours. Someone may have goals they want to achieve and you could be the catalyst that gets them going on their journey towards accomplishing those goals. I really don’t know why I said those last few sentences, but the greatest thing is that you don’t know when you’ll cross paths with someone at the right time.

Quote of the day from the author, Michael J. Fox, who wrote Always Looking Up. “Every Failure I have considered my own, but every success has been shared. I can always come up with a list of people who have had something to do with what went right.”

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