Your World Within Podcast by Eddie Pinero - FOCUS ONLY ON YOURSELF IN 2025 | Best Motivational Speeches Compilation | 3 Hours

Episode Date: December 27, 2024

In this episode, we explore the transformative power of focusing on yourself and letting go of what you can’t control. Life becomes infinitely more rewarding when you stop comparing your journey to others and instead align with your own unique path. By releasing the weight of external expectations, you create space for authenticity, growth, and fulfillment. True success lies in living a life that reflects your values and ambitions, not someone else’s. The world rewards those who channel their energy inward, nurturing their strengths and staying consistent in their vision. Start 2025 by stepping into your own power—because the greatest gift you can give yourself is the freedom to live fully and unapologetically as you are.   More from Eddie Pinero: Business Inquiries - http://www.yourworldwithin.com/contact Monday Motivation Newsletter: https://www.eddiepinero.com/newsletter Your World Within Podcast: https://yourworldwithin.libsyn.com/ Stream these tracks on Spotify - https://spoti.fi/2BLf6pB Instagram - @your_world_within TikTok - your_world_within Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Yourworldwithin Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/IamEddiePinero  

90 seconds is too much. It just is. I can't do 90 seconds. And I can't do 90 seconds because my brain can't compute 90 seconds. But I can do 30 seconds. And I can do 30 seconds forever. As we navigate our day-to-day, it's hard to see that. Because so often our day-to-day lacks clarity.

So what can we do about it? Well, we can place ourselves in situations where we are reminded. One of them, I've talked about before, being the cold plunge, immersing yourself in cold water. We're sure, there are health benefits, some of which are debated and disputed, but I certainly notice value in that department. But to me, that's not the biggest value at, not even close. To me, it's simply the daily reminder that I can do hard things, that it's who I am.

We need to reestablish that consistently. Confidence is earned. And I know in my life I must earn it repeatedly. And when I'm immersed in the cold and shivering, there's always a point in my mind, however brief, that I'm thinking I want out now. The other day, I was at this point, looked at my watch, 90 seconds left. And that day, in that moment, it felt like an eternity, just too much. And those of you who are endurance athletes, for example, you know that when your body's operating at max capacity, you're suffering, you're exhausted, 90 seconds is truly a lifetime.

When you look at it like that, it's too much discomfort for a minute and a half. Your heart starts beating, your mind starts worrying, right? And so what do we do about it? We look at it a little differently. Because from a different angle, you can skip it. You can do 30 seconds. The brain can grasp and digest 30 seconds. You can do anything for 30 seconds.

Okay. So you start counting. All of a sudden, 30 gone. Now what? Well, you just did 30. You see how quick that went? Do another 30. Okay.

Done. Just like that. Now what? 30 more. But this is the last. 30. You don't even feel anything on the last 30, right? Come on, adrenaline's going. You can feel the finish line. This is free time. This is a gift. This is cruise control. And now, you didn't have to do 90 seconds. You only had to do three by 30. And anyone's saying, come on, man, that's the same thing.

Yeah, it's the same when you're not under duress. But it's a mirror. when you are. So why is running life? Why is cold plunging life? Why is putting your body through stress or difficulty life? Because you remember that life is taking big, difficult, seemingly complex things and breaking them down into manageable tasks. that is life

the pieces are always manageable now the monster we allow the pieces to become when we stack them up and give them an invisible face that's not so manageable that's self-sabotage and so to arm yourself with the understanding that all big things must be broken down is to green light the extraordinary

On day one in 2014, a YouTube channel with zero subscribers growing to help over 100,000 people a day, that's a 90-second cold plunge. That's unfathomable, unthinkable, impossible. But one video weekly, at least for nine years, that's a 30-second cold. It's very doable. standing in front of the mirror, practicing storytelling, speaking. It's 30 seconds in cold water. Reaching out to others to learn to get better, 30 seconds in cold water.

It's like you look back and you see that you endured that 90 second plunge simply by breaking it down. That's all growth is. That's all evolution is. Finding the smallest piece possible in making it actionable. And then watching that transform, multiply, compound over time. In one of my favorite books, Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, this reminder comes through beautiful.

Louis Amperini, an American prisoner of war in Japanese internment camps during World War. He basically experiences unimaginable hell and suffering. He watches his friends die, he's beaten, he's starved, he comes close to death himself. And at the end, when he's rescued, and I'm paraphrasing, but I remember this part incredibly vividly, he's asked if he could do that again, and he states he'd rather die. He's turning around and viewing it holistically like that is too much. It's unfathomable. That pain is bigger than one can even, even...

comprehend, but taking something like that, day by day, step by step, he did the unthinkable. He survived. In breaking the 90-second task down into 30-second pieces, he walked away, in breaking the seemingly insurmountable down into the manageable, and looking at each individual step as a superpower, emerged. You talk about perspective. His experience was as challenging as it gets. My cold plunge is laughable in comparison, but my mind doesn't know that. It's up to me to reinforce it. Building a business is nothing in comparison to Louis Zamperini, but my mind doesn't know that. Healing my shoulder and getting stronger in the gym is nothing in comparison, but my mind is nothing in comparison. But my mind

does not know that. It's looking at the mountain and reminding myself, Eddie, you can't leap those. I've seen you jump, buddy. But the good news is no mountains need be left here. We ascend this thing one rock at a time and mark my words, you conquer those manageable tasks day in and day out. You will find yourself. So when you feel stuck, or too small for the task at hand. Remind yourself, you're looking at a 90-second block here. Break that down. Ask yourself what your 30 is.

Ask yourself what you can create that's manageable. It will create your momentum, that will shoot you into a trajectory, that will allow growth and position you someday to look back over your shoulder and go, wow, I endured all that. A transformation too big to understand on day one. It's a beautiful thing watching all those little steps add up to create the extraordinary. While the world slept, I stayed awake.

I guess I couldn't bear to close my eyes and drift off into a dream, knowing that as soon as they opened, it would end. I sat up, I put my goals and aspirations into the back. backpack next to my bed, threw it over my shoulder, and I left. Destination unknown. But I was armed with the belief that opportunities exist wherever you bring them to life. So while the world slept, I stayed awake. There comes a point when dreaming takes the form of an adversary. I didn't want to wake up and see the discrepancy between. fantasy and reality.

I didn't want to be associated with wishing or hoping or crossed fingers. See, the beauty of life is that it always provides the necessary pieces to put your puzzle together so long as your eyes remain open. So while the world slept, I stayed awake. As the mind lays dormant, So does opportunity.

As the ideal life remains imaginary, so does the action needed to build it. The best way to find answers is simply to look for them. A folded up map hidden away in your desk, it suggests a million possibilities. Proposes an endless journey, but until you grab it, open your door and step outside, it will never truly take you there. I wanted to feel the wind on my face, the sand on my feet, and even the most adventurous souls in the world don't have time to see everything. To experience it all. Time is the most precious of commodities.

So while the world slept, I stayed away. It's not in opening your eyes. It's in what you allow your eyes to see. It's easy to live while being a way. while being asleep to completely disregard or walk right by the advantages, the opportunities, the pieces that we can reach out and use to shape our lives. Look, it's not about being right or wrong. It's about trading what you kind of want for what you really want. It's about walking down your street and viewing every single thing in front of you as perfection, as the stars aligning,

as the perfect ingredients to create whatever you choose. Leave nothing for sleep. Let your dreams envy your reality. And while the rest of the world sleeps, I dare you to stay awake. I dare you to get everything you've ever wanted. It all starts with a thought. You didn't ask for it. You never wanted it, but it's And now the game has changed. Because that thought is not your friend. It's not telling you how strong you are or reminding you that you always find a way.

No, it's informing you that you're finished, tired, weak, chanting that you'll get them tomorrow, kid, softly at first, then a little louder and a little louder, louder until the message becomes unmistakable. And in this moment, it's not your legs that become vulnerable. It's not your lungs.

This situation transcends the physical. You are in the ring with your mind. This is when the gloves come off. It's fight or flight. And in your gut, you know it's nothing more than a front. intimidation, life's way of separating the average from the exceptional, but this is not about knowing the truth, it's about having the courage to stand up to it. Because that voice is continuously showing you your distress, your pain, your fatigue, it's pointing to an empty well, telling you that

you have nothing left, and perhaps in a different universe you'd listen. But in this world, the well always goes deeper. There is always more to give. That moment, when you begin to hurt, the second that voice pops into your head, you have only given a fraction of your maximum effort. When you meet resistance, your limits haven't even been tested. Obstacles do not make the destination,

any more or less real, they simply call for an adjustment. So adjust. See, time stops when you stop. Goals stop when you stop. Dream stop when you stop. And in a world with infinite possibility, there's simply no reason to relinquish that control. So let your forward progress silence

the dissenting voices. Let those on the sideline talk about their empty tanks and fantasized limitation. You are not running on empty. My friend, you are simply running. We're going to talk about keeping your head in the clouds and your feet simultaneously managing the big picture and the small non-stop belief that things will work, that there's an answer, that you're ultimately going to get there, and that you won't quit until you do, while also being brutally honest with the facts on the floor, the reality around you. A lot of times I think there's a tendency to conflate positivity with the detachment from reality. But they're very different things.

You need them both for success to unfold. You need the big picture and you need the minutia, the steps, the little things that add up over time. In the book, Good to Great, Jim Collins calls this the Stockdale principle. Or Admiral Stockdale, I think at the time Commander Stockdale was shot down during Vietnam. He was prisoner of war for over seven years in Vietnam, and it was just obviously a brutal experience. And, you know, one of the things that helped him survive was being painfully pragmatic,

while also knowing in his soul, right, with every ounce of his being that he would ultimately get out, that the men he cared about and helped so much would ultimately get out. And so when Jim Collins is interviewing him, he says, Admiral Stockdale, what differentiated the ones that made it and the ones that didn't?

And the answer is incredibly surprising. He says optimism, because the people that were overly optimistic said, we'll get out by Christmas. And Christmas comes and they don't get out. And then they say, okay, we'll find we'll be out. We'll see our families by Easter. And Easter comes and they're still there.

Okay, maybe next Christmas. Next Christmas comes, nothing changes. He says those are the people that died of a broken heart. There was too big of a gap between the reality, the components needed to progress the way they wanted to progress and the way they were thinking. You know, you have to be willing to look in the mirror and diagnose a situation.

You know, that's applicable to business. applicable to your personal life, dream big, step small, believe, but act. Be cognizant of the world around you, the reality that you're living in. You can't change something that you don't understand intrinsically. You can't progress if you haven't analyzed something. And this is not about your capabilities. This is never a call to doubt yourself. It's to be strategic. This is just saying that you need to understand the reality so that you can improve upon them. If you want to be the next Michael Jordan, that's a huge ask. That's a lot.

It's possible. You can do it. And you need to believe with every ounce of you that if that's what you want to do, it's a pursuit worth taking. But you also need to know what it means to be Michael Jordan. You got to understand the commitment. How he sacrificed relationships. He sacrificed, you know, his friends, his love life. He got up every single morning.

All he did was basketball. How he took thousands of shots a day. How his mentality and his aggressive, behavior, right? His mindset, the way he looked at life and approached life on and off the court. It required that he was so intense and so obsessed with winning that some people couldn't handle it. It meant that everything stopped except being the best. That's a big ask. A lot of people can't do that, don't want to do that, but that's what it takes.

and to think you're going to be Michael Jordan without understanding, one, the commitment that's required and how you stack up. It's going to be in vain. I remember the CEO of the company that I work for at a college, he used to say, look, you have to be able to be honest and say when your baby's ugly. Look at what you have and be able to draw a line from where you want to be.

So you can fix it. So that's the point. If you can juggle those two things, you will be unstoppable. Unstoppable. If you can be the one to trust yourself enough to know that there is a big picture, you will pursue it relentlessly and you will get there. If you can take that and you can marry it to the little things, right, to the awareness, to promising yourself that you will continue to analyze, assess and do what needs.

to happen on the ground that you will be realistic you will be pragmatic when things fail you won't sugarcoat it you'll dive in you'll look at why it failed so that you can pick up those pieces and build something stronger and continue to build and continue to build stack and stand on what you've made those are the people that change the world those are the people that get things done get results. Dream big, steps small. See you tomorrow. What does it mean to give 100% effort on something? Is it possible to say with absolute certainty that you couldn't have done better? How do you know that you couldn't have run one second faster, done one more rep, scored one

point higher? How do you know that there wasn't more in you to give? In terms of human potential, there's no such thing as a limit. It's a fabricated, completely negative, debilitating idea. So why? Why in a million years would you put obstacles in front of yourself that aren't there? In reality, you can always be one step better, one step further than you are now. That's a fact. And simply knowing that knocks down walls, it opens doors for you to make moves, to progress. Warren Buffett has a great quote on maximizing effort. He's speaking from a business standpoint, and he says the one thing that is absolutely sure to kill a business is complacency.

Being comfortable with where you are, thinking that your current effort is sufficient, that it's enough. It isn't. And if you get comfortable, someone willing to pay a steeper price will come along and take what's yours. And there is always someone working hard to do just that. When you think about your dreams, what you're striving toward, I'm sure you have some plan, some routine day in, day out to get there, to make it happen.

Maybe you're moving forward, maybe you're in a rough spot. But regardless of your situation, there are positively untapped opportunities to move quicker, to be better. And these opportunities, they just sit there. And they'll sit there for an eternity if you don't recognize them and utilize them. them. I'll use the example of an athlete. When you break it down, an athlete's work is comprised of physical training, you have the mental component, their diet. And to say you want to be the best is one thing, but if you can't strip down your goal into these simple

components and ask yourself, how can I be a little better in each area? You know, you won't grow to the level you're capable of. You won't be the elite athlete. You're missing the key ingredients to success. Even sitting on the couch, watching TV. You know, it's a normal thing. We all do it. You unwind, you relax for a few minutes. But think about taking that half hour and reallocating it.

And instead, sending three emails to people, you know, who have been successful in your field, whether you know them or not. No, who have done what you're trying to do. See if you can connect, have a valuable conversation. Maybe it results in nothing. Maybe it creates a relationship that changes your life. Who knows? But I can tell you for damn sure that the TV will not do that.

And this is an arbitrary example. But I think it's an important one because it shows that if you truly want something, you'll use every opportunity to get better, even the little ones, because every second is a game changer. Always be asking yourself, what can you be doing differently? can you be doing better? Never be content with where you are. Be analytical. Be searching for the next step because there is always a next step. And realizing this is just the beginning. So imagine years from now. Way down the road, you're older, sitting on your front porch, kind of fists

propped up under your chin, you're staring out and thinking about your life. You're thinking about the decisions you made, the things you did and didn't do. What would you be thinking? What would you change? Would there be regrets? There's a lot of research around this topic in one of the most important books written on it by Brani Ware talks about the regrets of the dying. One of them is wishing I had the courage to live a life true to myself.

So you're sitting there, you're looking out, and you're imagining what if you acted differently? What if you tried? What if you started? And you go back to that moment where you were looking fate in the eye, and you had to make that decision, right? That singular decision. It showed its face repeatedly, but the decision more or less remained the same. It was vulnerability or safety, choose one.

or safety. Safety, that innate desire to not disrupt or challenge the way things are. Even when you know in your core, there's more out there. See, safety is the wolf in sheep's clothing. Watching life

happen through a window is incredibly safe. But it means you're forfeiting the essence of life in exchange for a front row seat to watch others live it. It means you don't capture that adrenaline that drives us. You don't take part in the emotion that excites us. It means you don't meet the people who would change your life

and you don't see the places that would take what you know of reality and transform it. No, equating safety with contentment is the product of outdated thinking. an outdated operating system. It's indicative of a way of looking at the world that used to be life or death, but now in 2020, in modern day society, it's regret. And the first step in changing something

is to become aware of your current circumstance. It's to realize you're not wrong or guilty for thinking small or taking a back seat to fear. That's what humans do. It's our default setting. But it's your fault if you don't do anything to change it. It's your fault if once recognized you don't pick up the pieces and create a different narrative.

You know, I always say the most important changes we can make, they're simple. They're not easy, but they're not easy, They are simple and that road to something new always starts with seeing beyond the confines of the world that you've accepted for yourself. Understanding the reality that dictates your reasoning, thought patterns and decision making can change. Because my friends, if you can remember one thing and one thing only, it's this.

Fear is not the enemy. It is the ally you need most. Inaction is the enemy. Doubt is the enemy, not fear. Seneca says we suffer more often in imagination than reality. Mark Twain says do the thing you fear most and death of fear is certain. It's like jumping into a pool on a hot day. You get a second or two of discomfort before you can acclimate into something better.

See, people are stronger than they think they are, they are adaptable, they are resilient. But to see this, we must move beyond the stories in our head. So back to that rocking chair, you're thinking back, that fork in the road, and maybe you choose the challenging path, the one that scares you, and maybe you fall flat on your face. But you get up a little smarter. a little better equipped and you keep going. And maybe you fall and you fail again and again. And then comes the criticism.

But you see that maybe criticism doesn't kill you. In fact, it does nothing if you don't let it. And again, you pick yourself up and you carry on. And you pick up some allies along the way. You expand your skill set. You drive towards mastery in day in, Day out, you continue to fall to trip. But eventually you look back and you see something you haven't seen before.

Distance. And you realize you are not the same person you once were. You realize what you have right now. Simply through a process of falling and rising again, you have redefined your existence. You've redefined what's possible. You've redefined the people, the places, the things that matter. And it dawns on you that falling, that fear, that the unknown wasn't the problem, that that's not scary, it's just part of being better.

It's the cost of greatness. You've been looking at things wrong, hiding from exactly the thing you should have been running towards, allowing into your life the very things that held you down. Making you think comfort was the goal when it was shackling your feet to the ground. your feet to the ground and advising that spectating was a good thing. No, not you. And when you sit down on that rocking chair and you look out, thinking of the life you made, let it be one of adventure, the failures that made you stronger,

the wandering that unveiled life's beauty and the ends that became beginnings, because that is the essence of the essence of the of a life truly lived. It's a scene from a movie called Dead Poets Society. And this quote just really hit me, hit home. And to kind of explain this scene, basically Robin Williams is a teacher.

He's teaching poetry and I think it's a boarding school. And there's a bunch of kids around him and he's explaining to them. You know, these are kids with ambitions. They want to be lawyers and doctors and businessmen. And he's saying, I get that, right? But here's why poetry matters. And so it becomes a metaphor for life, essentially. So what he says is to quote from Whitman,

O me, O life, of the questions of these recurring, of the endless trains, of the faithless, of cities filled with the foolish, what good amid these, O me, O life. And the answer is that you're here, that life exists, an identity, that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse. In other words, with all the negativity, all the ups and downs, all the quote unquote, you know, terrible aspects of life, all the challenges, what good, why are we here? What's the point? And it's that it's gone on for millions of years before us,

gone for millions of years after us, like a play that we can contribute one verse and the power in that, right? Just waking up and understanding that we have the ability to create our own history, our own little universe, to change the way things are, to leave our mark. And so he's talking about, I mentioned the kids huddled around him. He's like, you want to be businessman and lawyers and engineers and doctors,

and that's incredible. It's a noble pursuit. We need those things to sustain life. The reason poetry is important. Reason things like love and passion and beauty are important. Because those are the things that we love. live life for. They are the pinnacle of what it is to be human.

And every day you can decide what to do with that. You can delve into it to change, to grow yourself, and in essence, improve the world around you. You can play a part in something much bigger than you. And it doesn't have to be this grandiose thing. It's using what you have where you are and the impact you can make is infinite. Never forget that enormous things are just the culmination of small things. Little decisions.

Because for those of you thinking, well, I'm just one person, you know, what difference does it make? And why would my verse matter and the, you know, the grand scheme of things, the great place? of life. Well, I have a follow-up for you. I thought this was beautiful too. You say you're not special because the world doesn't know about you, but that's an insult to me. I know about you. Everyone touches someone and the ability to impact those in your immediate circle, it just can't be understated. Sometimes I worry that we don't value ourselves and our ability to be an agent for change the way that we should. You know, every single person watching this can change themselves, can grow.

And I'm not talking about, you know, who you are. I'm talking about moving towards your greatness. So back to the main theme, right, in this play of life. What is your role? What is your verse going to say? Because it matters. It matters more than you know. It matters to you because it's an opportunity.

And it's a chance to live every day to the fullest, to embark upon the important things in life, the elements of being human that really matter. Passion, purpose, enjoying what's around you, growing, learning, and in essence, helping others do the same. When you delve into your greatness, it changes the world. What's one thing I wish I knew when I was younger that I think people could benefit from today? What single piece of information could have the biggest impact?

I spent some time thinking about this question, and the more I think about it, the more the answer becomes incredibly apparent. It's that you are in control of your own life, your own. own destiny, your own future. And when you take accountability for yourself, life changes. Period. And if you thought that was obvious, I would advocate taking a look around. Maybe a stroll through social media, the Twitters and Instagrams, and TikToks of today. And no, that's not the real world, but it's certainly a microcosm of the real world. What do you see? Well, you see chronic blame. I don't like where I'm at or things are, so that must be your fault or their fault or someone else's fault. You see people looking everywhere but in the mirror, actually seeking out victimhood,

because that's what brings the attention. That's today's currency. It's much easier to be the victim than the hero, because being the hero means you have to sacrifice something. It's people saying the news or some institution or the federal government is the problem. And if those things would only change, then we'd be good. Let me explain why I think this mentality is self-sabotage. And why I would take younger me by the hand and I would say listen to what I'm about to tell you. Where you start is often outside of our control. Let's be real, life is not fair.

We don't all get dealt the same hand. But this next part, as I once heard Will Smith articulate beautifully, is the same for everyone. What you decide to do about it right now is what matters. And that is the control that we all have. It's not your fault where you start, but it's your responsibility to do. choose where you end up. You can shake your fist at the sky or you can start building a life that matters to you. It's easy to blame the world, to be the victim, at least in the short term. But a fulfilling life is about meaning, about fighting for something valuable, about evolving

into the version of yourself that you always knew in your heart you could be, you just had to unlock. See, no one down the road was ever happy with themselves for blaming the world while they bitterly remained stagnant. I would say to a younger me, worry less about how you're perceived and think more about who you are, what you're capable of, because that you can always control. Stop losing yourself in the news or whatever the narrative of the day is. That has nothing to do with your progression has nothing to do with your very next step. So sure, be informed, but do more, consume less. Because by and large, it's a distraction.

And I would say the government, which has become the crux of our discourse today, transforming into a modern day religion, look, the government's job is not to give you anything. It's there to protect what's inherent to you. already. Your right to live life on your terms. See satisfaction, it will come from good habits. It will come from self-belief. It will come from taking risks and failing and learning. It will come from the courage to step out into a world that's completely unknown. It will never come from a self-interested politician or body in Washington, red or blue. So stop whining about political optics and focus on where your two feet

are taking you right now. Because I promise in the grand scheme of things, that's what matters. That is your strength. Expecting someone else to come along and change your life is like screaming into an abyss. I would say to my younger self, when you start looking around and seeing what everyone else has

and beating yourself up for not being as good or feeling like you're behind, look, it's great that their success motivates you, but dwelling on it won't make your life better. Life is a race between you and you. It's a fight between yourself and those thoughts that constantly knock on the door, looking to settle into your psyche. If you defeat that demon, you'll be where you want to be.

Regardless of where others are. You're right where you need to be. So keep your head up and keep moving forward. I'd explain that to become something more, to change, requires a sacrifice that feels so substantial, so big at first, that it bullies most people into staying right where they are. That to become something new, you have to learn to play the fool, to get humbled. You have to change your relationship with short-term failure. And that's not easy. But taking control of your life is not supposed to be easy.

Only worth it. They're different. And I can certainly look back at my own life, think about the times where I was so busy pointing out that I didn't even think to point the finger at myself. I was so worried about life being unfair that I existed in this temporary state of paralysis. The whole time not knowing that I could have been to be in

that I could have been stepping forward. Could have been tapping into the single greatest power I possess, control over my own life. See, every time you feel anger or the need to blame those around you, you're taking the spotlight off of what matters and placing it on things detrimental to where you want to be, to your journey and your future. Even the most unjust, arbitrary things,

Let's say you didn't get that promotion you were beyond qualified for, or you were mistreated by someone or things didn't go the way you wanted them to. You can fill in that blank, but refusing to blame others and immediately taking responsibility. Again, even in a situation like that, it gives you one of the greatest advantages in life. It gives you that gift of control. You can now assess the situation.

You can now ask yourself, Hey, what can I do to change this? You can delve into the why, find the lessons and the value. You can come back and re-approach this thing stronger. Because to blame others, to take on that role of victim, it's essentially living life in the passenger seat. It might be easier. Might be less work, less responsibility. But what you never have is control over where that car goes.

but when you own it when you say hey maybe it's not my fault but look it's mine now it's my responsibility the good the bad every aspect of my life it puts you in position to change things to take the wheel and reroute

to a destination of your choosing so that would be my message to the world I know it's not an easy road I know life is unfair I know things aren't perfect but the best thing you can ever do for yourself is say, you know what, this is mine to own. And I'm going to look around for that light switch

that will create momentum. That little decision that will get the ball rolling, I'm not going to sit back, shake my fist and blame life. I'm going to walk out that door and create life. That's where you'll find what you're truly looking for. If you're lucky enough to be different, don't let go. I spend a lot of my time and energy exploring the power of perspective,

how our reality is determined by how we interpret what's in front of us. How one person can look at one thing and see pain or a problem or a barrier, and another person can look at that exact same thing and see opportunity, or a future win or a bridge to something better. And I think one of the best examples of this is how we perceive those qualities that make us unique, those things that put us in a different category. Maybe we're a little hesitant to fully embrace because they're not common. And when it comes to that which separates us from everyone else, well, I believe we have a decision to make. I'm going to go back to Robert Frost's fork in the road,

right? He says two paths diverged in a wood. I took the one least traveled by and that made all the difference. On the surface, you could easily brush this off as trivial. It's like, oh, nice, that's cute. He took the path less traveled by. But what does that mean? As it turns out, it means a lot. It means instead of burying what makes him different, he made it his battle cry. Instead of slipping under the radar and sneaking through life like so many of us do, he signed the dotted line for the pain of being a beginner, the struggle of being uncertain, the discipline and sometimes torturous road that is turning a passion into excellent, trading peace of mind for the pursuit of meaning in life.

Exploring what makes you unique, it takes courage. And in that message, he chooses courage. Because it's not just that you're alone. Taking that path means every step of the way, your mind screams at you reminders that you're alone. It's not just fighting traffic patterns, it's fighting your DNA. It's resisting that impulse to please sit down, shut up, and blend in. So is it a trivial decision?

I'd say not really. Maybe even the most important decision you can make. Because I promise you it's not your commonality with those around you that will bring fulfillment. That will leave a mark on your life and the world that surrounds you. No, it's that thing that's unequivocally you. That's a little out there. That's somewhat strange. That you don't know why, but it's gravitational force.

pulls and pulls and pulls, a tug of war where one side begs you to just relax, conform, do less, begs you to never be laughed at or criticize to take the easy road. Then you have the other side, poking, prodding, asking you, hey, yeah, but what if?

What if you sacrifice the comfort of right now? What if you explored? What if you took that which you love and you ran with it? What if you worked for a delayed payday? What if for a moment in time, when people ask you what the plan is, you have to look back and say,

you know what, I'm not quite sure what I'm building? But I'll keep pivoting until it's so clear you can see it from the moon. Those are the paths that pull us apart. And every time I've lost my way, it's because I've doubted my unique path. And I mean that every time. It's when I become impatient with the journey

or look around and see someone else winning in a different arena using different methods, different strategies, see the latest trends and success formulas. Hey man, I want part of that, right? I'm human. I want to win. I want to succeed. But just like a little opening is enough to let in the outside water that sinks the boat.

Well, a little bit of doubt is enough to derail your process. The process that you have to believe in, protect, nurture, a process that I've come to separate into two pieces. Number one, believing that the exploration of that thing that makes you unique, it's valuable. That your abilities mean something. They're not inconsequential. They're not stupid or trivial or unnecessary. If it means something to you, it will most certainly mean something to others. And you bringing it to life not only helps yourself, evolve, grow, flourish.

It helps the world. You just have to believe that enough to bring it to life. That's number one. Number two, trusting that as long as you don't stop in pursuit of your unique self, you can't lose. You can't lose. And I don't mean continuing to ram a square peg into a round hole. I mean growing, learning, experimenting, seeing what works. There's a saying that when you hit a dead end,

it's not that the goal or the dream should be abandoned. It means the plan needs to be changed or adjusted. And as you get better and more experience and continually work to adjust your strategy and your plans, Learn from your mistakes. It becomes a matter of time. You increase the odds with every step forward. Being different is the most precious thing afforded to you. But to realize that miracle requires a combination of both the mythical and the practical,

the imaginary and the real. Dream that dream. visualize that growth, create a world out of those ideas that don't exist yet. But also understand that the conversion process from dream to reality is a practical one. It requires repetition. Learning, losing, adjusting, and people don't like that. It's much easier to blend in than spend years pushing through the agony of setting yourself apart. But it's worth it.

And the evidence is so obvious, so plainly pointing to the fact that we only celebrate the outcasts, the crazy ones. We sit around campfires, listen to lectures, watch movies and documentaries about the people that had every reason to doubt themselves but kept moving forward. About the people who could have swept their unique abilities under the rug. But instead use them as their foundation for everything. Not being distracted by what's popular or how anyone else lives or operates. Not seeking to be anyone but themselves, knowing that that is enough. Knowing it's the seed to something precious. The only question is will you provide the right conditions and nourishment for that little

seed to grow? Will you do what so few? people have the courage to do. Let their authentic selves shine through. Let who they are emerge. Emerson has a quote. He says to be yourself in a world that's constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. He goes on to say my life should be unique. It should be an alms, a battle, a conquest, a medicine. And see, perpetual happiness is a fool's errand. No, life is full of trials and tribulations and ups and downs.

But fulfillment comes from that quest for meaning. For more, for building something, for creating your unique self, a process, a pursuit that must be chiseled from stone. It's never given or provided. It has to be found. Take it. And as Emerson beautifully implies, now is the time.

The question is, what are you going to make with this once in a lifetime opportunity? What will you make of the possibilities that only you know, only you understand, that only you can bring to life? Never doubt yourself, or your gifts, or the things that set you apart. You don't need everyone else to believe,

in them. You just need to convince yourself. Everything else, it falls right into place. Sometimes we convince ourselves that right now isn't quite right. It's not the wrong time necessarily, but soon. We'll have that thing that will make the perfect launch point soon. So we'll wait. You hear it a lot with hopeful creators, right? As soon as I get the camera, I'm going to start the podcast. As soon as I feel inspired, I'll start writing. Or how about this one we can all relate to in some way?

As soon as it's January 1, I'll start taking care of myself and my health. And I'm not talking about this because I read about it. I'm talking about it because I live it. It's an adversary I'm always. up against. The allure of waiting for that perfect moment. But here's the deal. When you start now, the imperfections become part of the value. People see imperfections and become inspired by them. He started getting in shape in his garage with two dumbbells. Look at that. She started writing her novel in a notebook waiting to pick her kids up from school. Going now not only destroys that

enemy that is procrastination, it also gives you something of value in return. It lets the very fact that you found a way become a narrative in your story. It allows your imperfections to become your greatness. I recently relocated my studio to Scottsdale, a move that, according to the moving company would take seven to ten days. 24 days later, I realized that there are places in life where you can attempt to cut costs. Moving companies should never be one of those things. I found myself with the recording equipment in my camera bag that I travel with and some empty boxes.

I'm waiting for my stuff to show up one week, two weeks, three weeks, soon. Soon it'll arrive. And I'll be able to record then. Because right now there's no lighting. Right now I don't have my tripod. I don't have anything to put behind me in the set. It's like wait, wait, wait. Or how about this?

You take the empty shelves and you make them intentional. You lean boxes against the wall. You have a life transition set. Right? And not only can you make that work, Not only will it look sufficient, but it's like you have a story now. We like to hear about the times others made something out of an apparent nothing. It's relatable.

And that's actually where the fun stuff is in any conversation. I'm recording this in a hotel room, doing what I can with what I have. And so when you find yourself feeling not quite ready in the temptation is to wait, rather than hold out hope for a fake perfection that never comes, why not unpack the beauty contained in the present moment? Or put a much more practical way, the opportunity contained in the present moment. Why not begin with less and tap into something that no other time in your life will have but now. Start your podcast using your phone. Mediocre visuals and echo-e audio. Let this be the beginning that you look back on and smile. Remember how fun those

episodes were? That mediocre at best equipment and stories about where we were in life. Start working out now. Can't get to the gym. Do it in your garage, in your living room. Then you can't pull point, you know, to where it would have been easy not to, but you built your physical foundation on the third floor of an apartment building in New York. People ask you, you know, what it took to get into the shape you're in now. Wait and a floor. Just start. I find repeatedly that it's not about perfect. It's about who we become in making progress with far less than the perfect we'd hoped for. That's what makes you realize, you know, how much of what we tell ourselves is just rationalization. We're scared to not look good. That's all. We're scared of new things, worried about

beginning. And so we convince ourselves that the camera angle will make all the difference. The expensive lens will be the differentiator. Again, I've lived this. And then you get it, and it's like, in truth, the new camera just sits there. You're still the person in. in front of it. And what you say in front of your phone versus $2,000 Sony is still entirely dependent on you. Surprise.

The Sony doesn't have much say. And so, I call you to think less about the set and more about what's going on within it. The amount you can do with what you have now will astound you. How little we need is truly magic.

You know, in these last three weeks have emphasized that for me. Two pairs of shoes, two pairs of jeans, some t-shirts, and a camera. I didn't miss much. Because my ability to think and share ideas didn't get packed away and put in the truck with everything else. That stayed with me. And we all have some version of that in our own lives. That's what matters. You are LeBron at something.

So cherish that Bring that to the world Regardless of the circumstances You can put LeBron on a broken down court with no nets He'd still be pretty good The environment becomes something different Something enjoyable Because of its novelty

Too often we miss the value You know because of the details So I'll end with this Don't seek perfection. Seek to start now with what you have so that you can give more of yourself to the world. You can give more of yourself when you're unsure. Give more of yourself when you're lost.

Give more of yourself when you're starting. Give more of yourself when you don't have all the tools you wish you had. Give more of yourself at the beginning. Give more at the middle and at the end. And anything that suggests you need some miracle in the mail before you can begin or tap into what matters is fear. It's nothing more and nothing less. So start. Start for the world and for the story you'll be able to share by simply initiating the climb.

You can become so fixated on winning or losing the game. that you forget to ask yourself, am I playing the right one? Is this my game? Am I setting myself up to win in an arena of significance to me? Because look, there are infinite games out there. And sometimes we find ourselves caught up in a race

we have no business running. Meaning it doesn't really do anything for us. It's not where we want to be or should be. there's a saying by someone and a few social media outlets actually restricted my post for suggesting it was Einstein so it might not be Mr. Einstein but whoever said it, thank you, you're awesome,

the saying goes, everyone is a genius but if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree it will live its whole life believing it's stupid. Now there are a lot of us fish out there attempting to climb trees as we speak, wondering why we're not where we want to be, perhaps seeing the results or lack thereof as an indication that we're insufficient, inadequate in some way,

when, hey, that's not the case at all. It's that we haven't taken the time to identify our own personal intersection of what we love and what adds value to the world. We haven't manufactured those fireworks. That's something that has to be explored, found. J.R.R. Tolkien, not all who wander are lost, right? And I think we innately fear this process of searching

because it's unsettling to not know how things are going to play out. Trust me, I've been there, right? It's taxing to not have your packaged little elevator speech and a five-year vision when it seems like the whole world does. But to deprive yourself of this exploit, is to potentially forfeit the very thing that you come to live for. Most of the time, purpose doesn't fall into one's lap. You have to have your eyes open.

What's meaningful must be sought out. Now, I'm going to play a little devil's advocate here, because our world is not black and white. It sort of lives in this gray space, right? Can you win at someone else's game? Sure. There are a lot of people, quote unquote, succeeding in areas that are not ideal, that they don't love, that they're not their best in, but how is success being defined? I've talked extensively about my journey and all those games I used to play, the targets I used to aim for.

And I know a lot of people who've come to similar epiphanies. But when you don't realize you can exit stage left and begin again, start something new, you simply continue this same song and dance. Right? It's not life that keeps us confined. It's ignorance that keeps us confined. We simply have to be taught that there's more. And I understand to find an arena where you can thrive

in a purely historical context is a luxury. You are programmed to survive. You're not programmed to build an art studio. because it's your passion, right? But there lies the battle. We are at a place in time where we have collectively cultivated abundance. The phone you're using to consume this content,

that little thing can be a portal that transports your thoughts, your creation, your business to the masses. You have at your fingertips access to billions of people. You have reach that human, only 30 years ago, all the way back to the beginning of mankind, could only dream of. The means are there.

In so many ways, it's about freeing yourself to pursue the opportunity that exists all around you, because we self-limit. Alan Watts asked the ever-important question, what would you do if money were no object? Now, in a practical world, why ask such a question? Simple, because removing those monoccurring those monoccurts, monetary constraints says you contemplate your answer, allows you to truly analyze what endeavors are meaningful to you.

When something is meaningful, you want to do it. When you want to do it, you immerse yourself in those little intricacies, in those details, that the average person simply doesn't pay attention to. Making you so good at whatever that thing is that eventually, not only can you be the best at it, but you can monetize it and probably at a very high rate. It's not money holding you back. It's not time holding you back. It's not the external world holding you back. It's what you have been conditioned to believe that's holding you back. You are a genius at something.

You are king or queen of your empire, victor within your arena. But to realize these things, You have to, one, understand it's a possibility, and two, refuse to stay stagnant. We have to stop conceding so much while simultaneously accepting so little. Life will never provide what you do not ask for. So why? Why be scared to ask? Life won't tell you, you're a fish climbing a tree.

You must tell you. that. Life won't expand your horizons and adjust your trajectory. You must initiate that change. To find your genius, you must be willing to leave what's insufficient. To capture what's meaningful, you must be willing to leave what is meaningless. Let's agree to alter the question, do I have genius level talent. Because you do. And you live in a society that also rewards those who realize it. The question we need to be willing to ask is are you willing to walk on shaky ground? To abandon, at least for a period of time, safety and the comfort of predictability in order to find that genius. Are you willing to nurture the greatness that already lives within you?

Because it was never a matter of ability. It's a matter of what you're willing to discover. One of the greatest things about life is that how you perceive it determines what you get from it. The lens through which you look at the world roadmaps your success. All we are is a compilation of the things we are of the things we see and the beliefs we hold. Which brings me to a very interesting question.

Why are human being so inclined to limit themselves and their abilities? Why do we bring life to stopping points, to barriers that simply are not there? See, in the world we know, every day of our lives is consumed by rules, laws, limitations. If I throw a rock into the age,

it's going to hit a certain point, come to a stop and fall back down to Earth. That's science. That result can be mathematically proven and there's really no debate about it. The issue, though, and one of the most tragic elements of human behavior is when that exact certainty, that limitation is applied to potential. Because potential is not a thing. Potential is an idea. Visualize someone who just completed a six-minute mile. Right? It's pretty good time, something to be proud of. The question, though, is what tangible evidence? What proof does that individual have that they couldn't have run 559?

Or 550? 5.30. So often we stop because we believe we've done enough. We're comfortable right where we are. We know what the standard is, and we act accordingly. But just imagine a life without these false pretenses. Imagine the possibilities that exist for those who set their own standards. It truly is the difference between ordinary and extraordinary. Going back a few years, when Henry Ford first created the automobile,

he said that if he would have asked the world what they wanted, they would have said faster horses. Because that was the standard. A new possible hadn't been defined yet. And this supports the fact that reality is what, whatever you decide it's going to be. Right, that mentality has been held by anyone who's made a positive impact on society,

anyone who's exceeded expectations. Unlike that rock flying through the air, there is no defined stopping point for you other than the one you give yourself. And today is about taking that stopping point and making it disappear. It's about innovation, having the courage to step into the unknown, to push,

to do the things that most people wouldn't because most people are confined to those self-induced limitations. But they don't need to be. Right? There are two ways to look at any situation, to simply exist through it or to have an impact. To be the defining piece. To do something memorable. And every day is an opportunity to become that standard.

But you have to first believe you are. Believe that your capabilities and talents stretch far beyond what is right in front of you. Believe that possibilities are limitless. And you will see the world transform right in front of it. It'll be an incredible sight to see. It always gets worse first. I was recently at a mastermind where someone made this point, and as hard as I tried, I couldn't really poke holes in it.

For the simple fact that everything new requires some vulnerability, some discomfort that was previously non-existent. Or in other words, you have to endure turbulence prior to calm. So imagine a wavy line on a piece of paper or whiteboard where the top of each wave is slightly bigger than the one before it. right so right before that new wave occurs there is necessarily a low point or a trough a point that's absolutely without a doubt lower than the top of the previous wave and this to me summarizes the battle we fight right when you're comfortable when you're at the top of the little wave you're currently riding it almost feels self-defeating to willingly jump off and land yourself at the bottom of some new, soon-to-be future wave.

Every new mountain means starting at the bottom, a new base. Every acquisition means letting go of something we once knew and understood. The question is, are you willing to fight through? Are you willing to hang out in the trough at the bottom, right? wander that valley of despair. And that's, by the way, what we're talking about when we talk about, for example, Walt Disney being fired, being called unimaginative and struggling to get the world to understand his Mickey Mouse cartoon.

That's what we're talking about with Steve and Was with Apple. That's what we're talking about with Lincoln and the constant political rejection before finding stability and success, right? These stories have become almost folklore. And all of them share the same characteristic, that the main players willingly accepted the fact that it would get worse before it got better. All of them were willing to make a trade.

The bottom now for a chance at the top later. Not only is this pragmatic, But it also aids the mind throughout the process. It helps us understand and internalize what we're going through. You know, that initial instinct to think, why me, to shake our fists at the world and fall into the role of victim? That goes away when we know that, you know, we're enduring turbulence now for something better. When we know that this is merely the cost of admission. You're not at the bottom of the wave because you have to be, or even because it's fun to hang out there.

You're there because something greater is coming. And a human's desire to delay gratification is a superpower. We all know that. Things get worse before they get better. So remember next time you're out in the world, right, dealing with adversity. Technically, you don't have to be there. You could be hiding away, letting life slip by. But instead, you've made the decision, the courageous decision to better yourself.

What you're enduring will ultimately become your strong point. And so don't villainize or demonize that, cherish it, hold on to that. Because we need to get beyond the notion that discomfort is weakness. Discomfort is a decision, a bold decision that you should be proud of. Again, you could live your entire life running from the painful things, hiding from the discomfort of growth. But then you'd also be forfeiting that next wave. You'd be so hell-bent on escaping the notion that it always gets worse first, that instead you never let your life get better to begin with.

There is no bottom or trough on earth. trough on earth more detrimental to the human soul than stagnation. We need to be moving, marching forward, even when we don't know, right, into the unknown, into the night, fighting to get to the ceiling, then gladly allowing that ceiling to become our next floor. It always gets worse, and thank God. That's where we are made. condition. That's the buffer that separates mediocrity from greatness.

That forces us to ask the important questions. Do I really want this? And if the answer is yes, let it get worse first. Let it be tough out of the gate. Grant yourself that gift of vulnerability. Because if you waves from now, you'll be on a different level, physically, spiritually, personally. A few waves from now, the quote-unquote worst parts will be what stand between who you are and who you were.

And that decision, the decision to step out and face them, will have been perhaps the best decision you've ever made. At night, the sky becomes visible. The sky becomes visible. The darkness, the muting out of everything else allows the stars to finally shine through, to make their presence known. And during the day, conversely, one cannot see those stars, but the world around him on the ground becomes illuminated.

It's a push and pull that seems to work perfectly. And I think there's something poetic about the partnership existing between the big picture goal and the small steps required to bring it to life. As one of my favorite sayings goes, keeping your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground. Because here's what's interesting. If one were to only look up at the goal, she'd be consistently reminding herself of the ideal without taking the necessary steps to get there. And if one were to only look down at her feet, well, her steps would eventually become aimless. And it's that duality, right?

The need to both reassure yourself you can see the stars, as well as use the world around you to pull yourself closer to them that changes things. It's that beautiful dance that has to be maintained. And this is a balancing act that has certainly been challenging. Sometimes the pendulum swings way too far one way, sometimes way too far the other. But in a perfect world, you know, you wanted gravitating towards the center. I remember just starting the YouTube channel almost a decade ago,

having, you know, big multi-million subscriber goals, but completely lacking the systems and everyday practices in place that would walk me towards that finish line. I mean, sure, something's better than nothing. working and learning, but the actions simply didn't align with the objective. I had to correct them. And then I've been on the other end as well. But I'd be doing things every day without knowing why.

All steps, no goal. That sort of thing occurs when routine takes on a life of its own. You start doing things because, well, it's what I do. It's what I've always done. You know, this is when one has to look in the mirror and ask the difficult questions. And look, anytime I can squeeze the complexities down into this simple, I try and do that. So with that in mind, my questioning goes like this. What do you want?

No, the answer? Okay, good. Next question. Is what you're doing taking you closer every day to what you want? Asking that question in a serious way takes a spotlight to one's world. Using my previous metaphor, it shuts the lights off so the north star becomes visible. And then, right, turns them back on to ask yourself if you're using your resources to move there.

And I've become pretty good at asking myself this question consistently and still I find things that don't belong. That sort of, you know, they hide in plain view. I have faith that I'll end up exactly where I need to be. But that faith is rooted in my commitment to continually assess, to scrutinize and adjust.

There's very little hope and a substantial amount of trust in my ability to continue forward. There's an idea referred to as the Stockdale Paradox, which states, and this is the first definition I grabbed from Google here, you must never confuse faith that you'll prevail in the end, which you can never afford to lose,

with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. That's where the tough love thing comes in. Be your biggest fan because no one will believe in you unless you do. It all starts with your trust in yourself to navigate the process and arrive where you must arrive. But it also requires you are your biggest critic. It means the reason you trust yourself to get there

is because you know you won't just sit back and say, I'll win because I believe I'll win. No, you'll win because you will, while having your head in the clouds, be brutally pragmatic with the steps you're taking on the ground. You'll win because you're committed to learning and adjusting. What of my favorite epiphanies when I started doing this full time was the realization at a very small scale at first? That, whoa, someone can't fail unless they quit.

You can't lose unless you stop. Impossible, someone might think. Well, no, because when you miss the mark or you fall short, you take a second to understand why, and then you come back to the problem or challenge again. Right? This means life is a game of tenacity, of persistence, of commitment. The one who keeps adjusting and coming back is bound to connect the dots eventually, which makes failure the simple decision that, eh, this isn't worth it for me. I don't want to continue adjusting and re-engaging with this.

And look, hey, depending on the situation, that may be the move, right? There have been things in my life where after sufficient trial and error, sufficient data, I've said, this doesn't align with who I am or what I want. I'm going to walk away and pivot to something that does, right? But the key is knowing that it is a decision. To not reach a particular goal is a choice to no longer attack it relentlessly. And so when you feel lost or defeated or even frustrated with the process, try that line of questioning.

What do I want? And is what I'm doing today bringing me there? This allows you to start taking a sledgehammer to the things that don't belong, refining the process. And yeah, sometimes walking away from the things that are no longer in the scope of who you want to be and where you're going. But the power is in knowing, it's in understanding that your footsteps, the little actions of your day to day, they are incredibly powerful. but most of all, when you are methodical with them,

when they're pointed in the right direction. So pick your stars carefully and own those steps that take you towards them. Failure is not a sickness you catch. It doesn't fall on your head like a piano in those old cartoons. It's a choice. Meaning in positive terms, as long as you are committed to learn, re-approach, and repeat, you will find yourself atop the mountain.

As long as you're willing to evolve, you will ultimately arrive. So you've made a decision. Congrats, you're 3% done. Now I'm paraphrasing, but that's an idea from author and entrepreneur Lee Benson. Belief and execution. The duo that will change your life.

First, believe. Why? Because nothing happens without belief. Nothing begins without an understanding and a trust that the future contains something of value. That the seeds of discomfort being planted will bear fruit. We simply don't walk through doors if we don't believe something of value exists on the other side. And then there's execution, the doing. Congrats, you gave yourself permission to begin. That was a big step, right?

But now you have to deal with life, and life, my friends, is no picnic. It's in the doing that success is either obtained or not, that a new reality is birthed or not. In the book, Your Most Important Number, Lee Benson has said, So You've made a decision, congrats your 3% done. Why? Because, well, now comes the implementation. the execution. Now the feet are on the ground

and the wheels, the road, and we must transform the thoughts into things. Thinking can be so much more convenient than doing. Execution is trying things. It's recognizing the attempts that didn't work. It's moving forward only to realize

wrong path or wrong approach. Or maybe what's required of you is not yet something you're capable of producing, and so you must evolve. It's seeing setbacks as data point. It's understanding that to not know is okay because we collect our answers as we go. It's seeing the journey is an experiment, one in which we seek to understand ourselves and the world. There is so much contained in that 97%. to write your own ending storybook, an infinite number of paths and outcomes,

but ultimately only discoverable by you. And I think that's one of the most beautiful things about life. And once you give yourself permission to walk a certain path, once you believe in something greater than the world as it currently exists, you become an artist, painting something that was not there before. Using the highs as little benchmarks to remind you why you started to begin with when your landscape becomes gray. It's using the lows as fuel that turns the ordinary into extraordinary that slingshots the old you to the new you,

adding brightness and vibrance to the overall scene. You're encapsulating all of it as you move through that great unknown, as you push further and further into the abyss, you're playing the role of Maker. Not because you knew how it would all turn out, but because you didn't, and still you executed. Recently in an interview, I heard Alex Hermosie and now accomplished entrepreneur in his own right,

talking about some of his failings, consulting gyms in the fitness industry, the moment when things went south. And he lost it all. Now for a moment he thought he had. Money, assets, and perhaps even the pride, gone. But came to learn that money and those assets, they are lagging indicators. They aren't the value that's obtained.

The value is who you become. The value is learning how to be someone who can obtain those things in the first place. It's emerging from the old restriction and limitation, the old narratives, because that cannot be taken away. When we execute, we're making ourselves something we otherwise could never have become. And so Alex learned that what he lost was insignificant compared to what he gained. And why is this such a common theme? With industry leaders, folks speaking on their accomplishments, I think the answer is simple because you don't get there without the doing and the execution.

And if to execute means to step forward without having all the answers, after all, we are only human. Life will humble us. Excellence must be a game of trial and error. We can't escape those lost everything stories. Because choosing the right path every time, well, that only happens when you choose. no path at all. We have to act and be okay understanding that action brings with it mistakes and lessons and setbacks. You know, all those little annoying things that become greatness. 97% is left because the path before you is unwalked. But know that it contains everything,

everything you need. So believe it. Decide because nothing's true. starts without that initial 3%, but nothing changes without the subsequent 97. That's where we are shaped. And when you come face to face with the inevitable adversity, know that life might take the material gains. It might demand a price you deem to be steep. It might collect as a toll assets you've been accumulating along the way, but it can't take what you know or who you've become. And that is why you execute. To build the world around you, yes, but most importantly, to build yourself into someone who can thrive in such an environment.

It's in doing that the man is built. And as was said in Gary Keller's book, The One Thing, Build the Man and the World Falls into place. What if I told you that you already know what must be done? You just need to put yourself in position to do it. You need to unlearn the rules that crippled you, the ideas that can find you. We are in constant pursuit of the thing that will magically write all our wrongs, The answer that will give us something we've never had. Know everything you need you have now.

You just need to allow it to flourish. Declutter. Simplify. Remove all that unnecessary stuff. And walk your path. Einstein once said everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. And what's great about this is the idea that who we are is not found.

It's acknowledged. It's accepted. And I think in our world, there are so many fish, as Einstein says, trying to climb trees, that it creates a sense of learned helplessness. We are judging ourselves using the wrong metrics, equipped with the skills, the characteristics, and the abilities to win in our own arenas, but playing in someone else's.

How loyal are you to your own instincts? Do you do what you know is right? or what you feel obligated to pursue. When was the last time you listened to you? In Tim Grover's Relentless, he introduces a brilliant metaphor. He says, A lion doesn't have to be taught to be a lion.

It just is. It hunts, runs, roams, explores, lives life, the only way it knows how. Now, if you capture a lion, bring it to the zoo or put it in a cage, who will carry itself differently, will lie down, move around lazily,

sluggishly navigate its little space. To passers-by, they'd never know what that lion really is. They'd never know what it looks like in its element. But despite all this, it is still in fact a lion. It maintains that killer instinct. His characteristics haven't disappeared, and if it were released from the cage, it would go right back to doing what lions do, being what lions are meant to be. It just has to ditch the cage. And the point is, perhaps So do you.

There's a little light in your soul that waits day and night to explode into something meaningful. Where your nature meets your environment. Where the I shouldn't do this, the odds are impossible, the I'm not good enough, I can't lose what I have now, where all that fades away, where it's left behind you. And you're finally free to reign over your own territory, your own life, your own empire. See, we constantly feel like our glasses are empty, like we're missing pieces in need of something. Just one more thing. That will be our answer. That's all we need.

And I can say with confidence, it's not about what you need. It's about what you no longer need. It's about mitigating the noise so what matters can shine through. Removing those people in your life that drag you down or add no value. It's about getting rid of the things that make your world unnecessarily complex. Removing the need for immediate validation, success, and accolades. And instead embracing the little hinges in your life that, as W. Clement Stone said, will ultimately swing the biggest doors.

We all have the lock, the key, and the map right there, amidst the trivialities of our day to day. And we walk right by them, look right at them, we pick them up and put them down. But have we learned to truly see them? Everything starts with that awareness. My life did not change until I recognized that. until I began asking myself questions I'd never asked before.

Big picture questions. Obvious questions. But just because it's obvious doesn't mean it's always intuitive, right? What do I want out of life? What is important to me? What's something I love doing that I can dedicate myself to? That I can commit to being great at long term, that I'm so immersed in that when the inevitable down times arrive,

the losses, when the doubt and insecurity creeps in. I can keep moving forward because I'm so in love with the process that I don't let the little things like that define me. As Jordan Peterson famously puts it, choose your sacrifice. The life of meaning isn't easy, but there's nothing more fulfilling. Because when you embark upon that journey, it allows for the evolution of the soul. we can become something more. As Nietzsche says, those who have a why to live can bear almost any how. We equip ourselves for anything the universe can throw at us.

We position ourselves to evolve. Victor Frankel says man's main concern is not to gain pleasure or to avoid pain, but rather to see meaning in his life. To align yourself with and pursue that which is, your reason for living, that's how we transcend the day-to-day life we've come to know. When we breathe in possibility, dance with the infinite, and of course, something of this magnitude. It consists of ups and downs. It's not the easy road, but it's the one worth taking. Our metaphorical lion doesn't succeed every time he's prowling for food, but he doesn't roll over

and die. He doesn't recede or quit being a lion. He gets up tomorrow and does it again. Because it's who the lion is. And while life doesn't unfold until you find that same thing

for yourself. And people say, well, I don't know. That's the problem. I have no idea. That's not the problem. That's the essence of life. That's the beauty. You're here to explore and find that for yourself. But the power is knowing you're not looking for something or someone to save

you. You're looking for an environment in which you can best be you. You're looking for the right terrain to share your gift with the world. If you have what you need, then you're not looking for the product. You're looking for the delivery mechanism, the vehicle to nurture and transport your value to a world that desperately needs it. You're looking to build yourself up and in the process amaze yourself. Look, what you're capable of is beyond comprehension. It's limitless, almost unfathomable. But it is, as Ryan Holiday says, a confidence that must be earned. So start now. Earn it. Let yourself succeed. Your intuition knows what feels right in what. What's doesn't, but the seed must first be planted.

So make today about setting yourself up for success, turning off the idea that you're one piece away from completion, one minute away from starting, that you're almost ready. No, you are ready now. You have what you need now. You know what's necessary now. You just have to be your own ally. Put yourself in position to be yourself. your values shine, double down on what matters to you. Look, it's not a game of acquisition,

it's a game of courage. Do you have the courage to be who you are? To follow that potential, that possibility into the great unknown. If you have the ability to love, love yourself first. Charles Bukowski. So last week I was in Utah, and while I was there, I did some guided breathwork, which had never done before. And honestly, it was a little skeptical at first. But I try and keep an open mind and gave it a shot. I'm happy I did. It ended up potentially being one of the most important things I've ever done.

And I want to share why. Because this breakthrough or aha moment, if you will, was exactly what I needed when I needed to hear it. So this episode's going to be a little different than usual. but I feel compelled to pass it along. So to set the scene, I arrived with a friend of mine to the instructor, Jen's location.

She gave us an overview, kind of explaining what the next hour is going to look like, and handed me a notebook to write down my goal for this session. And the notebook becomes pretty important as the story goes on. But I opened it, and I wrote what I'd like to use this session to reflect on. It happened to be the one,

walls that I have a tendency to build around myself. Right, that day, that felt like the most pertinent obstacle in my life. I saw it as an opportunity to push back against that reality that human beings love to create normal and then latch onto it. And that's not ideal because when we do that, we stop looking for places to grow. We stop pushing. We stop seeking to live life to the fullest. In other words, we settle.

And so I wrote that down. I closed a notebook, laid back on this incredible fuzzy blanket, and the music got turned on. We began the breathing pattern, in, in, out, in, out. Jen started guiding us, verbally taking us back to a conversation with our younger selves. The journey had begun. And this is the part where things get really interesting because my thoughts really did feel like some strange mix of dreaming and hallucinating, just from breath work. But at some point she referenced the need to let go and said the words, you know, we weren't

meant to suffer or hold on to suffering. And that really cut deep because I know there are so many people. places where I've rationalized continuous suffering in my life. I'd speculate that in some way we all do. When the hard thing or the uncomfortable thing, you know, when they stop being stepping stones and instead just become the way things are, becomes a concession. Hey, this doesn't feel good, but it's my life.

This person holds me down, but it's how things are. are. I don't like doing this every day. It eats at me, but hey, life, am I right? That's learned helplessness. It hides in the corners and the nooks and crannies of life, subtle enough that we don't give it much thought. And I imagined very vividly climbing down a ladder placed on the edge of this dark canyon that went straight down. Down, down. down. Everything. My entire landscape was black and white. There was zero color, except for the rays of light, barely visible at the bottom, all the way down as I descended into the canyon. The colors, they'd get a little stronger, a little brighter, as if every step put a little more

vibrance into my life. Each moved down made things a little clear, the latter becoming quicker and quicker, eventually turning into a slide that brought me down to the base of the canyon, where upon landing and standing up, everything was illuminated. Fields of sunflowers, waterfalls, birds chirping, the sun shining and it was there in that moment I realized my intention for the class. The one I wrote down in that little notebook, well, it missed the mark. Not in the sense of being incorrect or wrong necessarily, but it simply wasn't enough. See, at the root of it all or at the bottom of that canyon existed life with the courage to love yourself. Not just accept yourself, not just be okay with your existence, but love yourself.

With all your faults and your struggle, with all your mistakes and your history, became clear to me how much changes when you love with all your heart the person staring back at you in the mirror. The opinions of others, they do not guide your decision making. how could they? How could others know you better than you? In fact, those opinions are part of the black and white landscape to be left behind at the top of the mountain. The consistent suffering you've become accustomed to,

the learned helplessness you endure, that's not acceptable to someone who truly loves him or herself. Loving yourself means pushing away that which is not you. It's finding that ladder down to the beautiful world of authenticity and truth, the magic of being aligned with what really matters. And what's funny is, I can talk about breaking down barriers. They should be broken down. I can talk about.

stepping into fear because it should be confronted. I can talk about finding a way out when we're stuck and a way up when we're down. I can talk about all of that every day of my life. But none of it matters if you don't learn to fully love the reflection in the mirror more, more than you ever thought you could. Think about the gift you could give to that younger version of yourself.

Think about what you could give to those close to you, your family, your friends. Think about what you could do for the world if you left those black and white concessions behind you and lived a life true to yourself. It is, of course, not always easy. But I learned that day that it is the North Star. It's what we build upon. So before we ask how to shape the world around us, maybe we should be asking how do we embrace the one within us? Maybe we should learn to love ourselves so deeply

that those walls don't need to be broken down. Because in time we'll learn not to build them up in the first place. We'll learn that in a world of black and white, of black and white, it is acceptance and trust and confidence and love that gives it color. If you build yourself up, the world conforms. One of my favorite stories is in Gary Keller's book, the one thing. Towards the end, he talks about a father and a son. I'm going to kind of paraphrase it. I give my best interpretation here. It's been a while since I've read it. But in this story, there's a father and a son. The father's tucking his son into bed. And he says, son, I want you to know

tomorrow, I took the entire day off, and it's going to be you and me. And we're going to play and enjoy the day and have an amazing time. And the son is so excited to hear this that he can barely fall asleep. It just makes his day, lights him up. So father says, good night, walks out. Eventually, the kid falls asleep. Fast forward to the next day. Bright and early, the father's downstairs sitting at his table. He hears his son, you know, the little footsteps

sprinting across the hall, and he goes, here we go. Down the stairs, the kid comes, sits at the kitchen table right across from his father. He goes, Dad, let's go. Let's go. It's time. Let's go play. Let's go have fun. And the father's excited, right? The dad is ready to rock and roll,

but he also thinks, as many of us have. It would be nice to just get 15 or 20 more minutes here to enjoy the morning, right? Sip the coffee, finish reading the newspaper. And the dad comes up with an idea. He says, okay, son, how about this? He rips a page out of the newspaper he's reading, and he tears it into about 20 pieces. And on this page was a globe. It was a picture of the earth. He places these 20 pieces of the earth in front of his son. And he says, the second you complete this puzzle and you put the earth or the world back together,

I'm going to be done with my coffee, we'll go right outside, and the day will begin. Picks up his newspaper, continues reading, smiling to himself, thinking, hey, you know, I just earned myself that 15 minutes. Well, sure enough, a minute, minute and a half goes by, he fills a tug on his newspaper. He looks up, he goes, no way.

son says, I'm done, I'm done, I'm done, I finished it. He looks over, sure enough, the puzzle is complete. He says, son, how did you do that? And the kid said, well, a piece fell on the floor. They have a glass kitchen table. And he said, and when I went down to pick it up, and I looked up through the glass, I could see that on the other side of the globe

was a picture of a man. And so I put the man together, because that was easier. The idea being, the concept being, when you build the man, when you put the man together, the world falls into place. And that right there is, I believe, one of the most critical things I've ever learned. And I'll talk a little bit about when I feel like that light bulb went off for me. But that was everything, right?

Jim Rohn says it a little bit of a different way. again I'm paraphrasing but he says you know it's not getting there it's not the result or the mountain top it's who you become along the way it's those instances where you look over your shoulder and you realize during the pursuit throughout the process

you've become more capable you've become wiser more competent and that's the ticket to so many doors opening so I want to talk about three things that I believe help you build yourself. The first thing is identifying a North Star, right? Identifying an ideal.

Which might seem simple, but again, it's the simple things that we often overlook. And by the way, there's often a hefty price for overlooking them, right? So that's the first thing, identifying the North Star. The second thing is, okay, we have our North Star, but what can we? say goodbye to? What can we cut off that we no longer need? And the third thing is, once we have that information starting, which is a project in and of itself, and I'll talk a little bit about the mindset behind that. First things first, identifying your North Star. To me, this comes down to a simple understanding. You have so much more control of your life.

than you think you do. And it's not your fault for not thinking that or not seeing that. It's just something we do without being conscious and being aware. We conform. We live the life. We feel like we're expected to live. I've often talked about in my videos being 26 years old and that being the moment, the turning point for me.

Why? Well, because I went to high school, to get to a good college, to get a good job, to move up the corporate ladder. I was four years into that job, and I looked around thinking, maybe I don't need to live for the weekend, right? Maybe I don't need to get up every day feeling obligated to do something that doesn't light me up.

Maybe I have more control over my life than I thought. There's an idea that everything around you, Everything in your life is there, because in some way or another, you've allowed it to be there. You've said yes to the people you see every day, how you spend your time, where you go, what you do, all those things. If they are in your life, you know, whether it's subconsciously or, you know, very blatantly, you have said yes. And so it's realizing, hey, there's something else out there for me that matters. That's meaningful. You know, the last 10 years, it's been the hardest 10 years of my life.

There's no question. Bringing something into existence that was not there. Working to grow it, to expand it, working to grow myself as a person. But throughout it all, I've cultivated meaning. I get up in the morning and I think this matters. I have a purpose that I care about that lights me up. To me, that's the goal.

And to find that and identify that is everything. J.R. Tolkien and Lord of the Rings, he says, not all who wander are lost. We need to give ourselves permission to seek that out. To look around and realize, hey, Some of this, some of my life, some of the things I do every day, I'm sure some of it's beautiful, right? But some of it just happens. That's life.

Some of it falls into place and doesn't make us better and doesn't excite us. And there's nothing to do with where we want to go. And so we need to be able to differentiate those things and start gravitating towards something that matters. The second one is a little bit, it's quicker, it's associated to the first one, right? The idea of, okay, now you have that thing or you have an idea of that North Star, find the courage to cut away those things that aren't going to help you get there. Another form of freedom, that shackle around your ankle that you've been carrying with you. Greg McKeown, his book, I scream it from the mountaintops, essentialism was the first person

to teach me, hey, growth is not always acquiring. Sometimes growth is getting rid of those things we are carrying around. We carry too much. Empty your pockets of the burdens. Free yourself of those things. And that, again, comes back to this awareness. It comes back to looking around and doing an audit of how you spend your time. And it's mind-boggling.

Like to take a day, for example, and really pay attention to everything you did and try and look into the rationale behind it and where it's taking you. A lot of things we do just to do. That's what you need to take an axe to. It's been said simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. The internet attributes that quote to everybody from Lincoln to, you know, Da Vinci. But it's absolutely true. When you can identify what matters and allow your world to revolve around that. That's number two.

And number three is go. Start. Which seems easy, right? You take a step. How complicated could that be? perfection, fear, not knowing. All those things keep us from moving forward, and I want to gift you with this thought that helped me tremendously.

You're not supposed to know. You're not supposed to know how things work out. You're not supposed to have the answers. You're not supposed to have a perfect map or game plan. Life is chaos. It's supposed to be messy. And the people that get the most from it smile and step into that abyss, knowing they'll pick those pieces up along the way.

That's not a little detail involved in personal growth. That is personal growth. That's the whole thing. That's the story. You go before you're ready, because you'll never be ready. And I can find those people. I can point to them talking about what they're going to do if only. They're going to start something when X, Y, and Z happens.

Well, that's a forever game. You go before you're ready. Even this studio, right, this is a new studio, it's a new setup, just a little spark to reinvigorate creativity and production. It's like moving things around. Is it perfect? Is everything lit up? Should I be closer to the camera, further from the camera? All these things that I'm going back and forth with until I hit that ultimate, you know, light bulb moment.

Who cares? pick up the mic, say something, and iterate. Ten versions from now, ten videos from now, this probably will not be the same. Perfect. But there will not be ten videos from now if you don't go. And so that's what I encourage you. I encourage you to remember that perfection is just fear in disguise.

The people that wait for all the answers before they start, they wait forever. Your time is now. So go. I'm going to leave you with that. The beautiful story. from Gary Keller's book to one thing. When you put the man together, the world falls into place.

So give yourself permission to put the man together. The world wants you to win. It has all the tools. It has everything you need. You just gotta go. Put the man together. And the world will fall into place. The Rose said that most men lead lives of quiet desperation

and go to the grave with the song still in. Probably an astute observation, as most death is potential put to rest. Most stories were stories about what could have been. Perhaps simply because it's easier on the ego to talk about what life could have looked like if you cared enough to shape it, than to have actually put skin in the game and fallen short.

But there lies the misconception. To step into life's chaos with the hopes of taming it is why we're here. And yeah, obviously it hurts to fail. It hurts to be vulnerable, to put yourself out there, especially when it seems as though all eyes are. on you. But that hurt is a fraction

of the hurt the road describes. Falling hurts, but it hurts less than wishing you had the courage to fall. Ridicule, it hurts. But it hurts less than being the one on the sidelines, pointing the finger and simultaneously longing

for the courage to take action. in their own life. What keeps us from going? What keeps us from building? We know life is short. We know regret is the ultimate pain. We know how much opportunity is out there. So why?

Why would we not go? Why would we designate dreaming to sleep? In his famous man in the arena speech, Teddy Roosevelt said this. It is not the critic who counts. Not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly. who errs and comes up short again and again

because there is no effort without error or shortcoming but who knows the great enthusiasms the great devotions who spends himself in a worthy cause who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at worst if he fails at least he fails while daring greatly so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat. No one who is content in their own life will go out of their way to bring you now.

There was never a critic deeply immersed in their own journey who took the time to mock or scoff at the man in the arena. I think our fear is pointed in the wrong direction. It shouldn't be concentrated on or focused on the opinions of those who have not yet themselves walked through those doors. No, the fear should be letting life go by without ourselves walking through. The fear should be contributing to Thoreau's statistic of quiet desperation. The one most men face. But you are not most. men or most women, not because you were given some special power or status, but because

you decided. You can choose not to be like most people. Basic math taking into account the number of people in the stands versus the number of people on the stage or court or in the arena, well it tells a tale of courage. Anyone can sit in the stands. Anyone can. Anyone can from the nosebleeds decide whether to clap or point or boo or cheer. But who suits up and enters the game? Who looks at the finitude of life and says, this is my reason to start building, to put it all on the line? Because if I fail, it will mean I was one of the few who looked around and said, this isn't bigger than I am.

This world is not predefined, it's being built in real time by those willing to walk through the doors and step into the arena, not the critics, but the doers. And look, everyone has a thing, right? I don't know what that thing is for you, but you do. You probably think about it all the time. Dream about it every day.

You probably know it's where your heart is pulling you. Do not let your life become a statistic. Don't you dare go to that graveyard having been someone who held on tighter to excuses than to what mattered most in your life. So go. Step into the arena and if they point, let them point. If they criticize, let them criticize. Your concern isn't with those wishing they had the courage to step through those doors themselves.

It's not about them, it's about you. It's about understanding the beauty and the opportunity and the freedom contained in life for those who find the courage to reach out and take it. Don't stay down in the act. down in the ashes. Use the pieces to build new things. Don't dwell on what hurts. Use the lessons to chart a course to happier days. Don't fixate on what's missing. There's an endless supply of what's not there. Instead, rejoice over and capitalize on what remains. Don't take misfortune personally.

Remember that life is neutral. It's you who has to decide whether to shrink in its shadow or grow because of it. Don't compare yourself to people around you. We only see highlight reels. We only see the best of our neighbors, but they have their demons, their problems, their struggles too. Instead, compare yourself to who you were yesterday. That's the only worthwhile benchmark. Don't exhaust time wishing you had someone else's gifts or natural abilities.

Sure they have theirs, but you have yours too. Explore and go all in on your unique superpowers because that's exactly what they are should you choose to bring them to life. Don't let the gravity of the moment keep you down. You might feel lost or defeated, but it's not always about feeling good. Sometimes it's whether or not we can move forward when we don't. So step into that unknown, knowing sure you might not be at your best, but that lives are often defined during our imperfect moments.

Don't waste energy on hope. The future is a construct, an idea that you have no control over, and that will make you its slave if you allow it to. See the value of right now. Right now you have the power to change, adapt, evolve, to make things happen. Right now is all you'll ever have to control. tear down, retreat, advance, follow or lead, everything is a choice. Life provides the components to go up or down, left, or right. It's a perpetual fork in the road.

Endless opportunities. But you are the architect. You decide what they become. Before you can ever get to where you're going, you have to decide. have to decide to begin. You have to acknowledge that what you're chasing means more to you than what you are leaving behind. And then begins the greatest adventure you will ever experience, knowing that you have turned someday until right now. That the road beneath you is waving waving you on, the wind at your back, it pushes you forward. There are no guarantees in life.

But that just might be what makes it so incredible. You'll only go as far as you allow your imagination to take you. Whether it's the end of your driveway or where the sun and the ocean intersect. That thing that gives you butterflies, that lights you up, that world you see when you close your eyes, chase that. With all of your soul, chase it.

It's easy to brush off life's potential. It's just outside the realm of possibility. To see the ideal is some form of window shopping that you can almost touch a fantasy to be explored when you sit back in your office chair or pass time in the doctor's office waiting room But I think these aspirations mean more than that Not distractions but a North Star not a diversion version, but the path. And by the way, I'm not naive about this pursuit and all that it entails the truth behind it. I'd never advocate that what's possible or meant to be is somehow easy. In fact, I'd argue the only way something is meant to be is if you're willing to commit

to the difficulty in bringing it to life. Otherwise, it would wasn't meant to be anything but a missed opportunity because it surely will be a difficult road. And here's what we come to learn. Everything of value is difficult. You know, in an attempt to oversimplify, I often break life down into the easy thing versus the difficult but meaningful thing. And in some ways, sure, that's true. But I can also honestly say it would have been more difficult for me to have stayed where I was, not moved at all, to not have pursued what I believed in. It would have been more difficult thinking about that life I could have lived, the doors that could have opened.

And that's just it. Life is about choosing your difficult. The difficult you seek out intentionally, or the difficult you seek out intentionally, or the difficult you You come and let take control, render you helpless. And I think when we find ourselves in routines, or we've built for ourselves, the world we know we don't want to live in anymore, or we've outgrown. It's not that the current is real and the future is not.

It's that we, somewhere along the way, decided to face the wrong opponent. Some adversaries make us strong. They force us to be more to grow. Other adversaries or opponents, they sit back and they let us defeat ourselves, and that's what we don't want. See, when the world knocks you down, you get to rise again. Wiser, tougher, stronger. But when you keep yourself down, well, there's nothing to be gained.

from that. Those two opponents, they are not the same. I reference my speaking career because for me, it's where that transformation is most evident. It's where it all began. My opponent was very much me. Avoiding opportunities, hiding from failure. I didn't give life a chance to knock me down. And so it didn't. How could it? I'd already placed myself in chains. And because of that, guess what, I stayed the same. I couldn't evolve. My ideal future was an idea that would briefly entertain me from time to time and move right on. It wasn't until I found the courage to switch my opponents. From myself to the world, I let life humble me. I gave talks where I was nervous and had cold feet,

keynotes where my delivery was mediocre at best, where I barely got by. But with these battles came metaphorical riches, came that trust that had to be manufactured, that confidence that had to be earned. When I got out of my own way, I was able to let the trials and tribulations of life create a new foundation for me to stand on,

to redefine, reality. And the good news is that anyone can do that. Anyone can ask that question. Is something external in my way right now that I need to figure out that I need to solve? Or am I in my own way? Am I not even giving myself a shot? Have I settled for right now as truth? When right now is just the less I can. deal difficult. When I was little playing action figures with my buddy up the street, we used to think it was cool to see around corners, to see through walls, to know what was coming before it arrived. For action figures, absolutely. In superhero movies, why not? But in the journey through life,

you don't need to see around corners. In fact, it's counterproductive because it is the interaction with the unknown that matters. It's adjusting amidst life's uncertainty that comes to make you who you are, transforms you and your reality. As far as I'm concerned, the only way to lose is to remain behind that corner. Peering out every now and then, hoping to get some kind of advantage or shortcut, willing to let life pass you by while you wait for the stars to align, thinking that that vision of an ideal life will stroll along the sidewalk,

see you and reach out a hand, that weight will be a long one, unproductive and difficult, more difficult than trusting yourself to face whatever lurks around that corner. So remember that who you are is built, and every time you do something a little bit scary, bit scary or unsettling. Every time you wander a step or two outside of your comfort zone, the reward is not just the short-term triumph you feel as you leapfrog that obstacle and carry on.

No, you are investing in a new you, a new reality. You're investing in something changing before your very eyes, putting a little marble in a jar that is your potential. And You can't see it, not now, no one's going to announce it to you. You might not even realize or understand until you look back years down the road. But those little acts of courage, they matter more than you know. They're not trivial and they are certainly not insignificant. When that movie plays in your head and you think to yourself, I wish or if only, The delta between that image and the reality on the ground disappoints you.

Gives you a little knot in your stomach or dissatisfaction that floats around in your thoughts. Remember that that feeling is transferable. That difficult can be exchanged for one that actually changes things. You can get off the merry-go-round and towards a new North Star. Difficult, yes, but we've seen the goal is not to avoid difficult. It's to pick the difficult that will transform your life. It's to find meaning in a world that if you do not pay attention, will paint your landscape with routine and obligation.

And today can certainly be a continuation of that script. A box that's checked, a calendar square with an X, Or it can be the beginning of something that gives you butterflies, that lights you up, that brings you one step closer to the world you see when you close your eyes. One of life's greatest lessons is that yesterday is only as powerful as we allow it to be. Yesterday is an idea, a story, a movie that started and ended. Now, it's quite possible that story or that ending is disappointing or it hurts to look back on. Perhaps a reminder of something that wasn't ideal, something you want to break away from.

So the question is, why do we give that old story power? Why do we relive it, create this self-inflicted wound? See, the past undoubtedly played a critical role. It brought you to where you are now. It, in many ways, shaped your worldview, constitutes your beliefs. It was the very road to this moment, and there's value in that. But imagine this scenario. Imagine stepping into your car, turning the keys,

and thinking to yourself that you can in this very moment only drive down the roads you drove on yesterday. Only associate with the street signs you know, the places you've already gone. Your reality now is determined by what you've already done. So adjust and get used to it. You would say that's outrageous, right? Yesterday's path has nothing to do with where I'm going now.

just like a boat's wake trailing off behind it has nothing to do with where it's going next the person holding the wheel controls that we are saturated with freedom there is so much opportunity and possibility and potential in front of us that we failed to see because we can't stop thinking about that fictitious story we call yesterday we confuse the path we took took then for the one we need now, the wake from the steering wheel, what is in that story about what was. The gateway to change is unshackling ourselves from those imaginary monsters. And more often than not, the answer isn't in finding some solution. It's in cutting ties with those things that no longer serve us.

Then we see the world as it truly is. Then we see the magic laid out before us. And I get that it's easier said than done. Leaving a part of us behind hurts. Looking in the mirror and being vulnerable enough to say, I can be more than this. It's not easy. But it's possible.

And everything starts with how we see ourselves. And when we remain captives to the past, everything about who we think ourselves to be is outdated. to be is outdated. We're neglecting one of our superpowers, the perpetual ability to restart. One of the most important conversations I've ever had was on this topic. It seemed trivial at the time, but I was having lunch with a friend. And we're talking and I mentioned to her that I was full. And she goes, well, then why are you still eating? And I'm like, because I paid for it, right? I wanted to get my money's worth. And she says in a very, you know, pragmatic way,

Eddie, just because you paid for it doesn't mean you need to eat it, right? It's a sunk cost. Why don't you move on? And the whole thing seems silly, right? It's like, yeah, if you're not hungry, don't eat. Move on. But in the grand scheme of things, how many of us keep on consuming that which doesn't serve us?

How many of us stay too long when we should be letting go? we let the path behind us dictate the one before us. See, there's a tendency to overvalue what we know, to feel so invested in how things are, even when we're not happy or it's not healthy, that we'll take the pain of now over the potential for something greater. And that's precisely why the unknown is so terrifying. It's not concrete.

It's a world unsettled and man do we hate being unsettled. But what we fail to realize is that every time we close our eyes, take a breath and work up the courage to step into that unknown to leave yesterday behind us. Life gives us new pieces. It resets the stage. It provides new tools to build something incredible, something more ideal, more conducive to

to our goals, our hopes, and our dreams. And the thought is, well, but what if things become worse than they are right now? What if I move forward and I find myself more confused, more lost? What if things are more chaotic? And that may, for a moment, be true. But what we do is we adjust.

We learn things we never knew. We see things through a lens that we never could. touched things that we never thought existed. It wasn't in staying, but in leaving, that we rediscovered who we were meant to be, that we allowed our truest selves to flourish in worst-case scenario. Contrary to popular belief, it's not that the world ends. No, the worst-case scenario, should you find the courage to move forward, is that you end up right back where you started, a little more confident, a little bold,

and better prepared to live this life like you never have. All that's needed is for you to convince yourself that there is more. You just need to taste the fruit, step into the sunlight. That's the difference between reality and the story in your head. Reality is that this world has for you everything you need to change, to grow,

explore, build a light that means something. It has the support structures and the resources for you to pull yourself back up every time you fall. To say, okay, that hurt, but now let's try a different angle. There is undoubtedly what you need. And the question is never whether the X on that treasure map exists. Trust me, it's there. The question is whether you can pause that story in your head. The tales of a dark, mean, and scary world trying to hold you down.

Pause the idea that you're nothing more than the you of yesterday. You're nothing more than how people knew you to be. Pause the idea that you're nothing without that job title or that relationship. Pause the idea that you need him or her or them in your life. Every day you wake up, you are a blank canvas. Who cares about yesterday? What do you want to paint now? When you walk out your front door, where do you want to go now?

Step outside that circle of familiarity. See how artificial and in some cases ridiculous these boundaries are that we place around ourselves. Life is an invitation. Not a set of requirements. And when you free yourself of that, not only will you feel like someone new, Not only will you experience life as it was meant to be experienced, but you'll see that this world will conform to your new definition. This world wants to support you.

It wants to lift you up, and yeah, it may be challenging and strenuous. It may force you to work harder and be braver than you've ever been. But it is, at the end of the day, your ally. You just have to see your future self before it materializes, when no one else gets it. So move on from all that you. does not serve you. Break away from the old rules, regulations, and guidelines. Maybe you exhausted time and energy into creating this reality. Maybe it feels like a monumental piece of your identity. Maybe right now is the only security you have. Fine. But my hope is that you can respect it

and walk away. See it as the sunken cost that it is. Just because you paid to get there doesn't mean you need to keep paying to make wrong decisions. Just because it took your time doesn't mean it's entitled to keep stealing your time. Just because it's part of your identity now doesn't mean it must be tomorrow. Just because it creates security doesn't mean it's right. Jails and steel bars are also incredibly secure. No, today we are breaking free, leaving the past in the past and setting our sights on the horizon. Today is the end of yesterday and the beginning of the rest of your life.

That to find ourselves requires we must first lose ourselves is, I believe, life's greatest paradox, leaving that carousel of comfort. The predictability of what we know, the certainty of who we believe ourselves to be. For a promise with no real guarantee of being kept, well, it's nothing short of irrational. Are the odds in our favor, perhaps not. But by stepping off, by placing our

bets on a different track with a different prize, at a different time, we have increased those odds from zero to, well, I guess we decide. And see, the world teaches us that it's advantageous to spin. A spinning carousel is predictable. It can't be cheated. There's very little room for loss or humiliation or setbacks or even life to get in the way. You know where you start and you know where you end and that's just the thing. This spinning world is so easy that people don't want to leave.

In fact, it's not until you walk away from the crowd that you even face the unknown. And that's precisely why it's so hard to walk along. It's hard, it's challenging because of the now. Not because the now can't be measured or understood. No, we get it. But because there's this little whisper in the back of our heads that the now might go on and on and on forever, that that check will never be cashed, the summit never reached.

No, just footsteps down a performance. perpetually long, windy road, and that's, you know, when maybe, just maybe we miss that carousel. We miss the safety and security. And that's what sometimes makes it such a stressful thing to walk alone. We think about all of ourselves, our mind, our heart we've left behind along the way. Truths, we now have to face things. They never taught us on that carousel. We had to learn that we were wrong about who'd be by our side through it all.

We could no longer hide behind the notion that when things got tough, someday everyone, everything would be there would be the same. We learned to swim by jumping into the deep end. Seeing in real time that people only believe it already exists, what's put in front of them, that ideas are empty, that a dream is a language only spoken by its creator. And if you want it to mean anything, you must dedicate your life to translating it. We learn how much is backwards, how much of life is reactive.

That success is being one of the few who don't react, but build a world to react to. And in the thick of it all to internalize the process because talking while talking does nothing, plans are just potential energy confined to your pocket. You have to be okay growing that seed by yourself. Like a runner making her way past a crowd, right? The crowd sees calm, sees peace, sees the finesse of an athlete gliding over the pavement. They have no idea the war being fought behind her eyes. The silencing of constant whispers to slow down to do less, the repression of pain

that consumes her to such an extent, it can't even really be pinpointed. It just kind of floats over her body. They'll never know that. And what we learn is that they don't need to. It's the truth. And see, it's also what makes it quite lonely to walk alone.

Walking alone, well, it's a lot of things. But it's never boring. It's never dull. And if you can hang in there long enough without even noticing the headwind you've been fighting, it becomes a tailwind. And where we may have felt alone, the idea pops into our heads that maybe that's not quite right. If anything, the wind at our back is now momentum. It's a partner along the way. That carousel, yeah, it's still spinning.

but somewhere else, some far off place beyond our field of vision. And no, things don't ever become easy, we wouldn't want that. But difficulty is interpreted differently now. Not a burden, but a cost, and one we'd gladly continue to pay. And that space that once felt so empty, so desolate, so helpless, Well, now it's made up of people who see what you see. Who hopped off their own carousels and wandered through the desert, they too navigated through the impossible and the never been done.

It's funny how at some point we always find each other. And I suppose now, having traded the carousels for the adventure, we can walk alone together. Us against the world, standing up in defiance of the odds, chasing that glimmer of hope, all in on a pursuit to find what most won't and see what most can't. Not because we were made different, but because we chase down the idea of different. It gets a tough rap walking alone. And in so many ways, it's a fight.

It takes all of you. But you don't come out the same person you were when you step in. The same person you'd still be today had you stayed on that carousel. So if you are still spinning, step off. And if you have, if you're still adjusting to the discomfort of reality, if you're making your way through the hell of uncertainty or questioning, whether you have what it takes or have the strength to commit, I promise. In fact, you're right where you need to be.

So don't be distracted by those screaming of their successes or communicating, capturing every small win as they make their way around the carousel. It's the quiet ones who change themselves. The ones who take life one step at a time, one battle, at a time who redefine reality. And I'm sure you can't see it now. No one can. No one can see the sun amidst the storm,

but you'll emerge. Stronger than you ever were. You will navigate towards the ideal and away from that life you once settled for. It's a long path, but it's worth it. So get up and let your full. feet guide the let's go walk alone.

I woke up last night and I remembered my debt to you. Being that I stand by the promises that I make, I jumped out of bed and I walked over to my desk, I turned on a light and I began writing. At a minimum to explain myself, but at best case scenario to provide some reassurance that every storm ends, that nothing is forever. that nothing is forever, and that someday, without question, I'll make you proud. See, things haven't been the easiest lately, and it's funny. Sometimes things seem so intuitive. Sometimes they make so much sense. And then sometimes it feels like you open up a novel right in the middle and it's in a language

you can't read. Life feels more complex than it really is, and I feel smaller than I really am, but Don't be concerned. I've fought my way through worse. I promise you you'll be satisfied with the result. And yeah, you might have noticed that sometimes I face the obstacle of juggling two sets of standards. You know, two definitions of success. Mine in the world.

What I love and what matters to me versus what will increase my status, my standing in society. And honestly, it pulls me in two different directions. Makes me think back to years past and that discomfort of experience, you know, standing on an empty foundation. But believing someday something meaningful would stand there. Realizing that when you put your head down and when you block out the noise, you can finally hear the most powerful voice of all your own. That's why you take L's in the short term to acquire meaning. in the long term. I've found that courage before. And I'll find it again any second now. Don't you worry?

Sure. You might have seen that every once in a while I forget about life's abundance. I mean, I just do. I know it's true, but it feels sometimes like the world pushes me to forget. You know, I start comparing myself to other people and I start thinking about what I could lose, what people might say about what could go wrong. And it's like, sure, I know I'm the gatekeeper to my own mind. I understand that. In fact, I cherish the idea. But I guess sometimes doubt catches that gatekeeper napping and slips through. I always catch him eventually though. I've had doubts before and really all I did was keep moving by them. Kind of like that time I went snorkeling in Key Largo you had to make your way through this jellyfish field to see an

underwater statue. My first thought was this is crazy. But then you move in and you realize they just exist. They don't have control or an agenda. And if you find the courage, they become meaningless. You can float right by them. So don't worry, I'll swim through and you'll see me on the other end. And I will catch that view.

Not for Facebook or for Instagram. Because in a way I owe it to my I owe it to you. I didn't make these promises to run when things got challenging. I made them because they meant something. And yeah, from the outside in, things are not perfect. I get that. I understand.

But if you just hang tight, if you just remember that I've been there before, I've climbed out, I've come back. In fact, the deeper the valley and the, the, the, the, darker the night, the clearer the answer always becomes when I emerge. And it may be a journey, but however long it takes, I've gotten there. And I have to admit, yeah, it feels funny writing a letter to myself, but I need you now more than ever. You've always been my toughest critic, and I appreciate that, but now I need you to be my biggest fan, to remind me that life can be confusing and seemingly contradictory, uncertain, and even chaotic.

But that doesn't mean I'm not right where I need to be, right where we need to be. And if you'll just believe in me, if you'll hop along for this ride, you'll see that as sure as I'm sitting here writing to you now, I will make you proud. Hi, I'm Chris Getherd, and I'm very excited to tell you about beautiful and arsonness, a podcast where I talk to random people on the phone. I tweet out a phone number, thousands of people try to call, you talk to one of them, they stay anonymous, I can't hang up, that's all the rules. I never know what's going to happen.

We get serious ones. I've talked with meth dealers on their way to prison. I've talked to people who survive mass shootings. Crazy funny ones. I talk to a guy with a goose laugh, somebody who dresses up as a pirate on the weekends. I never know what's going to happen. It's a great show. Subscribe today, Beautiful Anonymous.