Your World Within Podcast by Eddie Pinero - STOP WASTING TIME | Powerful Motivational Speeches

Episode Date: February 24, 2023

"There is one kind of robber whom the law does not strike at, and who steals what is most precious to men: time." - Napoleon Bonaparte

Hey there, it's Ryan Sechrest for Safeway. Now through February 25th, stock up on your favorite self-care items and save up to $3 shop in store or online for items like Old Spice Deodorant, always ultra-thin pads, Gillette Fusion Razors and Refills, Old Spice Total Body Spray, TanPax Pearl, and Gillette Mach 3 Razors and Refills and Save Up to $3. You won't want to miss out on these deals. Offer ends February 25th. Offers may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit Safeway.com for more detail.

on new tech. Upgrade the whole team at Lenovo.com. Unlock AI experiences with the ThinkPad X1 Carbon, powered by Intel Core Ultra processors, so you can work, create, and boost productivity all on one device. Win the tech search for business PCs at Lenovo.com. Jack Welch has said,

control your own destiny or someone else will. And I'm passing this along today is I believe it's one of the most important things to understand. Not a once-and-done thing, but a reoccurring question. Where have I relinquished control? How can I recapture what matters most? As the world around us shifts, slips, and slides, so does our grasp on it,

which is why I find this continuous self-reflection so powerful. I have a flight this afternoon, which means I have a hard deadline, a lot I need to do before I head down to the Miami airport. I've been traveling a lot recently, which means I've been finding myself in this situation a lot recently. And here's what's become abundantly clear to me as I work through the logistics.

On travel days, I'm exponentially more productive than on my typical, quote-unquote, work day. I wake up with an urgency and sense of control over my time that apparently is lacking on, say, your typical Tuesday. And I'm shot out of a canon. Today, for example, I've worked out, written and recorded two speeches, counting this one, recorded short video content sent to my editors,

planned next week's topics. Might even have time to go live and hang out for a few minutes. And I'm sitting here thinking, you know, dude, if I had a flight at noon every day, I'd be worth $500 million by June. What is the difference between today and every other day? Simple. My approach towards it.

How I utilize and control the resources at my disposal. This is a powerful, powerful thing to realize. You know, it begs the question, how can this urgency be manufactured? Because that's what it's about, right? Setting up the parameters so that they are most conducive to our success. Another life-changing quote I came across a few years ago was, you are your own experiment. Meaning life is about testing things, trying different methods, exploring different approaches,

and also having the discipline to observe their outcomes. Why? So that you can use that information to position yourself for success. That info is as good as gold. One understanding and two, implementing. So that we're not pushed back and forth by external factors like leaves in the wind, but are instead creating our own ideal circumstances. These, let's just call them, travel days

have helped me realize how much power, energy, control I relinquish on a typical day. And most importantly, how I can change that. Time for a new experiment. Let's try approaching every day like there's a hard cut off at noon. How? I'm not sure yet. I'll test and explore until something clicks.

But there's definitely some information worth noting. I've picked up my phone zero times today, which is obviously valuable. I've second-guessed my messaging and communication a lot less. Don't have time to waste on the small things. Nope, not when you fly out at noon. This is information I'll take with me. Little nuggets of wisdom that I've been able to collect. And so I'll finish with an important reminder

that this is not so much about efficiency as it is about awareness and a willingness to adapt. Like becoming a robot is not the goal here. But the discipline to step outside yourself and look at how you're spending your time so that you can make it more valuable and meaningful is. We let the outside world dictate far too much, and we don't even realize. We just sort of move through it. We relinquished control because we had no idea it was ours to take. We are very often unaware of the power that we have over ourselves, our circumstances, and our lives in totality.

We're unaware of just how much value we walk right by. The opportunity is not days, weeks, or months away. It lives with you now. Every breath, every step, every decision, you just have to open your eyes and invite it in. There are always barbarians at the gate. And I mean this, in the sense that the second we give less than our best, the second we let up. It's not just that we allow the important things to fade. No, we let the outside world infiltrate our existence.

In the history of civilizations by Will Durant, he said something that I found incredible. incredibly interesting. He's talking about the fall of the Assyrian Empire and he says barbarism is always around civilization, emit it and beneath it, ready to engulf it by arms or mass migration or unchecked fertility. Barbarism is like the jungle. It never admits its defeat. It waits patiently to recover the territory it has lost. See, in those civilizations, Durant speaks of, they knew they were always living with a threat of an attack by outside forces that oppose it, knowing that calm and quiet wasn't the rule, but the exception to the rule. And in its weakest moments, it crumbles. In fact, Durant says societies are born stoic and they die a peculiarian, right?

Created from discipline, but fall apart when people take what they have for granted. when pleasure and leisure become the standard. It's almost like society is a submarine keeping out the ocean of human nature, constantly putting pressure on it, right? And why does this matter? Well, this is what's interesting. Compare it to this idea

that I found in Jim Rohn's collection of lectures, where he's talking about life's concessions. He says even small compromises with regard to your goal matter, giving in even a little bit, can be dangerous. Saying, oh, it's just one time is a wolf and sheep's clothing. Because it begins the process of the downfall. Plants a seed, it cracks the door for those barbarians waiting patiently outside the gate. The ones who know discipline is not guaranteed.

Discipline is built, manufactured, it must be protected. It is the exception to the rule and they are chomping at the bit. Given the the slightest opportunity, they will bring it to ashes. And this matters because it's up to you to protect that, which is worth protecting. You ever have one of those days or weeks that are insanely productive or enjoyable, and you just think, this is great, I need to do more of this, I need to sustain this. And then time goes by. The outside world sneaks in, and the prospect of continuing that routine slips away.

crashes because parameters were not created. Because you let it slip once. And once doesn't mean you'll pick up where you left off. No, once is whispering to your subconscious that it's okay to concede. It says, oh, it's all right. I'll stray from my path just for the important things. I'll only crack the door for the barbarians when I need to. But now you're in an interesting situation.

How do you measure when it's important enough to quit? stop or cheat. And trust me, I understand that life is complex. It's not black and white, but the areas we grow the most are the same areas where we leave no room for negotiation. X, Y, or Z is going to happen because it is who you are. In that door, it stays shut to the outside world. The mediocrity telling you your plans don't matter to the barbarians outside looking for any excuse to infiltrate or destroy. And see, the point is not to avoid fun or leisure or the enjoyment of life.

No, of course not. What I'm advocating is that we highlight the aspects of life that are non-negotiable, the things that mean a lot and are therefore subject to the ever-reaching arm of retreat. You don't have to do this, the barbarians will tell you once isn't the end of the world, But what life shows us is that greatness isn't one crazy or monumental action.

It's keeping the intruders out where they must be restrained, remaining diligent in one's pursuit towards something more. Yes, there are always enemies at the gate, but there is also within you the ability to keep them in check, to tame them, to differentiate between your world and theirs. And in your life, your world, your empire, you are the gatekeeper.

So life is the sum of the decisions we make. But which decisions? How am I supposed to know? Well, maybe a list will help some pros and some cons. List one. Finding the courage to do something new, okay? Cons, it could be a waste of time. Could embarrass myself.

could lose money, could get criticized. Pros could be life-changing. Finding the courage to go somewhere new. Okay, cons might not like where I go. Might not know how to get there. Might regret going. Pros could end up being the best decision I've ever made. Finding the courage to change myself, okay, cons,

might not like who I become. Might try, fail, and feel worse than I did to begin with. It's possible. Pros, well, I might become exactly who I need to be. So looking at this, it essentially comes down to conserving the old or making the new. Maintaining or capturing the upside. But it doesn't quite delineate my problem. Okay, so different angle list two.

Finding the courage to do something new. If I fail, is it reversible? Yes. I can fail. And if I do, I'll simply go back to doing that which I had been doing. All right, finding the courage to go somewhere new. If I don't like the destination, is it reversible? Yes, I can change my flights, grab a train, turn the car around, I decide where I go.

Finding the courage to change myself, if I don't like the trajectory, is it reversible? Yes, if I don't like how I'm evolving, I can stop. I can start back at the beginning. Who you are is in your control. Okay, so after two lists, the pros have immense upside and the cons. Well, they have relatively minor downside, and they are reversible. Meaning, if I try something I've always wanted to try, go somewhere, I've always wanted to go, become the person I've always wanted to be, things could fall apart. But the damage is more annoying than it is life-altering.

It's not forever, it's fixable. On the other side, if I hit that home run, my life changes. My world evolves. What's possible expands. And it's not that I will, it's that I could. And doesn't everything start with could? A seed of possibility? An idea that plants roots and when merged with courage in action take shape?

Of course. But most importantly, this information in front of me tells me something pretty incredible, a story with few words and infinite meaning. The key that unlocks some of the most important doors to be opened. And it's this. Most of our inaction, most of our regret, most of our almost come from cowering amidst possible outcomes that are revoked. reversible, running from potential consequences that we could wipe clean like a dry erase board and try again.

The downside, it pales in comparison to the upside. We're running from a slap on the wrist or the momentary anxiety associated with turning down the wrong street, right? That's the takeaway here. That's where the magic lies. Not in the possibility that everything could work out, but the realization that if it doesn't, life moves right along that contrary to the narrative

so often making its home in the back of our minds life has redos you can screw up you can reverse track and start again the only action you can't fix is the one you never take and well I'm looking at this list and I just don't see any upside in that ready to prioritize yourself in the new year your skin is a great place to start.

Dime Beauty, founded by a master esthetician, is more than just a skincare company. With four skin-conscious categories, skincare, beauty, body care, and fragrance, Dime offers simple, spa-worthy products that will help you enter 2025 with confidence. Whether you're revitalizing your regimen with nourishing products or building one from scratch,

Dime makes it easy. The work system, our all-in-one best-selling routine, includes a cleanser of your choice, toner, serums, and moisturizers, taking the guesswork out of skin care for your healthiest, happiest skin yet. Dime's commitment to clean ingredients and sustainable packaging ensures every product is as gentle on your skin as it is on the planet. With thousands of glowing five-star reviews and a loyal community, the results speak for

themselves. Revive your skin and give yourself the routine refresh you deserve by visiting dimebeautycom. That's dimebeautyco.com. Your best skin awaits. It's Orion Seacrest for Safeway. Now through February 25th, stock up on your favorite self-care items and save up to $3 shop in store or online for items like Old Spice Deodorant, always ultra-thin pads,

Gillette Fusion Razors and Refills, Old Spice Total Body Spray, Tampax Pearl, and Gillette Mach 3 Razors and Refills and Save Up to $3. You won't want to miss out on these deals. Offer ends February 25th. Offers may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit safeway.com for more detail. 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, 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. You know, 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 sad. 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 sometimes. Makes me think back to years past and that. that discomfort I've experienced, 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 geek, keep her 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 myself and I am. to myself and 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 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. For a second, imagine that feeling in your stomach. The nerves, the discomfort, maybe even the doubt as you walk up to do that one thing that scares you. It stretches you just a little bit further than you're ready for. And as you move towards that sort of dark, unknown, the mysterious discomfort, what's on your mind? Are you starting to rationalize? Maybe you're asking yourself, hey, why did I do this to begin with?

It seemed like a good idea at one point. It seemed bold and adventurous. But now it seems like the wheels have hit the road and the narrative is shifting in real time. So try and recreate that feeling for a second. Looking fear in the eyes. Capture what it means. It's physically, mentally. For me, it was public speaking.

Half a decade ago, standing backstage, palms sweating, little voice in my head saying, hey, Ed, a cubicle doesn't seem so bad right now, does it, genius? Maybe, you know, for you in this scenario, it's that big test that feels like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Everything's on the line. Maybe it's something like starting a conversation with a complete stranger, or interview for a job you want. starting line of a race, having the courage to speak your mind online.

Maybe it's doing something your family doesn't quite get, or your friends won't understand, cutting ties with what's comfortable, a decision to be what you've always wanted to be. There's a million possibilities. There's a lot of fear that we dance with on a day-to-day basis. But in that moment, as your feet start moving in the very direction that will bring your ideas,

closer to your reality and you're hit with that same feeling, that wall that tells us something isn't quite right. That's what I want to discuss. Because it's hard to be met with this feeling and still move confidently in the same direction, right? There's cognitive dissonance there. How can something feel wrong and be right? Should there be disconnected? You know, it's funny, I really enjoy reading quotes. And particularly, Lewis Carroll has resonated with me over the years. You know, things he said in his works, they're witty, they're funny, but they're powerful. And one in particular stood out to me.

It's why sometimes I've believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast. I just loved the concept, the idea of immersing yourself, you know, in the impossible, in the difficult, the thing that's not right in front of you, that sort of creating it as you go. So I got through the looking glass and adventures of Alice in Wonderland. It was an interesting read. I'm not sure I'd recommend it for everyone, but there was certainly one thing that popped out at me

that I found incredibly valuable. And it was in Alice's journey holistically, right? So just she goes into this rabbit hole, and the world is basically upside down. Nothing is as it was before she jumped. Nothing really makes sense. And what you see is her progression as a character as she starts continually embracing the thing that feels abnormal,

upside down and weird. But with each decision to move forward, she completely redefines this insane world that wasn't particularly warm and receptive to Alice to begin with. As she stands up to a queen running around ordering executions. She navigates a world with new rules and guidelines. She transforms the boundaries that used to define reality. And what I think is valuable is that there really wasn't this boom transformative moment where everything changes. She just keeps subtly saying yes. She keeps moving

forward without knowing for sure how things will work out or unfold. As if she's supposed to. And she becomes so accustomed to suppressing that feeling of fear and uneasiness that it almost becomes comical. She goes with it, it becomes the author of a new story. She becomes untouchable in this world. And my point here, and for those of you not a fan of Alice in Wonderland, I appreciate you hanging on, but where these dots connect is that it's actually a pretty simple idea. Life unfolds in a way that is unimaginable. When we shift our thinking from, oh no, here comes that feeling in my stomach again, my heart's pounding, my palms are sweating, so I've wandered too far.

When you change that to, here comes that feeling in my stomach, heart pounding, palm, sweating, so here comes the beginning of something incredible, life shifts. See, it's not running from that temporary feeling of fear and discomfort, but harnessing it. It's a weapon, it's a tool, right? It fuels the rocket ship headed to the moon. It's the water that that seed of opportunity is dependent upon. And sure, it feels new and unsettling, and yes, uncomfortable. But so is, as we learn, everything good.

And sure, you could turn back. You could avoid that manufactured conflict, confrontation altogether. But, man, you have to be okay, never knowing what those peaks could have been. You have to be content imagining a life. of adventure and not living it. And to me, that's a much steeper price. Because that feeling of fear in your stomach, it's temporary, it goes away.

But the feeling of knowing you walked away when life held out its hand and offered you more, that doesn't go away. And see, I look at it like this. Two things change every time you say yes. Every time you acknowledge the organized chaos and move forward anyway, you move both your internal and external worlds

one step forward. Internal, because life is your identity. And as has been said before, humans always follow through on who they believe they are. I've heard actors saying the most important decision they make is the shoes they put on, because it lays the groundwork for how you feel. You just feel differently about yourself

in clown shoes than you would in basket. shoes than you wouldn't dress shoes. You feel different about yourself in a suit than you wouldn't sweatpants. And this doesn't mean go reassess your wardrobe, it highlights how malleable identity is. Yeah, we follow through on who we believe we are, but the powerful thing is who we believe we are is created every single day. Every time we use fear to propel us forward. Your subconscious goes, okay, that's who I am. Someone who does the uncomfortable thing, Someone who is okay with fear, that's me. Right, and that's the internal foundation that means everything.

That's how identity is constructed. And if you stack that up with action every single day, you won't even be able to recognize yourself. That's the internal transformation. Then there's the external transformation. Every time you push through fear, you level up. Not significantly. Right?

You aren't immediately transformed. In fact, sometimes you don't even notice. But the truth is, after you use, say yes, after you take that step, you're fractionally further than a few minutes earlier. Your relative ceiling is now the floor and it's time to take another step. This is how you create distance over time. So when you hear the word fear, let's rewire that reaction. Let's change how we think about it.

Because it's not a monster in the closet. It's not some demons staring you in the face. No, it's a ticket to something. more, something to be embraced and coveted. It's the next little step in your journey, and why when most of the world bows down to that feeling of discomfort or instability and stays the same, you will have moved forward. Not in a single leap, but a step, a step that over time will become the reason that at some point when you look over your shoulder, you'll find a life, a world, a reality that

that is unrecognizable in the context of where you began. It's why fear is not to be avoided or even tolerated, but sought out as the single variable that puts a pulse in your aspirations, gives hope to your dreams. The ideal life is not predicated on the avoidance of fear, but the ability to harness and capitalize on its power.

Ready to prioritize yourself in the new year? Your skin is a great place to start. Dime Beauty, founded by a master esthetician, is more than just a skincare company. With four skin-conscious categories, skincare, beauty, body care, and fragrance, Dime offers simple, spa-worthy products that will help you enter 2025 with confidence.

Whether you're revitalizing your regimen with nourishing products or building one from scratch, Dime makes it easy. The work system are all-in-lawful. one best-selling routine includes a cleanser of your choice, toner, serums, and moisturizers, taking the guesswork out of skin care for your healthiest, happiest skin yet. Dime's commitment to clean ingredients and sustainable packaging ensures every product is as gentle on your skin as it is on the planet. With thousands of glowing five-star reviews and a

loyal community, the results speak for themselves. Revive your skin and give yourself the routine refresh you deserve by visiting Dimebeautcom. That's Dime Beauty, C,O.com. That's Dime Beauty, C, your best skin awaits. Hey there, it's Ryan Sechrest for Safeway. Now through February 25th, stock up on your favorite self-care items and save up to $3 shop in store or online for items like Old Spice Deodorant, always ultra-thin pads, Gillette fusion razors and refills, Old Spice Total Body Spray, Tampax Pearl, and Jolette Mach 3 razors and refills and save up to $3. You won't want to miss out on these deals. Offer ends February

25th. Offers may vary. Restrictions apply. Visit safeway.com for more detail. What is the complex, but an accumulation of that which is simple? What are big things, if not just a multitude of little things? There's comfort in the understanding that all we have in life, all there is, is simplicity, easy to understand pieces. It's just that sometimes we stack them so high that they start to take a new, shape.

But like Greg McKeown references in his book Essentialism, the power isn't always in acquiring answers. You already have them. They're in front of you. The power is in cutting away the things that don't need, removing all that stands between you and your ideal existence. And I think that's one of life's great misunderstandings. We don't need to find more.

We need to remove that excess until we're face to face with what matters. And to adopt this principle, it's nothing short of liberating. Chaos, confusion, disorder, they don't imply that you lack the right things. They suggest you haven't stripped life of the wrong things. You have not simplified. A thousand miles is intimidating when you look at it holistically. It's a long journey. But it's just a collection of steps, and well, shouldn't we find solace in the fact that anyone can take one step?

It's not a game of complexity. It's a game of understanding what's in front of you. And what's in front of you is always manageable. So much of our stress stems from forgetting what that journey is made of. Whether it's a change in career. mastery of an art, some kind of personal transformation, the result we want. When looking at it from the starting line, it's too complex to understand too many pieces stacked up. So let's break it down. Let's find the foundation. What's really there? What are the one,

two, three things we need to do? What is that golden question? What matters? If you lose sight of that, then you will stumble through life. I've learned this. I've lived it. The time I take to myself every day is invaluable to me because I ask myself those two questions. What matter and what are the simple steps I need to take? What can I remove? I was talking about this during an interview this week, my personal growth.

And one of the most important aspects has been the understanding and zeroing in on what's important. I used to take so much pride in composing the background music to these speeches. End to end. I used to love to be able to say, I did it all. That was, so I thought, the great differentiator. But ultimately, I learned to take a step back and ask what matters here. What do you care about? It's the storytelling that I love.

It's the impact. And let's be real. No one cares who wrote the background music. It's holistically. How does the piece make you feel? Right? And this understanding allowed me to cut away. License the music. Save two days a week, acquire clarity, and realize my goal is not to be Mozart. My journey is to be one of the great communicators, storytellers of our time.

And if a day goes by where I'm not taking a little step towards that, it's the wrong move. Small example in the grand scheme of things. But right on point. It's the power in understanding what matters that makes a difference that allows you to grow, evolve. And I'm confident that this not only applies to long-term pursuits, but also our challenging times, the dark moments, the periods of uncertainty and discontent. Same concept. Where do you want to be? And how do you get there?

What's the simple thing you can do to close that gap? Because you are never helpless. You can always do something. And my friends, those little somethings ultimately evolve into everything. And when we put our phone away, step beyond the noise, spend time with ourselves, we can see how much of life is running in place. Stacking and stacking pieces that aren't even part of the masterpiece. we're trying to assemble. If you want answers,

start with the understanding that they're buried under mountains of things you don't need. So cut away. Cut away the people and places and things that convolut your story. Cut away the exhaustion of time that provides no value in return. Cut away the thoughts that make life more complex than your journey from where you you are to where you'd like to be. As you stand right now, you have everything you need, and there's nothing greater than that, nothing more powerful than that understanding. So why not step outside the complexity that you've manufactured that you're living in into a world of

clarity, simplicity, and capture what matters. Relax, you're here. That's a clever little sign hanging above the sidewalk, right at the border where Pompano Beach turns into Lauderdale by the sea. And as it turns out, that spot is almost directly in the middle, one of my favorite running routes, almost exactly halfway. Which at first I found kind of annoying, being that, no, It was not where I wanted to be or intended to be, and no, I certainly could not relax.

The heat and the sun and the miles to go always begged to differ, right? False advertising. It was not, in fact, here. After all, here in this context suggests one has arrived, and how can arrival feel like missing pieces and unknowns? How can it feel like so far to go? in the valley of despair, can one really be here? But the more and more I took that route, the more the little sign became a landmark in and of itself.

Something that I looked forward to, its own little destination, a point in which I could both look over my shoulder and realize how far I've come, as well as find reassurance for the journey ahead. It was a manufacturer pat on the back, change in narrative. Because here's the deal, it's easy to feel lost in the middle. It just is. It's easy to feel empty-handed after days or months or years.

It's easy to fall into the trap of never enough. But if you step back and adjust your perspective, you see it for exactly what it is. A beautiful process. Here doesn't have to be the point. predetermined destination. Here can be the culmination of all the steps it took you to arrive at the now. Here can be the lessons learned along the way. It can be the reassurance that while you're not done, you've overcome every obstacle up until this point, and there's no reason to think you won't continue that pattern moving forward. So relax. You're here.

Perhaps here being a place of trust. The ability to look in the mirror and sure see your opportunity areas, but way more importantly, see your brilliant, your tenacity, your courage after all, when armed with those traits, it doesn't matter where you're dropped off at or placed. There's no finish line that's too far away, no mountaintop that's beyond. where you end up in the game of life will be directly correlated to the level of trust you have in yourself to play. So relax. You're here.

Maybe here being that point where you can make the leap you've always wanted to make. Where you can feel confident that the unknowns don't stop you, they inspire you, where you see the past as proof that your limitations exist. Only where you decide they do and here is not a wall or a barrier but a springboard to the next great adventure Where you find that spark of inspiration to push against life and see what comes back To test the waters ride the wave that self-identified beginning That lights a fire in your soul. So relax You're here Maybe here being the point where you realize you've been selling yourself just a little bit short,

where the image of yourself that you've created in your head is lacking. The metaphorical shoes you've been wearing have been outgrown. And here is where you change them for something that better suits you. Where you make a contract with yourself to endure the growing pains and the discomfort, where you willingly pick up the pace and exchange for that adrenaline rush associated with leveling up. The excitement of the wind on your face,

the increased speed opening up your mind to the realization that you haven't even scratched the surface with regard to your potential. And that alone is a gift. So relax. You're here. Maybe here is a reminder to simply enjoy the now. To stop thinking only about what's down the road and look around.

To realize that the future is just a fantasy about what might come. In the past is a retelling of stories that have already occurred. Making your experience on this planet only right now. A culmination of right now is stashire. backing up to comprise your entire life. And while the destination is the purpose that pulls you through, the very idea of a destination is essentially trading a current right now for a future one. So maybe look around and enjoy what you have.

Appreciate the moment in all its glory. Relax. You're here. See, whatever here means to you, it's essential that we know even in the heart of the storm, the chaos of battle mid-jurney, that you have everything you need. Not just to survive, but to adjust and re-examine, to identify what means the most to you and follow that like your life depends on it, You are here.

Here being the inflection point that separates the past from the future, that cuts your negative self-talk and those self-imposed limitations down to the nothings that they are. For me, that sign and its message have become a reminder of the duality of life. The tightrope that I have to walk between. chasing down the dreams that pull me out of bed every morning and simultaneously cherishing the moments that comprise the journey. Sure, it's the halfway point of my run, and sure, I have ways to go. Sure, celebrating now would be counterproductive, but breathe in.

Look what I get to do. Look where I am. Look what I have. They say we live not for the destination but the journey, and I think that's right. I think in a way the finish line might just be the excuse we give in order to experience the steps that take us there. It's the chase, the pursuit, and so relax you are here, reminds me that I'm in the thick of the good stuff. Ed Helms, at a commencement speech, quotes his character from the other. office, Andy Bernard, as saying, I wish there was a way to know you were in the good old days

before you've actually left them. Well, this might just be that reminder. Grow to something you've yet to become, but with everything you have, appreciate who you are now. Respect that finish line, but cherish the race. When the time comes, and we've reached, the end of our days reflecting back, I think there are two successes that I'll identify as I'm reminiscing. First, I don't want to look back and feel regret for a lack of courage. I don't want to wish that I'd been bolder in pursuit of my dreams. No, I want to accomplish the unthinkable, capture the unobtainable. But second, I also don't want when reflecting back to realize that I'd never looked around and enjoyed the ride, that I didn't know what I had the entire time, that when things

felt like a lot, I forgot that a lot was in and of itself a gift. So when the pressures of life seem to consume us, the expectations overwhelm us, the story disappoints us. Let's find the time to pause, take a breath and relax because it just might be life's way of telling us. We're here. Let's talk about a point, a destination. What I believe to be a critical or the critical landing spot as we go about our lives. The intersection of purpose and value. where our personal loves and passions collide with the gifts that we are capable of giving to the world.

Someone once told me that if you're doing something you love, but it's not doing anything for others, it's just for you, it's not monetizable or adding external value, that's fine, right? It's often incredibly healthy, but it's also a hobby, right? not a job, business, or career. On the other hand, if you're doing something that does add some external value to others, but inside it feels wrong, you're not at all passionate or excited about it, you're now robbing yourself. One, because you're exhausting your limited time on this planet going through the motions,

and two, because if you aren't at all invested in or excited about that thing, there's going to be little incentive to innovate, to go above and beyond, to find that ever-elusive value that hides in the fringes. So the answer, the goal, as far as I'm concerned, is searching and exploring until you find that point, that aforementioned intersection where you get both, where you wake up excited, thinking about what lies ahead throughout the day and are simultaneously able to add value to the community at large.

That feeling of being able to pour your heart and soul into something while also knowing there is much at stake, it's extraordinary. The thing is, though, it's often a challenge to capture. I remember I was invited to do an interview years ago, one of the first I'd ever done, and I still remember this question, right, to this day. How did you end up a writer and the speaker? Did you plan for it?

Was this the goal? And I remember saying, no, it wasn't the goal. And he asked, so you fell into it? And I kind of said, yeah, that's about right. I fell into it. That was essentially that. And as I look back now, that answer, even all of these years later drives me crazy

because it does such a disservice to the truth. That's like saying someone fell into their dream job. How does anyone fall into any role? No, life is about growing, learning, adapting, and repeating the cycle. It took me time and persistence to find that intersection of internal purpose and external value. And I talk about the journey a lot, so I don't want to go into too much detail, but very briefly, you know, I went for a little bit. I went from a corporate position where I may have been adding some value, but was pretty dead inside.

Then moved to playing acoustic shows and writing music around Boston. And it was an improvement. I certainly enjoyed that to some extent. But had a ways to go. And also the external value wasn't quite there. And then moved to writing speeches, which I discovered writing was what I loved about the music. That was an epiphany. That was a light bulb moment. So I started writing more and more and more like a crazy person and started to finally feel that power of impacting others in a positive way. Okay, noted. This is a good thing. Keep moving forward. I started moving on to making videos combined with writing and oh man, getting warmer, right? And by the way, video is scalable. So I'm helping and adding value to even more people. They move on to YouTube, keynote.

speaking and ultimately the media company I have today. And so I look at all that, right? The whole process, pretty sloppy, right? A lot of unforeseen changes, a lot of things I didn't expect or anticipate, a lot of poking and prodding. And every move was getting me closer to what brings me joy in my left hand. Well, I held on to what makes society a better place in my right hand, right? What adds value to those around me? I wanted to find. I wanted to find that intersection while cutting away things that I wasn't crazy about, right? I didn't like, the so-called hobbies that I enjoyed but, you know, weren't going to be the train that I took to impact or prosperity.

So, no, this exact career progression was not planned, right, in any way. But this feeling, finding this spot in life, obtaining this sense of purpose was It's incredibly methodical. And so now when I'm asked that same question, I give a very different answer. And that's critical because it's hard to not know what the future holds. It's uncomfortable.

One demographic I get a lot of emails from is college grads. The whole world's in front of them and they don't know what to do. My answer is always the same. You don't have to know what the future holds. You're not supposed to know. The idea is to explore. It's to move closer to the things that make you feel alive, little by little. While, by the way, simultaneously cutting away the things that, sure, were worth a shot,

but after some exploration, you kind of feel like, eh, not for me. It's a continual process of honing in. And looking for that spot where it's like, this makes me feel good. This is the starting point. So now, how do I position myself so that I can add value to others while doing this? How can I be a light in the world? And I believe wholeheartedly we all have that. We're all capable of that.

It's just different for all of us and requires searching. We have to get over the fact that it's scary stepping off that ledge to navigate the waters of life, knowing that this just might be one of those experiences that goes awry. That, yeah, you put the time in, the energy in. And all you left with was the understanding that, wow, this definitely is not for me. And that's perfectly fine, right? It's like noted, now on to the next. I say all the time life is not a standardized test.

Now, I like that metaphor, because it dispels the notion that there is a simple right or wrong approach. That's not how anyone has ever arrived at excellence. Excellence is an experiment. Excellence is a journey and journeys take courage. Believe me, it might seem easier not to go. It might seem easier to stay where you are in order to make this or that person happy. To save yourself the short-term angst of not having a plan, But in the long run, if you're not happy and you don't, in some capacity step into that unknown, you eventually come face to face with that word we all hear so much about regret. And that is how I see the process.

Saying no to what you want so that you can avoid this short-term discomfort is essentially picking up the phone and making an appointment with regret. The only question is whether the reservation is in two months, two years, or two decades. So why not set out in search of that remarkable place? That intersection of what you love and what lights up the world. What prompts you to jump out of bed in the morning and what just might inspire others to do the same. When you are in doubt, take the question, is it possible and substitute it for how can I get there? When overwhelmed, remember that you are not alone in your frustration or your uncertainty,

that the world around you was built by people, men and women from all different backgrounds and all different places with all different stories, who took that light in themselves and didn't stop fighting, pushing, searching until it became a beacon, not just for them, but for those around them. I said it before, I'll say it again, we are all capable of that, that version, whatever it is in your specific life. You can have that reality, you can be that person,

but you must both believe it's possible. possible and start moving towards that life changing.