Your World Within Podcast by Eddie Pinero - WHAT IS COURAGE ASKING OF YOU? - Best Motivational Speech

Episode Date: July 24, 2024

"It takes courage to grow up and become who you really are." — E.E. Cummings Monday Motivation Newsletter: https://www.eddiepinero.com/newsletter Free Ebook: www.eddiepinero.com/ebook  YouTube: www.eddiepinero.com/youtube  In this episode, Eddie Pinero explores the evolving nature of courage and its profound impact on our lives. He discusses how courage can both stay close and push us into uncharted territories. Eddie shares personal stories of how courage has helped him transform, face fears, and embrace vulnerability. From overcoming defeat to seeking deeper relationships, he emphasizes that courage is about showing up, even when it's hard. He reminds us that love and pain coexist and that giving our all, even on our lowest days, is a testament to true courage. Tune in for an inspiring reflection on the dance with courage.

Courage changes, but so do I. See, the goal is for us to remain inseparable. Dancing partners as life's song ebbs and flows. Co-stars in the great play of life. See, I can't be perfect, but I can be courageous. And that, as it turns out, is enough. Now, courage can be so small that it fits in my pocket, or it can be so big, so monumental, so grandiose that it takes me out my front door and drops me in a world I've never been before. Over the years, courage and I have seen everything.

When I was scared to step out of one chapter and into the next, courage helped me turn the page. It said, you are bigger than what's in front of you. It said life is not that serious. When I looked in the mirror and didn't like who was staring back, courage helped me ask why, which unbeknownst to me would be one of the more courageous things I've ever had to do. When I was low, defeated, and overwhelmed, courage whispered in my ear that I was strong enough to get back up.

When I was tired, run down, courage explained to me, hey, it's okay to pump the brakes, to put your feet up, to escape and let life in for a little while. And that was an interesting waltz we did there, but sometimes courage pushes, and sometimes it pulls when I was shying away from deeper relationships, vulnerability. Courage reminded me that the possibility of rejection and loss and disappointment is worth the upside. That never opening up is what we come to regret. And, you know, sure, everything you want lives on the other side of fear.

But I think love also lives on the other side of pain and you can't have one while trying to shy away from the other. When I couldn't walk or run, courage stated that it was okay to crawl. As the saying goes, on the days you only have 40%, 40% becomes 100%. 40% is courage. When my pride kicked and screamed my ego built walls, courage reminded me to reach out, to be a fixer. That yeah, it's easy to be mad.

But being mad has never fixed a problem. When hiding behind perfection, courage reminded me an important truth. There's nothing noble about perfection. Perfection is a lie. It's fear in disguise, antithetical to courage. You can be perfect, scared, and live life as a shell of yourself, or be imperfect, flawed. but authentic and powerful. When my knees would shake and my palms would sweat,

courage said, grab the mic, step on to the stage, create the video, set up the meeting, make the call. There is a bridge to a more powerful, more evolved version of you. You just can't see it because you're currently walking in. When I become too accustomed to routine, to normalcy, to how things are, shying away from risk and opportunity and all the good stuff, courage flashes that vision in front of me of what life can be.

It says, hey, that dream, that future you think of, it's not going to come to you, you have to go to it. See, over the years, courage has changed, but so have I. And the goal has been and will always be for us to remain separable. dancing partners as life's song ebbs and flows, co-stars in the great play of life. See, I cannot be perfect, but I can be courageous.

And that, as it turns out, is enough. Ready, fire, aim. It's a saying that is often said with a bit of humor, kind of reflecting back on moments of chaos, right? Things were coming at us so fast we didn't have time to think or plan we had to be ready, fire, aim. Implying that, you know, they were quick starts moving forward with the project or initiative before they knew entirely what they were doing. Go and figure it out along the way.

Jump and grow wings on the way down. I can think of, you know, ten different ways to say that off the top of my head. as opposed to its alternative, ready, aim, fire. Which at surface level is more logical. It implies a little more accuracy, a little more time and energy exhausted on precision. If you're going to shoot the arrow, it makes sense to know where it's going, right?

And while which one of these two phrases is right, in my mind is somewhat context-dependent, I'm going to explain to you why the first one. has changed my life. The ready fire aim approach. To put it simply, it's because in the past, you know, I've been prone to over-analyze, to, you know, over-extensively weigh out the pros and cons.

And, you know, that's resulted in being paralyzed by options. It creates stagnation, immobility, which is what you don't want. The greatest improvements in my life, personally, have been from going before I was ready. The simple idea that you don't have to know, and in fact you won't, but you have to start. And life starts providing you these little pieces of wisdom, these little puzzle pieces to start constructing reality.

It's the thought process that, sure, you don't want to go in blind, right? Have a foundation. educate yourself, but the vast majority of the value is going to come from what's learned along the way. Even if on paper you theoretically had all the answers, life's variables are constantly changing. They're transforming what was once truth. The ability to adapt is often far more important than what you know when you begin.

You can watch 300 tutorials on how to put out a YouTube video. Finally, after a month, feel like you have enough info, release one, and ultimately you'll just realize how much doesn't apply to you in your situation. How much falls through the cracks, how much was unforeseen. Or you can release it to the world as soon as you possibly can and get 300 videos worth of knowledge by simply doing, going, experiencing. learning in real time. That's where the magic is.

I recently put on a retreat for my new project called Levels. And I'd never run a retreat before. I knew there would be things that didn't go exactly how I thought they would or weren't perfect. And theoretically, you know, we could have picked a date six months out and over-planned and over-considered. But ultimately, you know, chose to pick a date one month. out, plan the best we could, and start creating momentum, get the process going, start collecting data, learning what works and what didn't. I mean, we hedged a little bit.

We invited folks that were close to us, that were friends or business acquaintances, but the focus was on getting the ball rolling, and it ended up being an absolutely incredible experience. One of the best weekends of my life, the feedback was just phenomenal. And yeah, the next one will certainly have some time. changes. There are some things we'll do differently. But we have data. We have experiences. We have earned confidence. You cannot read that or study that. That's info you can only get by walking down the path. There's a ton of value you can get in life by simply looking around and asking

where have I been aiming too long without firing? That's not a place you want to be. We all know this, right? We all know that person that's always talking about what they're going to do, what they're going to do. Someday, just you wait, you'll see. It's like, well, what are you doing? Like, what are you doing now?

These two things can be true at once. You know, first, it's true for them. If they don't go, they'll never get there. But second, there are areas in all of our lives where it's true for us. We just have a hard time seeing it. The old parable, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. Give life a chance to open up for you.

Push hard against the unknown. The most important things you'll ever experience in life will be because of your doing, not your thinking or planning or discussing. and you won't be perfect. Sometimes you'll swing and miss the target altogether. But what you will be able to do is re-approach stronger and wiser. You'll be able to come back more informed. And with that edge that will allow you to ultimately succeed,

that is how excellence is created. Ready, fire, aim. I read something this morning that said at some point in your childhood, you and your friends went outside to play together for the last time and nobody knew it. It seems to me that many of life's last times elude us. We aren't aware of the pages turning or chapters ending. The phases of life essentially blend into each other, one fading into the next. In fact, we don't even realize the extent to which things have changed. until we peer back over our shoulders.

See, life is happening to us now. While we plan, hope, and pray for better days, 99.99% of life consist of the time that exists between the so-called pivotal life events. The average, the ordinary, the things that we pay no mind to. So what's the relevance?

Why does this matter? Well, because the sun coming up, in the morning is life. Pouring your coffee is life. Small talk with your loved ones is life. The art you're creating, music you're listening to, the workouts at the gym, they are life. And not in a so you better be grateful or else kind of way. But in a, if you don't understand this, contentment will be incredibly hard to capture.

kind of way. I have a lot of favorite quotes, but this one tops them all. Character Andy Bernard from the office, he says in an episode, I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them. And I can't get over how that statement proves itself to be true repeatedly. Over and over again, how it's not until we peer over our shoulders that we realize how lucky we were, how much fun we had, how much the time meant. I recently went to a wedding for one of my best friends from childhood. And funny enough, we only lived in the same state for four years, from fourth grade to eighth grade, before I moved across the country to Massachusetts.

And I thought, as I flew to the wedding, you know what, I should post a picture of us as kids together, you know, say congrats. And I quickly realized on the plane ride that I don't think, we have any, right? It's essentially only memories. It's the stories that we still to this day laugh about, those events that shaped our childhoods, the things kids go through, that change the way we look at the world. And all that happens so fast. I think it remains so precious because we were so fully immersed in it. It was such a simple time, pivotal, and gone in a snap. I had no idea it would mean anything 20 years later, but that's life.

It seems to go by in an instant. Which is why I think we need to find that sweet spot. Respect for the duality between sometimes sacrificing the present for a better future, an ability that makes humans remarkable creatures. And also enjoying and realizing how precious the ride, how beautiful the now. Whether the current season is ideal, a struggle, or in between. To feel something at all in its own unique way is a miracle.

And if we look, we'll find that there is good here. There's growth here. There are moments that you'll look back on and smile at knowing that they shaped you and played a role in who you're becoming. So the point is, as we make our way through life, it's highs and lows. Perhaps look around and make an effort to see the beauty in the journey. Understand that nothing is forever. The people you talk to, places you go, the things you do, they will all dissipate.

And while sure the now may not be perfect, and in some cases even a stepping stone along the way to a better, wiser, stronger you, the idea shouldn't be too long for the enjoyable part, but to realize you are in it. To know that some of these things we take for granted will be missed when they're gone. Let's not fall into the trap of letting life go by while we waited for it to begin. Let's, as Andy Bernard stated, remember that the good old days are right now. And embrace today as the truly incredible gift, opportunity, and finite ride. that it is. A good plan

violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week. That's from George Patton, General in the United States Army, integral to the Allies victory in World War II. So why? What makes this statement so powerful? Well, it rings true because we have to move beyond

the idea that we can manufacture your greatness with one swing of the bat, one stroke of the pen. That if we wait for the right moment, perfection will come. The light will turn green. The stars will align and the path will emerge. I feel like I could scream this from every mountaintop and it wouldn't be enough. Life is not a perfection game. Life is an adjustment game.

And I'll speak anecdotally here. In my experience, looking over my shoulder, reflecting, you know, those times that I'd clung to perfection, rationalizing my immobility by saying, hey, you're not ready, this isn't good enough. I'd only have to dig a few layers down to see that my not moving wasn't out of some loyalty to excellence. No, I was standing still because of fear, a fear of going, of starting, a fear of the unknown, Perfection is the biggest con there is. It's a scam. It says, wait here, your perfect moment will arrive.

Hang tight. The right time is coming. No, there are no perfect beginnings. There's merely the courage to move into something new or the regret that will ultimately come from wishing that you did. And sure, a part of it's almost counterintuitive. It's like, why isn't it beneficial to wait? Why would you want to take the leap before you're ready?

Here's how I see it. One of the most important distinctions to understand is that between the thinker and the doer. The thinker who ponderes, who reflects, who studies and studies and studies, thinking he or she can create for him or herself a perfect jump-off point, thinking they can obtain for themselves all the necessary information, all the answers before they begin the journey. The truth is, greatness is forged through repetition via wheels on the road, and yes, you are terrible at first,

completely unsure at first. You get lost at first. But this becomes the knowledge that shapes the journey. When you go before you're ready, two important things happen. First, after falling down and feeling embarrassed and insecure, you get back up, you look around and you go, wow, okay, I'm still here. That sucked, sure, but it wasn't as bad as my brain told me it would be. Next, you learn from the exchange.

You can start doubling down on what works and eliminating what doesn't. And eventually, as you take this confidence and wisdom onto the next step, repeatedly the curve becomes exponential. In doing, you begin stacking bricks, creating a foundation. Those experiences that humbled you become what you lean on. They're what turn into the experience,

the knowledge, the credibility. And see, thinking you can skip all that ugly stuff by waiting on the ledge for perfection to arrive in your hands, that will be your undoing. That's just as crazy as a saying. waiting for the wind to stop. It's like, no, you need that friction, that resistance to reach your destination.

And no, we cannot control everything. Yes, there are powers beyond us. But if you go now, you learn to use and navigate them. The greatest gift we can give ourselves is permission to go. It's looking a year ahead and dreaming of the moment. We pause and say, wow, what a year. year, the twists and turns, the lessons, the highs, the lows, the peak moments all brought me here. And how different here is from back there. How far I've come.

Knowing, by the way, that life was never asking me for perfection, but rather a willingness to start, to dive in, to adapt along the way. I know a lot of people with businesses that exist in their minds but not in reality. A lot of people in shape when they close their eyes, but not when they look in the mirror. A lot of people living their best lives when talking about the future, but not when they pull up to work on a Monday morning. We shorten the gap between our ideal existence and the present moment by going, by stepping now.

Even when we can't imagine how the process will unfold. Because let me tell you, life will bend and twist in ways you can't even fathom. It'll take you places that ignite your soul, show you things you never dreamt of seeing. But you have to put yourself in position to receive that from life. The world wants to help people who help themselves. So give yourself the gift of progress, of momentum. If a dream is only worth the action one is willing to take to bring it to life, let that action start now. Move beyond the illusion of perfection and towards the opportunity to take the imperfect every single day and transform it into greatness.

Every time your mind says you're not ready, let that be your invitation to start. Step forward. See, life may not be a race, but that doesn't mean time will politely wait for you. We must say goodbye to perfection as we evolve, as we grow. I can guarantee you it won't be missed. I saw a quote that read, people wait all week for Friday, all year for summer and all their lives for happiness. In many respects waiting is what humans do. We wait to start or wait to stop, wait to go or wait to leave. We wait and we wait and we wait. And in doing so,

fool not time but ourselves. That clock is going to tick away regardless of the IOUs we write to it. It will take those plans and dreams and ideas, and with its two hands carry them away as part of the perpetual rhythmic march. See, one of the most dangerous words in our vocabulary is tomorrow. A concept, illusion, a hesitance that becomes oxygen to the eventual flame of regret. It becomes the stories we tell about what could have been if only tomorrow arrived a little sooner. But the problem with waiting for tomorrow, as Jim Rohn has famously said, is that when it arrives, it's called today.

Tomorrow is the box in which we place the things we've not yet found the courage to start. But I want you to be that courageous. I want you to take the shot, to step out, to create momentum, knowing that your journey will be one of imperfection, but imperfect is how everything valuable begins. Perfect, on the other hand. You know what's perfect? Tomorrow is perfect.

Ideas that never start, that contain no mistakes are perfect, Wishing is perfect, hoping is perfect. But capturing the beauty contained in today, that's not a perfection game. That's a willingness to start and adjust along the way. It's a commitment to begin now. So let's disarm tomorrow by making our magic today. By pointing directly at all those things you've been worried or scared or intimidated by and simply taking one step towards them.

Rather than waiting for life to push you forward, walk yourself there and let life react. If there's time, then there's time to turn things around. If there is a tomorrow, then there is hope today. The only half-to-bees in life are the ones we prop up and adhere to. And how interesting that oftentimes we don't even realize we're the ones holding them up. There's a simple question that I like to ask as the sun comes up and the coffee brews. Am I living today like it's an obligation?

or something more? Is it an automatic continuation of the past or a methodical move towards a future that lights me up? And these aren't small distinctions. Right? I've lived both ways. I've felt what it's like to feel both. I remember going to work and joking around that a flat tire would be a real treat. That's not accountability. That's not control.

That's essentially living life as a jellyfish floating along with the tide. And while the lack of required output, innovation, and planning may have felt like a win in the moment or a burden lifted off my shoulders at the time, deprived me of that which resides in the soul of every human being alive. Purpose. personal agency. See, you can only go so far, so long being the spectator of your own journey. You can only go so long looking out the window before you wonder just what it'd be like to be behind the wheel. When we put our actions up against the question, why, it astounds me how many things are done because it's what we've always done.

We act like we're expected to act. Think like we're expected to think, see who we're expected to see, but expected by whom? Some of my greatest breakthroughs in life emerged after being asked why by people I look up to or respect. Why have you accepted that? That's your income? Okay, great, but why? That's how you spend your day? I see.

How calm? And when one is tasked with looking at their own life through a magnifying glass, some hidden truths always emerge. It shines a spotlight in the corner of the room, illuminating those shadows where one can, if they look hard enough, make out the wolf in sheep's clothing that is the same. the phrase, because that's how I've always done it. We get in life what we accept. We are what we allow

ourselves to be, and if we don't ask ourselves which mountain is worth climbing, which ocean is worth crossing, we simply float with the tides. We're at the mercy of the winds. We forfeit the mastery over our own lives that awaits if we're willing to take that wheel and navigate. So here are a few things to take with you. First is you are bound by nothing. The parameters you exist between are of your making. You can get in that car and drive. You can walk away and begin something new.

You can entertain that vision that's been conveniently tucked away in the back of your mind. Understand that to not go is fine, but it's a decision. And perhaps a decision you'll wish you made differently. And second, difficult today liberate you tomorrow. It's easier to observe. It's easier to say how you wish things were. After all, stepping out into the fast-paced chaotic world is tough.

It's scary, it's unpredictable, but it's where you find yourself and the path that's calling your name. It's beyond the pins and needles emerging as one jumps into the cold water that they're able to find that evolution. If there's time, then there's time to turn things around. If there is a tomorrow, then there is hope. Every next level of your life will demand a different version of you. you. Why? Because life is about reaching outside of your comfort zone, acclimating until you are comfortable, and then repeating the process. Every time you leave the familiar, you are granted a new set of armor. As Jim Rhone said, if you want to have more, you have to become more. For things to

change, you have to change. For things to get better, you have to become better. If you improve, everything will improve for you and every time we expand ourselves we are forced to change in some way evolve so many of us fall into the trap of waiting for the perfect moment to jump there is no perfect moment how could there be there's no perfect time to step out into a world you're not prepared for but that's life we jump and we grow wings on the way down we step into the chaos and acclimate. By walking into the dark, we are forced to become the light. This makes staying where you are the most dangerous thing you can do. Let's use our imagination for a second. Let's say you reach for the

next thing. You stretch yourself. Move towards something you really want and you fall short. Okay? Time to breathe. Reassess, step back for a second and re-approach a little better this time, a little wiser this time. As long as one remains engaged in this cycle, growth is inevitable. But now, let's say you never step in. Let's pretend the idea of moving into the unknown is too much, and you'd rather stay with the familiar pain-free, you think to yourself. But you would in fact be wrong. See that discomfort, one step up, it would force you to evolve, to see yourself as someone

who steps into hostile territory and survives. And maybe it's not pretty. Maybe it's not perfect, but you attack and you survive. And sure, the difference between where you are now and only one step up isn't much. But what about that second step or evolution? Because you'd miss out on that too. And the third and the fourth and the compounding that would completely redefine who you are. From your self-identity to your skill set, from the mental to the physical, you put the whole chain reaction on hold because why?

You didn't want to take one step. You didn't want to be uncomfortable in the short term. But discomfort is not a punishment. It is a ticket to everything you could ever imagine. So when the crowd runs out, I challenge you to run in. And when the world goes left, I dare you to go right. Not because the masses are evil, but because human beings are wired to take the path of least resistance. But you, no, not you.

You're here to rise above the mental constraints that hold so many down. Because there is always another level. When you feel good, there is another level. And when you don't, there is another level. And see, our world has been defined, not by the best or the brightest, but the ones willing to throw themselves into foreign arenas and compete. To see adversity as the answer, not the problem. You want to change your world, then change yourself. You want to change yourself, then go where you are scared to go.

Where your heart beats and your hands sweat. Turn and face the direction you know you should have been facing. This is about you. This is about what you can become by simply saying yes when most would say no. Today is yours. Not because it was given to you, but because you looked through the haze and you decided it's so. The other day, I was sitting in Miami traffic, looking out the window, and it dawned on me. How interesting that human beings haven't solved for this.

Like, this is a major annoyance in a lot of people's lives. Now, we put human beings on a rocket ship. We've navigated them beyond the Earth's atmosphere. We've landed them on the moon, but still are unable to effectively get around between 4 and 7 p.m. on weekdays. It's just kind of interesting to realize. Now, there are very practical reasons for this, sure. Not to mention people studying and invested in the problem,

and I think most noteworthy, I'm not even saying one is more valuable than another. This is merely a thought experiment. We get the results where we place our attention. We valued going to the moon. Because of this, humans walk. on the literal moon. And we're so used to this having happened

that its shock value isn't quite there, right? But for a species who a hundred years ago is traveling by a horse and buggy, it's pretty impressive. And I just think it's a cool reminder that where we place our focus is where we'll get our positive results. We can change everything if we place a spotlight on it.

spotlight on it. That begs the question, where are you placing your spotlight? As John Maxwell said, nobody ever went up a hill on accident. There was intentionality, which gave life to focus and action, planning, growth. We only evolve or we shine that spotlight, or as I've said in previous episodes or videos, what you water grows. I've certainly spent my fair share of time, angry, annoyed, by things that have, by no coincidence, given zero effort to fixing. And when you do nothing to solve a problem, all you can cling to is the ability to complain about it. If you're not putting energy and resources there, you most likely won't win. Some of the best advice I got from a friend a few years back was to highlight the things that

matter to you and measure them, because this allows you to be aware, to be intentional with your action. It's deciding which handful of things are going to be. be your quote unquote moon landing and then watching over them like they are precious. Let's say a goal of yours is to increase your net worth. If you're looking at your bank account every day, you're much more likely to make better monetary decisions than someone who keeps their finances in the dark because they hate thinking about it. There are deliberate actions that must take place to bring about that change.

When I look at, say, YouTube, I tend to know a substantial, amount about my metrics. Because I really care about the channel and its growth and its impact. I watch it and I monitor it. Things dip. I need to know why. If they took a sudden upswing and they're great, I need to know why. If success on a platform is my metaphorical moon landing, I'm locked into every up and down.

I have to understand what's going on so I can make the necessary adjustments to grow. And then when the growth happens after time has elapsed, I can think, in my own little world, that was space trouble. I was driving that metaphorical horse and buggy not all that long ago. But I stayed locked in. And this may seem simple, and it is. But for what it's worth, my biggest breakthroughs always tend to be. I've exhausted a lot of energy, and in some cases, even paid a decent amount of money, so learn the simple things.

Nothing is that complicated. We just think it is. Which is why we do nothing and then complain about the delta between the real and the ideal. But I'm here to tell you that if you decide on a few things that matter to you and then measure their progress, allocate the energy to moving along with them, where you'll be in months or years from now will astound you. It will be breathtaking. But you have to be willing to peel back the curtain

and immerse yourself in it. Prove to yourself that, sure, it might feel big and complex. But once you give something that time and attention, it becomes clear pretty quickly how simple it all is. What's one thing you can do every day in each meaningful category in your life that will get you closer to where you want to be? If you watch over that process and you adjust along the way,

the amount of opportunity available, the amount of change you'll create is unbelievable. And someday to others on the outside looking in, your progress will seem out of this world larger than life. It will appear a moon landing. But you'll know it wasn't the miraculous. It was just a simple decision to give it time and attention. You watered it, and so it grew. There is one person who can save you, and that person exists in the mirror.

I was recently doing an audit of some of the most important conversations I've ever had. Mentors, friends, coaches, people that have changed my life, people that I love and am beyond grateful for. And started kind of going one by one. What did I learn from this person? What was it that I took away from them? And, you know, in one way or another, across the board, the answer was the same. It was some variation of confidence. It was belief that I could step into that next chapter, that I have what it takes,

that the unknown, you know, wasn't impenetrable. In fact, you know, the unknown is inviting. And truthfully, I don't know how many people started from the same starting point that I, did where I essentially had to learn every step of the way that I was good enough, had to reteach myself that I belonged where I was, that the room that I was in, there was a reason I was there, that the circle I was in, that I earned a right to be in that circle. They say confidence is earned, and I had to continuously earn it. And I value that progression, truly, for a few reasons. One, because, you know, I've been on the other side, and when I see other people, you know, making that ascent, I do everything I can to make them feel welcome and comfortable, right? But the second thing is I understand at a deep level how much of success is simply believing you are worthy of it. You know, I look at the things that I do now, and it's like so much of it's just because I allowed myself to do it. At some point, I looked around and said, you are worthy of this. Believe it. Step into it.

There's nothing stopping you, but you. And I've seen the power of, as someone near and dear to me once said, walking into a room like God sent you. It's not a fake it till you make it game. It's believing in your heart that you are worthy game. No one who's achieved success on a consistent basis got there accidentally. At some point, they look at. looked at that reflection and said, hey, this is me.

At some point they looked around and said, there is no difference between me and the people who have done great things. Those people just gave themselves the green light and chose to stay consistent. I can do that. You can do that. Everybody can do that. Will you? That's the question.

No one can save you because no one can make you believe. No one when your eyes open in the morning can position your mindset to say, today is mine. The world is my opportunity. No one can convince you that you're capable of magic on your short time on this planet. That's an internal decision. Do you believe you are worthy of it? And if not, let's get you to that point. That's the name of the game.

Look hard at that reflection and remind yourself that you. You have everything you need to begin. Not a few things or some things, everything you need. You're good enough. What's required is you giving yourself permission to go on whatever journey you deem important. It's allowing yourself to tap into the strength that's already there. Be resilient. Ship away, little by little, every day.

That's it. That's the formula. You approach that lane with tenacity and drive. And life changes, right? As the saying goes, days turn into months, which turn into years, and you'll look back and, you know, you'll see you're not the same person you once were. You'll see that you had this potential all along. You just had to give it life.

See, we attribute complexity to things we don't understand. We assume people on mountaintops were placed there, that they had God-like abilities. And it's like, no, they just believed they were worthy and stepped forward. into the night. Just like a seed must be planted, you too must give your potential the opportunity to be nourished by what's around you. When the alarm clock goes off,

your eyes open and your feet touch the ground in the morning, remember that getting what you want is far less complex than you think. It's simple. Not easy, but it's simple. You say yes to more and start walking down the road. And you'll change, you'll adjust, you'll evolve. There will be times when you backtrack, course correct, and perhaps even switch lanes altogether. But the gift of going is the best gift you'll have ever presented to yourself.

No one is coming to save you. And when you realize how powerful you are, you will have not wanted it any other way. I'll never forget listening to Jim Rohn. I was taking a walk in the middle of the day. I needed to get out, decompress, rethink, re-align. And this message came through my headphones. He said, we must all suffer from one of two pains. The pain of discipline or the pain of regret.

The difference is discipline weighs ounces while regret weighs tons. And I needed that. I needed that because sometimes we forget why. In the midst of the day-to-day, the trials and tribulations of life, we forget why we endure. And there's a strange dichotomy that exists. Because, you know, you can't measure discomfort that hasn't arrived yet. You can identify regret that hasn't materialized. Yet in a way, you have to.

You have to somehow make that tangible. You have to know that sacrifices of today deliver you from the anguish of I wish, or if only, or maybe I could have. I've heard it said that humans' ability to delay gratification is what makes us so unique, incredible even. But that doesn't mean it comes easy. So as I walked, I became reacquainted with the trust that I had in myself in the future, in the steps I was taking. It wasn't that I'd reached some grand finale, but that I gave myself permission to stop constantly expecting one.

Worrying when things didn't go as planned, feeling disgusted with myself when I fell short. This is, after all, part of a process. And if one stays the course, builds a foundation of discipline to guide them towards what they believe in, things will evolve. We feel uncertain because new things don't have a precedent, at least not a personal one. And that feeling of, I wish I knew or had some predictability, it's real, it's common. But if minimizing regret is what means the most, then it also means that we must have the discipline to walk steadfast into the unpredictability of tomorrow. A long-term sustained discipline.

And one of my favorite interviews, Brani Ware, who wrote the top five regrets of the dying, was talking about surrender and how she mentioned in her book. letting go. And I asked her, can you explain that? What's the angle? Because the way I look at life, there's always something you can do. You can always improve your situation somehow. And she basically said, it's not about what you can control, what you can do. It's about putting yourself in position to live the life you want to live, and then letting go, of that which you cannot control. It's about not worrying over external forces

as you walk your path, because all you can do in life is walk your path. And that became the marker. Or the question, am I walking my path? Right? Now look at it like this. First, a vision gives you direction, purpose, keeps you excited, injects meaning into life. Second, discipline keeps you moving, becomes the tiny steps that transport you through your pursuit of meaning.

And third, trust in the process. That you are here to give everything you have to give, and then the rest, as Bruni says, must be surrendered. But the reason I bring this up is because all of it fits together like a puzzle, like three pillars of a Parthenon. And when people reach out to me all the time, they're upset that they're not as disciplined as they'd like to be. And they're listening to the speeches,

they're watching the videos, they're absorbing the content, trying to improve. But nothing seems to get the engine going. And I'm wondering, what is your North Star? What are you aiming? for. Because as far as I'm concerned, it's impossible to be disciplined if you don't have a reason. You know, when Jim Rohn states that the pain is in ounces now, well, there's an implicit compared to what being asked, right? Compared to that top of the mountain that you'd presumably

miss out on. So if the mountaintop's not defined, you're on a fool's errand. That's why I had so much trouble with my old career, for example. It's hard to be disciplined. There's no buy-in on the purpose. Using my previous metaphor, it's little steps, sure, but towards what? If you don't know, it's only practical then to look around and ask yourself, why am I taking them? Why not go drink with my friends? Why not stream this series on Netflix until 4 a.m.?

Why not skip the workout? You can listen to people on YouTube, scream at you to do more, more and try harder all day, but without that piece, it will not get you very far. A vision, the discipline to pursue it, and a trust in the process. And you could say the same with someone who might have a clear vision, a dream, a perfect idea of what they want, but never take action, right? The discipline never materializes. Makes the endeavor just as meaningless.

Things don't change until you take that big picture, that very picture, that very vision, and you break it down into little things you can do every day. That's it. And isn't that amazing? The greatest, most influential people, from the friends and family that inspire us, to the greatest athletes and entertainers, to our greatest thinkers, creators, world leaders, all they do is a handful of things consistently every day, in the direction of something that is meaningful to them.

A process that has been talked about since the beginning of time. The compound effect, as Darren Hardy calls it. That breakthrough was huge for me. The realization that I don't need to leap any mountain. I just need to ascend one tiny rock at a time. And that is not a superhuman ability. that is a single decision. So here the question isn't, can you be more disciplined?

Of course you can. The question is, which few things are most meaningful to you? Which will you be focusing on every day so that they expand and inject value into you in the world? And then, lastly, there is trust. sometimes the most difficult, seeing the unseen, maintaining confidence in that which is unknown. An incredibly challenging expectation in an instantaneous world, a world where things are immediate, feedback is immediate. Messages are sent across the planet instantaneously.

Goods and services arrive within hours. We have forgotten patience because it is disintegrating before our very eyes. We are a society of now, but the best things in life, they take time. They require that we hold up our end of the bargain and that we trust life will fall into place. Belief in a process that will come to mean more than anything that arrives in 30 seconds ever could.

A vision. the discipline to pursue it and a trust in the process. So perhaps you're overdue for your midday walk, your little excursion into the soul, to ask yourself what is it you are moving towards? Why are you doing what you're doing? Does it mean something? And if not, perhaps some adjustment is in order.

Perhaps you've lost sight of that North Star that lights up our lives and illuminates the way. Take solace in the fact that life is not as serious as we make it out to be. We don't live in a world of right and wrong, good and bad, yes and no, but a continuum. An opportunity to seek out and find the beautiful ups and the meaningful downs to set our sights on the horizons that matter. See, when the little things feel too complex or burdensome, it's because the big things are misaligned. And that is a powerful idea to grasp.

It's never that life is too difficult. It's that we have closed our eyes. So don't be fooled by those selling you reality as some problem, some obligation that must be dealt with. No, today is the greatest gift of your lifetime. And the same will be true every day moving forward. And to echo Jim Rohn, absolutely it is a gift comprised of sacrifice, discomfort along the way. But that's a small price to pay for entry to the show.

For the ability to embrace the mystery and embark upon the adventure when you're pointed to the right north star, while the road, it feels less treacherous on your feet, the hills less strenuous on your legs, what we often deem to be a lack of preparedness, ability, strength, well, might just be a lack of alignment. So adjust, because this world, flexible and limitless, It invites you to do just that.

It invites you to explore until you've uncovered your vision. To pursue it like nothing else matters. To sidestep the obstacles, invert the setbacks, and lastly to find hope when there appears to be none. To set your sails, walk your path, run your race and surrender to that which is beyond your converse. And you'll find that with a vision, with discipline, with trust in the process, there is no situation or circumstance outside the scope of what's possible for you. How do you visualize the road you're on?

With its twists and turns, smooth terrain, rough terrain, straightaways, hills, what is it all mean? all mean? Do you find it odd that it gets more challenging as you get closer to your destination? The further along you get the more tension life puts between you and the finish line. Almost like the universe is adamant about weeding out those who think they can skate by. What is the difference between saying you want it and really wanting it? Perhaps it's a willingness to fight through a storm just for the opportunity to find calm and serenity in its center. This morning, as the sun was coming up, I went for a run.

A nice five mile run down the coast, and the way I planned it out was simple. 2.5 or halfway up in soft sand, and then I'd stop, and I'd turn around, and I'd run 2.5 back, but on the harder surface, right? Easier to handle, almost like a reward for pushing, I'm pushing myself on the way up. And things were going perfectly. I made the 2.5 mile run up, and when it came to stop and turn around, I realized what should have been obvious

from the beginning was high tide, which means I didn't get that hard surface to run back on instead. Not only was it softer than the way up, but I was running on a slope. And that just threw my mind for a loop, right? I'm embarrassed to admit I was actually angry about it. You know, I pushed myself hard going up

and wanted that brief. I almost felt like life pushed the finish line back 2.5 miles. And trust me, as I'm writing this, it seems ridiculous to talk about. But in the moment, just irrationally annoyed. That was the carrot that had been chasing the whole time. So I begrudgingly, you know, moved forward, kind of trying to figure out what to do, and ultimately just continued forward and, you know, the emotion subsided. and as usually happens, you pull yourself out of the weeds a little bit,

the big picture tells a different story. Different story means different perspective. And that's what I came across, right? This idea or this question, well, why do we expect life to be flat ground? Why was that my assumption to begin with? The easy to navigate path. Why is that the standard? And the more I thought about it, right?

the more I wondered if that's the very reason why we underperform. It's the little spark that ultimately lights this wildfire of regret. Because when convenience is the standard, everything else becomes unfair. Everything else is a burden. When the road should be flat, what are we to make of the hills in our path? Thinking life should be easy.

It provides oxygen to a victim. mentality. And sometimes it takes these little experiences for me to refocus on these subtle realities. The flat ground is not the standard. It is earned. It's a gift. It should be cherished and appreciated because guess what? Life wasn't easy. It isn't easy and it never will be. But I believe the differentiator is knowing that. So I kept running on the slope feet sinking into the sand. I got my touch. I got my teeth kicked in just a little bit longer and life didn't end. In fact, I think the mental aspect was tougher than the physical. We're only talking five miles here, but when the standard changes, so does the performance. It's about just moving forward and like poetry with about three quarters of a

mile left, right? The beach widened. It leveled out. The ground became harder. Each step became easier and yeah I was running but in my head it felt like I was lying on a bed of feathers because when you prepare to face life's demons when you're ready for battle when you anticipate you'll have to give everything any adversary that falls short of that feels like wind behind your back we can endure anything the question is whether or not we put ourselves in position to Mistakes, they don't define us. Heartbreak, it doesn't kill us. And criticism, it doesn't shape us.

But I'll tell you what. The fear that they do stops a lot of people from becoming who they're capable of becoming. Panicking at the slightest sign of discomfort, moving away from anything but the convenient when in reality inconveniences are the path. As Ryan Holiday famously put it, the obstacle is the way.

See, satisfaction, it doesn't even exist without a will to overcome. What meaning does a finish line have without miles of self-doubt, and questions, and fear, and dragons being slayed, while you prove to yourself over and over again, over and over again that you know what I am more and I can be more and the crazy thing is that

there's not even a stopping point here this rocket will propel as high into the ether as you choose to take it and look it's not about running on slight inclines or sinking a few inches into the sand it's not about being rejected, losing or castigated by seven billion self-interested souls. No. It's about not being scared to take the bridge that connects current to future. Complacency to recreation. The known to the seemingly impossible. You're made of so much more than you give yourself credit for. You are so much stronger than you think you are. than you think you are. So for yourself and for the world, capture that. Own it and redefine what it

means not to simply exist, but to your core with every ounce of your being, your soul, every fiber in your body to truly live. There's a saying that will always be true. It will be true on your body. It will be true on your body. best days and your worst. It will be true after victory and it will be true after defeat. It will be true when you have momentum and it'll be true when you're down on your luck doing everything in your power to create momentum. That saying is your future begins now. Hey on the surface might not seem like much. Sure, my future starts now. I know that. Everyone knows that. Well, if that's true, if everyone does in fact know that, why do we spend so much time stuck, reliving our past unable to break free?

Why do we remain terrified to change? Why do we feel such a connection to who we were, how others saw us? Why must we remain loyal to the character we've been playing in our mental autobiographies? See, here's the thing about the past and the future. One is fixed. can't be changed and the other, well, it's waiting for you to tell it what it is.

One is expired time. One is plans to be determined. And it's interesting how we continue to conflate the time. Epictetus has said that the more things we value outside of our control, the less control we have.

Well, I'm going to be the messenger here relaying the precious truth that yesterday is in fact out of our control. What can be controlled is where we go from here, the next step. Meaning today is not your failures. It's where you take those lessons. It's not your mistakes. But it's what the stronger you can now endure because of them.

It's not the dreams you let slip away, but where your pursuit might take you now. And yeah, yesterday certainly contributes to your outside. outlook, as all information does. Its value considered, its impact assessed. It guides you, but it's not you. And that difference is astronomical. There's a question about the role the past plays in our lives. It has to mean something, right? Your past is in many ways your story. It's why you think the way you do. It's contributed to your understanding of the world. It will always be a part of you, and I believe that. But I also believe the past is.

is a story. And just like reading one chapter in a book simply sets the stage for the next one without controlling its direction, so does every day that has led you up to now. Life gives us the tools to experience, to grow, learn, and then shed that which does not coincide with what's important. Your failures are not you. But they are precious. that they push you towards what you'd like to be. See, you can experience something and not be that thing. As Kirkagard says, if you label me, you negate me. If you proclaim me to be X,

you're essentially stealing from me the infinite possibility that is the future. Yesterday has nothing to do with what I can become. And so taking it a step further, never mind being labeled by someone else. How could you label yourself and see it as anything but self-sabotage? See, you're never defined by your past, but always learning from it. It's not who you are.

It's the cheat codes for what you can be. Without that winding road of misfortune and mistakes, the incredible expansion we long for doesn't materialize. Imagine if everyone who ever felt down in life felt like a loser who temporarily lost hope. Imagine if they looked in the mirror and said, okay, this is who I am now. There would be no triumph in the world

because anything meaningful requires the resiliency to map our way from the hell that was our darkest moments to what will become our proudest moments. Destiny, destiny, destiny means that you separate the finite from the infinite. What you used to call your, yourself has prepared you to move towards the horizon.

But what you used to call yourself is also as irrelevant now as those seconds that you watch tick away. Seconds that maybe you're not proud of. Seconds that perhaps taught you about the world. Seconds that gave you a glimpse of what's possible, unveiled the happiest of times, all of it. In its own unique way, it brought value, but none of it is your future. Why?

Because back to that beautiful, all-powerful sentence, your future begins now. Your destiny is awaiting its marching orders, and all you have to decide as you stand today is where that ship will save. Bill.