Your World Within Podcast by Eddie Pinero - WHEN NOBODY BELIEVED IN YOU | Best Motivational Speeches

Episode Date: November 2, 2022

"Focus on the solution, not the problem" - Jim Rohn

I was recently in Dallas, visiting some old friends, and I was chatting with someone that I've been friends with for a long time. And he was mentioning that he's gone through some pretty big life changes over the past few years. And was excited about the fact that after a pretty rough stretch, he had recovered or found his workout routine again. Sort of a revival in his old identity. Because for context, he'd always been a pretty athletic guy growing up. but just like it happened to anyone you know other things emerged and took priority right they swept in and you know kind of consumed him for a period of time

and I guess you know in a way that part of him that used to fire on all cylinders was buried he lost it and so anyway we're talking and he's saying that he had been a little down you know put on a little weight and the struggle was according to him making time for fitness in his now incredibly busy life. He's got a toddler running around, a very time-intensive job.

On top of that, he's remodeling houses. He's doing a lot. And this is the part that stood out to me. He said, Eddie, I've tried everything. I went through, you know, quick phases where I was motivated, but I couldn't, you know, maintain that consistency. I was working. And then after work, I'd be with my son, who would have to be with my son,

was just too little to leave alone for 45 minutes. And this is what's funny because it sounds so simple. But he says, I found a gym with a daycare so I could bring my son and work out for 45 minutes. And that's when I was able to establish a routine. And that one action or decision allowed my entire life to get back on track. That was the rock I had to move, which is the phraseology that I want to focus on here. I think it's brilliant the way he said it. You know, basically once I could figure out how to work out on afternoons when he's with me,

I was able to make it go from sometimes a thing to always a thing. That was, again, the rock that had to be moved. And now I can clearly see from the conversation, right? The guy's happier, feels better about himself. And you know how it is when you're in that space. It starts to carry over into all aspects of life. And I'm thinking this is so powerful, right? I told him I'm going to steal this rock metaphor and share it on the podcast on YouTube

because that, in my opinion, is the way to look at meaningful change. He nails it. It's not what do I need to get or acquire or add. Like, you know, we tend to think in those situations. No, it's what's preventing me from leveling up. What do I need to move to get rid of? Where is the boulder I have to push out of the way? And sure, there's a temptation to perhaps oversimplify, but I think that's exponentially better than the alternative, which is making things unnecessarily complex.

And in a way, that's what humans do best anyway, right? The world is infinite numbers and data points and variables. Humans just pick a few and create stories with them. So to me, there is value in truly simplifying and saying, okay, that's where I'm. I want to be, what's the one thing I could remove that would free me up to start moving that way? Where is my rock that has to be relocated? And it's funny when we find those things, right? It's like turning on the light in a dark room. Everything begins to make sense. You feel momentum. You feel like you're in it. And again, how you feel when you go to bed at night becomes your

identity. It's not because you're solving the problem right away, but because you feel that progress. Progress equals happiness, right? Human beings are invigorated by meaning, the pursuit of purpose. When we're stuck, the painful part isn't necessarily being stuck as much as it's, that we're not moving towards what matters. We need that growth. And for my buddy to see that, It was moving the mental rock of, I can't have a good workout when I'm watching my son. Those two things are mutually exclusive. Remove that limiting belief and boom.

And maybe in your particular situation, there are numerous rocks that need to be moved. Incredibly plausible, right? But we can only move one at a time. And like Domino's, you have to push the first one down before the other start to fall. So where can you push? Which I also like because it emphasizes,

is the power and control we have in our own lives. Again, situations are messy and complex. I get that, but if you can simplify it down to what is one thing that's preventing me from going or changing or stopping or whatever it is for you, what's the big obstacle? Okay, there it is. Let's chip away.

Let's move this thing. It's as if your frustration over immobility is a damn. Right? And what you need to do is an admiral. water to the reservoir, but find out what you can remove to start letting that water flow, right? You want it to move freely. Because I believe life is a momentum game. It really is.

Like you win when you feel like you're progressing, when you feel like you're taking steps. That's when you're excited. That's when you jump out of bed invigorated. That's where you look for solutions. So look around you. There's always a step to be taken. In fact, I simplify to the extent that my mantra is, number one, know that change is possible. And number two, know that the next move is within an arm's reach of where you stand right now.

Understanding and believing those two things is power. Right? Don't get disillusioned by how far the top of the mountain feels or how long you've been in one place wishing things were different. None of that matters. The goal is to manufacture momentum and that's what you do. So do it by initiating one small action that frees you up to start walking that way. And it's amazing when you're in motion, things seem to make sense in a way that they simply didn't when you were stationary. That's why it's important to understand that you don't need to have all the answers.

In fact, it's impossible to have all the answers. The journey provides them. Right? The path contains the secrets. Therefore, the goal should be to get yourself stepping down that path. No overly harsh out of this world unrealistic expectations. No, simply be your own biggest ally here. Remove what you don't need and free yourself of that unnecessary minutia.

It's go time. I go back and forth often, as you've heard me do here, right? It's like, yes, life is messy, it's complex. That's true. It's a culmination of infinite, very. and data points, but guess what our job is, guess what your power is, to hone in on the select few of them necessary to tell your story. Human beings have survived for thousands and thousands of years because we are masters of simplification, masters of ignoring what we don't need,

and distilling the complex down into what's actionable. And perhaps that's where you are now, what you need to do most. It's like, I'm not where I want to be, okay, in simple terms, where do I want to be? What does my mountaintop look like? What am I doing now that's getting in the way? And what rocks do I need to move that will get me started down that path to something new? There are some pretty basic themes that consistently reemerge in most of my videos and podcast episodes. The idea of us having control, agency, the idea that fear can be able to be.

be an ally. As Joseph Campbell states, the cave you fear holds the treasure you seek. The idea that you're not your past, right? And there are a few more. But essentially, today's episode takes them all and places them in the palm of your hand. It reminds you that in totality, this is all about you being the author of your story. And you don't need the whole book written, ideas, character development, and all that. stuff will come into your head as you write as the pin hits the paper. You just need to find that

starting point. Self-assess. Identify that little piece of opportunity that was hidden beneath the excess and begin. So typical Tuesday morning, I was up spending some time reading, checking out some videos online, and I came across one that really hit home for me to the point where I wanted to make at the central theme for this week's video. And basically it was a short monologue by Robin Sharma. For those who don't know him, he's a sharp guy, he's got a lot of content on the internet. And what he said specifically that caught my attention was that to have the results that only 5% get, you need to have the guts to do what only 5% are willing to do. And this really got the wheels turning in my head, because there are only so many ways you can articulate personal

courage. You know, only so many ways you can talk about being fearless. But in my eyes, this puts it in the perfect context, because it shines a direct light on the fact that success and overcoming social fears are directly linked. And I'm sure as you walk through this thought process, the concept will resonate with you, right? 95% of people live for Friday. Immediate pleasures like TV, fast food drinking. You know, these are things that are commonplace in society in the world we live in. And I'm not, standing here pointing a finger saying it's inappropriate, my message goes deeper than that. What I'm saying is that if you want to be at the top

and whatever it is that you do, or as Robin alluded to, the 5%, you have to sacrifice some of these pleasures that the greater population indulges in. And this is where the guts comes in. Because anytime you deviate from a norm, anytime you put yourself above a social standard, people do not like it.

it becomes personal, which results in criticism, the cynical outlook, or the haters, as we commonly refer to it today. And that's not easy. It's never easy walking one way when the larger group is walking another. That's not rocket science. But it's also why so few people can do it. Let's face it, if you're going to do something of significance, you need to expect negativity. People trying to tear down what you're building up, because, Like it or not, that's just how the world reacts.

And the way I see it is that you can handle it a few ways. Right? You can live your life in a way that conforms, you can shy away from that criticism. Or just take it head on. You know, learn to accept it, thrive on it. Because you'll never be able to please everybody. You know, so why not have the courage to do what you believe in?

Have the guts to be called abnormal. Take it as a compliment. I've mentioned before that the way you perceive something makes, something makes or breaks you. Think about how powerful that statement is in this context. You can look at the negativity, the haters, as a reason to change your approach, throw the towel. Or you can see it as a sign of progress, an anticipated part of your journey. You can use it as a building block or a stepping stone for further success. Those are two polar opposite outcomes, by the way.

all derive from how you choose to internalize the world around you. When you get through it all, you'll be happy you hung in. I can promise you that. That you have the guts to look past the norms and your surroundings. That you have the guts to be something different. You're right where you need to be. Sure, you have your doubt. Perhaps you feel tired, alone, fearful.

Maybe you're trying to be. trying to make sense of a world that feels too complex. Or all you see and here are reasons to turn back, to find shelter, to run, don't. Regardless of how hard it seems, don't. You are right where you need to be. Turning thoughts to things, making life from dreams, what makes change so much change so. interesting, so powerful yet deceptive, is that it comes to us in small doses. Not a tidal wave of transformation, but a slow, steady, rising tide of progress.

No one feels the tug of erosion, yet it chips away. And so do you. Removing piece by piece behold you. world you're moving away from and piece by piece you unveil the promise of your becoming you may not see the whole picture you may not understand the whole story but right now in real time it's being told and you are right where you need to be we just weren't equipped to understand what that looks like it's never been what you see that makes you uneasy it's

what's missing, that's what hurts. The solutions you wanted, the changes you expected, the finish lines you envisioned. It's the wondering, how long must I wait? Did I make a wrong turn? Is the joke on me? But it's this line of questioning that causes so many to stop. Unaware, of how close they were, ignorant to the foundation they were standing on. What you need is not a miracle. It's to simply carry on. To keep laying those bricks because not a one is wasted. And sometimes you don't realize you're on the 80th floor until you look down.

That climb can be frustrated. exhausting, it isn't always glamorous, but it's necessary. And strength comes from understanding that truth. You are right where you need to be. The world, it can't take what you refuse to give it, and self-belief is non-negotiable. It's off the table, your most prized possession. So hold it tight because it'll be needed

when the journey feels long and the road impossible. You'll know that you can always take one step forward and that is the essence of life, of growth, of progress. Think about the steps, the lessons, the self-discovery that led you to this intersection of now and forever. This beginning of whatever you decide comes next. You are right where you need to be because you are armed with the decisions that brought you to today and the courage to let them carry you into tomorrow. You could be anywhere, but you're here. And as you strap up and settle in,

you'll see that right here is everything. There's a saying that will always be true. It will be true on your 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 life. 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 to 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 two. Epic Titus 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. 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 outlook, as all information does. It's 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. That 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 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 and 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?

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 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 sail. Every run tells a tale. all those streets, sidewalks, and paths, paint a picture. Each footstep enshrines forever a moment in time that comes together to comprise the now. For my time in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, it was asking, why not? Why not find out if I could be a little faster than yesterday? first dance with the clock. Waking up early, running up Snake Pond Road, sun shining in my face,

inhaling that crisp morning air. It was running along the canal where the distance was precisely mapped out in paint on the ground below, tattooing a path that seemed to go for as long as I wanted to push forward. It taught me that we could do amazing things when we decided to. That we have more in us than we could ever imagine. In a sense, Cape Cod was my eyes opening up to the idea that what life gives us is directly correlated to what we ask of ourselves. So ask for a lot. In Boston, it was exploration. It was pushing myself harder and further, but also stretching my worldview wider, a time for transformation. It was beginning to see the mundane, the commonplace for the wolves in sheep's clothing that they are.

I began exploring city street, like I simultaneously began exploring life's possibility. I saw how taking new routes often came with two distinct components. One, an unsettling, nervous feeling in my stomach, and two, an eventual gratitude for finding the courage to go there. The world will never tell you to go where you have not yet gone. It will never assign you a map and hand you keys, a plane, or a bus ticket. That desire must be cultivated in terms of the world. Boston was me realizing the unknown wasn't a border keeping me in.

It was a hand extended. In Roanoke, Virginia, it was, in a sense, a rebirth. Moving away post-college. Everything was new, was foreign, but everything was exciting. I had to learn who I was in new surroundings with new people. My Nike running shoes took me through woods, downside streets, the heart of downtown, I ran and I ran and I ran because with all that change, it was one of the few constants in my life. It brought me to the realization that with so many moving pieces, so many

things shuffling in and out, there are parts of me that are non-negotiable, that in life it's okay and even necessary to change, but one should never lose themselves in that problem. process. They call Roanoke the star city of the south for the giant glowing star that lights up on the mountain overlooking the city. Perhaps a reminder to never lose that north star in our own lives. In South Florida, it was about connecting the dots. That'd been relentlessly doing, now it was seeing. Seeing myself as that person, as someone ready for more, worthy of a spot at the table capable of creating monumental change. Those soft sand runs reinforce the notion that I get stronger when the world moves

under my feet. Those hundreds of thousands of footsteps under the hot sun reiterated that I'm willing to do what is often deemed unnecessary or even over the top. And lastly, living in the luxury of no winter reminded me to appreciate the sun, the perks, the advantages, and the victories we collect along the way. But to never take them for granted, to be ready. Because life's winters don't always wait until after fall to show up at your doorstep.

See, every step we take is a lesson. Every street, sidewalk, and path is part of a story. story. And sometimes we don't understand until we look back at the chapters. We don't get it until we have the luxury of hindsight. I didn't know that I looked back on Snake Pond Road as sacred ground as a launch pad to everything that would come next. No, in the moment it was nothing more than a temporary escape from a world that felt bigger than me. I didn't know I'd see the city of Boston is the place that taught me to question the normalcy of everyday life. To show me that one could be moving awfully fast and still going nowhere at all.

No, in the moment, it was merely a decision to dip my toe in the water to entertain the curiosity and sense of adventure that always seemed a few feet ahead. I had no idea Roanoke, Virginia would be where I learned that, as Emerson said, to be yourself in a world, constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment. That there are non-negotiables. And shining down above all the noise

and intricacies of everyday life exists the path and the resources to become who you were meant to be. No, in the moment, I was simply stepping off my branch and landing somewhere new. I didn't know South Florida would be my consistent reminder to level up. To hold tightly that intersection of love and value, to find gratitude for what I have and maintain faith in bringing about what has not yet materialized. No, at the time, I was taking my life,

my business, and my running shoes to warmer weather. You may not see it now. But your path, the one that led you to today, is the right path. You are exactly where you need to be for the beginning of your next adventure. But here's the thing. You. You must keep lacing up your shoes. Keep getting up in the morning and chasing those sunrises. Keep dreaming, growing.

Keep your eyes, ears, and heart open. because the world has so much to give you, but you have to allow your feet to carry you there. You have to give yourself permission to take it all in. The normalcy of right now, down the road will end up being anything but normal. These steps are the steps that make you who you are. So own them.

Believe in them. And most importantly, Keep taking them. The other day I woke up with a plan. Three things I had to do. So I wrote them on my whiteboard. They were essentially my objectives for the day. But it ended up being one of those days

where things didn't unfold the way I anticipated. And for a variety of reasons, curveball after curveball, with some sloppy decision-making sprinkled in there. Eventually, morning became afternoon, afternoon became evening. I found myself exhausted and looking up at a whiteboard that was showing me I had accomplished none of the things listed. And I hate that feeling. Having clear objectives and not meeting them. Right. And so after dinner, I got a phone call and I found myself talking

about how I fell short, getting it all off my chest, letting it all out there. And I got that reassurance that I wanted without even realizing that I wanted it, right? The voice said back to me, Eddie, this happens. It's not a big deal in the grand scheme of things. No one's perfect. You put a lot of pressure on yourself. Tomorrow's a new day, right? That type of thing.

And it's like, okay, exhale, time for bed. And the next morning, I was outside relaxing, doing some thinking, and came to this point. And you'll see how these dots connect here in a second. But essentially, I see life as a staircase, right? Where we thrust ourselves out into discomfort, into chaos, and then amidst the storm, we're forced to grow. We step into shoes. We were once unable to fill.

And what was once bigger than us is now normal. It's every day. It's ordinary because we fought for it. We pushed ourselves through. That's evolution. But now, guess what? That old ceiling has become the floor. It's time to evolve.

It's time for that next step in the staircase. Time to thrust ourselves back into the chaos of life so that we can again tame something bigger than us. Take the next intimidating thing and make it commonplace. And as I sat there outside thinking, I found myself to be at that next step, ready to leap out again into the tumultuous winds of life. But this time it felt different. There's an intersection, and I talk about it often, of doing what adds value to the world

and doing what makes you content personally. Okay, I think where those two things meet is peak living. That's where the magic happens. And I'm fortunate enough that these thoughts, speeches, episodes, videos, whatever you want to call them, on some days, literally reach over 200,000 people. And that's not meant to be a humble brag or anything like that. It's just to me so incredible that I can't process it, right? I get emotional thinking about it.

My dream is to add value to other people, provide that little lift. that might help someone look at their own problems differently, maybe see a path when before they were unable to. That's what it's all about. And then, in addition to that, a parallel track, on a personal level, feeling like I'm growing and evolving as well, constantly stepping up those stairs one by one,

having the courage to continue fighting those unknowns and making sense of life's complexities, That's why so many of you were on this journey with me. And so as I looked up at that next step, and it felt bigger than it ever had before, I knew the task needed to be bigger than it's ever been, which would require of me one of the biggest changes I've ever made, and that scared me to death, knowing that in order for something to be born, something must die. Something must be left behind.

I've been stepping forward for years and thank God for that, but now it was time for a leap. And so back to that whiteboard I mentioned earlier. If you hang in with me long enough, I usually come full circle. Right, back to the list of goals I miss, the bad day. Why am I so fixated on that? Well, it has nothing to do with the day itself. Everyone swings and misses from time to time. It has nothing to do with those three goals.

Everyone falls short here and there. That's part of life. It's about the person I want to be as I endure those turbulent times. It's about the strength to handle my own chaos and battles differently. Before you can lead others, you need to lead yourself. And that means being vulnerable. It means being honest. It means looking in the mirror and asking yourself,

the tough questions. It means being stronger than I've ever been. There will be times that require of me that I push forward without having to hear from my parents or girlfriend or buddies that everything's all right. The next step requires that I trust myself to be the guy in my own life. To have impact in the world, one must find strength within themselves where they didn't know it existed. This is a leveling up that I know is required for me to be more than I've ever been, stronger, bolder, more confident when I'm most fearful. There was a line I used to draw, separating me and the people I look up to. And the moment for me, was a message. I knew it was time for me to mentally remove that line. You'll never be more than you

envision yourself to be. It was time to be my own answer. Promote myself to that next level, from the kid with the dream to the man that makes it happen, it's time. It's just simply time. Even the ones I love, the ones closest to me, they can't provide that. It has to be internally derived from a place so deep that come hell or high water, it's happening. And telling people about my little misfortunes so that they can pat me on the head and tell me things are great, that's antithetical to what is required of me next. There is a level of courage and strength and excellence in all of us that lives at the bottom of this abyss that we must pull up with everything we have.

until it becomes intertwined with who we are and where we're headed. And as I sat there, I knew it to be true. I couldn't help but feel that change was about to happen, and it would stem directly from how I see myself. It would be the product of who I knew myself to be. And so now, most importantly, I present this question to you. Are you at that next step? Are you looking at a chasm that must be crossed?

Were all your little decisions, all the courage and discipline and strength that you utilize to get here, that has positioned you for this moment, is it telling you something is next? Is it time to dig deeper and be more than you have ever in your life been? In my example, by the way, was not about holding in our problems or dismissing those around us. asking for help and we need help is courage. The small circle we surround ourselves with is a direct reflection of who we are. No, for me, it was about being the type of person who trust myself to weather those storms. About moving with greater conviction.

Graduating from going to be to is currently. That whiteboard, that phone call was the turning point and nothing more. And my example may fit your life like a glove. You may think, wow, that's exactly the lens I need right now. But maybe it's not. Maybe your situation is a little different. Maybe the road you're on is newer, less traveled. Maybe it's the courage to take that first step,

to play the student. Perfect. Because whatever it is, as you look up at that next step, what matters is that you know in your heart and soul that you have what it takes to become that person. It's not bigger than you, it is you. Someone once told me that the world will not believe it until you do.

So believe. Believe it like your dreams depend on it because as it turns out they do. As it turns out everything about your future is make believe until you breed life into it. Look around you at your current reality. Remember that it is a product of what you've allowed and that at any time you can up the ante,

climb the step, reach a new level. You have it within yourself to do that. Just give yourself permission to be that person. And it will be scary. It's going to hurt at times. But let's be that vulnerable. Let's show the world what we can create when we move into it as though it's ours. As though destiny isn't assigned but written one beautiful act of courage at a time.

Sometimes the inspiration doesn't come to you. No, sometimes you have to go out and find it. When it hurts the most, when the deck seems stacked against you, when the road to travel seems to be longer than you can endure. These are the times we're tasked, not with waiting, but with creating.

And those lows They become highs because they force us to self-assess. To look around and say, I don't want to feel this way anymore. I'm done tolerating X, accepting Y, associating with Z, and so a bridge must be created to something. And your question is simply what's that something going to look like? Here's what's interesting. Knowing what you don't want is often the beginning.

It breathes life into a first step. Maybe you look up and you have no idea what step 2,000 or 3,000 looks like, and that's perfectly okay. You don't need to know exactly where you're headed, exactly what the top of the mountain will look like. What took me forever to figure out, is knowing that here isn't right for you, wherever here is, is enough.

Because it is the beginning. The engine that makes it all work. You don't owe explanations. Apologies aren't required of you. All you needed was that feeling in your stomach that more is out there, and perhaps you've been depriving yourself of it, For a tad too long, you just need to leave scarcity behind and train your eyes to find the abundance you exist with him.

The other day I saw a quick interview Tiger Woods was giving. And I'm not really a big golf guy, but when the greats talk, I listen. And those who have been following him know that he's had kind of a rocky past, right? a very public, you know, family situation to injuries, surgeries, a recent car accident. And you can only want someone like that to rise from the ashes, right? I feel like everyone's rooting for him to rediscover the dominance he once possessed. And basically in this interview, the interviewer's asking him about day one of the masters, where Tiger played well enough to make the cut.

You know, he survived day one. and was about to continue the tournament into the weekend, but it certainly wasn't the best golf he's ever played. And so upon reflecting on it, he says, and I'm paraphrasing, things aren't the way I'd like them to feel. But I've given myself a chance, and I love the way that sounded. Not just because it came from a man

who's been metaphorically battling uphill for what feels like sometime now, but because it's how we all re-emerged from our adversity. It doesn't matter what happened yesterday. Your past, all of it, the ups and downs, the bumps and bruises, they've all brought you here. And if life is one giant tournament, you've made the cut.

You get to play in your masters. Tomorrow is coming. And it brings, with it the chance to write the ship. To discover the undiscovered, to find yourself again. By showing up today, you've given yourself a chance, and that is the most powerful thing one can possess a chance. I think too often we look at what we don't have.

We spend our time focusing on the holes, the blank spaces, the gaps. Instead of looking at the opportunity we've created to pivot wherever we deem necessary, the flexibility is the asset, but only valuable when we recognize and utilize it. And yeah, that can feel like a tall order when we are not at our best. When we're operating at a level that, let's say, is less than ideal. It's easy to see all the problems we're going through as supporting evidence that the world is bigger than us,

that we are outmatched by life. But really, all these things that have come together to create our current state, there are nothing more than life providing you a chance. An opportunity to turn the page. I'm a tiger, you know, those lows, those setbacks, and perhaps even the personal anguish, one would assume would accompany those things. They've given him the gift of now.

And he recognizes that. Just like everything that has paved the way for you has done the same. It's created the conditions from which you can now grow, further evolve. It's providing a little nudge towards those things we need to do, but maybe sometimes drag our feet a little too long. So when the world throws you curveball, how about seeing this situation as a chance to hit off speed, to step up to the plate and make something of what we thought was misfortune? When one trades, it's happening to me, for it's happening for me. You're presented advantages that were previously unavailable. They weren't there.

And not because they didn't exist. They weren't there because they weren't recognized. Because perhaps you saw the very thing that could help you as the thing that would hurt you. But regardless, here you are. Sharpened by the mistakes you made and shaped by the lessons you learned. you are here. Not to relive the past but to create a new reality, write a new chapter, walk a new path. You are here. And wherever next happens to be, let it unfold because you chose it. Let it evolve because it's who you are. Leave the stands and make your

way to this stage where sure the stakes are higher but so is the upside. I often talk about the power of looking over our shoulders at those highs and lows from time to time. Not because they have power over us, but because they have made us powerful. Look at all you've endured. See all that you've overcome and for what? Well, to put it simply for the gift currently at your fingertips. The chance to say years from now, get sure you lost yourself. Things became chaotic, confusing, convoluted. Maybe you were unsure. Maybe at times you even felt alone. But those times the same times that could have kept you down instead reminded you what you were capable of becoming.

You don't get the light at the end of the tunnel without walking through the darkness. And so to remember that, that all this has unfolded to bring about something beautiful on the other side, well, that just might be the perspective that you've needed, that you've left behind. The world will only give you what you ask for. And so right here, right now,

instead of accepting a continuation of your past, how about demanding an evolution of yourself? That game of life awaits. And so for your sake and the world, Don't be afraid to play. Sometimes when you don't know where you're going, the best thing to do is go there. A wise man once stated that an object at rest

stays at rest. And while his rationale is a little different than mine, I'm going to borrow from his premise. Right? Because when you moot, even if you don't know where you're going, you put yourself on a collision course with something. You put into existence an entity to react to.

Some call it destiny. Others call it fate. I call it simply initiative. Because if your journey is hypothetical, you have nothing to celebrate nor correct. A sailboat can adjust its sails once it leaves the harbor, right? it can learn from and manipulate its surroundings, make sure it arrives at a destination, right?

It learns and adapts along the way. But from the harbor, it speculates. It expounds upon a path that might be straighter, might be faster, might be more thought out and tied together than the crazy sailors who took off for the horizon, but in actuality, it goes nowhere. In the real world, it is stagnant, And I could be wrong, but I'd make the argument 10 out of 10 times that the real world is where we want our results.

And my proof? Well, a journey that started with insurance and evolved into music, in songwriting, in audio production, then video production, and creative writing, then a sweet spot that kind of combined everything. A spot that didn't make its way to my inbox with an exact address. A spot that required a lot of failure and lessons learned and disappointment, but man, more than that, so much fun. My proof is sitting down right now in real time, letting my fingers create a bridge from nothing to something of value. By the way, after sitting here staring at a blank screen for hours, it's just starting. Could I be wrong?

Could I screw up? Could I wildly miss the mark? Yes. In fact, it happens more than I'd like to admit. But here's the beauty. Even if I am wrong, I now have something to work with. Something has been brought into existence.

And well, that means I'm officially further along than I once was. And I've heard over and over again that there is no perfect moment, that you have to just go. And the idea, I mean, it makes sense. It's impossible not to understand, but it's one of those things that until you feel it, it doesn't mean anything. How can you miss something you've never experienced?

Well, to put it in a way that help me understand, you aren't going because what do you have to lose? You're going because everything is to be gained. The answers that you pick up along the way, like the little coins you pick up in Super Mario, right? you have to start collecting pieces of a puzzle that you can then arrange. I truly believe that one of the most important ideas we need to hold on to moving forward as personal agency, self-belief.

And I say that because I feel like I'm watching it slip. There are cases where we literally don't know or understand that it's within our own ability and control to change our lives. No person or group or letter in the middle. is going to come along and green light your idea. In fact, you might not even really know what your idea means or how it will look. And that's not only okay.

It's amazing. It's the marble that you get to chisel away at to create something. See, life is not the perfect execution of a plan. Life is the courage to make your way into a world that no one really under. understands or knows anything about. And I'm not talking physics or biology or quantum mechanics.

I'm talking about the real life that is emergent from those areas of study. Right? There is no perfect formula for happiness. But it will always be true that immobility or standing still is antithetical to progress. And there is plenty of data that supports the idea. We want to move towards something. So that's what this is about. Here's to not being scared of what we don't know.

Because somewhere in the realm of what we don't know exists what we need most. So yeah, stop waiting for the perfect moment. And yes, begin. But not because it's an ultimatum. Do it because the things that make life fun fun and intriguing and exciting and ultimately worthwhile they live on the other side of your front door