Pause. Prepare. Protect.

Life is a beautiful and surprising experience, but have you noticed that in good times or bad, there is always be something that will catch you off guard?

It will also require an immediate response.

It could be a potential customer who wants to do business and need prompt attention.

It may be a health emergency.

In any case, a quick response is your friend. But what do you after the initial surprise settles?

1) Pause. Take a step back and take a breath. It’s time to get a 30,000-foot overview and gain perspective on what is going on in your life. This is a time to be more conservative in your actions.

2) Prepare. Whether it’s serving your clients or paying your mortgage, once you have perspective, your next step is to identify what must be done to achieve success. Be a good Scout. Be prepared.

3) Protect. Now that you understand and are prepared, it’s time to identify the areas that will need protection. Your goals is to proactively put in place whatever is required to protect what you’ve built.

Pause, Prepare, Protect, and proactively create what you want out of your life. That how you survive and thrive!

In a time of crisis, a solid foundation of basic needs is a great way to calm your mind.

In 1954, Abraham Maslow released his Hierarchy of Needs theory.  Since everything in life is being turned upside down - it might be a good time to get back to basics. Maslow called them deficiency needs (D-Needs):

1) Provide for your physiological needs. Food, clothing, shelter, money, everything that you need. 

2) Make sure you feel safe. Personally, emotionally, financially, health and well-being, and against accidents and illness.

3) Socially you need to feel a sense of loving and belonging. Social media might be finally showing it's real power.

While you work on your D-Needs, begin moving toward your being needs, otherwise known as B-Needs.

Maslow said, "What a man can be, he must be."

B-Needs are where I'm placing my focus. I using the power of the CoronaDRIVE US to answer a question. 

What CAN I do that will create a better life after this crisis passes. 

In a time of crisis, a solid foundation of basic needs is a great way to calm your mind.

In 1954, Abraham Maslow released his Hierarchy of Needs theory.  Since everything in life is being turned upside down - it might be a good time to get back to basics. Maslow called them deficiency needs (D-Needs):

1) Provide for your physiological needs. Food, clothing, shelter, money, everything that you need. 

2) Make sure you feel safe. Personally, emotionally, financially, health and well-being, and against accidents and illness.

3) Socially you need to feel a sense of loving and belonging. Social media might be finally showing it's real power.

While you work on your D-Needs, begin moving toward your being needs, otherwise known as B-Needs.

Maslow said, "What a man can be, he must be."

B-Needs are where I'm placing my focus. I using the power of the CoronaDRIVE US to answer a question. 

What CAN I do that will create a better life after this crisis passes. 

I have a different Daily Nugget today.

I write and record a week in advance. Since I last reached out to you, all hell seems to have broken loose in America - and around the world.

Yes, it was on its way before. We all saw it coming. But its exponential speed tossed a lot of folks lives into disarray overnight.

Mine too.

Like many folks, I have a full life and run a small business. Other people are counting on my support. I also have the honor and responsibility of tens of thousands of people listening every day. I have not taken that lightly. Everybody has an opinion. I decided to wait until I had a plan.

Before I move on - let's handle the bad news.

We are only the beginning. That's enough to scare anybody.

What's coming? What's going to happen? Am I prepared?

I don't know. I don't know. Yes.

You were born prepared. That's who you are. A life with no challenges only means challenges are on the way. You have handled every problem you have ever faced. You will do it again.

By the way, that's hard to see when life is getting in the way.

Now, the good news.

It's a lot less scary when you realized that your response is just beginning too. Yes, right now you may be shell-shocked, a bundle of nerves, fill with anxiety and a lost feeling. Don't worry. You won't be that way for long.

I know that because we are emotional beings.

Eventually, you will begin to find seeds of logic that will calm you emotionally.

Eventually, a new, if temporary normal, will allow you to ground yourself - and find yourself.

Eventually, you will ask, "What CAN I do?"

Eventually, you will stand up, take a step, and repeat.

It gets better.

What if you could make even better?

What if you stopped worrying about rebuilding what you had and focus on building something better?

What if you could change careers if you have always dreamed of something different?

What if, for the first time in years, you find yourself with time to think?

What if you found a way to use this massive interruption to invoke the power of creative destruction? What if you could build a life and lifestyle that you have been putting off for years?

It won't be easy. It's never easy to focus when all you want to be is distracted. But you will do it.

Remember, life usually begins right after life gets in the way.

From this day forward, you and I will use the catalyst that we have all experienced to drive us to build a better world. For you, me, and for the common good.

From this day forward, let's turn the Corona Virus the "Corona DRIVE US."

We begin tomorrow.

Your Reward For Hard Work

Gary Vaynerchuk, Wine Library, Crush it, and more made changes in his life.

I've always said, "The reward for success is more work." That's what happened to Gary. 

When I began MTM, I decided not to base my life as a speaker on the road because my imagination told me it would be fun. I knew better.

In Gary's case, he has enjoyed success with speaking, mentoring, and teaching but there was a problem. He wasn't engaging and doing. For a guy who likes to be in the trenches, he wasn't happy. As he would say, "that the way I roll!"

Are you doing something that you think is making you happy, but you know it is not?

How do YOU roll?

Your Reward For Hard Work

Gary Vaynerchuk, Wine Library, Crush it, and more made changes in his life.

I've always said, "The reward for success is more work." That's what happened to Gary. 

When I began MTM, I decided not to base my life as a speaker on the road because my imagination told me it would be fun. I knew better.

In Gary's case, he has enjoyed success with speaking, mentoring, and teaching but there was a problem. He wasn't engaging and doing. For a guy who likes to be in the trenches, he wasn't happy. As he would say, "that the way I roll!"

Are you doing something that you think is making you happy, but you know it is not?

How do YOU roll?

How To Break Bad Habits

Have you struggled to break a habit?

Bad habits are not good. They will mess up your day. They are also not permanent. You weren’t born with bad habits, and you are not required under penalty of law to keep bad habits.

Since there’s no real reason to keep bad habits, let’s replace them the easy way.

Nobody likes to give up what’s comfortable - even if it’s not serving you. Instead, start a new behavior and replace the bad before it mucks up your life again.

Breaking bad habits is doing new behaviors instead of old behaviors. No muss. No-fuss. Be consistent and persistent, and you will wipe that old habit away forever.

Endless Opportunity Mindset

Can you remember when you were starting in your career? Young, eager, driven, and likely, intimidated?

You might have wondered how is it possible to reach your dreams with so many people and competition in the world? 

Here's a mindset that has served me well:

1) Somewhere within all those people is a person who needs my help. They feel frustrated and desperate. But they don't know where to find me.

2) My job is to help them find me. When they do, they won't believe their luck. They'll be so excited.

3) When we meet, I remember to be grateful, humble, and come from a place of service.

That mindset will create an endless stream of opportunities. Be sure you choose those that provide the most direct path to your dreams.

Endless Opportunity Mindset

Can you remember when you were starting in your career? Young, eager, driven, and likely, intimidated?

You might have wondered how is it possible to reach your dreams with so many people and competition in the world? 

Here's a mindset that has served me well:

1) Somewhere within all those people is a person who needs my help. They feel frustrated and desperate. But they don't know where to find me.

2) My job is to help them find me. When they do, they won't believe their luck. They'll be so excited.

3) When we meet, I remember to be grateful, humble, and come from a place of service.

That mindset will create an endless stream of opportunities. Be sure you choose those that provide the most direct path to your dreams.

Stop Procrastinating The Easy Way

Are you a member of the Procrastination Club? 

Procrastination is the intentional and systematic postponement of an essential task. 

Is that what you are doing?

Even if you are putting things off, is it possible that you are not procrastinating? You may just be forcing yourself to do something you don't need or want to do. 

Yes, you must complete tasks to get ahead in life. That's being responsible.

However, if your list of un-done keeps getting longer, it might be time to ask yourself a question -

Is what you are procrastinating essential? Do you need to do it at all?

It's not always procrastination. If something is essential, you always get it done - right?