Daily Boost — Motivation and Personal Growth

The view from the top is always beautiful - even if your legs hurt getting there. It’s also less crowded; start. Be different. Start climbing now!

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How to Become a Thought Leader

Have you ever received an email that scrambled your brain, made you scratch your head, and got you thinking more than most days - about thinking.

I had been working with a client to fine-tune her leadership skills. Things were going well, others noticed, and people outside of her immediate circle were beginning to reach out. She was excited, feeling accomplished, and had an idea -

“I like this leadership thing, but I was thinking about becoming a “Thought Leader.” How do you think I can get started?”

The response was instant, honest, compassionate, and, being candid, a little snarky, “Maybe you can spend more time thinking about what you want to think lead?”

We laughed at our shared Captain Obvious moment, but the truth hit home.

The thing that turns textbook leaders into legendary leaders is their willingness to think. They think about what is essential, how they will impact others, what legacy will they leave, and most importantly -

Great leaders check in with themselves regularly to understand how they feel about every topic in their life. It’s not a point of view. It’s not an opinion. It’s who they are at their core and how they show up in the world. And it happens before they ever meet you.

Becoming a “Thought Leader” is the same process as becoming any leader - with a narrower focus. In other words, decide what you want to lead on, think about it more than anyone else, walk your walk, and share your thoughts.

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The view from the top is always beautiful - even if your legs hurt getting there. It’s also less crowded; start. Be different. Start climbing now!

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Steps for Success in Life

I remember standing in a parking lot in the Great Smokey Mountains surrounded by tourists and the smell of hot engines. We were about to hike to the Clingmans’ Dome observation tower - 6,644 feet above sea level.

There is a sign at the beginning of the trail that warns hikers that the hike is considered strenuous, the average person will take 30-minutes to complete, and there are places to take a break along the way. While reading the sign, two conversions caught my attention -

A couple that had driven hours to get there said, “They say it might be foggy at the top. Let’s not and say we did.”

Then my wife said, “I think we should do it non-stop and in half the time. Let’s go!”

With that, we headed up the hill with our thighs burning. We passed hundreds of hikers giving up on the trailside benches; even more, had turned back as they hiked through the fog, but we kept going.

As we closed in on our goal of 15-minutes, we broke through the final layer of fog and found a beautiful day and a 100-mile view in all directions waiting for us when we arrived.

That’s the thing about setting big goals and going for them.

Even if you can’t see the outcome from your starting point, your goals and mission will carry you to your vision. Yes, your legs might hurt, but when you get there, you’ll find the journey up the mountain and the view from the top are always worth your effort. It’s also less crowded since most people never even start.--

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Focus fuels your fire. That's why that call it being FIRED UP! I like you when you're FIRED UP!

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How to Stay Motivated All The Time

I wondered why I couldn't always have my way as a child. Mom and Dad were so mean! I couldn't wait to grow up, move out, and experience being an adult. Everything would be different - or so I thought.

After stepping into the adult world, it didn't take long to realize that not much had changed. It turns out it wasn't my parents. It was a life turning down my requests. Life was getting in the way. What was even worse was that I was getting in my way.

I've joked over the years that if I'm the Boss of me, why don't I do what I say? Eventually, I realized having a big ass goal, being on a mission, and most importantly, motivation on demand was the solution.

Motivation is a powerful, if not fleeting, tool we all need. But we need to understand how our minds generate motivation:

1) Your physiology dictates your feelings. Movement wakes your body up, guides your emotions, and makes anything feel possible. The easiest way to break free of a slump is to stand up, take a step, and REPEAT.

2) Focus fuels your fire. If you are unmotivated, you are drifting in the wind with no direction. Shifting your thoughts in a positive direction and toward what excites you will break you out and get you moving.

3) The words you say create the emotions you feel. Negative self-talk will drag you, and everybody else, down. Everything changes when you make the words you say to yourself, internally and externally, positive and uplifting. Words matter more than you think.

You're human. Your brain isn't wired to stay always motivated unless you are willing to give it a helping hand.

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Minor stuff is going to get done. If not, it probably doesn’t matter. Big stuff does matter. Imagine the impact you will have when you focus on big?

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How to Get Your Brain to Focus

The older I get, the more I realize I’m fiddling with small things that drive me crazy but keep me busy. And I do it with the full knowledge it’s not the best use of my time, below my pay grade, and distracting from big stuff I should be doing. 

Over the years, I’ve noticed almost everybody I know does the same thing. I’ve also learned it doesn’t have to do with procrastination as much as getting a quick win and a short-term payoff. Yes, the reward for more significant projects is getting what you want, but checking off your list of little stuff is distractingly intoxicating. It makes you feel good all day but keeps you awake a night.  

The solution is to think bigger.

As I work through my day, I focus on the biggest, broadest, and most important mission in my life. Is it family? Is it your health? Do you want to make more money? Is it time to give back more?

When you have a great picture painted in your mind, your mission becomes your focus, and you will do whatever it takes to move closer to that vision. That’s why -

“I work on BIG things I love, not SMALL things that drive me crazy.”

Imagine your impact on your life and the world by focusing on big? The small stuff is going to get done. If not, it probably doesn’t matter. Big stuff does matter.

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If you make your primary focus the first do you do in the morning, the rest of the day is more fun. You do like having fun - right?

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Productive Morning Routine

I love the quiet peacefulness of mornings, but I'm not too fond that mornings happen so early.

Still, the focus, creativity, and feeling of momentum that comes with getting up before the chickens have such value that I needed to make getting up a bit easier. My solution is to drop the complicated and establish a simple routine. 

I begin by deciding the area I'm currently prioritizing and choosing a "first thing" task to move me closer to my goal.

Next, I set myself up for success the night before. Depending on my task, I make notes, organize my desk, and get my gym clothes ready - whatever it takes to prepare.

Finally, when I wake up, I get licked by the dogs, take care of my personal needs, read something inspirational for five minutes or less, and start my day. No distractions. No email, social media, or news. Just start.

My goal is to make my primary focus the first thing I do in the morning before life gets in the way. It works like a charm.

There's a reason the Marines do more before 9 AM than everybody else. Now it's your turn.

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Once you've accomplished your goal, stop messing around and move on. The more you poke around, the better your chance of doing more harm than good.

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Stop Trying to Be Perfect

How much is good enough?

I received an email from an MTMer who changed careers to become a Surgical Assistant. He did it at an age when most folks start thinking about retirement.

Mike shared a useful saying he's heard many times in the operating room.

He said," The evil of good enough is better."

Once you've accomplished your goal, stop messing around and move on. The more you poke around, the better your chance of doing more harm than good.

A simple concept. I like simple. Simple works.

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Are today's opportunities moving you closer to your goal - or further away?

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The Secret to Setting The Right Goals

Some goals happen quickly. Others take longer. A lot longer.

How can you keep your goals alive while you make them a reality?

1) Stop falling for someone else's goals. Everybody has something they want to achieve. It's not bad. It could be helpful. In any case, it is a distraction. Know what you want and why you want it.

2) Once you listen to yourself, be sure to commit to your plan and never, ever, ever give up.

3) While you progress, be alert when others insert their goals into your life. They are tricky little things. They'll distract you without you even knowing.

As you move along, always keep this question in your mind—

"Is this an opportunity that will move me closer to my goal or further away?"

There is only one answer that will improve your life. 

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Life is much simpler when you keep it simple. A wise person would spend time on the fewest number of actions that provide the most significant results. 

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Easy Good Habits

Motivating yourself to reach your goals is a never-ending process that kicks into high gear several times a year. Most folks have a list of new routines and habits they want to put into place - but it may be too long.

Many years ago, I decided to control my mornings by establishing actions I would take upon waking. While I had great intentions, I found myself floundering and eventually losing focus. 

Why?

I realized that the habits I was trying to establish had no real meaning other than checking them off my list. Instead of feeling motivated and inspired, I felt bogged down. I decide to make things simple.

These days, I establish minimum viable habits in my life. In other words, I only commit to the minimum number of behaviors that deliver the desired results. And they are important to me. Anything more is excessive, distracting, and frustrating.

Life is much simpler when you keep it simple. A wise person would spend time on the fewest number of actions that provide the most significant results. 

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Collect. Compile. Create. You'll never sit in front of a blank screen again.

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How to Be More Creative at Work

Over the years, I have personally produced over 10,000 podcasts, and of them begin with the written word. Even though that makes my mouth and fingers my most exercised body parts, it has also given me many opportunities to learn to keep my words flowing.

Like most people, you may have found yourself sitting in front of a blank screen, praying for inspiration. It could be writer's block, procrastination, or maybe you stayed up late watching Netflix. In any case, there's a simple solution to always having a starting point.

Any project I need to wrap my head around begins by capturing the ideas that flow into my mind throughout the day. Even turning the radio off on a 20-minute drive can provide a treasure-trove of useable nuggets. 

Next, I tuck those ideas away in a safe place, with no organizing, editing, or re-writing. I grab the thoughts out of the air, jot a note or record a memo, put them away, and let them simmer.

When I'm ready to get to work, I take 15 minutes the day before to review my creative genius list, toss out what is not relevant, create a simple outline, and walk away knowing I am ready to begin.

The next day, I can't wait to sit in front of a blank screen and let the magic start flowing from my figure tips with complete ease.--

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