Knowledge For Men

Sam Upton is an actor and writer known for his roles in The Lincoln Lawyer, Gone, and Stand Up Guys. He is also the director and main actor in his most recent movie, Gun.

"The greatest revenge is success" ~Frank Sinatra

1. No One's Going to Give it To You

We live in an era of entitlement.

The current generation is filled with individuals who have never had to work for anything in their lives, never had to sweat for a goal, and never had to bleed for their dreams.

When reality sets in, and they realize that life isn't all sunshine and rainbows, they panic and cry and loudly scream about how "unfair" life is.

Well here's a little newsflash.

Life's not fair… And no one gives a shit.

No one cares enough about you to make your dreams happen for you.

If you want something bad enough, then go and get it.

Don't ask for permission, get off your ass and go get it.

The sweet nectar of success is reserved for those rare individuals just like you who make the definite decision to become the master of their own fate and the captain of their own destiny.

Those individuals who are, as Theodore Roosevelt put it, "Actually in the arena with their faces marred by sweat and tears and blood."

Those are the individuals who shape the world, create great art, build massive wealth, and live a life of happiness and prosperity along the way.

What about you?

Are you going to bitch and moan and whine about how unfair life is, or are you going to accept your challenges and circumstances and make the definite decision to go out and get what's yours?

Only you can decide.

2. Stop Giving a Fuck

One of the greatest truths of life is this…

The fewer fucks you give, the better life you will live.

It's that simple.

People in the 21st century simply care too much about the wrong things.

We allow the denigrating remarks of passersby's and internet trolls to damage our self-esteem and derail our mission.

We allow the opinions of people who have done next to nothing for us to determine what path we will take and what passions we will pursue.

We allow the push and pull of society to rope us into lives that we never wanted to live surrounded by people that we've never liked working for a cause that we never believed in.

And there's a simple solution to all these problems.

Stop giving a fuck.

The less time and energy you allow yourself to waste on the petty garbage and insignificant opinions, the happier you will be.

If you are on your purpose, on your mission, and on your path, if you are doing the things that are meaningful to you and waking up each day with a smile, then the rest can fade away into the background.

3. Unplug and Spend Time In Life

We live in such a hyper-connected world that the vast majority of people no longer experience life through their own eyes, they experience it through the lens of the latest smartphone.

Instead of going out on dates and connecting with the person across from us, we waste our time Tweeting and texting and Instagramming.

Instead of spending time with our wives and children, we waste our evenings surfing social media and watching B-grade, uninspiring garbage on the internet.

We aren't living anymore dammit!

And it's starting to show.

Depression, loneliness, and suicide are at record highs (especially among men) and yet we continue moving through life like zombies, attached to our screens.

So let me challenge you to change that.

Put your damn phone down for an evening.

Spend real quality time with your wife and kids.

Go hang out with a friend and leave your phones at home.

Spend time by yourself with your own thoughts and no stimulation (you just might come up with some phenomenal ideas).

Learn to let go of the need for constant stimulation and I promise that your life will be better for it.

4. The Act of Doing Makes You a Success

As men, it is easy to tie our self-worth and perception of our own success to external things.

We believe that we are only a success if we have the beautiful girl, the 7-figure business, the Lamborghini, the fame, and the body.

But the truth of the matter is that the very act of doing and pursuing our goals is what makes us a success.

If you are getting up every day, putting your nose to the grindstone and your shoulder to the wheel in pursuit of a higher vision and calling, then you are a success.

You will not become a success when you achieve some arbitrary goal or ideal, you are a success right now so long as you are in pursuit.

So long as you stay hungry, so long as you put in the work, and so long as you never give up, you can go to bed knowing that you are a success regardless of the external circusmtances in your life.

5. F*ck your Feelings and Do What's Right

There are only two kinds of people in the world, hedonists and stoics.

A hedonist does whatever it takes to feel good, a stoic does what is right whether it feels good or not…

And unfortunately, we live in a time that is filled to the brim with hedonists.

The vast majority of our society allow their whims, emotions, and feelings to dictate their actions instead of their dreams, visions, and moral code.

And the results have been pretty catastrophic.

If you want to break away from the herd, away from the men who, as Thoreau put it "Lead lives of quiet desperation" then you must master your emotions, thoughts, and actions and force yourself to do what is right even when you don't feel like it.

No… Especially when you don't feel like it.

Fuck your feelings.

No one cares how you feel or what emotions are going through your head.

You have a responsibility to do what is right regardless of your emotions.

So quit trying to feel good and start doing good.

Sam Upton is an actor and writer known for his roles in The Lincoln Lawyer, Gone, and Stand Up Guys. He is also the director and main actor in his most recent movie, Gun.

“The greatest revenge is success” ~Frank Sinatra

1. No One’s Going to Give it To You

We live in an era of entitlement.

The current generation is filled with individuals who have never had to work for anything in their lives, never had to sweat for a goal, and never had to bleed for their dreams.

When reality sets in, and they realize that life isn’t all sunshine and rainbows, they panic and cry and loudly scream about how “unfair” life is.

Well here’s a little newsflash.

Life’s not fair… And no one gives a shit.

No one cares enough about you to make your dreams happen for you.

If you want something bad enough, then go and get it.

Don’t ask for permission, get off your ass and go get it.

The sweet nectar of success is reserved for those rare individuals just like you who make the definite decision to become the master of their own fate and the captain of their own destiny.

Those individuals who are, as Theodore Roosevelt put it, “Actually in the arena with their faces marred by sweat and tears and blood.”

Those are the individuals who shape the world, create great art, build massive wealth, and live a life of happiness and prosperity along the way.

What about you?

Are you going to bitch and moan and whine about how unfair life is, or are you going to accept your challenges and circumstances and make the definite decision to go out and get what’s yours?

Only you can decide.

2. Stop Giving a Fuck 

One of the greatest truths of life is this…

The fewer fucks you give, the better life you will live.

It’s that simple.

People in the 21st century simply care too much about the wrong things.

We allow the denigrating remarks of passersby’s and internet trolls to damage our self-esteem and derail our mission.

We allow the opinions of people who have done next to nothing for us to determine what path we will take and what passions we will pursue.

We allow the push and pull of society to rope us into lives that we never wanted to live surrounded by people that we’ve never liked working for a cause that we never believed in.

And there’s a simple solution to all these problems.

Stop giving a fuck.

The less time and energy you allow yourself to waste on the petty garbage and insignificant opinions, the happier you will be.

If you are on your purpose, on your mission, and on your path, if you are doing the things that are meaningful to you and waking up each day with a smile, then the rest can fade away into the background.

3. Unplug and Spend Time In Life 

We live in such a hyper-connected world that the vast majority of people no longer experience life through their own eyes, they experience it through the lens of the latest smartphone.

Instead of going out on dates and connecting with the person across from us, we waste our time Tweeting and texting and Instagramming.

Instead of spending time with our wives and children, we waste our evenings surfing social media and watching B-grade, uninspiring garbage on the internet.

We aren’t living anymore dammit!

And it’s starting to show.

Depression, loneliness, and suicide are at record highs (especially among men) and yet we continue moving through life like zombies, attached to our screens.

So let me challenge you to change that.

Put your damn phone down for an evening.

Spend real quality time with your wife and kids.

Go hang out with a friend and leave your phones at home.

Spend time by yourself with your own thoughts and no stimulation (you just might come up with some phenomenal ideas).

Learn to let go of the need for constant stimulation and I promise that your life will be better for it.

4. The Act of Doing Makes You a Success 

As men, it is easy to tie our self-worth and perception of our own success to external things.

We believe that we are only a success if we have the beautiful girl, the 7-figure business, the Lamborghini, the fame, and the body.

But the truth of the matter is that the very act of doing and pursuing our goals is what makes us a success.

If you are getting up every day, putting your nose to the grindstone and your shoulder to the wheel in pursuit of a higher vision and calling, then you are a success.

You will not become a success when you achieve some arbitrary goal or ideal, you are a success right now so long as you are in pursuit.

So long as you stay hungry, so long as you put in the work, and so long as you never give up, you can go to bed knowing that you are a success regardless of the external circusmtances in your life.

5. F*ck your Feelings and Do What’s Right 

There are only two kinds of people in the world, hedonists and stoics.

A hedonist does whatever it takes to feel good, a stoic does what is right whether it feels good or not…

And unfortunately, we live in a time that is filled to the brim with hedonists.

The vast majority of our society allow their whims, emotions, and feelings to dictate their actions instead of their dreams, visions, and moral code.

And the results have been pretty catastrophic.

If you want to break away from the herd, away from the men who, as Thoreau put it “Lead lives of quiet desperation” then you must master your emotions, thoughts, and actions and force yourself to do what is right even when you don’t feel like it.

No… Especially when you don’t feel like it.

Fuck your feelings.

No one cares how you feel or what emotions are going through your head.

You have a responsibility to do what is right regardless of your emotions.

So quit trying to feel good and start doing good.

William H. McRaven is a former United States Navy admiral who last served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command from August 8, 2011, to August 28, 2014. Since January 2015, he has served as the chancellor of The University of Texas System.

McRaven previously served from June 13, 2008, to August 2011 as Commander, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and from June 2006 to March 2008 as Commander, Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR). In addition to his duties as COMSOCEUR, he was designated as the first director of the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination Centre (NSCC), where he was charged with enhancing the capabilities and inter-operability of all NATO Special Operations Forces.

Admiral McRaven retired from the Navy on August 28, 2014, after more than 37 years of service.

If by Rudyard Kipling

1. Focus on Doing Your Duties Now

Success in life doesn't come from focusing on what you are going to do in the future.

It comes from focusing all of your attention on the tasks that are in front of you right now.

Yes, you should have goals, dreams, and aspirations.

However, do not allow these dreams and aspirations to rule the present moment.

Instead, focus on the now, focus on what is right in front of you, focus more on the next 24 hours and less on the next 24 years.

The quickest way to achieve success (whatever your definition of success might be) is to have a plan and then execute on that plan, day in and day out.

Do your duties now and allow tomorrow to take care of itself.

2. You Can't Make it Alone

Many men like to think that they are an island, they like to believe that they are the Alpha and Omega of their lives.

Until one day, they are struck by the very harsh reality that they are not.

No man, regardless of size, intelligence or other capability has ever "made it" on this planet by themselves.

We were designed for community and teamwork.

One of the fastest ways to achieve your mission, whether that is in business, in your health, or in your relationships is to surround yourself with amazing, like-minded individuals who can help support you and push you along the journey.

With a tight-knit circle of influence, you will be able to accelerate your results, find your blind spots, and receive help when you are outside of your comfort zone.

And more than that, you will have more fun!

Life is a team sport, it's meant to be played with other people.

So eradicate the erroneous notion that real men do it alone.

Build your tribe and have a blast doing it.

3. What Are You Really Made of?

So often in our modern society, we are quick to judge others (and ourselves) on external factors like height, weight, attractiveness, financial success, and social capital.

But we forget that our worth is defined by how much heart we have, not how much money or muscle we have.

A person's worth is defined by what's inside.

Admiral McRaven illustrates this point perfectly in his book when he shares the story of Thomas Norris, a Navy Seal who was awarded the congressional medal of honor.

During training, nearly all of his classmates assumed that Tom would fail.

He was short, skinny, and out of shape compared to the other men.

However, Tom had a level of internal fortitude, mental strength, and heart that few men in the world display.

And his bravery was exemplified repeatedly on the battlefield, especially during the infamous rescue mission that lead to his Congressional Medal of Honor.

Like Tom, many of you might not be what comes to mind physically when people think of an "Alpha" or a "Real Man".

But that isn't what matters.

What are you made of?

Who are you?

What is your character like when everything goes wrong and your life is spiraling out of control?

That is what determines your worth as a man.

4. You Are Going to Fail

Read that again.

You are going to fail.

I don't care how good you are, how smart you are, or how strong you are.

Life will kick you to the curb and beat you senseless at some point in your existence.

This isn't a speculation.

It's fact.

You are going to fail!

You might not face the catastrophic failures that come to mind when you hear the word, but at some point in your life, you will be faced with a situation, a business deal, a relationship, or a physical challenge that you simply cannot surmount.

So get over it.

Stop letting this fear of failure rule you and accept that failure is inevitable.

Failure is a sign of life, it is a sign that you are trying to push the envelope forward and a sign that you are growing into the man you need to be.

So get used to failing.

If you do anything of worth in this life, it is going to become a pretty common occurrence.

5. Your Bank Account Doesn't Determine Your Success

Many men operate under the flawed ideology that the more 0's they have in their bank accounts, the more successful they are.

This simply isn't true.

Yes, money is important, and you should certainly strive to earn enough to enjoy your life, be comfortable, and have enough left over to share.

But it is not the end all be all to success.

Who are you? How is your character? How do you treat others? How is your marriage?

These are the things that determine a man's success.

If you are surrounded by good friends, have a happy, loving relationship with your wife, are in good health, and positively impact the world on a regular basis, then congratulations… You have achieved success.

William H. McRaven is a former United States Navy admiral who last served as the ninth commander of the United States Special Operations Command from August 8, 2011, to August 28, 2014. Since January 2015, he has served as the chancellor of The University of Texas System.

McRaven previously served from June 13, 2008, to August 2011 as Commander, Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and from June 2006 to March 2008 as Commander, Special Operations Command Europe (SOCEUR).  In addition to his duties as COMSOCEUR, he was designated as the first director of the NATO Special Operations Forces Coordination Centre (NSCC), where he was charged with enhancing the capabilities and inter-operability of all NATO Special Operations Forces.

Admiral McRaven retired from the Navy on August 28, 2014, after more than 37 years of service.

If by Rudyard Kipling

1. Focus on Doing Your Duties Now 

Success in life doesn’t come from focusing on what you are going to do in the future.

It comes from focusing all of your attention on the tasks that are in front of you right now.

Yes, you should have goals, dreams, and aspirations.

However, do not allow these dreams and aspirations to rule the present moment.

Instead, focus on the now, focus on what is right in front of you, focus more on the next 24 hours and less on the next 24 years.

The quickest way to achieve success (whatever your definition of success might be) is to have a plan and then execute on that plan, day in and day out.

Do your duties now and allow tomorrow to take care of itself.

2. You Can’t Make it Alone 

Many men like to think that they are an island, they like to believe that they are the Alpha and Omega of their lives.

Until one day, they are struck by the very harsh reality that they are not.

No man, regardless of size, intelligence or other capability has ever “made it” on this planet by themselves.

We were designed for community and teamwork.

One of the fastest ways to achieve your mission, whether that is in business, in your health, or in your relationships is to surround yourself with amazing, like-minded individuals who can help support you and push you along the journey.

With a tight-knit circle of influence, you will be able to accelerate your results, find your blind spots, and receive help when you are outside of your comfort zone.

And more than that, you will have more fun!

Life is a team sport, it’s meant to be played with other people.

So eradicate the erroneous notion that real men do it alone.

Build your tribe and have a blast doing it.

3. What Are You Really Made of?

So often in our modern society, we are quick to judge others (and ourselves) on external factors like height, weight, attractiveness, financial success, and social capital.

But we forget that our worth is defined by how much heart we have, not how much money or muscle we have.

A person’s worth is defined by what’s inside.

Admiral McRaven illustrates this point perfectly in his book when he shares the story of Thomas Norris, a Navy Seal who was awarded the congressional medal of honor.

During training, nearly all of his classmates assumed that Tom would fail.

He was short, skinny, and out of shape compared to the other men.

However, Tom had a level of internal fortitude, mental strength, and heart that few men in the world display.

And his bravery was exemplified repeatedly on the battlefield, especially during the infamous rescue mission that lead to his Congressional Medal of Honor.

Like Tom, many of you might not be what comes to mind physically when people think of an “Alpha” or a “Real Man”.

But that isn’t what matters.

What are you made of?

Who are you?

What is your character like when everything goes wrong and your life is spiraling out of control?

That is what determines your worth as a man.

4. You Are Going to Fail

Read that again.

You are going to fail.

I don’t care how good you are, how smart you are, or how strong you are.

Life will kick you to the curb and beat you senseless at some point in your existence.

This isn’t a speculation.

It’s fact.

You are going to fail!

You might not face the catastrophic failures that come to mind when you hear the word, but at some point in your life, you will be faced with a situation, a business deal, a relationship, or a physical challenge that you simply cannot surmount.

So get over it.

Stop letting this fear of failure rule you and accept that failure is inevitable.

Failure is a sign of life, it is a sign that you are trying to push the envelope forward and a sign that you are growing into the man you need to be.

So get used to failing.

If you do anything of worth in this life, it is going to become a pretty common occurrence.

5. Your Bank Account Doesn’t Determine Your Success

Many men operate under the flawed ideology that the more 0’s they have in their bank accounts, the more successful they are.

This simply isn’t true.

Yes, money is important, and you should certainly strive to earn enough to enjoy your life, be comfortable, and have enough left over to share.

But it is not the end all be all to success.

Who are you? How is your character? How do you treat others? How is your marriage?

These are the things that determine a man’s success.

If you are surrounded by good friends, have a happy, loving relationship with your wife, are in good health, and positively impact the world on a regular basis, then congratulations… You have achieved success.

Bedros Keuilian is the fitness industry's most trusted consultant. His various fitness businesses are designed to enable trainers to maximize their earning potential with revolutionary industry techniques.

Before constructing his fitness empire, Bedros owned five fitness gyms at once. After revamping his business model with direct response marketing and sales techniques, he began earning profit margins totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars from these locations alone.

He would then go on to found Fit Body Boot Camp. As the CEO and founder of Fit Body, currently the world's fastest growing fitness chain, Bedros practices what he preaches, implementing the same formula for success that he brings to his fitness clients worldwide. Fit Body was recently listed as one of Inc. 5000's fastest growing businesses of 2016.

"How you do anything is how you do everything"

"Circumstances do not change responsibility"

1. Your Responsibilities Aren't Affected by Your Circumstances

The vast majority of modern men have been castrated by a societal conditioning that tells them it's "ok" to shirk their responsibilities. Men who allow the whims of their emotions and their day to day circumstances to dictate their actions and responses.

We see men who allow the whims of their emotions and their day to day circumstances to dictate their actions and responses.

Fathers who ignore their duties to their children, husbands who shrug off their responsibilities to their wives, and workers who simply aren't willing to put in the work necessary to keep their clients happy.

And as a result, our society has been left scratching its head in confusion wondering "Where have all the real men gone"?

The real men are still out there… They are just harder to find.

They are the men who do not allow their feelings and problems to interfere with their duties.

The men who provide for their families, prioritize their relationships and take care of their bodies.

The men who are willing to say no to luxuries and parties now so that they can have an incredible quality of life for their family later.

Are you one of those men?

2. Resourcefulness is the Ultimate Resource

Markets crash, businesses crumble, people die, and life happens.

So what?

The greatest breakthroughs of human history have often come in times where resources were slim and things were looking grim.

But a handful of (now) iconic individuals were willing to look at the circumstances and negative situation and see it for what it was… An opportunity.

You see, if you are resourceful enough, no circumstance or turmoil will prevent you from success.

You can always find a way to make money and create a life of happiness and freedom for yourself.

You must simply learn to look for it.

Resourcefulness is your greatest resource in the tumultuous and unpredictable world that we live in.

If you can learn to cultivate this trait in yourself and others, you will find a way to be successful.

No matter what.

3. Despite What You've Been Told, Work-Life Balance Is Crucial

With the proliferation of the "Hustlers" mentality and the idea that grinding it out 24/7 365 is the only way to success, many of you are operating under the misguided belief that work-life balance is b.s.

Well…

It's not.

Bedros found this out first hand when, after several consecutive months of high-stress projects, he snapped and suffered from multiple anxiety attacks (initially mistaking them for heart attacks).

These episodes scared Bedros into making a change and, after kicking and clawing his way through the transition, he began to ease himself out of business scenarios that he found stressful.

He cut back on his time in the office, started prioritizing his health and family again, and learned to delegate and outsource like crazy.

And now…

He's healthier, wealthier, and happier than ever before.

Hustling your way to the top is great.

Grinding and working hard are great.

But they must be tempered by taking a step back and making time for yourself and your family.

4. The Quickest Way to Overcome Adversity is to Reframe It

Life can suck.

Things happen and circumstances outside of your control can knock you on your ass.

But the quickest way to overcome any adversity is to reframe it.

Learn to see challenges as opportunities.

Learn to see setbacks as an opportunity to grow.

Learn to see failure as education.

The more that you can reframe the difficult things in life, the easier they will become.

This will not make your problems go away… But it will make them easier to deal with.

5. All Success is Preceded by Risk

If you want real success, you are going to have to take real risks.

End of story.

For the majority of A+ players, every big breakthrough, achievement, and milestone were preceded by even bigger risks.

For some people this meant a breakup, for others, taking out a line of credit to fund a business, and for others still, it was dropping out of college and pursuing their dreams of their own volition, without the help of mom and dad.

For Bedros, risk has come in many forms, from turning down six-figure job offers to taking out tens of thousands of dollars in credit, to leveraging his house, to purchasing a $4 million office space.

But all of these risks ended paid off in the long run.

And while you are on your own unique path to success, you must remember that you will be required to take risks and make sacrifices that are uncomfortable.

But when you do… You will have no choice but success.

And that's where the real magic happens.

Bedros Keuilian is the fitness industry’s most trusted consultant. His various fitness businesses are designed to enable trainers to maximize their earning potential with revolutionary industry techniques.

Before constructing his fitness empire, Bedros owned five fitness gyms at once. After revamping his business model with direct response marketing and sales techniques, he began earning profit margins totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars from these locations alone.

He would then go on to found Fit Body Boot Camp. As the CEO and founder of Fit Body, currently the world’s fastest growing fitness chain, Bedros practices what he preaches, implementing the same formula for success that he brings to his fitness clients worldwide. Fit Body was recently listed as one of Inc. 5000’s fastest growing businesses of 2016.

“How you do anything is how you do everything”

“Circumstances do not change responsibility”

1. Your Responsibilities Aren’t Affected by Your Circumstances

The vast majority of modern men have been castrated by a societal conditioning that tells them it’s “ok” to shirk their responsibilities. Men who allow the whims of their emotions and their day to day circumstances to dictate their actions and responses.

We see men who allow the whims of their emotions and their day to day circumstances to dictate their actions and responses.

Fathers who ignore their duties to their children, husbands who shrug off their responsibilities to their wives, and workers who simply aren’t willing to put in the work necessary to keep their clients happy.

And as a result, our society has been left scratching its head in confusion wondering “Where have all the real men gone”?

The real men are still out there… They are just harder to find.

They are the men who do not allow their feelings and problems to interfere with their duties.

The men who provide for their families, prioritize their relationships and take care of their bodies.

The men who are willing to say no to luxuries and parties now so that they can have an incredible quality of life for their family later. 

Are you one of those men?

2. Resourcefulness is the Ultimate Resource

Markets crash, businesses crumble, people die, and life happens.

So what?

The greatest breakthroughs of human history have often come in times where resources were slim and things were looking grim.

But a handful of (now) iconic individuals were willing to look at the circumstances and negative situation and see it for what it was… An opportunity.

You see, if you are resourceful enough, no circumstance or turmoil will prevent you from success.

You can always find a way to make money and create a life of happiness and freedom for yourself.

You must simply learn to look for it.

Resourcefulness is your greatest resource in the tumultuous and unpredictable world that we live in.

If you can learn to cultivate this trait in yourself and others, you will find a way to be successful.

No matter what.

3. Despite What You’ve Been Told, Work-Life Balance Is Crucial 

With the proliferation of the “Hustlers” mentality and the idea that grinding it out 24/7 365 is the only way to success, many of you are operating under the misguided belief that work-life balance is b.s.

Well…

It’s not.

Bedros found this out first hand when, after several consecutive months of high-stress projects, he snapped and suffered from multiple anxiety attacks (initially mistaking them for heart attacks).

These episodes scared Bedros into making a change and, after kicking and clawing his way through the transition, he began to ease himself out of business scenarios that he found stressful.

He cut back on his time in the office, started prioritizing his health and family again, and learned to delegate and outsource like crazy.

And now…

He’s healthier, wealthier, and happier than ever before.

Hustling your way to the top is great.

Grinding and working hard are great.

But they must be tempered by taking a step back and making time for yourself and your family.

4. The Quickest Way to Overcome Adversity is to Reframe It

Life can suck.

Things happen and circumstances outside of your control can knock you on your ass.

But the quickest way to overcome any adversity is to reframe it.

Learn to see challenges as opportunities.

Learn to see setbacks as an opportunity to grow.

Learn to see failure as education.

The more that you can reframe the difficult things in life, the easier they will become.

This will not make your problems go away… But it will make them easier to deal with.

5. All Success is Preceded by Risk 

If you want real success, you are going to have to take real risks.

End of story.

For the majority of A+ players, every big breakthrough, achievement, and milestone were preceded by even bigger risks.

For some people this meant a breakup, for others, taking out a line of credit to fund a business, and for others still, it was dropping out of college and pursuing their dreams of their own volition, without the help of mom and dad.

For Bedros, risk has come in many forms, from turning down six-figure job offers to taking out tens of thousands of dollars in credit, to leveraging his house, to purchasing a $4 million office space.

But all of these risks ended paid off in the long run.

And while you are on your own unique path to success, you must remember that you will be required to take risks and make sacrifices that are uncomfortable.

But when you do… You will have no choice but success.

And that’s where the real magic happens.

Executive, activist, and entrepreneur, Sarah Robb O'Hagan has been described by the media as everything from "Superwoman undercover" to the "Pied Piper of Potential." She is a high-energy combination of disruptive business leader, fitness fanatic, and cheerleading mom, and has been named one of Forbes' "Most Powerful Women in Sports" and one of Fast Company's "Most Creative People in Business."

As Chief Executive Officer of the fast growing indoor cycling company Flywheel Sports, she is currently leading the transformation of the business through digital content and services. Prior to this role, Sarah became an internationally recognized re-inventor of brands, having served as global president of the $5Bn sports brand Gatorade, where she successfully led the business through a major repositioning and business turnaround, and global president of the luxury fitness company Equinox, where she reinvented the offering through a significant technology transformation.

She recently released her new book, Extreme You: Step Up. Stand Out. Kick Ass. Repeat.

"Without risk does not come great reward." Sarah's Dad

1. Learn to Focus on What You Are Doing Now

Tell me if this has ever happened to you before?

You are at work, hustling away on a project that is fun and exciting, but for some reason, you cannot stop thinking about what's happening at home with your wife or girlfriend.

Or you are out on a date with your significant other and, instead of giving them your full attention, you are answering work emails when you are supposed to be connecting and sharing a special moment.

Why the hell is it that we are always thinking about, and focused on everything except for what we are doing right now?

Happiness and success are found when you are able to be completely present in whatever you are doing.

When you are 100% focused on your work, you will be able to solve problems, pivot, and accomplish your tasks with greater speed and efficiency.

Meaning that later in the day, you have the mental bandwidth to focus in on your family and friends 100%.

The more present and focused you can be in one area, the more focus and presence you will be able to bring to the other areas of your life.

2. The Foundation of Success is Self-Care

One of the most underrated and least talked about subjects in the world of entrepreneurship is self-care.

Everyone gets so focused in on the hustle, they get so focused in on grinding it out and being "obsessed" that they forget to take care of #1.

But let me ask you a question…

How much money are you going to make if you are constantly in and out of the hospital with stress-related illnesses?

How effective will you be if you are constantly drained, lethargic, and fatigued?

How successful do you think you will really be if you are not taking care of yourself?

You won't!

Success without self-care is unsustainable and ultimately unfulfilling.

You must learn to take care of yourself, especially your mental and physical health first and focus on your business second.

Make time every single day to get some form of exercise.

Give yourself those extra 10-15 minutes to meditate and clear your headspace.

Give yourself permission to relax at the end of a long day with a hot bath and some calm music.

If you are not taking care of yourself and your body, you will eventually burn out and fail.

Period.

3. You Cannot Take Things too Seriously

Look…

Life is short.

So why the hell would you waste one second of your life in an unhappy or depressed state?

Have fun for God's sake!

Learn to laugh at yourself, laugh at your work, laugh at your success, laugh at your failure, because, at the end of the day, we are all dead anyways, so we might as well enjoy the journey and have a few laughs along the way.

Life isn't meant to be a constant stress-fest.

It's meant to be enjoyed with people that you like, doing things that you love.

And guess what?

In every moment, you have the choice to enjoy your life, to have a great time, and to laugh through the hardships or to succumb to the pain and the suffering and allow outside circumstances to dictate your attitude.

You have a choice to enjoy life even when it's hard.

You have a choice to let go of your ego, stop taking things so damn seriously, and enjoy the ride.

So will you?

4. Stop Going Half Way

Because of the pressure that many millennials feel from the older generations, a large majority of the young people in Western society are making the grave mistake of building "partial bridges" for the sake of their resume.

What do I mean?

Well, think about it.

Most 18-35-year-olds will change jobs every 2-4 years.

Instead of finding something that they are really passionate about, going all the way and becoming great, they go halfway.

They hop from position to position trying to build their resume and "experience" when all that they really accomplish is becoming ok at a bunch of unrelated crap.

If you really want to become great, then you need to go all the way.

Build your bridges fully.

Commit to one skill, one position, one person and don't back out when things get tough.

Stick it out and become an expert at your craft.

Because when you do, the rewards will be great.

5. Passion is Made Not Found

One of the most "bass akwards" beliefs in the 21st century is that you need to find your passion.

In reality, you must make your passions.

Passions aren't something that you find like a dollar bill on the street.

They are the result of commitment, persistence, and breakthroughs.

How many of you reading this are passionate about music?

Now…

How many of you picked up a guitar for the first time, tried to strum a C chord, sounded terrible and thought to yourself "Yes! I am passionate about this!"?

Not many.

Chances are, you picked up the guitar and you sucked for a long time.

But you stuck with it.

Maybe you wanted to impress that girl or show off that Pearl Jam song to your friends.

But for whatever reason, you stuck with it, and eventually, it became an addiction.

You loved the way that learning new songs and techniques made you feel, you loved the reaction on people's faces when you started playing their favorite songs, and you loved the feeling of getting into flow while soloing.

And now… It's a passion.

And that's how most passions are born.

You don't know what your passions are until you stick with something long enough to enjoy and understand it.

So realize that you make your passions.

And the better you become at a skill the more passionate you will be about it.

Executive, activist, and entrepreneur, Sarah Robb O’Hagan has been described by the media as everything from “Superwoman undercover” to the “Pied Piper of Potential.” She is a high-energy combination of disruptive business leader, fitness fanatic, and cheerleading mom, and has been named one of Forbes’ “Most Powerful Women in Sports” and one of Fast Company’s “Most Creative People in Business.”

As Chief Executive Officer of the fast growing indoor cycling company Flywheel Sports, she is currently leading the transformation of the business through digital content and services. Prior to this role, Sarah became an internationally recognized re-inventor of brands, having served as global president of the $5Bn sports brand Gatorade, where she successfully led the business through a major repositioning and business turnaround, and global president of the luxury fitness company Equinox, where she reinvented the offering through a significant technology transformation.

She recently released her new book, Extreme You: Step Up. Stand Out. Kick Ass. Repeat.

“Without risk does not come great reward.” Sarah’s Dad

1. Learn to Focus on What You Are Doing Now 

Tell me if this has ever happened to you before?

You are at work, hustling away on a  project that is fun and exciting, but for some reason, you cannot stop thinking about what’s happening at home with your wife or girlfriend.

Or you are out on a date with your significant other and, instead of giving them your full attention, you are answering work emails when you are supposed to be connecting and sharing a special moment.

Why the hell is it that we are always thinking about, and focused on everything except for what we are doing right now?

Happiness and success are found when you are able to be completely present in whatever you are doing.

When you are 100% focused on your work, you will be able to solve problems, pivot, and accomplish your tasks with greater speed and efficiency.

Meaning that later in the day, you have the mental bandwidth to focus in on your family and friends 100%.

The more present and focused you can be in one area, the more focus and presence you will be able to bring to the other areas of your life.

2. The Foundation of Success is Self-Care

One of the most underrated and least talked about subjects in the world of entrepreneurship is self-care.

Everyone gets so focused in on the hustle, they get so focused in on grinding it out and being “obsessed” that they forget to take care of #1.

But let me ask you a question…

How much money are you going to make if you are constantly in and out of the hospital with stress-related illnesses?

How effective will you be if you are constantly drained, lethargic, and fatigued?

How successful do you think you will really be if you are not taking care of yourself?

You won’t!

Success without self-care is unsustainable and ultimately unfulfilling.

You must learn to take care of yourself, especially your mental and physical health first and focus on your business second.

Make time every single day to get some form of exercise.

Give yourself those extra 10-15 minutes to meditate and clear your headspace.

Give yourself permission to relax at the end of a long day with a hot bath and some calm music.

If you are not taking care of yourself and your body, you will eventually burn out and fail.

Period.

3. You Cannot Take Things too Seriously 

Look…

Life is short.

So why the hell would you waste one second of your life in an unhappy or depressed state?

Have fun for God’s sake!

Learn to laugh at yourself, laugh at your work, laugh at your success, laugh at your failure, because, at the end of the day, we are all dead anyways, so we might as well enjoy the journey and have a few laughs along the way.

Life isn’t meant to be a constant stress-fest.

It’s meant to be enjoyed with people that you like, doing things that you love.

And guess what?

In every moment, you have the choice to enjoy your life, to have a great time, and to laugh through the hardships or to succumb to the pain and the suffering and allow outside circumstances to dictate your attitude.

You have a choice to enjoy life even when it’s hard.

You have a choice to let go of your ego, stop taking things so damn seriously, and enjoy the ride.

So will you?

4. Stop Going Half Way 

Because of the pressure that many millennials feel from the older generations, a large majority of the young people in Western society are making the grave mistake of building “partial bridges” for the sake of their resume.

What do I mean?

Well, think about it.

Most 18-35-year-olds will change jobs every 2-4 years.

Instead of finding something that they are really passionate about, going all the way and becoming great, they go halfway.

They hop from position to position trying to build their resume and “experience” when all that they really accomplish is becoming ok at a bunch of unrelated crap.

If you really want to become great, then you need to go all the way.

Build your bridges fully.

Commit to one skill, one position, one person and don’t back out when things get tough.

Stick it out and become an expert at your craft.

Because when you do, the rewards will be great.

5. Passion is Made Not Found 

One of the most “bass akwards” beliefs in the 21st century is that you need to find your passion.

In reality, you must make your passions.

Passions aren’t something that you find like a dollar bill on the street.

They are the result of commitment, persistence, and breakthroughs.

How many of you reading this are passionate about music?

Now…

How many of you picked up a guitar for the first time, tried to strum a C chord, sounded terrible and thought to yourself “Yes! I am passionate about this!”?

Not many.

Chances are, you picked up the guitar and you sucked for a long time.

But you stuck with it.

Maybe you wanted to impress that girl or show off that Pearl Jam song to your friends.

But for whatever reason, you stuck with it, and eventually, it became an addiction.

You loved the way that learning new songs and techniques made you feel, you loved the reaction on people’s faces when you started playing their favorite songs, and you loved the feeling of getting into flow while soloing.

And now… It’s a passion.

And that’s how most passions are born.

You don’t know what your passions are until you stick with something long enough to enjoy and understand it.

So realize that you make your passions.

And the better you become at a skill the more passionate you will be about it.

Gordon Miller has devoted more than 30 years to the pursuit of excellence in design and innovation. An accomplished designer and engineer in his own right, Mr. Miller first focused his attention on K-12 and higher education solutions and then corporate websites, decision support systems and now mobile applications and data aggregation.

As CEO of G3 Systems, Inc. since 1993, Mr. Miller has developed a rapidly expanding base of mission critical government projects including efforts for the US Dept. of Defense, US Navy, US Army, US Dept. of Education, US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development, US Dept. of State and US Dept. of Homeland Security. As CEO of G3i Ventures, LLC, Mr. Miller has co-founded, launched or funded a total of 8 companies.

“You are the average of the five people that you surround yourself with most” ~Jim Rohn

1. Your Network Determines Your Networth 

Do you want to know how to really “get rich quick”?

Do you want to know the fastest way to achieve massive amounts of wealth and success?

It’s actually pretty simple…

Level up your network.

That’s it.

The quickest way to exponentially increase your results in your life, your bank account, and your body is to hang around people who already have what you want and more. 

When you are constantly spending time around low caliber individuals who are worried about making rent, have fixed mindsets, and who let you rest on your laurels, you will eventually become complacent and begin to stagnate and die.

There’s no way around it.

But if you are around people who are playing the game of life at a higher level than you are, if you are around people who are true hustlers and game changers, they will start to rub off on you.

You will begin to see the world through the lens of the player instead of the spectator.

So I want you to commit right now, that no matter what happens this year, you will find a group of men who are playing the game of life at a higher level than you are and get around them.

Your success depends on it.

2. Fall in Love with the Process

One of the biggest mistakes that people make is that they are outcome oriented, not process oriented.

In this moment, you might think that you will find satisfaction by purchasing that big house, the yacht, or the car.

But what happens after you are done?

What happens when the transaction concludes and you have you “dream”?

You are left to your own devices once again and asked to find fulfillment and joy in yet another set of goals and outcomes.

You are constantly chasing something that you can never catch, because there is always another goal to achieve, another benchmark to hit, and another level to break through.

But what if I told you that you could achieve all of the joy, happiness, and fulfillment that you desire right now in this very moment?

Well, you can.

All you must do is learn to love the process.

Learn to love the hustle and the grind as you work towards your dreams.

There is no tomorrow, the only time that you have is right now… So make damn sure that you are enjoying it.

3. Live Below Your Means and Put Money Away 

One of the biggest mistakes made by most people in their 20’s is spending money like they will live forever.

Statistically speaking, if you are under 30 reading this right now, you will likely live well past 90 years old.

Do you really want to be working your ass off and hustling like a college graduate at that age?

If the answer is “No” then you need to start saving and investing money, immediately. 

Do whatever you need to do to set aside at least $500 a month every single month and invest it into a money market account or low-risk index fund.

If you can do this, then you will be a millionaire by the time you are 60.

Period.

4. Get Out There and Do It

In our age of social media and hyper-connection, everyone loves to talk.

They love to talk about entrepreneurship, about how they are going to start a business, about how they are going to quit their job, or how they are going to make it big.

Here’s a revolutionary idea…

Stop talking about it.

Get out there and do it!

The world belongs to those who do. 

So stop running your mouth and start moving your feet.

As Nike says… Just DO IT!

5. Own Your Mistakes and MOVE ON

You are going to make mistakes.

That is simply part of the human experience.

You aren’t perfect and you shouldn’t expect to be.

Mistakes are not only normal they are necessary.

So learn from your mistakes and move on.

Don’t dwell in the past, wishing that you could have done it differently.

Decide to do it differently today.

You only have the present moment, don’t waste it wishing that things could be different.

They aren’t.

What is done is done.

All that you can do is learn from it and move on.

Adam Grant has been recognized as Wharton's top-rated teacher for five straight years, and as one of the world's 25 most influential management thinkers and Fortune's 40 under 40. As an organizational psychologist, he studies how we can find motivation and meaning, and lead more generous and creative lives.

Adam is the author of two New York Times bestselling books translated into 35 languages. Originals and Give and Take.

Adam received a standing ovation for his 2016 TED talk on the surprising habits of original thinkers and was voted the audience's favorite speaker at The Nantucket Project on the success of givers and takers, which was the subject of his most recent TED talk. His speaking and consulting clients include Facebook, Google, the NBA, Merck, Goldman Sachs, Disney Pixar, Johnson & Johnson, BCG, Amex, the U.S. Army and Navy, and the World Economic Forum, where he has been honored as a Young Global Leader.

"The best way to succeed is to help other people succeed."

1. Become a Master of "Five Minute Favors"

One of the secret weapons of high performers, their proverbial "special sauce" if you will, is the five-minute favor.

These favors are simple, easy-to-do tasks that can have a huge impact on your network and future success.

One of the simplest examples is devoting 10 minutes a week to connecting at least 2 people you feel need to know each other.

This simple tactic resulted in the formation of the Beatles and Apple.

Another example is taking the extra initiative at work or in the classroom.

Simple things like providing your boss with ten easy-to-implement actions to save the office money or helping a co-worker with a project that they are behind on can drastically increase your social capital and build reciprocal kindness and goodwill.

2. Being an "Original" Is Simple

If you want to be original, the path is simple.

First, avoid the status quo.

Second, look for a new way to do things.

And third come up with a superfluous number of ideas, even bad ideas, until you find the solution for which you're looking.

Many people seem to think that being an "Original" is a complicated process that requires psychedelic drugs, a MENSA IQ, or a real creative genius.

But the simple truth is that all non-conformists, originals, and real industry disrupters have followed the same three steps.

3. Learn to Reframe the Mundane

One of the most immediate and impactful ways that you can increase your own levels of happiness and satisfaction is to reframe the mundane tasks in your life and find a way to enjoy them.

The simplest example is email.

How many of you spend at least an hour a day sorting through, organizing, and responding to emails?

How many of you think that one hour sucks?

I get it…

It might seem hard to reframe this seemingly sucky task into something that is genuinely meaningful and enjoyable, but just imagine if you could.

Imagine if instead of seeing your email as a drudgery, a life-sucking task, you saw it as an opportunity.

An opportunity to touch every life with which you connect.

An opportunity to inspire love, gratitude, and empowerment in every interaction.

Because isn't that exactly what it is?

It's a chance for you to connect with people from all around the globe and inspire them with your attitude, your mindset, and your values.

When you approach it from this angle and with this mindset, checking your email because an empowering and exciting task because, instead of thinking "How many freaking message do I have to handle" you get to think "How many lives will I get to shape?"

4. Being an "Original" Is About Execution Not Ideation

Being an original has nothing to do with the idea.

Everyone, if they think about it long enough, can develop a "Billion dollar idea" that would change the world and disrupt entire industries.

But they never take the requisite action.

They allow their dreams, their hopes, and their ideas to wither away and die because they cannot bring themselves to execute.

They take their ideas with them to the graveyard because they were unwilling to take action on those ideas!

At the end of the day, those who truly succeed and shape the world are those who are willing to take ideas and run with them.

To take massive action in the face of uncertainty, and give their idea the chance to see the light of day.

5. Fear the Failure to Try

Many gurus and self-help proponents shame the fear of failure.

They instill a toxic belief that fearing failure is a bad thing.

But the simple truth is that you should fear failure.

In fact, it should scare the hell out of you!

But not in the way that most people imagine.

You shouldn't fear the failure of your business, your relationship, or your bank account… you should fear your own failure to try.

At the end of the day, when you lie in your bed, weathered by time, and near the end, you will not look back in regret on the things that you tried and failed.

You will look back with regret on the times that you failed to try.

You will wonder "What if" I had asked her to marry me?

You will wonder "What if" I had started that business?

You will wonder "What if" I had embraced my truth and lived a life that was in alignment with my values and my beliefs instead of allowing my family and society to dictate my actions.

Because at the end of the day, we are all dead men.

The worst thing that can happen to you, death, is already a certainty.

So don't fear failing to succeed.

Fear failing to try.