Knowledge For Men

Mark Lee Greenblatt is an attorney based in Washington D.C. having worked several high profile senate corruption cases. Mark spent 5 years and hundreds of hours investigating to gain the information for his book "Valor" which tells the stories of the unsung heroes of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Your either part of the solution or you are part of the problem." – Eldridge Cleaver

1. Grace Under Pressure

In his book Valor, Mark shares a story about Chris Choay, who, while trying to lead his squad in a flanking maneuver, found himself completely alone and exposed only meters away from the enemies position.

Instead of retreating, Chris calmly raised his rifle and fired…only to find his gun had jammed. He now stood like a fish in a barrel; if any of the insurgents looked over and saw him, he was dead. Calmly lowering his weapon, Chris cleared the chamber, reloaded a new magazine, and engaged the threat, eliminating the remaining hostiles.

Through his actions, Chris demonstrated extreme courage and performance under incredible pressure. It is this grace under pressure, this resiliency to the surrounding environment that we can demonstrate in our own lives when our first world problems causing undue stress and frustration.

Simply take a deep breath and think about Chris and make the decision to face adversity with grace

2. Change your frame of reference

You are not at war, you don't have enemies firing bullets and rockets over your head, and odds are you never will. In the western society, we often find it so easy to get angry at the smallest things.

When the wifi in our house isn't as fast as we want it to be, we throw a fit, screaming and swearing at the lifeless modem. When the wait time at our favorite restaurant is longer than we want, we complain and whine about how terrible life is and how we don't have the time for this (ignoring the four hours we wasted on netflix that afternoon).

However, as 1st world citizens, very few of us have ever experienced true adversity. Few of us will ever know true hunger, few of us will ever know true fear, and few of us will ever face anything in our entire lives that compares to a typical day in the office for guys like Chris Choay.

We need to remember this and see our issues for what they truly are.

3. Show humility

For his book, Mark interviewed Navy SEAL Chris Kyle for several hours. Chris is the most lethal sniper in U.S. history having over 150 confirmed kills (and reportedly as many as 240 total), several bronze and silver stars, and being nicknamed "The Legend" by the SEAL community.

However in all of his interview, Kyle never once mentioned any of these things. In the day of twitter and instagram, we struggle to cook a good steak without bragging about it to our entire social circle, however men of true character are humble in accomplishment and it is the exploits of men like Chris Kyle that remind us of this.

4. Push yourself beyond what you think you are capable of

The Navy SEALs are famous for what they call "hell week" which is 5 and a half days of nonstop mental and physical pain. During hell week, recruits are kept awake for nearly the entire week, receiving a maximum of four hours of sleep, they are forced to run over 200 miles, and sit in the freezing surf of the pacific ocean.

As a society, we have become used to soft living and mundane existences, therefore, whenever a challenge does present itself, we cower away from it, fearing the pain of growth.

As men, we must begin to seek challenge realizing that we are capable of far more than we could ever imagine, and that it is by doing the perceived impossible that we grow.

Mark Lee Greenblatt is an attorney based in Washington D.C. having worked several high profile senate corruption cases. Mark spent 5 years and hundreds of hours investigating to gain the information for his book “Valor” which tells the stories of the unsung heroes of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Your either part of the solution or you are part of the problem.” – Eldridge Cleaver

1. Grace Under Pressure

In his book Valor, Mark shares a story about Chris Choay, who, while trying to lead his squad in a flanking maneuver, found himself completely alone and exposed only meters away from the enemies position.

Instead of retreating, Chris calmly raised his rifle and fired…only to find his gun had jammed. He now stood like a fish in a barrel; if any of the insurgents looked over and saw him, he was dead. Calmly lowering his weapon, Chris cleared the chamber, reloaded a new magazine, and engaged the threat, eliminating the remaining hostiles.

Through his actions, Chris demonstrated extreme courage and performance under incredible pressure. It is this grace under pressure, this resiliency to the surrounding environment that we can demonstrate in our own lives when our first world problems causing undue stress and frustration.

Simply take a deep breath and think about Chris and make the decision to face adversity with grace

2. Change your frame of reference

You are not at war, you don’t have enemies firing bullets and rockets over your head, and odds are you never will. In the western society, we often find it so easy to get angry at the smallest things.

When the wifi in our house isn’t as fast as we want it to be, we throw a fit, screaming and swearing at the lifeless modem. When the wait time at our favorite restaurant is longer than we want, we complain and whine about how terrible life is and how we don’t have the time for this (ignoring the four hours we wasted on netflix that afternoon).

However, as 1st world citizens, very few of us have ever experienced true adversity. Few of us will ever know true hunger, few of us will ever know true fear, and few of us will ever face anything in our entire lives that compares to a typical day in the office for guys like Chris Choay.

We need to remember this and see our issues for what they truly are.

3. Show humility

For his book, Mark interviewed Navy SEAL Chris Kyle for several hours. Chris is the most lethal sniper in U.S. history having over 150 confirmed kills (and reportedly as many as 240 total), several bronze and silver stars, and being nicknamed “The Legend” by the SEAL community.

However in all of his interview, Kyle never once mentioned any of these things. In the day of twitter and instagram, we struggle to cook a good steak without bragging about it to our entire social circle, however men of true character are humble in accomplishment and it is the exploits of men like Chris Kyle that remind us of this.

4. Push yourself beyond what you think you are capable of

The Navy SEALs are famous for what they call “hell week” which is 5 and a half days of nonstop mental and physical pain. During hell week, recruits are kept awake for nearly the entire week, receiving a maximum of four hours of sleep, they are forced to run over 200 miles, and sit in the freezing surf of the pacific ocean.

As a society, we have become used to soft living and mundane existences, therefore, whenever a challenge does present itself, we cower away from it, fearing the pain of growth.

As men, we must begin to seek challenge realizing that we are capable of far more than we could ever imagine, and that it is by doing the perceived impossible that we grow.

Sam Morris is the founder of Zen Warrior Training®. In 1999, just after leading a bicycling trip for nine teenagers across the United States, Sam was in a car accident caused by a drunk driver which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Rather than becoming the victim of his circumstances, Sam learned and created a system of attitude training that brought him more vitality and clarity than he ever had before his injury.

In addition to coaching private clients and businesses in Zen Warrior Training®, Sam hosts biweekly classes in Santa Monica, CA and leads community talks and workshops throughout the country.

Self-consciousness is a lack of consciousness of the self

1. Expand Your Relationship with Yourself Beyond Your Mind

So often we get stuck in a place where our relationship with ourselves is limited only to our mind and the incessant mental chatter happening within it.

From this place, it becomes difficult to understand who you truly are, what you want, and what you must do to achieve the range of experiences that you desire in this lifetime.

Your breaths are shallow, your thoughts are cluttered with the opinions and expectations of others, and your truth is being clouded by noise, the ego, and your lack of presence.

But when you expand your relationship with yourself beyond your mind, everything changes.

When you get into your body and begin experiencing more frequent states of flow and presence, your reality changes.

You no longer worry about what you said yesterday or fret about what you must do tomorrow. You are able to simply "Be" in this moment without judgment or criticism.

And when you're in this place of presence and freedom from judgment, you can be 100% you.

I challenge you to make a conscious effort to get into your body this week.

Go surfing, pick up an instrument, train parkour, lift heavy weights, do something that jolts you out of your head and into your body. Because when you are in your body and focused on your movements you are present, and when you are present, life opens up in ways that you can't imagine.

2. Presence Frees You From Your Baggage

When you are living in the past or the future, it's easy to get stuck in your baggage.

Think about it...

If you're living in the past, you are thinking about what you did wrong, or how you could have done something better, or how you said this or didn't say that. You are stuck in an endless loop, experiencing the same "negative" event over and over again in your head.

This lack of presence eeks its way into your present moment and you begin to doubt yourself during conversations and constantly overanalyze yourself and your actions because you are so hung up on yesterday's mistakes.

Living in the future is no different.

If you're constantly focused on what you want to achieve tomorrow and the life you will have someday, then you aren't focused on the amazing life you are living right now.

And if you have the ability to read this article, you do have an amazing life.

By getting present, you are able to be free from the bullshit. With presence, you cannot dwell on past mistakes and personal criticisms. You cannot get caught up in projecting a future that makes you dissatisfied with your current reality.

When you are present, you are free.

3. Presence Accelerates the Human Experience

Everything that you do is amplified by the power of presence.

Everything...

All of the greatest human experiences from creation to sex to friendship to adversity are all amplified by getting present.

When you are present with a woman, your anxiety dissapears and you are able to reveal yourself to her in a way that is completely and totally authentic.

When you are present at work, you can tap into flow states and execute your craft masterfully in half the time that it would take if you were distracted.

When you are present with yourself, you are in tune with your body and emotions and all the lessons to be learned from them (more on that later).

Presence amplifies existence.

Get present.

4. Success without a Strong Internal Identity is Inevitable Failure

One of the greatest mistakes a man can make is to tie his identity to something other than himself.

When a man's identity is contingent on his relationship with his woman, his work, his possessions, or anything outside of himself, his identity is inherently fragile and ripe for disruption.

No one is impervious to the harsh realities of unexpected change.

From a lay off to a divorce to an unexpected death, there are thousands of things that can disrupt your life and completely wreck all of the things that you now hold dear.

And if your identity is wrapped up in these things, when they go, so too does your sense of self.

If your identity is outside of yourself then it doesn't take much to raze your identity and leave you feeling lost and uncertain about who you are.

By cultivating a strong internal identity, you allow yourself to experience the storms of life with all of the pain and joy that comes with them.

You experience everything but can be beaten by nothing.

You are who you are.

And that's more than enough.

5. Feelings Are Teachers

Human emotions are the greatest teachers we've ever met.

Whether positive or negative, any emotion that you feel is there to teach you something.

It could be there to confirm that you are doing well, such as the bliss that you feel when you look at your partner, or the satisfaction that comes from a full day's work.

It could be to inform you that how you are acting is not working, such as the tension in your gut when it comes time to pay the bills or the apprehension you feel about getting your yearly physical.

Or they could be there to tell you that the path you are on ultimately will not serve you such as the inexplicable "Gut feelings" so many of us receive whenever we are unknowingly out of alignment with our highest calling.

If you are going to live this life to the fullest and truly embrace this existence, you must learn to feel your emotions, embody them, learn from them... Don't flee from them.

Never allow your emotions to scare or control you, but always notice them and give them the attention and intention that they deserve.

Your emotions are your mentors and your guides on this crazy journey.

Follow them and you will learn more than you ever imagined.

Sam Morris is the founder of Zen Warrior Training®. In 1999, just after leading a bicycling trip for nine teenagers across the United States, Sam was in a car accident caused by a drunk driver which left him paralyzed from the waist down. Rather than becoming the victim of his circumstances, Sam learned and created a system of attitude training that brought him more vitality and clarity than he ever had before his injury.

In addition to coaching private clients and businesses in Zen Warrior Training®, Sam hosts biweekly classes in Santa Monica, CA and leads community talks and workshops throughout the country.

Self-consciousness is a lack of consciousness of the self

1. Expand Your Relationship with Yourself Beyond Your Mind 

So often we get stuck in a place where our relationship with ourselves is limited only to our mind and the incessant mental chatter happening within it. 

From this place, it becomes difficult to understand who you truly are, what you want, and what you must do to achieve the range of experiences that you desire in this lifetime.

Your breaths are shallow, your thoughts are cluttered with the opinions and expectations of others, and your truth is being clouded by noise, the ego, and your lack of presence. 

But when you expand your relationship with yourself beyond your mind, everything changes. 

When you get into your body and begin experiencing more frequent states of flow and presence, your reality changes. 

You no longer worry about what you said yesterday or fret about what you must do tomorrow. You are able to simply "Be" in this moment without judgment or criticism. 

And when you're in this place of presence and freedom from judgment, you can be 100% you.

I challenge you to make a conscious effort to get into your body this week. 

Go surfing, pick up an instrument, train parkour, lift heavy weights, do something that jolts you out of your head and into your body. Because when you are in your body and focused on your movements you are present, and when you are present, life opens up in ways that you can't imagine. 

2. Presence Frees You From Your Baggage  

When you are living in the past or the future, it's easy to get stuck in your baggage. 

Think about it... 

If you're living in the past, you are thinking about what you did wrong, or how you could have done something better, or how you said this or didn't say that. You are stuck in an endless loop, experiencing the same "negative" event over and over again in your head. 

This lack of presence eeks its way into your present moment and you begin to doubt yourself during conversations and constantly overanalyze yourself and your actions because you are so hung up on yesterday's mistakes. 

Living in the future is no different. 

If you're constantly focused on what you want to achieve tomorrow and the life you will have someday, then you aren't focused on the amazing life you are living right now. 

And if you have the ability to read this article, you do have an amazing life. 

By getting present, you are able to be free from the bullshit. With presence, you cannot dwell on past mistakes and personal criticisms. You cannot get caught up in projecting a future that makes you dissatisfied with your current reality. 

When you are present, you are free. 

3. Presence Accelerates the Human Experience 

Everything that you do is amplified by the power of presence. 

Everything...

All of the greatest human experiences from creation to sex to friendship to adversity are all amplified by getting present. 

When you are present with a woman, your anxiety dissapears and you are able to reveal yourself to her in a way that is completely and totally authentic. 

When you are present at work, you can tap into flow states and execute your craft masterfully in half the time that it would take if you were distracted. 

When you are present with yourself, you are in tune with your body and emotions and all the lessons to be learned from them (more on that later). 

Presence amplifies existence. 

Get present. 

4. Success without a Strong Internal Identity is Inevitable Failure 

One of the greatest mistakes a man can make is to tie his identity to something other than himself. 

When a man's identity is contingent on his relationship with his woman, his work, his possessions, or anything outside of himself, his identity is inherently fragile and ripe for disruption. 

No one is impervious to the harsh realities of unexpected change. 

From a lay off to a divorce to an unexpected death, there are thousands of things that can disrupt your life and completely wreck all of the things that you now hold dear. 

And if your identity is wrapped up in these things, when they go, so too does your sense of self. 

If your identity is outside of yourself then it doesn't take much to raze your identity and leave you feeling lost and uncertain about who you are. 

By cultivating a strong internal identity, you allow yourself to experience the storms of life with all of the pain and joy that comes with them. 

You experience everything but can be beaten by nothing. 

You are who you are. 

And that's more than enough. 

5. Feelings Are Teachers 

Human emotions are the greatest teachers we've ever met. 

Whether positive or negative, any emotion that you feel is there to teach you something. 

It could be there to confirm that you are doing well, such as the bliss that you feel when you look at your partner, or the satisfaction that comes from a full day's work. 

It could be to inform you that how you are acting is not working, such as the tension in your gut when it comes time to pay the bills or the apprehension you feel about getting your yearly physical. 

Or they could be there to tell you that the path you are on ultimately will not serve you such as the inexplicable "Gut feelings" so many of us receive whenever we are unknowingly out of alignment with our highest calling. 

If you are going to live this life to the fullest and truly embrace this existence, you must learn to feel your emotions, embody them, learn from them... Don't flee from them. 

Never allow your emotions to scare or control you, but always notice them and give them the attention and intention that they deserve. 

Your emotions are your mentors and your guides on this crazy journey. 

Follow them and you will learn more than you ever imagined. 

Jake Ducey is a motivational speaker, author and youth role model. At 19 Jake dropped out of college and traveled the world writing the book "Into the Wind" shortly thereafter. Jake is the youngest published personal development author with Penguin Random House.

"Most of us are gambling on the biggest risk of all and that is to bet that one day we will be able to buy the freedom to do what we want later in life." – Jake Ducey

"Write it down, make it happen"- Jack Canfield

1. It's All Within Yourself

Jake traveled the world for six months, experiencing life in third world countries and during his travels he saw people who had absolutely nothing, yet they woke up every day with a smile on their face. It was through this experience that Jake came to the realization that everything you need is within yourself, you are enough.

You don't need the house, the car, or the girl to make you complete as a man. Everything you need to live a full life is within you.

2. There is a difference between learning it and living it

We all know what we need to do to have success. To be financially independent, we need to save more than we spend. To be healthy, we need to eat clean and exercise more. And to have success in our dating and relationships, we need to be confident in ourselves and listen more.

Most every key to success is simple. So why are so many people broke, fat, and lonely? Because we aren't living it! You must be willing to live out the lessons you have learned not merely read about others doing them. If you truly wish to be a success, what you need is not more information and more plans.

What you need is to start living out what you believe and become a man of action.

3. Most of our fears and anxieties aren't real

As a society, we suffer from high rates of chronic anxiety and depression, allowing the mundane worries of our day to day grind to dictate how we live. However, the majority of our fears don't even exist.

Our anxiety is simply a projection of what may happen at some unspecific time in the future if we fail at x, y, or z. In other words, most of our worries are bullcrap.

Even the worst thing that can happen to us is likely not half as life altering and world shattering as we may imagine. As soon as we embrace this mentality, we can begin to feel the fear and do it anyways. And that is when we begin to truly grow into the man we were meant to be.

4. The Point of a goal is who you become in the process

The purpose of any goal, be it physical, experiential, or financial is not the achievement of the goal itself, its about the man you become in the process.

When you set out to transform your body, bank account or social life, you will find that the real reward you gain is the character and integrity from doing the difficult things.

You will find that the grit and tenacity that you have developed from challenging yourself is better than any car, house, or number in a bank account. And you will find that being a man of integrity, a man who says he will achieve something and does it, is the greatest reward of all.

Jake Ducey is a motivational speaker, author and youth role model. At 19 Jake dropped out of college and traveled the world writing the book “Into the Wind” shortly thereafter. Jake is the youngest published personal development author with Penguin Random House.

“Most of us are gambling on the biggest risk of all and that is to bet that one day we will be able to buy the freedom to do what we want later in life.” – Jake Ducey

“Write it down, make it happen”- Jack Canfield

1. It’s All Within Yourself

Jake traveled the world for six months, experiencing life in third world countries and during his travels he saw people who had absolutely nothing, yet they woke up every day with a smile on their face. It was through this experience that Jake came to the realization that everything you need is within yourself, you are enough.

You don’t need the house, the car, or the girl to make you complete as a man. Everything you need to live a full life is within you.

2. There is a difference between learning it and living it

We all know what we need to do to have success. To be financially independent, we need to save more than we spend. To be healthy, we need to eat clean and exercise more. And to have success in our dating and relationships, we need to be confident in ourselves and listen more.

Most every key to success is simple. So why are so many people broke, fat, and lonely? Because we aren’t living it! You must be willing to live out the lessons you have learned not merely read about others doing them. If you truly wish to be a success, what you need is not more information and more plans.

What you need is to start living out what you believe and become a man of action.

3. Most of our fears and anxieties aren’t real

As a society, we suffer from high rates of chronic anxiety and depression, allowing the mundane worries of our day to day grind to dictate how we live. However, the majority of our fears don’t even exist.

Our anxiety is simply a projection of what may happen at some unspecific time in the future if we fail at x, y, or z. In other words, most of our worries are bullcrap.

Even the worst thing that can happen to us is likely not half as life altering and world shattering as we may imagine. As soon as we embrace this mentality, we can begin to feel the fear and do it anyways. And that is when we begin to truly grow into the man we were meant to be.

4. The Point of a goal is who you become in the process

The purpose of any goal, be it physical, experiential, or financial is not the achievement of the goal itself, its about the man you become in the process.

When you set out to transform your body, bank account or social life, you will find that the real reward you gain is the character and integrity from doing the difficult things.

You will find that the grit and tenacity that you have developed from challenging yourself is better than any car, house, or number in a bank account. And you will find that being a man of integrity, a man who says he will achieve something and does it, is the greatest reward of all.

Bo Eason is a former safety of the Houston Oilers, now, a playwright, actor, and personal development coach. In 2009 Bo produced a daily talk show called the Bo Eason Show and his stage production "Runt of the Litter" is currently being played on several stages across the nation. Bo also runs a personal development company focused on teaching individuals and companies to share their stories in a more compelling way.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - Theodore Roosevelt

1. Talent is a myth

In the modern age, we rarely get a glimpse into the trials and obstacles that many of the "overnight successes" face. We are lead to assume that they achieved success purely from talent. We are not shown the years of hard work and effort poured into their so called "instant success." Talent is a myth, the only way to achieve greatly is to dare greatly and work harder than every single one of your competitors.

2. Mastery is a learned skill

The very act of learning is an aquirable skill. At an early age, Bo decided that he wanted to become the best safety in pro football. Despite several obstacles, he achieved his goal and was able to apply what he learned while mastering football to his new career as an actor and playwright. Mastery is a learned skill , if you can master one thing, you can master all things, and if you can master all things then the world is yours for the taking.

3. Obstacles are inevitable if you want success

When Bo decided to become a pro football player. Every odd was against him. He was shorter and slower than the typical safety, and did not get picked for the college he hoped to play at. However, despite being a walk on at a small university, he was still drafted into the NFL, going on to become one of the best in the league.

4. Learn to love obstacles

If obstacles are inevitable to success, then we must learn to love them. Accept challenges for what they are and take pride and pleasure in the process of becoming better. Don't see obstacles as a negative but rather view them as a way for you to sharpen yourself as a performer in whatever field you choose.

5. To gain follows you must learn to tell a good story

Bo now runs seminars and key notes teaching people how to tell a convey their story in a memorable way. He has learned that all great leaders throughout history achieved their success because they were able to tell a story, they were able to cast a vision and create a reality for people to follow. If you wish to be successful in any endeavor you must learn how to tell your story.

6. Be a warrior and not a critic

This world doesn't need another damn critic. This world needs warriors. This world needs people who are willing to face challenges, who are willing to do the impossible, who are willing to be uncomfortable and rejected to achieve great things. You must become a warrior. Become the kind of person who laughs at adversity, who welcomes obstacles and who makes the world in your own image. Be a warrior.

Bo Eason is a former safety of the Houston Oilers, now, a playwright, actor, and personal development coach. In 2009 Bo produced a daily talk show called the Bo Eason Show and his stage production "Runt of the Litter" is currently being played on several stages across the nation. Bo also runs a personal development company focused on teaching individuals and companies to share their stories in a more compelling way.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” - Theodore Roosevelt

1. Talent is a myth

In the modern age, we rarely get a glimpse into the trials and obstacles that many of the "overnight successes" face. We are lead to assume that they achieved success purely from talent. We are not shown the years of hard work and effort poured into their so called "instant success." Talent is a myth, the only way to achieve greatly is to dare greatly and work harder than every single one of your competitors.

2. Mastery is a learned skill

The very act of learning is an aquirable skill. At an early age, Bo decided that he wanted to become the best safety in pro football. Despite several obstacles, he achieved his goal and was able to apply what he learned while mastering football to his new career as an actor and playwright. Mastery is a learned skill , if you can master one thing, you can master all things, and if you can master all things then the world is yours for the taking.

3. Obstacles are inevitable if you want success

When Bo decided to become a pro football player. Every odd was against him. He was shorter and slower than the typical safety, and did not get picked for the college he hoped to play at. However, despite being a walk on at a small university, he was still drafted into the NFL, going on to become one of the best in the league.

4. Learn to love obstacles

If obstacles are inevitable to success, then we must learn to love them. Accept challenges for what they are and take pride and pleasure in the process of becoming better. Don't see obstacles as a negative but rather view them as a way for you to sharpen yourself as a performer in whatever field you choose.

5. To gain follows you must learn to tell a good story

Bo now runs seminars and key notes teaching people how to tell a convey their story in a memorable way. He has learned that all great leaders throughout history achieved their success because they were able to tell a story, they were able to cast a vision and create a reality for people to follow. If you wish to be successful in any endeavor you must learn how to tell your story.

6. Be a warrior and not a critic

This world doesn't need another damn critic. This world needs warriors. This world needs people who are willing to face challenges, who are willing to do the impossible, who are willing to be uncomfortable and rejected to achieve great things. You must become a warrior. Become the kind of person who laughs at adversity, who welcomes obstacles and who makes the world in your own image. Be a warrior.

Phillip and Ishmael are the duo behind the band "William Pilgrim and the all Grows up." They are social activists focused on bringing about societal change by spreading their message through music.. Phillip and Ish are also heavily involved in programs to help at risk teens by teaching them to express their struggles through music.

"Don't give up before the miracle happens" ~Flannie Flagg

"If I stay ready I won't have to get ready" ~Will Smith

1. "Don't quit ten feet from gold" – Napoleon Hill

Life will always throw challenges and adversity our way right before we accomplish our goals. Things often look worst right before a breakthrough, and the temptation to quit will become almost unbearable. The key is to persevere and not give up when the struggle gets hard but to face the trials until you succeed.

2. Approach all of your goals with intensity and determination.

If you want to have high levels of success in your life, you must be willing to put forth the same effort and resolve that our forbears did during movements like the American Revolution and Civil Rights Movement. Nothing worth having ever came easy, and the only way to ensure success is to pursue your goals with a fiery drive.

3. Accept the uncertainty of life and adapt to meet it.

Fate doesn't care about plans. Life will always present unexpected circumstances and trials and the only way we can succeed in a world of constant uncertainty is to learn how to accept whatever happens and adapt your tactics.

Phillip and Ishmael are the duo behind the band “William Pilgrim and the all Grows up.” They are social activists focused on bringing about societal change by spreading their message through music.. Phillip and Ish are also heavily involved in programs to help at risk teens by teaching them to express their struggles through music.

“Don’t give up before the miracle happens” ~Flannie Flagg

“If I stay ready I won’t have to get ready” ~Will Smith

1. “Don’t quit ten feet from gold” – Napoleon Hill

Life will always throw challenges and adversity our way right before we accomplish our goals. Things often look worst right before a breakthrough, and the temptation to quit will become almost unbearable. The key is to persevere and not give up when the struggle gets hard but to face the trials until you succeed.

2. Approach all of your goals with intensity and determination.

If you want to have high levels of success in your life, you must be willing to put forth the same effort and resolve that our forbears did during movements like the American Revolution and Civil Rights Movement. Nothing worth having ever came easy, and the only way to ensure success is to pursue your goals with a fiery drive.

3. Accept the uncertainty of life and adapt to meet it.

Fate doesn’t care about plans. Life will always present unexpected circumstances and trials and the only way we can succeed in a world of constant uncertainty is to learn how to accept whatever happens and adapt your tactics.