The older I get the more I try to focus only on things in my control. 

Sometimes you can execute everything perfectly, but you still don’t get the results you want or expected.  

As a long time Little League coach, I find myself having this conversation with players a lot. Especially pitchers.

I always tell the kids judge their performance based on their effort, not the results.

With age comes the realization that results often come slower than we would like, but they will eventually come with the proper level of effort. This is especially true in a team environment where there are multiple variables outside of your control.

Former major leaguer, and World Series MVP, Ben Zobrist said, 

“At the end of the day, you can’t control the results; you can only control your effort level and your focus.”

As a pitcher there are a lot of things you can’t control that affect results. The umpire, the hitter, your teammates . . . However, you can control your own effort. 

If you are giving 100% then there is no reason to ever hang your head. After all, you can’t give anything more than your best.

If you aren’t giving your best then you need to evaluate why. The answer could be as simple as maybe your goals aren’t really what you think they are. I find that generally, when there is a lack of effort there is also a lack fo desire.  

The thing with effort is that you are the only one that can truly evaluate if you gave it your all. It is the one thing entirely in your control.

So next time your game, product launch, meeting, review, etc. doesn’t go your way. Don’t judge the results, judge your effort.

Welcome to the Limitless Podcast with Nathan Jovanelly.  Thanks for tuning in.

Exactly a year ago I did a podcast on not having a “Plan B”. My son and his friends were about to embark on their freshman year of college and they asked my opinion about having a backup plan.

It was, and is, my opinion that you need to remain committed to you goals . . . no Plan B needed.

Fast forward to this year. My son is now about to go into his sophomore year and he asked me how I felt about going “all-in”. I replied that I think it is generally it is a bad idea.

He pressed me a little because my answer seemed to surprise him. And at the time, honestly, I didn’t have a good answer.

Since our conversation on July 16, I have been thinking about if my advice to not go all-in is in direct conflict with the advice I gave last year about not having a Plan B.

After a few weeks of reflection, I stand firm in my advice. No Plan B, don’t go all-in.

Living life without a Plan B requires three things:

Commitment.
Flexibility. 
Discipline.

I believe that going all-in really only covers the commitment part. By going all-in you are fully committed, but there is a problem with blind commitment.  

Like going all-in with a bad poker hand, commitment can make bad ideas worse just as it can make good ideas better. The more you commit to a bad idea (work, relationship, etc.) the more trapped you become. While the more you commit to a good idea the more it energizes you.

That is why being flexible and disciplined are the other critical pieces.  
Tony Robbins said, “Stay committed to your decisions but flexible in your approach.”

As I said a year ago, I think the key is to be committed to your goals, but flexible in how you get there. Ultimately this could also take you to a different path with new goals, and more, different, or better commitments. 

So in order to ensure you don’t get stuck with / or doing something you don’t enjoy, you need to remain flexible.  

The balance between commitment and all-in is flexibility, but also you also need to be disciplined.  

You may be committed to losing weight, but you need to be disciplined about it. If you are training for a marathon you don't start by going from the couch to running 26 miles in one day.

The same is also true for the previous poker analogy I used. Good players remain disciplined and don’t chase bad flops. If you go all-in on a bad flop trying to chase a good hand, you no longer have flexibility because you are likely going to get out of the game.  

So this week evaluate what you are committed to. Is it raising you up or pulling you down? Double down on the good, but always remain flexible and disciplined in your approach to achieve greater results.

Welcome to the Limitless Podcast with Nathan Jovanelly.  Thanks for tuning in.

I often talk about James Clear. Not only did I enjoy his book, Atomic Habits, but I also throughly enjoy his Thursday 3-2-1 newsletter. I posted on LinkedIn this past week about how his message from July 28th resonated with me.

He wrote, 

“Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is eliminate the task.

Downsize. The rooms you don’t have, don’t need to be cleaned.

Donate. The items you don’t own, don’t need to be organized.

Delete. The projects you don’t take on, don’t need to be finished.

Is this a problem that needs to be solved? Or is it a problem that can be eliminated all together?”

This was a perfect for me this week because I was just talking about this with my wife recently. Why is it so hard to let go of things we don’t use? I am just as guilty of it as others, but it is something I am continually working on.  

I used to own a boat. Those who have owned a boat have likely heard the saying, “There are only two good days to own a boat, the day you buy it and the day you sell it.”

For me, that was the case. Don’t get me wrong. I really enjoyed the boat, but often it felt like a chore. It felt like I spent more time working for and worrying about the boat than making memories on the boat. At the end of the day it seemed like the boat owned me. So I sold it.

This lead me to this famous quote from Brad Pitt’s character in Fight Club, “The things you own, end up owning you.”

Before I make a major purchase I often think about the item as a liability and then try to work backwards from there. In other words, is this thing really worth owning? Will it bring me more good memories than bad? Will it take more time than it gives? Does it improve my overall quality of life, or make my life easier in anyway?  

Often times there are additional costs that are not monetary that need to be considered. After all, you can always get more money anyway but you can’t get more time.

As the kids leave the nest, my wife an I envision ourselves downsizing to a condo in a walkable city. Somewhere close to an airport where we can be free of things and able to move agilely when it suites us. Whether it is to visit the kids, or go on a last minute trip.

This week I challenge everyone to give something away that you don’t use or wear. It can be something small, but just get the ball rolling to see how it feels. Often it can be liberating.  

From experience I can say that this simple task is more difficult than it seems. I know I have shoes in my closet that I will probably never wear again, but for some reason I can’t bring myself to donate them. This is the exact scenario that begs the question, if you can’t give it away do you own it or does it own you?

Welcome to the Limitless Podcast with Nathan Jovanelly.  Thanks for tuning in.

This past week I was on a fishing excursion in Alaska.  What an incredible trip!

We saw a little bit of everything and always seemed to be in the right place in the right time. 

I can confidently say that we caught more fish than any other group at the lodge.  In total, our team of six hauled in more than 1200 pounds of fish from Tuesday to Saturday.  

That isn’t meant to be a brag, but rather, highlight something we did extremely well.  We consistently were one of the first boats to leave and last to come back to the lodge.  More importantly, every time we caught a fish we worked as a team to get the hook back in the water as fast as possible.

There are so many epic experiences from this trip that I could share this week, but I think the key takeaway can be summed up from what the head of the lodge said on the first day we got there, 

“If you want to catch a fish you need to keep a hook in the water.”

From that standpoint maybe we weren’t necessarily “in the right place at the right time”, but rather, maximized our opportunity for success.

Life is all about taking advantage of opportunities, and the more opportunities you get the better chance of success you have.

Our group was certainly not the most skilled anglers in the lodge, not by a long shot.  However, we maximized our opportunities by maximizing our time on the water and always having a hook in the water.

So this week know that there are opportunities swimming all around you, but have to keep a hook in the water if you want to catch a fish.

Welcome to the Limitless Podcast with Nathan Jovanelly.  Thanks for tuning in.

I challenge everyone this week to bless someone unexpectedly in a small way.

It doesn’t have to be monetary.  It can be as simple as helping your neighbor carry in groceries, volunteering at the food bank, or assisting a friend with a project.  It doesn’t matter what it is, but rather, the intent to impact someone’s day in a positive direction. 

This past week I had a very important person in my life show me the greatest act of generosity I could ever imagine.  

I am not going to get into the details, but it left me speechless. 

In times when I find myself lost for words (both good and bad) I turn to the bible so the quote from this week is Proverbs 11:25 (New International Version)

A generous person will prosper; 

whoever refreshes others will be refreshed.

This person has already done so much for me that his level of generosity is hard for me to comprehend.  However, I always make him the promise that I will pay it forward.

As you think about your week, reflect on something generous that someone has done for you recently.  Then simply pay it forward by blessing someone else.  Give with a cheerful heart knowing that you are changing someone’s life, even if it is in a very small way.  

It is these small blessings that grow, and create a chain reaction of giving that can truly change the world.

So go out this week and give some extra time, a helping hand, or a donation.  Give without the expectation of anything in return, but even then I think you will find that when you give it always has a way of coming back to you in even greater ways.

Welcome to the Limitless Podcast with Nathan Jovanelly.  Thanks for tuning in.

What steals your joy?

Last week I heard the saying, “comparison is the thief of joy”. I have heard this before, but this time it stuck with me.

As I reflected on the many blessings in my life, I also thought about what steals my joy. Undoubtedly it is when I compare myself to someone or something else.  

Research shows that humans have biased comparisons. For instance, comparing yourself to the fittest person you know when evaluating your own fitness level, or the best cook you know when you are evaluating your own cooking skills.

This is exacerbated by social media where you only see what people show you. Many of whom are rich and famous.

Do not fall into the trap of comparison, and instead choose to live with gratitude.  As the ancient Greek philosopher Epicurus said, “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for.”

The only thing you should ever compare yourself to is the person you were yesterday.  So keep improving, keep getting better, and do not let comparison steal your joy.

Welcome to the Limitless Podcast with Nathan Jovanelly.  Thanks for tuning in.

After more than a year of consistency that I did not put out an episode of my Limitless Podcast (aka Monday Motivation) this past week.

This was intentional.

Although I have done several podcasts while on vacation, including the one two weeks ago, I decided to take last week off to spend focused, dedicated time with my family.  

We were having a blast in Magic Kingdom, and I couldn’t bring myself to move the attention away from the kids even though I had plenty of opportunity to shoot a quick video while in line, early in the morning, or even a week in advance.

I also thought about doing a podcast on something like “better late than never” mid-week, but ultimately I decided to remain hyper focused on what matters most, my family. That is what led me to this quote.

"In business, what you don’t get done today can be done tomorrow. With family, what doesn’t get done today is gone forever."

When you work hard you need to enjoy the time off of work even more. If I miss a weekly podcast, it isn’t the end of the world. However, missing time with my kids in Magic Kingdom is an experience I will never be able to duplicate.

So I hope if you have the day off today that you spend I wisely and focus some extra energy on spending time with people you care about knowing that work will be there when you get back. After all, the experiences you miss with friends and family today are gone forever.

Welcome to the Limitless Podcast with Nathan Jovanelly.  Thanks for tuning in.

The greatest teacher is experience.

This past weekend I bought a giant gazebo from Costco and had friends over installing it. 

One of the seemingly easiest but longest tasks was removing the protective plastic off the roof and the roof finishes.  

The friend that was helping looked at me when she was peeling the last piece of plastic off of the final roof segment and she said, "Isn't it funny how when you are on the last one you figure out a way to do it better and faster?"

I looked at her and said, "That is called experience."

This reminded me of a quote from Julius Caesar who said, "Experience is the teacher of all things."

Unfortunately, most people expect to master something on the first try.  However, that is not reality.

In reality you need time to develop and hone your craft.  This is true in both life and business.

Remember that there is no such thing as failure.  There is only learning.  So take what you have learned to move forward.  Continue to perfect your craft, and use your experience to master what you are trying to accomplish.

When things don't seem to go your way just stop and recailbate because experience is truly the teacher of all things.

Welcome to the Limitless Podcast with Nathan Jovanelly.  Thanks for tuning in.

I was at a Goldman Sachs Crafting Tomorrow event last week in Austin, TX. First of all, wow. Goldman really knows how to through a first class event full of industry leaders.

One of the highlights for me was the conversation with  Drew Brees at dinner. In full disclosure, I am not a Saints fan, but I have always admired Drew Brees. 

Not just because of his faith, but also because people told him he couldn’t do it. For those that remember, he slipped out of the first round to become the first pick in the second round of the 2001 NFL draft because he was “too small” to be an NFL quarterback. That story always resonated with me because I was just graduating high school at that time and I was very small kid. I didn’t really grow until the summer leading into my freshman year of college. 

I loved that there was someone out there not letting others perception of them become a reality. Someone who worked tirelessly to prove to the naysayers that they could not only compete, but thrive in the NFL.

During the dinner conversation Drew said that his mentor told him to abide by the 3M’s.  

“Master, Mentor, Make a Difference.”

Everyone in the room was sure to remember this hook, and for good reason . . . this is a great playbook for life.

Master: Find what you are passionate about and master it. Dedicate yourself to your craft, learn from your mistakes, and improve every day.

Drew said that he would review every single play in the playbook each week and think to himself, “what is the worst thing that can happen on this play”. That enabled him to have a plan and allowed him to stay poised in the event that the play didn’t go as planned.

Mentor: Once you have mastered your craft, mentor someone that is coming behind you. Help them on their journey and provide them with the knowledge that it takes to become a master themselves.

Make a difference: That is what life is about. Helping others. 100-years from now no one will remember that Drew Brees was the MVP of Super Bowl 44. However, the Brees Dream Foundation, which supports cancer patients and research, will endure. As of 2021 the Brees Dream Foundation has donated over $35M to charitable causes worldwide.

The 3M’s set up a continued cycle of prosperity for everyone it touches. If everyone lived life this way think about all the good that would be done. All the people that would be helped. What an inspiration. 

So this week remember to not listen to the naysayers. Go after your dreams and on your journey do not forget the 3Ms: Master, Mentor, Make a difference.

Welcome to the Limitless Podcast with Nathan Jovanelly.  Thanks for tuning in.

About five (5) years ago I was playing miniature golf with my son and one of his friends. They called me a “try hard” in a condescending way. Clearly this has stuck with me a long time. I could never grasp why it was a bad thing to try your best. How did this become part of the middle school vernacular?  

I decided then and there that it is important to teach my children to worry about what they can control, have a positive attitude, and always give it their best effort.  
This past week my daughter had her fifth grade graduation marking her transition to middle school.  

As I was thumbing through her yearbook I notice that the entire class had a short bio. Things like their favorite TV show, music, food, etc. That is when I noticed this quote from my daughter, “You can do anything if you try hard enough.”

That is why I have this podcast. I started the Monday Motivation (aka Limitless Podcast) for my children. Life lessons and inspiration that I get the joy of seeing in action every single day.  
I am a firm believer that gratitude and a positive attitude are the drivers of living a life of happiness.

I also believe that things turn out the best for people who make the best of how things turn out.

Passing this message on to my children is the single greatest thing I can do for them.  

I also know that someone out there needs to hear this message today. Someone is struggling to find the good in their situation. Someone is doubting their abilities. Someone is questioning their path, trying to find the strength to continue, and wondering if everything is going to work out. To that someone, take advice from my 11-year-old and remember that the one thing you can control is your attitude. After all, you can do anything if you try hard enough.

Welcome to the Limitless Podcast with Nathan Jovanelly.  Thanks for tuning in.