I'm going around delivering presents with a white beard and a jolly demeanor. I'm basically Santa Claus!

I've been listening to @Dan Carlin - Hardcore History as I drive and the current episodes are about Japan in WWII.

The Japanise were the epitome of positive, can-do attitude. They were so committed that they would rather die that lose, and would literally commit suicide rather than surrender even when they were clearly defeated.

This attitude did not win the war because they did not have the strategy or even honest self awareness of the situation that they needed to effectively deploy that incredible spirit.

I have learned a similar lesson in my own life about the need to have strategy and to be humble enough to realize that my own spirit alone is not sufficient to achieve success.

Strategy is vital.

Looking for a daily boost and high impact motivational messages?

Check out http://motivation.guywhoknowsaguy.com

This kid is smarter than me (in some ways).

As we grow up, we learn things, and some of those things are wrong.

Rowan does not know what she can't do, so she does all kinds of things.

I, on the other hand, place all kinds of limits on myself. Not just those "self limiting" beliefs we hear about in goal setting.

More mundane things. I had written off a variety of enjoyable and profitable ventures.

I am a motivational speaker, coach, author. I can't take a gig hauling packages, can I? I can be an Uber driver can I?

Yeah, I can. That's what an entrepreneur is. It's someone who chases opportunities, whether they come dressed in suits or overalls.

Rowan would have known that already. It took me a while to catch on.

Looking for some motivation to help you pursue your opportunities? Check out http://motivation.guywhoknowsaguy.com

I have not been completely honest.

Not to say I've been lying or even intentionally misleading. I just haven't been completely honest.

I got started coaching because I connected with coaches who talked about the importance of big ticket programs, high dollar courses, audacious financial goals.

So I tried to create those kinds of programs, but that's not me.

I'm not all about money. I'm about helping people. I'm about coaching people and the feeling I get when someone says "that really helped me."

The people I can help the most can't afford high ticket courses. And that's okay. I don't need to make $20,000 a month.

If I can pay my bills and spend my time making people's lives better, then I am living my calling and I am happy.

It took me a long time to come to this realization, but with it is the understanding that I need to be more authentic in the content I share. You don't need platitudes and theory. You want to see me live my truth so that you can learn from that how to live your own truth.

Authenticity is harder than it sounds like it should be.

Learn more about Michael Whitehouse.

I wasn't sure if I wanted to share this one or not, but I decided that it is more valuable to you that I share my true and authentic story than for me to share some polished, improved, embelished version of my life.

I'm not rich. I'm not independently wealthy. Sometimes my financial fortunes are up and sometimes they are down.

I got this idea in my head that I need to make money in "professional" and "respectable" ways. But that's not right.

If you make an ethical living and you put food on the table and a roof over your head, then it's a good living.

If you can do some good for people at the same time, even better. And I think that my messages and my writing do that for people.

Sometimes I make money coaching. Sometimes I make money delivering packages. Sometimes I make money writing. Sometimes I make money running events.

That's what entrepreneurship is about. Seeing and seizing opportunities. That and never giving up, never stopping, never staying down.

And it really was fun running around in the snow yesterday.

Seriously. Two new episodes of Hardcore History in my queue! (Watch the video to understand)

How do you see yourself?

Your self image affects your confidence and your outcomes.

A lot of people get down on the idea of positive thinking, but positive thinking is like nutritional supplements for exercise. Without doing the exercise, they do nothing, but they can be vital to make the exercise effective.

You need to do the work to be successful, but you are more likely to do the work if you have confidence and the work is more likely to acheive results.

So, how do you see yourself? Do you see yourself as someone with value? Do you see yourself as someone who can succeed?

Check out this article I wrote this week on the topic:

https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/2020/12/04/how-do-you-see-yourself/

Work the problem.  

What does that mean? 

It means that you take the problem step by step, starting by clearly identifying the desired outcome.  The outcome points to the solution. Then ask yourself what you need for that solution.  

Work backwards from the end to where you are now. 

What is the next thing you need to do?  

Do that.  

What's next?  

Do that.  

Repeat until success.  

Work the problem. Don't panic.  

Looking for help and support in clarifying and working your problems? Check out the SASS program: http://sas.guywhoknowsaguy.com  

Want to get your mind right to tackle the next problem? Sign up for a free high impact motivational message in your mailbox every morning at http://motivation.guywhoknowsaguy.com

If you're like me, you go on YouTube searching for inspiration. You listen to motivational messages to get fired up and get your head right.

Often those messages aren't even meant for you. They're about sports or war or who knows what, but the energy is right, so you go with it.

Would you like an empowering message to get you fired up in the morning, and a calming message to wind you down at night?

Good, because that is what I am creating! Every morning in your email, a motivational message, and every evening, and inspiring message.

To sign up free, visit http://motivation.guywhoknowsaguy.com

This episode is dedicated to my daughter Rowan who is a great kid.

Parents have unique challenges working from home, but my daughter understands that if I'm recording, then it's important she not interupt.

She needed to tell me something, but she waited so quietly for me to finish my video that I didn't even know she was there.

This kid is great.

It's not just you. 

The economy is way more difficult than it used to be.  

The era of getting a degree, getting a job, and keeping it for your whole career passed almost half a century again. Even worse, it only lasted for less than three decades.  

Our ideal of what work should be like it based on a period in time that passed in an historical blink of the eye.  

The good news is that opportunity still exists, but it only exists if you are looking at the situation that we face in reality and not some fantasy of past economic greatness.  

If you'd like to talk more about your own sitauation, visit https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com, and click the button the schedule a call. I'd love to learn more about you and see how we can get you moving on the right track.

Why do I use a smartphone but no longer use a Fitbit?  

Why do I love my smart home device but hate my car's touchscreen display? 

We live in a world of magic. 

A device that I carry in my pocket connects me to the entire world, all it's knowledge, and all it's people.  I use this device to record videos that I can share with you, on demand, at no cost.  

Magic!  

But all magic has a price.  

Sometimes the magic is not worth the price, and sometimes the price itself makes the magic no longer worth it. Some technology by its nature makes itself ineffective for its intended purpose.  

If you haven't yet, you should join my Facebook Group at www.facebook.com/groups/confidentconnected