What is the difference between performing surgery and stabbing? Both involve using a blade to cut a person. The difference is consent and intent.

In sugery, the patient consents to the proceedure, and the intent is to do good. This is not the case with an assault.

The same is true with coaching and motivation.

To effectively coach or motivate someone, you must have their consent. If you coach tells you take responsibility for everything you do and find changes in yourself to improve the situation, there is consent and the advice is valuable.

If a parent or boss or religious leader does the same thing to deflect blame and responsibility from themselves onto you, the same message, without consent and with selfish intent, becomes abusive.

This video goes a bit deeper into heavier topics than I usually do. You may find it interesting, but I warn you that it could be upsetting to some people.

I'd love to hear your feedback in the comments or privately at [email protected]

Check out my other podcast at https://www.guywhoknowsaguy.com/podcast

It's Black Friday, that most American of holidays when we buy lots of stuff!

As you spend all this money on gifts, I'd like you to spare a moment to ask yourself how much you have invested in yourself this year.

The greatest investment you can make is in yourself.

I have created a special Black Friday program to allow you to get clarity and get ready for 2021 for less than the cost of a TV. Check it out at http://2021package.guywhoknowsaguy.com

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am doing a daily motivation series (http://crush2021.guywhoknowsaguy.com)

I recorded a special Thankgiving message, and I wanted to share it with everyone today.

I made a nice video to go with this at https://youtu.be/9pJA9CA6rxg

Nothing says good morning like stepping out into 34 degree with nothing but shorts on.

This morning, I went out on the deck, did some exercise in the cold, and after 60 seconds, I was fully awake and feeling great.

We are so conditioned to avoid discomfort that we diminish the potential of our lives.

Anything worth doing is at least a little uncomfortable, but a childhood full of "wear a coat", "be careful", "you'll get hurt" have condemned too many of us to a life of mediocrity.

Mediocrity is the ultimate discomfort, so don't be afraid of being uncomfortable to become the great person you are meant to be.

Looking for more motiviation. You will love the Crush 2021 Motivational Series. http://crush2021.guywhoknowsaguy.com

I woke up a 3:50 AM to the sound of rain on the window.

I was thinking about some frustrations I've had. Projects that haven't gotten the response I'd hoped for. Initiatives that haven't worked out as planned.

So I gave up...

...on sleeping.

People ask me how to keep going when it gets hard.

The answer is action. Depression is a low energy state. If you are getting frustrated, depressed, hopeless, the answer is to take action.

If you're massively frustrated, take massive action!

The answer is not on Netflix. It's not in bed. The answer is in action.

Get up. Get to work. Get to action. Get to success.

Around the same time I woke up, many people received my motivational message in their inbox. If you'd like a blast of motivation every day from  now until 2021, visit http://crush2021.guywhoknowsaguy.com to sign up.

The how changes, but if the goal is clear, you'll figure it out.

Today things did not go as planned. There were a number of surprises, but because we were clear on our goal, the results came out well... eventually.

This year has been the same way for many of us.

This is why knowing where you want to end up, clarifying your goals is so important.

And this is why I am running a series of free goal setting workshops over the next few weeks. If you know the goal, you can figure out the how.

Visit http://countdown.guywhoknowsaguy.com to sign up for this FREE goal setting workshop.

Losing weaknesses is an interesting experience, especially if you are more advanced in age.

Things that you could never do before, that you got used to not being able to do, are suddenly possible and sometimes easy.

A year ago, I couldn't climb a flight of stairs without getting winded. I certainly couldn't do leg lifts or carry heavy objects over a distance. I couldn't even step over a guardrail without great effort.

Now, at 40, I'm watching my physical weaknesses fall away one by one.

As children, we are used to getting stronger and more capable, then we assume that our capabilities will reduce progressively as we get older after a certain point.

But it doesn't have to be that way. We can continue to increase capabilities and shed weaknesses for many more years after... IF we put in the effort.

Marital arts has been very good to me, and I'd like to give back by giving anyone who studies martial arts a gift of access to one of my motivational programs at no charge. If you are a martial artist, email me at [email protected] with the discipline you study, and I'll reach out to give you access.

What's Next?

The best place to focus our attention is on the present and the immediate future.

If you look back, then you are stuck in the past.

If you look too far foward, then you are stuck in a dream.

By focusing on the very next thing, you stay moving forward.

Had a great victory? Don't get stuck there. Where is your next great victory?

Terrible defeat? Don't get stuck there. On to the next.

What's next?

Would you like a powerful motivational message in your email every morning for the rest of the year? Visit http://crush2021.guywhoknowsaguy.com and sign up for the Motivational Countdown to Crush 2021!

If you are reading this then you have an unbroken record of surviving every challenge that life has thrown at you.

Nothing has been able to kill you.

Nothing has been able to stop you.

You are UNDEFEATED!

We sometimes focus on our failures and think that we are losers. But we are not losers because you cannot lose until the game is over, and as long as you draw breath, the game goes on and you remain undefeated.

You have survived everything that has come before, and every day after this one is a chance to be victorious.

Want to be updated when I post every Michael's Motivation? The best way to do it is to follow my Patreon page at patreon.com/guywhoknowsaguy

Let me help you to plan to win 2021. Join me for a free webinar on seven different dates over the rest of 2020. http://countdown.guywhoknowsaguy.com

Like all of us, I have made a lot of lifestyle changes.

I didn't do a lot of in person socializing. I didn't go to bars before the quarantine, so that didn't change.

There's no in person networking events anymore, and that's a pretty big change, but I am realizing that the thing I really miss from pre-pandemic times is driving for Uber.

It's not about the money. It's that when I was driving, it was relaxing and fun. It was like going out to bar, but without having to pay to be there. I got to meet all kinds of interesting people in the middle of their fun evening. I got to listen to podcasts and audiobooks.

And it was simple. I turned on the app, and I did what it told me. For my ADHD brain, that was a vacation in itself.

What unexpected thing do you find yourself missing from pre-pandemic times? Share in the comments.

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