Success, Motivation & Inspiration

Earlier this week I asked the question. “If I gave you $100,000 but you had to invest it, what would you do with the money?”

People have commented that they would invest in real estate or the stock market. Others said they would use the money for personal development. Many said that they would like to help the less fortunate. A few others said they would invent something. The majority of the people who replied said they would like to start, or expand a small business.

What would you do, if money was the only thing standing between you and success? If you knew the money was yours as long as you created a strong enough “WHY”, what could stop you?

Some of the most successful entrepreneurs in history started out desperate and broke. I personally launched the company that later acquired BestCellular.com while fighting brain cancer and given no chance of survival. Now, Best Cellular connects customers all over the United States!

Comment below with your reply! “If I gave you $100,000 but you had to invest it, what would you do with the money?”

What Do Successful People Do Every Day That You Don’t?In the next few minutes, I’ll give you some modifications you can make to your daily routine to become more successful.Create A Daily RoutineI’ll paraphrase a quote from Eric Thomas, author of The Secret To Success.“I can tell you all about your life if you just write down your 24-hour schedule for me and you let me look at it. I can tell you where you gonna be in 5 years, 10 years, or in 20 years if you keep that same schedule.”Wake Up At The Same Time Each MorningStudies show the most successful people wake up at the same time every day. You don’t necessarily need to wake up at the crack of dawn to be successful. Organizational psychologist, Adam Grant says,“The world’s most successful people aren’t worried about what time others wake up. They wake and work on the schedule that works for them.”Success is all about what you accomplish in the hours you’re awake.Follow An Exercise RoutineNot only does exercise burn extra calories and help keep you in shape, but it allows you to combat stress as well. Make time for exercise. If an hour-long routine seems too daunting, try running, biking, stretching, dancing or even walking around the neighborhood for at least ten minutes.Intentionally Motivate YourselfHighly successful people know motivation doesn’t last forever. They dedicate ample time to become inspired. Spend at least 15-minutes listening to inspirational messages, videos, audiobooks, or podcasts each day. Best Cellular retail stores play the Success, Motivation & Inspiration video playlist with shuffle turned on. In doing so, employees and customers receive inspiration without having to go look for it!Be GratefulGratitude is simply “the quality of being thankful.” A 2013 article on Forbes quotes author, Geoffrey James as saying,“People who approach life with a sense of gratitude are constantly aware of what’s wonderful in their life. Because they enjoy the fruits of their successes, they seek out more success. And when things don’t go as planned, people who are grateful can put failure into perspective.”Successful People Focus On Self-ImprovementA recent survey by Fast Company found the average number of books read by CEOs is 60 books per year, or five books each month.Warren Buffett reportedly reads an astounding average of 500 pages each day! Buffett attributes his success partly to his voracious reading habit and encourages others to incorporate reading into their daily routine as well.Are you taking time each day to read and learn something new?Successful People Set Big GoalsDan Sullivan (Author of The Gap And The Gain) says,“Some adults try not to engage in make-believe anymore because they think it’s childish, but I don’t think we ever really outgrow it.”Make a goal board or a list of goals you plan to accomplish by the end of this year. Record each goal you accomplish this month.Here’s my advice: If you work, act & conduct yourself like someone who already achieved success, you’ll convince yourself that’s who you already are. Where your mind goes, your body follows!Successful People Don’t ComplainChoose to see things in the best light. Be positive and upbeat. Do you complain when there’s a problem or do you find a solution? Choose to find opportunities in difficulty.Successful People Inspire OthersKathy Caprino, Senior Contributor at Forbes says,“Those who inspire others believe in collective power.”Many studies have found that successful people make it a point to inspire and encourage others. They are genuinely happy to see others succeed and they make it a point to recognize others for their achievements.When someone surpasses you, do you celebrate their success and decide to work harder, or do you talk poorly of them behind closed doors?

What Do Successful People Do Every Day That You Don’t?In the next few minutes, I’ll give you some modifications you can make to your daily routine to become more successful.Create A Daily RoutineI’ll paraphrase a quote from Eric Thomas, author of The Secret To Success.“I can tell you all about your life if you just write down your 24-hour schedule for me and you let me look at it. I can tell you where you gonna be in 5 years, 10 years, or in 20 years if you keep that same schedule.”Wake Up At The Same Time Each MorningStudies show the most successful people wake up at the same time every day. You don’t necessarily need to wake up at the crack of dawn to be successful. Organizational psychologist, Adam Grant says,“The world’s most successful people aren’t worried about what time others wake up. They wake and work on the schedule that works for them.”Success is all about what you accomplish in the hours you’re awake.Follow An Exercise RoutineNot only does exercise burn extra calories and help keep you in shape, but it allows you to combat stress as well. Make time for exercise. If an hour-long routine seems too daunting, try running, biking, stretching, dancing or even walking around the neighborhood for at least ten minutes.Intentionally Motivate YourselfHighly successful people know motivation doesn’t last forever. They dedicate ample time to become inspired. Spend at least 15-minutes listening to inspirational messages, videos, audiobooks, or podcasts each day. Best Cellular retail stores play the Success, Motivation & Inspiration video playlist with shuffle turned on. In doing so, employees and customers receive inspiration without having to go look for it!Be GratefulGratitude is simply “the quality of being thankful.” A 2013 article on Forbes quotes author, Geoffrey James as saying,“People who approach life with a sense of gratitude are constantly aware of what’s wonderful in their life. Because they enjoy the fruits of their successes, they seek out more success. And when things don’t go as planned, people who are grateful can put failure into perspective.”Successful People Focus On Self-ImprovementA recent survey by Fast Company found the average number of books read by CEOs is 60 books per year, or five books each month.Warren Buffett reportedly reads an astounding average of 500 pages each day! Buffett attributes his success partly to his voracious reading habit and encourages others to incorporate reading into their daily routine as well.Are you taking time each day to read and learn something new?Successful People Set Big GoalsDan Sullivan (Author of The Gap And The Gain) says,“Some adults try not to engage in make-believe anymore because they think it’s childish, but I don’t think we ever really outgrow it.”Make a goal board or a list of goals you plan to accomplish by the end of this year. Record each goal you accomplish this month.Here’s my advice: If you work, act & conduct yourself like someone who already achieved success, you’ll convince yourself that’s who you already are. Where your mind goes, your body follows!Successful People Don’t ComplainChoose to see things in the best light. Be positive and upbeat. Do you complain when there’s a problem or do you find a solution? Choose to find opportunities in difficulty.Successful People Inspire OthersKathy Caprino, Senior Contributor at Forbes says,“Those who inspire others believe in collective power.”Many studies have found that successful people make it a point to inspire and encourage others. They are genuinely happy to see others succeed and they make it a point to recognize others for their achievements.When someone surpasses you, do you celebrate their success and decide to work harder,

The other day I drove past a homeless guy sitting in the shade to escape the heat of the day. As I passed, he aggressively flipped me off with pain in his eyes and yelled, “Rich f***n’ prick!” because he saw me driving a Jaguar. I hadn’t done anything to make him hate me except drive by in a nice car. He likely thinks that successful people were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Did he hate me because he assumed I was “dealt better cards in life” than he received?

I don’t know this guy, but he may have grown up in a bad situation. He may not know any successful people or have many positive influences in his life. He may not understand that life is what you decide to make of it. I wanted to connect with this guy and give him a bit of encouragement. Maybe I could tell him about the man I spoke with a few years earlier who had lost everything but started his own multi-million dollar company after living on the street. This other guy went from homeless to driving a twin-turbo Ferrari by deciding to create a better future.

Would it help this homeless man to share my story? I had lived in the back of my phone store for years, surviving malignant brain cancer and diabetes. I had to drive to the gym each morning because I didn’t have a shower in the back of the store. Although I didn’t know his exact situation, I’ve been down and out before, so I could sympathize. I decided to approach him.

There’s Always An Opportunity To Improve Your Situation

Would it help to share how I’d been fired from numerous jobs for having seizures at work? Should I tell him there’s hope for a better tomorrow if he buckles down and takes responsibility for his future? I’d love to share what my mom always says:

“Work like it’s up to you and pray like it’s up to God.”

Maybe I could give him a little hope by sharing my personal experience. What would you tell this poor guy?

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity

As I thought about how to help give this guy a little hope, I realized that just dropping a bag of food wouldn’t create any lasting connection. I thought if he’d let me sit down and listen to his story, I may be able to gain some insight into what made him hate “the rich prick” in the Jaguar. If we could connect as brothers, then maybe I could influence the path I’m on now. Perhaps I could help him decide to change his attitude and improve his own life.

I went home and came back with an Orange Creamsicle®, a bottle of cold water, and a V8® sparkling energy drink. When I pulled up, he was already yelling at someone else in a beautiful white Mercedes. He was actively trying to start a fight, so I thought this might not be the best idea that afternoon. His negative attitude made me apprehensive about reaching out to help him. The plan was to help someone improve their life, not get into a physical altercation! I opted to drive on by and ate the Popsicle® myself.

That was a reminder to me that often, we are where we’re at in life because of our choices. Our decisions, our outlook on life, and our attitude play a massive role in where we end up. If you’re currently struggling in life, keep a positive outlook, and improve your situation. Don’t miss your opportunity because of your negativity. Keep an open mind and a positive attitude regardless of your starting point. The cards you’re dealt in life don’t determine whether you’ll win the game or not!

The other day I drove past a homeless guy sitting in the shade to escape the heat of the day. As I passed, he aggressively flipped me off with pain in his eyes and yelled, “Rich f***n’ prick!” because he saw me driving a Jaguar. I hadn’t done anything to make him hate me except drive by in a nice car. He likely thinks that successful people were born with a silver spoon in their mouth. Did he hate me because he assumed I was “dealt better cards in life” than he received?

I don’t know this guy, but he may have grown up in a bad situation. He may not know any successful people or have many positive influences in his life. He may not understand that life is what you decide to make of it. I wanted to connect with this guy and give him a bit of encouragement. Maybe I could tell him about the man I spoke with a few years earlier who had lost everything but started his own multi-million dollar company after living on the street. This other guy went from homeless to driving a twin-turbo Ferrari by deciding to create a better future.

Would it help this homeless man to share my story? I had lived in the back of my phone store for years, surviving malignant brain cancer and diabetes. I had to drive to the gym each morning because I didn’t have a shower in the back of the store. Although I didn’t know his exact situation, I’ve been down and out before, so I could sympathize. I decided to approach him.

There’s Always An Opportunity To Improve Your Situation

Would it help to share how I’d been fired from numerous jobs for having seizures at work? Should I tell him there’s hope for a better tomorrow if he buckles down and takes responsibility for his future? I’d love to share what my mom always says:

“Work like it’s up to you and pray like it’s up to God.”

Maybe I could give him a little hope by sharing my personal experience. What would you tell this poor guy?

Don’t Miss Your Opportunity

As I thought about how to help give this guy a little hope, I realized that just dropping a bag of food wouldn’t create any lasting connection. I thought if he’d let me sit down and listen to his story, I may be able to gain some insight into what made him hate “the rich prick” in the Jaguar. If we could connect as brothers, then maybe I could influence the path I’m on now. Perhaps I could help him decide to change his attitude and improve his own life.

I went home and came back with an Orange Creamsicle®, a bottle of cold water, and a V8® sparkling energy drink. When I pulled up, he was already yelling at someone else in a beautiful white Mercedes. He was actively trying to start a fight, so I thought this might not be the best idea that afternoon. His negative attitude made me apprehensive about reaching out to help him. The plan was to help someone improve their life, not get into a physical altercation! I opted to drive on by and ate the Popsicle® myself.

That was a reminder to me that often, we are where we’re at in life because of our choices. Our decisions, our outlook on life, and our attitude play a massive role in where we end up. If you’re currently struggling in life, keep a positive outlook, and improve your situation. Don’t miss your opportunity because of your negativity. Keep an open mind and a positive attitude regardless of your starting point. The cards you’re dealt in life don’t determine whether you’ll win the game or not!

A few years ago, I met a guy driving a custom twin-turbo Ferrari. I decided to introduce myself and ask how he became so successful. Surprisingly, he told me a story that’s stuck with me for years. He shared that his wife left him after they lost their home. Bankrupt and living on the street, he decided that he had to do something with his life during his first night sleeping in the park.

He started visiting construction sites, trying to get a job. Many of them turned him down, but the last job site he visited mentioned a particular problem. The company that generally supplied their roofing trusses had messed up an order (again).

He told me that he’d done some construction work as a teenager. He went to a pawn shop and picked up a circular saw, combination square, tape measure, and a hammer. That night, after everyone at the construction company went home, he returned to the job site. He spent hours building “the perfect truss” to give them the next morning, using lumber he found on-site.

They were impressed with the quality, and he closed that first deal. They gave him payment in advance for the entire order, so he had money to buy the lumber and supplies he needed plus some profit. That was the start of his custom truss company and the beginning of his success.

What Is Your Excuse?

Are you working a job you hate? Do you need to make more money? Is there a business idea that could change your entire life? Are you struggling to lose some extra weight? The challenge for many people is not finding their goal but deciding to pursue it. What is your excuse for not achieving your goal?

Seeing this guy pull up in a bright yellow, twin-turbo Ferrari, many people respond with, “It must be nice!” You might assume that he was born into money, or that he was just “one of those rich guys” for most of his life. It would be easy to think he didn’t know what it was like to struggle. I would never have guessed from the Ferrari he was driving, or the clothes he was wearing, that he had been homeless a few years earlier.

Create Opportunities For Success

After going bankrupt, losing his wife, and living on the street, this man decided to choose the direction of his future. He didn’t sit on the side of the road with a cardboard sign asking for handouts. He started visiting construction site after construction site, in search of a job. When they denied him a position as a laborer, he found a problem the company was experiencing and created a solution. This gentleman made millions of dollars because he didn’t give up when life gave him lemons.

Provide A Solution

Business ideas often fail because they don’t provide a solution to a problem. If you’re creating a new business, you may find success more quickly if you fill a gap in the market. If you’re trying to expand an existing business, you will likely succeed by providing a solution to a problem your potential customers are already experiencing. Do some research, ask customers, and discover the “pain points” in your target industry. Discover problems. Create a solution.

Be Willing To Risk Short-Term Comfort

Although he was already homeless, this guy took the last few dollars he had and invested in himself to buy the tools to build his future. He didn’t squander his last few bucks on a hotel room or a bottle of liquor; instead, he created an opportunity. By risking short-term comfort, he was able to build the foundation for a business that has made him extremely wealthy.

Imagine you are living on the street, with only a few dollars to your name. Would you spend what little you had left on tools instead of food or a place to sleep? Taking a calculated risk could be the difference between short-term comfort or a lifetime of success!

A few years ago, I met a guy driving a custom twin-turbo Ferrari. I decided to introduce myself and ask how he became so successful. Surprisingly, he told me a story that’s stuck with me for years. He shared that his wife left him after they lost their home. Bankrupt and living on the street, he decided that he had to do something with his life during his first night sleeping in the park.

He started visiting construction sites, trying to get a job. Many of them turned him down, but the last job site he visited mentioned a particular problem. The company that generally supplied their roofing trusses had messed up an order (again).

He told me that he’d done some construction work as a teenager. He went to a pawn shop and picked up a circular saw, combination square, tape measure, and a hammer. That night, after everyone at the construction company went home, he returned to the job site. He spent hours building “the perfect truss” to give them the next morning, using lumber he found on-site.

They were impressed with the quality, and he closed that first deal. They gave him payment in advance for the entire order, so he had money to buy the lumber and supplies he needed plus some profit. That was the start of his custom truss company and the beginning of his success.

What Is Your Excuse?

Are you working a job you hate? Do you need to make more money? Is there a business idea that could change your entire life? Are you struggling to lose some extra weight? The challenge for many people is not finding their goal but deciding to pursue it. What is your excuse for not achieving your goal?

Seeing this guy pull up in a bright yellow, twin-turbo Ferrari, many people respond with, “It must be nice!” You might assume that he was born into money, or that he was just “one of those rich guys” for most of his life. It would be easy to think he didn’t know what it was like to struggle. I would never have guessed from the Ferrari he was driving, or the clothes he was wearing, that he had been homeless a few years earlier.

Create Opportunities For Success

After going bankrupt, losing his wife, and living on the street, this man decided to choose the direction of his future. He didn’t sit on the side of the road with a cardboard sign asking for handouts. He started visiting construction site after construction site, in search of a job. When they denied him a position as a laborer, he found a problem the company was experiencing and created a solution. This gentleman made millions of dollars because he didn’t give up when life gave him lemons.

Provide A Solution

Business ideas often fail because they don’t provide a solution to a problem. If you’re creating a new business, you may find success more quickly if you fill a gap in the market. If you’re trying to expand an existing business, you will likely succeed by providing a solution to a problem your potential customers are already experiencing. Do some research, ask customers, and discover the “pain points” in your target industry. Discover problems. Create a solution.

Be Willing To Risk Short-Term Comfort

Although he was already homeless, this guy took the last few dollars he had and invested in himself to buy the tools to build his future. He didn’t squander his last few bucks on a hotel room or a bottle of liquor; instead, he created an opportunity. By risking short-term comfort, he was able to build the foundation for a business that has made him extremely wealthy.

Imagine you are living on the street, with only a few dollars to your name. Would you spend what little you had left on tools instead of food or a place to sleep? Taking a calculated risk could be the difference between short-term comfort or a lifetime of success!