I came into my last race with high hopes and expectations. In this special race edition of The Output Habit Podcast, I talk about how to handle the pressure of trying to meet the expectations that we put on ourselves or the expectations we perceive from others.

A lot of people talk about the importance of “adding value to others”. And it is an important topic whether you want to be successful in business, ministry, media, politics, relationships, etc. We were put on this earth to serve other people. That’s why I say that everything ultimately boils down to service. But everyone is different. Therefore, if someone is going to add the most value to others (i.e. serve people the best they can), then they need to identify and maximize the particular value that they have to offer. It is when we are serving others out of our unique strengths and gifts that we are able to add the most value to them and enjoy the most success in life.

So, you want to be an entrepreneur? Seems to be a trendy thing these days. In many ways, I think that’s a good thing. But being an entrepreneur is more about solving problems for people than it is owning your own business, being your own boss, getting rich, or getting free. But which problem(s) should you be working to solve? It’s nearly impossible for someone else to answer that question for you, but in this episode of the Output Habit podcast I give a few ideas to think about for anyone who is on that journey of self-discovery.

It’s one thing to set a goal. It’s another thing to make a plan to make that goal a reality. In this episode, I talk about how I set a goal, reverse engineer it to figure out what it takes to meet that goal, count the cost to see if I’m willing or able to do what’s required, and then make a plan to give myself the best opportunity to succeed.

We all have “off” days. We can’t be at our best all the time. But just because I’m not able to give my best some days, doesn’t mean I have nothing to give. It’s still better to do something on those “off” days and be content with a little progress than to start skipping entire days and developing an “all or nothing” mindset.

Getting your head right is just as important, if not more important, then getting your body ready to compete. My guest on this episode is Ryan Teigen, a performance coach with a master’s degree in sports psychology. I had a great time getting to know Ryan as we talked about running, mental preparation for training and competition, as well as the hustle that is required when you run your own business.

For more information about Ryan’s coaching business or to follow the thoughts he shares on his blog, check out perseveranceperformance.com

This episode is clearly influenced by Darren Doane. Listening to his podcast helped me understand and embrace the “punk rock” mindset when creating my content. It helped me realize that both content-creation and running a small business are disruptive by nature. Both reject the status quo & gatekeepers. Both involve independence. And both require thick skin. So if I sometimes come across with a bit of an edge, it’s not because I’m trying to be be disrespectful or rebellious. It’s because I’ve accepted the fact that I’m in a fight. And if I want to build a business that is going to support my family, I need to take that seriously.

My apologies for taking so long to get this episode out. In the coming year, I plan to be more disciplined and professional with my podcast. I’m also hoping to get my family more involved in the content-creation business. Stay tuned to see how that progresses.

Do you know why you’re doing what you’re doing? Do other people? Whether in my family, in my business, or in my ministry, I want to be clear about WHY we do what we do. That’s where all the meaning and purpose lies. Whenever I feel like I’m drifting off course, my first step is to get back to communicating and reinforcing the “Why”.

Some athletes are known for having a “screw loose”. They seem to relish the nasty or painful aspects of their sport and throw their bodies around with little regard for their safety or physical well-being. There’s something wrong with those people. But just because an athlete embraces adversity or gets excited about a challenge, it doesn’t put him in the same category. You don’t have to be crazy to recognize that going through difficulty has the potential to make you stronger and develop your character. The best athletes and teammates I’ve ever observed are the ones who are able to approach adversity with positivity and enthusiasm. Those are the guys you want on your team on those tough conditioning days. Their attitude lifts everyone’s spirits and helps the team rise to the occasion. There’s nothing crazy about that at all. And this discipline of maintaining a positive outlook while going through something hard is even more valuable in everyday life, but I noticed it takes extra effort to transfer this mentality from the sports field to the home or the office. It doesn’t just happen by itself.