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It’s great to be inspired by role models. However, I believe that some people are inspired by role models without thinking of how they can reach the same level of success from the role model standpoint.
Get inspired by your role model, but also have a desire to become a role model. I’ll talk more about it in this video.
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The reality about business is that it isn’t always smooth sailing. The product launch may not go as expected, or you may believe that you need more connections to get more speaking gigs.
It’s easy to envision an imaginary wall blocking our progress. Some people think of this wall the moment they face an obstacle. All of these walls are created from within the mind. Things happen to us and the way we interpret what happens determines how we view challenges.
Even though we have many motivational quotes about the mind we can refer back to, it’s easier to imagine a wall and acknowledge its existence.
However, that wall needs to be broken. And more specifically, since I am excited about the next Avengers movie, that wall needs to get hulk-smashed!
We can’t punch into walls quite like The Hulk. However, the way to smash any wall holding you back is by starting within your mind. You have more control over your mind than anything else. Here’s how you gain control and smash the wall.
Assess
The first step to solving any problem is to acknowledge the problem. Then you plan out a solution. The planning process is when you assess the challenge and identify the steps you will take to conquer the challenge.
The key thing to do when assessing a challenge is to keep it simple. If you make the work look impossible, then you won’t be able to get it done.
Within the planning, you should assess your strengths and weaknesses. Once you identify your strengths and weaknesses, you can do some or all of the following:
The goal you are trying to accomplish will determine which of those three paths is the best one for you. Assessing the situation gives you a theoretical approach to solving a problem.
Assemble
Once you assess the wall and have a theoretical approach to hulk-smashing that wall, preparations must be made.
Depending on what is holding you back, you may have to assemble online tools, expertise in multiple topics related to your niche, and a team of people who can help you out.
No matter what you do, having a team of people to help you out is always beneficial. Whether you hire a freelancer to do some of your work or enlist the help of a mentor, you want to have someone helping you.
This step of the process is to ensure you are prepared to effectively proceed to the next step.
Action
This is the most important step of the entire process. You can do all of the planning and preparation that you want. However, if you do not take action, then that wall will continue to loom in the same spot where it is now.
Taking action is the scary part. Once action is taken, the theory is put to the test. Will the wall get smashed or will it stand?
An important thing to note about taking action is that one day of action won’t result in a smashed wall. For the worthwhile challenges, you’ll have to take consistent, daily action for days, weeks, months, or even years.
The only advice for taking action is to start once you feel prepared enough. You don’t want to wait until you feel fully prepared because that is the perfectionist mindset that holds too many people back.
Adjust
Once you take action, you have taken a significant step towards smashing the wall. Once action has been taken, there is one final step to smashing the wall.
Taking action is based on following a theoretical plan that you believe will succeed. Therefore, the plan looks good on paper, but plans on paper have the potential to exceed our expectations or fall below our expectations. That is why we must track the results we get from carrying out our plans.
Identifying the strong and weak points of your plan will allow you to get better results. You can spend more time on the strong points of your plan and outsource the weaker points of your plan to more qualified people than yourself. It’s okay to admit that you can’t do something as well as a freelancer. You must only focus on doing the things that you are good at and that you enjoy. Everything else should get outsourced.
As you continue adjusting your plan, it is essential to continue looking at your results and asking yourself, “What can I do today to get better results tomorrow?” In some cases, you may get better results the very next day by asking yourself this question. In other cases, better results come in the long-term.
If you look at what you are doing and ask yourself how you can do better, and you put in the work, then you can expect better results–whether those better results come in the short-term or the long-term.
In Conclusion
We get held back by different walls that we create for ourselves. Conquering those walls is not a matter of punching a hole straight into the wall. To conquer the imaginary walls we set for ourselves, we must approach that wall with a plan for its destruction. Knowing how you will conquer any type of setback will put you in a significant advantage.
Of course, not all plans happen the way they were supposed to happen on paper, but if you continue making adjustments, you’ll eventually have a solid, implemented plan that you can be proud of.
What are your tips for hulk-smashing the limitations we put on ourselves? Which of these methods did you like the most? Sound off in the comments section below.
It’s easy to see other people who are successful on platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook and think, “It’s too late for me.”
With numerous options available already, how could I even compete with the leaders within my niche?
This myth dissuades people from trying the already established platforms like YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook. However, regardless of how late you join the party, you can become successful on any platform.
The same goes for opportunities that still bring in a lot of results.
In this video, you will learn what it takes to become successful on a platform, just released or well-established, regardless of how late you join the party.
Entrepreneurship has its ups and downs. On some days, you will feel invincible. On other days, you will struggle. It’s the nature of the game. Just ask any entrepreneur.
Successful entrepreneurs have two things in common. The first thing they all have in common is persistence. It has been a well-known fact that entrepreneurs need to have persistence. You’ve heard stories about Dr. Seuss getting denied by dozens of publishers, Steve Jobs getting kicked out of Apple, and Mark Cuban hunting for any job he could find before he became a full-time entrepreneur.
The other thing successful entrepreneurs have in common doesn’t get as much attention. Some people refer to this second thing as following your passion. To be more specific, it’s joy. Entrepreneurs enjoy what they do.
Successful entrepreneurs enjoy their work so much that they couldn’t imagine doing anything else. Asked whether they want to do their work today or hang out with Taylor Swift, all entrepreneurs choose their work (okay fine, that one was a big stretch. I’m shutting down my computer if I had the option).
At some point, the road to success will challenge our foundation. Our enjoyment will be put to the test. For some entrepreneurs in the thick of the road, work that was enjoyable for several weeks may suddenly appear as dull and boring.
The work doesn’t suddenly look dull and boring. The problem is a lack of joy that once existed. Each time you reclaim your joy, you’ll love your work again. Throughout my journey, I discovered that I perform at my best over a long period of time when my joy does not elude me.
With joy, there’s no reason to feel bad about yourself and focus on the shortcomings. Regardless of whether you feel joyful now or disappointed with where you are, you need a bullet-proof system that ensures joy.
Here’s what I have been able to come up with:
#1: Write Down All Of The Things You Accomplished In The Past Five Years
One of the biggest reasons people lose their joy is because they look into the ideal future too much. We focus more on the next milestone than the recently surpassed milestone.
For a long time, that was me. When I got my first 100,000 Twitter followers, I was ecstatic. When I surpassed 110,000 Twitter followers, I focused on surpassing 200,000 Twitter followers some day.
It’s good to set big goals for yourself. However, we rarely stop and take some time to acknowledge what we have already accomplished. We rarely take the time to stop and smell the roses. Maybe we should listen to the Travelocity gnome more often!
The first time I did this activity, I realized how much I had accomplished in the past five years. Writing all of the accomplishments between my 12th birthday and a few months after my 17th birthday allowed me to realize what I had accomplished.
I stopped and smelled the roses. And it was enjoyable. Every day, I look at this list of accomplishments, and it reminds me to enjoy my work. On this list, I did not write any of my shortcomings. I only focused on my accomplishments.
#2: Listen To A Favorite Song
There are certain songs, that no matter how many times I listen to them, I still enjoy them. And they make me happy. I’ve listened to some of these songs at the end of rough days. After listening to those songs, I always go to bed happy.
You need to create a list of songs that you would play to get you through a rough patch. The problem with rough patches is that when they are unattended, those patches turn into ditches. When you feel your joy slowly slipping away, play some of your favorite songs.
And don’t rely on the radio to play your favorite song. I look for the YouTube videos of my favorite songs and listen to them that way. Listening to your favorite songs will also help you during workouts. Speaking of workouts…
#3: Workout Every Day
Before I talk about working out, I want to clear one major point of concern. You don’t have to work as hard as LeBron James to get your joy back. Both a simple 5-10 minutes of stretching and shooting a basketball for a few hours will boost your joy. If you want to become a basketball player though, opt for the latter.
I make it a point to run for an hour on most days. If I don’t run, I am shooting the basketball around and chasing my rebounds with the occasional hot streak. When I return from a workout, I feel happier and more energized. Numerous scientific studies confirm that working out releases chemicals within our bodies that make us happier.
When we lose the joy of working, the last thing you should do at that moment is continue working. Many people decide to trudge through the work just to get it done. This is the worst way to approach your work. The work that matters is more than a task on your to-do list.
In my experience, the best way to release stress is by working out. When I run, I’ll take my iPhone with me so I can listen to my favorite songs.
#4: Break Loose From The Workload
Working out is a temporary fix to breaking loose from the workload. Breaking loose from the workload requires you taking a vacation from your work (minimum of one week). Entrepreneurs don’t become successful because they work 24/7.
And yet most people believe working 24/7 is an integral part of the process. You’ll hear entrepreneurs joke that they were working 25/8 or that we give up the 40 hour/week job so we can work 80 hours every week.
While it’s true entrepreneurs need to put in a lot of work, too much work can hurt. If you put in too much work, your productivity will diminish over time. If you work too long, you become less productive.
Even the super humans need breaks. Marissa Mayer, the CEO of Yahoo!, is one of the most productive people on the planet. When she worked for Google, she worked for close to 130 hours every week. That’s not a typo. It comes to a little over 18 and a half hours per day. She’s a super human.
But even Marissa Mayer believes in occasionally breaking loose from the workload. Every four months, she will take a one week vacation and get away from the workload. You should do the same. Just take a week off. Start outsourcing some of the work so your business can function without you.
You need to break loose every once in a while. You deserve it.
#5: Eat Salmon (Or Any Meal Proven To Increase Happiness)
The food we eat impacts our happiness. For the carnivores reading this blog post, do you feel happier eating a giant piece of steak or a bowl of peas? Unless you are a vegetarian, you’d probably opt for the steak.
According to science, eating some foods make us feel happier than eating other foods. There are several articles that talk about this topic and list different foods that make us happier. After reading a bunch of these articles, I discovered to my delight that one meal found its way on virtually every list.
SALMON!
I am the only person in my family who likes salmon. All of the salmon that enters my house is guaranteed to end up on my plate. Thinking about it now makes me salivate the taste and the (in my opinion) fresh smell.
I know if I said this at an event, some people would stand up, say salmon tastes disgusting, and complain about the smell.
Luckily, salmon isn’t the only food that boosts happiness. Fruits, vegetables, and green tea are some of the other options. Being more conscious of what ends up on your plate will allow you to live a happier, healthier life.
In Conclusion
Entrepreneurship is a challenging road filled with twists and turns. Some twists and turns will lead to dead ends and detours. However, at the end of the road is a massive treasure chest waiting for you. Going on the right path requires constant joy in what you do. When you find yourself going off-track, pause and reflect. Bring the joy back. Then continue on the right path.
Which of these tips did you like the most? Have any additional tips for boosting and preserving joy? Sound off in the comments section now!
Motivation does not last forever. We need it day by day to build upon the momentum that we already have. I like to leave motivational quotes and messages by my desk so I can look at them when I feel discouraged. Here are 25 motivational quotes that are all worthy of some space on your desk. Maybe one day, one of these motivational quotes will land on Forbes’ inspirational quotes page.
#1: Critics are the people who say bad things about other people. Champions are the ones who rise above that criticism and prove the critics wrong.
#2: Instead of wishing to be someone else, strive to turn yourself into someone who others would wish to be.
#3: Our lives are temporary, but our legacies are permanent.
#4: Anything we post on social media stays up there forever. Anything we do becomes a part of who we are forever.
#5: Anyone can do anything.
#6: Leaders always emerge to the front of the stage from behind the scenes.
#7: There are no barriers to success except the ones that we create.
#8: When you find a passion that you want to pursue, then don’t let anything hold you back. You know what you want, so go after it!
#9: Entrepreneurs don’t get power by focusing on it.
#10: The only thing worth putting in effort towards are the projects you want to put effort in.
#11: Success and failure are both temporary.
#12: Everything happens for a reason.
#13: Some denials are good denials.
#14: The winners in life are the ones who sincerely believe they can win every single day.
#15: No matter where you are now, you can always get better.
#16: You are too important to stay on the sidelines.
#17: There is no output without an input.
#18: You are in full control over everything that you do.
#19: You can live the normal course of life, but it is much better to live the way you want to live.
#20: Success isn’t a sprint. That’s been established. But success is more than a marathon. It is a marathon of hustling.
#21: Life is too short to not be the person you were meant to be.
#22: Your live is an adventure and you write the story.
#23: You can’t expect to get helped unless you are willing to help others.
#24: No one dictates your life unless you let them.
#25: Doing something for a good reason is better than doing something just for the sake of doing it.
Which motivational quote did you like the most? Did any of them receive a special place on your desk? Do you have any other motivational quotes for us? Please share your thoughts and motivational quotes below.
Society teaches us to avoid looking back at the past. Thought leaders have said things like, “Don’t look back because you are not going that way,” and, “Don’t let your past ruin your future.” While the context behind these motivational quotes is understandable (don’t think about bad things that happened. Continue living in the present and achieving greatness), they indicate that looking back at the past can never be useful.
I look back at the past, and I look back at it often. I would go as far to say that looking back at the past has made me a better individual in various areas in the present. Looking at the past can spark motivation and lead to higher achievement. Here are three ways that looking back at the past can propel you forward:
#1: Look Back At Some Of Your Disappointments
I agree that looking back at disappointments can have a negative impact on our futures. The grudges people hold to themselves for many years can affect their performances in life. Just by thinking about the grudges, some people lose their productivity and produce less valuable work.
However, some of the disappointments we have encountered in life can be building blocks towards our success.
There are runners who get motivated to work harder by thinking about their disappointments. I ran one of my mile races in 5:00.00 which is as close to a sub-five mile as anyone can get. Half a stride. That would have made the difference. Luckily, I ran a mile in under five minutes before this race, but the thought of being that close and not breaking five minutes was a disappointment.
It is now a disappointment that I think as I approach the final lap of some of my races (if my mind is not preoccupied with other things). In many indoor and outdoor races, especially the shorter races, a final sprint to the finish line is the difference between a new individual best time and just another time. Thinking about that 5:00.00 mile gives me an incentive to push harder, because I never want to miss my goal by one millisecond ever again.
#2: Look Back At Your Successes
Many individuals are so focused on the present and achieving better results that they forget about the results they have already achieved. Many individuals spend more time thinking about how they will get ahead instead of going back and thinking of how thankful they were when they got a desired result.
When I got that 5:00.00 mile, I was disappointed at that moment. Soon after the race, I thought about the time I ran the mile in under five minutes. Then, I felt a new sense of motivation that affected how fast I ran in workouts and how seriously I took core workouts at the end of practices.
On the business side, I am always thinking of moving forward. Sometimes, I think of moving so far forward that I think about what I do not have instead of the things that I do have. Sometimes, I forget all of the work it took me to grow my social media audience and how grateful I was when I hit certain milestones. Looking back at my past accomplishments allows me to increase my feeling of self-worth (which by no means is low, but everyone needs a pinch of the feeling of self-worth as often as possible), and my feeling of self-worth is one of the core components that made my journey possible.
#3: Look Back At Your Past Ideas
Have you ever had the moment when you scribble a bunch of ideas on a piece of paper, but you couldn’t implement them all? As you open up more time for yourself, you will also have more time to start your past ideas.
The more you scribbled on that piece of paper, the more likely one of your ideas is to be brilliant. Even if your piece of paper does not have a brilliant idea, one idea you wrote on a piece of paper can spark the inspiration for a brilliant idea. Many businesses that fall apart inspire other ones to rise above the rubble and thrive (that’s how Twitter was created).
In Conclusion
Many thought leaders constantly say that looking back at past experiences can hinder your future. Some people recommend not looking back at your past all together. Although our pasts have their fair share of bad experiences, our pasts also have their fair share of incredible experiences. We all have accomplishments that we need to be thankful of. As more goals get pushed back, self-worth goes down, but if we call back all of the thoughts that make us feel self-worthy again, then we will have the motivation we need to accomplish more goals.
What are your thoughts on looking back at your past? Do you look back at your past to motivate yourself? Please share your thoughts below.