1. Realize that you are ready
You might not have everything you need to complete the journey, but you have enough to start RIGHT NOW. Don’t worry about the details – the journey will change you and you’ll find all the tools you need to reach your goals along the way. Just take some action, no matter how small, right now.
2. Embrace fear
Do you get anxious/scared when you go to take a shower? Hopefully not. What about before going to speak in front of hundreds of people, or before lifting a weight you’ve never lifted before? Fear will always be a part of your life, so instead of avoiding it at all costs, embrace it. View it as a guidepost that says what you’re about to do is important and meaningful to you, and then just do it.
Here is a fantastic free resource to help you tackle your fears: The Flinch
3. Consume less, create more
It’s near impossible to effectively consume and create at the same time. Try sprinting while reading a book, or jumping out a plane while doing your taxes (making sure to send the video footage to me) and lemme know how that goes.
The less time you spend consuming, the more time you have for creation, and creating is the only way to move forward.
Create movement. Create time. Create relationships. Create the life you want.
4. Get the #*(@ out of your life
Have you ever cleaned & organized your place after putting it off forever? For approximately 6-7 seconds after you’re done, the universe opens up and drops this knowledge nugget right into your head: “Damn this feels awesome! Why didn’t I do it sooner?”
This could be stuff that has been piling up forever, but it could also be negative people who just drag down at every turn.
Getting rid of stuff that only takes up space and adds no value makes room for things that do.
5. Be inspired daily
Read a book.
Have a great conversation.
Listen to a podcast (recommendations here, here, here & here)
Watch a dope movie clip.
Read some awesome quotes.
Pretty much do ANYTHING you can to get your mind right. Everything becomes easier to do with a positive mindset.
6. Make it fun.
‘Nuff said. If you don’t like doing it (or make it at least enjoyable on some level), you won’t stick with it.
7. Be a Toyota Prius, not a rocket ship.
The problem that often befalls people is not their actual goal, but the time frame that they set to achieve it. Losing 20lbs of fat ? Hell yeah – super possible! Losing 20lbs of fat in 30 days? Only if you have a chainsaw and are up for losing some limbs.
The more unrealistic the time frame, the more ridiculous things you’re gonna have to do to even have a chance of getting there. Even then, the chances of failure are pretty high.
A realistic time frame gives you more breathing room to find out what works and to play around the variables related to your goal, while still giving putting enough fire under your cheeks so that you don’t stretch it out into infinity.
Don’t burn out via a rocket ship-esque effort (aka an all out guts & glory approach with little to show for it when all is said & done). You’re in this for the long haul.
8. Chase failure like a cheetah chases…whatever it is that cheetahs chase.
No one fails by doing nothing; failure requires risk and action. Failure means you found a way that didn’t work – AWESOME!
And guess what? You didn’t die, the world didn’t come crashing down around you and you didn’t soil your pants.
You’ve lived to fight another day, gained valuable experience and are now one step closer to finding something does work.
9. Do something different
If you’ve been tackling a goal for some time with a lack of results, change something.
Expecting a different outcome by doing the same thing you’ve always done is like expecting a punch in the face from Mike Tyson (any era) not to hurt: no matter how much you want it to be true, it’s just not.
10. Never give up
If winning is the only option, how can you lose?
Bonus
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.” – Dale Carnegie
“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn
“It’s always too early to quit.” – Norman Vincent Peale
“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go; they merely determine where you start.” – Nido Qubein
“Opportunity does not knock, it presents itself when you beat down the door.” – Kyle Chandler
“Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.” – Peter Marshall
“The gap between ignorance and knowledge is much less than the gap between knowledge and action.”
-Anonymous
“The will to win, the desire to succeed, the urge to reach your full potential… these are the keys that will unlock the door to personal excellence.” – Confucius
“To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.” – Bruce Lee