The Secret Sauce Behind Your Effort

What Is Your Why? 

"Every character is asking: 'What's my place?  Why am I here?'  I don't want the answer to be 'Just because.'  You find your own purpose.  Each finds the reasons to be here and contribute."...Sharon Creech

I'm pretty sure everybody would agree that in order to achieve anything in life you have to give forth a certain amount of effort. And it stands to reason that the more effort you put forth, the more you'll get in return.  As the saying goes: "Hard work pays off."  The secret sauce behind your very best effort however, is knowing what motivates you.  It's knowing the answer to the question: "What is your WHY?" 

Everybody has reasons behind whatever it is that they choose to do in this world. Based on everything I've learned from knowing, observing, and studying high achievers, all of them have a very clearly defined WHY behind their tremendous efforts and achievements.  Having a very clearly defined and compelling reason WHY is a prerequisite to success.  It will provide you with the extra motivation and desire that you need to overcome the challenges and obstacles that you are sure to encounter in pursuit of your goals. 

Your WHY is usually personal and deep rooted.  Often...but not always...a person's WHY originates from a place of pain.  It may be that a person has hit rock bottom in a situation and they made a promise to themselves that they were going to make a substantial change.  It may be stemming from a type of loss that one suffered, or that one possibly faces if strong action isn't taken.  Or it could be that a person recognizes a special talent or skill that they possess, and are challenging themselves to become the all time best at something.  They realize that they owe it to themselves to self optimize.  Or it could be that somebody's WHY is very altruistic. The reason they do their best and give it their all is for other people. To provide for them.  Once again, your reason is personal. I mean, of course you can share it with other people, but it comes from within...it's something that you don't have to justify to others.  It's something that has deep meaning to you, and that you feel passionate about.  It could be connected to a big dream you have.

I would advocate writing your WHY down on paper and connecting it to your goals. Don't just write it down, but review it several times a day...especially in demanding moments.  This can serve as an excellent source of motivation.  For example if you're a salesman you could write "I want to be the number one salesman in my district by the end of this year in order to give my family the dream vacation in Europe that they always wanted." That's something specific...it's tied to a goal...and the why is clearly stated. It's to deliver pleasure to this salesman's family.  His/her WHY is stemming from something altruistic...although I'm sure the emotional payoff is pretty big for themselves also if they can pull it off.  A win win situation for sure!

The very most powerful WHY's are when we have them for what we consider our life's purpose.  We can find the drive within ourselves to accomplish anything we desire with a calling such as this. The life we live should have meaning, and with meaning comes deep purpose.  It's impossible to separate the two.  It is no small wonder that many peoples life purpose centers around serving others.  To contribute to the betterment of the human condition.  The "SELFLESS WHY'S."  I am convinced that this is the Secret Sauce to the 10th power! If you've never given serious thought towards what your lifes purpose is...if you feel that your life has no meaning...than perhaps some serious spiritual and self inspection is necessary.  We all have a purpose.  Every single one of us.

Until the next time...

#YouMatterTremendously

#GoldenRuleLifeStrategy
#LiveYourLifeWithPurpose

Kobe Bryant's Passion

KOBE'S PASSION WAS ON DISPLAY

You may not be a NBA fan...but chances are you still know who Kobe Bryant is.  His celebrity status as the super star for the Las Angeles Lakers for the past 20 years has made him a household name in the United States, and it's probably safe to say across most of the globe.

This morning as I was watching the news I learned that Kobe played his last professional game of his stellar career last night.  He scored 60 points in an incredible performance against the Utah Jazz in his career finale.  It was fitting that he would end his career in such a way.  His shots were dropping, he turned back the hands of time for a moment. and it was just a reminder of the many great performances he had throughout his long career.  Not many athletes go out on such an inspired performance.  Last night was an exceptional moment for Kobe and his fans.  Kobe's passion was on display.  Even if you're not a Kobe fan you cannot deny that he's one of the most competitive and passionate players whose ever played the game.

Passion.  How fortunate are those who develop a passion for something and develop it to the utmost of their capabilities?  Or even better, those who recognize that they can live their lives with an intense desire and enthusiasm to be the best that they can be?  

Nelson Mandela was quoted as saying, "There is no passion to be found playing small...in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living."  I love that quote.  How often do we play small out of fear of failure, or the opinions of others?  What would or could we accomplish if we acted as if it were impossible to fail? 

It takes a tremendous amount of resolve to stay the course when you've identified your passion.  Often passion correlates with your purpose in life...the thing(s) that you've identified as being most important to your very existence, and that you derive the most satisfaction from.  The things that you get fired up about when you allow your imagination to visit the possibilities that exist...when you dare to fantasize about the optimized YOU.  And it's no small coincidence that your/our purpose is often tied to serving others in some regard.  

Some people's passion...and hence their purpose..is recognized at a young age.  They hone it and develop it and master a life of remarkable achievements because of this.  The athlete's and entertainers of the world come to mind when I consider this fact. But then, on the flip side, there are many of us who need to voyage through life...experience life and it's lessons to figure out what their passions and purpose is.  That's ok.  The only people I truly feel sorry for are the people who travel through life without giving it a thought as to what their purpose and passion is.  Satisfied to trudge through their existence...this miracle that is life...without recognizing what they contribute to the universe.  Failing to recognize that no matter what their role is in society they matter tremendously to someone.

It was great waking up to the story of Kobe's finale game.  Kobe Bryant's passion was on display one final time for us.

Until the next time...

#YouMatterTremendously
#GoldenRuleLifeStrategy
#LiveYourLifeWithPurpose

It's The Start That Stops Most People

Use Baby Steps If You Have To

Sometimes...often as a matter of fact...it's the start that stops most people.  By the way "It's the start that stops most people" is a quote that, from my internet research, is attributed to Don Shula the great former coach of the Miami Dolphins.  I fell in love with that quote the first time I heard it.  Awesome wisdom in that.

There are many many reasons why we don't begin the things we should really do.  Most of them really are not "reasons" per se, but excuses.  And although I don't know the originator of this next quote, it's another great one: "Excuses are the nails used to build a house of failure."  We use the excuses "I don't have enough time" or "I'm too tired at the end of the day" or "I don't have enough money" or "I'm too old" to justify why we don't get started doing the things that we need to do to improve our lives.

This blog is a perfect example of that.  As it turns out it wasn't really that hard to start this blog.  It's just a matter of sitting down and doing it.  Discipline.  Let's face reality here.  If something is important enough to you, you'll find a way to carve out the time to make it happen. You know it and I know it.

Another reason we tend to procrastinate is that our belief system is in need of an overall.  Some of the things we put off can be downright daunting in nature.  A real challenge that's going to require some elbow grease to make it happen.  Things like losing a considerable amount of weight to improve your health, well being, or appearance.  Or making a job or career change because you have zero satisfaction from what it is you do.  Or ending an abusive relationship that you've been in for entirely too long.  

Things of this nature require you to be strong.  You have to absolutely dig deep and make the commitment to begin and then see it through.  You need to BELIEVE IN YOURSELF! And I know that may not be the easiest of things to do.  Trust me when I say this.  But working on yourself is never squandered time, and there are people out there who want you to succeed and who even believe in you when you are finding it hard to believe in yourself!

Take baby steps if you need to.  If you need to lose weight change an eating habit.  Just one positive change to get you started.  Take a walk around the block.  Just a small change.  You don't have to completely revamp your life to initiate a change...but hey if you can do that all the more power to you.

The point is...just begin.  From there your confidence and belief will develop.  But you have to begin.  You can do it.  I BELIEVE YOU CAN. 

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#YouMatterTremendously
#GoldenRuleLifeStrategy
#LiveYourLifeWithPurpose