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Don’t Forget Your Past

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[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]Everyone’s got a past.

Everyone’s got a past. It’s dotted with bad decisions and tough choices and one or two memories you wish you could erase forever.

But successful people understand that while their past shapes them, it does not define them. You went through what you went through on purpose, for a purpose. Without all of these milestones, you wouldn’t know what you know today or be who you are today. But if you lay in bed worrying about what you would do if your past suddenly interrupted your present, you’re only accomplishing one thing: losing sleep.

You can not control when or how or if the people and decisions of your past show up in this chapter of your life. But you can control how you respond to it if it happens. When you are confronted with the consequences of the actions of younger, dumber, less experienced you, you have two options:

Hide, avoid, and continue to give it power, or own it.

If you deflect, make excuses, avoid and deny your way through a resurgence of your past, you aren’t saving who you used to be; you’re sabotaging who you are. You’re working so hard to justify your history that you do not see it as an opportunity for future growth. We’ve all messed up. We’ve all gone through difficult situations, some of which were our fault and some of which were not.

And if the mistakes I’ve made in your past resurface, I say, “bring it on.” Here’s an opportunity to show the people who are watching me that I’m human, that I’m imperfect, that I’m accountable, and that I’ve changed. And if they can only focus on the failure instead of the progress, those aren’t my people anyway.

Stop believing the lie that your past is too dark, too bumpy, or too riddled with pain that it can not be redeemed for good. Stop worrying about what’s behind you and keep your eyes forward.

You will be successful because of your past, not in spite of it. [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column]
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I’m Afraid To Fail

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[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]99% of the time when I ask people why they aren’t taking steps to follow their dreams, they say they are afraid to fail.

Wait.

If you just said, “that’s not me, though” I’m going to kindly reel you back in.

FEAR AFFECTS EVERY SINGLE PERSON…

ALL OF US.

Fear of failure is one of the biggest reasons so many people don’t do what they were made to do. They’re so concerned about failing that they don’t think about what could happen if they succeed. If you start with your biggest excuse and work backward, you will almost always find that your reasoning is based in fear. Fear of what others will think. Fear of embarrassment. Fear of starting over.

Feeling fear means you’re about to do something big. It means whatever is about to happen is going to determine how your journey continues. When you’re scared, you know that if you do what it is that you’re scared to do, you will be different on the other side. Things will be different, relationships will be different, circumstances will be different. If it weren’t a big deal, you wouldn’t be afraid. But your fear is a physical indicator that you are alive and present and that you’re about to do something big.

If we treat failure as a reset button, it can be a lot less scary. Failure is life’s way of telling us that our idea didn’t work and we need more time. Or more training. Or more patience. Or more grit. If we avoid trying new things because we are afraid to fail, we aren’t allowing ourselves to succeed.

When we talk about facing our fears, we often speak about being brave. But having courage is not the same as being fearless. Being courageous is being afraid and doing it anyway. Everyone can let fear stop them, but the brave ones feel the fear and do it anyway.

This month, let’s feel the fear and do it anyway. Let’s stop worrying about what could happen if we fail, and start getting excited about what will happen when we succeed.

My challenge for you this week: Decide that October is the month where you feel the fear and do it anyway. Identify a major fear you have, write it on a sticky note, and put it on a bathroom mirror. When you identify it and give it a name, it begins to lose it’s power.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column]
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The Super Bowl Got Me Thinking…

We are two days away from the biggest game in football, and as a former athlete, I’m not sure I can wait that long. I love everything about the Super Bowl: getting together with my close friends, the food, the high-energy, the friendly competition between me and my friends who are rooting for the wrong team, and did I mention the food? The Super Bowl is a huge deal for us as fans, but when I let myself think about what it means for the players, it is monumental. The days leading up to this game must be a roller coaster of emotions for everyone involved, and I can’t keep from thinking about the dynamics that played a role in getting both the Patriots and the Rams to this point in their careers.

A Focus On Daily Excellence

I wonder if Tom Brady or Todd Gurly started this season with the mindset of getting to the Super Bow?  I wonder if every day they woke up and pictured how that Super Bowl ring would look on their hand? I like to think that while the Super Bowl was always the end goal, that every day, every player on that team woke up with a commitment to daily excellence. When I played basketbal I knew that every decision, every play, every practice would get me one step closer to the championship. But when I focused on the grandeur of the playoffs, I often felt overwhelmed. Instead, I would focus on being the best player I could each day. I never lost sight of the “end goal” as I’m sure players in Sunday’s game haven’t either, but I like to think that the reason they get to enter the arena on Sunday instead of the 30 other NFL teams is that they woke up every day with a focus on daily excellence.

A Focus On Team Chemistry

I would kill to be a fly on a wall in the Patriot’s or Rams’ locker room (okay that sounds creepy, but you know what I mean.) I would love to see the way those players interact with each other, the way they motivate and push and inspire each other. You can see glimpses of their chemistry on the field; the way they can anticipate each other’s moves or communicate without saying a word. The chemistry between these players is what allows them to perform so well on the field, and what has allowed them to make it this far. The chemistry of the players and their coaches is another dynamic that I feel sets Super Bowl champs apart from the rest of the NFL. In sports, and in life, the relationships you have with other people is what will push you to the next level or keep you where you are. The way you communicate with those around you, the way you see the strengths in others as a benefit, not a threat, is the difference. The chemistry on any team or relationship plays a significant impact on whether they fail or succeed.

A Focus On Mental Toughness

There’s no doubt that these players are the definition of beast mode. They are strong and powerful and fast and talented and can run full force into each other and get back up as nothing happened. But this is common across all NFL teams; players would not be playing for the NFL if they were not athletic. But it is the athletes that focus on mental toughness and mindset that make it to the Super Bowl. It is the players who can block out the sounds of the crowds or the taunts of the opponents and focus in on what is required of them in that moment. It is something I’m not always great at, but constantly work to improve. Those who can block out the haters and the distractions, the ones that maintain a clear mental picture of what needs to be done, are the ones that score touchdowns and 50-yard field goals and impossible catches that leave us all on the edge of our seats. Regardless of who you want to win on Sunday, you have to admit, these players have earned their spot here not only because they can throw and catch and run, but because of their commitment to a winner’s mindset.

Everyone has a “Super Bowl” moment in their future. There is some big event that right now seems overwhelming and maybe even impossible for you and your business. But it is there, and it will happen for you, as long as you don’t get distracted. There will be a time when you look around, and the one thing you’ve dreamed of for your business is happening around you. But it won’t happen by accident. The Patriots and the Rams did not get to the Superbowl on accident. It takes focus, teamwork and a winner’s mindset to make it happen.

What are you doing on a daily basis to train for that Super Bowl moment? What resources and tools do you have access to that can help you train for it?

If you need me on Sunday, I’ll be eating chicken wings and rocking my jersey and admiring the hard work and commitment of some of the best athletes in our country. Did I mention eating chicken wings?

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You’ve Got 24 Hours: What Are You Doing With Them?

One of the biggest lies that we believe about why we aren’t reaching the next level is that we don’t have time. The truth is, if it’s important to you, you’ll make time, if it’s not, you’ll make excuses.

We all get the same 24 hours in a day. So how do you maximize the 24 precious hours you are given each day and use them to launch you towards success? The two key components of mastering your schedule and becoming a pro at time management are priorities and protection.

Priorities

This sounds like a no-brainer. Of course, we have to be intentional about the activities in our lives that take up our time and categorize them in order of importance. But for busy professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners, it can feel like it is all important. It’s not like you’re sitting around twiddling your thumbs and wasting time, right? Your day is packed with responsibilities that are critical to your health, happiness, and productivity. So how do you prioritize when you feel that everything on your plate is equally important?

  1. Work backward. List your To-Dos and then number them in order of what is due when. Take into consideration how long each project will take. What things can wait and what things have a time-sensitive due date?
  2. Just pick something. Sometimes we get so caught up in analysis paralysis and feel that we have so much do to, that we do nothing. Instead, choose a project you know you can get done quickly and start there. This will help you build momentum
  3. Ask for help. There’s no shame in asking for help when you need it. This could look like hiring someone to do a project for you that you don’t have time for or asking for an extension on a deadline.
  4. Be organized Invest in a trusted calendar to keep everything organized, and look into some apps and online resources you can use to keep yourself on track.

Protection

Part of mastering your schedule is protecting your time. If every time you talk to Sally from Accounting she tells you a 20-minute story about her cat, you have to find a way to protect that time. Learn how to respectfully remove yourself from conversations that aren’t productive, or find alternate ways to avoid the situation altogether.  Learning to say no politely and feeling confident in your right to decline is one of the most powerful ways to protect your time. Another way to protect your time is learning to work smarter, not harder.

Your time is precious and in order to feel accomplished each day you have to be aware of the time you have and protect it. We all have the same 24 hours in a day, how are you prioritizing and protecting yours?

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It’s Time to Get to It

It’s Monday Morning. As I am starting my week I can’t help but think of the benefit of staying focused and maximizing time. I know you know that you are 42% more likely to achieve your goal if you write it down. So why are we not consistently having a to-do list and goal sheet each week.

You see to grow a business or yourself you have to work to be super anal to get it done. Nothing’s magical and nothing just happens. You gotta go make it happen.

Yeap you…you gotta put the consistent work in.

But you know how you have the best intentions and these little things called distractions creep in?

We all have them and we have to all be on guard against them.

This week as you launch I want time management and actually time mastery to be a focal point.

Get stuff done!! It’s that simple. Know what you need to do to get to the Next Level and commit!

Here are a few simple strategies to help you stay focused and on task throughout your work day.

  1. Create a Weekly Focus.
  2. Know what activities must get done in order for you to be most successful.
  3. Write STUFF down.
  4. Get stuff done quick! But right!
  5. Create 30 minute time slots for each exercise/task
  6. Operate to your strength and delegate everything else
  7. Game plan each day
  8. Use technology- use the notes section, the calendar and more. It’s all at your fingertips.

Okay enough of the lesson of the day, get stuff done and I can’t wait to hear you tell me how much more effective and efficient you have begun by writing it down and getting it done.

See you next week,

Walter Bond

P.S. Here’s a video to help motivate you to maximize your time.

 

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5 Things to Focus on If You Want to Be Wealthy (in more ways than 1)

Money is so overrated!

I have been able to become the best in the world in two different industries (NBA and motivation), and money had

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nothing to do with it.

Now, we all love to have money in our pockets like everyone else, but it should never be the driver. I believe money is merely the reward for becoming the best in the world at what we do.

If you are motivated by money, I feel so sorry for you. You are missing the whole meaning of life. I know it may be counter-intuitive to what you have heard or what you may think, but money should never be your driving force if you want to be free and truly happy.

Money alone can’t motivate you to work late at night or get you up early in the morning. If your motivation is strictly money, it will be hard for you to put forth consistent effort, especially once you start making money. If money is your primary driving force, you could lose all sense of integrity and honor and we could read your name connected to the next Ponzi scheme. We have all seen professionals sell their soul to the devil for a little more money.

If the love of money is truly the root of all evil, we need to make sure we have the right association to money from the beginning. Money should never define you. Money is not what you need to feel good about you. All money does is allow you to express who you are — better. So it can’t be all about the money.

Here is the good news: If you do want to make boatloads of money, then take your focus off the money. I know it’s counter-intuitive and it goes against what you have been taught about business, but it’s true and it works.

Here are the top five things you need to be focused on so you can be wealthy in more ways than one.

  1. Focus on the competition and how to kick their you know what.
  2. Focus on making a difference
  3. Focus on solving your clients’ problems. (This is how we all get paid anyway).
  4. Focus on being a great teammate. Success is a team sport.
  5. The final frontier is your “why.” “Why?” is the real question that you need to answer. Why do you do what you do?

Why is your company in business in the first place? If you can get back to the basics of your “why,” you can unlock the passion and commitment it takes to grow a business. You can’t grow a great brand without passion, and passion is never about the money. Money can’t sustain your efforts quite like passion can. When you love what you do, that is the real payoff. You get to do it everyday — all day long.

I have seen many well-meaning business people focus on the money and never experience passion for their industry. Even though they have money, something is missing. True happiness and fulfillment transcends money.

I attended a business networking event with a billionaire named Dave Green from Hobby Lobby, and he explained this dynamic so eloquently. Business boils down to the why — why do you do what you do.

You see, I wanted to play in the NBA not because of the money. I thought I was good enough and I wanted to prove to me that I could get there. In fact, when my first check showed up, I didn’t even cash it.

Dave Green was right! I was totally focused on competing against the best in the world and achieving a lifelong dream. Money was not top of mind.

When I first grabbed a microphone and began to motivate thousands of people, I didn’t’ think about money one time.

In both cases I loved what I did and that drives me to get up early and to stay up late. The money is merely our reward.

If I said it once, I’ll say it a thousand times: Love what you do or quit. If you truly love what you do, the money will come and there is nothing you can do to stop it.

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