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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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Self-Improvement Is Not Selfish

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[et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text”]A little louder for the people in the back….

Self-improvement is not selfish.

“Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.” – Albert Einstein

September Self Improvement Series:

Self-improvement is not selfish. Out of all of the lies I wish people would stop believing, this one is at the top of my list. Far too often, we say yes to everyone else and leave nothing for ourselves. We teach and we lead, we guide and we love those around us, but if we don’t do these things for ourselves, we’re doing our families and our businesses a disservice.

When you focus on self-improvement, everyone wins. When you establish healthy habits and rituals, you feel more balanced and in control. When you feel more balanced, you are better equipped to help others find their balance and manage them well.

When you focus on self-improvement, you become a better team player. When you set and reach personal goals, you’re more confident setting and achieving goals as part of a team.

When you focus on self-improvement, you learn more about yourself. Being intentional about stepping out of your comfort zone allows you to discover strengths and passions that you never knew you had. Taking a good hard look at your weaknesses can be uncomfortable, but when you work through them, you’re a changed person on the other side.

When you have a more in-depth understanding of who you are (and your WorkExpression, more on that later), you can walk confidently into any work task or business meeting and know exactly how your strengths can be used to move the company forward.

So, one more time. Self-improvement is not selfish. It’s productive, and it’s hard sometimes, it’s exciting, it’s valuable, it’s necessary, it’s beautiful. It is a lot of things, but it is not selfish.

Let that go. Focus on being the best version of you. And watch everything else fall into place.
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Swim! Dives Into Leadership, Mentoring, and Next Level Success

In chapter two, one of the main characters, Scotty, finds himself in the middle of the woods with just a canvas bag of supplies. He’s been left there, the sun is setting, and he’s absolutely sure there are bears all around him. Because he has no other option, he uses the tools in his bag to find his way to security and safety. Waiting there for him at the end is his mentor sitting back comfortably, awaiting his arrival.

Scotty’s mentor had given him everything he needed in that tote bag to be successful. But most importantly, he saw something in Scotty that Scotty did not see in himself. It was not until after he was pushed out of his comfort zone that Scotty was able to see his full potential.

I can relate so closely to this part of the book because I’ve had so many mentors in my life who have pushed me out of my comfort zone. They didn’t tell me what to do; they didn’t tell me the things I wanted to hear. They gave me the tools and the resources I need to be successful and then let me do it on my own. This is what it true mentor does.

In business and life, we have to take advantage of the opportunities we have to mentor and be mentored. We must constantly be looking for people who have more experience than we do and strive to learn from their mistakes. We must also always be looking for those who could use a little guidance to get to their next level.

This week, I have three challenges for you.

Number One: Pre-order your copy of Swim

Number Two: Reach out to someone who has been a mentor to you. Thank them for their wisdom, time, energy, and advise and tell them specifically what their contribution had on your life.

Number Three: Look for opportunities to mentor someone new in the game. Without being pushy, offer gentle advice, words of wisdom, or guidance to help someone make their next right step.

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3 Ways To Make Sure You New Year’s Resolutions Stick This Year

If you’re looking for another feel-good article about easy ways to keep New Year’s Resolutions and a list of the most popular resolutions, this isn’t it. We’re excited about the new year, as you should be because it means limitless options for wealth, success strengthened relationships and reaching the next level. But we are also realistic and know that a significant percentage of goals and commitments made in the excitement of the new year fizzle out by mid-march. Why? Because without a plan, without calculated action steps, without deadlines and accountability, new year’s resolutions are just wishes. So this year, why not decide to be intentional about your growth and success instead of hoping that it happens simply because you said it on January 1st?

One of the ways to ensure that your new year’s resolution sticks and doesn’t fade away once the excitement of the new year is gone is by planning an off season that allows you to plan, analyze, strategize, refocus and recharge. While you may plan to charge full steam ahead into the new year, make sure part of your business plan for 2019 includes an off season. We’ve discussed the many different benefits of the implementing an off season and all the things an off season is not, but one of the biggest moves you can make is implementing the Off Season Training Course into your business plan. If you are going to be intentional about creating a powerful off season, the best way to do it is to completely immerse yourself in the resources, planning pages, workbooks and audio downloads we’ve created to help you maximize your off season results.

Another way to ensure your goals become a reality is by connecting with people who will hold you accountable. Finding a mentor is a powerful way to get a fresh perspective on your ideas and learn new ways to reach the next level. By sharing your dreams and aspirations with someone who is passionate about your success, you are arming yourself with someone who will push you to keep going, even when you don’t feel like it. Especially when you don’t feel like it. Attend networking events, participate in a mastemind class, or simply seek out the guidance of someone who has “been there, done that” to keep yourself accountable.

One final way to make sure you are next level bound in 2019 is to make sure you put habits and rituals in place that will set you up for success. Decide what your absolutes are and stick with them. What are some things you can commit to doing that will benefit you in the long run? What are some temptations that you know will set you back and what can you do to avoid them? This may mean saying no to happy hour with coworkers to stay committed to your habits or distancing yourself from a less-than-supportive friend who often sidetracks you from your commitments and plans. Let a few trusted friends know about the habits and rituals you’re trying to establish so they can help you stick with it.

January 1st is a great time for fresh starts and new beginnings, and we strongly encourage you to use this new chapter as a time to set big goals. By planning a powerful off season, finding a mentor and establishing habits and rituals that will keep you focused, you can make sure your 2019 starts with purpose!

 

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We’re Saying Thank You

We’re thankful for the experiences in our lives that have shaped us. We’re grateful for the people in our lives who tell us what we need to hear, not what we want to hear. We are grateful to you for following us and allowing Walter’s message to penetrate your personal and business life. We want to express our gratitude by giving you a FREE copy of our EBOOK… Get Bonded.

This funny, easy-to-read, and sometimes very personal book is a look into the life of Walter and Antoinette. It gets personal, folks, but we believe that being transparent with other people is what really inspires others towards change. We dive into the principles that have helped our marriage grow, the secrets of business that have helped us get to where we are, and the absolute truths our family stands by. We hope that you can use this book to not only get to know us on a more intimate level but to learn more about yourself. We’re honest about our struggles so that you can be too. In your free copy of Bonded, you’ll learn:

  • Secrets for embracing the single life
  • Tips on leading a healthy lifestyle
  • Why setting boundaries is so important
  • How to “reposition your circle.”
  • Who we think come #2 in marriage
  • And why we believe it is so important to get naked

Along with dozens of other truths that we hold on to and apply to our everyday lives. We wrote this book in an attempt to connect with you on a more personal level. We are more than an ex-NBA ball player and a COO of a motivational speaking endeavor. We are two people who have made a lot of mistakes, who have been given a lot of grace, and who are motivated to helping others. We love each other, we love our kids, and we love the life we’ve created for ourselves. And we want the same for you.

This book is a peek behind the scenes at who we are and why we do what we do. We hope you can apply some of the fundamentals to your life to reach the next level in both your personal life and in business.

Make a goal to reach out to those in your inner (and outer) circles today and express your gratitude for them. Make a phone call, send a personal text (and not a generic “I’m thankful for you!” text that you copy and paste to all of your contacts,) or even a handwritten note with specific details about how each person makes your life better. Being thankful without expressing it is like wrapping a gift but not giving it away. Don’t limit your thankfulness to Thanksgiving Day. Make it a habit of identifying the things in your life that you have.

Again, we’re thankful for your continued support in allowing us to reach people for change. We hope this holiday season is safe and surrounded by love.

We’re thankful for YOU.

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October Behind the Scenes with Walter and Antoinette Bond

October was another busy and successful month for the Bonds! We traveled, spent time with loved ones and stayed busy. We’ve been making changes to our lifestyle and committing more time to our physical and spiritual health each morning before we get started on our workday. Our kids are out of the house so we’re removed from a lot of the Halloween festivities, but our family is serious about Thanksgiving and Christmas!

We spent October in Kansas City and San Diego. We mixed business with pleasure as we toured a gorgeous California winery and met a lot of great people who are undoubtedly on the fast track to the next level.

We spoke to business leaders in the real estate and franchising industries, and motivated people to develop clear mission statements, establish healthy habits and rituals, and dove into the importance of building relationships and networking.

Walter channeled his inner athlete as he spent time with the coaches and players of the Cleveland Browns. Walter felt right at home sharing words of wisdom and experience with young, hungry athletes who were focused on growth and continued success.

We were also fortunate to participate in a handful of networking events right in our own backyard, West Palm Beach, and met some inspirational “movers and shakers” who are changing the game in their individual industries.

Another major milestone was the launch of our highly anticipated Next Level: Mastermind Group. We started this intensive training program out strong; connecting business leaders, network marketers, and entrepreneurs together to discuss topics that would help them transform into impact players in their companies. Spots may fill up for November, so if you are interested, get in on it now!

We’re not the kind of family to rush into Christmas preparation and do our best to spend November reflecting on our blessings and fostering an attitude of gratefulness. But you better believe we will be 100% in Christmas mode right after our post-Thanksgiving Day meal nap! Anyone else?

You’ll start 2019 the same way you ended 2018, so join us in making these last few months others-focused, intentional, and next level bound.

 

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Do you have an attitude of success

When you can’t change the direction of the wind — adjust your sails. H. Jackson Brown Jr

Every day, we have the opportunity to enter into the workday with an attitude of gratitude and positivity or indifference and negativity. And all day, we can shift our attitude in a way that will bring more patience, productivity, and success into our day. But it’s a choice. If you’re an adult and you’re still walking into each day not fully aware of the gift that it is, and unwilling to master the techniques and strategies to shift your mindset and reset your attitude, you’re not next level bound.

People who are getting to the next level understand the significance of their attitude. They no longer adhere to the idea that they are a victim of their circumstances. They no longer give fear and laziness the power to keep them from their destiny. They adopt an attitude of “I can. I will. I must.” They don’t let the actions and opinions of others control their attitude or their mindset. Attitude is everything. It is the foundation for your success, and you get to decide whether that foundation is rock solid and indestructible, or if it’s weak and prone to crumbling.

Positive self-talk and positive affirmations not only build confidence and get you in a powerful mental state to reach the next level, but it’s been proven to reduce stress, decrease depression rates, and even strengthen your immune system. Living a healthy lifestyle starts with your attitude and how you talk to and about yourself.

Your attitude, whether positive or negative, is contagious. When people are around you this week, will they feel capable, uplifted, encouraged, and inspired? Or will they feel defeated, stressed, unable, unwilling and unmotivated? And be careful about surrounding yourself with people who refuse to adopt a positive attitude. Their negativity will weigh you down. Find the good in difficult situations and refuse to be the person who constantly complains, points the finger or plays the victim. Step up and decide that your attitude is your responsibility.

This week, find opportunities to implement these four attitudes of success:

  • Possibility. Find a way when there is no way. Do the things others think cannot be done, more importantly, do the things you think can not be done
  • Self-Reliance. This week, take control of your success by figuring out what you can do to get yourself to the next level. What action steps can you make that don’t require input or response from anyone else? Do those.
  • Don’t Quit. You’re fully aware of what happens when you quit on something, so what if this week you adopted the attitude of commitment? Decide this week to push forward when you normally quit and watch what happens.
  • Improvement. An attitude shift doesn’t mean everything will go as you want it to, or that you’ll suddenly see drastic growth and improvements across the board. Apply the attitude of improvement to your life this week and look for the tiny victories. Celebrate the growth and development in yourself and others.

The reality is that sometimes we just aren’t in the mood to be productive, goal-oriented, or hard working. But your mood and your attitude are not the same things. Your mood is a fluctuation in your emotions based on your circumstances. Your attitude is your outlook on the world and the way you choose to see the possibilities in front of you. You’re allowed to have an off day, don’t beat yourself up for that. What you’re not allowed to do is dwell in a negative or victim mentality and let it rob you of your dreams.

Get Your Next Level…7 Core Fundamentals of Peak Performance
Audio Book Here

Give yourself the gift of an attitude adjustment this week and watch how it changes things in your marriage, your relationships with your kids, your workplace and your social circle.

-Walter

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It’s Meet Someone New Monday

“Successful people know a lot of people” -Walter Bond

It’s Meet Someone New Monday! Today is a great day to work on your networking skills and meet someone who could help you reach your goals. Or maybe by meeting someone new this week, you’ll be the person someone else needs to achieve their goals! Either way, by meeting new people this week, networks are being strengthened, goals are being reached, and relationships are being built. Networking is a critical skill set that we all must develop to enhance our purpose and make progression.

Everything you need to get to the next level will go through someone else’s hands to get to you. Ask any “self-made” millionaire their secret, and they’ll tell you they had a strong team of people behind them and were committed to effective networking. Meeting new people is critical in growing as a person and as a business. You can master programs and processes and create formulas that will improve your numbers, but if you can’t master the relationship building part of your business, you’re doing yourself, and your company, a disservice.

Networking is paramount to your success in 5 major ways:

  • Shared Knowledge. Successful people surround themselves with people who are more successful than they are. By networking with other like-minded people, you can share ideas, knowledge, strategies, and tricks to help you reach the next level. This is one reason our Next Level: Mastermind Group has been such a success, successful people love connecting with other successful people.
  • Increased opportunities. Networking helps you get connected with the people who have what you need to grow. Meeting new people increases your chances of finding new opportunities that will help launch you towards personal and business development.
  • It’s about secondary connections. Businessman Bob may not be the person you need to reach the next level at this moment, but building a long-term relationship with him means that he has connections that could be crucial in your success. Maybe Businessman Bob gives your name to his friend Professional Paula and viola! You’re connected and significantly moving forward.
  • Get Noticed. The more people you know, the more people know you. This helps to increase your profile and reputation in the industry. By making yourself a regular at networking events and business development sessions, you’re letting everyone know that you’re serious about getting to the next level. This will attract other serious business leaders and entrepreneurs into your professional circle.

This week, your challenge is to work on a short pitch/speech that will cover the basics of who you are and what you do in the amount of time it takes to ride an elevator. This is commonly referred to as an elevator speech. Once you’ve crafted your elevator speech, use it on one person that you don’t know. If you’re not doing it, your competition will. Being prepared will help you move past the few seconds of nervousness and start a chain reaction of connections that will get you to the next level.

If you didn’t get in on the Mastermind Group in October, there a few spots left for November. We’ll be discussing networking tips that have helped successful business leaders and entrepreneurs reach the big time!

Now go meet someone new!

-Walter

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3 Next Level Networking Secrets That Millionaires Love

Everyone knows that in business and in life, it’s more about who you know than what you know. The connections you make in your professional life are what open doors and get you to the next level. We all know we need to attend networking events, participate in mastermind groups, make phone calls, send emails and shake hands. However, there are a few secrets to effective networking that commonly get missed. Before your next networking event, make sure you’re paying attention to these fundamentals that could either make or break your networking game:

Prepare

You’d be surprised at how many professionals walk into a networking event, meet-and-greet or another connection-focused endeavor without being prepared. Not only does this make you look unprofessional and unprepared to potential connections, but it can also decrease your confidence and your chances of making a powerful first impression. Some ways to prepare yourself for success when it comes to networking include:

  • Be clear about your goals and intentions for networking. Are you trying to collect five business cards? Are you aiming to give out all of yours? Do you want to leave with a follow-up phone call scheduled? If you know who is going to be there, make a list of the people you want to speak with. Going in with a plan helps you stay focused and increases productivity.
  • Do your research. Nothing is more embarrassing than meeting a keynote or notable figure at an event and not knowing who they are. Make sure you can identify the high-profile people at your event and learn a little about their history and contributions. This will make you look prepared and educated.
  • Take care of details ahead of time. This means knowing where you’re going, what you are wearing, and any unexpected obstacle that could prevent you from being late or missing critical connections.

Pay Attention To Your Body Language

Whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, your body language at networking events tells people everything they need about approaching (or avoiding) you. Things like crossing your arms, standing against the wall, avoiding eye contact and the way you stand in a group can all send off vibes that you’re unapproachable or uninterested. Many introverts do these things unintentionally and often as a response to crowd-anxiety.

But introverts aren’t the only ones guilty of body language that sends off the wrong message. Dramatic hand gestures, an unnecessarily loud speaking voice, a defensive attitude, and offensive or inappropriate humor could also put people off from approaching you.

Keep your body language in check to maximize the connections you can make.

The Follow Up

Professional relationships are like flowers, the seeds are planted at the initial contact, but they won’t grow if you don’t tend to them. While meeting people at networking events is the first step, it’s all for nothing if you don’t follow up. Your work is not done when the networking event is over, in fact, it’s just getting started. Be intentional about setting a follow-up meeting or phone call before you go your separate ways, and then follow through with this commitment. Even if the connection doesn’t lead anywhere right now, your follow-through and persistence will give them a good impression of your work ethic.

Become A Networking Monster

Networking is one of the significant ways to grow your business. Even if you consider yourself a people-person and have no problem making friends with strangers, it’s important to remember the things you are doing and saying are always working towards presenting yourself in a light that is both personal and professional.

What is your next step in next level networking? If you’re not sure, check out our innovative Next Level: Mastermind Group where we discuss the power of effective networking, by networking!

We want to meet you and hear your story. Let’s get connected!

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