Are You TOUGH Enough?

Written by JT on December 3, 2009

Check out this passage from Steve Siebold, mental toughness expert and one of my favorite speakers:

“Mental toughness allows you to live life on your terms. When you’re laser focused on sucking the marrow out of life and you’re tough enough to endure the critics who scorn you, you’re going to get what you want eventually. Whether you wish to become a millionaire, raise a phenomenal family or discover a cure for cancer, mental toughness is the answer. Motivation and positive thinking are a good start, but they’re insufficient for world-class success. Because the minute you begin to transcend the boundaries of the middle-class mindset, you’ll be attacked for the attempt. They’ll discourage you for trying and laugh at you for believing. They’ll tell you you’re unrealistic and your dream is foolish. The only thing that will save you is mental toughness. It’s when you finally realize you can have or do anything if you’re willing to overcome the addiction to caring about what other people think.”

Steve Siebold, author, 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class

Why did I share this with you today? Well, there are a lot of reasons.

First, Steve is right. Not only is he right, but his message is SO important, because the study of mental toughness is not highlighted enough in today’s society. Most success or business training focuses on boosting the bottom line. How can you boost sales? How can you increase revenue? How can you best analyze business or financial opportunities?

The key to any measure success in ANY endeavor is mental toughness.

Most people think mental toughness is saved only for discussions of feats of incredible achievement: winning championships, climbing Mt. Everest, overcoming overwhelming injury or illness, etc.

But where Steve has it right is in pointing out that mental toughness dictates the course of any endeavor in life: marriage, parenthood, weight loss, education…even something as simple as plain happiness. With it, you are nearly guaranteed success. Without it, you are assured to fail

Business and wealth creation are tremendously dependent on mental toughness. I have met a lot of successful people in the ares of business and wealth, and ALL of them are mentally tough.

My charge to you is to begin focusing on your own mental toughness. Reflect on how you have handled adversity in the past, and how you handle it now.

Ask yourself a few questions:
-How do I respond to adversity when I am happy and excited about life?
-How do I respond to adversity when I am down, tired, hungry, discouraged?
-What is my first mental response to a setback? Is it one of excitement for the challenge, or one of frustration or fear?
-How to I view others who are mentally tough? (Do you even recognize it when you see it?)
-Do I see MYSELF has mentally tough?

Ask these types of questions, come back to this blog often, and definitely get Steve Siebold’s book 177 Mental Toughness Secrets of the World Class.

Be World-Class Today!
~JT

Why Conformity Sucks

Written by JT on April 20, 2009

It is interesting to me how we as humans adapt to almost any environment in which we submerse ourselves. If it’s cold outside, we bundle up; if it is hot, we minimize our clothing and don a pair of shades. It seems we take pride in our ability to adapt. But could that ability or, more specifically the pride in that ability, cause us to settle for so much less than we deserve?

Tony Robbins, one of the greatest thinkers and motivators of our time, talks about six basic human needs. Two of those six needs are Certainty and Uncertainty. The concept here is that our Creator (please feel free to insert your belief here) installed in each of us conflicting needs to create variety and to allow us to find our own path in life.

Certainty is a basic need of all humans; it creates comfort, stability, and predictability in the process of life.

Uncertainty provides variety and allows us to grow. It keeps us from being bored. Uncertainty requires us to escape the comfort of guaranteed outcomes, and places the onus directly on us to make (or break) our own future.

And of the six basic needs Tony Robbins teaches, these two have perhaps the most profound affect on whether or not a person will reap great dividends from exhibiting the courage and adventure of the modern day entrepreneur.

I talk to several people each week who are looking for a better life, a way out, and an escape from the grind that makes up their everyday existence. These are the entrepreneurs. The big thinkers. They are leaders.

They are very certain about one thing: They are not content to toil long hours in dead end jobs that bring them little or no satisfaction.

They cannot bear a day (let alone 5 in a row every week) of being surrounded by complaining co-workers who spend more time finding ways to create short cuts than actually putting forth the effort to do the job right.

Most of all, they refuse—flat out refuse—to be paid anything less than an amount THEY dictate to be what they deserve (try going into your boss’s office and explaining to them that you want a 100, 150, or 200% jump in pay because you believe you are worth it!). In short, they are psychologically unemployable.

They enthusiastically pursue the Uncertainty of entrepreneurship because they believe that they deserve a great life.

These are the “5%’ers”; the top 5% of society who strives for a better financial life for themselves and their families. And what about the remaining 95%?

Sadly, they are all “adaptors”, those who will eventually wake up someday, most likely too late, to a boring, unfulfilling and below-average life. They have fallen into the sleepy lull of “accepting what they get”.

Absent is the satisfaction. Satisfaction of doing something they are passionate about. Satisfaction in knowing they are doing something REAL, which will ultimately pay HUGE dividends in the future.

They are so determined to have Certainty in their lives that they are willing to wait until Uncertainty knocks at their doorstep and forces their hand to make a change.

And by then, it could be too late.

The average person, particularly in America, is content to grind out 40 or more hours per week (a number that rises every year). These are the same people who hope beyond all stressed-out hope that a pension will be there when they retire; that they will be “taken care of”.

They want to be shepherded; they want to be led, even at the expense of never truly being prosperous or happy.

So why do that; why be part of the herd? Why adapt to a “comfortable” environment? Why not evacuate that existence for a better one? Why not create Uncertainty in your life?

I ask people that same question every time they call me for advice, or when they show interest in my business. I can only say that I remember how that felt; that I used to have those fears and stressors, and now I am a better, happier and more fulfilled person for pushing out and away from my comfort zone and jumping feet first into the uncertain waters of free enterprise.

What kind of “certainty” kept me going when the going got tough? I had the certainty that I was growing in the right direction, in the direction of my goals and dreams, and ultimately my “why”.

Was it initially scary? You bet! Was there Uncertainty? Absolutely.

But as with any situation involving risk, there have been huge rewards. And those rewards, that continue to flow to me and my family in an abundant deluge, have made me never forget, and never miss, the days of being an employee.

Being the master of my own destiny, setting the course of my own abundant future and being accountable to myself has been the most liberating and empowering cause I could have ever championed.

I encourage everyone to make a committed effort to do the same. Step outside your Certainty; promise yourself the life you deserve. Formulate a plan of action, and then DO IT. You will thank yourself in the very near future.

~JT

4 Steps To Better Results In Building A Business

Written by JT on April 16, 2009

I hear a lot of entrepreneurs—both new and seasoned—complain that they are not getting the results they are looking for in their business. The first question I ask is, “What is it you are looking for?” The answers vary depending on the person.
“More sales…” is a pretty typical response or, “more cash-flow”; “better conversions” and “more traffic to my site.”
Wow. Does any of this sound familiar? If you are extremely successful, you can probably see the problem right off the bat.
My response to this? “You are too results-oriented.”
You are probably saying to yourself, “Yeah JT, isn’t that the point?” “Shouldn’t we be focused on the bottom line, on making the sales and converting leads into prospects; prospects in to new clients?”
My answer is a flat-out “No.”
The great Zig Ziglar points out that the key to getting anything you want out of business, out of life is to give people what they want.
You see, when you focus on the result, you are putting your own needs first. When you do this, you give off a vibe that you are only in it for the money (the end result). You present a posture of self-service and greed.
People are not stupid. They will be able to see straight through you when you are focused on the results. In the end, you will come off as desperate, whether you know you are doing it or not. And nobody wants to work with a desperate person.
So how do you overcome a results-oriented mindset?
First, focus on a ‘service-first’ mentality. Ask yourself these critical questions: “What do I have to offer my audience that will be beneficial to them?” By audience I am referring to your leads, customer base, clients and potential business partners.
Second, ask yourself, “What is it that people want? Am I providing that…and if not, how can I provide it?” It is a complex question, I know. But until you deeply examine that question, you will be chasing people all over the marketplace, rather than having them come to you.
Don’t be a hunter; be a fisher. Imagine being ‘hunted’. Most creatures that are hunted are running for their lives. Would YOU want to be hunted? Didn’t think so. Now consider fishing. A fisherman places his or her bait (offer) out for the desired target (client) to come willingly to, and consume. Sounds much better for both sides, right? (Yeah, I know…in fishing, the fish loses in the end, but it is a metaphor so just play along!).
After you ascertain what your audience wants, ask “How can I assist others to get what they want?” Ah…now you are on to something. Do you see how you are now refocusing your energy away from the ‘result’? Instead of obsessing over making the sale or closing the deal, you are now on a journey of finding how you can be of assistance. You are exploring how you can be a solution to a person’s challenges. You are acting as a leader and putting their needs first.
Instead of focusing on the result, you are now focusing on the journey. You are not only assisting others, but you are learning about them, and learning about yourself as well. You are transforming yourself from hunter to provider. You are establishing trust and building relationships.
By programming your mind to focus on the steps required to add value, and by concentrating on your clientele and their desires, you quickly center your focus on what is important: ‘service first’ thinking. And as you do, you will find your life flooded with an abundance of the ‘results’ you desperately sought in the first place.
Finally, give this gift of wisdom to the people that follow you. NOW you are starting to really make a difference, because not only have you changed yourself for the better, but now you are empowering your team with the same values and skills so that THEY can replicate the same success and begin to achieve their own desired results.
Give people what they want, and you’ll get everything you desire. It is that simple.
See you in the next post…
~JT

How To Boost Sales In Your Business

Written by JT on March 5, 2008

I saw a funny bumper sticker today that read, “The flogging will continue until morale improves”. I’ve seen this quote before, but I usually just laugh it off and go about my day. For some reason it really stuck with me today, though. I thought about it, and how it applies to business as well as life.

I guess the reason the bumper sticker quote stayed with me was because, recently, an acquaintance complained to me that she felt unfulfilled. She complained that, despite her best efforts, life and business were getting the better of her. She felt tired, beat down and defeated. Nothing, she claimed, was working.

Jim Rohn often talks about the importance of ambition and personal responsibility with respect to being an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurs can’t make the same excuses that employees make; in fact, they can’t make any at all.

Entrpereneurs have to be leaders; employees don’t have to lead, they just have to punch a clock. If the goals, deadlines and commitments are not met, the business fails and the entrepreneur suffers.

The bumper sticker seems to indicate that the flogging—also known as difficult times, trials and tribulations, etc—will continue until a shift in mindset grabs hold of the leader and he or she takes a decided stand against failure and mediocrity.

For the record, I do not fear failure. And while I try not to fail, I see failure is the supreme teacher…IF you posses the maturity and open mind to learn from it.

But repeated failure with a lack of learning; acceptance of mediocrity; willingness to feel defeated when things don’t go your way…THAT is unacceptable, and completely against the entrepreneurial spirit.

So how do you shift your mindset away from that of the “victimized employee”? How does one stand tall in the face of adversity? Where ought one turn when business is slow and the bills are piling up? Here is what I told my acquaintance, only because it worked for me when I used to have the same challenges…

Get Grateful. I do not care how bad you perceive your current situation, there is always someone else who has it worse. Yeah, I know…it sucks to hear that. But it is true. Mia and I sponsor a child in the Philippines, and her family doesn’t even have running water. How crappy is that? Try brushing your teeth, or washing dishes, or staying healthy without running water.

And if that is too dramatic for you, then consider this Jom Rohn quote”
“If you think the grass is greener on the other side, it’s most likely because that field is getting more care the owner.”

Remember; every single person: Donald Trump, Oprah Winfrey and even Mother Theresa all had lousy times in their lives. But the strong ones…the winners…refuse to lose. They get resilient by going against that which put them in a bad place to begin with.

By focusing on the things you are grateful for, you immediately shift your body chemistry and begin to transform your brain from the “fight-or-flight” mode to the “vacation mode”.
When was the last time you were running for your life and you thought, “Man, it is sure great to be here. I love this place in life…”?

Probably never.

But by concentrating on the positive aspects of life, you can literally convert nervous anxiety into a restful calm and get back in control of the situation and yourself. Okay, so let’s say you are grateful. Now what? Its time to…

Get E.A.G.E.R. Being E.A.G.E.R. does not mean being an over-zealous spaz. I use the acronym E.A.G.E.R to stand for Enthusiastic Action Generates Exciting Results. Simply put, the more passionate you are about your pursuits, the more successful you will be and the less daunted you will be by failure and setbacks.

Case in point; when I was a kid all I wanted was to be a Navy pilot (that and play for the Seahawks). I ate, drank and slept Naval Aviation. But I struggled in school and despite those struggles, still sought out tough classes and stayed with it.

I even had the Navy tell me I was too old (the age cut-off was like 29…I was 30 when I started flight school). But I found a way to use my prior service time to get a waiver. I made it. Earning my “Wings of Gold” was a huge personal triumph.

Was I unsure of myself? Sometimes. Was I enthusiastically dedicated? Always. And I am deeply grateful for that experience because it has taught me tremendous lessons about business. Get E.A.G.E.R about your life’s pursuits. Ask the experts of whatever field of business you are in how they got successful and mirror what they do. Learn from the best, and then join them! And finally…

Get Coaching. Let me be clear; you do not need to spend tons of money on a coaching program. In fact, you are getting coaching right now. Going to blogs, visiting forums, attending seminars, and reading books are all great ways of getting coaching.

I don’t have all the answers; I give you honest advice from a place of personal experience. Now, if you are serious about success, I strongly suggest you make a modest investment in top-notch coaching. If you would like to contact me about my coaching program, drop me a line at: jt@shiftofmomentum.com

Okay, friends, that is all for now. I am excited to share this information with you because everything you just read came from my own personal experience. It means a lot to me to help successful people just like you. Thanks for being a part of my passion!

See you in the next post…
~JT