Growth Inside Fuels Growth Outside

A group of tourists walked through a quaint English village in wonderment. They were enamored by the town's winding cobblestone streets, the beauty of its courtyards and plazas, and the sense of history emanating from its ancient churches. While strolling through the local park, the tourists struck up conversation with an elderly gentleman and found out that he had lived in the town for his entire life. One of the tourists, eager to hear more about the town's history, asked, "Sir, have any great men been born in this village?" "Nope," said the old man, "only babies."

Personal Growth Is a Process

In our twenties, we think ahead to when we'll be ideally situated in our career, positioned to do exactly what we enjoy, and enjoying immense influence in our occupation. Like children on the way to Disneyland, we impatiently await arrival at our destination instead of appreciating the journey there. However, as we age we encounter an uncomfortable truth: growth doesn't happen automatically. We cannot coast through life hoping one day to stumble across our dreams. Unless we set aside time to grow into the person we desire to be, we'll not reach our potential.

Leaders develop daily, not in a day. They commit themselves to the process of growth, and over time they reap the rewards of daily investments in their development. In this lesson, I'd like to share five principles to encourage you to adopt a lifestyle of personal growth.

#1 Growth is the great separator of those who succeed and those who do not.

When I went to college, there was no gap between my peers and me-none at all. We started on the same level. However, at the age of 17, I made a commitment to spend an hour a day on my personal growth. I studied and read, filing the lessons I learned along the way. Now, in most cases, the gap between my former classmates and me is pretty wide. Am I smarter than they are? Absolutely not. Many of them got better grades than I did in college. It's the growth factor-my commitment to the process of personal growth-that has made the difference.

#2 Growth takes time, and only time can teach us some things.

When it comes to personal growth, you cannot substitute for time. Yet, the mere passage of time doesn't make you wise. Experience is not the best teacher; evaluated experience is the best teacher. To gain insights from your experience, you have to engage in reflective thinking. I have a habit of taking ten minutes every evening to look back on the day. As I reflect on what happened, lessons emerge, and I capture them in my notebook so that I can learn from them.

#3 Growth inside fuels growth outside.

The highest reward of our toil is not what we get for it, but who we become by it. At the age of 17, I decided that I would read, file, and begin to prepare lessons. From that simple discipline I accumulated a wealth of content that fueled my speaking and writing. I never set out to be a leadership specialist; I was simply diligent about reading, filing, and studying. With respect to personal growth, take the long view on results. The most important question to ask is not "What am I getting?" from the discipline of personal growth, the most important question is, "Who am I becoming?"

#4 Take responsibility for your own growth.

For 15 to 20 years, the school system holds us responsible for growth. Educational curriculum clearly spells out, "here's what you do next," and "here's the next step." Then we graduate with diplomas and certificates, and we no one longer have anyone to map out the next step for us. If we want to continuing growing, we have to do it ourselves. We have to put together a game plan so that we become students of life who are always expanding our minds and drawing upon our experiences.

#5 Determine the areas of your life in which you need to grow.

You've probably heard someone say, "You can do anything as long as you put your mind to it." Sadly, as nice as that sounds, it simply isn't true. In watching people grow, I have discovered that, on a scale of 1-10, people can only improve about two notches. For instance, I love to sing; that's the good news. The bad news is that I can't carry a tune. Now, let's be generous and say that, as a singer, I'm a "two." If I put lots of money, effort, and energy into developing my voice, perhaps I can grow into a "four." News flash: on a ten-point scale, four is still below average. With regards to my career, it would be foolish for me to focus my personal growth on my voice. At best, I'd only become an average singer, and no one pays for average.

Don't work on your weaknesses. Devote yourself to fine-tuning your strengths. I work exceptionally hard on personal growth in four areas of my life. Why only four? Because I'm only good at four things. I lead, communicate, create, and network. That's it. Outside of those areas, I'm not very valuable. However, within those areas of strength I have incredible potential to make a difference.

Where can you make a difference?

Have a great week unless you choose otherwise.

Drago

I Can Do This

This week we share a great message from author and speaker, Jon Gordon. Jon's message is a great reminder that mountains are meant to be climbed. They will make us stronger, better, smarter, they should be looked at as something to conquer, not fear or put off!

I rode my mountain bike the other day with my three year old son in the child's seat. As we rode along the edge of the TPC golf course we noticed a boy running up and down these three little hills on the edge of the golf course. I knew what was coming next. My son said "Daddy, I want to run up the hill." So, I stopped the bike, helped him get out of the seat and said, "Go ahead and climb that hill."

He stood at the bottom looking at the hill. To him I could tell it seemed like a mountain. He started up the hill but then stopped. His momentum could not carry him up the hill. It was pretty steep and he looked nervous and scared. I wasn't sure if he would be able to climb it and neither was he. Then I said, "step back and then run up it," so he did fearlessly.

When he reached the top his face beamed with pride. He just stood there looking at the view from the top; his view and perspective changed by a few seconds and a climb up a little mountain.

From the look on his face, which I will never forget, I could tell his confidence was at an all-time high. He proceeded to run up and down the three little hills like a human rollercoaster. When he reached the bottom of the third hill we walked back to the bike and went on our way.

I realized at that moment why we all need to climb a mountain every now and then. When we climb mountains, face challenges, hurdle obstacles and learn from difficult situations we are reminded that we have the strength and power to overcome life's challenges.

At first even a little mountain may seem like a big insurmountable mountain. But when you step back and climb it you realize, "I can do this."

The mountain, no matter how big it is, is no match for your faith and desire to climb it. Mountains are meant to be climbed. Wounds are meant to be healed and problems are meant to become learning experiences. They all serve a purpose. They make us stronger mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

While we often can't control what happens to us we can control how we see and climb the mountains in our life. We can look at mountains as being in the way or as "the way" to growth.

We have a choice. We can stand at the bottom and say, "it's too hard, it's too high and I can't do it" or we can dig down deep and find the very best in ourselves and fearlessly run up it.

Be blessed this week.     

Drago

Notes To Myself - Ruben Chavez

Notes to Myself

Ruben Chavez

 

Below is an ongoing list of advice I’ve compiled for myself in a note in my phone. I started writing it as a way to remember the things that have worked well for me in the past because I was tired of forgetting them, then having to rediscover them months or years later. The cycle would go something like this:

• I’d find something that worked well for me -- a habit, a mindset, a food, anything.
• I’d integrate it into my life for a while.
• I’d eventually forget about it weeks or months later and would have to solve the same problem from scratch multiple times.
• I’d eventually rediscover this thing that had helped me in the past and integrate it into my life once again.

This list covers various areas of my life and is somewhat random. It’s mostly unedited, except for clarity and (most) grammatical errors.

In my phone, at the top of the list, I’ve written:

LOOK AT THIS LIST OFTEN, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE FEELING "OFF."

Full disclosure -- I don’t look at this list often enough. Hopefully sharing it here with you will help me follow my own advice more regularly. (Don't let the numbered list fool you, it is in no particular order).
 

"THINGS I NEED TO REMEMBER"

1. “You don’t have to create a masterpiece every single day. Some days you just need to paint.” (something Vanessa told me when I was beating myself up for not creating something amazing every day).

2. It’s important that you stick to talking about what’s important to you and what you find interesting, not what you think other people will find interesting. When you talk about what you find interesting, that’s where you’ll have the most insight and unique perspectives. The people who have contributed most to the world have identified where their true interests lie and centered all of their work around it.

3. Speak with confidence. You are just as smart as the people you admire and even smarter in some areas. Be confident of the validity and strength of your own ideas, perspectives, and arguments.

4. I feel best when I:
- Wake up early.
- Do physical activity during the day to tire myself out.
- Work on things I'm excited about.
- Eat a high protein, moderate carb diet.
- Go to sleep early.
- Sleep 7-8 hours.

5. Foods that my body loves (in pretty much any quantity):
Sweet potatoes, eggs, turkey, mangoes, berries, all coconut products, walnuts, hemp seeds, oats, green powders.

6. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Be lighthearted. Nothing is that big of a deal. Nobody cares that much. Your existence is less than a speck in time. Have fun while you’re here.

7. Release expectations of the outcome and just enjoy the process.

8. The more you behave independently from the opinions of others, the more attractive you become.

9. Momentum in life comes from increased fluidity, a willingness to always try more, to continually move in a less constricted fashion, even (and especially) as you experience success.

10. Trust yourself. Trust your intuition. Trust your wisdom. Trust your knowledge. You already have the answers you’re looking for. You already know what to do, what to say and how to act in every situation. Every life experience you’ve ever had is recorded in your subconscious mind and you have access to all of it -- every movie you’ve watched, every book you’ve read, every class you’ve taken, everything you’ve learned. The subconscious mind never forgets. Life is easier when you follow the guidance of your subconscious rather than trying to logic your way through every little thing.

11. Always be prepared. Plan for the worst, expect the best. Never be caught off-guard.

12. Always look for ways to give and serve others. Expect nothing in return. “If you’re not making someone else's life better, you're wasting your time.” -- Will Smith

13. Act like someone is always watching you (because they probably are). Who you are when no one is watching you is how you will be perceived when they are.

14. Stop thinking there is something else you need to be doing. Just be present and enjoy what you are doing now.

15. Simply being aware of the fact that life is a mental game puts you way ahead and tilts things in your favor.

16. When listening to a podcast (or any material I want to internalize) listen as though the speaker is talking directly to me -- as if I was the one who asked the question they are answering. Also, listen as though you have to teach it to someone else later.

17. Don’t create content for the masses. Create for one or two specific people, as if you were writing a message to a friend.

18. Have confidence in yourself. Most people are too self-conscious/wrapped up in their own lives to tell you you’re doing a good job (even though they may think very highly of you).

19. You don’t have to feel alone when trying to figure out the world. For any subject you want to learn, or question you have, there are others who have come before you that have wanted to learn the same thing. There are other people like you, you just have to find them. (IWantToLearn subreddit, Quora, etc.)

20. You might only need one or two really good ideas to improve 80%+ of your life (Pareto’s law). Figure out what those are. It’s not so much about knowing every single personal development strategy, but about finding the ones that have the most "bang for your buck" when applied to your life.

21. Act like the person you want to be.

22. Tips for avoiding information overwhelm and learning more effectively:

• Don't think you need to remember everything. Trust that the information you need will be there when you need it, as long as you were present when you initially received the information.
• Organize information hierarchically in order to discern what’s important (Principles, strategies, tactics).
• Focus on information you will use now, not at some point in the unforeseeable future.

23. Don’t over-learn. Cramming your brain with too much stuff too often can clog it up and make you feel mentally foggy. Take a break from reading/studying every so often to give your brain a chance to absorb what you’ve learned. Research shows that if you yourself time to “forget” information just enough to be able to recall it later, it will have a better chance of sticking with you because you strengthen that neural connection.

24. "I cannot remember the books I’ve read any more than the meals I have eaten. Even so, they have made me.” -- Emerson

Translation: It’s okay if you don’t remember every detail of every book. Over time, the ideas seep into your subconscious and influence you in ways you’re not even fully aware of. “The person you will be in five years depends largely on the books you read, the people you spend time with, etc”

25. “Education is not the learning of facts but the training of the mind to think.” -- Einstein

Translation: Don’t concern yourself so much with learning facts or memorizing other people’s ideas. Rather, concern yourself with learning how the people you admire arrived at their conclusions so you can arrive at your own. Focus on first principles.

26. “Leap and the net will appear.” -- Zen proverb

27. Creativity is just connecting things.

28. "You create value by finding the connection between two or more things that no one else has seen before and making a third unique thing for the world."-- The War of Art

29. You need restrictions. You are more creative and do better work when you have restrictions as opposed to when you feel you can do anything. This goes for structuring your day, too. Discipline equals freedom.

30. Philosophy over tactic.

31. Sometimes people just need something to relate to, not a tidy personal development strategy. (Think: music).

32. What makes me qualified to teach others? An expert is someone who knows more than the person they are teaching. We are all “experts” to someone else. (The better I get, the higher level of student I will attract).

33. Reading helps you figure yourself out.

http://thinkgrowprosper.com

What's Your Story?

This week we share a powerful message from one of our favorite authors and Leadership Experts, John Maxwell. John's message is a great reminder that we are the authors of our story.

Let me ask you, what's your life story?

When I meet people for the first time, as soon as the introductions are out of the way, I ask them to share their stories — to tell me who they are and where they’re from, where they’ve been and where they’re going. I want to understand what matters to them. And I have a very specific reason why I’m asking you about your own story right now.

I wish I could sit with you and hear what you think about your story so far. What kind of story is it? We all have a bit of humor in our stories, as well as some drama. We all have our ups and downs, wins and losses.

There’s a bit of comedy, tragedy, and history in all of us. But overall, each of our lives tells a larger story. What do you want yours to say? I believe that no matter what “plot” each of our stories may follow, deep down we all want one thing: We want our lives to matter.

We want our stories to be of significance. Nobody wants to feel like the world wouldn’t miss him if he’d never lived. Are you with me?

A Story Can Show Us That We Matter

Have you ever seen the classic movie It’s a Wonderful Life? It’s the story of George Bailey, a man who dreams of traveling the world and building things, but who instead stays home in Bedford Falls, because he repeatedly chooses to do what he believes to be right for others. A point occurs in the movie where George experiences a moment of crisis, and he comes to believe that everyone around him would be better off if he had never been born.

What he’s really saying is that his life doesn’t matter.

The great twist in the story occurs when, with the help of an angel, George gets a chance to see what his town and others’ lives would look like if he had never existed. Without him, it’s a dark and negative place. George comes to recognize the positive impact he had made because, time after time, he took action to do what he knew was right and helped other people.

As Clarence the angel tells him, “Each man’s life touches so many other lives.” George had touched many lives in small ways and made a difference.

Have you looked at your life from that angle?

Have you thought about what you want your life story to be?

Do you believe you can live a life of significance, that you can do things that really matter? Can you make your story great? 

With all my heart, I believe the answer to these questions is yes. You have it within your power to make your life a great story, one of significance. Every person can.

Regardless of nationality, opportunity, ethnicity, or capacity, each of us can live lives of significance. We can do things that matter and that can make the world a better place. I hope you believe that.

Be blessed this week.            

Drago

Give Us A Follow

Three People You Remember

Trouble happens to everyone.

“Nobody, as long as he moves about among the chaotic currents of life, is without trouble.”
– Carl Jung

But don’t worry about it.

“Worry is the interest paid by those who borrow trouble.”
– George Washington

Really. Don’t worry about it.

“Don’t worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
– Jesus, in the 6th chapter of Matthew’s Good News

Because I’ve got this.

“In this world you will have trouble. But be of good cheer! I have overcome the world.”
– Jesus, in the 16th chapter of John’s Good News

And I’m your friend.

“Friends show their love in times of trouble, not in happiness.”
– Euripides

Trouble is a searchlight in the darkness that shows you a person’s heart.

“You never forget three people:
the person who helped you in trouble,
the person who left you in trouble,
the person who put you in trouble.”
– Randy Phillips

And sometimes that searchlight is reflected back at you.

“If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your trouble, you wouldn’t sit for a month.”
– Theodore Roosevelt

But finally, the sun rises, morning comes, and it’s a brand-new day.

“Expect trouble as an inevitable part of life and repeat to yourself the most comforting words of all: ‘This, too, shall pass.'”
– Ann Landers

Roy H. Williams

6th Annual Walk For Thalassemia

45 Life Lessons

1                Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2                When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3                Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4                Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

5                Pay off your credit cards every month.

6                You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7                Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8                Save for retirement, starting with your first paycheck.

9                When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

10             Make peace with your past  so it won’t screw up the present.

11             It’s ok to let your children see you cry.

12             Don’t compare your life to others’. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

13             If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

14             Life is too short for long pity parties. Get busy living, or get busy dying.

15             You can get through anything if you stay put in today.

16             A writer writes. If you want to be a writer, write.

17             It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

18             When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

19             Burn the candles; use the nice sheets; wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

20             Over prepare, then go with the flow.

21             Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

22             The most important sex organ is the brain.

23             No one is in charge of your happiness except you.

24             Frame every so-called disaster with these words:

“In five years, will this matter?”

25             Forgive everyone everything.

26             What other people think of you is none of your business.

27             Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

28             However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

29             Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

30             Believe in miracles.

31             Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

32             Growing old beats the alternative – dying young.

33             Your children get only one childhood. Make it memorable.

34             Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

35             If we threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

36             Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

37             Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

38             All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39             Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

40             The best is yet to come.

41             No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.

42             Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

43             If you don’t ask, you don’t get.

44             Yield.

45             Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.

 

- Regina Brett

Simple Formula for Living

Live beneath your means.

Return everything you borrow.

Stop blaming other people.

Admit it when you make a mistake.

Give clothes not worn to charity.

Do something nice and try not to get caught.

Listen more; talk less.

Every day take a 30 minute walk.

Strive for excellence, not perfection.

Be on time. Don’t make excuses.

Don’t argue. Get organized.

Be kind to unkind people.

Let someone cut ahead of you in line.

Take time to be alone.

Cultivate good manners.

Be humble.

Realize and accept that life isn’t fair.

Know when to keep your mouth shut.

Go an entire day without criticizing anyone.

Learn from the past. Plan for the future.

Live in the present.

Don’t sweat the small stuff.

It’s all small stuff.

 

-        Author Unknown

Save the Date for our 2018 Golf Invitational!

20 Small Ways To Be Happier This Year

1. Go to sleep when you’re tired.

After a good night of sleep, you’ll wake up feeling refreshed and ready-ish to face a new day. Plus, you will appreciate going to bed earlier when your alarm goes off in the morning.

2. Make someone happy.

Spreading happiness will not only cheer someone up but it will also make you feel better, too. Make your mom a cup of tea, call your best friend, or compliment someone on their outfit. Good energy is contagious.

3. Celebrate your small victories.

What if instead of wasting so much time putting ourselves down for not being good enough at something, we celebrated our small victories? It can be something like getting complimented at school or work, learning a new recipe, or making that phone call you were dreading. Be your own cheerleader!

4. Practice gratitude.

Think about something you’re grateful for every day before going to bed and write it down. When you take the time to count your blessings, you realize that your life is actually full of things to be grateful for. Your mind is simply too clouded and too busy to see it.

5. Put down your electronics for an hour every day.

The Internet is pretty amazing, we all know that. But it’s also addicting and that is why it’s important to switch off. Read a book, go for a walk outside, and spend more time with your loved ones.

6. Stop snoozing your alarm.

It will only make you feel more tired.

7. Start journaling.

Writing is a therapy, it helps you put things into perspective. But don’t try to be a creative writer – that’s not the point, just let your thoughts out on the paper. Let it be messy and honest, straight from the heart. I tend to do it when I’m feeling anxious or sad and it always makes me feel a better.

8. Learn something new.

Whether it is a new language, how to play the ukulele, or coding a website, learning something new will make you feel accomplished.

9. Spend more time with yourself.

It can be a bit scary at first but it’s important to learn to enjoy your own company. Curl up on the couch with a good book or go shopping by yourself. You can also try meditation for 10 minutes every morning, it’s a good way to start your day and listen to your own thoughts and needs.

10. Cry if you need to.

It’s okay to allow yourself to be sad sometimes, it doesn’t mean your weak. Having a cry and letting it all out will make you feel better but don’t dwell on the negative things for too long.

11. Spend more time outside.

It’s scientifically proven that vitamin D boosts your mood and the fresh air will give you an energy boost. It also helps to clear your head when you’re feeling anxious.

12. Sweat it out.

I feel like a hypocrite trying to encourage you to exercise but I can’t deny it makes you feel good. And you don’t need to run a marathon, start by taking a walk every day or the stairs instead of the elevator. Baby steps.

13. Spend more time with your loved ones.

Make more time to hang out with your closest family and friends, the people who are there for you no matter what and avoid people that put you down.

14. Make plans.

Having something to look forward to will not only make you happier but also help you overcome challenges. Well, I might have a busy week coming up at work but at least I’m going to Ikea on Saturday and can treat myself to some new bits.

15. Buy a planner and organize your life.

If you love stationery and planning as much as I do, organizing your life with the help of a pretty planner will make you feel accomplished and prepared to tackle your to-do list.

16. Stretch out your body in the morning.

Stretching improves your posture and gives you the energy to face a new day. All you need to do is put your hands above your head and stretch as far as you can for a few seconds. Super easy!

17. Step out of your comfort zone.

I’m the first to admit this isn’t easy but it’s so empowering to take a step out of your bubble and overcome a fear. Don’t let fear hold you back.

18. Learn to let go.

You are wasting your energy by worrying about things that happened in the past. Been there, done that. You can’t go back and change them so focus on the present, instead.

19. Smile to your reflection in the mirror.

Yes, do it. I do this every time I’m feeling a bit blah, is that weird? Yeah, it’s weird. But I promise it actually works. Of course, it really depends on the situation but smiling, even when it’s fake, activates a little something in your brain that makes you feel happier.

20. Remember: you’re the one in charge of your happiness.

You can’t control what happens to you, you can only control how you react to it. You can’t also rely on other people to bring you happiness, it must come from within, so focus on creating a positive mindset!