Mindset Matters

As I have mentioned before, I believe each and every one of us is specially created and gifted to live a life of unique impact and significance. I also believe those gifts – the talents and tools required to become who we are designed to be – are already inside of us. However, mining those gifts and bringing them to the surface so you can share them with the world is no easy task. Imagine a land owner in Texas during the early 1900s who has just discovered oil reserves buried under his ranch. Let’s also assume he owns the mineral rights to whatever lies beneath the surface of his land. He would no doubt be thrilled to learn he has millions of dollars' worth of oil just waiting to be harvested. However, if that’s as far as he goes, just discovering that precious resource, it will never do him or anyone any good. Even though this rancher literally sits on top of great potential wealth, the real work has only just begun. He must dig deep into the earth, drilling into the...

When I sit down with a new client and look at long term goals and needs to begin charting their financial course, one of the things we consider are potential obstacles. We spend time discussing and identifying possible road blocks so we can then create solutions around or through that barrier. Isolating and identifying likely hurdles and obstructions along a path to any goal is an important step to overcoming those hurdles. Along the path of life, you are likely your own biggest obstacle. And I am not just picking on you; I realize I am my own biggest obstacle as well. A lot of the excuses people make regarding their station in life and their circumstances are really just blame being deflected and placed where it doesn’t belong. For example, “I don’t have enough time” is often code for, “I don’t get up early enough” or “I waste too much time” or “I don’t prioritize my day.” Complaints about lacking opportunity commonly arise from someone not being prepared for the opportunity...

Inoculation, defined by the dictionary as, “the act or an instance of inoculating, especially the introduction of an antigenic substance or vaccine into the body to produce immunity to a specific disease.” To paraphrase, inoculation is proactively exposing the body to a potentially harmful substance, causing the immune system to strengthen and adapt, making the body more resilient to disease. What if you adapted that same strategy towards other areas of your life? Afraid of confrontation? Choose small, minor conflicts that force you to stand up for yourself and what you believe in to make confrontation less overwhelming in the future. Afraid of public speaking? Start finding small groups to speak to or maybe even read in front of your family. Intimidated by the gym? Just go in and walk on a treadmill. The idea is to expose yourself to just enough pressure to cause your mindset to adapt and adjust, but not so much that it crushes you. In time, you will build up an “immunity” a...

John F Kennedy was a fantastic orator and gave many profound and impactful speeches. Of all of his thought-provoking quotes, one of my favorites is, “There are risks and costs to action. But they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.” President Kennedy led our nation during some very tumultuous and volatile times. There were seasons of extreme uncertainty with seemingly no right answers to issues the world faced. As the nation sought safety and security, Kennedy understood risks must be taken to ensure the protection of our nation. Safety and security are illusions. Both action and inaction entail risk. A decision to act or a decision not to decide each brings with it certain hazards. Life is fraught with danger regardless of what you do. The moment you were conceived, you started facing risks. In fact, life is so risky, it will kill you eventually. Guaranteed. You can choose to proactively take the risk of action on your terms, with a potential ...

How often do you check your fuel? Well, when it comes to your vehicle, you probably have a reminder right there on your dash showing where your fuel level sits. At the gas station, you have choices for several different grades of gasoline, all methodically tested to perform at different levels of efficiency.   The higher the octane level, the higher performance the fuel is capable of producing. Some vehicles will run fine at 85 octane gasoline, but a Ferrari requires 93 or even higher. The more performance desired, the higher quality of fuel required. Checking your car’s fuel is convenient and straightforward, but how often do you check the fuel for your life? Your body requires fuel to perform and junk food fuel will produce garbage performance. Your mind also needs to be fed, and sludgy, toxic fuel will produce destructive tendencies in your thought patterns and perspectives. You can’t expect great results with mediocre fuel. If you desire excellence as an outcome, ...

According to multiple studies and extensive research, over two thirds of lottery winners end up broke or bankrupt. Nearly 80% of NFL players are bankrupt or financially insolvent within five years of retirement. Basketball players aren’t much better, with 60% of NBA retirees filing for bankruptcy within five years of leaving the game. How is this possible?!? How does wealth vanish so quickly and leave previously rich individuals destitute? While there are many possible reasons and theories that I won’t go into here, we can sum up a lot of it with the fact they came up too fast. Money and fame flooded into their lives before they were properly prepared to handle it. Their behavior, perspectives and mindsets didn’t have time to adapt to the new challenges and scenarios they faced. Ultimately, they allowed themselves to be ruined by their own success and prosperity. When a diver spends time at significant ocean depth, the pressure of the water causes physiological changes in...

On the wall at my gym there is a disclaimer sign, warning members to “cease activity and consult a physician if you experience any pain, discomfort, shortness of breath, light headedness or nausea.” In addition to those symptoms, I also get hot and sweaty. I can only assume I am allergic to working out and I should quit any and all activities related to exercise immediately! Now, I understand the gym has that sign to reduce their liability, but if I actually followed those directives, my workouts would be cut drastically short. I would be constantly interrupting my training with frequent doctor visits, asking about the strange sensations of rapid heart rate and sweating, and I would never accomplish anything. I go to the gym to stay in shape, not to be comfortable. In fact, it’s the very act of pushing the body out of its comfort zone, stretching its limits, that triggers the adaptations leading to better health and fitness. Muhammad Ali once said, “I don’t count my sit ...