Here’s a confession: A few months ago, I used to be incredibly impatient with new courses and books. I convinced myself that they’re “all the same.” I actually started to think that “I know it all…”

I never watched videos, I didn’t read new books, I didn’t buy new courses…rather I sat there and “smack talked” them, putting them down and making myself feel better.

Then…one day…a question came to me…

“Why is it that these guys are all making so much more money than me?”

You see one of my good friends (no names) was making it VERY big online all of a sudden, his business was blowing up. Mine, however, was growing steadily but not seeing nearly the growth that he was (but still great).

I really started to think about the difference between us and here’s what I learned…

–> This guy was in MULTIPLE mastermind groups and even paying $15,000 a year for one of them.

–> He bought and read EVERY book and course out there.

–> When others spoke, his slick mind LISTENED and IMPLEMENTED…

That Day I Made A Decision…

I decided that I’m going to listen more and open my mind (again). The days I used to have the fastest growth were the days that I took in ALL the training I could get!

Now, I have to admit, it hasn’t been easy. I still have that voice inside my head that tries to get me to stop and go about doing my own things. And, yes, 90% of what I read/watch or spend time learning, I already know.

However, let’s face it:

A) It’s great to hear things again and get a refresher. Sometimes it’s just the right timing.

B) If all you even get is the 10% - DEFINITELY worth it!

Today, I watched a 20 minute video I’d never watch in the past…

It had NO CONTENT, it was just a pure promotion. But, I learned more from watching it than most content based videos I’ve watched in the last year.

Why?

Because I got tremendous value out of just seeing HOW they are promoting their next product. I was impressed and already have tons of ideas flying around for my next project.

Lesson for the day: No, you don’t know it all (I don’t care who you are). And stop looking to learn from things that are “revolutionary” - if all you get is ONE good tip from something, it’s worth it’s weight in gold!

Popularity: 8% [?]

Today I experienced STRONG proof that you really do create what you fear.

Here’s some background…

A few days ago I had some dental work and just 2 days afterwards, my teeth really started to hurt. The minute they started hurting, I (freakishly) had the fear that I’m going to need a root canal. I have no idea where it came from, I’ve never had one before - just had the fear.

#1 - Root Canal Comes True…

As soon as I get to my dentist she proceeds to tell me that she may have “messed up” a bit and that I may now require a root canal…ouch.

Unhappy with what I’ve learned, the next thought creeps into my mind…

“Man, this is going to be a bad day…” Just as I’m thinking that…

#2 - Pulled Over For Speeding…

It’s been 9 years since I was pulled over by a police officer, but of course today had to be the day! I get caught in a speed trap that’s right after a downward hill.

Irritated, frustrated and with a hurting jaw, I am bickering as I enter the highway and again think to myself…“See, I TOLD you today is going to be a …BAM!”

#3 - Big Pebble Flies Into My Windshield…

A windshield I just replaced 2 months ago after cracking, now it needs replacing again!

At this point I can’t do anything but chuckle, however, stupidly, I keep repeating “what a bad day…what a bad day…”

#4 - NO PARKING!?

The same office we’ve been in 3 years now, it’s been 2 years since the parking lot was so full that there wasn’t even one spot left. Well, of course, today was the day to break THAT record too…

So, now I’m left parking randomly in a lot that my car really does not belong in…

How I Turned It Around…

I walk into my office telling everyone how bad my day is and bickering about how I want to go home, but can’t! One of my close friends and business associates, Amit, is flying in from Miami to visit for a few days.

It was right then that Amit smacked me into shape.

As soon as he walked in, I told him about my day and he proceeds to tell me: “Dude, you create your own day, it’s because you keep thinking negatively that bad things are happening…”

“OF COURSE!” I think… “I KNEW THAT!”

I immediately make a decision to turn my day around, “I won’t let this day be bad anymore, it’s a great day and I’m loving it…” It’s been 10 hours since I declared that and the day turned out to be incredibly productive and positive.

So, next time you think “today’s going to stink” - remember, you are what you think!

Popularity: 9% [?]

Happy Belated Labor Day to everyone, this year my labor day came with a big gift from me to well…me.

I’ve mentioned before that I’m a big fan of making “to do” lists for everything I need to get done in a day (some how I instantly become 4 times more productive).

Well, I’ve done the same with my life goals.

I’ve made a list of all the things I want, materialistic, spiritual - everything.

I’m very happy to say that as of 3 years ago, I had started checking things off of the list! I checked off…

- Graduate college
- Start a business
- Find a great mentor
- Buy a REALLY nice car!

…and others too.

However, as of recent (and officially on Friday night), I checked off:

“Buy my own place…”

I just moved into my own condo this weekend and it’s everything I wanted it to be and more! I’ll make a video soon, but it’s definitely the “pad” I was dreaming about for years.

So in a moment of completely vain moment, congratulations to me!

Lesson of the story for you: Go make a list, for now, at least 10 things that you want. Yes, they can be materialistic.

My list has cars, houses, watches, clothes, vacations, boats among other things such as non-profit organization to support education, family - etc…

Let the list point the way! 

Popularity: 11% [?]

I was watching some more videos on YouTube last night, can’t remember which one I heard this on, but it stuck out. I meant to blog it last night but got too tired

One of the things I’ve been working on doing lately is breaking my goals into “mini-goals.” The video I watched, the speaker mentioned the same thing. It’s much easier to meet smaller goals than it is to sit there and say you want to make a BIG goal.

For example, let’s say you want to be able to run 10 miles. Starting off with that goal is very scary and also seems rather impossible. However, if you make MINI-goals that lead up to that goal, it seems all the more possible.

So, in this case, I’d say I want to run 1 mile. Once I meet that goal, I want to run 3 miles, then 5, then 7, then 10!

This way, I’m never thinking about 10 miles, just thinking about that 1 mile goal. Slowly but surely you hit your big goal anyways!

So, here’s a challenge for you. Look at your big goal in your life right now, can you break it down? Feel free to comment it below!

Popularity: 15% [?]

I’m watching an interview with Dave Lakhani, a world renown sales trainer and he just mentioned something that made me run to the blog…

“Not enough people take time to rewards themselves…”

Man, that statement hit me like a BRICK, I’m not saying I don’t buy nice things or treat myself well all the time. HOWEVER, I never specifically take time after a success or a goal met to just thank and reward “myself” for the great work I did.

I think he makes an excellent point and you should listen!

He makes it specifically at 10:50 into the video…

Popularity: 19% [?]

Now days there are lots of “complicated” strategies for keeping track of what you need to do. There are “time management” software and even entire books written on the subject.

I’ve read many of them.

I’m not saying they’re bad, a few strategies have actually helped a lot in the past. However, no matter what, I always come back to the “simpler” method - a to-do list.

Even more so, I don’t like having my to-do list on the computer - I prefer just writing down everything in a big list on paper. Then, as I finish something I cross it off.

There’s something in the feeling you get for crossing off something - that small feeling of achievement makes it work better.

When it’s on the computer, you don’t have the satisfaction of crossing it off!

Here’s what I do:

Step 1: Every morning I write down everything I can think of.

Step 2: I put an asterisk next to the top 5 more urgent/important things.

Step 3: As things come up during the day, I add them to the list (rather than getting distracted and doing them right away).

Step 4: I vigorously cross something off as I finish it and pat myself on the back!

I do carry my lists over from day to day, but I prefer not to (sometimes you can’t help it)!

Try it out - I’ve noticed that I’m 10 times more productive when I do this…

Popularity: 19% [?]

I was in Mumbai last week. As always I came back refreshed and once again reminded that there IS more to life than “earning a buck.” Or at least there is more you can do with that buck than just buy the latest Mercedes

Through a generous gift by my dear friend Helen, I am now sponsoring the education of an 11 year old girl at the Aseema school - her name is Bussra.

Myself and a few friends spent half the day at Aseema again and I had a chance to meet her! However, the meeting was very informal - she is not allowed to “know” that I am sponsoring her (Aseema does not want some kids to feel special, etc…).

So, my meeting with her was in context with my meeting with the entire class.

Go Figure…Born Leader!

As if they could not have found a BETTER fit for me, Bussra is a born leader! Her class self-elected her to be the class captain (aka class president).

In the video below, she’s the one wearing the red stash…

Tomorrow, I’m going to post a video that shows you how “crazy” (in a good way) these kids are. I don’t know WHAT Aseema feeds them in the morning, but their amazing energy is infectious. If only all of us could be this happy with life.

I ENVY them for that…

More on my visit tomorrow

Popularity: 19% [?]

So, I was scheduled to fly out today (out of the country). I had my flight leaving Washington, Dulles Airport at 5:05 PM and running a connection through New York (JFK).

It hit 5 PM and they announced that our plane had not even left it’s other destination yet, but that it would come (don’t worry everyone).

Then, at 6 PM, they suddenly just canceled the flight! My connecting flight was at 8:55 PM and this left me little room to do anything.

All the passengers got in the herendous line to get help from the rediculously mean women at the counter. I had two options:

1. Follow suit and get in line and pray for the best.

2. Take things into my own hands and CALL Delta.

I did the latter and although it took me a good 30 minutes on the phone, we came to an agreeable alternate solution (which has me leaving tomorrow). However, there were many times that the call tested my patience. As nice as the woman was on the phone, some of her rediculously imposed red-tape was seriously starting to pi** me off!

“But I Kept My Cool…I Kept On Smiling…”

I almost lost my cool, but I made a conscious decision not to. I was watching what was happening down the line from people who were flaring their arms around and acting like monkeys.

They were getting the same rudness in return and ended up with results they were not happy with.

I, however, kept asking the attendent on the phone to place herself in my shoes and to be fair. The more I talked to her as a PERSON and REASONED, the further I got to getting a desirable result!

In the end, I got a great outcome and was very happy with it.

Then It Happened Again!

As I got home, I had to call the hotel and change my reservation and I already knew that they were going to try to charge me the day because I was within 24 hours. However, IT WASN’T MY FAULT!

Plus, I had extended my stay by one more day, so they were still going to get the same number of nights from me. When I called, the initial reaction was the same “no sir, we have to charge.”

I immediately asked for the supervisor (very nicely) and I made my case. However, STILL they didn’t listen!

Again, about to lose my cool to people who are being unreasonable, but then I remembered…

I realized that I could just call the corporate office and reason with them given my high points with them. So, that’s what I did. The representative was GREAT. She immediately called the hotel on my behalf and argued my case.

Eventually, the entire matter got handled and I have to pay nothing.

===============================

Here’s what I learned…

I’ve watched my own father handle these situations and he’s a firm believer in “ATTACK hard and you get your way…” - Many times I’ve felt that he’s too fast to yell, shout and throw around threats, I’m starting to think that I may be right.

Given that I run my own business, lately I’ve actually been LESS likely to help someone if they call kicking and screaming then someone who calls reasoning with me on logic and nicely asking for HELP.

My Advice To You Is This - Don’t be that guy in line who was flaring his arms around and shouting - it won’t get you what you want. Take a deep breath, nicely ask for help and reason by asking the other person to place themselves in your shoes (while also placing YOURSELF in their shoes so they know it’s a two way street).

Popularity: 36% [?]

So I was talking to one of my friends the other night. He started to talk about how he’s not happy with his current job and he just doesn’t know what he wants to do.

He said he knows TWO things:

1. He wants to be in business.

2. He likes cars…

“So, Why Aren’t You Working On Cars?”

Of course I oversimplified the entire problem and asked a simple question - mostly because I wanted to see his response. I mean, I get it, the guy has a very nice and comfy job with Hewlett Packard that allows him to travel the entire country on THEIR dime.

But, either way, I wanted to see what he said - he said exactly what I thought he would…

“It would be crazy for me to leave such a great job to go ‘work on cars’ - people will call me crazy!”

Let’s dissect what he said, there are two different parts to it.

1. He called it a great job (however, he just got done saying that he could never see himself doing it and that it was not challenging and boring, hmmm).

2. “People will call me crazy” - AH HA! That’s what I was waiting to hear…what PEOPLE will think.

========================

See, my point was that “I want to have a business in cars” is not narrow enough - what does that even mean. He needs to take some time and get hands-on time to learn just WHAT about cars he wants a business in.

This means he’ll  have to do some “internships” or “jobs” in the industry and see whether he even likes it.

(This is exactly what I did when I started online, I was a financial planner, copywriter, internet marketing consultant and other things before I really figured out where my calling was).

I wasn’t saying for him to quit his job, I was saying for him to take his free time on weekends and find a way to do some work (even for free) at local car related businesses.

“And, Now Begin The Excuses…”

Here’s how I know that someone just is NOT ready; yhey start making lame excuses of “being too busy.” GIVE ME A BREAK. There is no such thing as “being too busy.”

What he’s missing is the HUSTLE - without hustle, life is not going to change.

But everything he said kept coming back to “well my parents gave me this advice…my sisters gave me this advice…my uncle gave me this advice…”

“I Remember The Days I Used To Ask Advice…”

5 years ago I was at a copywriting workshop and I got a chance to hang out with Michael Masterson, he’s one of the most world-renown copywriters. I was telling him about how I loved business and wanted to start one, but my parents were saying I couldn’t do it, I’d fail.

Here’s how the conversation went…

Michael: “Are your parents doing what you want to do 10 years from now?”

Me: No

Michael: Then why are you taking advice from them?

Me: Because they’re my parents…and even my friends say that I’m crazy…

Michael: Are your friends doing what you want to do 10 years from now?

Me: No way!

Michael: Then why are you taking advice from them?

Me: But, they just want what’s best for me…

Michael: Very true, but how can they give you advice on something they don’t know about. YOU want to be a young entrepreneur, YOU want a business - why aren’t you taking advice from other successful young entrepreneurs?

BINGO!

The moral of the story for you and for my friend today: Don’t waste your time taking advice for everyone and anyone. Any time someone gives you advice, ask yourself just one question:

“Is This Person Doing What I Want To Do 10 Years From Now?”

Thank you Michael. Since that day, I’ve had many mentors, I’ve actually out-grown a few. I no longer take advice from someone that does not know the topic better than me and/or is not living the dream I dream every night…

So, my friend, please, please, do two things:

1. Get your hustle (or else it’s a no go).

2. Start taking advice from other people…when I got started, NO ONE thought I could do it. Well, I showed them didn’t I?

Now, go forth and FIGHT!

Popularity: 46% [?]

I was wandering around blogs today and came across one of my favorite ones, SuperAffiliateMindset.com run by one of our fellow fighters, Amit Mehta.

Amit happened to stumble upon a commencement speech that Steve Jobs did in 2005 for the graduating Stanford class. Steve Jobs, in my opinion, is one of the most genius minds to have existed in the world of business.

Given he was a bit of a “weirdo” growing up and had an abundance of personal problems (let’s face it, who doesn’t!). Steve Jobs is creative, inspirational, a visionary and he knows how to create IMPACT.

Steve starts by talking about his life and he shares 3 specific stories from his life…

1. Connecting the dots looking back, not forward…the story of how he dropped out of college.

2. Love and Loss…the story of how he got fired from his own company!

3. Death…asking yourself if you’re doing today what you would want to do on your last day?

“Sometimes life’s gonna hit you in the head with a brick, don’t lose faith…”

Spoken like a TRUE fighter! Life is nothing without obstacles, we get strong with every new one and Steve’s life has been full of obstacles. He fought and fought and today he is responsible for many of the world’s largest technological movements…

Here are some of the obstacles that Steve has faced:

- Dropped out of college
- Openly and Publicly fired from his own company
- Lost his friends, even the love of his life
- Diagnosed with cancer

What else can you fight from!!

Hats off to you Steve, keep on fighting, you inspire us all!

Popularity: 61% [?]