What I Believe – Life, Success, & Entreprenuership

I thought I'd make a bold move today, and lay out what I believe specifically and my beliefs about life, success, and entrepreneurship. This post might not be for you, or, maybe it's precisely what you need to read today.

Regardless, this is what I believe, and if it resonates with you, then awesome. If not, it's cool, we can still have a beer and talk about it later.

Want to listen? There's an audio version below

To my 1,000 true fans:

1: I believe that everyone should start a business at least once in their life.

When you go through the process of pulling an idea out of thin air and following it up with creation, production, and monetization, something inside you changes.

2: I believe that most people, in fact, don't know what they're doing.

A few weeks ago, I told a sixteen-year-old that she shouldn't listen to everyone she meets. I told her that adults were just kids who'd lived longer and that most of the time, we were just winging it.

3: I believe that we need guides and mentors throughout our entire life.

When we stop growing, we start dying. When we refuse to learn new things, we start losing our mental sharpness. If we choose not to read, we're no better than people who cannot read. Life is an adventure, and sometimes, we need help along the way.

4: I believe the worst things that happen to us can be our sources of strength.

We cannot change the past. However, we can learn from it and make a better future for ourselves. And we can use our past to relate and connect with people who are going through or who have gone through similar situations. It's not our highs that connect us. It's often our lows, and the people we meet there, that help us become who we were meant to be.

5: I believe fear is the biggest killer of dreams.

Just imagine how your life would have been different had you never had to deal with fear. If courageous action was your mantra, what could you have achieved by now? I'm no more courageous than the people I have around me, supporting me, and encouraging me.

6: I believe our friends are our greatest assets and our greatest weaknesses.

When we have great friends, people who motivate and stretch us, we can do and achieve almost anything we set our minds to. If we have friends who are negative and who suck the life out of us, we'll never rise above the limitations they've placed upon us. There are amazing people on the road to where you're going, as well as amazing friends waiting at your destination. Go find them.

7: I believe everything is a choice.

Success is a choice. So is misery. Happiness is a choice; so is sadness. We choose to move forward or we choose to dwell on the past. Everything is a choice, and everything is up to you. Bad things happen, but it's how we deal with it that counts. And, not choosing is a choice. In regards to #6, sticking with crappy friends is also a choice. Cut out bad influences like the cancer they are, deal with the pain, and begin the healing process.

8: I believe most people aren't as miserable as they'd like us to think.

In my first book, Exit Strategy, I shared a story once told to me about a dog who sat on a nail, whimpering. Instead of moving, the dog chose misery. The dog had the power to change his situation but decided to stay where he was. I was that dog from 2012 until January 17th, 2014, and I can recognize the symptoms.

9: I believe we should take more risks and experiment more.

Things are rarely as good (or bad) as we hope (or fear) they will be. Every challenge you've faced in your life up to this point has been a challenge you've overcome. You're stronger and better than you think you are, so don't be afraid to try things you don't think you'll be able to accomplish. If you need help, refer to #3, #5, and #6.

10: I believe we must do what we can with what we have, not with what we wish we had.

Coulda, woulda, shoulda… we can live with regrets and wish things were different, but hoping and dreaming won't do anything for you. You only have what you have, and you'll only ever have what you're willing to go and get. People have achieved more than me with less than what I've had, and the same goes for you and what you have. If we want something, nobody is going to give it to us, but too many people waste time waiting and wishing and wanting.

11: I believe we've wasted enough time already.

Courage doesn't come when you've achieved success. Self-doubt doesn't go away once you've crossed the finish line. You are the solution to your problem and your actions are the method by which you will create success.

Finally…

Our beliefs guide everything we do. What we believe is the foundation for who we are and who we will become.

If you've created a system of beliefs, I'd love to hear about them, so leave a comment below and let me know.