“Whether you win or lose, it’s about being a good sport and playing your hardest.”
That’s what I was raised to believe, and it’s what I’ll someday teach my kids when I have them (not planning to until I’m in my late 30’s).
It’s an endearing strategy and when applied to your life, an amazingly effective philosophy.
There are so many people out there who have no motivation, and even among the ones that do… who are scared or anxious to break out of their box and try new things.
I think people should be more open to positive change. You should embrace change. Embrace positive growth. Admit when you’re wrong. Learn from your mistakes and always strive to be a better person. Not better than anyone else, just better than you were yesterday.
Things in life aren’t always easy. I’ve been through a LOT the past 5 or so years. From time to time, I’ll get a bit down on things, because simply… it’s hard not to. I lost my house to a life-altering fire, walked away with the clothes on my back. As a result, I had to rebuild from the ground up at 26.
Amid all that, I’ve also been attacked by malicious internet trolls, anonymous haters posting slander on the web, and vindictive stalkers who try and ruin my pristine reputation. What do they say, jealousy’s a bitch?
At the end of the day, they’re just wasting their time and their efforts. Rain or shine, I will continue treating people the best I can and being a man of my word. I try and treat everyone I encounter with a certain level of respect and kindness.
I also like to help anyone and everyone I can, when and where I’m able to. This includes the homeless bums in the parking lot begging for change (I prefer to tell them to meet me over at a nearby fast food establishment and I’ll buy them a quick meal), all the way to struggling business owners and startup founders who need a helping hand to get things rolling. I’ve helped build dozens of businesses over the years, and doing so has caused me to push myself and learn a wide array of skills. Skills I can use to benefit both myself and others.
All that said, at the end of the day though… it really does come back to having a positive attitude and a strong drive. It’s what gets you out of bed in the morning.
As most successful people know, you’re capable of whatever you put your mind to. If you think you can do it, you can. If you think you can’t? Well, you probably can’t.
Like I mentioned above, sometimes I get a bit burnt out or down on myself when things aren’t working out as smoothly as I’d like, some anonymous troll is bashing me, or I’m dealing with obnoxious customers. But, then I’ll talk to people around me, sometimes people I’ve just met and sometimes individuals I’ve known for years, and be uplifted by their positive view of me and how far I’ve come in this life.
It’s a really cool feeling to know that you’ve inspired others. It’s even more amazing of a feeling to see other people want to be part of your vision and dream. I think it might literally be the most validating thing ever for an entrepreneur. At the very least, it lets you know you’re on the right track.
So, get out there and do something to help and inspire others. You might just find that it helps inspire you as well!