WEEK 156: THE EASIEST FACTOR YOU'RE NOT CONSIDERING FOR YOUR GROWTH

You are the average of the five people you hang out with most.   Jim Rohn

REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): Who do you hang out with the most?

Seriously, take a moment and think about the five people you hang out with most?

Next, think about each person and identify if they are winning or not?

By winning, I mean what are their core processes?

How do they tackle each day? What routines do they have in place to ensure that they win?

What language do they use?

How do they make decisions?

Do they believe anything is possible?

I could go on here and really get into the nuances of it, but these are some general questions you can use to identify the most basic part of your environment.

AS you might have guessed, I want to talk o you about the power of environment today.

To do this I want to share a story about hockey.

You are probably thinking, what does hockey have to with environment and you are about to learn everything.

Now, today Canada is considered the breeding ground of the best hockey players on the planet. 

Makes sense as the whole country experiences chilling winters. 

Also, they have produced hall of game players like Wayne Gretzey.

But how is that Canada produces so many elite hockey players year after year?

Well, if we take a closer look it depends on birthdays.

More specifically if a player is born in January and February verses November and December.

This is all?

No, but the birthday triggers a chain of events that leads (PERCENTAGE) of players to become NHL versus the recreational league.

Why is this?

Well, a study showed that when a player was born in the months of January or February, they have a 9-10 month advantage physically compared to thoes players who are born in November and December.

Thus, when the players are chosen for all star teams the ones born in January and February are naturally bigger and faster physically as their peers born at the end of the year.

This is crucial as being selected for all stars mean better coaches, competition, resources, and training (physical and mental). 

Thus, the being in this elevated environment from a younger age allows them to accelerate the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and mindsets versus their other peers.

They are pushed harder and faster and given the support to progress faster in all aspects of the game. 

Who, although might be playing in good leagues (it is Canada by the way) are not getting even the same level of coaching and experiences as their 10 month older peers.

Thus, the environment plays a crucial role in whether a player enters the NHL or not.

Pretty crazy, but just being born in the first two months out of the year in Canada can play a integral part in whether the player enters the NHL.

Of course there are exceptions to the rule, but the vast majority of players born in these months have a better shot (no pun intended) of making it to the NHL.

And one of the main reasons is the elevated environment they are exposed to.

***

Now going back to your life and the five people you hang out with most...

Do they provide a elevated environment for you to accelerate your growth or do they stunt it?

Going to tell you right now this could be a major reason you are STUCK at your current level of play, as that by not vetting your environment kept you subconsciously where you are.

Think about it.

If your goal is to lose weight and get in the best shape of your life, but have a choice to hang out with one, 5 friends who love to eat, versus, five other people who have their fitness on point, which group (environment) will help you accelerate you achieving and maintain your goal?

The answer is pretty clear.

Environment. Environment. Environment./

Huge.

One of the easiest things you can vet and change in order help you get unstuck and start making progress towards achieving your goals. 

Now, there is so much more to environment than just the people you hang around and I could rap about that in a whole other post, but will leave you with just that to think about today.

Go get it this week...J

Top three activities that move me forward?

1. ATLAS...core process to see things properly and accurate thinking.

2. Zen...provides me the clarity.

3. ATLAS...journaling is my route to getting everything out.

Biggest lessons/learnings and corrections?

What are you grateful for?

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PLANNING (Implementation Intention):  You will follow through 2X to 3X more likely to complete your weekly task than you normally would just by filling in the following statement.

I plan to complete the weekly task [day] at [time] in [location]. 

A reminder you might have to use multiple Implementation Intentions in order to follow through.

EXECUTION (strategies used):  From week to week, I use a combination of many strategies. There are always some which are used more than others depending on what comes up, but I wanted to offer a link to all them at once. 

My advice is to identify the I CAN'T statement you tell yourself during the most. Then find a strategy below the statement which resonates with you, and then start using it. 

Enjoy!

STRATEGY LIST

WEEK 155: KEEP THIS, OR YOU"LL BE STUCK FOREVER

REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): Question...

How often do you keep the promises you make to yourself?

I am going to tell you the answer to this question has huge ramifications on if you achieve your goals or not.

How you might ask?

It is quite simple, let me explain.

Are you a pet owner? 

Well if you are then you know they need to be fed on a pretty regular basis. 

For example, I remember my first puppy would always whine around 7:00 am when it was breakfast time and at 5:00 pm, when it was dinner time.

Why did he whine?

Well, it was the REPEATED action of us giving him food at 7:00 am and 5:00 pm.

This fostered a strong belief he would be fed at these times, no matter what. 

Because of this belief he would just sit by his bowl and whine, and whine, and whine...until someone gave him some food if we forgot. 

Here is the thing, if we had not repeatedly honored this commitment to feed him at this time in the beginning, he would have the belief he should be fed at those times. 

For example, if we fed him at 7:00 one day, then 8:00 another day, or forgot to feed him breakfast altogether another day he would have no belief we would feed him at these times. 

Now coming full circle to the the question I posed at the beginning of the post. 

Your brain and subconscious (rulers of your day by the way) are the same as my puppy I explained above.

If you say you are going to do something, but do not do it then it communicates to your subconscious you are not a person who follows through.

You can talk the talk, but can not walk the walk.

Now, this MEGA.

Not honoring your commitments repeatedly reinforces you are or NOT the person who can do what you say. 

The crazy thing is you can consciously make the choice to walk the walk, but at the time you have to make a decision you falter, you doubt, and you decide on something that does not help you.

WHY?

Because you have not kept your promises in the past, thus your subconsciously is operating from the fact you do not keep promises.

Thus, it preserves this at all costs as this is what has been repeated over and over again.

Some DEEP stuff here, but the moral of the story is to keep your promises to yourself...no matter how big or small.

If you say you are going to do something, then do it.

Then do it again, and again, and again, and again until you reprogram your subconscious you are the type of person who follows through.

This one, allows you to say you are going to achieve a bad ass goal, but more importantly two, gives you the belief you can do it.

See you on the other side...J

Top three activities that move me forward?

1. CLARITY session. Always starts here. 

2. Atlas. The day is off when I do not invest in this time.

3. CLARITY. Oh yeah, this was huge.

Biggest lessons/learnings and corrections?

When you get caught up in things you can not control and feel like everything around you is going to caca, analyze your "core processes."

More times than naught, you are in this state because you are not implementing the very things which prevent you from getting to this point...Zen, Atlas, PU, NR/TOM

What are you grateful for?

Being able to support two females from Tibet to fund their education and change their lives. Feels great, but looking to 10X this impact as we continue to grow.

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PLANNING (Implementation Intention):  You will follow through 2X to 3X more likely to complete your weekly task than you normally would just by filling in the following statement.

I plan to complete the weekly task [day] at [time] in [location]. 

A reminder you might have to use multiple Implementation Intentions in order to follow through.

EXECUTION (strategies used):  From week to week, I use a combination of many strategies. There are always some which are used more than others depending on what comes up, but I wanted to offer a link to all them at once. 

My advice is to identify the I CAN'T statement you tell yourself during the most. Then find a strategy below the statement which resonates with you, and then start using it. 

Enjoy!

STRATEGY LIST

WEEK 154: HOW TO MAKE A DECISION TO ACHIEVE YOUR GREATEST GOALS

Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.   Brian Tracy. 

REFLECTIONS (learnings and actions): 

Do you know how to make decision to achieve your greatest goals?

I am going to say no.

Why?

Because it is something that is not taught at all in our schools today and is something I did not know for years of my life. 

Yet...

I was able to figure it out and will share with you today (so make sure to read to the end).

Seriously, what I will share with you can dramatically change the trajectory of your life if you apply what I am going to tell you.

But first, I want to tell you about an experience which connects to this idea.

This past week I was blessed to spend a week on an amazing beach in Thailand with my three favorite people; Meggo, Tae, and Elea.

The scenery was great, but the weather also cooperated and we were able to have 6 full days of sun.

For some reason the blue and greens in Thailand almost seem greenER and bluER.

Anyhow, while there we were able to relax and put are feet up...literally.

Now, much to my surprise, the hotel offered a good selection of locally brewed craft beers. 

I was thrilled as I have recently had an interest (thirst) for good craft beers.

On the first day I asked the waiter what he recommended and he said the "Pale Ale and IPA" were the best choices. 

Safe choices I thought, but I took his recommendation and tried the Pale Ale.

It was good but I wanted something which highlighted the flavors of Thailand. 

So the next day I asked the waitress what she recommended and she again said the "Pale Ale and IPA."

This time I asked her about the three other craft beers on the menu and she said "no one really orders those."

I asked why and she said "People do not recognize the names and rarely order them."

Thus, wanting to try the IPA I ordered it.

It was actually not so good.

Now on the third day I asked the new waitress what she recommended. 

What did she say?

"Pale Ale and IPA."

Now, here is the thing. 

On three different days I was recommended the same two craft beers.

The waiters and waitress felt "comfortable" to recommend them as most people had heard of those two beers.

Yet...

They had three other beers which they rarely recommended.

This peaked my interests and to be honest I was not overly impressed with the Pale Ale and IPA.

Thus, I asked to go in back and actually take a look at the ingredients of the other three beers.

What did I find?

Well, one was crafted to have floral notes from Thailand.

Another, hints of toffee and caramel in a dark beer...a beer I often times do not try.

And yet another which combined German technics with Thai fruits.

To be honest I went outside my comfort zone to try all three.

Why?

In my short experience with craft beers, you really can not go wrong with a "Pale Ale and IPA."

So what was the result?

I found that two out of the three were excellent!

They highlighted the flavors of Thailand and introduced me to new flavors which ELEVATED MY EXPERIENCE of craft beers.

***

So did you get the lesson for today?

You might have missed it, but my story on craft beers can help you achieve anything you choose...ANYTHING!

Well what is it?

Today, you probably make decisions based on your current level of play or based in your most recent level of comfort. 

And actually this is how the brain is wired to make decisions.

Yet...

This is exactly what keeps you STUCK.

This will not allow you to make the progress you need.

This will hold you back from your true power.

This will hold you back from taking the risks (an asset by the way) to help you achieve your greatest goals.

Now here is the thing.

If you want to ELEVATE YOUR EXPERIENCE in any area of your life and achieve your greatest goals, you need to STOP doing this.

What is this?

Making decisions based on your current level of play...

Which most of the time is based in your most current level of comfort.

Oh yeah, this happens most of the time subconsciously. Meaning your brain is fighting to make decisions based on comfort without you even knowing it. 

If you truly want to grow and achieve your greatest goals, you must make the choice which correlates to who you want to be...not what you feel comfortable with.

There are so many benefits to this.

Accelerate your progress.

Increase your confidence. 

Empower you.

I can guarantee you will achieve your greatest goals by making choices based on who you want to be consistently.

Want to achieve your greatest goals?

Stop making decisions based on your current level of play and make decisions based on who you want to be in the future.

See you on the other side...J

Top three activities that move me forward?

1. Atlas. Confront to empower. 

2. Keeping agreements. DO what I say I am going to do.

3. Zen. Even in indulgence, zen is so important. 

Biggest lessons/learnings and corrections?

Keep your word and DO what you say you are going to do. This increases belief in yourself.

Which is the first thing you need to achieve your greatest goals. 

What are you grateful for?

Being able to travel quarterly to exotic locations to spend time with my three favorite people....Meggo, Tae, and Elea. 

-----
PLANNING (Implementation Intention):  You will follow through 2X to 3X more likely to complete your weekly task than you normally would just by filling in the following statement.

I plan to complete the weekly task [day] at [time] in [location]. 

A reminder you might have to use multiple Implementation Intentions in order to follow through.

EXECUTION (strategies used):  From week to week, I use a combination of many strategies. There are always some which are used more than others depending on what comes up, but I wanted to offer a link to all them at once. 

My advice is to identify the I CAN'T statement you tell yourself during the most. Then find a strategy below the statement which resonates with you, and then start using it. 

Enjoy!

STRATEGY LIST