It's a common thought that if you want to get more results, you have to work more. CEO's, business owners and entrepreneurs are definitely known for their hard work ethic and putting in extra hours to find success.

But what if their achievements weren't because they left zero room for free time and were workaholics, but due to something else?

Lately, I have been digging into Dan Sullivan's book, 10x is Easier than 2x and to say that it's rocking my world is an understatement. The entire premise is that people who aim to 10x their success actually work less than people who just shoot to 2x their success.

No really, it's true.

That's because people who aim past just a little more than what they're currently doing (i.e. 2x), are doing what they normally do and aren't changing much. They are operating from what's worked for them in the past. Meanwhile, people who want to 10x have a laser focus. They realize that they need to throw off 80% of what they do to just get...

You don’t need to watch the news every day to know that we are living in some pretty interesting times. With so much uncertainty, it's easy to find ourselves unsure how to approach the daily negativity. We’re all being told to stay positive, but what does that mean?

And more importantly, what doesn’t it mean?

To start, let’s lay it all on the table: there is a fundamental difference between being positive and being optimistic and we need to understand that so we stop spreading a harmful message to those around us when we say, "Just be more positive!"

Positivity vs. Optimism

Being positive can often sound like “everything is going great!” and “just keep smiling!” It’s often empty sentiments and can sometimes present itself as a form of denial that things are better than they really are.

Optimism, on the other hand, is a core belief that although things may not be great at the current moment, they...

Do you lack motivation?

When things are going well and you‘re on a roll knocking down obstacles and taking home successes, it’s easy to find motivation.

But what happens when things slow down and you’re starting to feel uninspired? When you haven’t had a new “win” in a while, it can be difficult to put in the effort to get the ball rolling again.

Today I want to talk about how to get and sustain motivation in six easy steps. With a little effort, I’m confident you can gain a motivated spirit in no time.

1. Ambition

High performers are full of ambition. That desire for something more is not always easy to come by. Sure, at one time you were probably brimming with it! But for some reason or another, you now find yourself searching for that feeling of inspiration.

Allow yourself to dream about your wants, goals and passions again! What are your big-picture dreams?

2. Expectancy

To sustain motivation,...

Growing up, my life was fairly carefree and easy up until about high school. Then so many difficult things seemed to happen back to back. I assumed that because my life prior to this brought me happiness that when chaos and the hard times started, my natural emotional response had to be sadness or heartache. Opposite circumstances required opposite feelings, right?

Wrong.

It wasn't until later that I discovered everything I feel is actually a choice and that my feelings are not based on my circumstances. I discovered I have power over my emotions. As a certified life coach I've been trained to understand the impact of thoughts on my feelings. Fellow life coach, Brooke Castillo, created an easy model that is all about managing thoughts.

Below is a visual to help you better understand the method:

 

 

Let's walk through it.

Circumstances:

The first part in the model is circumstances––things that happen in the world that we can't...

The journey to success can be scary. There are many unknowns, and our fear supersedes our ambition. We hear about the success of others and secretly wish we had a similar story to tell and the secret of how to be successful. Sure, we imagine and dream ourselves into scenarios where we are doing what we love and are financially secure, but then reality hits and we are back working that 9-5 just to make ends meet. 

So what keeps us from success? Is it our circumstances or the people around us? Truthfully, we are typically standing in our own way!

Here are three lies we tell ourselves that keep us from success:

1. There's someone better.

Instead of acknowledging our strengths and what we contribute to the world, it's easier to convince ourselves that there is someone better equipped, trained, and capable. We discount ourselves before we even try, and we imagine there is a better fit.

Remember: You are unique. You offer value unlike...

Most of us allow our feelings to be determined by whatever circumstances we are experiencing. Whatever happens to us each day defines how we feel. This creates a roller coaster of emotions with very little control. However, when we realize the power we have over our thoughts, we are able to choose the kind of feelings we have and that impacts the actions we take that give us the kind of lives we want!

If you are experiencing joy, embrace it. But if you are stuck and at the mercy of your circumstances, know that only you have the power to change. Be a noticer and a manager of your thoughts and watch the feelings you experience and the actions you take begin to align with the life you want for yourself.

This episode covers the process of managing your thoughts and why it’s important!

Resources:

The Life Coach School Self-Coaching Model

4 Steps To Control Your Thoughts And Lead A Happier Life

How Changing Your Thoughts Can Change Your Life

3 Thoughts Keeping You...