Category: INSPIRE

The best version of you is being YOU and doing your best at the task at hand. No more & no less. You cannot be better than your best. You can improve, but that would be your new best. Each day you should live to be you, live to be your best, by working to show, make and create your best. Whether it be the same or better than the day before. The best is the best! The best is you!

Everyone wants to become the best version of themselves, but few actually do it. Why? Because we’re our own worst enemies when it comes to achieving success, chasing our dreams, and living a life that’s filled with passion and purpose.

Some of us are self-destructive without realizing it, and others are conscious of the fact, but lack the tools and/or knowledge in order to improve. But no matter who you are, there are 6 main habits that continually get in people’s way of becoming a success.

Eliminate these 6 habits and become the best version of yourself.

1. Stop the negative self-talk

2. Stop criticizing and judging others

3. Stop the fear of failure

4. Stop the fear of success

5. Stop people pleasing

6. Stop procrastination

Always do your best. What you plant now, you will harvest later. – Og Mandino

Comment below on some other ways you feel people stop themselves from becoming the best version of themselves? I’ll love to hear your responses. Comment how you work to be the best version of you each day.

Photo Credit: Instagram @_clfurlong_ | Location:  Sandy Bay, Tasmania,  Australia

It is the weekend already, but next time in preparation and in the plan for the weekend ahead did you know: that what a lot of us don’t realize is that spending Saturday and Sunday binge-watching Netflix or sleeping off hangovers is a complete waste of 2/7 of our life. The most successful people know that, even if they won’t be doing much “work” over the weekend, they still have to be productive if they want to stay ahead of the rest of the population. Rather than glue themselves to the couch watching reality TV all weekend, the hardest working among us choose to do the below:

1. Plan
2. Get Up Early
3. Unplug
4. Exercise
5. Socialize
6. Follow Passions & Hobbies
7. Embrace Downtime & Reflect
8. Prepare For The Week Ahead

Monday mornings can be an incredibly stressful time. But if you’ve used your weekend wisely, and you take some time Sunday night to analyze all the errands and jobs you need to do throughout the week, let alone done at least something of the other 7 activities above… then you can wake up on Monday feeling ready to take on whatever gets thrown at you.

“It’s not the plan that’s important, it’s the planning.” Dr. Gramme Edwards

What do you do?

Photo Credit: Instagram @_clfurlong_ | Location:  Sandy Bay, Tasmania,  Australia

You know that feeling? Time is ticking away… You’re motivated, excited and focused as you work toward your dreams and goals… Then, BAM! Life happens.

The initial excitement you felt fades away. What you had been working on seems to become harder and harder to capture and by the time you actually have the time to get back to your dreams and goals you are lacking the push, the urge, and the motivation… You find yourself creating excuses. Days and then weeks go by. Those ambitious goals you dreamed up are nothing but far-off fantasies dancing around in your head. You feel guilty for not following through, and you say to yourself:

• I’ll never be able to stick to my goals.
• I don’t push myself hard enough.
• I need to stop being so lazy.
• I’m a failure.

I must ask you this: If you are lacking in motivation, drive and push to chase those dreams and to make them happen – are these really your priority? And secondly, are they your priority dreams. You see – if you are passionate about something when it comes to time management and how you spend the available time you have, this reflects your priorities. Yes, I know it can be easier to just relax, but relaxing should be scheduled and not unexpected. If you have some spare and real usable time – wouldn’t you want to be using this to find the greater you and to make those dreams a reality?

So in my books, the reason why you are saying these things to yourself (as listed above) is that:

• You have bigger priorities
• You’re just not that passionate about it
• You lack the self-discipline
• You have no motivation to move forward towards these goals

So maybe you need to redefine your dreams, redefine your priorities and identify what it is you would love to do and chase. 

“Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door.” — Coco Chanel

Photo Credit: Instagram @_clfurlong_ | Location:  Melbourne, Australia

Make it happen! Today, tomorrow and forever. No one ever said life was going to be easy. Nor that it would all just fall into place. The idea of life coming together like it was all predetermined – is never going to happen. Though we all have a purpose and a part to play – this comes down to pure raw choice. You can choose whether you will take upon yourself the grind, the hustle and the drive to be, to chase, to follow, to grow or to rise and to make a stand.

You need to make your own stand, your own ground or impact. No one else is going to do it for you simply more so because they are making their own. They may encourage, inspire or motivate you to do it, however you are ultimately the one who is responsible to make things happen. What are you waiting for?

“I believe ardently that you should drop everything and run toward your true self.” -Kyran Pittman

Don’t limit it down to the reasons of why you can’t-do this or do that – but identify the reasons why can and why you should. We all have something worth saying, doing and standing up for. It could be as simple as being a pro ice skater or even being a high-end landscaper. The point is – whatever it is you want to do, be or create. Don’t be bound by the limitations, but be launched by the reasons of why you want it to happen. If you believe in yourself and have the courage enough to go for it – well then you will find success regardless. It will just take the time and growth to get you there.

“If you want to be comfortable, don’t try to live your dreams.” -Emily Trinkaus

Photo Credit: Instagram @_clfurlong_ | Location:  Melbourne, Australia

Life is a road trip. Where are you going? You are the driver. Don’t wait around for the world to deliver. You must be the one to deliver. The world will provide the vehicles but you are the skill, you are the power and you are the one that will get you from A to B or the other 25 destinations. 

Like any road trip there will be pit stops and fuel-ups along the way – so like the road trip through life, you will take some stops, some refuels but also potentially some detours, some cautionary speeds and who knows maybe you will also have a chance to zoom forward leaving others behind. The point is – the road trip of life has its unique moments. The ups and downs, like a roller-coaster, will keep you on your toes and the windy roads will remind you that while things may get a little challenging, you can still get to your destination while having a bit of fun too.

As today has arrived again – how will you travel through it? How will you plan your journey for the week ahead? Be prepared for fun, excitement, and plenty to do and see – but also be prepared for the unexpected to occur.

Life is a journey. When we stop, things don’t go right. – Pope Francis

Photo Credit: Instagram @_clfurlong_ | Location:  Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

Are you brave enough? Let’s skip the part where I tell you that you have what it takes – as we all do and I don’t think you need reminding. What you do need to be reminded of is that negativity & doubt is going to be the biggest elephant in the room if you don’t start taking the necessary actions to remove this scum from your life. With this said – each journey has its own set of challenges and you should soldier through these with bravery and a vision in mind. If you gave up when it got tough the first time – I am sorry but your journey won’t be very long…

Here are some small motivators/challenges to help boost your confidence and keep you on track on your mission to greatness.

• If you never try, you’ll never know.

• It’s about the journey just as much as the destination.

• It’s possible to fail at something you don’t want, so why not go after what you do want?

• Forcing yourself to do something you don’t want to do will only result in unhappiness.

• You may fail a thousand times, but you’ll be that much smarter.

• When you do achieve your goal, you can silently laugh at all the haters.

Failure is a negative thing, by definition. The opportunity to learn is good, but it is by no means exclusive to failing. If you’re going to fail, you should learn from it. That’s the only context in which it is “good.” People who are searching for advice also need to stop viewing advice as their potential silver bullets. There is no silver bullet, so get to work.

“A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.” –David Brinkley

As stated before – There is no silver bullet, so get to work. GET OUT THERE AND MAKE IT HAPPEN. 

Photo Credit: Instagram @_clfurlong_ | Location:  Post Office, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam

If there is a something in the way, you go around it or move it out of the way. Do you have a boulder in the way? Success is not one simple act, it’s a summation of your habits. In today’s world, so many people want to become an overnight success. However, what you don’t realize is that the most successful people work extremely hard. For example, Jack Ma (founder of Alibaba) credits his success to hard work and dedication. NBA All-Star Kobe Bryant would wake up at 4:00 A.M. to practice free-throws by himself before official practice started with the Olympic team hours later. He literally practiced before practice!

It may be a little clichéd but perfecting and practicing is the key to crafting success. As the saying goes – practice makes perfect. While at the same time:

“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim Ryuh

The problem is we encounter some very common boulders through life which limit our ability to succeed in achieving our dreams. Bad habits. In this case, there is one in particular which is literally a time killer if not followed. Now because time is limited and bound by the buckets we create – you should use it wisely.

A Lack Of Discipline

Whether you want to acknowledge it or not, time is our most precious and limited resource. There are only 24 hours in one day. Unfortunately, there are no guarantees that you’ll wake up tomorrow. Sleeping and waking up at the same time every day is good for your body and helpful in setting a disciplined, daily routine. Besides being strict about when you wake up and go to bed, it’s also important to be protective of your time. A great tactic to do this is to designate a few days or specific hours throughout the week for “success time.”  These are blocks of time where you only focus on doing things that contribute to your personal goals and dreams, whether it’s learning a new language or working on a side business. By setting aside your “success time,” you’ll be able to focus on the things that matter most to you and will be less tempted to say “yes” to last-minute social invitations or distractions that can get in your way. You also have to be able to say “no” to committing to things that don’t interest or benefit you. Remember, the few hours you spend doing something you’re not that into are hours that you could have spent learning or growing yourself.

Being stubborn about your goals will give you the discipline and commitment you need! Stubborn is one thing, but being flexible is another. Be flexible with your goals. Stubborn enough to stay committed and not give in to being lazy and not working forward. However, you need to be flexible in how you get there. Sometimes, there will be obstacles, delays, and challenges that will require you to move forward in a different way. Just because there is an obstacle, doesn’t mean you cannot still progress. Maybe you will have setbacks, maybe it will just take longer and maybe different opportunities will come… regardless be flexible, but be committed!

If you’re not willing to be disciplined, tough and tight when it comes to managing and fixing your time to help you grow and get to the next level – then you may be stuck for a while.

Photo Credit: Instagram @canva | Location:  Unknown

Being stubborn about your goals will give you the discipline and commitment you need! Stubborn is one thing, but being flexible is another. Be flexible with your goals. Stubborn enough to stay committed and not give in to being lazy and not working forward. However, you need to be flexible in how you get there. Sometimes, there will be obstacles, delays, and challenges that will require you to move forward in a different way. Just because there is an obstacle, doesn’t mean you cannot still progress. Maybe you will have setbacks, maybe it will just take longer and maybe different opportunities will come… regardless be flexible, but be committed!

Blockages are tricky to handle. We really cannot ignore them. If we do, our inner voice will demand our attention. We also need to realize that many of our inner challenges can’t be easily solved with an affirmation or visualization. They take a concerted effort and some time to heal and repair. What’s needed is a strategy so that we can move forward. So what can we do? I think the easiest way to handle blockages is to treat them as long-term companions in our lives. And give them their due. One way is to write in a journal every day in the morning and the evening. The amount of time doesn’t have to be great. By giving attention to the part of you that needs healing you are then free to move forward. And you will feel better about yourself and therefore do better as a result.

– Maria Hill: (Simple steps to move forward)

Avoid pushing yourself too hard and too fast. By accepting limitations, you actually stand a better chance of success because you are not fighting yourself.

Be prepared for and accept obstacles as important information. Sometimes obstacles occur because of details that we need to pay attention to. We may not notice when we are going too fast or when we need to take a step back because we have missed something important.

“If you don’t make the time to work on creating the life you want, you’re eventually going to be forced to spend a LOT of time dealing with a life you DON’T want.” – Harrison Ford

Photo Credit: Instagram @_clfurlong_ | Location:  Siem Reap, Cambodia

Do you want to be a greater you? Being a successful individual doesn’t just happen to someone. People work hard, learn the ins-and-outs of themselves, and apply different methods that work in order to become successful. When you’re starting out in search for a greater you, you want to make sure you know what makes a successful individual.

Never Take “NO” for an Answer

• When chasing your dreams and a greater you, taking no as your end game is never going to cut it. When you reach out for assistance from people, and they turn you down, do not take their response to your requests as a determinant factor to your success.

Work like You’re Going to Retire Tomorrow

• You know one thing about retirement? It makes us want to work harder to save more. Successful individuals find fun and joy in hard work. So they never get tired. And when success finally comes, they’re just well-prepared for it.

A Mentor

• If you want to be successful, then you should have a successful role model whose experience will guide your career and path. This means you need someone who is successful and is willing to share their experiences with you.

Copy the Best (Learn)

• See what the best of the best are doing and see if you can do it just as good if not better yourself. If it is working for them, it is bound to work for you.

Be Humble and Stay Hungry

• You know what kills success and greatness very fast? The big egos of their top executives. Learn to espouse humility and always stay hungry as Steve Jobs always said. He was actually fired from the company he later came back to and saved! By staying hungry, you’ll be willing to learn new things that could come in handy in the future. Not staying hungry breeds complacency and conceit in entrepreneurs. The moment you become complacent, you allow others to overtake you and leave you behind.

Dream Big

• Don’t be afraid to dream big. Successful entrepreneurs achieve because of their big dreams. The co-founders of Google once said their marketing officer once asked them who they wanted to market to and they responded by saying the whole world. Well, if dreaming big hurts, Google wouldn’t be the gigantic corporation it is today.

Love Yourself

• If you can love yourself and I mean really love yourself and respect yourself – you will make it. You need to give yourself all the love you can afford. Most people won’t care about your feelings. Everybody is busy trying to win, so stop worrying about pleasing others and start loving yourself!

“The only thing that stands between you and your dream is the will to try and the belief that it is actually possible.”– Joel Brown

Photo Credit: Instagram @_clfurlong_ | Location:  Siem Reap, Cambodia

Don’t live life-limiting who or what you can be! MAKE IT HAPPEN! If you know what you’re worth, then go out and get what you’re worth. You can’t blame anyone else for not being where you want or expected to be in life. If you are worth more money, respect or whatever it may be, then go and get it.

While on the journey to your success, here are some common traits and mentalities found across those who have made it and can be declared successful:

Knowing when and how to please others. If you try to please everyone all the time, you will become completely overwhelmed and unable to get accomplish anything. The most successful people know that saying “no” all the time is not the answer, though. Instead, they look for ways to get to “yes” that benefit all parties and help prioritize their work.

Keep your options open. While successful people are decisive and move steadfastly toward their goals, most of them avoid choices which limit future options. None of us can afford to create boundaries that are so stiff we can’t adapt when necessary.

Listen before speaking your mind. Successful people are bold, but they know railroading every conversation is a quick way to end cooperation. Show them you understand their point of view with your responses, and they will be much more likely to hear out your opinion, too.

Target small successes. Failure is a necessary part of ultimate success for most people, but bombing at regular intervals can kill your motivation and encourage you to abandon your dreams. Successful people set themselves up for victory by establishing many ambitious short-term goals on their path to whatever they see as their big prize. By consistently challenging themselves and achieving tougher and tougher objectives, they build confidence and move closer to their ideals.

Exercise caution when necessary. Fear of failure or embarrassment can paralyze even the most ambitious among us, but a healthy respect for the unknown and potential danger can save us from disaster. Successful people are not afraid of taking risks, but only after they have weighed possible pitfalls.

Have multiple projects going. Multitasking has developed a bad reputation over the last few years, and for good reason since it’s really hard to do two things well at the exact same time.  There is plenty of other times.

Stay stressed – humor me. Stress is the “silent killer” that can wreak havoc on your health, but successful people have learned how to use it to their advantage. They realize that hardly anything worthwhile ever gets done at a leisurely pace, and the pressure to perform is a powerful motivator. The most accomplished among us thrive on deadlines and outdoing their previous best efforts, over and over again. By applying stress from the inside out and latching onto these other “negative” habits, they leave 99% of us in their dust.

“You don’t need to be better than anyone else, you just need to be better than you used to be.” – Wayne Dyer

Photo Credit: Instagram @_clfurlong_ | Location:  Angkor Wat, Cambodia