Category: INSPIRE

Just think about it. Everything from a stitched jumper you’re wearing to the colourful arm rail down the stairs. All these things have come from the minds of people with the intention to change, to make a difference, to inspire and to aid to a problem.

Problems are what make many of the ideas reality. You have a problem, you create a solution. The solution then becomes the new inspiration of  a problem. Depending on the seriousness of the problem, the solution can be made extra creative, exciting, fun and inviting. People are attracted to new and enticing things. Especially when it is going to fix a problem.

So my question to you is. What are the problems you face? What are the problems you see everyday as you commute to work and school? What are the things that inspire you, that make your mind tick and flash into excitement. These are the things, which hold innovation and change. 

These are the things which hold the keys to something more. Next time you see a problem, write it down. Make a list and see how it can be fixed. Not only is this going to challenge your mind and grow your cognitive skills. But you may just stumble across something which could make a greater difference, a solution to a problem. 

I get it. We all have bad days, we all want to see the results now after all the effort we put in day after day. 

Today I want to remind you why, even though you may be feeling a bit like a failure, you are most definitely not.  Here are 15 signs that show you are doing well in life and that your life really isn’t that bad.

Simply read through these and see how many are relevant to you. Then ask yourself the question… how is your life really going?

1. You’ve lived and you have learned
2. You have a comfy bed to sleep in
3. You are striving to be better
4. You have had a job, or have a job
5. Knowledge is at your fingertips
6. You have food to eat
7. You have free will, the power to choose
8. You’ve had butterflies before, or something like it
9. You have clean water
10. You have a dream
11. Your happiness is real
12. You have clothes on your back
13. You have the ability to forgive
14. You believe in something greater than yourself
15. You have a chance, an opportunity to build global friendships

I know personally, I want to get out there and give it a better shot. Give it a greater shot. Why? Mistakes.

When it comes to mistakes, I’m afraid. I become frustrated, I become immensely overwhelmed by the horrible feeling it gives me. 

So when it comes to making mistakes and you are scared, or fearful to give it a go… I get it.

But the truth is, mistakes can be like gifts. Any successful person can tell you that without the mistakes they made on their journey, they wouldn’t be where they are today. So here are 10 reasons why you should be proud of making mistakes and the next time you feel scared to move forward due to making mistakes, just remember to embrace it and go in to conquer. If you slip up, GET BACK UP!

1. Mistakes help us gain knowledge. If we hadn’t made the mistake we would never have learnt the new lesson. It is an opportunity to grow. Own it and make it work. 
   

   “The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” – John Powell

2. Mistakes will trigger our creativity. When we are trying to do something which isn’t working, we are forced to look for a new solution. This forces us to step outside our normal thinking box.
   

   “The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.” – William Connor Magee

3. Mistakes help us learn to be more resilient. We learn to understand that adversity is required to overcome the challenges we face in life. Being flexible is important and making mistakes, can help us go from the same old to something new.
   

   “The more we can embrace failure, the more we will be able to open to it and the more confident and resilient we will become.” – Karen Kimsey-House

4. Mistakes show us how to be humble. Making mistakes proves we are human, and knowing humility is what makes us beautiful.
   

   “If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you. What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down.” – Mary Pickford

5. Mistakes provide us reference points, check points and bookmarks. Every time you slip up, it is a lesson. A lesson to remember, but also a lesson to teach and share with others. Use these as reminders and references.
   

   “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work” – Thomas Edison

6. Mistakes help us create and find new ideas. They force us to grow and push our limits to new regions. They help us find new things and new inspiration.
   

   “The only sure way to avoid making mistakes is to have no new ideas” – Albert Einstein

7. Mistakes give us the a new courage. We become stronger each timer we accept what has happened and move on. We learn to be brave.
   

   “Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them.”  -Bruce Lee

8. Mistakes will make us all the more wiser. Each time we make a mistake, we will see how people react. We see new things about the people helping us or who are simply there.
   

   “Some people come into your life as blessings. Some come into your life as lessons.”  – Mother Teresa

9. Mistakes teach us how to go about and experiment. Trying new things and new approaches, encourage a new way to innovate. If we continue to make mistakes we learn to innovate again and create something better.
   

   “Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes, It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.” – Steve Jobs

10. Mistakes help us understand better who we are. We get to know the worse enemies of them all. Ourselves. We learn to overcome, we learn to adapt and mould how we do and react. Without the mistakes, we would struggle to understand our complexes.
    

    “In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.” – Warren Buffett

    Just remember – Your mistakes do not define you, they help create you into the greatness you are.

I’m serious. What is stopping you? Like really stopping you? Don’t blame time and don’t blame resources. What is it that you are really blaming? What’s holding you back?

“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.” – Nolan Bushnell

If you have something you are passionate about and that you enjoy. You should chase it. You should follow it. You should make it happen. 

I know it can be a little scary to chase our dreams. Look, you may even fail. But that is OK! The late and great Steve Jobs said:

“Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything – all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.”

You have limited time here and you may as well enjoy it and do what you love. Even if you do fail, everyone fails. It just depends if you will sit in it, or jump out of it and keep on keeping on.

“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.” – Richard Branson

The more you wait around, the harder it will be to make an impact, because more and more people are following and chasing their dreams and there are people out there with some neat ideas, which I am sure will give yours a run for it’s money. But if you can make and create something outspoken, brilliant, yet also simple and fun, you wont have a problem. All you need to do is put your idea into action and put some work to it. 

“Work like there is someone working 24-hours a day to take it all away from you.” – Mark Cuban

These are all valid and important inspirations for any new starter or rising entrepreneur that is looking to take their idea and turn it into something tangible.

But like I have said numerous times and so did Madam C J Walker, the first self-made female millionaire in America:

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

This proverbial phrase suggests the encouragement of optimism and a can-do attitude in the face of adversity or misfortune. Lemons suggest bitterness, while lemonade is a sweet drink.

So when life does give you lemons (and it will), what will you do? You have a decision to make. Here they be:

When life gives you lemons,

• throw them back
• keep them, they are free lemons
• make lemonade
• throw them at someone
• grab some tequila & salt
• unless life also gives you some sugar and some water, your lemonade is going to suck
• say thank you
• plant a lemon tree
• spice up your meals
• learn to juggle
• sell them
• share them

The point is; life will give you lemons. Sometimes you will be able to use the opportunity and surprise the world, sometimes the lemons will have limited options and sometimes you may feel like there is no options and throw them away. But reality is (as shown above), there are a number of choices you can make and even more than the ones listed. You need to decide whether you will take hold of the opportunity and make it work somehow. Or you can simply throw them away or right back at someone. But how you handle this, will define you in that very moment.

Three things define you. Your words, your actions and your attitude. – Anil Sinha

Keeping track of crucial elements in your life through the utilization of lists, is a perfect way to help you also grow your memory, or feeble recollection.

Below I have a number of lists which have been found perfect to track achievements and ambition.

A List Of Goals

These should consist of all the items that you deem are necessary to truly respect yourself. They will be the list of things that you will want to complete in order to feel truly accomplished. Without such a list, you lose direction of where your life is heading, and we all need some inner guidance to focus on.

What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. —Zig Ziglar

A List Of Tasks

Tasks are all those milestones that lead up to a specific goal and completing these tasks would mean you have completed your goal. Depending on the size of your goal, you may have daily task lists, weekly tasks lists or a range of task lists.

Happiness does not come from doing easy work but from the afterglow of satisfaction that comes after the achievement of a difficult task that demanded our best. —Theodore Isaac Rubin

A List Of Contacts

If you think you can do it all and this journey we call life all by yourself. You are wrong. However at the same time a flawed relationship can result in some unwanted outcomes as well. Finding friends and a partner can prove to be a challenge in this world. What I can guarantee you is; you will meet people who may inspire you. Truth be told, it can be arduous to forge strong friendship bonds, but having important acquaintances and becoming an important acquaintance is very much possible. This is where your list of contacts comes in. Having a list of your friends and family is important, but expected. Having a list of people you meet with skills and talents you may require assistance from, these should be in your contact list for future reference. You never know when you may need a lawyer, a programmer or a handyman. Make’s sense right?

Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow ripening fruit. — Aristotle

A List Of Expenses

Money comes in and goes out. Knowing the in’s and out’s and understanding how and what you are spending your dollars on is one way to ensure you are being financially healthy. There are two types of expenses: those that are necessary, (bills, taxes, food) and those expenditures used for indulging some personal cravings.  By making lists of all the monthly expenses we are obligated to pay, we’ll have a clear overview with how much resources are there at our disposal. Without the list and self-control, we can lead ourselves into a state of financial suicide. Financial success is measured by the amount of wealth and without adequate spending tactics, you prevent its accumulation.

A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart. — Jonathan Swift

A List Of Useful Tools

Society today vastly depends on technology which are usually the vessels of our details and information. Having these just stored plainly on your technology such as a phone or computer, means they can be lost. Useful tools can help avoid this problem and they also make the job easier when it comes to storing information. Using the right apps and tools can make up for our lack of skills in a particular area, or simply help us manage our daily life and work life in a more timely manner. The only problem is… there are so many tools and if you use them all you will forget which tool has what information. The key here is to have a list of your tools that you are using.

If you’re the type of person who has to fulfill your dreams, you’ve got to be resourceful to make sure you can do it. —Vin Diesel

A List Of Self Improvements

This is an important and personal one. We all have things we want to improve about ourselves and this is ok. With a healthy goal we can overcome and grow into greater success. Think about yourself, make a list of all the things you would like to improve or change, (these are some examples) then consider how to implement those changes. But I am sure you will have your own. The list is there simply to remind you which improvement to prioritize, and build up your confidence after each completion. Refusing to change can either result in lack of confidence and depression, or becoming an overconfident and self-absorbed person that no one will tolerate for long; both of these traits will have impacts to your quest for a successful future.

The minute that you’re not learning I believe you’re dead. — Jack Nicholson

A List Of Creative Ideas

Some of my best ideas come to me in the shower – these are important to write down and save to your list of creative ideas. You may not know how to complete this item at this point of time, but having it written down, will allow you to pick up the details and run when the time is right. Not sure what it is a creative idea? For an idea to be classified as creative, it needs to be new, it needs to make sense, and it needs to have some sort of use. Letting your good ideas slide is only a wasted potential that will put your progress in a halt.

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. – Waldo Emerson

A List Of Future Plans

Similar to your first list of goals – having a list of future plans which can be both personal or just important things that are to occur in the future. These can all range from stating you want to get married, to stating you want to keep up with the current trends of technology. This list can and will grow, so be flexible with it.

The future is uncertain but the end is always near. – Jim Morrison

A List Of Contingency Plans

Be ready for when things don’t go as planned. This is all about developing a good plan B. To elaborate on this more you can read some further details and examples here: being prepared for the aftermath is always a good and necessary thing. Whether the contingency is for work, finances, life, medical or family related – these should be thought about and listed.

You pray for rain, you gotta deal with the mud too. That’s a part of it. — Denzel Washington

The Bucket List

Like your goals – your bucket list should be the list which ultimately should cover your life from end to end of what you want to do, experience or encounter. Now, these wont necessarily require a task list, but this list should grow and be reflected upon regularly. It may change due to circumstances, but ticking these items off will vary through time and in seasons. 

Like any Monday, I suggest you tackle it head on, tackle it with the intention to own the week. I understand it can be tough, but don’t forget…

“Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent.” — Marilyn vos Savant

Today I wish to share with you some mantras/some small motivational pieces, to help get your week super boosted and energized. But just remember, you are essentially the only one that can make your day and week great. You are in control.

Read these and see if they can inspire you to aspire further today. All you need to do is BEGIN:

• Be better than you were yesterday
• It’s never too late to be who you might have been
• Life does not need to be perfect to be wonderful – Annette Funicello
• Trust your guts
• It is a good day to have a good day
• If I fall, I will get back up. If I am beaten, I will return.
• I am STRONG and I am MOVING FORWARD
• Start doing things you love
• Live your life, live your purpose
• Inspire, Motivate, Encourage
• No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. – Unknown
• Start today
• Own the day