Empire State Of Mind

Do you look at the glass half empty or half full? It’s a powerful idiom that could explain a lot in terms of your current lifestyle and how the world is working for you.

It’s hard to have the “I’m going to go out there and change the world” attitude. Before you can change the world, a country, a town, a group, a person, it has to start within. Once you change the way you think, everything else on the outside will reflect to complement it.

Success isn’t something you simply fall into, success comes with patience, dedication and consistency. Ultimately however, we are directly responsible for what happens in our lives. There are ways which we can be proactive, starting with our changing perspective. Successful people go against the grain and often combat pessimism with optimism and instead of embracing excuses, embrace solutions. The trick is to take action.

There are tough scenarios that we’ve all faced, but the way we respond is the test of our greatness or a glowing example of our capabilities. It’s very easy to fall into a negative rut. If the negatives outweigh the positives, you find yourself blaming others, you haven’t seen self-growth in long time, you tend to set low expectations to avoid disappointment; then it’s time to step back and reevaluate your perspective and transform that negative energy to a positive, thriving force.

The goal is to have an empire state of mind, and no, I’m not just talking about the Jay-Z song. It’s about creating a mentality of taking control of your own life. Here are some steps you can take to develop a healthy mindset and successful you:

Be open-minded

Being open to different perspectives, suggestions, and scenarios make for a more enriching life experience. Take a leap into the unknown, others have already jumped and will catch you when you do.

Look at the glass half-full

Life is really about perception. The cup is the same, just as your life. Are you embracing the positives or harboring the negatives? If you choose to look at it with an optimism’s mindset, you are choosing the route of self-growth. It’s difficult, and life always challenges us, but like billionaire shark, investor, entrepreneur and business leader Robert Herjavec said: “Tough times never last; tough people always do.”

Learn something new

This should be a goal you set for yourself whether it be big or small achievements. Pick up a new hobby, learn about someone else’s culture. Knowledge builds your arsenal of self-worth and expands your skillset.

Strengthen your circle

You are as strong as those around you. Don’t hinder yourself by playing the blame game, it doesn’t benefit you or help the situation. Instead, take responsibility and learn from your mistakes. Strengthening your circle also means sharing news and tips and tricks, spreading positivity and support. You will find that when you invest time and sincerity into others, it is a lifelong investment that will pay off.

Stop wishing

How many times have you caught yourself saying “I wish I could do that” or “I want this, but I don’t have time.” Wishing doesn’t change anything, it’s only delaying your process to greatness. Make goals and take appropriate actions to get there. It’s even better if they are equal parts heart and head. Be logical without a defined line for the future.

Don’t fall back into the same patterns

Once you’re into the swing of things, keep going! Every now and then won’t change lives, consistency will.

Today could be the day that you head in a new direction. Tomorrow could be whatever you choose for it to be, but it’s up to you to unlock its unlimited potential.

What lies before us and what lies behind us are small matters compared to what lies within us, and when you bring what is within out into the world, miracles happen. -Henry David Thoreau

You Will Never Be Ready.

Have you ever been afraid of being a fraud, so you hold back just a little bit? You say nothing because you aren’t sure, or you wait to share your idea with a group until you think it is safe. I am no expert, but I feel like everyone has been in this mindset at least once. Growth and change aren’t products of perfection. Growth and change happen when there is tension. It happens when there is discomfort. It happens when there is something worth enduring a little pain for. Bravery is not for other people - it is for us. If you are reading this with a big bold audacious idea and you are waiting for when the time is right – you will never be ready.

A few months ago I had the pleasure of listening to Seth Godin give a presentation, one of many that day centered around bravery. He referenced the invention of the fax machine. When this machine came out, there wasn’t anything like it. Why in the heck would anyone want to send messages this way when they could just pick up the phone?

So, when is a good time to launch something new? It is always too soon and it is always bad timing. Why didn’t they wait? Godin says, “If ideas don’t spread, they die.” The big bold idea of the fax machine caught on because they were able to connect with their audience. They made it accessible, it solved a problem and it created a bridge between people.

That being said, how did they do that? I guarantee you they didn’t know what they were doing. What they did know was that they had created something remarkable. They went to the people that believed in them and asked, “Will you help me?” With no hierarchy and no direction, they said “I am not sure how to do this, follow me.”

This is what Godin calls a connection economy. Choose to be trusted, transparent and true to who you are. You are doing good work, but for who? Your number one fans are waiting on the sidelines and your big idea enables you to make a human connection. Even if you aren’t sure how to get there, invite them along on your journey and they may show you the way.

You don't have to be COOL all of the time.

Everyone ticks. As a whole, many of us get along pretty well but sometimes we get caught up in thinking about the past or worrying about the future – which causes unnecessary pain. Every so often you need a good kick in the pants reminder to live in the moment and to appreciate what is around you right now. In this very moment, what happened yesterday, last month or last year doesn’t matter. RIGHT NOW- you have a blank slate and a fresh start.

As an entrepreneur willing to take a risk and venture out on your own, you are putting yourself out there. You aren’t afraid to be vulnerable. However, if you let it, one bad email or annoying social media post can throw you off for the whole day. Having said that, it is ok to feel what you are going to feel in that moment. Recently an entrepreneur told us, “It is OK to be vulnerable. You don’t have to be cool all of the time.” Just be sure to recognize that feeling, acknowledge it and keep going. If you find yourself thinking about it again, rinse and repeat.

There will always be people that don’t agree with you. Good! That means you stand for something. The best way around that is through it. Although easier said than done, focus on the good things that are happening. So much of what we do requires practice, as does the ability to focus on what is good right now. It doesn’t have to be anything spectacular. You can simply sit on your front porch and listen to the birds. Mindfulness seems like a cliché term nowadays, but there is some truth to its practice. Give yourself the time to just be.

Most entrepreneurs aren’t in it for the dollars. If you are willing to take a risk, have a good reason why. Find that one thing that excites you and turn any discomfort into motivation to keep your dream in motion. Doing so leaves you open to the critics, open to the risks, and open to self-doubt. That’s OK. Getting stuck in that cycle isn’t. Recognize and acknowledge the feelings don’t ignore them – but also know that right now matters, there is always something good, and what happened in the past is just that – it’s in the past.

“Human is as good as it gets.”  - Bobbi Duffy