Friend, we spend so much of our lives staring at the mountain ahead of us that we forget to stop, turn around, and look at the incredible climb we have already made.

Every so often, it is vital (not just nice, but vital) to take a success inventory. This is not about ego or gloating. It is about reminding yourself of a fundamental truth: you are someone who gets things done.

Think of your past achievements as high-octane fuel. When doubt creeps in and whispers that you are not ready, pull out your history of wins.… Read the rest of the article

Early on in my professional journey, I received a piece of advice that changed everything: Treat your professional life as if you were a business owner. Now, before you dismiss that as “hokey,” I want you to really lean in and consider why this mindset is a total game-changer. Adopting this perspective won’t just change how you work; it will change how you live.

Ownership Over “The Man”

If you show up to work thinking you’re just “working for the man” or “putting in time at a job,” you’ve already lost your edge.… Read the rest of the article

Mastery is a lofty goal, but totally achievable.

Assuming several things are understood and applied on the path towards it — there’s no reason to doubt you can join the ranks of the highly skilled in your given endeavor.

Before we get in to the “how to” of developing mastery, let’s define it.

The Oxford Dictionaries defines Mastery this way, “mastery – comprehensive knowledge or skill in a particular subject or activity, control or superiority over someone or something.”

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it this way, “a : possession or display of great skill or technique.… Read the rest of the article

I learned from Jim Rohn to keep a journal. For me, it’s a place to record the wins of my life. It is also a sort of “catch all” where I can save important tidbits I learn, that I want to come back to at a later time.

On more than one occasion, when I’ve made some terrible decision, the kind that leaves you heart-broken, or the kind that leaves you feeling as though you’ve finally done something so stupid that the result will be absolutely devastating, I will go to my journal, read back through some other, unrelated, but similar mistake or decision I made, and find solace in the fact that just as I managed to make it through before, so too can I expect to do so this time around.… Read the rest of the article

Here’s an important lesson. If you fully grasp it it can be a real difference maker in your life. That said, make no mistake, it’s not something that you can do just once and expect it to be a game changer.

If, however, you can adopt this mindset you will see your personal productivity skyrocket.

What I’m suggesting to you is this:

Cultivate the habit of bridging the gap between the time it takes you to think of an idea and actually begin it.… Read the rest of the article