New Year, New You
Just like moving to a new town where you don’t know anyone; you get to start over anew every year. You get to create the person that you want to become and for one reason or another weren’t able to last year. Life is like drawing without an eraser. You can’t go back and redo it once you’ve laid ink to paper. So go for it!
This is the year to…
1. Stop Living Someone Else’s Dream
There is too much uncertainty in the world. Life is too short. Live the life that you want. Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t have your cake and eat it too because you can. Live your dreams. As you know we here at Live Out Loud don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions but in New Year Commitments. What are your commitments for 2013? If you haven’t registered yet for our two-hour special Commitment Commencement Jan 6th you can do so by clicking here.
2. Start Singing with Your Own Voice
I don’t sing much at all except while in my car and other times when I KNOW that no one else is listening. However, a little discretion doesn’t stop others from making a fool of themselves and having a good time while doing it. I know a guy that loves to sing. He’s horrible at it and even makes up the words half the time. But he loves it. It’s fun just being around him just to see what he thinks he’s hearing when he listens to music. It reminds me of my daughter, Tristin, when she first heard the song from Pocahontas “Just Around the River Bend.” I heard non-stop for several days… “Just around the rubber band!”
She of course didn’t know what a river bend was at the time. She sure knew what a rubber band was. She, like my unnamed friend, would fill in the blanks with words that she did know. It’s unique and refreshing to hear someone sing to their own tune or in this case lyric.I once asked him why he couldn’t sing the ‘right’ words and his response was, “I don’t want to be like them, I want to be me. Anyone can copy someone else, but it takes real creativity to make up something new.”
At the time I thought it was a copout for his ‘handicap’ but the more I think about it there is a kernel of truth to his statement.The message for you is to stop being a clone and following everyone else. Be creative. Be a leader. Find your voice and sing out at the top of your lungs.
3. Claim Your Authority
You don’t have to be world renown to have authority. You just have to know what you’re doing. I see far too many with wonderful skill sets they just shirk off as no big deal.
These are skills that you can be making money with. In fact, I’ve written two New York Times Best-Sellers detailing how to do just that. If you don’t have Cash Machine for Life or Put More Cash in Your Pocket you can pick them up here in my online store.
4. Help Others
There is a fine line between helping others and discounting your worth. It’s a great thing to help others. In fact, it’s great when they don’t suspect or expect it. That’s really giving. But when they ask for your help and EXPECT you to do it for free, that’s WRONG! Never give away your time or talents for FREE to those that feel or think that they’re entitled to it. Once you cross that line you won’t know where to stop. The best way to help others is to look around you for those that might be in need of assistance and quietly help them in your own way. This will do more for you than almost anything else could to boost your self-worth.
5. Reject Cynicism
This might just be the hardest thing to change. We all desire to be liked and sometimes that means hanging around with people who are critical of others because we’re afraid of what they might think or say about us if we don’t. Ditch ’em! They’re not worth it. If they’re in your family…well, you can limit what you share with them. As many of you might recall, I used to work for Chevron. When I was contemplating quitting, I had crushing blows come from all around me telling me what a fool I was for wanting to quit a good paying job.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that those words hurt. Even more than their sting was the self-doubt that they created inside me. I often thought, “Can I really do this? Do I have what it takes?” Well of course I did have what it took. However, it would have been a lot easier for me not to have gone through that. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger I guess?
However, don’t go out looking for opportunities to see how strong you are either. The fact that you’re with me and looking to improve your business and life says it all by itself that you’re strong, tough and have what it takes. Make 2013 Your Best Year Yet! This year, for me and Live Out Loud, it’s all about Getting Lean and Mean(ingful) in 2013. Join me on Jan 6th to learn what you can do to take part and how to become lean and mean(ingful) in 2013.
