“A strong, positive self-image is the best possible preparation for success.”

Joyce Brothers

Not all failure is fatal.

In fact, the majority of failure is merely an opportunity to improve. (It doesn’t feel like that when we fail, but it’s true.)

Once you understand failure isn’t fatal, then the next step is to realize failure is just an arbitrary line we create in our minds (and as a culture).

• Failing an exam is final. Or is it recoverable? There’s always a chance to make it up the next exam and/or do the extra credit. Or even retake the class if necessary.
• You are a failure if your business fails. True—but are you a failure if your next business is a massive success?
• A breakup is a failed relationship. But does that mean your next relationship is doomed to fail too? (Not if you learn the lessons from the previous failed one).

Do you see how simple failure can become steps towards new opportunities?

Can we regain what we lost? Can we un-burn the ships we set on fire? No—but we can build new ones from the ashes.

Adding the word “yet” or “right now” or “but what if” to the end of your thoughts and dialogue completely shifts the meaning of what it means to fail.

In my mind, success is continuing after we fail.

Even when that failure sucks.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing — Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1383

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A boat anchor keeps you stable and safe for a time.

But it also keeps you from moving.

They keep you alive when need them, otherwise, they hold you back.

What are some past boat anchors holding you back right now?

What are the anchors you need right now?

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing — Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1382

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“Your mind is always eavesdropping on your self-talk” Jim Kwik

Success and good habits start with being kind to yourself.

Or at least train yourself out of the negative self-talk.

If you’re always talking down to yourself, telling yourself you can’t do things, that you are stupid, that you always mess up, that you aren’t smart enough, rich enough, skinny enough, how will you ever be motivated to change, take action and live your best life?

Good self-talk is a solid foundation for a better future. And it can make your present self immediately feel better, even just a little.

Because who is going to treat you well and give you what you need if you aren’t willing to do it yourself?

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing — Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1381

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Time is our most valuable asset. We trade our time to live—to eat, to work, to learn, etc. And we give our time to the people who we care about most. But we sure do waste it on a bunch of things we don’t care about.

Consistency is a way to capitalize on the power of compound interest. Even if you are dirt broke (financially or time-poor) you always have the power to use consistency to build a better life for yourself.

Most people don’t because the better life you are building isn’t for you. Well, it is—but it’s you in the future.

The future is uncertain. But the future is also inevitable. We never know when our time is up—but not knowing goes both ways! For all you know, you are going to live to 90!

Why not take a little time today and focus it towards a dream you have for yourself.

Put in the reps today, and your tomorrow will be a little brighter.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing — Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1380

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“Don’t quit. Never give up trying to build the world you can see, even if others can’t see it. Listen to your drum and your drum only. It’s the one that makes the sweetest sound.”

Simon Sinek

Habit and commitment go hand in hand. It takes daily commitment to build and stick with a habit. And the only way to build that up is to A) have the desire, B) start today, and C) stick to it.

Long-term habit-building has a natural ebb and flow of excitement and disinterest. We want to continuously improve upward, but in reality, our progress looks more like the stock market.

It’s important to remind yourself why you are learning what you are learning or building what you are building. Because when you are in the thick of it—living your life, trying your best to stick to your habit—remembering the ultimate goal and reason you are cultivating this habit will help you keep going. Especially on the off days when all you want to do is lay down and take a nap.

So if dancing is your thing, keep dancing. If you are learning a new language, push yourself, get practicing. If cybersecurity gets you jazzed, make it a habit.

Do it daily. Set milestones that keep you reaching higher. Learn to laugh off the bad days, because they don’t last.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing — Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1379

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“Humility is attentive patience.”

Simone Weil

“Empires always have the hubris to think they are indestructible, when in fact they are always unsustainable.”

Marianne Williamson

One of my default (bad) tendencies as a renaissance human is to take on too many personal projects and interests at once.

Knowledge, creativity, and curiosity are fantastic motivators. But like the Universe, they abundantly expand outward. The more you know, the more there is to know. The more you create, the more you could create. And the more curious you are, the more there is to be curious about.

This is wonderful! …as long as stay humble and remember we are human.

It’s something that I have to be vigilant about, otherwise, I’ll say yes to too many things.

When I’m in a good headspace, I’ve got a lot of creative energy.

Creative energy is great for learning new things and solving problems.

The key is directing it towards meaningful problems (that matter to you). And spending your time wisely, versus spending it widely.

The thing is, you don’t want to spread your creative energy too far, otherwise, it loses its potency.

Focus on the handful of things you love.

Don’t take on so many projects to the point that you are stressed out and all of your work isn’t up to a quality standard.

Juggling is only cool if you can keep things up in the air. If you keep dropping the ball, people are going to lose interest and faith in your ability to follow through.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing — Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1378

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Five years from now, what are the things you would regret not doing?

Do those first.

It’s as simple as that.

…well, simple, not easy.

I’m sure you just came up with a hundred different reasons why you can’t do what you would love to do. But honestly—are those reasons good enough to keep you from your dreams?

So what if you aren’t ready.

So what if you don’t know enough.

So what if you have to work later, or wiggle your way to the goal.

The things you love doing are worth doing first.

If you treat your passion like eating or sleeping, then it becomes essential (rather than unessential).

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing — Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1377

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Waiting for the ‘right’ moment never works.

Every creative endeavor requires us to paddle before the wave gets to us (otherwise will miss it).

Whatever you think you need to start or to do what you wish you were doing is likely not what you need, or at least not the way you think you need it.

The thing about creativity is—

Not having what you need, leads you to think creatively and come up with interesting ideas and solutions to problems.

You may think you need Money (with a capital ‘M’) to create an app or start a jewelry company or reinvent yourself—but you don’t not really. you might need some money (with a lowercase ‘m’) to set up a website or buy some supplies, but do you?

• Think of your problem as part of the solution to think more creatively.
• How would you start learning a new skill today without unlimited resources at your disposal?
• How can you test a business idea before setting up a business?
• What can you use that you already have access to?

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing — Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1376

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Sometimes you have to put a need over a want.

Like the need to make ends meet.

But at the same time, sometimes a want becomes so large that it turns into a need.

Which I don’t think is a bad thing. Particularly when what you desire is a dream you have for your life (such as traveling across the world, or starting your own company, etc.)

Needs are essential, but don’t let them crowd out your dreams. Just because we have to do something, doesn’t mean we have to set aside what we want.

We just have to take time away from other parts of our lives that are less essential (like less TV or social media time) so we can make room for what matters to us.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing — Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1375

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I should have ordered two pizzas. I went to pick up some groceries for my dad and me and was feeling super food lazy and decided to pick up a frozen paleo pizza for dinner (this is a judgment-free zone). While I was getting the pizza, I had a tiny (minuscule) thought that I should order two. I don’t know why. It was just a fraction of a thought in less than a second. I didn’t of course.

And when I was delivering the groceries dad’s food didn’t quite work at (at least inessential). The details of why are super interesting. But what is interesting is my instinct was right.

It was such a small, easily dismissible thing, but my gut was trying to tell me something.

It’s so easy to dismiss a thought/idea/instinct that logically doesn’t make sense or isn’t 100% clear to us at the time but ultimately is correct. Especially something as silly as ordering two pizzas instead of one. But every time we do what our intuition is telling us to do, we are working our intuition muscles. (And every time we don’t listen, we set ourselves up to continue to not listen).

Instinct is real. I can’t tell you exactly how it works, and sometimes it feels a little woo woo, but it’s a powerful tool we can use to guide us in life. It reminds me of when we can feel someone staring at us from across the room. Or how a professional poker player has another layer of senses to the game compared to a novice.

That doesn’t mean we can’t be wrong. Or, said the opposite way, that our gut isn’t always going to be right.

But there’s something powerful and useful about using your whole body to think versus just using your head.

STAY BOLD, Keep Pursuing — Josh Waggoner | Daily Blog #1374

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