Inflate Your Tires

Inflate your tires.

The other day, I had a flat tire.

I didn’t notice it until I was a few blocks away from home.

I sensed the difference as I made my way around one of the turns.

I quickly checked both tires.

Front tire, great.

Back tire, flat.

I got off the bicycle immediately.

I didn’t want to damage the wheel or cause any other problems.

As I walked home, holding the bike in one hand, I couldn’t help but think of the flat tire and it’s metaphor.

All tires need air to run smoothly.

Each tire must be inflated properly (recommended tire pressure). If the tire has too much air or not enough, it can lead to problems and uncomfortable rides.

Not every tire is meant for every terrain. Some can sustain the impact of nails, glass, rocks. Others, pop immediately.

I thought, “What a beautiful metaphor.”

I need air to operate smoothly.

For me, the “air” is food, relationships, sleep, exercise, daily reflection … and of course, oxygen. Without it, I’ll die.

If operating with too much “air” or not enough, my days become less enjoyable.

What do you need RIGHT NOW to operate smoothly?

Persistence Pays Off

Figure out what you really want.

Then, go after it.

I am reminded of this daily.

Every time I eat, our family dog is there.

Sitting to the right or left me, hoping that I’ll drop a piece of food or give it to him voluntarily.

I cannot recall a time when he took a day off.

The words: never, can’t, quit, are not in his vocabulary.

Some days, his persistence pays off more than once.

Some days, it takes multiple attempts to get just a little bit.

Some days result in nothing.

His efforts remind me of the importance of showing up regardless of what happened the time before.

His efforts remind me of the importance of having the right attitude going into every attempt.

His efforts remind me that even though he didn’t get food from a person one day, it doesn’t mean he won’t get food from the same person the next day. People change.

His efforts remind me that sometimes all it takes is being “right” once.

His efforts remind me that #persistence can pay off.

Life Is A Journey. It Is Up to You How You Live It.

Life is a journey.

It’s up to you how you live it.

It has been six years since I made the decision.

The decision to start creating the life of my choosing.

I remember sitting on the floor in the family room of my significant other’s home.

Big, round, wooden table in front of me.

A white sheet of paper on top of it.

A black pen next to it.

I was hesitant to pick up the pen.

Then, life flashed in front of me.

I was reminded of the feeling that has been eating at me for weeks prior.

The feeling that intensified with each day.

The feeling of change.

Going back was not an option.

Picking up the pen and facing what I felt inside was my only choice.

Steve Harvey once said, “There are two important days in your life. The day you are born and the day you figure out why.”

In 2016, I began the journey of uncovering my “WHY.”

In 2022, I developed a more clear understanding of that “WHY”, to help others rewrite their story.

Six years and all of the years prior, of facing the daily challenges and finding ways to overcome them.

Six years of commitment to myself and the process of reinvention and flexibility of my story.

Six years of working closely with thousands of people from around world, guiding, supporting them in the process of rewriting their story.

Others can walk your journey with you, but nobody can walk it for you.

You, and only you, have the power to make that choice.

If my message speaks to you and you’re ready to dive deep into your life, your thought process, your beliefs, your most vulnerable and empowering moments, reach out [link in the comments].

Change your story.

Change your life.

Who Are You?

Who are you?

A few years ago, I was asked this question.

Not once, but repeatedly for 1 hour.

Who are you?

Who are you?

Who are you?

At first, I answered with my profession.

Then, the answers became more philosophical.

“I am a thinker.”

“I am a student of life.”

Then, I ran into a wall.

I didn’t know what to say.

Part of me wanted to scream, “I don’t know what you want me to say.”

It wasn’t until a few days ago, when I asked a client of our “Curiosity: The Key to Rewriting Your Story” program the same question that I was reminded how powerful the question truly was.

I was reminded that it wasn’t only about what I said, but also how I said it.

Angered.

Sad.

Confused.

Happy.

Prior to that moment, I forgot what some of those emotions even felt like.

I avoided some of the “negative” emotions.

I didn’t want to be associated with them.

This exercise helped me get in touch with my emotions.

It reaffirmed that I am not just one of them, I am all of them.

It gave me an opportunity to feel, then to observe how I felt years later.

It reaffirmed that, “I think, therefore I am” AND “I feel, therefore I am.”

It has been years since Daniel Levin and I have spoken.

Yet, the impact of our conversation continues to have a profound impact on my daily life 🙏

How to Say, “No” Instead of Saying, “Yes”

Just say, “No.”

Much easier said than done.

At least that has been my experience.

Over the years, I found it difficult to say, “No” to things I didn’t want to be a part of.

I didn’t want to disappoint others.

I didn’t want to negatively impact the trajectory of a friendship or relationship.

I didn’t want to create conflict or confrontation.

So, I went with it.

I said, “Yes” to things in order to avoid all of the above.

I took meetings that should’ve been nothing more but text message exchanges.

I went to events that I truly didn’t want to be a part of.

I accepted connection requests when the better decision might have been to decline.

It wasn’t until years later that I began to see the impact of my decision to say, “Yes” to all things.

Lack of personal boundaries.

Belief that I cannot and should not say, “No.”

Constant fear of losing a friendship or relationship.

Becoming aware of all of this helped me develop an action plan to move forward with.

Now, I set clear boundaries for what I want to engage in.

I do the cost-benefit analysis. I weigh out the pros/cons of saying, “Yes” compared to, “No.”

Lastly, I put it all into practice. I practice it every opportunity I get.

I don’t get it right every single time.

I am not striving for perfection.

I am striving to be better than I was before.

Don’t Be Afraid to ASK

If you want something, don’t be afraid to ask.

The worst they can say is, “No.”

I was in Ecuador when I was reminded of this.

I remember the guide telling us as the city tour concluded, “Thank you for opening your hearts. Now, please open your wallets.”

His last statement caught me off guard.

I couldn’t help, but laugh.

He was so direct with his communication.

Then, I was reminded of, “You don’t get what you don’t ask for.”

I immediately thought of the times when I was too afraid to ask for things.

The times when I was afraid to ask companies to hire me as a speaker.

The times when I was afraid to ask someone out on a date.

The times when I was afraid to ask for donations to support the work of Overcoming Odds.

I was afraid to ask due to previous rejection.

The handful of times I was rejected when I asked someone out on a date.

The handful of times the person said, “I don’t have any money to donate.”

The handful of times someone said, “I do not want to hire you as a speaker.”

These times overshadowed the 99% of times when I did get the things I asked for.

Negativity is powerful.

The more I leaned into it, the more I became aware of the power of the empty feeling in my stomach rejection carries.

The influence of it on future events.

Over the years, I’ve realized that it’s impossible to avoid rejection.

#Rejection is a part of life.

However, what is possible is to change the story about it.

⭐️ I have found that most times when people respond with negative remarks to my ask of being a speaker, it is not due to my ask, it is due to where they’re at in life, the battles they’re fighting. Lesson: Don’t take feedback too personally.

⭐️ I have learned to reframe most, “No’s” into “Not yet.” Lesson: Nobody truly knows what the future holds. Therefore, the answer can change over time.

👉 Don’t let your past stop you from creating your future.

Continue adding tools to your toolkit.

Tools that can help you move through the inevitable parts of life.

Change your story.

Change your life.

If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit

Rest, don't quit.

A few weeks ago, I started training for an Ironman.

2.4 mile swim.

112 mile bike ride.

26.2 mile run.

I’ve done bits and pieces of each activity before, but not at the intensity required to compete in an event such as the Ironman.

Ever since I started the training, the thoughts of, “Why are you doing this? Quit while you’re ahead,” kept coming up.

Especially, in moments, when the going got tough.

Most times, I’ve been able to reassure myself of the reason why I started.

To see my body and mind in the best shape of its life.

Reminding myself of the “WHY” helped serve as fuel to keep going.

The other day, I was doing sprints around the soccer field.

One lap after another.

As I turned the corner of my second to last lap, the thoughts of, “Why are you doing this? Quit while you’re ahead,” came up again.

The thoughts were so strong, they stopped me dead in my tracks.

Part of me wanted to proceed as suggested.

The past me would have done exactly that.

Quit when the going got tough.

This version chose to finish running the lap, to rest, to not quit when the going got tough.

⭐️ Lesson of the Day: If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.

Show Up for Yourself

Half the battle in life is showing up.

Words from my Dad around the dinner table a few years ago.

At the time, I didn’t understand the significance of his words.

I wasn’t fully living this mantra.

I didn’t start off the day with an intention.

I backed out of opportunities due to them being “too big.”

I had difficulties staying true to my commitments.

It wasn’t until years later, I understood the meaning of my Dad’s words.

It wasn’t until I looked myself in the mirror and committed to the person I saw.

Committed to showing up on days when everything was going well.

Committed to showing up on days when the s*** was hitting the fan.

Committed to being intentional with every action I took.

Committed to doing the best that I can.

In a world of infinite possibilities, lies the key to your opportunity.

Step in, grab hold, stay focused, the opportunity is yours.

Be intentional, commit to your actions, show up, look ahead, and watch your opportunity turn into magic.

Like my Dad said so many years ago … half the battle in life is showing up.