âWhen you show yourself to the world and display your talents, you naturally stir all kinds of resentment, envy, and other manifestations of insecurity. You cannot spend your life worrying about the petty feelings of others.â
Robert Greene
As the modern world increasingly exposes us to the criticism of others, itâs more important than ever to protect your energy and stay focused on your own actions.
Here are 10 tips for dealing with the haters.
Our mental state has an enormous correlation with the meaning we assign to a given situation. To help create a positive outcome, ask yourself: What else could this mean? An errant comment mightnât always be as harsh as it appears. For example, perhaps:
To change your state of mind, get moving. Change your posture, breathing and thinking to align with happiness, love and gratitudeâafter all, positive motion leads to positive emotion. Avoid or limit your exposure to things that sap your energy.
Napoleon Hill once said, âOne of the unappreciated benefits of adversity is that it accelerates the process of identifying your true friends.â If people do not reciprocate your positive energy, take comfort knowing that the quicker theyâre out of your life the better.
The world is a big place, yet so many of us cling to friendships that no longer serve us. Channel your energy into supporting those who bring out the best in you, and you in them.
One thing the world will never be short of is opinions. However, criticism and judgement are generally based on the senderâs own insecurities and ego, and it says much more about their character than it does yours. Interestingly, people who support the critics will eventually find out the hard way that those who talk trash on someone will happily do it to everyone.
If someone in your life allows their mind to be possessed with jealousy, envy and resentment, wish them the best and run like the wind.
The most successful people on the planet actively seek out feedback to help them improve. Tech visionary Elon Musk famously said: âPay attention to negative feedback and solicit it, particularly from friends. Hardly anyone does that, and itâs incredibly helpful.â
A âcongratulationsâ wonât help you, but a specific tip might. Action what you can then willingly discard the rest.
Think about the athlete, entrepreneur, musician or politician you look up to the most. Are they immune from criticism? Absolutely not. In fact, those who make the decision to stand for what they believe in attract a whole swarm of haters. On the naysayers, UFC President Dana White said: âNo matter how successful you become, one thing never goes away: negativity. Let it fuel you to get up and fight every day.â
If youâre willing to surrender to the critics, youâre not ready for success.
Today, almost every post comes with a like, share and comment button. This has given every single person, no matter how ill-informed (e.g. internet trolls), a platform to vent their feelings. Instead, revisit your Success Planâwhy do you want to achieve everything youâve got listed? The clearer and more emotionally invested you are on what you want, the more resilient youâll be.
Opinions comes with the territory, but as youâve heard me say before: never EVER let those people who have given up on their dreams talk you out of yours.
Too many people go through life wanting to balance the ledger. Yet, all youâre doing is robbing yourself of happiness in the present. As my mum (who continues to prove sheâs wise beyond her years) once said after I had been wronged by someone I regarded as a close friend, âItâs not your job to dish out the karma.â She was right.
Stay resolute and focused on your success, and let the universe take care of the rest.
Hereâs the hard truth: itâs not everyone elseâs job to support you, believe in you, or give you a pat on the back when you feel like you deserve it. For new entrepreneurs, especially, it can be a tough realization thatâafter investing all your time and money in a ventureâthe overwhelming support you thought you would receive from your social circle disappears as soon as your product/service is available. In fact, most people would rather buy from a celebrity who they donât know in favor of supporting their friends.
Rather than let it frustrate you, continue to focus on creating more value and you will quickly attract a large audience of people excited in you.
One of the best ways to feel better about yourself is to help those less fortunateâwhen you see their faces light up, it will give you gratitude and an instant attitude adjustment. I used to do a lot of work mentoring high school students, and I spoke to one of them last week who is now a successful professional in his early 20s. Of course, Iâm immensely proud of the life heâs made for himself, but what made me happiest was hearing that he now volunteers at his old high school to help others.
Pay kindness forward, while the haters hold themselves back.
People are typically jealous of short-term success. The best way to prove them wrong is to continually work on your own version of excellence every single day.
Over time, even the most ardent critic can come to appreciate the sustained effort you took to make your mark on the world.
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My challenge to you is to be you. Not a discount version, but your best self. Use your actions to win the day, every day. While others gossip, your results will say more than words ever could.
Onwards and upwards always,
James W.
In case you missed it: âHow to Overcome Bad Daysâ
âBe who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind donât matter and those who matter donât mind.â â Bernard Baruch
âPeople will always have an answer for the question they wonât have to answer themselves.â â Conor McGregor
âThroughout life people will make you mad, disrespect you and treat you bad. Let God deal with the things they do, cause hate in your heart will consume you too.â â Will Smith
âOne of my greatest weaknesses is also one of my greatest strengths: being underestimated.â â Sara Blakely
âHappiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present.â â Jim Rohn
âTo avoid criticism say nothing, do nothing, be nothing.â â Elbert Hubbard
âTo be a star, you must shine your own light, follow your own path, and donât worry about darkness, for that is when the stars shine brightest.â â Napoleon Hill
âTurn your wounds into wisdom.â â Oprah Winfrey
âWhen another blames you or hates you, or people voice similar criticisms, go to their souls, penetrate inside and see what sort of people they are. You will realize that there is no need to be racked with anxiety that they should hold any particular opinion about you.â â Marcus Aurelius
âWhen you show yourself to the world and display your talents, you naturally stir all kinds of resentment, envy, and other manifestations of insecurity. You cannot spend your life worrying about the petty feelings of others.â â Robert Greene
âMost haters are stuck in a poisonous mental prison of jealousy and self-doubt that blinds them to their own potentiality.â â Steve Maraboli
âNever take constructive criticism from people who havenât constructed anything.â â John Shin
âIâve been all over the world and Iâve never seen a statue of a critic.â â Leonard Bernstein
âAny fool can criticize, complain, and condemnâand most fools do. But it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving.â â Dale Carnegie
âIf anyone can refute meâshow me Iâm making a mistake or looking at things from the wrong perspectiveâIâll gladly change. Itâs the truth Iâm after, and the truth never harmed anyone. What harms us is to persist in self-deceit and ignorance.â â Marcus Aurelius
âThe time you spend hating on someone robs you of your own time. You are literally hating on yourself and you donât even realize it.â â Joe Rogan
âHe who has a why can bear almost any how.â â Friedrich Nietzsche
âSet your mind on a definite goal and observe how quickly the world stands aside to let you pass.â â Napoleon Hill
âRumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots.â â Nishan Panwar
âThere will always be haters. And the more you grow the more they hate; the more they hate the more you grow.â â Anthony Liccione
âThe purpose of life is finding the largest burden that you can bear and bearing it.â â Jordan Peterson
âNever EVER let someone who gave up on their dreams talk you out of yours.â â James Whittaker
âYou have enemies? Good. That means youâve stood up for something, sometime in your life.â â Winston S. Churchill
âPut your foot on the neck of criticism by reaching a decision not to worry about what other people think, do or say.â â Napoleon Hill
âThere will be haters, there will be doubters, there will be non-believers, and then there will be you proving them wrong.â â Jennifer Van Allen
âCompare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.â â Jordan Peterson
âIt never ceases to amaze me: we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own.â â Marcus Aurelius
âI will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.â â Booker T. Washington
âThe best way to counter-attack a hater is to make it blatantly obvious that their attack has had no impact on you.â â Tim Ferriss
âAction is the real measure of intelligence.â â Napoleon Hill
âA critic is a legless man who teaches other people to run.â â Channing Pollock
âI donât worry about the haters. They are just angry because the truth I speak contradicts the lie they live.â â Steve Maraboli
âItâs easy to attack and destroy an act of creation. Itâs a lot more difficult to perform one.â â Chuck Palahniuk
âDonât wish it was easier, wish you were better. Donât wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Donât wish for less challenges, wish for more wisdom.â â Jim Rohn
âSet your house in perfect order before you criticize the world.â â Jordan Peterson
âHaters are all failures. Itâs 100% across the board. No one who is truly brilliant at anything is a hater.â â Joe Rogan
âLearn to use the criticism as fuel and you will never run out of energy.â â Orrin Woodward
âWhen you are able to maintain your own highest standards of integrityâregardless of what others may doâyou are destined for greatness.â â Napoleon Hill
âPeople work better when they know what the goal is and why.â â Elon Musk
âI was born to make mistakes, not to fake perfection.â â Drake
âMy best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.â â Henry Ford
âBreathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.â â Oprah Winfrey
âI donât have time, energy, or interest in hating the haters; Iâm too busy loving the lovers.â â Steve Maraboli
âNo matter how successful you become, one thing never goes away: negativity. Let it fuel you to get up and fight every day.â â Dana White
âThe only thing more frustrating than slanderers is those foolish enough to listen to them.â â Chris Jammi
âHe has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.â â Abraham Lincoln
âDonât believe me? Just watch.â â Bruno Mars
âHaters donât really hate you, they hate themselves; because youâre a reflection of what they wish to be.â â Yaira N. Juan
âWe must all wage an intense, lifelong battle against the constant downward pull. If we relax, the bugs and weeds of negativity will move into the garden and take away everything of value.â â Jim Rohn
âThe more successful you become, the more haters you get.â â Daymond John
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New Facebook Group:
Join our brand new Facebook Group âWin the Dayâ and surround yourself with positive energy!
âThe only thing we have to fear is fear itself.â
Franklin D. Roosevelt
None of us are immune to changeâit is one of the great constants of life, alongside death and taxes. As people age, they often become set in their ways and increasingly resist challenge. Some start to feel old at 18, others at 80âthere is no consensus. Regardless, if allowed to fester, this mindset erodes even the brightest and most enthusiastic among us.
For those worried about the future, I have some good news: age is the one number that doesnât matter.
Fear of old age can be seen when people begin to renounce their abilities as age increases. You have probably heard someone, whether a parent, grandparent or even yourself, blame their age for not participating in an activity. Knowing what we know about the power of the mind, perhaps welcoming a new milestoneâsuch as retiring from a career, selling a business, or celebrating a birthdayâwould be better viewed as an opportunity to seek new challenges or grander goals.
Those who feel increasingly despondent as their age ticks over use it to justify staying within their ever-shrinking comfort zone, but countless studies have proven that keeping the mind and body active considerably increases not only longevity but quality of life, too.
For example, Johanna Quaas is a regular competitor on the amateur gymnastics circuit in Germany. The 92-year-old continues to dazzle spectators with her strength, dexterity and mobility, performing somersaults, headstands and cartwheels at will. On the connection between body and mind, Quaas believes, âIf you are fit, it is easier to master life.â
Similarly, after the sudden death of his wife, Englishman Thomas Lackey (below) decided to walk along the wing of an airplane to raise money for cancer charities. Full of vigor after his first effort, Lackey continued his wing-walking career well into his nineties, breaking numerous world recordsâincluding standing atop a prop plane for 40 minutes, despite being 94 and wheelchair-boundâand raising $2 million dollars for charity.
French woman Jeanne Louise Calment, the longest living human on record, continued to enjoy cycling beyond her 100th birthday. She eventually passed away aged 122. And just last month, 91-year-old John Carter made the news for his love of doing backflips off the high diving board.
Quaas, Lackey, Calment and Carter did not listen when people told them they couldnât do something. Instead, they viewed their age, wisdom and experience as a blessing, warding off fear with prompt and decisive action.
In the immortal words of Mark Twain: âWrinkles should merely indicate where the smiles have been.â Those who repeatedly tell themselves theyâre too old are the ones who actually are.
Onwards and upwards always,
James W.
PS â Join my VIP community AND get a free bonus from Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy (instant download).
Mobile phone salesman Paul Potts was 36 when he auditioned for Britainâs Got Talent. His unorthodox music choice and everyman image struck an instant chord with the public, paving the way for his debut album to reach #1 in 13 countries. His first audition has since accumulated more than 177 million views on YouTube.
âI just wandered on and did my thing, treated it like it was the last performance Iâd ever doâwhich, had it gone badly, could have been the case.â â Paul Potts
Fashion designer Vera Wang only became an independent bridal wear designer at 40. Today, she is regarded as one of the worldâs leading fashion designers, having made gowns for Michelle Obama, Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton and amassing a personal fortune of $630 million.
âDonât be afraid to take time to learn. Itâs good to work for other people. I worked for others for 20 years. They paid me to learn.â â Vera Wang
American businesswoman Robin Chase was 40 when, on a break from work to be with her children, she decided to launch a car-sharing company. In 2013, Zipcar was bought by Avis for USD $500 million in cash. Chase was even listed among the 100 Most Influential People by Time magazine.
âYou have to recognize failure whenever it happens and look it straight on. When the evidence says that youâre wrong, you have to be willing to relinquish even your most deeply held beliefs.â â Robin Chase
American comic book writer Stan Lee was 41 when he published Spider-Man for the first time, which is now regarded as the gold standard in the modern superhero genre; today, Spider-Man films boast more than $5 billion in box office receipts. Lee recently passed away aged 95, but continued to be heavily involved in the publishing and film industries until his last days, even appearing in 2018 film Venom.
âWith great power comes great responsibility.â â Stan Lee
Hollywood actor Samuel L. Jackson didnât get his big break until 43, when he appeared in the Spike Lee film Jungle Fever. Today, Jackson has appeared in more than 100 films and is ranked as the highest all-time box office star, averaging more than $70 million per film and totaling more than $12 billion at the box office.
âThe best advice that was given to me was that I had to be 10 times smarter, braver and more polite to be equal. So I did.â â Samuel L. Jackson
American innovator ÂHenry Ford was 45 when he created the Model T, changing the automotive world forever. He successfully sued The Chicago Tribune for $1 million after they printed a story labeling him âignorantâ despite his enormous success and willingness to improve the conditions and wages of his workers.
âMy best friend is the one who brings out the best in me.â â Henry Ford
Clothing manufacturer Jack Weil was 45 when he launched classic western brand Rockmount Ranch Wear. He maintained the CEO position until he passed away aged 107 as the oldest working CEO in the United States.
âThe west is not a place. Itâs a state of mind.â â Jack Weil
Stand-up comedian and voice artist Rodney Dangerfield was 46 when caught his big break on The Ed Sullivan Show, more than three decades after he first started performing stand-up. That one performance, as a last-minute replacement for another act, became a surprise hit and catapulted the aspiring entertainer to industry legend.
âMy wife and I were happy for 20 years. Then we met.â â Rodney Dangerfield
Susan Boyle was 47 when she appeared on Britainâs Got Talent as a tribute to her mother. A rousing performance led to enormous popularity, and her album became the UKâs bestselling debut of all time, catapulting her to superstardom.
âThere are enough people in the world who are going to write you off. You donât need to do that to yourself.â â Susan Boyle
Taiwanese-Japanese inventor Momofuku Ando was 48 when he invented instant noodles. His most famous product, Cup Noodles, sparked global demand. Ando passed away in 2007 at the age of 96, while his products have surpassed more than 100 billion servings.
âPeace will come to the world when the people have enough to eat.â â Momofuku Ando
Charles Darwin wasnât always regarded for his views on evolution. In fact, his first career path was physician, but he switched when he realized he couldnât stomach the sight of blood. At 50, he published On the Origin of Species, whichâdespite its contradictory views with the scientific community at the timeâis now considered the foundation of evolutionary biology.
âIt is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.â â Charles Darwin
Chef Julia Child was 50 before writing her first cookbook, which brought French cuisine to the American public. Until passing away in 2004 aged 91, Child was regarded as a culinary pioneer with an acclaimed career as a celebrity chef, author and television personality. She was also a recipient of both the French Legion of Honor and the US Presidential Medal of Freedom.
âThe only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking youâve got to have a what-the-hell attitude.â â Julia Child
NASA researcher Jack Cover was 50 when he invented the Taser stun gun. As a non-lethal weapon for law enforcement, the device is credited with saving more than 100,000 lives and is in use with more than 15,000 law enforcement and military agencies around the world.
âLet me figure out something better than shooting people.â â Jack Cover
Practicing attorneys Tim and Nina Zagat were both 51 when they published their first collection of restaurant reviews. Starting out as a guide to New York restaurants based on opinions of friends, the Zagat brand quickly became a full-time business rather than a hobby. In 2011, the company was bought by Google for $151 million.
âPeople are looking for different things at different times, and we empowered them to make their own decisionsâto make choices that were the right ones for them.â â Nina Zagat
Milkshake salesman Ray Kroc was 53 when he partnered with the owners of McDonaldâs, buying the company from them six years later. Kroc revolutionized the restaurant industry and passed away with a net worth of $600 million.
âItâs better to be green and growing than ripe and rotting.â â Ray Kroc
Economics professor Taikichiro Mori was 55 when he quit to become a real estate investor. In 1992, the Japanese businessman was listed as the wealthiest person on the planet, with a net worth of USD $13 billion (double that of Microsoft founder Bill Gates).
âI guess I am called the worldâs richest man, but that doesnât necessarily do anything for me.â â Taikichiro Mori
American restaurateur Harland Sanders was 62 when he franchised the first Kentucky Fried Chicken, modelled after the food served at his popular Kentucky service station. The company rapidly expanded and in 1964, aged 73, Sanders sold it for $2 million ($16 million in todayâs dollars), becoming a salaried brand ambassador.
âThereâs no reason to be the richest man in the cemetery.â â Harland Sanders
After losing everything in the 1929 stock market crash, former teacher Laura Ingalls Wilder was 65 when her first Little House book was published, inspired by her childhood adventures. They soon became literary classics, and the basis for TV show Little House on the Prairie, selling more than 60 million copies in more than 100 countries.
âHome is the nicest word there is.â â Laura Ingalls Wilder
After arthritis made embroidering difficult, former housekeeper Anna Robertson was 78 when she first began painting. In 1949, President Harry S. Truman presented âGrandma Mosesâ with an award for outstanding accomplishment to art. She died in 1961, aged 101, and was memorialized by President John F. Kennedy.
âLife is what we make it. Always has been, always will be.â â Grandma Moses
In 2013, Yuichiro Miura, at 80 years old, became the oldest person to climb Mt Everest. Incredibly, the Japanese alpinist has also skied down the highest mountain on all seven continents and was featured in the Academy Award-winning documentary The Man Who Skied Down Everest.
âItâs important to have a dream, no matter how old you are.â â Yuichiro Miura
Former pilot Gladys Burrill was 86 when she ran a marathon for the first time. Nicknamed the âGladyatorâ, Burrill was recognized by Guinness World Records as the oldest female marathon finisher after completing the Honolulu Marathon in 9:53, aged 92.
âJust get out there and walk or run. I like walking because you can stop and smell the roses, but itâs a rarity that I stop.â â Gladys Burrill
âThe most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.â
Thomas Edison
Welcome to 2019!
I hope you enjoyed the holiday season, and congratulations to all those who were also able to craft a detailed plan to attack the next 12 months. In case you missed it, I posted a short video about finishing the year strong.
Coming into the new year, letâs think about the three different types of people:
Dominant performers in every industry, whether CEOs or athletes, are experts at making a habit of appearing in that first category.
A US News & World Report revealed that 80% of New Yearâs resolutions fail by the second week of February. Just six weeks after they were set! You can probably tell that those people are the ones who make it into the second of the above categories, which is better than third because at least theyâve enjoyed some progress.
But, clearly, thereâs huge room for growth.
Regardless of where youâre at now, the GOOD news is that even if you didnât get around to creating a detailed plan for 2019, you can still do it! Here is the best way to get started.
Iconic media announcer Earl Nightingale once said: âMost people tiptoe through life waiting to make it safely to death.â
Read that again.
Now, close your eyes and imagine what the perfect destination in ALL areas of your life looks likeâa broad definition of success. Then, through your actions, show what comforts youâre willing to sacrificeâsuch as partying with friends, watching television and pressing the âsnoozeâ buttonâto make that perfect destination a reality.
Napoleon Hill, the most renowned personal development author in history, had a knack for converting lessons from the worldâs most accomplished people into something that could be understood and applied by anyone. Here is one of my favorite Hill quotesâthink about it in the context of what you want to achieve in 2019:
âHaving a definite plan for your life greatly simplifies the process of making the hundreds of daily decisions that affect ultimate success.â
With your unique and comprehensive definition of success imprinted on your mind, you just need to ask yourself a simple question whenever youâre faced with a decision: Will this help me achieve my goals? If the answer is âNoâ, opt for a more productive task or set a timer so you can properly manage your time and energy flow.
Once youâre crystal clear on where you want to go, youâre able to intuitively make the right decisions. Better yet, as each day progress, they become a habit.
The best performers in any field know this and advance to greater success. Accordingly, those who fail either have no plan or a weak plan to obtain what they want, and therefore make poor decisions. When you understand that drifting is the primary cause of failure, youâll be able to recognize it in the fortunes of almost everyone in your life.
In fact, I recommend you create an actual calendar note for âMonday, 11th Februaryâ so when it pops up youâre reminded of the day when most others have quit. Thatâs your motivation to go extra hard.
Sometimes, life throws challenges our way that require us to revise our plans or create new ones entirely. But we must never lose sight of our dreams, nor accept temporary failure as permanent defeat. Jim Rohn, one of my biggest influences, famously said: âLet others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone elseâs hands, but not you.â
Dare to dream as big as you can, then turn those dreams into vivid goals, then detailed plansâand, finally, daily actions. Through that simple process, the same dream that is retained as fantasy for others is delivered as reality to you.
Wishing you every success and happiness in 2019. Together, letâs make this the best year yet.
Onwards and upwards always,
James Whittaker
In case you missed it:
âThe Greatest Lessons and Best Quotes from Napoleon Hill'
âRelationships are all there is. Everything in the universe only exists because it is in relationship to everything else. Nothing exists in isolation.â
Margaret Wheatley
Early on in my career I made the decision to get good at networking. Whether it was striking up a conversation with a stranger in an elevator, trying to be memorable at events, or adding value to people far higher up the pecking order, I wanted to forge a meaningful relationship based on emitting a vibrant energy, an organic connection and unconditionally adding value.
This decision, along with being committed to simple and consistent action, has been the cornerstone to every success I have achieved to this point.
Being your natural self is an important part of building relationships. When it happens as organically as possible, authenticity reigns, time is saved and value increases tenfold. Iâve seen too many networking âexpertsâ say that the solution is to start at the finish line, where you spend big money to attend events, enthusiastically âappearâ (rather than meaningfully engage), and dish out business cards like ninja stars.
Remember, extraordinary achievement only comes with a strong foundation. A few meaningful connections are far more valuable than exchanging 500+ business cards.
Here is a five-step system to take your networking skills to the next level. This process can be followed by anyone and I absolutely guarantee it will have an enormous impact on your life.
True mastery in any fieldâincluding networkingâonly comes from ridiculous amounts of purposeful practice. Before diving headfirst into the deep end, work on your stroke. Here are the three best networking books I have encountered:
Grab a notepad and spend one hour each day reading these books, until youâve finished all three, being sure to jot down ideas and inspiration as it comes to mind. When youâre finished, keep increasing your knowledge with podcasts like Build Your Network by Travis Chappell.
I guarantee you will 10x your networking results from this first step alone.
Retain a laser-like focus by being crystal clear on your objective, i.e. what you actually want to achieve from networking. Perhaps itâs to:
It could be anything. Once you have a clear objective, you can work on crafting an elevator pitch that gets people excited about wanting to help you achieve it. The result? A sizzling first impression.
Just remember the cardinal rule of networking is to focus on other peopleâs interests before your own. As Dale Carnegie said, âYou can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.â
One of the biggest mistakes people make is scrimping on their personal brand. Tidy up your social accounts and your personal website, and get some good quality business cards that:
In the world of Squarespace/Wix and Fiverr/Upwork, thereâs no reason not to have at least a reasonably professional online presence, irrespective of where youâre at in your career.
In reference to creating a killer website for his brand new (at the time) School of Greatness podcast, Lewis Howes told me, âThe website needed to look professional if I was to attract high level people to appear on the show. If it looked amateur, I would only attract amateurs.â Invest in your personal brand.
At this stage you should be fired up and ready to go, like Usain Bolt on the starting blocks! Test out your skills in every interaction you have, whether at a coffee shop, the dog park, in a business meetingâeverywhere. The aim is to quickly establish rapport and get comfortable communicating with authenticity. Carry an air of confidence, trying to draw out a smile from others. If youâve done step one, youâll know that you need to be:
Find a list of conferences/events that are in your industry. If possible, connect with a few people beforehand who might be attendingâyou can easily find them via an industry FB page, the eventâs FB page or posting to your own network. Having some conversations locked in can help you warm up and feel more confident than fronting it blind. Make sure you look professional, but natural and authentic.
When you start to meet people of interest, and have offered value to them, ask them to suggest 1-2 people you absolutely need to connect with at the event. When they offer some names, ask for an introduction. The original lifestyle entrepreneur Tim Ferriss once outlined his networking strategy as: âGo narrow. Go long.â A deep, trusted relationship with a few people is exponentially more powerful than a surface-level acquaintance with many.
Experience is an essential part of mastering your craft, and remember that youâve already done most of the hard work, so excitedly get out there and get your âsea legsâ.
Continue to offer value without the expectation of anything in returnâperhaps itâs an article that might interest them, an introduction to someone you know, or a brief catch up to hear more about their journey and how you can help.
Down the track, start hosting your own mastermind catch ups to really turbocharge your network. Never underestimate how valuable a core team of enthusiastic supporters can be on every aspect of your life.
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Remember, networking is not event-specificâit is an âall the timeâ skill. Judge success on the number of real relationships youâve made and invest in them long term, rather than risk burning them for short term gain.
Follow this simple formula and see how quickly your impact is amplified. After all, your network is your net worth.
Onwards and upwards always,
James W.
âTake care of your body. Itâs the only place you have to live.â
Jim Rohn
We ALL have bad days ⌠every single one of us. There are many reasons why we might feel forlornâwhether itâs financial hardship, relationship stress, injury/illness or any number of other possibilities.
Symptoms of a slump include being irritable, tired or exhausted, low on confidence, feeling frustrated or angry at our situation, and being negative or indifferent to our future. But make no mistake, the response to adversity is what separates extraordinary achievers from the herd.
While thereâs no magic pill or quick fix, you have MUCH more power over your future than you think. Here are 14 proven tips to help you level out the bad days and put the spring back in your step.
Weâre all fighting our own battles and trying to do the best we can based on our life experiences. Often, we shield our greatest vulnerabilities from those closest to us. Rather than sitting a home alone where you can get caught in your own head, reach out to others. As Janine Shepherd says, recognizing weâre not alone removes the isolation and empowers us to take action.
Get into the habit of daily gratitude. Not only does it allow your mind to reset, it helps you identify the multitude of gifts already in your possession and what you need to do in the present. In the last newsletter, you read about how Nelson Mandela was able to do this while being in a South African prison for 27 years. Unsure of where to start? Grab a copy of The 5 Minute Journal.
Harvard Medical School recently pointed out that âa healthy diet was associated with a significantly lower risk of developing depressive symptoms.â To get the most out of your body, give it the right fuel:
Numerous studies (1, 2, 3, 4, etc.) have proven the benefits that getting outdoors and wandering through nature can have on everything from stress and inflammation, to self-esteem and energy levels ⌠even life expectancy. Find a nearby park or forest, do a yoga session, play a team sport or enjoy some outdoor exercise that enables you to connect with nature, be present in the moment, and recharge.
Itâs easy to be overwhelmed with everything on your plate, especially those with young children. Navy SEAL commander Jocko Willink recommends coming up with a plan of attack: deconstruct your tasks, sort them by priority, ask for help where you can, and take purposeful action until youâre back on track
Helping those less fortunate is one of the most gratifying things we can do: it enables us to share a warm embrace with those weâve been able to help, while also giving us perspective on the good in our own lives. Whether itâs helping children at a local special needs school, feeding the homeless, teaching military veterans to surf, or providing companionship at an aged care facility or hospice, there are countless ways to give back.
If youâre not in the right mindset for volunteer work, focus on less confronting options, such as giving a cheery âhelloâ to someone on your walk, picking up litter on the beach or engaging in friendly banter with a shop assistant.
Better yet, put your phone on airplane mode or switch it off for a few hours each day. Free of distraction, youâre able to focus on the present.
You might recall the quote: âWe donât see things as they are. We see things as we are.â If youâre dealing with some type of conflict, try and see it from the other personâs perspectiveâafter all, everyone has their own truth. This enables you to keep calm and respond, rather than impulsively react where the situation often ends up much worse.
Hang out with those who you have a common future with, not a common past. If someone in your life does not reciprocate with positive energy, allocate more time to those who align with your vision and values. Your energy focus is the most important weapon in your arsenalâprotect it at all costs.
Iâm constantly amazed at how much people allow the news to dictate their mood. Rather than let the sensationalist news cycle wear you down, focus on replacing it with inspiring books/audiobooks (e.g. The Obstacle is the Way), uplifting positive music, and informative podcasts like Win the Day with James Whittaker (also available on YouTube).
Often, bad days can stem from a disconnect between where we are now and where think we should be. Get on the front foot and define what success looks like in all areas of your life (download the FREE Success Plan Template). It should be exhilarating to undertake that exerciseâitâs literally a wishlist for the universe! You can then focus on recalibrating your routine to make sure you prioritize the most important tasks.
An essential part of long term success is to focus on giving the best youâve got on that day. That advice came from Alethea Boon who, in an elite sporting career spanning two decades, has had her fair share of ups and downs. Putting additional pressure on yourself to notch a productivity record each day only increases your chance of burnout, injury or illness.
Those who have read Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy will recall the stories of Janine Shepherd and Jim Stovall who overcome enormous adversity on their remarkable journeys. You are much stronger than you know. Make the decision to embrace the struggle and show the world just how great you are.
Be honest and upfront about how youâre feeling, especially if your bad days have lasted for a while. Courage is asking for help and letting others in, not suffering in silence.
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Wishing you a week of action, adventure and laughter!
Onwards and upwards always,
James Whittaker
PS â Learn more about how you can use adversity as a stepping stone to greatness.