We meet thousands of people in a lifetime, yet can only recall the select few who make an impression.

Most human exchanges are puddle-deep. Great storytellers have an ability to take us deeper, opening a door to something meaningful.

And then there are those with the courage to be vulnerable—telling their OWN story, putting themselves out there, and in doing so, creating a safe place for others to do the same.

We all have a lifetime of experiences: wonderful triumphs, heartbreaking tragedies, and dark secrets—all typically marked “not for public consumption.”

This 12-minute TED Talk is (sadly) a common story, told by a brave and talented storyteller.

Have a look around the room you’re in now… do you know the story of the person sitting next to you?

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I was asked the other day what piece of advice had made the biggest impact on my career. I instantly flashed back to a coffee shop in Sydney, Australia in 2001…

I was a couple of years into running my first business; I was working hard but felt my wheels spinning. I knew I needed help.

I reached out to a person I respected and asked for a meeting. He listened to my story and then asked just two questions.

First: What did I think was the key challenge holding me back?

Second: What I had read over the last year on that subject?

I didn’t expect the second question, and suddenly felt exposed.

I explained that I was “time poor” running my growing small business and juggling everything else I had going on. That there had been no time to sit around and read books.

He laughed and said, “Then get used to your life the way it is!” He continued, “Seriously, I hear from people struggling all the time about how busy they are. Do you think that people running companies 1000 times the size, with larger families and more responsibilities to their communities, have any more time on their hands to learn than you do?”

His words nearly knocked me off my chair.

I’ll never forget his next line: “So let me get this straight. You don’t have a few hours to invest in yourself studying best practice, but you are looking for someone to take time out of their day to share their experience or provide you with a book summary?!”

To my surprise, he did offer his help. But only after I helped myself first.

The meeting ended cordially and I sat in the café for a long time on my own.

In that moment I committed to a lifetime of weekly study. I am 12 years in and have kept that promise to myself.

I would love to hear the best advice you have received in the comment section below,

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Last week, in my post about “breaking out,” I urged you to have NO down time.

This caused a flood of e-mails to my inbox challenging the idea. (The purpose of my blog is to start a conversation… mission accomplished!)

The larger point of “no downtime” wasn’t to clutter your schedule with busywork; it was to highlight the tremendous correlation between personal discipline and personal success.

Great things happen when we do things ON PURPOSE and WITH PURPOSE. We’ve all known someone incredibly talented who is surpassed by someone possessing a little more discipline; these people know that unstructured time doesn’t have to equal “down” time.

Of course we need to create mental space and free time to recharge, to access our creative minds, even within the “no downtime” mindset. Personally, I get the best results when I block time out in my schedule and interrupt my normal pattern. Here are my favorite ways to unlock creative potential:

1. Change my medium. I turn off my computer and use pen & paper to sketch out my ideas.
2. Change my start time. Some of my best work lately has come at a coffee shop, 6 AM, with Pearl Jam blasting into my headphones.
3. Change my scenery. Every summer, I spend a month or so on the road with my family. With my laptop I can work from anywhere, and draw a fresh mindset along with my change in surroundings.

In a world where time-wasting and procrastination have never been easier, we all need to figure out our own formulas for optimizing output. Time is our most precious resource!

What are your strategies for making the most of your time? Share in the comments below!

PS – If you’re interested in joining our team, click here to learn more about us and join our Franchise Webinar on May 30 at 4PM.

“I’m ready to break out; to take my career to the next level!” So many people have come to me and made this statement.

Most are ready to quit their jobs altogether and start new ones.

For many, though, the JOB isn’t their biggest problem— their job PERFORMANCE is.

One of my early employers, Mr. Wilson, gave me some advice I still value: “Do more than you are paid to do, and then you will get paid more for what you do.” I’m still a big believer in ‘lifting from where you stand.’ Do your best work daily, despite the circumstances.

Stop waiting for the PERFECT opportunity to try your hardest and deliver your best work.

IGNORE that voice that says, “Why should I do more, when they don’t pay me what I’m already worth?” It’s a trap so many are stuck in!

INVEST in yourself. You may not own the business, but you do own the experience and outcome. Becoming indispensable pays major dividends.

If NOW is your time, I suggest the following steps:

1. No Down Time. If you’re at work 8-10 hours a day, produce 8-10 hours a day. That would give you a competitive advantage over 90% of the workforce.
2. Go Over And Above. Take on a “side project” that the business needs, figure out how to get it done and deliver results.
3. Fail Forward. Breaking out is not easy, and the key is to KEEP TAKING STEPS DAILY. Business, like life, is about momentum.

Try this mindset for 12 weeks and watch what happens.

I’ll be doing the same on my end!

PS – If you’re interested in joining our team, click here to learn more about us and join our Franchise Webinar on May 30 at 4PM.

I have had the privilege of learning from some of the brightest minds in the business.

Here is an interview I filmed recently with a woman who has made a huge impact on my life: Christina Harbridge.

If you’ve ever been triggered by another person— or found interviews and staff reviews completely awkward— this one is for you!

Onward and Upward!

PS – If you’re interested in joining our team, click here to learn more about us and join our Franchise Webinar on May 30 at 4PM.