Richie Norton's Blog, page 4

NEW Online Course Announcement! Mastering the Power of Starting Something Stupid

 

 

Guess what?! It’s finally here!

The Mastering the Power of Starting Something Stupid Online Course!!!!

Live workshops are tricky, aren’t they? On top of the fee, you have to figure out your calendar, travel, accommodations, food, etc, etc, etc. It can be an expensive nightmare.

Soooooooo, I’ve created an online course for you! I really, really, really hope you jump on this because I know it can help transform your life, your business and start something stupid.

Here is the overview:

I’m going to help you identify/refine your own “stupid idea” and accelerate your success with some new strategies and tactics that you can implement immediately.

The course is designed to boost your business and your personal life.

I’ve listed below the overarching themes of this 3-week, 6-module course. Within these modules are 34+ individual lessons and worksheets. You will have lifetime access to the course material once you’ve joined as a member (so you can take the course at your own pace). Also included are several bonuses including a MasterMind group, recorded calls, a mini-course on Resumes Are Dead and What to Do About It, a mini-course on how to profit with licensing.

Check, check, check out the details:

(Please note that I list the VALUE of the course and bonuses below in this email AND you’ll need to CLICK on the link below to see the limited DEAL price I’m offering you):

Course Intent: How to turn your stupid idea into your smart reality.

Module 1: STUPID FOUNDATION – You will discover the power of starting something stupid as the “new smart,” identify your own stupid idea and create the foundation you need to begin your new adventure.

Module 2: STUPID PROJECT – You will transform your stupid idea from “just an idea” into an actual “project” so you can begin to turn your big picture dreams into reality.

Module 3: STUPID PSYCHOLOGY – Now that have your stupid idea and a planned project to make it happen, it’s time to master your psychology around achieving your mission. Starting something stupid requires a powerful mental shift.

Module 4: STUPID CIRCLE – Create your inner circle of success by using the power of START: Serve, Thank, Ask, Receive and Trust. Do this and you’ll draw closer to your dreams than you ever could on your own.

Module 5: STUPID LEVERAGE – You will take everything you’ve learned and done to this point and discover how to leverage your resources for the maximum impact of your stupid project.

Module 6: STUPID Q&A – How to live without regret! In this last module I answer the questions from readers around the world who are starting something stupid. The answers will help you and may surprise you. Get ready to get stupid!

BONUS: CALLS – Four recorded calls for my elite mastermind influencer groups taking the 76-Day Challenge: discussing the power of starting something stupid and how to grow and finish something stupid.

BONUS: RESUMES ARE DEAD – Motivational training videos and transcripts to accompany my book, Resumes Are Dead and What to Do About It, to help you do the work that you dream doing.

BONUS: PROFITING WITH LICENSING – How to make money in your sleep with licensing by expert Lisa Lloyd

BONUS: MASTERMIND – MasterMind FB group where you can ask questions and get support from fellow course members (I’m in there too!)

EXTRA EXTRA BONUS FOR BLOG READERS: 1-on-1 Call with Richie!

VALUE

$1,997 – Mastering the Power of Starting Something Stupid Course

$275 – BONUS CALLS

$197 – BONUS RESUMES ARE DEAD MINI-COURSE

$297 – BONUS: PROFITING WITH LICENSING MINI-COURSE

PRICELESS – MasterMind Group

$500 – EXTRA EXTRA BONUS – 1-on-1 call with Richie!

TOTAL VALUE: $3,266

All for the crazy, limited-time price of…

CLICK HERE to discover the crazy discount price, join and get immediate access.

When you click on this link, you’ll also be able to watch the REPLAY of the WEBINAR.

The COURSE CLOSES JUNE 4 at midnight, so please act now if you’d like to transform your life and business.

I’m so excited to work with by your side!

Deep respect,

Richie

P.S. Have questions? Feel free to email me any questions you may have.

P.P.S. Need more info? Check this out: Praise for Richie Norton and The Power of Starting Something Stupid:

“Thank you Richie Norton for inspiring us to authenticity and greatness.” — FORBES

“Richie Norton’s new book The Power of Starting Something Stupid is already getting me in a heap of trouble. As I was reading it, I made notes to Steve (my husband). When I was done I handed it to him and said, “This could change the way we live.” — Brene? Brown, bestselling author of Daring Greatly

“Once in a great while a new author bursts on the scene to light a fire under us. Richie Norton is that rarespark. His certainty that the secret to success is to start something stupid is right on and will alter your future. Thirty publishers thought Chicken Soup was stupid before it sold over 100 million copies. This new book could not have come at a better time and Richie’s urgent and authentic style is readable, convincing and a compelling blueprint for success. Be smart: read The Power of Starting Something Stupid.” — Jack Canfield, New York Times bestselling author of The Success Principles, and cocreator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series

“I absolutely love this book. I love how it makes me feel. It energizes me, inspires me, and gives me confidence. It reminds each of us that all things are possible. . . . This book disrupts conventional thinking—in a smart way.” — Stephen M. R. Covey, New York Times and the #1 Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Speed of Trust and coauthor of the #1 Amazon bestseller Smart Trust

“This warm, wonderful book will inspire and motivate you to do more in your life than you ever dreamed possible.” — Brian Tracy, author of The Power of Self-Confidence

“When I wrote The E-Myth Revisited, I wasn’t an author and I really wasn’t interested in business, but I had discovered something about business that nobody else seemed to see, or understand, and I decided to write a book about it. It came like a gift, a huge aha from out of nowhere, and I ran with it. Today, that ‘stupid’ idea (everybody told me it wouldn’t work!) has created the most successful book on small business ever written because of that one, great stupid idea. I thought I was just lucky. Richie just told me that I’m inreally good company. Find out why stupid is now the New Smart. Read it, you’ll love it, you’ll find out whythinking stupid makes the best sense in the world.” — Michael Gerber, the world’s #1 small-business guru and author of the bestselling The E-Myth Revisited

ABOUT RICHIE NORTON

Richie Norton is the bestselling author of The Power of Starting Something Stupid and Re?sume?s Are Dead and What to Do About It. He is a strategic advisor to businesses, organizations and individuals, an international speaker, and CEO and Founder of Global Consulting Circle.

Richie has been featured in Forbes, Businessweek, Young Entrepreneur, Huffington Post and other national publications both in print and online.

The 2013 San Francisco Book Festival named The Power of Starting Something Stupid the winner of the business category and the grand prize winner of all book categories in its annual competition. In 2010,Pacific Business News recognized Richie as one of the Top Forty Under 40 “best and brightest young businessmen” in Hawaii.

Richie received his MBA from the world’s #1 ranked international business school, Thunderbird School of Global Management. Richie is happily married to Natalie and has four boys.

You Join Yet? Live Online Training (Webinar) with Richie Norton!

 

Your life should consist of more than commuting, working, eating, surfing the Internet, sleeping and watching TV. Your life should be filled with purpose-driven experiences and projects that bring excitement, passion, energy, and authentic meaning and joy into your life.

Soooooooo, I’ve created a live online training for you FREE! I really, really, really hope you jump on because I know it can help transform your life, your business and start something stupid.

The training will be presented as a fun LIVE webinar on Thursday, May 28 at 6pm PST (9pm EST) and it’s called…

“How to Stop Waiting and Start Living:
6 Steps to Turn Your Stupid Idea into Your Smart Reality NOW!”

>>Wanna live a life without regret?
This is the webinar for you.

>>Want to finally start (or discover) that idea that’s been burning inside of you?
This is the webinar for you.

>>Want to make more money, start a side project, strategically leave your job, make an impact, leave a legacy, find a healthy “balance” between family/work life? This is the webinar for you.

>>Don’t think you have enough time, education, experience or money (what I call the TEM Gap) to start your “stupid” idea?
This is the webinar for you.

Plus! There’s a special exclusive bonus for those of you that stay till the end of the webinar. This is my first live webinar so I want to make it extra awesome just for you!

Can’t wait to share!

>>>Register now by clicking right here.<<<

See you soon!

Deep respect,

Richie

P.S. As you actively strive to live an authentic life, you will consistently be doing things that other people think are “stupid.” And that’s okay. If you’re truly committed to the kind of success and fulfillment that only authenticity can bring, sometimes you’re going to have to do things that other people won’t immediately understand.

Remember, life is big, and there’s no way under, over, or around it. You can only go through. You simply can’t expect to be someone else through that process and still hope to live a truly meaningful life. If you want to be fulfilled, and live without regret, you have to be true to you—no matter the decisions or opinions of others.

In life and business, it’s important that you:

Find the courage to do important things you don’t feel you’re ready to do.
Set standards, keep them, and get respect.
Trust yourself.

Please join me on this webinar by clicking here.

I hope you’ll act with urgency on those ideas that just won’t go away. Those ideas are planted in your head and heart for a reason and will help you reach higher. As you consciously break free from the self-imposed limitations in your life, you will find it incrementally easier to make the kinds of decisions that lead toward your highest personal potential and ability to influence others for good.

 

How to Succeed (or Fail) at Anything: Wishers, Worriers & Warriors

People who want success fall into three categories:

Wishers
Worriers
Warriors

Wishers want things to be different and wait patiently for that successful change to come. They believe in magic fairies.

Worriers fear the worst and imagine all the terrible things that are going to happen if things don’t change. They believe in monsters.

Warriors take action on their wishes, slay the dragons of their worries and fight for their lives. They believe in work.

Which one are you?

If you want to transform your life or business, be a warrior.

Money VS Meaning Matrix: Where Do You Fit In?

This is the Money VS Meaning Matrix I created to help myself make decisions regarding which projects that I take on. I’ve also found this matrix to be incredibly helpful when I’m working with consulting clients—particularly those who are working with me in my Platinum Mastermind Group.

The Money VS Meaning Matrix—in a nutshell:

Quadrant 1: This is where you make a lot of money, but the work is not really meaningful to you. You’re happy you’re prospering, sure, but you find you burn out easily (and/or get bored), and you wish you were getting more deep satisfaction out of your work/life. From the outside looking in, it would appear that you’ve got it all, but on the inside, there is definitely something missing. You long to use your talents and passions to make a meaningful contribution in your industry (or another one all together), but unfortunately, you’re just too busy making money.

Quadrant: 2: In quadrant 2, you’re making money while simultaneously experiencing real satisfaction from the meaningful work in which you’re engaged. You’re happy to be living a comfortable and sustainable lifestyle, you’re fulfilled by your work, AND you’re deeply satisfied by the contribution you’re making in your industry/the world. Quadrant 2, my friends, is the sweet spot.

Quadrant 3: This is where you seem to constantly be struggling to make ends meet. The income just doesn’t ever seem to be enough for you to experience real, sustainable financial security—let alone ever get ahead. Furthermore, the work you’re doing seems meaningless. You may feel trapped, and you definitely find yourself wishing that things were very different. At times, you may even feel hopeless. You find yourself desperately waiting for a) circumstances to magically change or b) for an opportunity to come along for you to do something different.

Quadrant 4: This is where the work you’re doing is fulfilling and making a meaningful difference. You love what you do. The work fuels and excites you. But as it stands, the work is simply not making enough money to be sustainable.  You may find yourself resenting money, overwhelmed and/or discouraged by the need to bring in consistent cash flow, when all you really want to do is make a difference in the world. You would give anything to be able to stop worrying about when/where/or how the next paycheck will arrive and wether or not it will be enough to keep things afloat. Meaningful work is great, but if you’re in Quadrant 4 and it’s not profitable, you likely feel a considerable amount of inner conflict or “mission drift,” because no matter how meaningful the work you’re doing actually is, you still have to be able to pay the bills.

So, where do you fit in?

Plot your current situation, then ask yourself these questions:

1. Why am I here?

2. How can I move from where I am to where I want to be?

3. Am I willing to make the sacrifice to get there (or stay there)?

4. What one thing can I do today to move myself closer to Quadrant 2?

How I can help you get there

I’m looking for 25 people who want to be making 6 to 7 figures this year…and who want to turn their expertise into an offering that creates a steady stream of the perfect high-paying clients in 60 days or less. I’m looking for people who want to be in Quadrant 2 (the sweet spot) or who are already in Quadrant 2 and would like to scale and streamline their business

If you’re a coach, photographer, entrepreneur, lawyer, therapist, designer, creative, author, speaker, trainer or anyone with a product or service to sell, etc — someone with expertise in your craft — this offer is meant for you.

Here’s the deal: I’m offering FREE one-on-one, 45-min, strategy sessions to 25 people who fit the criteria.

This offer is for action-takers, goal-setters and go getters–who are excited for and committed to, getting real results in 2015. This offer is not for people who are interested in twiddling their thumbs and waiting for life to wend its way by. If you are ready to generate real success in business and life this year, I’d love to hear from you!

Are you up to the challenge? Together, we will change your business for good at light speed.

This opportunity is for you IF:

You’re an expert, author, speaker, coach, trainer, photographer, entrepreneur, agent, lawyer, creative, therapist or have a product or service to sell and make meaning.
You’re willing and committed to implement the strategies you’ll learn.
You’re serious and committed to making $100k or more before the end of 2015.

>>>APPLY FOR A FREE STRATEGY CALL BY CLICKING RIGHT HERE<<<

Keep making waves!

Aloha,

Richie

P.S. You can do this.

P.P.S. Here’s that link again. Go here: http://bit.ly/strategizewithrichie

 

Startupland: How to Ask Your Friends for Money—And Stay Friends – The Story of Zendesk

Such a privilege to receive a review copy of Startupland: How Three Guys Risked Everything to Turn an Idea into a Global Business. This book takes you on an incredible journey about what it takes to create a startup and succeed. In fact, this is “the real story of what it takes to risk it all and go for broke,” the story of Zendesk by Mikkel Svane.

Startupland is that rare book every entrepreneur wishes they’d read years ago. Mikkel Svane tells a story that will grab you by the hand and give you an honest look at what it takes to launch a successful business. Read Startupland to be inspired, entertained and to help you discover practical ways to turn your idea into a global business.

Below is an excerpt from the book about raising money from friends and family and how you can ask your friends for money–and stay friends!

Hat in Hand

So, without any other options, we did something I never originally wanted to do, but what so many founders find themselves doing. We went to friends and family and asked them to invest. I now realize it was a last desperate action. Truthfully, I didn’t realize how desperate it was at the time. But think about what a terrible thing this is to do! There was a greater chance we would fail than succeed. And here I was asking my friends for money that could be lost, that would likely turn into nothing, that almost assuredly (statistically at least) would be wasted. Why was I risking this? What would become of these relationships if things deteriorated? I wasn’t taking the long view. But I didn’t try to sell anyone either.

“You are going to lose this money,” I said to these potential funders. “Think about it like a lottery ticket. There’s a much better chance that you’ll get nothing out of it.” Still, we made this friends-and-family fundraising round a formal process, working with a lawyer to draft the documents and creating a presentation in which we pitched the idea. I invited potential investors in to meet with us. In these discussions I made it clear that they would have no control or influence over how we ran the business. (They had no experience with what we were doing, so giving them any power could only bite us in the ass.) They would be completely blind as to what was going on.

And yet, despite all of this, these people, family, friends—maybe fools—wanted to invest anyway. I was surprised by the level of interest but also so heartened. They wanted to invest because they believed in us. They believed in the crazy idea that we could make something out of nothing.

It’s also just as true that we were really lucky with the timing. The climate for individual investors was perfect. We were still months away from the credit crunch in 2008. Real estate in Denmark was crazy hot. People had equity in their houses, and they had disposable money. They saw this as another opportunity.

My old friend Michael Hansen, the big-hearted, bigmouthed so-called king of Denmark, invested a bit. My friend Joachim, a television producer, invested and told his boss, who also invested. In fact, his boss wanted to invest more than our round allowed. Word spread, and it was fun to see so much interest. Most people put in around $10,000 to $15,000; the biggest investment was around $30,000. We even turned away some people. Some of our family members really had no idea what we were talking about; they just wanted to help and be supportive. We couldn’t accept that kind of money. And we had what we needed.

How to Ask Your Friends for Money—And Stay Friends

The first rule of asking your friends for money is never to ask your friends for money. The second rule of asking your friends for money is never to ask your friends for money. OK, got it: You should never ask friends for money. That is, unless they have way too much money. In that case, knock yourself out.

If you really are so desperate that you need to raise money from friends and family, make it clear that they will never get it back.

Set expectations low. Make it like a lottery ticket.
Don’t use the Zendesk case as an example. We’re the exception. Make it into a Scratchcard lotto game—something that is fun, but most likely just a waste of money.
Don’t give any influence in return. People are unsophisticated in this area. They don’t know how to run a business, invest aggressively, or take risks. They may not realize that a big portion of the investment basically goes to your own salaries. Don’t provide insight into the business. If you succeed, the last thing you want on your cap table (or roster of major shareholders) is a bunch of unsophisticated investors with influence.
Prepare yourself mentally for disappointing a lot of people. Even if you have succeeded in setting expectations low, you will still disappoint people. Even though they believe they can afford to lose the money when they invest, their financial situation may be very different twelve or twenty-four months out. And you may ruin a lot of relationships.
Prepare yourself for that—and don’t do it if you cannot live with that.

Excerpted with permission of the publisher, Wiley, from Startupland: How Three Guys Risked Everything to Turn an Idea into a Global Business by Mikkel Svane with Carlye Adler. Copyright (c) 2015 by Zendesk, Inc. All rights reserved. This book is available at all bookstores and online booksellers.

More info at www.startupland.com.

 

 

LIVE Workshop Announcement + Free T.I.M.E. Mantra Poster!

Scroll down to get details on my first ever LIVE workshop! 

But first, I have a Christmas present for you! Grab this awesome poster that I call the “TIME Mantra” now!

T.I.M.E. – Today Is My Everything

T.I.M.E. is my mantra—Today Is My Everything. The moment currently I’m in is the only one I’m guaranteed. I’ll spend it with intention and care. . . because I can. Yes, I can. I can do this. And I must. This is my time. The world needs my unique talent and contribution. No one else can do what I do, the way I do. I’ll intensify my efforts. Double them. Triple them. I’ll act with urgency. I have ONE life to live, and this is it. No more tomorrows. Today is the day. What matters to me, matters to the world. I will tap into what matters to me, on the deepest level of who I am, and I will act from that authentic core. My life has meaning. This is my chance to create purpose-driven experiences, to bring excitement, passion, energy and joy into my own life . . . and into the world at large. I won’t just take time, I’ll Make time. I’ll SHAKE time. I’ll revolutionize the way I embrace time in my day-to-day life. I’ll crush fear. I’ll dream. I’ll do. I’ll live from a space of intention and purpose. I am uniquely talented. There’s not another soul like me, anywhere—past, present or future. I’ll Serve,Thank, Ask, Receive and Trust. In short, I’ll Live to START, and I’ll START to live. I’ll start something stupid. I will create, ideate, innovate, initiate and inspire. Today. I will get as close to my dreams as possible, as soon as possible, and I will achieve the impossible. This is not a dress rehearsal. This is my LIFE. And I will live it—wide awake. The world needs me. The work needs me. I need me. I’ll show myself, be myself, believe in myself and BELIEVE MYSELF. This is my TIME.

>>CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR FREE TIME MANTRA POSTER>>

Special thanks to Scott Trobaugh for the beautiful poster design!

Register for Richie Norton’s First Ever LIVE Workshop!!!

I’m coming to a city near you!!!

I’ve created the STUPID SUCCESS ACADEMY to help you earn more and increase freedom in business and life. I’ve surveyed a TON of people about my first ever LIVE workshop and I know exactly what you want and need. I’ve listened. You want me in California, Arizona and Utah. So instead of making (many of you) come to me, I’m coming to you!!!

My workshop is called “Time Is the New Money: How to Cash In” and it’s revolutionary! Be there.

The first 10 people to sign up get 50% off PLUS an extra free ticket!!! What!? What!?

CLICK HERE FOR UTAH DETAILS

CLICK HERE FOR ARIZONA DETAILS

CLICK HERE FOR CALIFORNIA DETAILS

I’m going crazy. I’m offering an early bird 50% discount plus FREE extra ticket to the first 10 people that sign up for my “Time is the New Money: How to Cash In” LIVE workshop  — my course on helping you expand your income, increase your available time for family, friends, freedom and lifestyle and get a step-by-step plan to grow your business this year with special bonuses. Special early bird offer closes soon.

Why?

Think about the last time you met someone who you truly trusted. Someone you could share anything with and they’d listen, with no judgement, and help you go from where you are to where you want to be. I want to be that for you like I am for my clients.

I want to show you the possibilities, help you overcome the challenges, avoid traps, give you the world’s best modern strategies, tactics and insights that you can implement now.

The benefits you’ll gain are critical and urgent to creating success. If you want to start a business, you can. If you want to grow your business, you can. If you want to stay at your job and move up the ladder, you can. If you want to stay at your job and start something on the side, you can! It’s your life!

YOU decide what you’re going to do with it.

That means you’re responsible for doing what it takes to go from where you are to where you want to me.

Dreaming is cool, but living the dream is where it’s at!

There will never be the perfect time to start, will there? You have to begin where you are. Successful people make things happen, regardless of circumstance.

As Thoreau said, “Begin where you are and such as you are, without aiming mainly to become of more worth, and with kindness aforethought, go about doing good.”

Remember, the first 10 people to join “Time Is the New Money: How to Cash In” 2-day workshop will receive these exclusive bonuses:

1. 50% off

2. 1 Free extra ticket with your purchase

This special offer for you is VERY LIMITED!

Join “Time Is the New Money: How to Cash In”:

CLICK HERE FOR UTAH DETAILS

CLICK HERE FOR ARIZONA DETAILS

CLICK HERE FOR CALIFORNIA DETAILS

To success,

Richie

P.S. If you’ve ever wanted to increase your income and design your ideal lifestyle, I can show you how to leverage your existing resources – even if you don’t have the perfect idea yet. I’ve helped thousands of people, and if you’ve ever wanted to transform your business and life, NOW is your chance. Where will you be six months from now? I want you to be able to look back and be proud you took this essential step to creating the business and lifestyle you want. Join “Time Is the New Money: How to Cash In.” 

3 Nasty Habits that Undermine Your Ability to Achieve Goals: How to Change

What has your goal-setting path been so far?

Pick an option (in your head):

1. Set goals and achieve them (mostly)

2. Set goals and quit them (mostly)

3. Set goals, strive, and don’t achieve them (mostly)

4. Don’t set goals (mostly)

This isn’t a right or wrong questionnaire. It’s just a fact about your past. Understanding where you are now is important to understanding how to fill in the gap to where you want to be.

Life’s not fair.

I’ve consulted, advised, coached (whatever you want to call it) THOUSANDS of people and organizations. I have access to top achievers in their industry and I’ve seen what it takes to win. I’ve also comforted and consoled people who just can’t seem to get a break. Life’s not always fair. No one said it would be.

HOWEVER, there are certain things that most definitely set people back. I’m going to point out 3 nasty habits that undermine your ability to achieve goals and make a suggestion for each on how to change. Change isn’t an easy process, but it’s also not some mystical, magical thing. Change can be as simple and fast as turning on (or off) a light switch.

3 Nasty Habits that Undermine Your Ability to Achieve Goals: How to Change
1. Believing success is found, not created.

There are a few outliers who are lucky enough to “find” success. For the most part, though, success is created. It’s engineered. It’s dialed in. It’s worked for through rain, sleet, snow, blood, sweat, tears and smarts.

Change: If you believe you’re going to be “found,” think again. Instead, “find” yourself. Pick yourself. Do the work as if you’ve already been discovered. In reality, people who are “found” by an agent (or whomever you think will make magic happen for you) have already found their voice and developed it so they could be in a position to be chosen. That said, stop worrying about being chosen, choose yourself and CREATE success.

2. Trying to do it on your own.

Not smart. No one successful achieves their goals “on their own.” You need an accountability partner. You need a coach. You need someone who has walked the path before. A guide. A leader. A mentor.

Change: Find someone.  Ask someone. If you can, PAY someone to help you, teach you, lead you to success. Attend workshops, seminars, online courses, masterminds. Get with people who have achieved the success you desire and learn from them. Further, add value to the lives and businesses of the people that reveal their success secrets. Don’t let it be a one-way street. Success breeds success. Get on the success train!

3. Giving up too early.

Ah. The most common nasty habit for non-achievers. Giving up. Now, I’ve written about strategic quitting (a smart thing to do). But, what I’m referring to here is quitting because it’s hard. Quitting because you can’t see how the beginning will get you to the end. Quitting because you don’t want to endure.

Change: You need a game plan. If you know you may quit in the middle, give yourself your own fork-in-the-road-scenario. Tell yourself what you’ll do when you get there. Instead of quitting and turning around, make a left turn or right turn. These turns aren’t quitting. They aren’t turning around. They are just a different trail that will still get you to the same place at the top of the mountain. Figure out something, anything, you can do to stay on the trail instead of turning around. The scenic route may take you longer, but you’ll still get there and be glad you didn’t go back.

What’s next?

I’ve been asked (badgered, really) to finally do a LIVE workshop. I’m not making an announcement yet, but I’d love to hear your voice on what I should reveal in the workshop.

Please take a few seconds to answer a few very short questions in this survey here. I’d really appreciate it.

Thanks in advance! It means the world.

21 Insane Quotes for Entrepreneurs to Stay Inspired

Read them. Love them. LIVE them.

 

Picture of my wife Natalie in Nusa Lembongan (a tiny island off of Bali, Indo).

Here they are:

21  INSANE QUOTES FOR ENTREPRENEURS TO STAY INSPIRED

Print them. Post them. Share them. Most of all, make something happen because of them!

1. “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” – Amelia Earhart

 

2. “It is never too late to be what you might have been.” – George Eliot

 

3. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”
- Steve Jobs

 

4. “Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.”
- Farrah Gray

 

5. “The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”
- Ayn Rand

 

6. “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.”
- Teddy Roosevelt

 

7. “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” – Anais Nin

 

8. “The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

 

9. “My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long University education that I never had — everyday I’m learning something new.” – Richard Branson

 

10. “Logic will get you from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere.” – Albert Einstein

 

11. “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” – Vince Lombardi

 

 12. “Success is not what you have, but who you are.” – Bo Bennet

 

13. “To be creative, an idea must also be appropriate—useful and actionable.” – Teresa Amabile 

 

14. “Food has a direct impact on our cognitive performance, which is why a poor decision at lunch can derail an entire afternoon.” – Ron Friedman

 

15. “To win without risk is to triumph without glory.” – Corneille

 

16. “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” – Napoleon Hill

 

17. “When you cease to dream you cease to live.” – Malcolm Forbes

 

18. “Choose a job that you like, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius

 

19. “A leader is one who knows the way, goes the way, and shows the way.” – John C. Maxwell

 

 20. “Chase the vision, not the money, the money will end up following you.” – Tony Hsieh

21. “If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
- Martin Luther King, Jr.

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 12 YEARS, 12 LESSONS

 

I love this picture of me and my girl, Natalie, on the day we got married. This picture has a little “sepia tone lovin” to it. (Thanks for the lyrics Jack — that’s one of our favorite songs. Quick side story: back in Hawaii, our kids were in swimming lessons with Jack Johnson’s son. It was a “mommy/daddy-and-me” type class, so every day, we were in the pool with Jack and his son. We had NO idea who he was until someone mentioned it to us a few weeks into lessons. It was cool getting to know him outside of his “celebrity status.” He’s just as laid back and down to earth as you’d imagine.)

Sorry the quality of the picture isn’t better. It’s a picture of a picture from my cell phone. Hopefully Nat has a better copy somewhere. But, either way, it doesn’t really matter, because while pictures may fade, our love is stronger than ever. Ha! (So sappy, I know, but I’m completely serious. I love her now more than ever before.)

Well, well, well. . . these posts about lessons learned from our marriage have become my most shared/popular posts. What does that mean??? This is, after all, not a blog about love and marriage, but who cares. Right? I’ve loved adding to this series over the years, so I’m really glad you have loved reading it as well.

New here? Get caught up on past installments in the “How To Be Happily Married” series below:

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 10 YEARS, 10 LESSONS

HOW TO BE HAPPILY MARRIED: 11 YEARS, 11 LESSONS

Note: This is more of a post for me and Nat. I’m not being “preachy.” I’m not a marriage counselor. I don’t have a degree in family therapy. I’m just a married dude, and this post is a reflection of my experience. . . well, as a married dude. Of course, we have our own set of problems. EVERY couple does, and I would certainly never try to hide that fact. Life is freakin’ insane.  But this isn’t a post about what hasn’t worked for Nat and I, it’s a post about what has. And I sincerely hope that what I share here can help you reflect on your own life and work toward creating a strong, happy marriage as well!

A LITTLE ANNIVERSARY GIFT FROM ME TO YOU

I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments on a happy marriage below. As a little 12th anniversary gift, I’ll send a copy of The Power of Starting Something Stupid to three people (chosen at random) who comment below. If you already have a book, you can give it away and make someone happy. In any case, we’re all in this life-business together, and we need to lean on one another for support. So please, share your thoughts, struggles and successes in the comments below. Everyone in this online community I host here will benefit from your thoughts. Your insights may just be the thing that helps save or strengthen someone else’s marriage. We never really know how far our influence goes.

12 TIPS TO A HAPPY MARRIAGE
#12. Shut up and listen (guys).

Listening IS the answer. Let me repeat that in case you weren’t listening. Listening IS the answer. Don’t jump in and try to save the day in the middle of a crucial conversation. Nine times out of an even ten, she just needs to share the story. Don’t worry about why that is. It’s just the way it is. When you try to “solve her problem,” you may just make things worse. You may just make her feel as though her problem is simple and if she would only _______ everything would be fine. She doesn’t need that. She is coming to you for comfort and validation. She is coming to you to  be reminded that she’s not in “it” alone.

Again—first, listen. Then, make sure she understands that you understand. Then, if necessary, offer some new ideas— but only if she wants them.  Remember, when you listen intently, and make her feel understood, you’ve usually already given her exactly what she needs.

#11. Praise each other (everyday).

Just today, Nat told me how much she appreciated a couple little things I did around the house. When I did those little things, I didn’t even think anything of it. However, because she pointed it out, not only did it validate what I was doing, it encouraged me to want to do more. Praise doesn’t have to come in the form of big gifts. And praise shouldn’t be withheld until a “special time.” Every time is a special time. Give praise openly and often–even with the little things–and watch the magic happen. Praise-giving creates a virtuous, upward spiral of good feelings towards one another and encourages additional kindness and additional acts of love.

#10. Respect each other (always).

Could respect be more important than love? Could respect be the ultimate form of love? “Love” is so arbitrary. People fall into love and they fall out of love. But respect? Respect is different. Respect is ongoing. Don’t worry about respect being “earned.” If you chose to marry him or her, that respect has ALREADY been earned. Respect THAT. All the bickering, back-biting and snarky attitudes would disappear if we remembered to respect one another. If you’re having some issues, ask yourself if you’re doing your part to respect your spouse. Of course, it goes both ways. However, a good rule of thumb is to respect first and you’ll naturally be respected in return.

#9. Get together and away from it all (often).

Remember what it was like dating? You could get away from everything else and just be together. I understand that with work, a mortgage, kids, school, debt, etc, that things are different now. But don’t let all those “responsibilities” get in the way of your most important responsibility—your spouse. Break away from the grind (together) at least once a week.

#8. Have some freaking fun (fo realz).

What in the world? Why do couples get so BOOOOORING? Way to suck the life out of life, people! What does fun look like for Nat and me? Blasting the radio to a fun song in the car. Impromptu dance parties in the grocery store. Jumping on the trampoline with the kids. Playing the guitar and screaming loud enough to wake up the babies next door. Messing with the karaoke app on our phones. Weekend get aways. Having lunch together. “Candy Friday” —we have a family tradition to buy a bunch of candy and popcorn and have movie night with the family on Fridays (then we limit or eliminate sugar and junk food intake the rest of the week). It’s the little things, guys. Big things are cool too. But if there’s not a little spark in your day-to-day, a little spring in your step, you’re missing out on some good times.

#7. Fill your phone with pictures of your spouse.

Soooooo, this one sounds a little weird. But it’s awesome. Nat and I have a collection of selfies we’ve taken together all over the world. Imagine how fun it would be to see selfies of your parents or grandparents together at different times of their lives? It’s cool. We also always take a picture together at the airport before one of us travels. We’ll post them to instagram or we’ll just text them to each other. Your phone should be filled with pictures of your spouse. It’s good to have a constant reminder that you carry around with you of what (or who) comes first in your life. There’s a cool app called ChatBooks  (disclosure: my sister works there and this is NOT an affiliate link) where you can put pictures together and turn them into a book. You can print 60 pictures in a book for on only $6 (you can also print your instagram feed). How cool would it be to have a little book of your own with pictures of each other together? Very cool.

#6. When the going gets tough, remember Tuckman’s stages of group development.

Never heard of it? Here you go. This is a model for understanding the development stages of a team (especially through times of change). This model has pulled us through many challenging times. Marriage is a team sport. Teams go through transitions. Here’s the stages of a team’s development that I want you to consider when you’re going through a “storm.” Here’s my own summary with quotes from Wikipedia. I’m going to put in the word “marriage” every time it says “team” to make it more relevant:

First you FORM. “In the first stage of [marriage] building, the forming of the [marriage] takes place. The individual’s behavior is driven by a desire to be accepted by the others, and avoid controversy or conflict.”

Then you STORM. “The storming stage is necessary to the growth of the [marriage]. It can be contentious, unpleasant and even painful to members of the [marriage] who are averse to conflict. Tolerance of each [marriage] member and their differences should be emphasized. Without tolerance and patience the [marriage] will fail.”

Then you NORM. “The [marriage] manages to have one goal and come to a mutual plan for the [marriage] at this stage. Some may have to give up their own ideas and agree with others to make the [marriage] function. In this stage, all [marriage] members take the responsibility and have the ambition to work for the success of the [marriage's] goals.”

Then you PERFORM. “It is possible for some [marriages] to reach the performing stage. These high-performing [marriages] can function as a unit as they find ways to get the job done smoothly and effectively without inappropriate conflict or the need for external supervision.”

What does all this mean to a marriage? To me, in our family, if we are going through a “storm,” I first recognize that it is a storm and just a storm. That the storm is a natural part of the process to eventually “norming” and then “performing.” With that optimistic perspective in place, I don’t let myself dive into a sink hole of despair when a storm begins to rage. I don’t immediately assume it’s the end of the world. I remember that it’s normal, and it’s just part of the process of marriage and family life. A storm will happen whenever change (aka: something new) comes into our lives.

I know this is long and somewhat involved, but if you’re going to remember anything from this tip, remember this: the storm will pass! Search for a common goal, work together towards that goal,  and you and your spouse will come out better and stronger because of it.

#5. Read together.

Movies are an obvious choice when you want to spend time together. It’s easy. But have you ever tried reading together? It’s different. I generally read too fast. Nat can’t understand anything I’m saying. So, Natalie will read (non-fiction, fiction, or scripture) aloud, and I’ll listen. It’s like going back in time. Though, when I say that to Natalie, she rolls her eyes at me. But really, it’s like time traveling to one of those strange British movies where everyone sits around reading poetry to each other all day. Why would anyone want to do that? Especially in today’s day and age when we have TV, Internet and iPhones (for crying out loud)? I don’t know, honestly. But the bottom line is that it brings us closer together. Period. We stop and chat about what we’re reading. We get insights about life. We apply what we learn to our own lives. It’s interesting. I’m not gonna lie to you and say it’s the most fun thing in the world (I’m working on getting more excited about it, because Natalie LOVES it so much), but there is no doubt that it does bring us closer together as a couple. Give it a try.

#4. Take three deep breaths.

It’s so simple, yet so effective. In good times and bad, through thick and thin, remember to breathe. Seriously. Take at least three DEEP breaths whenever you start to feel anxious about something (anything). I don’t know what it is about breathing, but getting fresh oxygen to the brain is like magic. It clears emotions away and allows you to think more clearly, and it also gives you time to step back and reflect on the situation to ensure you make conscious, proactive, wise decisions moving forward (the alternative to which would be rash, regrettable, reactive decisions—so breathing deep is well advised, wouldn’t you say?). Take three deep, conscious breaths right now, and you’ll see what I mean.

#3. Serve each other.

Not like slave labor. Not with a chip on your shoulder. Not with animosity or a desire to prove one thing or another. Rather, look for ways to meaningfully serve one another. Find out your spouse’s love language (gifts, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service, or physical touch) and serve your spouse according to the love language that means most to him/her.

#2. Admire each other.

Don’t just love each other. Don’t just like each other. Don’t just respect each other. ADMIRE each other. Admiration is like loving and liking and respecting all wrapped together in one. Take a moment to think about (or actually list) the qualities you see in your spouse that make you admire him/her. What is it about your spouse that makes you look up to him/her? If you can both look up to each other, you’re gonna be okay, even when the going gets rougher than rough.

#1. Slow down.

Life’s short. Too short. And even though that saying is cliché, it doesn’t make it any less true. Ask anyone whose spouse has left this earth too soon. Life is precious.  It’s way too easy to get caught up in the busyness of life at the expense of the sweetness of spending down time together. So, slow down. I don’t mean you have to be less ambitious or dial down your goals. Quite the opposite. Set ambitious, aggressive, attainable goals to spend quality time with your spouse! Schedule it. And if that seems impossible, start by being PRESENT when you are together. Put down the phone. Turn off the TV. Put the computer away. Then sit and look each other in the eyes. Ask each other questions. Get to know each other all over again (and again, and again, and again). It’s worth it (every single time).

BONUS

- I’ve created a 37-page action guide to help you get a personal project going. Consider applying the steps I outline to a “marriage project.” You can work on something fun that brings you and your spouse closer together!

- Get your free action guide here.

- Leave your comments below for your chance to win a copy of my book, The Power of Starting Something Stupid.

BREAK YOU TO BUILD YOU

…that’s what Life does.

When everything you’ve built seems like it’s been destroyed, look around and start by picking up the small pieces.

One-by-one.

Because small pieces, when bound, are stronger together.

And you’ll pull through, stronger than before, as you pull things together.

Hold tight, have hope, work hard and remember this truth:

You don’t feel like your best self when you fall apart, but you have to fall apart to become your best self.

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If you’d like to make change in your life or buildout your dream project, download the free 76-Day Challenge, an action guide I created to help you become strong, make things happen and live without regret.