Startup Stafford

Clarity is Playing at a Theatre Near You Have you noticed we live in an age when what you hear and see is not necessarily what is happening? It seems our shorter attention spans and social media have elevated attention-grabbing to the point where it overtakes clarity of message. One of my mentors is Donald Miller, the creator of Storybrand. He says, “if you make somebody burn too many calories to understand you, they will never understand you. They’ll move on to an easier choice.” Another one of my mentors is my son, Austin. He’s a smart young man these days, but I remember when he was five years old and taught me a lesson about clarity - when Disney released a new movie. Like most kids, Austin was excited and wouldn’t stop talking about it. One day I asked, in a very adult way, “Okay, where are we going to see this movie?” He answered, “At a theatre near you!” Yes. His answer was correct for a five-year-old who didn’t need to worry about which theatre had the film. After all, that’s Dad’s job. When your answ

The Journey In Between Have you ever noticed that the most dramatic life changes happen when you are in between life events? In between jobs? In between relationships? In between anything? Sometimes in between is voluntary, like a vacation. Other times it is forced upon you like a job loss. In between presents an opportunity to change how you do things. Modify your daily experience. Even change your life direction. Being in between is almost always a pre-curser to change. That can be scary and exciting at the same time. If you think about your life, in between is where your most important decisions have taken place. There’s no need to fear change. That’s where the fun stuff begins - eventually. Thanks to Jiminy's for sponsoring the Daily Boost. To learn more and save 15% on your first purchase, go to jiminy’s.com/BOOST and the code BOOST15 at checkout. Get more Daily Boost episodes at MotivationToMove.com.

Daily Rules For a Happier You Every day we all jump into the craziness of life without much thought to the basic rules we use to run our day. Here are a few of mine. You can borrow then if you would like: 1) Do what makes your heart sing. You'll always feel better when you are dancing down your path. 2) Believe anything is possible. As soon as you believe - everything IS possible. 3) Be nice to others. Expect them to do the same. No further explanation is required. 4) Believe in people and encourage their dreams. When you do, they'll return the favor. 5) Do the right thing. If you mess up, say you're sorry, try again. 6) Meet people where they are in their life and walk with them to where you both want to go. 7) Do what you say you will do. It's always better to under-promise and over-deliver. 8) Make lemonade out of lemons. Everything is fixable if you have the right mindset. 9) Keep things simple. Yup. 10) Relax. Life is short. Double yup. When you focus on life's big picture, it's easier to enjoy your dail

Year of Second Chances As we get closer to the end of 2020, I’m noticing there are two very different kinds of people in my life: 1) People who are waiting to see what is going to happen next. While they are living in everyday life, they are paused. 2) People who have decided that life is too short to wait for things to happen. They’re starting businesses, buying homes, traveling, and more. Have you taken advantage of the opportunity to reevaluate your path and live your passion in 2020? Are you willing to explore the possibilities of a new direction? While reserving the right to do nothing at all? Do you have desire or fear for things not in your life or anticipated for the future? Are things presently in your life causing you pleasure or distress? That should get the juices flowing. The reset has only begun. If you even want to reinvent yourself, this is the year to make it happen.

Everybody has a lot to do. If you use a To-Do list to keep up - and it's stressing you - it may be time to replace it with a "Did I Do It List."  To-Do Lists transform you into an expert at chasing checkmarks. Chasing anything is stressful - and there is a better way: 1) Never commit to more than you can get done in one day. That takes awareness and honesty. 2) Once you know what you need to get done, add it to your "Did I Do It List" and use it for reference throughout your day. 3) Always double-check that you are accomplishing tasks you determined as vital before taking on additional items. A focused path produces fewer random tasks. Using a "Did I Do It List" will focus you on your goals and create quick results.

Transitional Relationships Socrates had it right when it comes to friendship - “Be slow to fall into friendship, but when thou art in, continue firm and constant.” Having great friends and healthy relationships is an asset. They give you more energy and make life more enjoyable. But not all relations can or should last forever. Transitional relationships come into your life for a reason and a season. They could be a transactional relationship with a Realtor helping you sell your home. A mentor who steps into your life - even be a new romantic relationship after a breakup. Transitional relationships enter your life to help you go from where you are to where you want to go. Once you’re there, they are no longer needed.

Controlling Communication and Staying Focused We live in a world where an open communication line is a significant factor in moving forward. But how do you keep things flowing and stay focused on what is important to you? There is a method used by improvisational actors to keep the conversation flowing. It involves agreement and modifiers such as "Yes" and "And." Answering "Yes" removes any block and keeps the flow going. But since you want to control your focus, adding ”If” and “And" allows you to redirect for your benefit. Here's an example. Them: "Hey? Do you think you can help me with a project?" You: "Yes, I would love to help. IF it's okay, I need to finish what I'm doing, AND I can call you later." All it takes is three words for you to stay focused on the track to your goals.

Creating More Time For Yourself We all have lots to do every day. Wouldn’t it be great if you could manufacture more time?  The trick is how you prioritize tasks and projects already on your plate - and updating how you think: 1) If a task requires thinking, multitasking is a myth. You are switching your focus. That’s time-wasting and tiring. 2) Working on multiple projects that require your brain delays the outcome from every project on your list. 3) When you focus on completing a single project, you begin to get the benefits it produces far earlier - and longer. You will also find more time available for your next project. The next time you need more time to get things done, ask yourself - “What project or task can I complete that will begin producing results the fastest?” Get excited. You are about to build massive momentum!

Release Stress With Grounded Logic Are you feeling a little more stressed than you usual? I have a time-proven and very human way of releasing or at least managing your stress. If you can pause your mind from spinning for a few minutes, try this: 1) Recognize that you are viewing your current situation from an emotional state-of-mind. We all do. However, significant decisions rarely come from emotions. 2) While paused, gather all facts that are driving how you feel. The goal is to understand what is going on in your life logically. 3) Once you separate your emotions from the facts, you will see what is causing your stress. You will also see options for removing it from your life. 4) Now, it’s time to commit to taking action to remove what is causing stress - even if it scares you. Always check your emotions with logical thinking. When you do, a plan will emerge, and stress will disappear. Try it today.

7 Rules to Life-Long Happiness I'm a fan of Stoic Philosophy. While it may be over 2,000 years old, its practicality is still useful. These rules to live by will help you have a happier life: 1. If you're going to learn and succeed, be humble. There is always someone smarter, more successful, and wiser.  2. Find the right scene. Choose your friends and situations. If you want to rise in life, you can't allow yourself to be held down by others. 3. Protect your time. Seneca said, "We're tight-fisted with property and money, yet think too little of wasting time, the one thing about which we should all be the toughest misers." Life is short. 4. Never do anything out of habit. Always think about how you can do things better and always question yourself. 5. Keep it simple — do your job. Approach every task as if it were your last because it very well could be. 6. Adapt and learn from failure. Using your success to justify complacency is common. It's also easy, which is why most people do it. You can do more and be

4-Question To Ask Before Starting Any Goal Do you have dreams of what you want for the future? Have you ever wondered your inner-voice will lead you in the right direction? These four questions will help sort out everything for you: 1) What is it? Do you understand exactly what you want? 2) How does it work? How will you go about reaching your goal? What will likely be the outcome? 3) Can you do it? Is your plan reasonable? Do you have the time, skills, money? 4) Are you sure? If you are willing to put in the effort are you confident you can achieve your goal? Why hold yourself back from turning your dreams into reality? All you need is a little clarity.

Self-Made Success Requires No Permission The year 2020 has proven to be a never-ending challenge for many. It has also confirmed that having control of your mindset and actions are now pivotal traits. I've worked with thousands of people who find themselves against a wall and stuck in neutral. Two things always happened: 1) Through no fault of their own, everything familiar was no longer. They know they need to pivot but are frozen. 2) Not knowing which way to go, they were waiting for permission to get started - even if it was from themselves. The solution is to start thinking like a self-made person. Being self-made means that YOU decide what YOU want, and YOU don't need to wait for anybody's permission. You do it. You have everything inside of you to make 2020 a great year. Accept that change must happen and take action right away.

Busting Through Limiting Beliefs Have you ever had the feeling that something is holding you back? You have limiting beliefs. You were not born with limiting beliefs. Your experiences have installed a belief system within you. It serves as your guide in everything you do. The next time you find yourself unable to move forward, try these steps: 1) Identify the thought or behavior that is blocking you. In today’s busy world, that can be a challenge. Catch yourself in the act, pause, and identify what you are feeling. 2) Test that feeling by asking WHY you feel that way. Is it real, or is it an automatic response? Is it necessary for you? Would you like to keep it or change it? 3) Validate the answer you gave yourself, and commit to experiences that support your goals. You are now changing the path of your life. Having limited beliefs is ordinary and necessary. Can you imagine what your life would be like if you had no limits at all? Wait? You don’t!

Reinventing Yourself Now Change is one of those things that happens over time for most people. Sometimes you have no choice. If the past few months' events have you thinking about tweaking your life - I have a couple of suggestions to get you started. 1) No matter what dreams you hold, be sure to inventory the good, bad, and ugly of your current situation. You can't move forward if you don't know where you are starting. Don't be afraid. Information is power. 2) Next, decide WHAT you want and paint a picture of your life after your journey. Knowing your destination before you begin assures your success. 3) Now that you have laid the foundation, it's time to understand WHY you want it so bad. Doing the previous two steps should have built your desire and excitement. When that happens, it's time to lock in your WHY and get moving. Know where you are, what you will create, and WHY you must achieve your goal. Realistic and grounded thinking makes anything possible.

You Are In Control of Your Happiness What would you say if I told you that being happier is within your control and has nothing to do with your mindset? A study from Dartmouth College found that most people are happy before they turn 18 and after 60 years of age. In between is where you ride the happiness roller coaster. How do you get off? It turns out that being happier comes down to three things: 1) Control. People who have a feeling of control in their lives tend to be happier in general. 2) Education. Whether you earn a college degree or teach yourself, more education means a happier you. 3) Job. You were born to be busy. Having a fulltime or part-time job, even owning your own business will make you a happier person. Your education and your job enhance your view of the world. So if you want to be happy for the rest of your life, fill your mind with lots of education and work at a satisfying job. Your reward will be a feeling of control that will put a smile on your face every day.

Are You a Rock Star or Member of The Band? I have a question for you -  Are you a Rock Star or a member of the band? Either is okay, but it sure helps to know which Role you play while you are moving toward your goals. I remember talking with my Son after graduation. He had set his sights on becoming a Rock Star. Now, as a Dad who had BIG dreams and hard-won experience, I knew I had to give him perspective. So I asked - Are you willing to do what it takes to rise to the top? And if you don’t get what you want, will you be happy settling for life in the background? That’s when he said, “I wouldn’t be happy being a background singer.” He chased his dreams for a few years until he found a new passion that fits him like a glove. He may not be on stage, but he is a huge fish in a massive pond - and happy as a clam. You might call him a Rock Star! You will always get what you want if you are willing to do whatever it takes to reach your dreams. How bad do you want it?