Is It About The Money?

Simply put, no. Many of us want to do things in our lives that for reasons we often times choose not to face honestly, we find excuses for not doing. One of the most common of these excuses is the "money excuse". We say things like "If I were rich it would be no problem..." or "I can't afford it" or "That's a waste of money..." The truth is a lot of times we're thinking of doing things that entail living our lives in a way that would make us happy. So what we're really saying when we make the choice not to "afford it" (which is what it is, make no mistake), is that our own happiness isn't worth the money we think it should cost, but I digress. What I'm really asking here is, "Is it really just about the money?" Is that really what's stopping us from doing what we want in these cases? I don't think so.

As an example, let's take Mother Theresa, on her mission in Africa. Everyone would agree that she was not a financially wealthy woman. Things like that were not important to her as she focused her energy and spirit so totally to her cause of making the world better for those people to whom she was so valiantly dedicated. Let’s say she decided that she wanted to be in Disneyland in the next 14 days. Do you think she would have had trouble acquiring the financial resources to make the trip? I’m certain she would have had absolutely no trouble at all, because it’s not about the money. It’s about the intention and the commitment. I think it’s safe to say that no one in our time was more committed than she was. And if that is what she decided she wanted to do, she would have made it happen no matter what. In fact, it's my personal belief that she would have made it happen for herself and as many of the children she worked with to come along as possible. It’s never about the money, unless you allow it to be. Like I said, that's a choice. It's a choice you make...consciously or subconsciously.

Donovan Bradley

Worth

Let’s talk about worth for a minute. Have you ever given the question "How much am I worth?" any deep thought? If not, go ahead and do it today. Ask yourself this question. Look inside and see what answer comes back, if any. If you don't get an answer, or you're less than satisfied with the one that came back, don't fret. I've got something for you to think about. With all of our technological advances, I'm pretty sure they're at the point where they can actually clone people now. I'm no expert on that, but I have a feeling based on what I've see in media the last few years. Besides, this is all hypothetical anyway. Now, how much do you think it would cost to clone one person? With all of the technology, time and expertise involved, How much do you suppose it costs? I’m guessing anywhere from $1 Million dollars or more (perhaps way more) to clone one human being with everything involved in the process. With all the cutting edge technology and expert human resources, it only makes sense that the process (by most people's standards) is almost ridiculously expensive, wouldn't you agree?

OK, let’s bring it home. Let’s say they cloned you. As beautiful and brilliant as this person who looks just like you might be, and as much as it cost…WHATEVER it cost to create the clone of you, it would NOT be YOU. He or she would have different beliefs, tendencies, opinions, values, experiences and nuances than you. That means you are one of a kind, which means you cannot be replaced. That, my friend, means no amount of money is worth your existence on this planet. That means you’re worth whatever you say you are. The only thing left is for you to decide on that number that makes you happy. Once you've got a clear, specific number that you can accept for yourself then if you haven't already, you must decide how you're going to deliver that much value to the world. When the value you deliver equals the number that makes you happy, you will receive that number. Of course, it isn't as simple as it sounds, but like I always say, Win Anyway. Talk to you soon.

Donovan Bradley

Opportunity Knocks…

I was asked by someone very near and dear to me to write about the topic represented in the subject line of this post. Sure, you’ve heard it—it’s been said over and over throughout all of our lives such that the very phrase is now common knowledge. However, I venture to differ from this idea’s many followers just a bit. I think a more valid (and timely) way of seeing this concept is “Opportunity Knows.” And I think it does, really. It knows those who seek it earnestly. It knows those who value it. It finds us who understand that without it, nothing would exist. The entrepreneurs, the salesmen, the challenge seekers, the athletes, the difference makers…all of us who know there’s a better way. It may or may not have been discovered yet, but it’s there. It’s real. Opportunity knows all of you that believe this. It caters to you. It leaves the rest of the world wondering what it is that “[you’ve] got that they don’t.” It’s simple really. You understand that that very concept is the life blood of all humanity and that any and every benefit or advancement we know has come from someone believing in it before it existed outside of only their own mind.

Take our present political circumstance, for instance. There are those who would not have believed that the moment that we could GUARANTEE a drastic change in the White House in the areas gender or race would occur in our foreseeable (much less immediate) future. Two very notable individuals pursued their dreams despite the references that the past provided and have therefore changed history forever because of their actions and beliefs in themselves. Opportunity recognized Mr. Obama’s and Mrs. Clinton’s courage and rewarded US ALL with understanding and wisdom with which to live our own lives by. Only months later we’re now, no matter which way you choose to vote, virtually guaranteed that there will be a woman or a black man in the White House for the first time ever in our two-hundred-and some-odd-number year history. Opportunity knows. Opportunity is a living, breathing energy that responds when attention is paid to it. Remember that. Use it. Live by it…every day.

Donovan Bradley

Win Anyway

I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "You don't know my struggle. You don't know what I go through. You'll NEVER know what I have to deal with on a day to day basis." And you know what? You're right. I don't know. I know nothing of your "deal". And still I say, "Win ANYWAY". No matter how hard it is, win anyway. No matter what life throws at you, keep coming. You can beat ANYTHING, but you can't give up if you want to win. Maybe you need to change your approach, or the tools (the job, the business venture, the self-talk, the stimuli, your thoughts, your friends, relationship style/partner/whatever), but keep bringing your best no matter what.

Think of it this way: You can let life beat you, and then have a story to tell the world. OR, you can WIN ANYWAY and tell THAT story. Which one sounds like more fun to you? Which one sounds like it's better to LISTEN to? Which one would YOU rather hear? Which one do you think will get you more attention and approval? Isn't that some of the stuff we're all after anyway? So go get it, whatever it is you're after...it's really ALREADY yours. Sure, it's at the top of the mountain and you have to CLIMB it, but once you get there, it's ALL yours. Go on, face the challenge--take it head on! Don't let life get too big to live, because it's not going anywhere. You have to live it anyway, it might as well be one you can be proud of, right? Also, many of us wait for someone to believe in us, but remember this: It starts with YOU believing in you. No one will believe in you until you have a certain degree of belief in yourself. With that I leave you to ponder your next move. I'd say good luck, but I don't think you need it. Go get 'em!

Donovan Bradley

Don’t Ask How, Instead Say What

When it comes to having and doing what you want in life, the key is to just go get it. Just act. Too many times we find ourselves worrying about how we could accomplish or achieve or attain this or that. Or worse yet, we tell ourselves why it’s impossible. The truth is, nothing stops us but us. It’s not about HOW you’ll do it. It’s only about WHAT you’ll do. Just start doing it. Start anywhere. Start gathering information on how it’s done. The answers are there. And if they’re not, then maybe it’s never been done, but that doesn’t mean you can't do it.

Success is about being, then doing, then having. It comes from within. Success is more of a direction than a destination. Finding out how to do anything is not nearly as important a step as DECIDING to do it…and then not quitting until your goal is met. This goes for anything in your life that you’d like to accomplish. Whether it’s getting a new job that pays you what you’re worth, or starting a new business, or buying a new home/car/anything. Just start on it. You don’t have to know the whole path to your objective, just the first step. You can always figure out the first step. It’s what you need to do RIGHT NOW. What do you want to do right now? Take a moment to think about it if you need to. Go on, get a pen and paper and write it down. Next, decide with certainty that you will accomplish this task, big or small. Guess what. You’ve already completed the first step in the whole process once you’ve done this.

The next step will come naturally…if you’re honest with yourself…and you STAY FOCUSED on the question “how can it be done?” Next, no matter what the answer is, do what naturally comes next. It may seem at times as if the next step isn’t obvious. That just means you’re getting too far ahead of yourself. Further planning, or some adjustments will be necessary along the way in most cases, but the key is to keep your mind moving in the direction of your goal at all times. Stay focused on your end result, which should be clear. What exactly should it be? Well, that’s for you to decide, as I said earlier. The answer to that is in your vision of your goal. This is where you must call your imagination into service. That’s what daydreams are actually for. Daydreams are the fuel to motivate you to make your life into the one you deserve (and in case you’re wondering, you DESERVE whatever you DESIRE). See it, desire it, get it. Sustained focus and movement toward the goal is the key.

That means that, yes, there must BE a goal. Goals are the framework of success. Once a goal is identified, the plan to achieve the goal is essential. Once the plan is determined, then sustained focus becomes the next piece in the puzzle. An easy way to sustain focus is to learn to take time out to visualize your goal…see it as being complete, but also see yourself as you’re making progress. Do this every day (preferably in the evening before you lie down to sleep or in a period during the day of downtime). These two visions will help to propel you to the destination; that being the COMPLETED goal. The truth is, most times things are simpler than people make them. Just get started. This was a tough one for me especially. I was always waiting for “The Right Time” or “The Right Situation,” essentially knowing that was never going to happen. Just get moving. Once you’re moving in the direction of your goal and hit a roadblock, it’s then that you should start asking “how” to solve the problem. Now you have the momentum of “progress” to help you to see more clearly and to try harder to keep going (because you don’t want to waste all the work you’ve already done). Too many people convince themselves unnecessarily that the timing has to be “exactly right before they can get started on something. “As soon as I finish [whatever it may be],” I’ll be able to make it happen. You can take action NOW, if you just play through those feelings of fear and discomfort that we ALL feel when we attempt something we’ve never done before (or don’t feel we’ve done well enough in the past).

So there it is. You don’t really have any excuses for not at least getting started, do you? It’s time to make a play, and see where it leads. Consider taking action a success in and of itself. That feeling of success will propel you forward if you let it. It’ll be your fuel and if you keep moving forward, at a certain point you’ll look up an be astounded by your own progress.

This being the first of many posts to come, we’re actually taking this journey together. I’ve been wanting to do this work for a long time, but like you, I hesitated. Doubting anyone would take me seriously (despite all of the efforts of friends and family to convince me to pursue this work because I’m so “good at it”), it scared me to think of actually putting my ideas out there to the masses, subjecting them to possible ridicule, scrutiny and rejection. However, as I continued to work with people (friends and strangers alike), and they ALL continued to convince me that I was destined to do this, my courage grew…and here I am, presenting this to you and those like you who are determined to eliminate those things they’ve allowed to hold them back in the past. Good for us. Talk to you soon.

Donovan Bradley