Yin vs YangThe Battle for Success in Life

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on twitter.

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Recently, I have been training Jiu Jitsu only once or twice a week. The reasons are many, but the truth is, it has been time to focus more on my business and family. My son Benjamin was born less than 3 months ago, and my business needed to go to the next level.

The funny thing about trying to get to the next level is that, just like Jiu Jitsu, it is impossible to control. It always seems the more effort you put to get to the next level, the harder you get pushed back. If you have ever felt like this, you know what I am saying. It’s like the more you want something, the harder it is to get it.

Then, recently, an opportunity presented itself for our business that was better than anything we could ever imagine. In fact, it was not just one, it was a multitude of them. Luckily, all that getting pushed back had prepared us to capitalize on these opportunities.

As I have always said, when things are not going like you want, it is easy to lose focus on your goal. There are litany of questions, both from outside sources such as family and friends, as well as right inside our own head. It can be tough to stay on course, especially with no idea how, or if, you are going to get where you want to go. But I promise, if you make it through that, there is a light at the end of the tunnel brighter and warmer then anything you can imagine.

To help you succeed at your goals, I have come up with the Jiu Jitsu method for achieving success in anything you choose.

The Tale of a White Belt and a Black Belt

In Jiu Jitsu, there is no linear course to achieving your goals. I don’t care what rank you are, there is always challenges out there. Even the best in the world go through their ups and downs. There is an old parable in Jiu Jitsu about the difference between a white belt and a black belt. The parable is about a student asking a teacher what is the difference between someone who only achieves a white belt, and someone who goes on to become a black belt. The teachers answer is, the black belt kept coming.

In life, achieving your goals can be tough. It is not like every day gets better then the last. Some days, the world is your oyster, and other days, it is like living in a dark abyss. Sometimes, that dark abyss can last for months, even years.

There have been many times in the past 3 years that I was ready to give up. I’m sure the same goes for my partner. We have spent countless time and effort to try and pursue our passions, only to be knocked down every time we seemed to get up. We would just continue to do our best, learn from our mistakes, and trudge on. Then something funny happened. Great opportunities we were seeking started to present themselves and suddenly, all of that seemingly wasted time and energy became worth every ounce of effort.

The Jiu Jitsu Method

• Step 1: Set a goal.
• Step 2: Get on the mat. This literally means set out in any way at all to try and accomplish your goal.
• Step 3: Fail. Failure is the 1st step to success. Every up and down is an equally valuable part of your journey.
• Step 4: Keep going. Have faith and remain patient no matter how long it takes. Only giving up is considered failure.
• Step 5: Succeed. Enjoy the fruits of your labor, and relive the journey by telling incredulous tales of overcoming adversity.

As a white belt in Jiu Jitsu, you learn quickly that it is a long road to the top, and you have two choices: Either keep going, or give up.

There is no set time table to achieve your goals. In most Jiu Jitsu schools, there is not even a time table to test for your next level. You simply get on the mat as often as you can and battle it out. These tough battles define the type of Jiu Jitsu player you become. At some point, your instructor awards you your next rank because they see your evolution through these battles, even if you do not. The only ‘test’ was to see if the battles, which get tougher as you get closer to your goal, cause you to give up. Everyone has a breaking point, and Jiu Jitsu constantly tests where yours is.

The same goes for achieving our goals in life. The only way to lose is to give up. We have to understand that there is no time table for our success, even though we wish there was. There is no set amount of time to achieve a goal, even if we try to set it. It simply happens when it does. Just like in Jiu Jitsu, it is extremely rare, if ever, that someone achieves great success right away. If you need a reminder of this, simply walk into any reputable Jiu Jitsu school and tell the highest ranking member you will kick his ass. The next 30 seconds should remind you that becoming great takes time & patience.

All we can do, is keep getting on the mat we call life, battling our way through adversity, and wait for the opportunity to present itself. It takes a lot of losing, failing, and effort to get where we want to go. It is during these times that life can seem like an eternity. But one day, when it finally clicks, and we suddenly start to achieve our goals, all of that effort is validated. All of the sweat, tears, and blood becomes a battle scar to be proud of. The dark days become stories we reflect on with great admiration because we survived. We made it through, and the tougher it was, the better it feels.

So the next time those dark times cloud your day like a rainstorm, remember how good it will feel to make it through. Try to visualize telling those stories as battle scars and use that as your umbrella. The Jiu Jitsu method for achieving success is fail proof. It is not possible to fail. It is only possible to give up.

The choice is ours.

Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on twitter.

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I recently was lucky enough to get to meet world renowned Brazilian Jiu Jitsu master, Jeff Glover. For those that don’t know, Jeff Glover is one of the best in the world, having won the No Gi Championship in 2007. Here is a great rundown on Jeff from the ADCC website…

This 145 pound black belt is a product of Ricardo “Franjinha” Miller. Now a days Jeff Glover is a teacher in a huge gym called Paragon Jiu-Jitsu, with four training centers in California. He was recently quoted in Gracie Mag to have “the most respected guard in the United States”. In 2007 Glover won gold in the no-gi World Championship.

Now, I have met and trained with, or taken seminars from, many world renowned Martial Artists. However, Jeff is the youngest I have ever encountered and what struck me was his personality. He is funny, over the top, and down right a joy to be around. Now, in a sport where you need to be tougher and smarter then your opponent, this may seem like a strange trait. However, to me, this is exactly why Jeff is a champion. He is himself at all times, and simply enjoys every minute of his day doing what he loves.

Jeff, himself is quoted on the ADCC website as saying…

I’ve been involved in jiu-jitsu for over ten years now, and my love for the art continues to be the driving force in my life.

That is something we at Yin vs Yang have been preaching forever. With the economy in ragged shape, housing at an all time low, and the majority of the world struggling to stay afloat, Jeff is a constant reminder that if you do what you love, none of that matters. He didn’t set out to make money by becoming a Jiu Jitsu champion. He simply started out wanting to train and get better. He told our school that he would get tapped over and over and over again, continually just trying to find his game. Eventually, his persistence paid off, and he even became known as having one of the best guards around. He mastered the deep half guard game, becoming an expert and revolutionizing its use. He did all this because he loves to.

Sometimes in life, we set goals for ourself that are far away. In Jiu Jitsu, you don’t set out to be a world champion. That is a great accomplishment. Truth is, you set out to train every day. Eventually, the opportunity presents itself because of the hard work you put in. Then, when you enter the tournament, that is when the goal of being a world champion sets in.

To be happy in life, we must set out with one goal: find what we love to do, and do it every day no matter what. In another words, “When the Passion is There, Success is Easy”

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For more incredible videos on Jeff Glover, check out Grappler’s Quest ‘Best of Jeff “The Pipelayer” Glover’ video list.

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on twitter!

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For anyone new here, the goal of this blog is to motivate you in the daily battle for success in life. Sometimes that battle is financial, sometimes personal, sometimes internal, and sometimes out of your control. However, the important part about any battle, is understanding you are in one.

If you are not literally ‘battling’ for success, then chances are, success is not going to find you. Even someone I grew up with, now known worldwide as ‘the situation’, battled through a lot just to make it on to that reality show that made him famous. I’m not going to go into details, but trust me, the kid could not get someone to get a slice of pizza with him 2 weeks after the show stopped filming. Now, everyone I know talks about him and how ‘lucky’ he is.

I’m not a big believer in luck. I kind of think, bad or good, everyone has luck. It’s how you deal with everything else that matters. Battling for success is about understanding first & foremost that it is going to be a battle. A tough one at that. It is going to take everything you have to win this battle. There will be many ups and downs that cloud your confidence. Staying focused is the key.

Understanding how to battle your way to success is going to come from inside you. Only you know about the ‘voices’ or ‘intuition’ you get when you know you should do something, but you don’t want to. That is part of the battle. In fact, as I said before, you should try to look forward to the things you don’t want to do, cause each one brings you closer to your goal.

Reaching that goal is what this site is dedicated to helping you with. So, with that in mind, I have put together a few lessons I have learned about battling toward my goal of success, which is to make a living doing what I love.

Enjoy the Storm

As I write this there is a Winter Storm blaring on par with a level 2 Hurricane out my window. It’s a perfect analogy for the battle to success. Success is like a far destination you have to get to in this kind of weather. At first the road may seem easy to navigate, but as the weather worsens, and the storm picks, up, things will get extremely difficult to manage.

The way you react to these obstacles is what defines your success. Think of it this way. If you are driving in a snowstorm, what’s the best way to drive?

If you step on the gas, rev your engine, and peel out down the snow-covered block, chances are you will not get too far before the sound of metal crunching is heard.

If you put on your emergency lights, and drive 2 miles per hour, stopping every time the car seems to slip the slightest bit, as your two ghost-white sweaty palms grip the steering wheel like life depended on it, chances are you should not even bother getting on the road. Ever notice, car accidents happen a lot to people who seem solely focused only on avoiding them?

The best approach to driving in a snow storm is to take your time, not overreact, and calmly assess each situation on the road as it comes up. You have to come to a calm understanding that, even though things are really bad outside, you can handle it. In fact, you live to handle it.

There’s Only One Way to Get a Black Belt

Once you understand you are in a battle, you will realize you have to take your lumps too. Can’t become a great fighter without getting beat up. It’s just not possible. Same goes for success. You are going to make mistake after mistake. Some people call this failure. I call it learning. In fact, I have yet to meet a success that had not lived through some sort of failure.

There is a saying in Jiu Jitsu that there is only one difference between someone who gets a black belt, and someone who does not. It is not their athleticism, or their physique. It is not their genetics, their technique, or their personality. It is only one simple thing that separates every white belt who ever got on the mat and the people who eventually succeeded in getting black belts. Do you know what that difference is?

The black belts kept coming. That’s it. If any of those white belts would have done the same, eventually, they would have became black belts themselves. Maybe not as fast, or at the same pace, but they would have eventually reached their goal.

The point of the story for you is, what ever your goal, you must get on the mat. If you want to win the lottery, you must first play a ticket. If you want to hit a home run, you must first strike out (or get really lucky). If you want to be successful, you must first….TRY! Then you must try, try, try again, until you get there. No matter how long it takes, you will not give up.

Success is a mindset!

Being successful at anything is all about your mindset, not your finances, or your clothing brand, or your material things. Take all of that away from a successful person, and chances are they will get it right back. That’s because they believe they are successful.

If you can’t picture yourself successful, or you judge every detail of your journey as a make or break moment, then you will not be successful. Successful people are like black belts. They know, whatever challenges they face, they will be successful. They know if they fail a challenge, they will just come right back and try again. However, this time, they will be even stronger from their previous defeat.

It is this mindset that lead successful people to their goals. They are not just lucky, or born more fortunate. They simply have taken the hand life dealt them and rolled with it. If someone’s got a better hand, so be it. If someone’s hand is worse, so be it too. After all, it’s not the cards, but how you play them.

In life, it’s not the battles that matter, it’s simply how you choose to fight them.

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on twitter.

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Building a business can be quite a journey. Everyone knows the road is rough in the beginning, and each day is one fight after another to become, and ultimately stay, successful. I have been busy navigating my own path as of late, and I thought I would share all we have learned.

Like anything else in life, the key to success is all how you battle through the storm.

The Passion Mobb

Pixel Mobb was created as a unity between multi-talented creatives in the media field. Basically, that means a video guy and businessman, partnered with a graphic designer/web guy, and working with two music producers and a cinematographer, combined all their incredible individual talents into one company, kind of like the cartoon Voltron.

It was a novel idea, and I was excited to be a part of it. Everyone involved is ultra talented, friendly, and most important of all, passionate about what they do. We were bucking the system, sacrificing everything to do what we love. In the beginning, the sun was bright, and possibilities for the future were as endless as time itself.

The Clouds Form

When a business starts out, it is an exciting time. Every business lasts this way for a certain amount of time. Some are successful off the bat, but most hit their first patch of gray sky sooner than later.

Everyone has a different viewpoint on a storm. Some will say it’s the worst storm they ever saw, while their neighbor is outside walking a dog with a cigarette. It’s all in the eye of the beholder. In business, it’s exactly the same.

How you handle that first storm, an each one after that, is what defines you as a business. Whether an internet, service, or a product based business, you will be tested at every turn keep your cool, and stay on your path.

The Settlers

It can be easy to settle for less when you first start out. Money is money, and clients are clients. Every business has to sacrifice in the beginning. However, sacrificing does not mean settling.

Settlers will adjust their plan to every storm, trying to avoid each one. They will let their competition & clients define who they are. They will continue to settle for mediocre results in the chase for money.

It can be easy sometimes for a Settler to tell them self they are trying, when all they are doing is trying to float by like a high school delinquent, hoping no one notices. Shit, if they are earning a buck or two, who is to complain, right?

Wrong. I used to be a settler because I didn’t know any better. In fact, I think I always was a settler until I got into my business, and learned that settling now means never being ‘settled’ later on.

The Rain Begins to Fall

All businesses take time to find their place. It’s like getting on the mat in Jiu Jitsu for the first time. Sure, you know how to fight for your life, and maybe even have some wrestling training or other strategic advantage. Truth be told though, your first time on the mat is going to be rough. It is a new world, no matter how familiar it may seem at first. Eventually, after much effort, you will realize, ‘damn, i have a long way to go.’

Businesses are quite similar. You may know the terrain, what you have to do, and how to do it, but there will always be obstacles in the way, the biggest of which is usually MONEY.

When things get rough for a business, Money is always at the heart of the argument. The bottom line, is even when it rains, a business needs to pay the principals involved. If it doesn’t, then what is the point? Well, for a business to grow, and make it through the initial storm, the key is to concentrate on Profit margin, not money.

Is that a Hurricane?

When money is tight, things can seem rough. I had the same issue, especially in this economy, time and time again. No matter what business we got, or how well we performed, the storm just seemed to be getting worse and worse.

The ultimate purpose of any business is to make money. However, successful businesses know it is actually quite a different purpose. The real purpose for any business is first, to provide value. Value is what you are giving in exchange for your client’s money. For Pixel Mobb, we essentially build effective media pieces that grab attention. The value is in the effectiveness of the media we create.

Clients come to us, because they see what we can do and they want to know how we can do it for them. This was our initial business plan. We do websites and videos and we can do them really well which is a big value to any business, small or large.

So why does there seem to be a hurricane forming in the horizon in your business? It could be because, like us, the price your are accepting in exchange for your ‘value’ is not inclusive of enough profit margin, the true value of success for any business.

The Eye of the Storm

When the wind is blowing all around, and rain is pelting you in the eye, it can be difficult to charge forward as a business. The goal, though, is to keep moving toward your goal no matter what.

The virtual swirling winds and rain represent all of the obstacles in your way. They may not ever completely disappear, but that does not mean you can not find balance.

For a business to properly balance itself, it must first understand what it is worth. Many new businesses think like I did. You need a website, then my business can help. You need a video, then we can do it. As long as we make a little money, what is the harm?

The harm is in setting the line too low. In order for a business to survive, it must…

• give the proper service to match its value
• have room for error and the unknown
• do the work professionally, dotting every i and crossing every t.
• ultimately provide the maximum value for its clients

In order for a business to do all of these things, they must make money doing it. That means setting the right price for your product or services, and sticking to it. If value is what you provide, don’t be afraid to charge for it. When you set the budget line low, you set the expectations for your services low as well.

A client does not think they spent $500, and you worked 80 hours. They simply think, I spent $500 and I want the most value I can get for that investment. Once the client is yours, and you settled for less, then the problem is unfixable. Once you set that profit margin low, it can be near impossible to ever get it back.

The First Sign of Light

Sticking to a higher profit margin for your business is not easy at first. There will be many times when you may have to turn down work, even though you need the money. Truth is, even though you may make a few hundred dollars, the time it will take to do so can be used to make much more money if you do not settle for less. Instead of settling for less, why not spend that time to do that project on doing what you have to to find the proper clients?

Think of it this way. What do you want from your business?

• To make enough money to live comfortably?
• To provide value to the industry?
• To have good clients that appreciate your service/product?

If you answered ‘Yes’ to all 3, then in order to do that, you may have to raise your price, not lower it. Lowering your price is really conveying to clients that you are lowering the value of what you do. You are willing to accept less, in order to survive. It is like settling for a newspaper to cover yourself in a hurricane. Sure, it may work a little, but what is the end result really going to be? Get another newspaper?

The Beauty after the Storm

For our company, settling for any clients just to pay our bills actually hurt us. In order to do the job right, we needed to do the whole job. The minute we lowered our price, we expected the client to understand that we gave them a break, so they need to give us a break. That never happens though. Clients are clients, no matter what price they pay.

Protect yourself by setting the price that is going to make you happy in your business. Think of it this way:

“If you can’t get paid what you need to make a living, then you are not really making a living.”

The problem may not be your high price, but rather the low value you are providing. Charge right, and provide that value to the utmost of your business’s ability. Creating that value is the only way to get through the rough patches. It may be tough at first, but nothing is more beautiful then the wondrous light after a terrible storm.

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

It took only one human to invent electricity, one to discover the theory of relativity, one doctor to cure polio, and one man to lead the civil rights movement of the 60s. Albert Einstein had a problem, Jonas Salk had a mission, Martin Luther King had a dream, Thomas Edison had a goal, and hundreds like them had the same courage to live out their dreams no matter what that entailed.

Albert Einstein once said ‘It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.’

Martin Luther King had a dream that many were afraid to listen to, yet he told the world about it.

Jonas Salk tested the initial polio vaccine on his wife, daughter, and himself.

Thomas Edison failed thousands of times before he revolutionized the world by inventing the incandescent light bulb.

All of these men were not afraid to be themselves, and trust in who they were, especially when times were rough. They knew the obstacles they faced caused everyone else to run in the opposite direction, however they stayed the course because they believed in themselves, no matter what that meant.

The question is, are you afraid to be yourself and live out your dreams?

This is not a challenging question, but rather one to be contemplated for a bit. You see, I can admit that I was very afraid to be myself for a long time. If you would have asked me then, I would have told you you were crazy, and probably tried to fight you (ooooh, to be young again).

Finding ourselves

Being who we are can be very difficult at times, especially when it conflicts with those around us. That is why there are so many mean people in the world. They are mean because they are afraid to be themselves, and some, rightfully so. Being themselves has caused others to mock, pick on, or worse, even physically hurt them. The world can be a tough place when you try to walk your own path. However, the end result is you wind up where no one else has before.

Being honest with ourself is another daily challenge we all face. Are we really listening to ourselves, or are we listening to our own excuses? It is the complexity of our mind that can make self honesty such a challenge. Yet, if we can truly be honest with ourselves, our life intelligence will grow at a rapid pace.

It took major surgery and a year of being stricken with a severe case of Crohn’s disease for me to see the importance of being myself. I was 18 years old, and faced with the prospect of never living a normal life again. After that experience, I started to chase what I love in life. There have been some bumps in the road since then, but somehow, I always wind up back on the same course toward my dreams. Sometimes a tragic experience can have an effect where suddenly, everything you thought was important means nothing now. In another words, your mind is cleared from all the bullshit we encounter in our lives, so it can see what really is important in our life.

Just Go Do It

Being yourself is not as easy as we might think. It takes hard, consistent work. Our brains are extremely adept at rationalization. So you may want to be that baseball player, but your brain will rationalize whether or not you can before you even try. You may think you are not big enough, or fast enough, or strong enough, or athletic enough, or even lucky enough. Whatever rationalization works best, your brain will find to avoid failure.

However, if we were never told such things, and wanted to be a ball player, we would simply just go out and do it.

What I have found is that being yourself is a challenge worth undertaking. It is like an individual revolution all inside your head. Suddenly, the straps are off, and you are free to roam the world fueled by your passion, without the chains of other’s judgement and/or opinion to hold you down. Every decision you make is actually decided internally, and not through three phone conversations and your Facebook friends list.

Standing Out is a Superpower

Being yourself is the only true way to stand out from the crowd, and conquer your dreams. You may think and feel like everyone else, but we are all unique in certain ways. It can be our passions, dreams, goals, or simply confidence that we can go where no one else has gone before, that separates us from the pack. Whatever it is, it is certainly worth pursuing.

Becoming an individual is like having a superpower, and not the crap super powers you see on twitter either. It is a superpower of individuality. No longer will you have to have others think for you. No longer will you accept the spoken word as fact. No longer will you live an ordinary life. It will become extraordinary, because it becomes your own.

Life in pursuit of your dreams is a sacrifice many of us are unwilling to undertake. There is much bark, but little bite when it comes down to the moment of truth. I think this is because the first, and hardest step, is going out on our own and simply being who we are, no matter what that means. People may not admit it, but there is a certain respect we have for someone who does their own thing, even if it’s not our thing. If we were to dig deeper in our psyche, I bet we would find that that respect is based on a hint of jealousy we have not done the same.

Everyday I work on being myself. I discover new things, work on my weaknesses, and continue to grow. We all do, whether we realize it or not. Some days are better than others. I can safely say that it is not a steady climb up the mountain. Some days we climb up, and some days we fall down. However, if we keep pursuing that goal, there is only one possible destination.

If you need a reminder stronger than this, check out the stories of Albert Einstein, Martin Luther King Jr., Jonas Salk, and Thomas Edison. Believe it or not, they were not that much different than you.

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Every person in the world runs into at least one problem a day. When you are a business owner, it can seem like you run into a problem per minute. Every time you solve one dilemma, an even tougher one seems to pop up out of nowhere. 

Dealing with problems is part of the job description for every entrepreneur. If you are not dealing with them, you are certainly delegating who is. Either way, you are going to set the tone for how problems are handled in your business, and better know the difference between problem solving and problem evolving.

If you tend to get emotional, your staff will do the same. If you tend to ignore the problems, your staff will follow suit. If you are waiting for someone to care more about your business than you, you are simply not cut from entrepreneurial cloth. Your business is your baby. Problems come with the business. Therefore, problems become your baby. The question is, are you a problem evolver, or a problem solver?

Problem Evolvers

Oxford American dictionaries states the definition of evolve is ‘to develop gradually, from a simple to a complex form‘. When a problem arises in a business, a problem evolver takes the initial problem and begins to mold it into something much, much worse. Their focus is solely on the problem, it’s possible consequences, and how they can be affected by it the least.

Problem evolvers tend to constantly bring up the problem, it’s inevitable doom, and who is to blame. They focus on the problem, who is responsible for it, and what consequences that party shall face. Instead of focusing on the solution, they make the person most responsible for the problem the target of their energy.

Problem Solvers

To solve a problem, according to Oxford American, means to ‘find an answer to, explanation for, or means for effectively dealing with (a problem or a mystery).‘ Essentially, problem solvers treat problems like a big game. They turn problems into fun riddles and challenges that drive them to find solutions.

Problem solvers never pinpoint blame, even if it is rightfully deserved. They don’t see an employee or a client as a problem. They see the position that that employee or client was put in as the problem. Problem solvers don’t worry about the potential consequences. They focus on how to surpass those obstacles, even when it seems there is no hope of doing so. Problem solvers remain calm, cool, and collected in order to take a fresh approach to the problem. After all, it is a game, and they want to win as much as possible.

The Unavoidable Truth

Truth be told, if you are in business, you are going to have to learn to deal with problems on a consistent basis. The growth of your business, especially if it’s yours, solely depends on your ability to navigate through the daily, sometimes seemingly insurmountable problems that swoop in like rain clouds on a sunny day.

If you can’t avoid them, you might as well learn to enjoy them. Become a problem solver, make it all a game, and challenge yourself to lead your business through whatever storm might come next. You are ready. You are confident. You are excited, because you are a Problem solver. Problems are what you love. In fact, you look forward to them and revel in setting an example for your staff and clients. Handling them is the daily challenge that gets you out o bed in the morning. What once was a burden, now becomes your fuel. Say it with me…

‘I am a problem solver. Handling problems is what I do. I know a problem without a solution does not exist. In fact, the bigger the problem, the more fun the challenge.‘

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Inspired recently by Napolean Hill’s classic book ‘Think and Grow Rich‘, my partner and I recently sat down to plan our strategy to make more money than we can count. The following steps are the process we went through over the last year to get to the point where we were able to make this plan. There are six steps in the plan put forth in ‘Think and Grow Rich’. I have included them in this list, and added my interpretation of them. If you have not read ‘Think and Grow Rich’, I certainly suggest it. I can’t say it will make you rich, whatever your definition of that is, but it will certainly open your mind to the fact of just how possible it is to become so.

1. Think about what type of life you would like to live.

Don’t think about money. Money is pointless at this stage. In fact, pretend money does not exist. You simply have to choose what you will spend the majority of your time on. Now, don’t worry about changing your mind. That is okay. The important thing is to be successful in whatever you do, so learning how to succeed on one path will easily translate over to the next. Even if you pick the wrong path, it will not be a waste of time.

2. Write down how much money you would like to make.

As Napolean Hill says, you need to define this number and make a commitment to it. Write it down on a piece of paper right now. Don’t be scared either. I wrote down $200 million. My partner wrote down $333 million. Remember, this is our one life. If we are not going to try and go big, then why try at all? 

3. Write down what you are willing to sacrifice for this financial gain.

Napolean Hill opened my eyes to a very simple concept, that for some reason or other, had eluded me. If you want to make a lot of money, it is going to take sacrifice. It is not simply, think about it, and it will happen. You are going to have to give up family time, weekends, hobbies, television, and all sorts of things. Right now, list all of the things you are willing to give up to reach this goal. Remember, the higher the sum, the more sacrifice it requires.

4. Make a due date.

Another great step from ‘Think and Grow Rich’. Define the time period in which you want to achieve this goal by setting a due date to reach it. Now, don’t be scared to make the commitment. I wrote down 3 years with a due date of 7/4/2012. You can write down anything you like. The important part is to make that date and stand by it no matter what. Write it down right now.

5. Make a plan to acquire those sums.

This step from the book is quite useful. It helped us tremendously. You see, my partner and I had a couple of services that we are releasing this June. Now, originally, we were set on a certain strategy for marketing these services. We were thinking, in a few years, we may be able to collect enough monthly to pay all our bills. However, with this new commitment to a large financial gain, we had to think bigger. So we did, and what we came up with is incredible! I am not able to delve into details at this time, but the idea is probably our best idea yet. I can’t believe we didn’t see it before. We would have never thought of it had we not been forced to plan a way on how to make our fortune.

What I learned while doing this is, if you do not make a plan, how can you hope to achieve that sum? The answer is you can’t. That’s why, right now, you need to take some time and write down exactly how you plan to acquire the sum you desire. Don’t worry about the small details. Just get to thinking how you are going to take your passion, and turn it into gold.

6. Read it 2x a Day

So you now have a list. Napolean Hill, and my partner who had read hundreds of similar books, both say you should write the plan as if it already happened. For example, you may write…

“In the last 3 years, I have acquired $200 million dollars. To get this sum, I have sacrificed time with my family, weekends, television, training, luxuries, expensive dinners, good credit, sweat, blood, and tears. My fortune was acquired by (insert plan here). 3 years ago, I made a deal that by today, I will have acquired $200 million. There is no feeling quite like knowing I achieved my goal. It is too treasured to try and explain with mere words.“

Napolean Hill suggests reading it when you wake up, and before you go to bed. I think, as long as you read it daily, it will have the same effect. The important part is to get a taste of the incredible feeling of reaching that goal every time you read it. That is your daily motivation, Not the money, but that feeling of success. Right now, write down your own tale, as you would be telling it to others, after it is accomplished.

7. Believe in Your Ability

One of the things this book has done for me is it cemented the thought in my head that I really can do anything I want to. I think, along the course of our life, barraged by negativity day after day, we tend to doubt our ability to achieve things. ‘Sure, I’d love to be rich, but I’m just not the rich type.’ If you think like this, unfortunately, you are a 100% right.

To follow your plan, you must believe in it whole heartedly. You must believe that even if you are not ready at this very moment, by following that path, you will become as ready as you will ever be. It is not you that makes the path, but rather the path that makes you. You have made a commitment because you believed in your self. Now you have to do your best to stick to it.

8.  Start Right Now!

This is Napolean Hill’s final step in his book. He points out that, whether you are ready or not, you must start on this plan right now. It reminds me of starting out in Jiu Jitsu. They don’t show you moves, and make sure you know what to do before you start. Instead, they simply throw you right into the fire. To become good at Jiu Jitsu, you must first learn what NOT to do, before you learn what to do. The same goes for your plan. Jump right into the fire, and trust in your ability to adapt. Humans are nature’s greatest example of adaptation, so don’t tell me you don’t adapt well. Tell me you choose not to let yourself adapt well, because you are afraid you might not succeed. That is the truth, and from here on out, as you set out to start on this plan, the truth is all you have left.

9. Be honest with yourself.

Making a commitment to reach a goal is quite scary. It may sound ridiculous to others. It may invoke some teasing from friends and family. People think I am a moron when I tell them I am going to make $200 million in the next three years. However, I don’t care what anyone thinks. I don’t expect them to believe me. If someone told me that, I would not believe them either.

The truth is, you are not telling these people when you speak to them. You are telling yourself. You are being honest with yourself and your intentions. This is an important part of self confidence. Be firm in what you want. Don’t let anyone tell you different. It is your life, and the only thing you can do, is be honest with yourself about how you want to live it.

10. Money is not important.

This may seem ironic. If money is not important, than why the hell did we waste our time on the first 9 steps? The answer is that money is one part of living a stress free life. The feeling of reaching the goal you set out to reach is the true treasure of this journey. Imagine the possibilities that will open if you firmly believed you can achieve anything if you actually committed your mind to it. Think about the smug feeling of confidence you would have the next time somebody laughs at your lofty goals.

This is the feeling you need to have right now. This is the feeling of confidence you need to make your plan a reality. It’s not about the money, even though there will be plenty. It’s about harnessing the power of your mind, and realizing that with the gifts you have right now, anything, anything at all, is possible. It’s just a matter of committing yourself to it. Are you ready?

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

Everyone in life has their position. Whether at work, in your own business, in sports, at the dinner table, financially, or even in your personal relationships, their is an element of positioning. When trying to climb the ladder of success, we are inherently trying to improve our position in life, be it at work, or in our bank account.

Accountability

The first step to fighting for a better position in life is similar to a lot of first steps: Accountability. We must understand that what ever position we are in, it is because we settled for that spot. It is not because of any other reason. We decided at some point that this particular position was good enough. It might not have been a conscience decision. You may not have even thought of it that way, but the truth is, at some point, you accepted the position you are in.

That is okay. We all settle into a position at some point, at least until it gets uncomfortable again. Then we squirm around to try and find a new position. Some of us are eager to move up. Some of us will come tumbling down, and many of us will find it easier to move laterally. Moving laterally means we switch positions, but instead of moving up or down the ladder of success, we just move a little to the right, or to the left. So, yes our position has changed, but not the level we are on. It is almost like sitting in an uncomfortable chair, and then shifting your weight. It may feel good for a minute or two, but the bottom line is, no matter how much you try to make it, the chair will never be comfortable for long.

Settling for Less

Every position you are in you have settled for. Now that we understand that, we can see that if we are unhappy with our position, then we are really just unhappy that we settled for it. The position is not the problem. That is just a space that we fill. However, if you find that space uncomfortable, or unsatisfying, then only you can make the choice to improve it. To do this, you must make a deal with yourself that you will not settle for less than what you want.

When I graduated film school, I had to do something to make money quick. My family sold their 7 year old summer camp business, and now I was on my own to earn a living again. I was engaged to be married, had no job, lived at my parent’s house, and didn’t have a clue how to make money with the skills I had with a camera.

I started out trying to write screenplays, but they just were not good enough to garner any attention. So, instead of chugging along and finding my way, I jumped at the first opportunity I had to earn a living: mortgages. A friend of mine from Jiu Jitsu owned a huge company and I was eager to make some money and get some bills to pay. At the time, it seemed like the decision to take this job was what was best my wife to be, my parents, and myself.

This is the perfect example of settling for less. I didn’t want to just pay my bills. My goal was to pay my bills doing what I was passionate about. However, as soon as it got a little difficult, I switched paths to the easier road, and convinced myself paying my bills in anyway is what was best for everyone. So yes, for a little while I got to pay my bills, but in the end, when the economy got in trouble, I was left right where I started, with more debt, higher bills, and still with the problem of trying to earn a living using a camera.

Due to this, one rule of thumb I now live by is that if I am debating a decision, and the best argument I can come up with to do something is that it is what’s best for everyone ELSE, then I will no longer do it. I have learned that it is not selfish to do what’s best for you, cause in the end, what’s best for you is really what’s best for everyone else around you.

Learning First Hand on the Mat

As with most of life, I have found the perfect analogy for this in Jiu Jitsu. Just like chess, Jiu Jitsu is a big position battle. You are constantly fighting to get a better position then your opponent. In fact, many people who watch the UFC will complain when it goes to the ground because they feel the fight is boring. If you actually trained, you would enjoy all the battling for position that goes on when it looks like these fighters are just rolling around on the ground, because you would understand the importance.

Position is extremely important in Jiu Jitsu, just like in life. And, just like life again, if you wind up in a bad position on the mat, there is no one to blame accept you. You either made an error, or gave up fighting, and now your opponent has secured a dominant position.

When you are rolling (the term for sparring) in Jiu jitsu, many times you will find yourself tired as another one of these position battles happens. For example, you are exhausted, and your opponent is holding you down in side control like the following pic…

photo credit – Side Control Position

From here, as you are trying to catch your breath to escape, your opponent begins sliding their right knee across your stomach to try and gain the following mount position.

photo credit – Mount Position

Once an opponent has the mount position, it can be very tough to survive much longer. They are in a dominant position that makes it extremely tough for you to get out without exhausting much of your energy. Many times this is the beginning of the end in a match.

So let’s review the steps one more time. An opponent who had side control while you are catching your wind, begins to slide their knee across to try and get the dominant mount position. You have two choices here.

1. You can rest up, let the opponent get the mount, and then try to fight from there.
2. You can suck it up and fight like hell to make sure the opponent never gets the knee across and secures the mount because you know the fight from there is a hell of a lot tougher then the one you face now, no matter how tired you are.

Many times as a white belt, I chose choice #1, letting my opponent advance while I recovered. This always turned out to be a mistake no matter how tired I was. By resting, I was delaying fighting a necessary battle to reach my goal of winning. Inevitably I would have to fight anyway, but now from a much worse position. Each time I thought the rest was more important when the battle started. Each time, I was wrong.

In life, it is much the same. Many times we decide not to fight for a certain position because we are tired, or we convince ourselves it is not worth it. We fail to fight for better pay, or a better deal, or a better whatever. We settle for what we don’t have to fight for and just like on the mat, we usually find ourselves still fighting that battle, but from a much worse position later on.

The Key

The best way to secure a better position in life is to always be prepared to fight for it. Identify the position you are in, and where you are trying to go. Then, even when you are tired, worn out, or it is the last thing you want, if it is relevant to your success, you must fight for it. Otherwise, you risk losing ground to many others who will be trying to pass you on their way up the ladder. Once they get ahead, it is at least twice as hard to catch up.

In Life, unlike Jiu Jitsu, instead of battling one opponent, we face a myriad of opposition every day. So these fights can come from every direction. Sometimes they don’t even appear to be a fight. However, the bottom line is, if you want a better position in life, it is not going to come easy. You have to be prepared to pay the price for the position you want, and fight like hell to maintain and improve it. The better the position, the harder the fight. It’s all relative.

So the next time you feel that something is no big deal, or you’ll just handle it later, think of your positioning. Many times, you will realize, better to fight now, rather then let it go, and have to work twice as hard later on.

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

First off, I hope every Mother had a great weekend. Seems like one day a year is kind of a small price to pay for the amount of support and love a mother can give all year long. Hope the weekend met every mother’s expectations.

Speaking of weekends, I read a great article on Sunday in ESPN the Magazine (May 18th, 2009) titled ‘Mixed Messenger’ by Michael Woods. For all you fight fans, it is a story about the life of Dana White, the head honcho of the UFC. The story takes place at some different times in the life of Dana leading up to the Anderson Silva vs. James Irvin fight. What struck me about the article is the quote they used at the end to sum up the story:

“The picture of Dana White? A little clearer. He’s savvy, but savage, creative but crude, organized but unpredictable – also the recipe for success in the cage.”

Basically, Woods describes him as a ‘walking contradiction’, but in a good way. Like the yin and the yang, Dana has two sides to him, both of which play a pivotal role in who he has become. It was in reading this quote that I felt a lot better about myself. I, too, can be a walking contradiction, as we all can.

What this quote, and story, showed me, was that it’s okay to be both sides of the coin. There are times that call for you to be a nice, caring person. However, if you want to survive in the shady world we live in, then you have to be able to flip the switch, and be ruthless against whatever obstacles stand in your way. In another words, being just one way is sometimes not enough. A fighter can not come in the cage and beat every opponent with the same strategy, and neither can we expect to overcome every obstacle with the same approach in real life.

To be successful in the cage, you have to be prepared, be adaptable, and ready for the unthinkable. Sounds a lot like life, huh? Well, it is. In the cage, all the chit chatter, the reputations, and the thoughts of other people mean absolutely nothing when those cage doors close. Same with life. If you think about it, all the chit chatter, reputations, and things people say about you mean are not the reason whether we succeed or not.

The recipe for success in the cage, and in life, is to be yourself. Dana White gets a lot of flak about his public cursing, his savage response to his critics, and his image as a ruthless CEO. So what? You think he, or his bosses the Fertita brothers, really care? Of course not. They know that Dana being Dana is the reason they are where they are today. They know Dana routinely gives money to people in need, and is a nice caring person. However, they know he is not someone the competition wants to cross either. We should all take note of this when we try to conform to what other people think around us.

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This is not to say it is okay to walk around and be an asshole. However, I am saying that sometimes in life, the best way to get what you want is to be an asshole. Early Sunday morning, while thinking about this, I caught the movie about Madonna’s rise to fame called Madonna: Innocence Lost.

One noticeable thing in the movie was how many of the friends she made that she left behind. It almost seem like she was a ruthless bitch going after her dreams, not caring who she hurt in her way. However, there is one line in the movie that really lets you understand what she is about. Madonna is about to make it big, and is very frustrated with her managers inability to get her a record deal. When she finds someone who can get her that deal, she jumps at the chance. Needless to say, the manager, who has risked everything on Madonna, is devastated. She gets very upset and threatens to throw Madonna out on the street. Madonna responds (at least in the movie):

“Don’t be mad at me because I am moving on and you can’t come with me.”

She goes on to explain how everyone gets mad at her because as she moves on, her friends can’t come with her. That is not her fault, that’s just the way it is. That really made a lot of sense. Life is not predictable, fair, or easy for any of us. Chances and opportunities are far and few between. So when one comes along that can make our dreams come true, we must not miss out because of what other’s may think. If the others are true friends, they will understand. I’m sure Madonna is not regretting getting that record deal and releasing ‘Like a Virgin’.

Dana White, Madonna, and a host of other successful people all have similar stories. They are all caring, creative, ambitious human beings who won’t take no for an answer, or let anyone get in the way of their goals. They can be caring, as well as ruthless in their ambition, depending on what the world calls for. I think we could all learn a little from them as we chase our own dreams in life.

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Article by Peter J. Normandia. Follow me on Twitter.

In New Jersey, USA, it has just reached spring time. The plants are budding, the landscapers are back, and the weather is finely enjoyable (at least for this week). With all of the new developments in nature, spring should be a reminder of the cycle all life follows, and all businesses as well.

Like a new business, there is seasons for each part of the process it takes to build a successful venture. One of the biggest mistakes a new business owner can have is believing that everything is going to run smoothly from the start. It takes time to learn how to become ‘seasoned’ in your business.

Today’s post is all about identifying the four seasons a business year will have, and helping you identify the best way to handle each one.

Spring

photo credit

Ah, the beginning of all life. Every new business venture is like the spring. Things look bright as life envelopes the barren landscape that once was. As the ideas start to bud into fruition, the business begins it’s new life.

The most important part of the spring is taking the time to make sure all the seeds are planted with the right amount of care. The same goes for your new business. It is important in this stage of the process to identify your desired outcomes, plant the proper seeds, and take into account that not everything will go smoothly. A lot of things occur between the spring and harvest time that are out of your control. If you lack experience in this new business, definitely prepare to learn some important lessons the hard way.

Once you have properly planted the seeds of your business and prepared for the year, it should be about time for the next season to roll on in.

Summer

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Ah, the heat is on. Summer is the busy time. This is when you put in the sweat and tears, all while rolling with the punches. The summer can either be a scorcher, or a day at the beach. It all depends on how well you prepared in the spring.

It is during the summer time that it’s important to view things objectively. When it’s hot in the kitchen, people want to get out. You must be prepared for things to be rough in the beginning, and for you to be adaptable. Don’t get caught up in playing the blame game with your team. It is important to correct the mistakes that come up during the busy summer season, so that they don’t happen twice. Planning perfectly to avoid any and all mistakes takes years of experience. Don’t expect it the first summer you put your business out there.

Once the business slows down, and the heat subsides, it will be about that time when autumn rolls around.

Fall

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This is the harvest time. Every business creates a plan (spring), puts it into action (summer), and then they see the results of their labor. Busy times are seasonal for almost any business. When things begin to slow down, that is a good time to evaluate the fruits of your labor.

Fall is a time of change. You now have seen the results of your actions. This is the time to implement the changes you need to make. Don’t wait for next summer to roll around and think you will remember all the things you need to do better. Make those decisions in the fall, when the last busy summer is still fresh in your mind.

Fall is also the time when you will see if the harvest will get you through the slow season known as…

Winter

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They can be long and hard, or they can be mild and bearable. Depending on your business, there is always a slow time. For mine, it is in November and December. For other’s, that is the busiest time of year. It all depends on the geography of your business.

Regardless, though, the metaphorical winter time is the slow time for a business. This is when you need to survive off the fruits of your labor from the spring and summer. In the beginning of a business, this can be the hardest time. Money is tight, business is slow, and surviving the financial freeze can be as difficult as trying to steer a car on a sheet of ice during a blizzard. This is where you need to hold down the fort, and concentrate on doing whatever you can to make your business more prepared for the coming spring. Simply take it a day at a time.

As your business grows, eventually, you may have no winter at all. When things go well, these slow months become vacation months. However, you have to get to that point first. You don’t start out at an ideal situation. You simply create one through years of hard work.

It’s a New Year!

When the flowers start to creep out from the dirt, and the leaves begin to bud on their branches, it is time to start the process all over again. Every spring, you will have a renewed vigor to do better than the last year. Every spring you will gain experience through your triumphs and your failures. However, as a ‘seasoned’ veteran of your business, you will become more & more familiar with the ins and outs of navigating your way through each year. It is only a matter of time.

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