About 8 months ago, Yin vs Yang was born. My partner and I, along with another person we were working with at the time, had decided to start a blog. I came up with the concept, and we all agreed it was a good idea. We were passionate to start blogging, especially me, cause I love to write.

New ideas are always a lot of fun.

We immediately began writing and trying to figure out this idea of blogging. It was not easy, and the spark from the original night only lasts so long. When you write something and no one on earth responds, that original idea can seem like hogwash. So, after a short while, it was just my partner and I left with Yin vs Yang.

The other issue too was, learning how to write for a blog.

Just cause you know how to write, does not mean it comes to you naturally. When we first started this blog, I had no idea what I was trying to write. I had ideas for themes, but I wasn’t even really sure what Yin vs Yang was going to be. I wrote stories on personal development, my past, and included things like ‘quote of the day’ and ‘Friday video day’ for awhile. I tried to post everyday, worried when I missed a day as if anyone was actually reading back then.

I also was trying to write to please at first. Instead of just writing what I thought I should, I was too concerned with what others might think. I was too concerned with getting comments, or trying to. I was too concerned about a lot of distractions that really did not matter.

I was also concerned with trying to make money. Just like you, I had read about all of these bloggers making a fortune from affiliate marketing and advertising. I had read that ‘content is king’ and that gave me hope. I had read that with enough traffic there were a 1,000 ways to make some profit. That gave me motivation.

As time progressed, I slowly found my voice and my style of writing. However, even that is still developing, and probably always will be. The point is that this blog you are reading all started simply with a passionate idea.  Just one idea, where everyone in the room agreed ‘that’s cool’. That was the birth of this blog.  Not some big plan or strategy, not some researching for the perfect opportunity. Just a passionate idea.

Today, we have developed a nice fan base that continues to grow. I have met and networked with a large amount of intelligent people who have expanded my knowledge base like never before. I have learned, grown as a person, and become a better overall individual because of this blog.

But is it because of this blog, or because we actually followed through on a single passionate idea?

Following through with a passionate idea always takes work.

• You have to keep pushing even when others think you should stop.
• You have to be able to adapt your original idea over time.
• You have to find motivation even when you don’t feel like it.
• You have to believe in yourself.
• You have to be patient.

Only then will you feel like I do about Yin vs Yang. I do not feel this way because this blog has been such a financial success either. I believe we have made $8 overall since we started. That’s almost a $1/month, split two ways. I don’t think anyone would put all the time we have into something for that little of a return.

So why do I feel so proud of Yin vs Yang?

It is just the mere fact that it represents following through persistently with a passionate idea. I never intended to be in the position I am in now with the blog. I never intended to reach so many people across the globe either. What I learned is, it’s not a matter of your intentions sometimes. It’s not a matter of planning.

It’s a matter of doing.

If you have a passionate idea, one that seems great for you, it is your duty to follow up on it. I have had many, many passionate ideas. Very few have I actually followed up on persistently. However, the ones I have turned out to be the most influential, self developing experiences I have ever had.

I think following through on your passion is the path to becoming a better individual. It introduces you to other people passionate about their ideas. It opens doors to network with people offering opportunities you never imagined. It makes your life feel fulfilled.

Working each day at something is very tough. The only way I have found to combat that is by doing things I am passionate about. Passion seems to be an endless fuel that keeps on burning. The things I am passionate about I put in the extra work needed because it does not feel like work. It feels like fulfillment.

If you have enjoyed this blog, then you have enjoyed reading something we are passionate about writing. You have enjoyed the fact that someone else is persistently pursuing a single passionate idea.  The only thing more enjoyable than experiencing someone else living out their passion is living out your own passion.

What are you waiting for?

Check back this month for my first ever video blog post. I will also be guest posting a few times this month. If you are interested, you can check the ever growing ‘links‘ page to see all the links to my guest posts.

Thanks again to all of my readers. I hope our writing is able to help you as much as your support has helped us.

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

As many of you know, I train and teach Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) for a Royler Gracie affiliate. All of the lessons I have learned in BJJ mirror my real life. Jiu Jitsu is like a small sample of life’s lessons right on the mat. It is why I always learn a little something about myself almost every class I attend.

At each BJJ class, after warm-ups, a certain move, or series of moves are taught to the class by the Instructor. We call these ‘The Move of the Day.’ The Instructor will breakdown the move(s), showing us the nuances of the technique, and then the students will work with a partner at perfecting it.

Next, the partners will take turns giving some resistance to simulate the move(s) during a match experience. This helps each student see some holes in their technique that they might not have noticed without the simulated resistance.

Finally, after all of that, the students roll (a term for sparring in BJJ) with one another. In my school, it has been common practice to speak up if you are able to pull off ‘the move of the day‘ during one of these live matches. It’s kind of like a bravado thing I guess. It doesn’t really seem to mean anything, accept that you have listened well for the day. However, over time, I have found that it means much more than that.

In Jiu Jitsu, Failure Breeds Success

“Nothing fails like success because we don’t learn from it. We learn only from failure.” –Kenneth Boulding

Being that I get to teach, and watch the progression of white belts, it has become quite clear that the students that rise to the top are the students willing to fail first in order to get better.

These students are willing to risk losing those daily matches in order to try the move of the day. Pride is not an issue because they know they need to gain experience. Other students tend to be too focused on trying to ‘win’ the match, rather than trying to improve. Therefore, they stick to what they know, and they try to win with that. This may work well for the day, but over time, these students will see little progression, if any.

It is pretty clear from my experience that the students who continue to try new things in order to get better initially will fail. They may fail over & over for months. However, they never seem to care. They know they are trying to get better over the long haul, and all of these little battles will mean nothing in the end. It is after all of this failure that I have seen these students all of a sudden ‘get it’. They rise to the top because they have all the experience. They have failed so many times, that they know exactly what it takes to succeed.

The Same is True for life.

“Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall.” –Confucius

Many of us have goals, dreams, ambitions, and/or wishes for our lives. We grow up talking about them, yet when it comes down to taking the risks, many of us give up rather quickly. We would rather not try, than fail. If we do try, and we fail, we immediately make excuses and give up. I know I have done this countless times over my life.

Just like the BJJ students, without risking the failure, we are not going to get better. Sometimes, even though we know we will fail, we have to do it anyway because the only way to success is through these failures. If you do not try, then you can not fail, but you also can not progress. You will stay stagnant. Some people find comfort in that, but successful people do not. Successful people keep moving, cause either they win, they learn, or both.

I often wonder nowadays why as a society we do not cherish our failures? Why do we not celebrate a person when they fail at something they took a chance on? Why is failing looked at as such a bad thing if it is the only sure thing that leads to success?

The fastest way to success at something is to continually jump in the fire over and over again.

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; un-rewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”
–Calvin Coolidge

For instance, in BJJ, I can tell you exactly how to do an arm bar, step by step. However, when you try to apply it with real life resistance, there is no way you will get it on your 1st, 2nd or even 10th time. It takes persistent practice in live situations to be able to perfect the technique.

Well, the same goes for our ideas in life. If you fail at an idea, do not quit. Do not stop because you have failed once. As a matter of fact, you should realize that by failing once, you are actually one step closer to your goal. To start on another goal would be to waste the time & effort on the first.

Do not let the fear of failure control your life. If you think it does, then I suggest you take some time to try things you think are impossible. Jump into something that makes you feel uncomfortable. Put yourself through your fear and that fear will be no more. Learn to fail and learn how important it can be to your success.

Look to your right.

Now look to your left.

Look up above you.

Now look under your desk.

Look all around everywhere you can see.

That is where you’ll find opportunity.

-Peter James

I guess I am feeling a bit poetic this Friday.  My company just finished another great commercial yesterday.  For all of those relatively new to YinvsYang, I will fill you in.  A little over 6 months ago (wow, time flies), my partner and I started this blog to mark a big change in our lives.  We had just started a New Media production company Reimagine, and soon after began writing.

The concept for Yin vs Yang was simple.  We were going to completely give up all the stuff in our lives that we did not want to do.  We were going to fight all the fear, obstacles, limits, and setbacks that life could throw at us will the sole desire to build the dream life we desired.  We were going to win the ongoing battle of Mind vs. Body in us all to do what we want, not what we can.  That meant only doing the projects we love, and not working just to pay our bills.  We were going to do all this and write about it, just to prove one thing:

Doing what you love to do will take you wherever it is you desire.

I’m sure this sounds admirable, as my ego would like you to believe, but in fact, it is quite a war of attrition.  Building a dream life &/or business is a huge process requiring patience, persistence, and perseverance.  Without these traits, you will probably give up over time.  In fact, I learned one simple fact about any challenge:

Success isn’t a possibility.  It must be your only option!

Do not take no for an answer.  Do not give up, ever.  When the going gets tough, you need to dig deep within yourself, find your resolve, and keep going.    It can be rough facing tremendously tough challenges.  You must understand that win or lose, it does not matter.  It is only about the path you take, not the outcome that occurs.

Sure, I am not out of the financial mess that chasing money got me into in the first place, but I am definitely on my way.  I am steadily building the life I want to live, as is my partner.  Because of this, our work is growing stronger, our reputation is spreading, and we are much better people on a daily basis because of it {well, at least most of the time }.

I imagine a lot of you have thought about just doing what you love, only to have reality laugh at you.  We are not any different, except we try to laugh right back.  It has been quite challenging and at the same time, quite rewarding.  I learn more and more about myself everyday, simply by sharing my inner most thoughts with the blogging universe.  My partner and I continue to fight each and every day towards this goal of living the life we desire, and sharing our feelings with others on similar paths is a blessing in itself.

We just would like to take moment to say Thank you.

We have had to believe with all our souls in our own success, or we would never get off our feet.  Sometimes, believing in yourself can be the toughest challenge of all.  It is our reader’s wonderful comments, or emails, that have kept us inspired to keep going. What we have learned is actually quite amusing.  I guess the best way to sum it up is like this:

Everyone wants to know how they can make a million dollars.  Well why not just ask the only person who knows the answer:

Yourself!

It really is that simple, or at least we believe it is. Do what you love and the rest will follow.  It WILL be difficult at first, but all great paths usually are.  For us, so far, so good.  Till next time, enjoy the weekend, and thanks as always for reading!

For all those interested, here is the local commercial we just finished….

Elite Martial Arts from Reimagine New Media on Vimeo.