Posts Tagged ‘inspiration’

Monday Mojo: Burning the Boats

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As we start the 3rd week of the New Year, now is when it really starts to get hard to keep up with those resolutions. When I went to the gym over the weekend, I was shocked by the number of cars in the parking lot. I’m not sure why, I shouldn’t have been, it was the same thing last year. There must have been 10 times the number of people there compared to last month. Over the last two weeks gyms all around the world have been flooded with millions of additional people. The unfortunate thing is, it’s the same millions of people who were in the gym the first week of January last year….and the year before that…and the year before that…and the year before that…and by February 1st it will be back to the old regulars.

So, why can’t we keep it up?

Whether it is going to the gym, spending more time with our kids and/or spouse, eating healthier, whatever it is – what can we do to keep those resolutions and make them changes for a lifetime, not just a week or a month? The answer is good old discipline and accountability. If we are truly committed to having a better life, we need to tell everyone we know about our resolutions and ask them to help hold us accountable. We have to burn the boats, so to speak, and not give ourselves a way back to the old us – the one who hits the snooze bar. Because if we don’t burn the boats, so there is no going back when the going gets tough, we are simply going to revert back to all our old bad habits.

Now, when you are too tired to keep your commitments, too tired to keep inspired, too tired to keep being disciplined and accountable, play this video and ask yourself, what would Lance say to you?

Lance Armstrong


Don’t look back too long you may be in for a major collision

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When you are driving down the road it’s okay to glance in the rear view mirror, but don’t stare.

Our eyes are supposed to be on the road ahead of us and if we look in the rear view mirror too long, we’re going to crash.  This analogy applies not to just driving a car, but to anything in life.

I can’t remember exactly what the circumstances were, but this was advice I received from my good friend and chairman of our company Bob Moles several years ago.

So many people live their life in the past. It may be in past successes or past failures. Many just can’t let go. If it was a bad experience – often it paralyzes them with fear to do anything. And if it was a good experience they hold on to it and can’t stop relishing in it, which also stops them from doing anything.

Not that we should forget the past completely – because that is not what I am saying. Our past experiences are the building blocks of our future, and they are simply that – building blocks.  Unfortunately, when people hold on to the past and aren’t willing to focus on the future and change, they’re in for a major collision.

I am 45 – and I know people who still can’t let go of things from High School, much less last year, last month or last week.  It is amazing. Look, I get it, I know it’s hard to let go of the past, but to grow and get more of what we want in life, is critical to future success.

So next time when you have a big win, take a little time to celebrate and then move on. And when you lose, take a little time to grieve and then move on.  Just don’t stare at it, or you will be in for a major collision in the future.

A side note from my son: Nick Tognoli (age 10)

“Hi, it is early Saturday Morning and my Dad is writing his Monday Morning MOJO.  I asked him to send you this video of ‘Beat It’ to fire all of you up today, and for the rest of the week.  ENJOY!”
Michael Jackson – Beat It


Monday Morning Mojo: Finding your purpose in life may drive you to the success you’ve always been looking for

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They get up early everyday (actually the middle of the night by my standards) to exercise their mind, body and soul.  Then they work all day with passion, drive, discipline and an attitude which is absolutely off the charts.

I just can’t figure it out.

How do they stay motivated and always seem to be having fun?  How do they stay so disciplined? How do they keep such a positive attitude and a smile on their face when they work so hard in what always appears to be stressful situations? It seems like it would be exhausting to be such a Radical Fanatical. Their constant motivation and success is just incredible. I wish I was as motivated as them, and then I could have what they have.

Heads up – it’s not motivation driving them, IT’S INSPIRATION.

When we are in inspired action and not motivated action, it is effortless. Trying to be motivated all of the time is exhausting and impossible to maintain. If we’re not inspired all the motivation in the world will not get us to be like those fired up Radical Fanaticals. You have to be inspired to do what most people aren’t willing to do. It’s one thing to be motivated to do something for a day, week, month or even a year, but it is something completely different to be inspired to do something for a life time. You have to be inspired about your life, your family, your job, your health, and you have to be INSPIRED about you!

So, the million dollar question is – how do I get that inspired?

First you have to figure out your purpose in life.  You have to figure out why in the world are we here on this earth, it’s not by accident. Unfortunately most people just go through the motions, the normal grind of life and they never find their purpose.

Here are a few examples of those that found inspiration in their life, and in turn found their purpose:

  • Mother Teresa
  • Martin Luther King
  • Bill and Melinda Gates (The Gates Foundation) - it’s not about Microsoft
  • The Pope
  • The Dalai Lama
  • Gandhi
  • Tiger Woods (The Tiger Woods Foundation) – it’s not about golf
  • Deepak Chopra
  • Lance Armstrong (The LiveStrong Foundation) - it’s not about the Tour de France
  • The President of the United States - whether you like him or not

So, find your purpose.

To help in your process I recommend reading Rick Warren’s – The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth am I here for? It’s a powerful book.

Make it a purpose driven day, week, month, year. Make it a purpose driven and inspiring LIFE.

Find your purpose and get inspired!