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"If you know your way you don’t have to pause at every crossroads." https://ift.tt/33RweW1 “If you know your way you don’t have to pause at every crossroads.” -

very smart fortune cookie from a recent lunch

Another pretty philosophical post again: 

Beyond everything else, two things matter in life: the time you have left and the direction you’re going (= what life you are going to pursue, what are you shooting for or chasing after)

Now here’s the interesting thing about this: you cannot know how many days you got left - none of us does - BUT we can decide on the direction we take.

Yet, who does?!

How many people do you know who are driven by a cause or mission? 

How many of your friends, relatives, neighbors, and teammates are on the way to something big and consciously chosen? 

How many are determined by the rat race, financial pressure, the opinion of others, the expectations of parents and bosses, or even their own resume? 

How many care more about tonight’s party and today's tv program than about their very own future?

How many know more about the latest fashion trends and sports results than about their dreams and aspirations?

I mean I know, life keeps you busy, that’s for sure …but someday your time will be up and you’ll look back seeing your trace being full of turns, random curves and dead ends, taking you here and there… 

My point in short:

When life is short and time is precious - why are you strolling around then? Why not thinking about what to persue, if it is the only thing to decide yourself? Why not committing to a big goal, deciding on one direction and sprinting?

Yes, it is hard to find that goal and to decide within a million options, but NO ONE is going to do it for you and it won’t hit you while watching Netflix either!

I believe in these famous lines:

“… I am the master of my fate,      I am the captain of my soul.” - William Ernest Henley

Yet, thinking about (step 1), deciding on (step 2) and keeping in mind where you’re heading (step 3) is where it all begins for every master or captain!

Best of luck finding your direction!

Your m

(via successentials)

December 08, 2020 at 02:14AM

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NOW ... https://ift.tt/3duKkQV

October 12, 2020 at 02:16AM

… I am young, independent, healthy and full of energy. … I can go places, chase my dreams and do stuff. … I can consciously take actions influencing all my tomorrows.

Tough but true: who knows how long all this lasts. It won’t always be that way - that’s for sure. That’s life.

Therefore, note to myself:

NOW is all I have. This or never. NOW is where I live and where everything starts. NOW is creative, inventive, busy, tough, yet powerful… NOW is now - THIS very moment, “GO time” - make the best of it!

Your m

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Living Life https://ift.tt/2Tya9Xq

„Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.“ - Soren Kierkegaard, Danish philosopher

This quote is as beautiful as it is true! Unfortunately it is also irrevocable and therefore insightful yet useless at the same time…

All we can do is to accept this fact while carrying on - knowing that we cannot truly understand nor foresee ANYTHING in life.

Your m

May 24, 2020 at 02:31PM

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My spirit animal https://ift.tt/2ZtmIHj

[This is nothing but a reminder - to my weak, lazy, and sad self.]

Any ambitious employee, any entrepreneur, any working mom, any 9-5 warrior with a side hustle and/or additional responsibilities, any self-employed freelancer, any top class student, any … applies this ONE simple but effective trick: 

THEY STOP PLAYING AROUND & PUT IN THE WORK. As this is THEIR ONLY option. 

 If it roughly looks like this you are doing it right:

Why? What about working smarter etc.?!

My answer - in refernce to YouTube-Icon Casey Neistat:

“In short: I’m here, And all of of my dreams and aspirartions are here. And the only thing in between these two is a bunch of work!”

Source: https://youtu.be/t-wS4zqRpwY

Conclusion:

No further motivation needed. Just keep the cat (and all those grinders listed at the beginning) in mind and follow its/their example!

Your m

May 24, 2020 at 10:46AM

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Companies https://ift.tt/2Wl1BW7

This one might sound harsh but a company in its essence is nothing but an imaginative umbrella. It is an illusion, backed by law and society.  

But what makes a company a company?  Labels, ideas, and the innovation happening under its name - executed by the people contributing to it. 

Everything else - brand, values, policies, products, and processes are shaped by them and their actions. That is why THEY matter most (- even more than your clients!)

No matter if your business happens inside a factory, a kitchen, a board room or a store or online… If you TRULY CARE about your employees (and treat them accordingly) they’ll take care of everything else.

Let me close with this one: 

If you look up the definition of the term “company”, you’ll find the following two:

a commercial business

the fact or condition of being with another or others, especially in a way that provides friendship and enjoyment.

Do you know why the word has both these meanings?  Simple answer: because they actually mean the same! Building #1 automatically means building and maintaining #2. 

Keep this in mind and take care of your colleagues/staff/… to the benefit of everybody including your business.  Your m

March 17, 2020 at 11:21AM

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"Don’t ask your kids what they want to be when they grow up - but what problems they want to solve...." https://ift.tt/37vWLYL ““Don’t ask your kids what they want to be when they grow up - but what problems they want to solve. This changes the conversation from who do I want to work for, to what do I need to learn.”” -

Jaime Casap, Chief Edu Evangelist at Google, @jcasap

If you don’t have kids - ask your friends, your mentees or yourself… m

This helped me a lot trying to figure out what I wanna do with my future. Hope it serves you (and your kids) in the same way.

Best, 

Your m 

January 27, 2020 at 12:10PM

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"Leaders who refuse to listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing significant to..." https://ift.tt/36QQqqb “Leaders who refuse to listen will eventually be surrounded by people who have nothing significant to say.” -

Andy Stanley, senior pastor and author

(via successentials)

December 18, 2019 at 11:48AM

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"“If you want to build a ship, … don’t drum up people together to collect wood..." https://ift.tt/2YYnCJD “

“If you want to build a ship,

… don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work,

… but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”

” -

Antoine de Saint-Exupery, French writer, poet, aristocrat, journalist, and pioneering aviator

This famous quote is everything you will ever need to understand about the topic of motivation! 

A great leader knows how to inspire his/her crew by creating that long. Some do that with their enormous vision, others individually on a personal level. 

If you seek to become a leader in any field, learn to instill that long! And accept the fact that is all you need to do.

And if yourself is all you need to lead at the moment, start by speziying your dream by setting up a vision board, and a Why-list. That burning (for the goal of salty air in your lungs) will then literally pull you onto “the building site”.

PS: maybe it is only by accident that we speak of leadership and entrepreneurship - maybe not. But is a great crib for sure!

Your m

December 18, 2019 at 10:47AM

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"Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: 1) future can be better than the present,..." https://ift.tt/2OiNhry ““Almost every successful person begins with two beliefs: 1) future can be better than the present, and 2) I have the power to make it so.”” -

@ValaAfshar, SalesForce evangelist & well-known business thought leader

Your m - believing. 

(via successentials)

November 17, 2019 at 03:42PM

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The Trilemma Of Life https://ift.tt/33N8DDW

Years ago I came across the following lines:

Success - Social Life - Enough Sleep; You can only have 2 out of 3. Choose. 

For years I believed in this theory. I lived by it. I was absolutely sure that for me there is no other way to live life. 

But I am literally tired of it. Feeling horrible after 3 hours of sleep, drinking coffee and coke/xyz just to stay on track, spending entire weekend days sleeping…

So I started questioning. 

Imagine you mastered this trilemma: The “holy grail”: success (in your professional life or whatever you care about), still seeing your friends and family + not feeling like crap all the time. 

Sounds fantastic?

Here is my idea to get this done: 

start sleeping more. 

make your family, a few friends and what brings the most joy to you your ultimate top priorities. 

rigorously downgrade everything else.

intensively supplement your life with exercise/sports of your choice.

A closing thought:

Every living creature on earth has to sleep. Maybe this also applies to blogging entrepreneurs - like me.

Your m - now going to bed.

November 15, 2019 at 10:45AM

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"Everybody tries to make you forget that you’re gonna die - because if they convince you, you end up..." https://ift.tt/2X6UC1p “Everybody tries to make you forget that you’re gonna die - because if they convince you, you end up wasting your time at what they want you to do… spend your life on whatever they’re selling… One day I’m gonna die - but before I do, I’ll live, live, live.” -

Mike Posner, American musician

… my suggested solution to Mr. Posner‘s (definitely true) conclusion: 

keep in mind that YOU’RE GONNA DIE (as every single living creature since the beginning of time) + follow his advice: live, live, live!

This is not an invitation to any sort of “YOLO” way of life… but the most important reminder you’ll ever receive. 

Explore the wonders of the world, experience life’s highest highs, and lowest lows, freeze, bleed, cry, laugh and love, do anything that seems exciting and rewarding… 

… and whatever you do, go all-in on it. Live life to fullest - because that is what life actually is all about.

Your m

November 12, 2019 at 08:43AM

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(According to this insanely wise blackboard the master himself summed life up in a bit less than 5... https://ift.tt/2p1fGcZ

(According to this insanely wise blackboard the master himself summed life up in a bit less than 5 lines.)

Every single day you can decide to either move towards your goals/dreams/aspirations or towards safety/comfort.

Unfortunately: as your dreams/… cannot be something you are able to reach easily or routinely (if it was you would never consider it a dream. You’d rather call it normality…), the movement towards those desirable achievements ALWAYS comes with risk and uncertainty.

Fact: Your growth cannot happen inside your comfort zone! That’s simply against its nature!

Both directions can appear to be right/superior/appealing at times. But what ever you decide, keep one thing in mind:

you can just go in one way or the other - as Abraham said:

November 08, 2019 at 11:31PM

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Light Switches & Life https://ift.tt/32p7JMa

Intro: 

When it comes to new, big life projects (a new job, starting a business or a family, moving to a different county, etc.) many of us tend to… wait, doubt, rethink and reevaluate - in one word: we HESITATE. Sometimes for years.

We believe that just because we’re not able to see the entire picture we’re not ready yet. Just because we can’t tell what the future holds we’re not “worthy” to seeking it.

Instead, we keep asking/hoping/wishing/waiting for a plan, a playbook, a blueprint or a hack that assures eventual success.

The Phenomenon: 

Imagine entering a dark room (= the endeavor you would like to pursue in the future) in your cellar for example. Before you set the first step into that room you are reaching for that tiny switch in order to flood the entire space with light.  That is what we all are reaching for - that switch that brings light and safety + the ability to see all upcoming obstacles. 

Life though works differently! 

You will never find that switch.  BUT: you can use a flashlight (= your skills, know-how and common sense). 

Actually, you don’t need to see the entire room. Lighting that first part, making sure not to stumble right away, is by far enough. 

And as you enter the room step by step the light travels with you further and further into the darkness. 

Why hoping for a switch such a problem? 

While waiting for the perfect moment when all stars magically align, life passes by.

You know what they say:  “Doubt has destroyed more dreams than failure ever will.”  They are right. What if the blueprint never roles around the corner?! Ignoring all opportunities just because risk and uncertainty are still not extinct completely? 

There is a great chance, that opportunity vanishes before you finished your fight with doubt and darkness… Which will leave you with nothing but regret. 

But if all of this is not convincing you yet, (I see you’re that doubter type obviously) - you might wanna listen to J.P.:

Many of us… including me. Now finally making use of that flashlight!

Your m

November 06, 2019 at 01:08PM

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successentials: (Mark Twain, American writer, humorist,... https://ift.tt/2VnITuh

October 08, 2019 at 09:40AM

(Mark Twain, American writer, humorist, entrepreneur, publisher, and lecturer) I am a true believer in the power of communication. I am personally 100% convinced that perception is reality and that “thunder” is important to each of us, enabling us to build our brand, create a reputation, express our strengths and so much more.

Yes, I am the type of guy that recommends to speak up, write that blog, publish that podcast, start that YouTube channel, upload the masterpiece, …

But there are times in life when it is all about bolts of lightning! When you need to put in the work, go hard and deliver!

Because just like Mr. Twain pointed out:

Thunder is good but the lighting is what actually creates the thunder.

No book release party without hours of writing.

No applause without performance.

No signing without sacrifice.

No belt without fighting.

No trophy without triumph.

When that time comes all you can do is push really hard and remember that those flashes are very hot, extremely short and have a tremendous impact. Go through that phase and enjoy the show following.

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"Excuse will always be there for you. Opportunity won’t." https://ift.tt/2nHGjCF “Excuse will always be there for you. Opportunity won’t.” -

unknown, yet definitely true

September 30, 2019 at 09:02AM

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successentials: “Life shrinks & expands in direct proportion to your willingness to assume... https://ift.tt/2me2xfa

September 27, 2019 at 10:45AM

“Life shrinks & expands in direct proportion to your willingness to assume risk”

—

Casey Neistat, American film director, producer and creative icon

Don’t allow your fears to minimize your options in life! Take risks instead of avoiding them. 

Or as Casey continued:

“The most dangerous thing you can do in life is play it safe.” 

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„… To be my own master. Such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the... https://ift.tt/2n4t2DI

„… To be my own master. Such a thing would be greater than all the magic and all the treasures in all the world.“

Genie from Disney‘s Aladdin

… says the “most powerful creature in the universe” (quote from the movie)!

What’s the value of (almost) unlimited abilities, - if you cannot decide where and how to apply them.

- if all your skills are not getting you anywhere (besides back into your “lamp”)

- if all you are doing is fulfilling someone else’s wishes/aspirations!? …

And what’s the difference between a genie and a highly talented/skilled employee?

Could you be the contemporary version of the poor blue guy from that story - less magical, less fictional, but equally limited?

Could his greatest whish also be yours!?

Your m

September 27, 2019 at 12:07AM