You were not born to be rich, to be famous, to be superficial or to be someone’s puppet. You were born on this planet to find your purpose. You do whatever it takes. You don’t make excuses, you keep searching. Everybody hopes and chases the wrong things, but forgets the answer lies deep inside us. Don’t create moments about materialism, make…
One of my favorite blog posts, was one that I wrote last year that went viral, titled originally “Happiness StartUp: Rules To Live By.” It’s still something I read at least twice a month to remind myself of why we do the things we do, why it’s important to struggle, and why to never make…
I ran across a prose poem that was written in 1927 by Max Ehrmann called “Desiderata.” It’s a beautiful piece of literature that I think we can relate to in all of our lives. Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without…
It’s been a while since my last post. So, I wanted to make this to the point as we start the new year. I’m not going to tell you how to get rich. I’m not going to tell you how you are going to be a millionaire overnight. Nor, am I going to tell you […]
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths. Beautiful people don’t just happen.” People come in all shapes, sizes, forms and colors. Authenticity is hard to find these days. From the classic fake friend in…
Good morning! I mean it. Have a good start to your day and you’ll greatly enhance your chances of having a successful day, every day. The discipline of an early bird will manifest itself in many ways, or as Benjamin Franklin put it way back in the 1700’s, “Early to bed and early to rise…
Audrey Hepburn said it best, “Nothing is impossible, the word itself says ‘I’m possible.” People used to say flying an airplane was impossible. Decades later, they had the same reaction to space travel. Almost every technological advancement was believed, at one point, to be impossible. But impossibility exists only when we believe it does. There […]
Whether its work, school or any kind of relationship, it can be frustrating when someone overlooks you and doesn’t give you a chance. Who is to blame for the lack of consideration? It doesn’t matter; if people are aloof to give you an explanation, they aren’t worth your time anyway. Here are a few more reasons you […]
A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?” Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to […]
Ever feel you are going to fail? Ever think about quitting? Ever think you’re just not good enough? Then don’t worry. Here’s a note you can read and recite to your future self. Dear Disbelievers, There’s a very good chance you don’t remember the day you made your biggest impact on me, however, I do….
“When I was 5 years old, my mother always told me that happiness was the key to life. When I went to school, they asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I wrote down ‘happy’. They told me I didn’t understand the assignment, and I told them they didn’t understand life.”…
The Mona Lisa, painted by one of the most brilliant Italian artists of all time, Leonardo da Vinci, is acclaimed to be “his best known, most visited, most written about, most sung about, and the most parodied work of art in the world.” Historians claim Leonardo began painting his masterpiece in 1503, working on it…
As you breathe right now, another person takes their last, so stop complaining and learn to live your life with what you have. Stop the Why him/her syndrome? Every time some big success story happens, too many people complain about why him, or why her? Like almost as if it was all pure luck. I’m…
Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away that they were meant to be there, to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson, or to help you figure out who you are or who you want to become. You never know who these people may be (possibly your roommate, neighbor,…
“Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself, and know that everything in life has purpose. There are no mistakes, no coincidences, all events are blessings given to us to learn from.” Monetary success can be a powerful motivator, and it can control people. It chooses careers. It dictates how time, energy and…
It’s a sad fact of life that whenever someone accomplishes something truly great there always seem to be others who want to take it away from them. The reasons why are many and varied. Envy. Bitterness. Resentment. Rivalry. Greed. Opportunism. A whole suite of negative human emotions. I’ve always admired and respected entrepreneurs, business leaders…
So imagine this, you have an amazing startup. It’s got a catchy name, you have the right team in place (I hope), the product is fully functional (this is kind of important) and you’re starting to gain customers or users. But, one thing is missing. You aren’t really getting the attention you wanted…the buzz you…
Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear. “It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is the most adaptable to change.” Darwin said it best and his quote resonates well for the way we conduct our choices in…
Life is a revolving door of experiences and people. Whether, good, or bad, in our adolescence, we’re told “Be treated how you want to be treated.” Some will abide by that and treat you how you deserve; others will play you for it and use you for their own motives, gains, and desires. But, one…
There is a claim that Apple co-founder Steve Jobs left behind a deathbed essay about how the “non-stop pursuit of wealth will only turn a person into a twisted being, just like me.” To many entrepreneurs, he is a legend and the epitome of success, having created the most valuable company in the world, and […]
It’s how you rise from a fall that truly defines you as a man. Basketball legend Michael Jordan knows a lot about persistence. Discussing his stellar career he once noted that he had missed more than 9,000 shots and had lost almost 300 games. On 26 occasions when he had been entrusted with the game…
Here’s an another interesting comparison I found between what you call experiences vs. mistakes in life. It’s an important distinction to know. Experience makes you shine throughout your journey vs. mistakes can put you in a dark hole. Even failures in life are great experiences as they can eventually lead you to your destination –…
Each of us has greatness inside of us. But that greatness doesn’t just burst forth to make a difference in the world without a conscious effort. You need to enable and empower that greatness. It requires effort. It requires hard work. How do you discover your own personal greatness? First of all you need to…
This weekend, Furious 7 had its box-office debut. Prior to the release, the stars of the movie promised to honor the late Paul Walker in a way that is “so sacred and so powerful” … and that could be considered an understatement. Memories. Moments. Life. These all the things we live for. The good ones…
I love this quote. Its origin isn’t known, but I first came across it in an iconic Harley Davidson ad. To me, the quote is meaningful in several different ways. Fundamentally, it means that you have to be in control of your own life. You chart your own course and don’t stop until you reach…
It was October 27, 1997. I remember it as if it was yesterday. My family’s dream home was already half built. It was to be our escape from the small, cramped house in the projects that I shared with my parents, my paternal grandmother and three siblings. Then the stock market crashed. The NYSE plummeted…
We all have choices in our lives. Sometimes, we calculate them. Sometimes, we ponder them. Sometimes, we dwell on them. But, there is a mysterious inner you that sometimes just does something because its reacting to some form of cosmic energy inside of you. When you look back at life and look at some of…
Your Friends The biggest threat can sometimes be the people you surround yourself with. It’s important to be surrounded by those who only want the best for you. Who you eat with, is who you will become. Keep away from the naysayers, darkness resides there. Trust your gut. We are complicated creatures. That inexplicable feeling…
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.” – Henry Ford. To me that is a powerful motivational statement that I always keep in mind as I continue my journey through life and as a I continue to work as hard as I…
Power, Money vs. Happiness. Our new generation has dramatically changed. The perception of what we desire to achieve overshadows our ultimate purpose. Some work the ranks of power, some chase money at all costs, and more importantly forget the true meaning of happiness, Love. What is your ultimate goal in life? Do you want to…
Everybody negotiates all the time. It’s part of everyday life. But most people just don’t have what it takes when it comes to getting the best personal outcome. They get jittery. They squirm. Some are stretched so far beyond their comfort zone they can literally feel ill. But in business being able to successfully close…
“Even after all this time the sun never says to the earth, “You Owe Me.” Look at what happens with a love like that. It lights the whole sky.” Not only in the world of business, but also in the grand scheme of things, in order to thrive in today’s society – you have to…
Three apples changed the world, the first one tempted Eve, the second inspired Newton and the third was Steve Jobs. “Success doesn’t come to you, you go get it.” So what exactly is the recipe to make you successful? These are my top 10 traits that I believe all successful people have. Resilience This is…
Here’s an interesting comparison I found between the difference of Success vs. Happiness. Take in each word deeply, and you’ll be profoundly impacted by each comparison. We strive for both in our day to day lives, yet we sometimes forget the difference on what to achieve. Ultimately, happiness prevails over any of our hidden short-term…
“A miracle is just a shift in perception from fear to love.” -Marianne Williamson A friend recently read this to me, and it hit me in a big way. The deeper I thought about the message attributed in this quote, the more I realized how life as we know is defined by fear and love. And…
“The Greatest Life pleasure is doing what people say you cannot do.” There comes a time in the life of most entrepreneurs when the challenges seem overwhelming. You’ve suffered one setback after another and you seriously think about throwing in the towel. You question yourself. Maybe you don’t have what it takes after all? Maybe…
It’s a potential life-changing event—yet so many people get it wrong. I’m talking about going for an interview for a position you really want; one that could have a dramatic impact on the rest of your life. So, why is it that so many prospective employees don’t seem to grasp the essentials of getting the…
Watch your thoughts, for they become words. Watch your words, for they become actions. Watch your actions, for they become habits. Watch your habits, for they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your legacy. Discipline is just choosing between what you want now and what you want most. Courage is not the absence…
Through your various ups and downs in life, you’ll get to meet three types of people. In reality, they are just a mixture of two extremes, evil and good. The first kind are your critics, some called them naysayers, some call them haters. Stay away from them and don’t become one of them. No matter…
When I was a kid, I was taught to “Pay it Forward.” The concept of doing a good deed for someone else, when something good happens to you. The reality of it, it never worked for me. I’ve always been a giver in my world. But, I don’t give credit for my success because I…
One of the greatest gifts I got was figuring, what my passion was at an early age of 16. I ended up dropping out of high school, to start my first venture, and while all the odds were stacked against me, I ended up succeeding. I blame it on not knowing the answers. Sometimes the…
We’ve all heard the saying before: Winners never quit, and quitters never win. So, why is it so easy for so many people to quit on their goals? The answer is simple: It’s easy. It’s easy to stop, fail, and do nothing. It’s easy being a loser. The harder choice would be to push through…
The law of attraction is a very insightful law by which to live. In other words, your ability to become intuitive will skyrocket if you attract what you want in life, especially what you dream of. Do you dream of traveling the world? Do you dream of writing a book? Do you dream of opening…
Confidence is a unifying trait amongst the most successful people in the world. It’s the confidence to push past the word “no” and to pursue your dream despite the looming possibility of failure. Confident people are the people who aren’t afraid to take a stance and change the world; they stretch across nearly every realm…
The true measurement of success and the secret to life is knowing, What You Love vs. What Loves You back. Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. It’s never supposed to be a popularity contest. Every bad situation will have something positive. Even a dead clock shows the correct time twice a day….
Graham Moore is the 31-year-old author of one best-selling novel, one screenplay in production with Benedict Cumberbatch, another novel in the works, and a just-finished screen adaptation of The Devil in the White City. He still thinks about quitting. If there’s one message Graham Moore wants you to learn from the Academy Awards it’s to…
The only vulnerabilities or insecurities you should have, are those you don’t want to become. This morning, I want you to take a moment, and look inside a mirror. Take a good look at yourself. What do you see? What emotions do you experience? What do you think? How do you feel? When you see…
99% is execution. 1% is the idea. Nine out of ten venture-backed companies fail. Ever wonder, why? Well, there are many different things. But, we will focus on one today. One out of ten start-ups survive. From that 10%, nine out of those ten will turn into zombies; an illiquid asset. Meaning, it may print…
From when I began my first company at 16, to starting my second company just years later, “You just got lucky” was something I heard as if it was everyone’s duty. Truth is, there is no luck. Luck doesn’t exist. A coincidence, maybe? But, luck is just a bi-product of hard work, dedication, and discipline….
I’ve always been a big fan of Philosophy. I’ve actually applied that into my thinking in the way I’ve become an entrepreneur. Earlier this week, I watched The Life of David Gale, who is the head of Philosophy at a University. His opening lecture below, I thought was quite humbling in the way we quantify…