THIS PAGE IS DEDICATED TO THOSE INTERESTED IN BECOMING OR ARE ALREADY ENTREPRENEURS
MINE IS 1
Since 1991, upon its creation as my personal ethos, many people have asked me what is MINE IS 1. Simply stated it means, “My schedule for success is the single, most important schedule for success, to me.”
In other words, MINE IS 1 says it is my responsibility to examine everything presented to me with great consideration, then determine what is best for my life and that of my family. It’s every person’s responsibility to ask the right questions, seek the necessary information, and pursue the objectives best for their lives. Equally as important, they must respectfully let all others do the same.
Only when each person takes complete responsibility for his or her own life and stops permitting others to manipulate or provide excuses for their behavior, can a higher level of personal and professional success be achieved.
There will be those around you who will criticize, misunderstand, and otherwise try to tear down your resolve to do what is right for your family and your life, but you must stay the course to succeed. Most importantly, you must not continually place barriers in your own path.
In 1991, I started Motivation, Inc. with $2,000 and a dream. Exactly one year later, I had a net $1,000, faded dreams and a lot of headaches. Deciding not to give up, I did something that would be required multiple times over my decades long career, the reinventing my company and myself. In place of the dreams, I made a plan and set specific personal and professional goals. On the second anniversary of Motivation, Inc., I earned my first six-figure income.
Now if you were paying attention to what you just read, you understand that the difference was then and remains today, that success takes serious goal setting and planning. Its great to dream, but I contend that life with the throttle wide open and the wind in your face is a more exciting way to live.
I have created businesses since I was 10 years old. To date, I have all of them and I’m reinventing myself again because I love the rush and intoxication of entrepreneurship. Not every idea is a million dollar winner, but if you understand what I’m saying, you also are affected with this crazy disease. If you are still in the dream phase, wake up and make a plan. Scared money should stay in your pocket because to be an innovator, you have to come willing to risk so much at times. Never risk the place you and your family lay their heads at night, but everything else has to be up for grabs, if true success is your goal.
By planning and strategizing, I reached my ultimate goal of being in a position to retire early. Though here I go again pushing into a market where nothing but opportunity exist. I will still have to apply myself daily to achieve success. The road thus far in my life has brought with it many new and exciting challenges, but I have met them with determination, focus, and excitement. I remain accountable for all my deeds and actions and use no person or thing as an excuse for my failures. Most importantly, I celebrate every small achievement on my overall ladder to success.
Right Place, Right Time
The most important question to ask yourself each day is:
Am I in the Right Place,
At the Right Time,
Saying and Doing
The Right Things,
To and For
The Right People,
To be Successful
For Me and for them?
When you aren’t in the right place for you, it shows because no matter what you do, who you do it with, for, or to, things never seem to line up properly. Success is qualitative and quantitative at all levels. When you aren’t right with you, it doesn’t matter what anyone else says, your world isn’t your own.
The best and most difficult thing I have ever done was to take an serious and never-flinching look inside myself and every aspect of my universe since I was 10 years old. Though what I discovered knocked me around emotionally and physically, I stayed strong, and kept doing my inner-work seeking to be the best version of myself possible.
Along the way, I had a near death experience that left me lost and confused. If there is one thing I can offer you in the form of honest advice…. Don’t start that process unless you are truly willing to see it through, despite the potential destruction of your entire world. Hang on and stay focused on you! It does get better over time, but your life may not look as you expected it would and you will not be the same person. If you are, you failed to be honest with yourself and are stuck in a an unending emotional treadmill loop where names may change, but the results of your relationships will remain the same.
My Methodology for Developing and Sustaining a Success Plan
Identify
Look as far across your personal and/or professional landscape as far as your mind (not eyes) can conceive. Identify every relationship, obstacle, financial matter, physical challenge, educational barrier, environmental disaster, etc.
Don’t Respond – Just Record
Predict
Predict every possible action, reaction, move, counter-move, outcome, problem, solution, invention, regulation, deregulation, political fallout, personal problem, world event and act of nature that could possibly occur.
Play Every Scenario in Your Mind
Decide
Based on ALL the possibilities, develop your success plan to include all dated action steps. Strategically establish long and short-term goals. Communicate your plan to your closest friends, family, and superiors as warranted. Not everybody is your fan.
Assess and Reassess Every Decision
Execute
With a solid plan, you are able to manage the curve balls that life throws at you, without losing site of the goal. Assess, and reassess constantly and make changes as needed based on real life and market conditions. Always change your mindset to meet the reality of the situation and make no excuses.
Remember to Celebrate Every Interim Success