So the other day the esteemed Paul Mort, politically incorrect fitness business coach and overall good guy, whom I recently met in California, posted this comment on Facebook.
Here is a sneak peak of an article I wrote. ‘Positive thinking makes you Lazy and Broke’ ‘Put my most negative, angry self up against a room full of positive thinking, happy clapping bullshitters with big cheesy smiles and I will beat them hands down.’
I consider myself to be a positive person. So initially I thought that Paul was being his usual controversial self.
After some reflection I was glad he posted this because it made me reflect what I believe. It made me ask, ‘what makes the difference when I am successful and when I am not.’
Here is what I came up with.
Positivity is not bad.
Comfort is the enemy.
Comfort is the reason that many athletes lose their edge as they become successful. They are no longer fighting to make it. In a battle, the guy that will usually win is the guy that is fighting for his life. If you view life as roses and pixie dust, what incentive do you have to do something better. The same could be said for feeling hopeless. Ever met anyone that feels that no matter what they do it wont make a difference? They lack drive.
So while I don’t agree with Paul’s statement 100% I do believe he has it right.
If you want to succeed you must have drive, a strong enough reason why. Stephen Pressfield talks about resistance being the culprit as to why people don’t succeed in his book “War of Art”. Your mind, your body, your practice will always seek the path of least resistance, which includes all the reasons why you shouldn’t taking action.
Stephen said that amateurs wait for inspiration.
Professionals, get to work every day.
They do, they take action.
They grind it out.
So if you want to make sure you succeed you must have a strong enough why. For some that may be anger about your current situation, for others it may be that they are excited about the possibilities. At the end of the day don’t be stagnant, don’t be comfortable. I had a mentor that said, “If you ain’t moving you are dying.”
I realized the times I am most successful and productive is when I am up against the ropes or when someone says I can’t do something. Some of us need that kind of stimulus. If that is you, use it to your advantage.
Get uncomfortable, get angry and press on.
Choose a race to train for, a competition, a photo shoot. Do whatever it takes to keep you motivated and chipping away at it daily.
Your Turn…
What are your thoughts? Do you agree with Paul, why or why or why not?
Leave a comment below.
Cheers,
AC
PS – Thanks Paul for the swift kick in the…
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