I didn’t have the chance to see it myself as it was hidden behind those pesky Rocky Mountains.

But I understand from friends on the west coast, who had dragged themselves kicking and screaming out of bed a t 4:30 am, that it was a very cool sight as what appeared to be a massively overinflated moon, draped in red, passed through and was completely eclipsed by the earth’s shadow cast by the sun.

Although I missed this particular eclipse and they say there won’t be another one for 14 years this isn’t exactly a rare spectacle for me and likely not for you.

I see it happen all the time in the area of achievement and success.

We get all excited about some big, bright, and shiny object and like George Bailey we attempt to throw a lasso around it and pull it towards us.  We shine a light on it, over inflate its size and make it the focus of our attention. We even run around telling people “This is it…this kind of opportunity doesn’t come around often. This is the one.”

Then before we know it, what was once bright and shiny begins turning red and going dim. The opportunity, hope and possibility that was once the source of the objects illumination is suddenly completely eclipsed by our own shadow.

A shadow cast not by the brightness of who we really are and what we’re actually capable of, but by our many inescapable  fears, doubts and uncertainties.

If we only understood that all we have to do is MOVE (decisively) and the shadow will disappear.

What are your thoughts?

Too often we see only what stands between us and what we want and allow those things to stop us from moving forward or keep us from taking the first step.  The truth is we’re always going to encounter resistance in the pursuit of what we want – most of which with the right plan, enough determination and strength of will can be overcome.

The more subversive and covert stumbling block for countless otherwise great achievers is  the “internal resistance” they counter – but don’t have a clue it’s what’s slowing them down because it is on the unconscious level.

In the video I talk about the “end result” or outcome being like the leaves on a plant. Because they’re visible we get so focused on the leaves it’s all we pay any attention to….

“I must have great leaves.”

“I must have great leaves.”

“I must have great leaves.”

…and wind up ignoring what’s going on below the surface at the level of the roots.

But if the plant is going to flourish we must water and nurture the roots not the leaves.

If you have a values, integrity or worthiness conflict between what you want on the outside (the leaves) and what is going on inside (the roots) you will (not maybe) encounter overwhelming resistance, frustration and very likely failure.

The key is to fertilize, water, nurture the soil, and the roots. The only way to do that  is to take your sights off the goal and focus on your internal rather than external growth.

I would love to hear your thoughts.

It’s one of my favorite expressions because – although we don’t like to believe it or admit it, if we half-ass the stuff we don’t want to do there is a very strong likelihood that we will also half-ass the important stuff too. Holding back, playing it safe, committing 50% or less becomes a habit that will show up just at those critical moments when you need to step up and give 100% without thinking about it… you know – “just do it!”

On the flip side of that coin – if we practice playing full out and giving 100% in the gym, on the job, in our relationships  we will find that we also give 100% in other areas of our lives even when the stakes are low. Playing full out takes commitment and practice. It also takes constant self observation.

Once we notice we’re holding back we have to train ourselves to flip the switch and instead of putting one toe in the water we dive head first with everything we have. That’s how winning us done.  No one ever regrets giving 100% even if they “fail”- what we do regret are the times we held back and failed as a result.

Start becoming aware of those times when you’re not putting as much effort forward as you could, when you hold back, or screwing around instead of living up to your commitment and realize at that moment that what you’re doing right then is what’s going to show up later on.  Or your unconscious self image will soon -  if it has not already – become that of someone who half asses his or her way through life… is that really you?

“No one ever regrets giving 100% even if they “fail”

What are your thoughts?

Part I – How I went from Bad Ass Outlaw Biker to Achievement Expert

In part two I share the very same tools, strategies and mindset I used to LEAP  from alcohol and drug abusing outlaw biker to Mr. America, successful entrepreneur, bestselling author and internationally know achievement expert.

I should caution you – This part of the interview is all about the science of achievement and TAKING ACTION!

As always please share your thoughts and opinions – pro or con?

An athlete, CEO, actor, or speaker can have all the outer game tools in his or her toolbox but if she doesn’t have the inner game needed to put those tools to work she will find herself frustrated, falling short of her full potential, and choking under pressure.

Imagine your inner game like the software in a computer. You can have the greatest hardware on the planet, a shiny new 32 inch monitor, slick new wireless keyboard and mouse, a really cool black tower with pretty blue lights, and a great workstation to put it all on but if you don’t have the proper software inside or if you have some old obsolete software to run the system and perform the tasks you want it, all that outer equipment or hardware won’t mean squat.

The inner game of confidence is your ability to control your focus, your state, and your emotions rather than letting them control or rule you.

It’s the ability to believe in yourself and your ability to succeed.

I’ll go one step further and say it’s the knowing that you will succeed.

The key for anyone looking to create more success in their lives whether in athletics, business, or even relationships is the ability to master their own inner game.

The empowering emotional state of being confident is triggered in most cases by an internal thought or vision. And so are the disempowering emotions of self doubt, frustration, fear, and disappointment.

Because of the way our brains process information every time that inner voice suggests something negative and you entertain that thought, your brain creates a picture or internal representation of that thought. If for example the pitcher facing that best hitter in the league were to say to himself, “don’t let this guy get a hit” and he entertained that thought his brain would immediately make a picture of the guy hitting it out of the park, dramatically increasing the likelihood of it happening.

So next time you’re in a potential choke situation and that little inner voice says something that could keep you from succeeding, simply acknowledge it and usurp its power by saying “thanks but no thanks! Then refocus and take action.

More strategies at Inner Game of Confidence

The power and reach of Facebook as we already know seems to be just about endless. We can literally reach out and touch a perfect stranger or be touched by a perfect stranger form the other side of the world.

I received the below message in my Facebook messages not long ago and at first I was leery and suspect… as you know there are also a lot of less than desirable even sleazy characters out there that also want to reach out and touch someone. But after a little looking into I felt compelled to reply.

The Message:

“Hi Tom, I’m xxxx xxxxxx and I live Indonesia. Well, we never meet each other of course, and I always wondering about how come you get such a great body, I mean that’s an amazing body you have there you know. For me, If I have that kind of body, I’ll be very proud to myself. To achieve such a great body it’s already a big step for me in my life, I mean I’ve got no confident too much to stand outside. So, I think if I send you a message, at least you can help me a little.”

Sincerely,

xxxx xxxxxx

Reply:

Hi xxxxx,

I appreciate your very sincere and flattering message. I have never been to Indonesia but I love your culture and I have had the opportunity to study your martial arts Silat. Do you study?

Regarding your body and confidence. Building an athletic body or becoming a bodybuilder is indeed something you should and would be proud of… however you should also be proud of who you are regardless.

During my early years of Kung Fu training I learned that pride in many respects is the enemy and humility is the goal. Being humble and Confident is a magical combination. If for some reason your body r physical self image is reducing your confidence than you should work on changing that.

There are all sorts of ways to build the body but the fasted way is through progressive resistance or weight training and healthy and abundant eating.

If you can get a hold of them there are several great books on the subject – like Shawn Phillips, Strength For Life. When I first started training a spent countless hours reading and learning about training techniques and methods. I would than apply what I learned in the gym or in my basement using some home made exercise equipment. You can do exactly the same thing.

Do you have a gym or athletic club that you can afford to join near by? If so I’m sure they have some one there who can give you some basic training instructions to get you started.

You can also look up some of the “Body Weight” exercise and workout programs on YouTube and get started there as well. In any case, it will take time and discipline to build the body you want. Be patient and keep at it no matter what and it will happen.

But the best advice I can give you is when you look in the mirror mentally direct your body to change but reward what you already have with gratitude and humility.

Good luck and stay in touch xxxxx,

PS. I also have a fantastic Confidence Training program you should put into place in your life… it will help guide you to the next level. Inner Game of Confidence

Do you reply to your compelling Facebook messages?

Tony owned the very first real gym I ever set foot in‚Ķ “Future Man Gym”¬† in Amityville, Long Island – yes the same Amityville as the “horror.”¬† And I’m still trying to live up to that name “Future Man.”

Tony had trained, guided and inspired countless well know champions at the time so I knew was very fortunate that he was able to see something in me that warranted his time and knowledge.Very fortunate indeed – considering the fact that I threw up all over his new gym floor the very first day I trained there. I now recommend NOT eating 4 hot dogs before working out.

I once asked Tony– how he was able to identify who had what it took to go all the way as a champion.  What he told me was not what I expected to hear.
He said the true measure of championship potential had nothing to do with genetic predisposition, who trained the hardest, or who had the greatest level of skill or even the best coach.

But rather it had everything to do with everything.

He said – A CHAMPION IS someone who gives 100% to everything they do, even when the stakes are low, and when others see little or no value in the reward or the effort.
A champion, he said is that rare individual who has developed the habit of playing FULL OUT and giving 100% even when no one else is looking ‚Äì so that¬† when the time comes to step up to the proverbial¬† plate‚Ķ it happens automatically for them ‚Äì they don’t know any other way.

In other words “How You Do Anything Is How You Do Everything.”

He almost talked himself out of it…

A few weeks ago one of my coaching clients had traveled to the Big Apple on what was designed to be a reconnaissance mission.  The goal was to scout out the right location for a customer and client reception party that was going to take place in conjunction with big media conference going on at the Jacob Javits Center in July.

He owns a mid size media production company here in Denver that produces some absolutely amazing digital work.¬† I’m not going to mention the name of the company but you have seen their work on Discovery, History, and several other cable channels.

We’ll my client felt that as long as he was going to be in New York he might as well see if he can set up a few meetings with some of the networks headquartered there.¬† As a result of his efforts he was able to schedule several meetings… turning his recon mission into a full fledged business trip.¬† He arrived in NY with a day and a half to spare before the first meeting so he could relax and do some scouting along with his assistant.

What happened that first day took him by surprise and almost sent him packing.¬† He found himself looking out the window of his 34th story hotel window at the biggest and most intimidating city on the planet with his thoughts turning to the belief that he was from the small “cow town” of Denver.¬†¬† He began thinking about all the big players in Manhattan who do similar work to what his company does.¬† With those thoughts his little inner voice began to present doubts about his ability to compete with the big dogs in the Big Apple.¬† Those doubts soon manifested into full blown fears.¬† He could feel his heart beginning to race and palms sweat as looked out at the skyscrapers filled with competitors seeking only to make him look like an amateur fool… or so he thought.

Have you ever had one of those moments when you doubted yourself and your ability and maybe even thought everybody else had the advantage over you?  Have you ever felt a little small when compared to the competition?  I sure have!

Although his company already had several established successes in their portfolio he himself was feeling very small and insignificant at that moment.¬† A man of action, he picked up the phone to call his first appointment and CANCEL.¬† He had already worked out in his mind the reason why he couldn’t make the appointment and was convinced that they would understand.¬† The phone on the other end rang and as the receptionist gave her hello greeting, he hesitated for a moment and then hung up the phone.

Understanding the importance of “state change” from our coaching he got up through on his running shoes and went over to Central Park to pump some oxygen into his blood thirsty gray matter.¬† While he was running he began to “reframe” his thoughts, review his past successes, and muster the courage needed to face the Goliath.

The next day he met with the network executive and they hit it off, as the Brits would say, “smashingly.”¬† As it turned he was also from Denver and had several other things in common with my client.¬† The first meeting was a success as were the following three meetings.

He shared this story with me for the first time yesterday some two months later because just yesterday he received a call from the the executive from Denver who he met with in New York.  Evidently overcoming his fears and doubts and taming that little inner voice paid off.  He was contracted for a new television advertising campaign with hundreds of thousands of dollars but more importantly he opened the door to a relationship that may turn out to be worth millions.

…But it almost didn’t happen.

Like the well known and much talked about “metabolic thermostat” which keeps most people stuck a certain body weight via a very definite and stubborn set point – you have an internal success thermostat with a specific set point that is likely keeping you stuck at a familiar and “comfortable” level in your relationship, business, money, and ability to achieve your full potential.

How do you know if you have a set point in some area of your life? Simple, look at your results. If you’ve been at the same level of income, level of fitness and health, or in and out of unsatisfying relationships – it is very likely your internal thermostat has been determined and set in that area.

For years I seemed to be stuck at a $40,000 a year income level and no matter how much my skill level and credentials grew my income stayed roughly the same. Then I learned that $40 G was almost exactly what my dad earned while raising 6 kids. He was my model for how it was done and evidently that was how I set my success thermostat to do it.

PROBLEM: Just knowing your set point has been predetermined is simply not enough to change it. Think about it. Most people who have been overweight for years KNOW THEIR OVERWEIGHT but knowing does not change anything… other than adding to the frustration? NO!

What you need to know is how you created this set-point for yourself and more importantly how can you “re-set” it to achieve whatever you want in life?

Let me explain how it works - Re-Set It NOW

Then let me know what you think.

BE REAL. There is only one you. In terms of microeconomics 101 supply and demand, that makes you a HOT COMMODITY!