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When you aren’t willing to fully examine… ~ what you believe, ~ the size of your comfort zone, ~ and the operational effectiveness of your processes and systems... … you stay stuck. There is a hard cost to choosing to stay stuck. ~ Physically ~ Emotionally ~ Intellectually ~ Spiritually ~ Financially ~ Relationally ~ And to the health of your career or business. Moving forward requires change. And, change is uncomfortable for most people, especially when it requires letting go of what was. It's not usually external waves that cause your boat to sink... ... rather it's the SMALL HOLE INSIDE your BOAT that YOU'VE BEEN IGNORING. A little reflection goes a long way, along with conversations with someone you trust. ~ What have you been ignoring or putting off? ~ What haven't you been willing to look at? Ignoring or delaying doesn't typically help because that small hole may be getting bigger... The longer you delay looking at things, the sense of overwhelm grows too-- much like the feeling that the boat is filling up with water. Pretty soon you may be swimming inside your proverbial boat. What is the process for getting unstuck? It starts with a commitment to make a clear-eyed assessment of where you are. This requires both courage and vulnerability. The costs to stay stuck are high. Be willing to see where you might be off course without judgment. Remember, judgment and discernment are different. One is constructive, the other is destructive. Next focus on what you want . What's your desired outcome? Use your imagination to build the bridge in the gap between where you are and also from the goal ("end"). ~ What do you need to do? ~ Who do you need to be? If you can create it in your mind, you can create it in the world. While it may look different as you build and take each step... you'll be moving forward... Find the courage to take the first step. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to LOOK at where you are stuck and have been ignoring or delaying. Examine the situation with a neutral eye from multiple angles. What is your desired and designed outcome? CHOOSE the first step ... which might just be reaching out to someone for coaching. Have the courage to take that ACTION step. If you need support or resources... reach out . The world needs you and your brilliance. 

When you move into 2025 without properly closing out 2024, it’s like trying to hit a bullseye on a dartboard with a blindfold on. You might hit your target, yet your chances are slim that you’ll pull off a real win. Why? Because without a close-out process, you unconsciously bring things that didn’t serve you in the past into the future . Most people want more out of life than they currently have: More health More happiness More success More meaning Yet they fool themselves into thinking they’re winning by setting their sights on the bullseye. However, they never realize they’ve still got the blindfold on. They rely on sheer effort, throwing enough darts in the air or working extra hours, believing that’s how they’ll get ahead. So they keep hustling and muscling through. Or they stack up a few random wins and foolishly build their foundation like a house of cards resting on unsteady ground, destined to crumble. I’ve seen it happen over and over again… Watching top performers in their industry rack up lucky wins—only to lose it all: Burning out Getting sick Bankrupting their life physically, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, and financially No one thinks it will happen to them. There are four questions that can help you take the blindfold off and begin mapping out a real plan rather than relying on lucky shots. With these questions, you’ll: Get what you want with ease See clearly what you’re building and why Have the confidence to work smarter, not harder We dive into these four questions at the Upside Summit — and on our bonus call before you even set foot in the room. Sign up now at www.UpsideSummit.com While it’s still early in the year, take the time to ensure you aren’t caught with a blindfold on in 2025. ACTION: The Upside Challenge of the Week is to take time to close out 2024. ~ What do you want to leave behind? ~ What do you want to carry forward? ~ What do you want to create in 2025? If you want to take a deeper dive and learn about the 4 powerful questions that will help you map out a solid foundation, sign up for my last Upside Summit at www.UpsideSummit.com . Invest wisely by investing in yourself. The world needs you and your brilliance.

"I’m scared..." ~ “I’m scared to take the leap of faith.” ~ “I’m scared to dream big.” ~ “I’m scared to do what I get is mine to do.” ~ "I'm scared of what people will think." ~ “I’m scared to pick up the phone.” ~ “I’m scared my kids will hate me.” And the list goes on and on. I've heard the phrase "I'm scared" thousands of times in coaching sessions. In other words, “I’m scared I’ll get it wrong or worse, I’m scared to FAIL.” When it comes to doing what YOU'RE CALLED TO DO, ... what you're MEANT to do, ... everyone gets the jitters. Yes, even the BEST in their class get nervous. Several years ago, I was asked to facilitate the annual conference for a community of global influencers where I was a board member. After selecting a team, we created an agenda and mapped out the speaker line-up choosing experts that were seasoned stage veterans. One speaker built -- and sold -- a 10-figure business. One speaker had millions of views for her TedX talk and was in the middle of writing a book that became a NY Times Best Seller. Another speaker had presented at countless Fortune 100 companies. At the event, EVERY SINGLE speaker got offstage and asked me or someone on my team for feedback on how they did – and if their presentation was "alright", fearing they got it wrong. I was shocked. And yet, it's not all that surprising. I've done the same thing, questioning my gifts and abilities. When you are COMMITTED to your calling, you understand you’ll FEEL THE FEAR and do it anyway. If fear has been holding you back ~ from a promotion, or ~ crippling you in your business, and/or ~ keeping you from making your mark on the world, it just may be time to make a change. One big thing to understand is that excitement and nervousness register very similarly in the body, and sometimes it's hard to tell the difference between the two. Successful leaders recognize their commitments are more important to listen to than the voices or sensations of fear. They get that nerves are part of the calling. Rising leaders can re-label fear to be excitement. Allow yourself to envision with excitement and anticipation the possibilities that are waiting to unfold on the other side of an action. Practice being fear-less by being pulled by possibility. COMMIT to what's yours to do, your Divine mission and purpose. ...because the world needs you. It needs what you have to say and what you -- and only you -- are called to accomplish. Take the leap of faith. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to pick ONE action per day this week that stretches your growth edges. Decide that fear is no longer an option ... because the world needs you and your brilliance, now more than ever. See Upside. Be Upside. Lead Upside.

If God gave you a mission, purpose, and calling, don't you think He also would have given you the time to fulfill it?!? How often do you convince yourself that tomorrow will be more convenient to step into what you already understand you’ve been called to do? You act as if time is on your side, and you can negotiate with the clock. Yep. Coming in hot today. Maybe this truth stings—because deep down, you know it’s real. You know how easy it is to fall into the trap of 'later,' thinking you’ll have endless chances to fulfill the purpose set before you. Here's the thing: Time doesn’t owe you anything. You’re given this moment, right now, with the capacity to make something extraordinary happen. Don’t waste your precious minutes. Every second you put off what you’re meant to do is a second lost—forever. And tomorrow? It’s not guaranteed. What if the opportunity you delay today is the very thing that would change the trajectory of your life—or someone else’s? What if the Divine mission you’ve been entrusted with holds the answer someone in the world has been desperately waiting for? You’re here for a reason. The world needs your brilliance, your vision, your gift. That calling on your life isn’t accidental—it’s purposeful, and it’s waiting for you to step up. So don’t put off for tomorrow what’s yours to do today. Lean in, trust the process, and remember: You were made for this moment. ACTION: The Upside Challenge this week is to identify ONE task that you've been procrastinating on—something that you know is important and have kept delaying. It could be a project, a conversation, a decision, or even a personal commitment. Write it down. Then, take action on it immediately. No overthinking, no excuses. Start with the smallest possible step today and commit to moving it forward every single day this week. At the end of the week, reflect on how taking that step impacted not only the task but also your mindset and sense of purpose. Remember: Your time is a gift. Use it wisely 

The desire for money often comes from a need to pay for a life you’ve probably already created. This means most folks operate all day long in survival mode. They've got bills to pay, and they only work so they can pay those bills. The latest phone Cable Fancy hair products/lotions Special rims A sweet ride Fast food and junk food Shoes, shoes, and more shoes! Designer duds The life they’ve created has come with a cost that’s so great, they can hardly breathe. How do I know this? Because I've been there. When you're in survival mode, you feel like there's no way out. I wanted to change my situation, yet it seemed everything that could help me felt like it was just going to be another bill. So I stayed right where I was until my first coach challenged me. I told her I couldn’t afford her coaching. She asked me if she should call me in a year. I asked her why. She said, " because we had this same conversation last year, and you're in the same place. " Ouch. See, like most folks, I was stuck in a cycle of poverty that had nothing to do with what I had and everything to do with what was going on inside of me. So I signed up to work with her. That was 18 years ago, and an $18k investment. At the time, I felt like I was in a sinkhole, yet I made my money back in 3 months. And not how you think. See, most folks will work all day to make money to pay for a life they don't really love. I have listened to thousands (not hundreds) of stories over the past two decades and given folks solutions to move forward. Often, when I offer to help in a bigger way and show them how to remove their obstacles, I’ll get folks telling me they don’t have the money. Sure, they’ll go on vacation or buy a new car, or go shopping, just not invest in themselves. I didn’t have the money either. And I found a way. Over time, I’ve learned it’s never about the money. It’s always about your habits, what you're truly committed to, and what you're willing to do to get what you want. In order for me to move from surviving to thriving, I had to get into the right environment. You don’t ever see eagles hangin’ out with pigeons. And remember, the world needs you and your brilliance. ACTION: The Upside Challenge this week is to take a close look at your spending habits. Is there something you consistently pay for that doesn’t add significant value to your life? It might be that daily coffee run, a streaming service, or impulse buys that feel good in the moment yet is not truly contributing to your growth. Now, instead of just cutting back, challenge yourself to redirect that money toward an investment in your personal development. For example, if you spend $50 a month on fast food, consider using that money to purchase a book that expands your thinking, sign up for a webinar, or put it toward coaching that helps you break free from survival mode. The key is to shift your mindset from paying bills for things you don’t truly need to investing in experiences, tools, or education that will fuel your growth. What can you give up today to make room for something greater tomorrow?

What do you wish you had more of? ~ Time? ~ Energy? ~ Money? ~ Sex? ~ Intimacy? ~ Faith? ~ Organization? ~ Trust? ~ Love? How you answer these questions gives you information about the next right action to take in your life …because you can’t move towards what you want if you can’t clearly identify what it is. You can’t fix what’s not working if you’re not clear on what is working or where you’re headed. See, most people have a CLARITY issue(s) in their life or business. This is the necessary superpower to build a VISION... which is one of the 3 elements of being a leader worth following. Lack of it is also one of the biggest reasons why businesses fail. Lots of people think they’re clear. Phrases such as: ~ Make money ~ Financial freedom ~ Generational wealth are ambiguous. And you can't take action and be “mostly committed". That phrase is an oxymoron. (interestingly, the word oxymoron is from the root word "moros" meaning, "foolish") You are either committed or not. Real clarity comes from doing the work to EMBODY what you want – after you decide what that is. Live your commitment in the form of action. For me, it's all about living out my Divine mission, purpose, and calling. To create a focused plan to achieve what you want, you have to see it, smell it, taste it, hear it, touch it, and feel it. Most people only have a vague idea of what they want. Very vague. And, from this place, they will create what I like to call a “loose strategy" or "lose strategy"... because you can’t win BIG when you're vague. When pressed about where they’re headed, they give generic answers that sound like gibberish… or perhaps tell you a rote story they’ve repeated 100 times that means nothing. Clarity is something that oozes out from you. When you are clear on where you’re going, your level of FOCUS is very high... ... so that the WHY, the deep motivation that drives where you're going has you morph and integrate into what you’re moving towards before it becomes a reality. This is how your vision, when it comes to fruition, includes you in it. That’s what happened last week when I was at the range. I was clear about the outcome – and laser-focused on my why. It also happens in my business every morning when I open my eyes...as I'm crystal clear on my target, ready to take focused action. If there are items on your list right now that you want more of...increase your FOCUS to get CLEARER. Identify your WHY and map out your strategic plan on how to get there – wherever your envisioned "there" is. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to identify some of your ambiguous language around what you want. Get clear on what you REALLY want. See it, hear it, smell it, taste it, touch it in your mind's eye. Practice refining the vision daily. Take steps accordingly. Your time is now. The world needs you and your brilliance, now more than ever. Go shine your light.

What keeps most folks stuck isn’t what you’d expect. When I talk to other leaders, fear doesn’t even make the top 3. Did you know that lack of focus is the #1 killer of health, happiness, success, and meaning? Isn’t that incredible?! You’ve got to have clarity, with a dose of courage, to create anything worthwhile. Ask me how I know. I’d been on a merry-go-round, going in circles... until I chose to give 100% of my energy to my divine mission. Then, things came together like gorilla glue and plastic. And because I work with folks who are often standing at a crossroads, this realization can be debilitating, paralyzing, or freeing — yes, freeing. Most leaders want to improve. And to do better, you also need to understand where your people feel stuck. After focus is dialed in, the next hurdle is belief . Many struggle with the confidence to trust in themselves and their ability to create success. Isn’t that crazy?! It all comes down to trust. Trust in the ability to learn something new and then go achieve it. Yet most people confuse a lack of belief with the fear of failing. Very few people are truly afraid of failure. Everyone fails at something every day. That’s not the issue. The real challenge is believing and trusting that when you get it wrong, you’ve got the ability to try again and succeed next time. And that it will be different. That’s why I openly share my losses and wins with clients and on stage — because no one gets it right every day. The courage to keep moving forward without shame is rare. The third thing that keeps people stuck is a lack of connection . I’ve written several books on this topic. Over the years, I’ve met so many folks who struggle with relationships. They have too few friends or surround themselves with people who don’t challenge them to be better. Your immediate circle drives whether you’ll lose or win at just about everything. As someone who minored in sociology in college, I’ve read countless studies on how your life outcomes are determined by the company you keep. Lastly, lack of partnershi p quietly kills a meaningful life. You’ve got to have a partner on your personal growth journey — someone you can rely on to be impartial and who’s got your back. When I work with clients, I tell them they can borrow my belief in them whenever they’re struggling. And, together, we move forward. ACTION: The Upside Challenge for the week is to take 15 minutes to identify one area where you feel stuck—whether it’s in your health, relationships, or career—and ask yourself if the root cause is really fear, or if it’s something deeper like lack of focus, belief, or connection. Choose one of these areas to improve and take one bold step forward: remove a distraction if focus is the issue, remind yourself of a past success to boost belief, or reach out to someone who can support your journey if you’re lacking connection. Notice the shift and see what breakthroughs follow.

When Jim and I lived in California, we would drive to San Diego to watch football and play poker on Sunday afternoon with his friends. Watching a player go “all in” inspires me. Witnessing that moment when their RESOLVE and DETERMINATION come together, and they put all of their potential winnings on the line fascinates me. We all get the opportunity to do that every day. When you wholeheartedly COMMIT to your MISSION and CALLING, just like that poker move, you take a stand for what matters most to you. It’s a statement to the world that you’re willing to RISK IT ALL for the end result –> the fulfillment of your VISION. “ It is always your next move. ” - Napoleon Hill Regardless of your attitude or intention, the critical element in that statement is MOVE. Take ACTION. Going “all in” in poker is a BIG move - a POWER move. It can be risky - and it’s also one of the fastest ways to grow your winnings. Now, I’m not claiming to be an expert poker player. However, I have grown into being a masterful RISK TAKER which has increased my WINNINGS and produced rich rewards in my personal and professional life. Rather than saying “yes” to a comfortable life, taking the safe route, which would be easy-peasy, I often choose the ROAD LESS TRAVELED. - Moving from a slow-moving suburban area in Pennsylvania to the hustle and bustle of the NY Metropolitan area - Stepping out of a job in banking and creating a career in Federal law enforcement - Accepting assignments in my law enforcement career in various states and Puerto Rico, as well as a detail teaching at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center - Leaving the safety net of steady income to open a business - Uprooting every 5 years on average and never living anywhere longer than 9 years My list could go on and on… How about you? When given an opportunity, do you take a RISK? Are you willing to do WHATEVER IT TAKES going “ALL IN” to live out your mission & calling and to step into your big VISION? Risk-taking leads to GROWTH and POSSIBILITY – and diving into once-in-a-lifetime OPPORTUNITIES. I’ve never looked back at what I’ve done and regretted making a move, even when it didn’t turn out the way I envisioned. The truth is not whether you will die; it is whether you will decide to LIVE. Accept life’s challenges and risks as opportunities and doorways leading to a life filled with HAPPINESS, SUCCESS, and MEANING. Not sure where to start? 1 - Read a book outside your area of immediate interest. 2 - Hire the right coach to guide you. 3 - Accept an invitation to do something that makes you uncomfortable to expand your horizons. Leading Upside is about finding the possibilities in EVERYTHING you do in life. Practice saying “YES,” and then commit to going “ALL IN”. ACTION: The Upside Challenge this week is to identify three actions that feel risky, uncomfortable, or bold. Take one each week for the next three weeks. Seek support to follow through if needed. Track the possibilities, opportunities, and outcomes that these actions produce. ( Suggestion: For tracking, you can use a spreadsheet, calendar, or journal. ) Remember, life is CHANGE. Growth is optional. Choose wisely. The world needs you and your brilliance. Now more than ever.