I’ve always known what I wanted to do when I “grew up.” From football, to the NFL, to writing a book, to making money, speaking on stage and the list goes on.

At one point in my life I was 100% certain about what I wanted to do. In the past 4 years, last 2 years, last 12 months life has changed dramatically.

I’ve always held on to the entrepreneurial dream of creating businesses, working for myself and enjoying the finer things of life. Workshops, seminars, symposiums and keynote assignments were an everyday thing. The last real job I had was as a New England Patriot.

After I lost everything (homes, cars, money, business) I met a master of internet marketing and gave two and a half years of my life to the industry. I’ve learned much from speakers, trainers, and my bank account can prove the near $100,000 in tuition I’ve spent on bettering myself and increasing my value.

Yet somewhere deep inside my soul there was an empty and cold space. I tried to fill it with money, with achievement, with adventure and with knowledge. Nothing worked. I’ve traveled well. I’ve driven expensive cars, lived in big homes and have spent time with people in “high” places.  I’ve also had as little as $4.50 in my bank account wondering how I would feed my little family.

We also had our cars repossessed, homes foreclosed on and even went through a period of time where we lived on EBT. I have great empathy and a deep understanding for folks who hit the “depression” mode. I was there. I know what it feels like.

In Christian scripture reference is often made to the “wilderness.” This represents a test, a time of chastening and growth. The wilderness always came before the “promised land.”  For some the wilderness was relatively short, 1 year maybe 8 years. For others, it was as long as 40 years.

The past four years have been a wilderness for me.  Income has dramatically shifted up and down.  I’ve moved my family in and out of very big homes to very small townhomes to apartments and everything in between. It’s been an exciting journey. It’s been a trying time. Even better than that, it’s been a time of divine tutoring from a God who knows all.

We are taught that we get what we search for and whatever it is we are looking for, we will eventually find it. I have been searching. And it has only been when my heart was truly humbled when I was ready to move out of the wilderness and into a preparatory state to receive greater things in life that God intended me to fulfill.

God will guide you if you will let Him. Life isn’t easy for anyone. Regardless of how good life is, the challenges, hardships and difficulties will come. We all will face multiple “wildernesses” and no matter what we do, it will try our souls and stretch our spirits. Loss of loved ones, physical sickness, sudden death and financial turmoil come to everyone.

Turn your life over to God. All the self help gurus out there are good. All the books are good. I believe many of them become answers to our prayers. But there comes a time when we are stripped of everything and it becomes a matter of being able to consecrate and give everything to Him.

It’s one thing to believe in God. It’s another thing to actually believe God.

Let Him guide you. Don’t give up. Don’t give in. From ancient scripture to modern day stories of hope, inspiration and miracles, if all else fails, He will not. Hold on.

I’ve taken the past 3 months off from working and spent it with my wife and kids. We are expecting our third child and my wife basically goes into sleep mode. I’m grateful God has allowed me to be in a position where my time and attention could be spent on laundry, cooking, cleaning, shopping, bathing my boys daily and taking care of my wife.

I took time off of blogging, working, writing, reading and working out to pay attention to things that matter most. I spent less time on Facebook and other Social Media outlets. I actually did a media fast where I spent no time on line. What a blessing that was. We become to busy with good things that we forget the great things.  After all the enemy of great is not evil. The enemy of great is good.

It has been through my wilderness of affliction that I’ve discovered some powerful truths about who I am and what lies ahead of me.

“Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.” John Wooden

Is it possible to go through the wilderness and become a more humble and more patient contributor to society? Or is becoming “hardened” inevitable?  The choice is ours.

If we are willing to be led by the Master Creator, He will guide us to our specific “promised lands” where we will have our greatest impacts and contributions.

It’s never too late to change course.

Setema

In God We Trust...But Do We Really?

Life has been hard lately. Wait…life has been extremely hellish lately. And when I say lately I mean like well over a year. Well over several years.

Not that I haven’t had joy in my wife, my sons, my relationship with God and with others. But I’ve faced something that I have never faced before.

I’ve been through some tough trials. In college I remember experiencing five shoulder surgeries over the course of my college football career.  I remember not being in the NFL during the summer of 2001 but finally ended up with the New England Patriots and we know how that ended.

I remember recently in the past 5 years losing everything and having financial armageddon destroy our path to moving several times, selling possessions and asking within myself “Oh God, where are thou?”

I’ve seen the hand of God guide my family and I through it all. I know He is real. I know God lives and that he is our father in Heaven and that He loves us.  I know He has a plan for us. I know He has a plan for me. I know He has a plan for you.

This post is going to be different from the rest. I’ve not holding anything back. I’m not going to tip toe around the “being politically correct” cones hoping that I don’t offend anyone. I’m also not going to use generic terms.

I’ve been going through HELL lately and it’s really tested me.  I’ve been depressed, discouraged and even hopeless at times. Hmmm, doesn’t sound like the Setema that I know.  I hope this post helps you if you feel the same way that I feel.

God is real. He has a plan for us. I know we lived before we came here. I also know we will live again when we die from this mortal probation.

Let’s face it…If you’re not rising early in the morning…you’re broke.

Maybe that’s an exaggeration but it’s close.

Some of the richest, most wealthiest and most spiritual men throughout history attribute much of their success to this one principle: Early to bed, early to rise.

I wrote a blog about this entitled Climbing The Mountain.

Back to the basics. Until the end of the year the challenge is on.  It’s an honor code type of deal. So what do you do at 6:30 AM? You read, you pray, you exercise, you write in your journal, you meditate and you let the Spirit guide you.

If your life doesn’t change I’ll personally give you $1000 worth of courses that I’ve created or other programs that I’ve personally bought and used.

It works. It’s powerful. You’ll have more clarity. You’ll have greater energy. You’ll have clearer views to solve problems.  You’ll only know if you do the challenge with us.

If you’re in leave a comment below.

Time to get back to the basics. Time to be better. Time to tighten the ship and finish the 4th quarter strong.

Make it happen.

Setema

Opposition will sometimes feel like this.

All successful people know without a doubt that GOAL SETTING is crucial for a fulfilling life.  “The ability to set and achieve goals is the greatest skill you can develop” said Brian Tracy.

But what most beginning goal-setters don’t realize is that when you set a goal and commit to it…the opposition will raise hell. 

And it’s not just that you’ll face opposition. Oh yes, you will face tremendous opposition. But more than facing it, the opposition will rear its ugly head to destroy you.

It plays no favorites.  It doesn’t care if you’re black, white, brown or yellow.

It doesn’t care if you were born in the ghetto, the islands or in the richest hospitals.

OPPOSITION DOESN’T CARE if you’ve set your goal, committed to it, created a plan of action and it certainly doesn’t care if you have a Tony Robbins, Brian Tracy or Spiritual Minister in your corner. Opposition could care less if God ordained you to do a great work. 

It just doesn’t care. It has a job to do and like a Jack Bauer who is relentless in doing his job for good, Opposition is relentless in stopping you from becoming your greatest self.

What you must understand about going after the life you want is this…

When you set a goal and commit to it…be prepared for hell.  It’s one of the unwritten rules about creating the life you truly want and love.

Opposition will lull you to sleep and make the smallest advances against you as if it didn’t exist.  It will carefully guide you down paths at times and then poison you in degrees when you’re unaware…and even when you are aware.

It will also put it’s shot gun in your face. One moment a water-gun and then the next a shot gun, 9 Millimeter or Smith and Wesson.  Opposition will reason with you like the world’s greatest lawyer and then stab you in the back once you’ve relaxed for a mere second.  Opposition is the greatest lawyer. It knows no rules. It will lie, cheat, steal and cry it’s way to your destruction.

I have need to repent and you may need to repent too.  Let me explain…

I’ve been vacationing for the past two weeks in Independence Missouri with my in-laws and the whole time I’ve been thinking about writing my new book, recording a new audio set for the door to door industry, and recruiting guys to be part of my team, and working out etc.

The problem with this…I am on vacation and I haven’t relaxed yet.

Why have I been “worrying” and “stressing” about business, books, creating value and the “future?”

Because somewhere in my mind there’s a belief that says “I need to be doing something all the time or else I am a failure” or “I have to be super productive right here right now all the time or else I’m not building my legacy.”

Yesterday I spent the day painting a home with my father in law. It was hot, humid and stuffy in the little home he’s been remodeling. And I asked myself “What principles can I pull out of this day of painting?”

I spent nearly 5 hours painting the walls, corners, ceiling and baseboards. Oh how I love to paint!

Fundamentals Are Everything

It reminded me of Karate Kid (the Original) and Daniel Laruso painting the fence. Mr. Miyagi had him wax on wax off, paint the fence, paint the house, sand the floor.

It was mundane arduous exercises that taught Karate Kid how to fight. It was basics, fundamentals. Of course at the point here Daniel is getting fed up with doing chores Mr. Miyagi shows him the outcome of all his arduous mundane work. Daniel goes on to become Karate Kid and of course 5 more Karate Kid movies were born.

In the game of football success comes from mastering the fundamentals, the basics.  Anytime people get to complex and complicated the advice is usually always “get back to the basics.”

In life, we can learn much from “paint the fence” and the simplicity of small and simple things. 

How can you get back to the basics in life to find happiness, joy and greater fulfillment?

Get back to the basics.

Get back to family and personal prayer.

Get back to getting to bed early and rising early.

Get back to saying thank you.

Get back to eating fruits and vegetables.

Get back to doing a good turn daily.

Get back to writing your goals down and reading them daily.

Get back to smiling.

Get back to enjoying the roses.

Get back to reading your kids a good night story.

Get back to eating dinner at the dinner table.

Get back to playing football outside, baseball in the sandlot and climbing trees.

Get back to the zest and romance in your marriage.

Get back to opening doors for people.

Get back to telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Get back to turning the other cheek.

Get back to being honest.

Get back to giving a good hard days honest work.

Get back to kissing your spouse and kids daily.

Get back to getting natural highs off of exercise, service and looking forward to great things.

Get back to making breakfast at home.

Get back to making dinner at home.

Get back to packing a good ole’ lunch.

Get back to admitting you don’t know everything.

Get back to doing what is right regardless of the consequence.

Get back to saying “I’m sorry” sooner than later.

Get back to forgiving.

Get back to fundamentals.

Get back to the basics.

“Aye Danielson…paint the fence…strong wrist, strong hand make good paint.”

I’m off to paint the house…

Click here to get my most Awesomeness Back to the Basics Package that will help you Paint the Fence

Setema

P.S. Can getting back to the basics really make a difference in our lives? Wise man once said “By the small and simple things great things are brought to pass.” What do you think? Chime in below.

You hear speakers talk about PASSION and being ON-FIRE and if you don’t have incredible passion all the time then something is wrong with you.

You see a billion dollar industry with the energy drinks Red Bull, Rock Star, Monster and 5 Hour Energy.

I used to think if I didn’t have incredible passion and energy that something was wrong with me. If I wasn’t incredibly excited or enthusiastic about what I was doing that maybe it wasn’t my calling in life or that I shouldn’t be doing it.

What I thought was true was merely only half true and half truths are lies.

You have to know when to burst, when to be on fire, when to have high incredible energy…and you have to know when to chill, when to sharpen the saw, when to relax and when to rest.

Have you ever seen a tornado, tsunami or hurricane? They don’t last forever. They are incredible bursts of energy. Have you ever seen someone stay on cruise control at a high level for a long time? That’s a good way to run yourself ragged and to wear yourself out.

It’s OK if you aren’t incredibly energetic and passionate all the time. It’s OK if you get bored. It’s OK if you aren’t always busy and doing something.

Athletes aren’t always in the best shape. There’s a peak period where they are at their best. Then there’s a period when they relax, chill and prepare their body to get in peak condition again.

If you think you need Red Bull in an IV then it’s time for you to chill out. Detox yourself from the fallacy of high passion all the time.

If on the other hand you have no passion and no excitement for anything…it’s time to put the defribrillators on and give your life a jolt.

“Red Bull” energy or ‘finite’ energy are limited.

How do you develop unlimited energy?

It probably doesn’t exist because we all need our rest, our sleep and our relaxation but the point I want to bring out is this…

When one has a deep abiding purpose in life, something more than just a fleeting goal, or temporary desire, the energy becomes lasting.

CAN YOU DIG DEEPER?

It’s more than a quick fix and more than an excitement. It’s a slow burning desire, a deep holy cause that burns slowly within your heart and soul. This is the difference between the tortoise and the hare. Most folks today (you might be one of them) are like hares. They drink a Red Bull, get excited, start a project, set a new goal and off they go. The problem…there’s no staying power.  They’ll run out of “energy” or “excitement” before they even start.

The tortoise is different. He or she knows WHY they do what they do. They know that the ‘compound effect’ will beat the quick fix energy drink crazy all the time. Not just some of the time…but all of the time.

Get clear about your purpose in life. Sit down with your spouse and review your goals. Write out the budget. Write down what you desire to accomplish in the next few months as a family. Write down what you want and equally important if not more important WHY you want to accomplish those things.

I don’t believe in ‘unlimited energy’ but I do believe in staying power and a deep abiding strength that allows us to endure.

Do you need to burst, or chill? Or do you need to find your deep holy cause for life that will give you ‘unlimited’ energy?

I’d love to hear your thoughts on this.

Leave me a comment below on what you do to increase energy or to really wind down and relax or if you’ve found a way to create an infinite source of staying power.

Setema

On a scale of 1-10…1 being I don’t want it at all and I don’t care about it…and 10 being I’ll do whatever it takes to get it…where do you sit on this scale when it comes to living your greatest version of your life…when it comes to your goals, your dreams, your passions?

When it comes to your body, your health, your looks, your weight…where are you on that scale?

Regarding money, financial wealth, abundance of resources…where are you on that scale?

For your deepest desires and dreams…for that flat screen TV…for that beautiful Mercedes Benz…for that Rambler Ranch home in the country…for that vacation to Disneyland with the kids…for everything you’ve ever wanted in your life..your legacy?

WHERE ARE YOU ON THE SCALE?

Determination = Always believing "it" is POSSIBLE!

I spent 5 months of this year walking, knocking and talking for Vivint. I was super focused and ready to make things happen in the door to door industry. I finished the year on a high. I hit many of my goals.  I was one of the top reps on my team and one of the top rookies in the company.

After 5 months of not working out in the gym my body became really soft. After 5 months of eating Ruffles Cheddar chips, McAllister’s, Chinese Buffets and drinking gallons of Red Bull my body has become anything but athletic…it’s quite sad.

So yesterday my wife says “let’s go to the gym…I found a bootcamp.”

You gotta understand my good wife. She plays basketball 3 times a week with former college greats and volleyball at least twice a week. While we were in Georgia she sought out professional athletic trainer Ryan Bowers of AthElite and trained there for 5 weeks each morning at 6am. She didn’t miss once.  Four years ago just after she gave birth to our first child she flew to Samoa and played basketball with the American Samoa National Team for Women’s basketball.  During the entire tournament my wife shot 100% from behind the arc. She’s baller status for sure.

During the workout this morning I wanted to cry.  Seriously…I was incredibly discouraged.

Two years ago I was 250 lbs of lean muscle and sitting at 12% body fat. I could dunk a basketball easily and my clothes fit great.  I used to say to myself “I’ll never let myself get out of shape.”  Fast forward 2 years…I look like I should be on the Biggest Loser.  No seriously…I think I could win Biggest Loser.

“I don’t have time to succeed.” “I’m just too busy.” “I have too many things to do.” “I don’t have time to attend a seminar, a workshop or even to read a book.”

Most of the folks who are wealthy didn’t have “success” handed to them. They created it. They took time to go after what they wanted. They made time. You can continue to make excuses and I know most of them are legitimate for example maybe your kids really are sick and you did stay up all night…or maybe you did get a speeding ticket which caused you to be late to the meeting…or maybe you don’t have money therefore you can’t buy the course you think would help you…whatever the excuse is…it’s just that, an excuse.

What Creators do in the moment is to take 100% responsibility and ask productive questions such as “where can I squeeze in a power nap?” or “how could I have planned better so that I didn’t have to speed and get a ticket?” or “how can I find or create the money so that I can buy the course that I want?”

Tony Robbins says they key to massive success is to ask better questions so that we’ll get better answers. I believe and know that to be true.  In my life when I ask powerful questions I get powerful answers.  Isn’t that what we’re all looking for…powerful answers to help us find the greatest version of the life we desire to live?

The fact is this: If you want something in your life, you must learn to sacrifice. Everyone has the same 24 hours. Those who experience massive success, breakthrough, joy, peace and fulfillment have learned how to create time for the things they truly want.

Your dreams, your goals, your aspirations are waiting for you.  How do I know that?  Because someone out there is living it and you can live yours too if you’ll go get it.

Setema