In our podcast this week, Scott and I talk about:

• Why it’s important that you  start hanging out w/ like-minded people

• The power of practicing adaptability & minimalism in travel and life in general

• How you can save money by traveling the world

• Ending relationships that are not beneficial to you (or the other person)

• “Downstream thinking” and long-term goals

• How to protect your most prized possession–your digital life/data

• My challenges re: getting “busted” doing AirBnB and being threatened with legal action on another issue

As always, feedback, questions and comments are welcome, so post your thoughts in the comment section below.

For those who prefer audio, you can download and take on the go, or listen below:

Links to some of things we talked about:

• Chris Guillebeau, author and blogger who at 35 years old has traveled to every country in the world.

• Maneesh Sethi, popular life-hacking blogger.

• The Village, an experimental live-in community of entrepreneurs located in Boulder, Colorado.

• Western Digital 2Tb Portable Hard Drive, that Scott used throughout Africa (along with this protective case), and what both of use regularly to store and move our data.

• Sentry Fire & Water-proof Safe, for protecting your hard drives and other important documents–just in case.

Talk soon,

What I said in the video:

“What’s happening folks!

Matt Horwitz, hope you’re well.

You’re a ship, you’re on the fuckin’ ocean, if you don’t have a destination, where do you think you’re going to end up?

Bear with me…. I know this analogy seems pretty stupid…

But, what’s even stupider is how many people don’t get this stupid analogy.

You need to have a fuckin’ vision, you need to have a direction, you need to have a goal, an end-point as so to where you’re heading…

Because if you don’t… you’re going to go all over the place, which is gonna waste a lot of your time and energy and have you experience all kinds of crazy stuff… and take you really far off from where you wanted to go.

A lot of people can get swayed in their life because some tells them, “Hey, you should do this!”, or, “Hey, can you help me with this?”… and they don’t know where the fuck going so they don’t know what to say “yes” to and what to say “no” to…

They don’t have a clear vision…

They don’t have an end-point…

They don’t know where they’re going.

How do you determine where you want to go in life?

It’s called your VALUES.

What is most important to you?

How do you uncover… how do you find out… how to discover… how do you define what your values are?

Because when you know what your value are… when you know what the fuck you’re mission… what you’re about… what your going towards…

When something comes in your way as a distraction, right?…. pooof! You just plow right through it…

You just keep going forward because you’re on a MISSION, you’re on your path… you know where you’re going… you have CLARITY and FOCUS… you have a destination point, alright?

Someone wants some of your time… this is like taking your ship and going in this direction… what do you say? No.

Why?

Because you know that what this person wants you to do… yea… what they’re asking of you, or what they want you to do does not align with your values… it does not take you where you want to go, so you say no.

And a lot of people think life is “hard”…

Well you know who has a hard time in life?…

Those that know the least.

So how do you know more in life?

You DIRECT your learning… you DIRECT your education… you UNCOVER, you FLESH OUT, you THINK ABOUT… you journal… you write… do whatever it takes to figure out what your values are so you can figure out the direction you’re heading into…

So that when things come up in life, you know what decisions to make because your decisions on based on the alignment… on going in the direction in where you want to go, okay?

Really simple analogy… really profound results.

Figure out what the heck you’re values are in life, and then know what will help you get there, right?

Someone says, “Hey, I got this new little engine-thing you can put on your ship that will help you get there faster.”

You’re like, “Hmmm… that aligns with where I’m going… yea, I’ll take that on.”

Somebody else is like, “Hey, well let me do this and blah blah blah”… and then they want to throw like a 40-pound sack of rocks on your ship.

You say “No, get the hell out of here… you’re not doing that,” ’cause it doesn’t align with your values.

Check out this video right here [pointing to video]… this video’s going to help you figure out… it’s kind of like a 14-minute exercise which I learned from somebody else and I’ve done it a few times…

Which will help you FIGURE OUT, through a series of questions that I ask you in the video, what your values are… and then when you figure out what those values are, you will be amazed my friends at what CLARITY will come from that in the months after….

So, you’re a ship…

Figure out the direction that you’re heading.

Alright, keep rockin’… talk to you soon!”

Peace,
-Matt Horwitz

Look… basically you need to fuckin’ DECIDE… make a damn decision about the direction you want to take your life and then you need to DO SHIT to move your ship in that direction….

If you’re not seeking out information, and if you’re not directed your own education, YOU’RE GOING TO LOSE…. you’re going to have a hard time.

All great people… those who live really dope and amazing lives… they ALL… THEY ALL READ BOOKS.

All of the friends, and the people I know who are DOING COOL SHIT… THEY ALL READ BOOKS.

It’s like the biggest, most obvious “secret” to success…

You need to learn as much as you possibly can my friends…

And then, do you know what you do after that… YOU FUCKIN’ LEARN SOME MORE!

It’s doesn’t stop.

You need to seek continual, never-ending improvement and development.

And if you don’t STEP UP… and if you don’t DIRECT that improvement, NO ONE ELSE WILL.

If you did nothing but just simply read books, your life will be completely different in just a few years (in a really dope, amazing way).

What I said in the video, just written out for you to read:

“Hey folks, what’s happening! Matt Horwitz, hope you’re well…

I wanted to share two concepts w/ you this morning..

Don’t mind the background noise, they’re working on the roof next door.

I want to talk to you about “Education vs. Entertainment” and “The Compound Effect”…

“Entertainment vs. Education” and “The Compound Effect”…

there’s not really many secrets out there to what it takes to…. to do what you want in life, to go after your dreams and desires, and make that happen…

One of the key differentiators between those who live an interesting, cool, amazing life, built around their passions, interests and desires, and those that live the pre-designed program…

… is that people in Group A… we’ll call this “Group A”, we’ll call this “Group B”.

People in Group A, those that lead and live really cool, amazing, dope lives, right?…

… they take their free time, and not all the time, 100% of the time, but they take the majority of their free time and spend it on education…

They spend it on learning… and I don’t mean you have to go to a university and shell out a degree…

But, self-directed learning, self-directed education…

I just found myself this morning… like, here it is… it’s Sunday morning, I’m reading a great book on business branding and marketing…

But people in Group A, they spend their free time on learning, on new experiences, on bettering themselves…

Where Group B, which unfortunately is the large majority of the population…. hopefully that’s not always the case in the future… they spend their free time on basically, bullshit entertainment.

So they’re really not fueling and feeding their minds, and their brains, and their ideas… they’re not in tune with their world, with their emotions, with their feelings…

And… it’s frankly just a pretty boring and bullshit path, right?

So if you watch my videos, I’m assuming that you’re either in Group A, or you’re heading in that direction.

And a lot people think that “successful” people… that people who do amazing… and big things, have all of these secrets, and it’s really just…

Very small… very profound… things, done consistently over time with The Compound Effect… this is the second thing I wanted to talk to you about…

The Compound Effect is basically… these little small actions, right?

This might not change my world, reading this book, but if I spend a couple Sundays a year reading…

Just that… just a couple Sundays a year reading, right?

Do you think takes a lot of work?…

No. It doesn’t.

Just a couple Sundays a year reading, alright? Compared to me not reading at all…

You take a guy who read and and a guy who didn’t read… 10 years later…

Which person, which version of me do you think is going to be in a better situation, right?

Think about it…

A ship heading east in the ocean, right?… if you change its course of direction 1 degree… just 1 degree, right?…

1 degree… that’s like reading 2 book a year, right?

You change that ship’s course of direction 1 degree… 2,000 miles later, it’s going to be on a whole other majestic island…

and do you where this guy’s going…

I don’t know… some fuckin’ boring tourist town or something… or he’s going to going to crash into a rock, right?

You get the metaphor, so…

Take your free time…

Make free time if you don’t have it…

And DIRECT your education and your learning into your interests, your passions, your desires, your goals…. and things that you want to CREATE in life…

AND… consistently… I’m not talking you gotta do this every day, or every week…

Just do it a couple times a month, right?

But… let that kick in, over a number of years… and the compound effect… which equates to exponentional growth, right?

It’s a curve that goes like this… where as linear growth is just…. you know…

Actually that wasn’t a good example, but linear growth is… is not so much like this, rather….

Scratch that…

Exponential is more powerful… where linear… ahhhh…. forget the linear/exponential shit… I just totally screwed that up and I don’t feel like shooting this video again and editing….

Forget whatever the heck I was saying there, but…

You get the point of this video, right? You get the point of the message…

Damn, I really wanted to get that exponential thing correct, but whatever…

‘Cause I was like, “Oh yea, this one… but this one’s much worse”… and I was like, “Oh shit, it’s going higher”… scratch it.

So… spend your free time and direct your education…

Like, it’s really not that hard guys, it’s really not that hard to go on Amazon.com, spend $10 book… read this for a few hours… and shit, you’re life’s gonna be fuckin’ better…

You’re going to be able to do stuff you want to do, and I’m using this sort of language and emphasis, and emotion, and enthusiasm because….

Because I meet a lot of people who aren’t doing anything fuckin’ interesting with their life…

And they think it’s really hard… and they…. it’s because they’re not… they’re not EDUCATING THEMSELVES… they’re not reading books….

They’re not reading blogs… they’re not listening to podcasts… they’re not listening to audiobooks… they’re not going to seminars and events, and meetups….

They’re not doing things to take their life and move it in a good direction.

So… hope this message resonates with you…

If it does, what can you do in your life to take the direction of your ship and steer it, at least 1 degree into something that’s going to be much better…

So… keep rockin’ my friends, I hope you’re well.

Self-directed education… it’s one of the “secrets”… it’s really not a secret… just fuckin’ read books.

Talk to you soon, be well, peace.”

Read books my friends… direct your education.

-Matt Horwitz

What you can hear above, just written out:

>> MATT: Hey folks! what’s happening? Hope you’re well.

Did you ever hear somebody tell you this? “Oh yeah, but he’s so talented” or, but you know “you’re young that’s why you can do that,” or “you’re old that’s why you can do that,” or “you have money that’s why you can do that,” or “you have blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, that’s why you can do this and this and that.”

Do you know what happens when people do that, do you know what’s really taking place? They’re giving their power away. Right?

Listen up, don’t give your fucking power away. Stop making up excuses about “oh, this person can do that.” It’s not that you’re making up excuses and such, it’s that you’re giving yourself an excuse to not do something that somebody else was able to do.

Look, I don’t care where somebody is located, how old they are, how successful, unsuccessful, how creative, how analytical, how whatever they are – if somebody else has done something – I don’t give a shit what you think or where you are, you can do it too!

And if you don’t think you can, it’s because you’re attaching yourself to a limiting belief, and if you really want to keep it, I’ll let you keep your limiting belief, but I tell you, you can probably do a lot better if you drop it and work on your mindset.

Because I guarantee you, if you’re telling me this person can do it because they got more money, because they’re stronger, because they’re bigger, they’re taller, they’re skinnier, they’re whatever, right?

What was I just saying about that point…

Don’t give your power to that. Don’t give your power to those excuses because I guarantee you, I guarantee you, I can find somebody out there who’s in a worse situation than you are and they fuckin’ made it happen. They made it happen.

Do you know why?

Probably because they worked on their mindset, probably because they changed their beliefs and started to read information and hangout with people who supported their values.

Probably because they decided to look into what they’re values were. Instead of always comparing themselves to other people and making up excuses why they can’t do this and they can’t do that.

I’m walking past this really cool building and there’s this really – “aaawww hello kitty”… never mind… he’s scared – so that’s pretty much just my little thought here.

Don’t give your power away. Don’t give your power away.

Humans inherently all have similar and intrinsic characteristics, traits etc. And never be envious or jealous of somebody else. You know how you reframe that? You be fuckin’ inspired. And you change your mind set to say “Hey, if they did that? I can do that!”

Right?

Albert Einstein is probably not much different than you? Except that he just decided to change his thoughts, his beliefs, his attitudes, and then start taking action in that direction, and what happened? The compound effect, like that happens with everything.

You give it time, you keep doing it, it becomes more and more powerful… it just basically, it’s a multiplier.

And you can have a multiplier in the negative direction, or a multiplier in the positive direction because there’s plenty of people I know who are like in their forty’s and their fifty’s, or whatever age, thirties, sixty’s, seventy’s, eighty’s, maybe you’re ninety years old, right?

And they still think that “life is hard” or “you can do that because you’re young”… you know what, and they’ve been hanging to that belief so long. And again, if you really want to hang on to your limiting beliefs, if you really want to argue against yourself, I mean keep it if you want.

It’s fucking stupid in my opinion but you’re free to do whatever you want, but if you’ve listened this far, maybe something makes sense. Maybe you should stop giving your power away and start thinking about how you can generate power. How you can tweak your mindset just a little bit, right?

Think about it… a ship going east if it changes its direction one degree, it’s going to end up in a very different place, 2,000 miles from now. Small changes always lead to big changes.

If you can steer the direction of your attitude just a degree or two in a different direction, my friends, in a few years that will make the fuckin’ difference between you enjoying and living the fantastic life, or you being like those negative, miserable person that nobody wants to hang around.

So, stop giving your power away. Stop making up excuses for why you can’t do something and somebody else could and never be envious or jealous of what somebody else did and only be inspired.

And then because they did it, create the mindset that ,“damn, if someone else can do it, I can do it too”.

Video:

Audio: Listen below or [download] the MP3 to take it on the go !

Rob’s Work/Sites…

• @robhanly - (rob’s twitter)

• 90DaysofGrowth.com – (how to gain the foundations of muscle mass, for skinny guys)

• FierceForLife.com – (fitness for women, by Lau Hanly)

• RobHanly.com - (business, consulting and writings)

• ADDucation.com - (overcome ADHD without medication)

• OnlyBodyWeight.com – (workouts without the gym)

• TheMuscleMaxims.com - (muscle and confidence building for skinny guys)

Music…

• Flume - (this song is dope!)

• Watsky – (an inspiring & quick-speaking and slick performer)

• Paul Oakenfold

• Songza.com – (listen to music based on your mood and location)

• Grooveshark.com - (another music listening tool… I forget how it works and I’m too tired to look it up)

Influential Books…

• Atlas Shrugged, by Ayn Rand

• Think & Grow Rich, by Napoleon Hill

• The 48 Laws of Power, by Robert Greene

• Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card

• Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions, by Dan Ariely

• Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, by Robert Cialdini

Until next time, keep rockin’ !

-Matt Horwitz, Scott Brills and Rob Hanly

Video:

Audio: Listen below or [download] the MP3 to take it on the go !

Check out Warren & Betsy’s latest book, “Dream, Save, Do“!

Or, swing by their blog, Married With Luggage !

Other Items Mentioned…

• The Matrix

• “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer

• “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” by Robert Kiyosaki

• “The Tao of Leadership” by John Heider

• Books that inspired/influenced me

Key Takeaways…

• Look for opportunities in life, put yourself out there and ask good questions.

• When you get rid of clutter, you can fill that space with new experiences.

• A dream without a deadline is dead.

• Enlist others in your goals to help you through the ups and downs.

• The more you talk about your dreams the more they become real.

• There is great power in self-directed education and life-long learning.

• Do you want to live a life that in constructed by other people and you play by those rules, or do you want to make your own rules in life?

Until next time, keep rockin’ !

-Matt Horwitz and Warren & Betsy Talbot

Man, what a morning…

In the span of 10 minutes, I lost an $800-$1,000/month income stream and I got a letter threatening me with a lawsuit.

Oh, and some other lovely stuff too (see below)…

I received 2 (legally threatening) “It has come to our attention” letters in the same day.

Everything shifted in the matter of 10 minutes…

When Life Throws You Lemons, What Do You Do?

Here’s the first letter… hand-delivered from my landlord today…

“It has come to our attention that you have unauthorized people living in your apartment and are subletting part of your unit.  As per your signed lease, you acknowledge that subletting is not allowed without prior written consent of the landlord.

Demand is hereby made that you remedy the non-compliance within seven (7) days of receipt of this notice or your lease shall be deemed terminated and you must vacate the premises.”

Why does this suck?

Well because I’ve been renting out my extra bedroom on AirBnB.com, a website where you can rent your home, spare bedroom, extra couch, etc. to travelers.

Not only have I been meeting cool people from all over the world, but my rent, for the past few months, has pretty much been $0.  Some months, I’ve even turned a profit.

Now that’s over and I have to pay rent all by myself!  

This is unusual for me.

I sell real estate (as a Realtor®) and invest in property as well, so I’m always looking for ways to generate “cashflow”.

That just took away $800-$1,000/month in income and now I need to fill that source…

… which is a bummer, since I haven’t had to look for part-time work (while I build my businesses) because of the creative lifestyle I have [offsetting expenses and building creative sources of income].

This is what I did when I lived in Philadelphia… I leased a 7-bedroom house near a University, and then I subletted all the remaining 6 bedrooms to undergraduate students, graduate students and young professionals.  I pretty much didn’t pay rent for 3+ years.

Shortly after this letter arrived, I received an email with a scanned document which arrived at one of my Pennsylvania addresses…

“It has come to our attention that you are using an image (or images) represented by [company name] for online promotional and/or editorial purposes.  We have searched our records and have not been able to locate a valid license for the use of the image(s) under your company’s name.  Attached is a copy of the image(s) in question along with the usage found on your company’s website….

… Total Due Upon Receipt: $875.00″

Damn, this sucks!

In the Frequently Asked Questions of the letter, it says:

Q: What if I remove the images?  Could I simply consider the matter closed?

A: While we appreciate the removal of our represented images from your website, removal of the images alone does not settle the matter.  Since your company has already infringed the copyright by using the images without a valid license, our photographers are entitled to compensation for their work.  Therefore, [company name] will continue to pursue settlement of the demand.  We are seeking payment for the unlicensed use of the images, and would be happy to work with you on correctly licensing any future use.

Damn, this really sucks!

Since I build and teach people how to use websites, I get this question a lot: “Where should I get images from?”

(most people just use photos they don’t have rights to)..

I tell people it’s really up to their level of comfort (and how risky they want to be).

I’ve even told people, “I’ve never had any issues…”

I’m such an ass LOL!

I even told one of my assistants, “Just use any images you want, and then if something happens, I’ll start buying the rights to photos.”

Smart-ass me thought I wouldn’t be effected.

Instead of just spending the $1-$3 per image, now I have to pay $875.00…

… I also have to go through multiple websites and not only remove images, but find (and pay for) their replacements.

More Lemons

Paying the Mortgage…

To further talk about “lemons”, about an hour ago, I got a phone call from my property manager.

We’ve been trying to rent one of my 3-bedroom homes in Philadelphia.

The house has been sitting vacant since October 2012 (it’s currently April 2013… that’s 6 months of vacancy… and of me paying the mortgage!)

“Matt, I’ve showed this place over 30 times and we’ve only got two (poor) applications.  We need to go ahead and paint the unit.  I’ll send my guy out there and get you a quote this week.”

This will easily be $1,000+

Dental Work…

Oh, by they way, I got braces about 5 months ago.
It’s crazy how fast they work… here’s a photo from 3 moths ago!

While I’m on the topic of venting about financial frustrations, I went to the dentist to get my teeth cleaned recently…

… turns out I have 6 cavities.  Six!

WTF ?!

Here I was thinking I was all healthy and that I’ve been taken care of my body (I don’t drink soda, I don’t eat candy and I stay away from poor-quality food), and it turns out I have 6 cavities.

Price: $900.  Damn!

Furthermore, I have a mesioden (extra tooth) in my upper gumline which I need to get surgically removed… that will most likely be expensive.

Taxes

And to top it all off, I have taxes which I must pay in the next 2 weeks.

What Have I Learned From All This?

No matter what happens, I can choose my reaction/response.

It’s good to be honest and upfront when you’re caught.  I owned up to the consequences.

I realized I need to start making more money and then saving it for unexpected expenses.

I’ve already cancelled the 8 reservations I had on AirBnB and I’ve dealt with the reality that I no longer can have that as an income source (at least not at this property).

I called the landlord and told them I will no longer be having travelers here.

I was honest when I spoke with them, I didn’t beat around the bush… I told them, “Yes, I was making money and renting the room out.”  I told them I understand their situation and the neighbor’s situation (some suspicious neighbors reported me after seeing the frequency of guests with large suitcases coming and going), and that I’ll take care of it.

I going to contact the “photo company” and see if I can negotiate the $875 pay-off.

I’m no longer just going to use images without purchasing the rights.

I’m going to start saving the money to get my cavities taken care of.

I feel that no matter what happens, life is here to teach us lessons and to help us grow.

When Life Throws You Lemons, What Can You Do?

1. Accept the reality (unless you can change it)

2. Learn as much as you can

3. Remedy the situation(s)

4. Move forward (don’t dwell on how things were for too long)

5. Don’t forget to bring the lessons learned with you ;)

Keep rockin’, no matter what gets in your way!

-Matt Horwitz

Video:

Podcast: Listen below or [download] the MP3 to take it on the go !

Items Mentioned…

• Pu-erh tea - (some cool tea)

• Teavana.com - (website where Scott purchases tea)

• Yerba Maté (tea) - (tea from Argentina… my buddy Eyal first introduced me to this in ’06)

• Tropical MBA - (guys who’ve got a cool biz running in Thailand)

• Foolish Adventure - (helping you create an online business)

• Chris Guillebeau - (a role model of mine… has visited every country in the world before he turned 40)

• Brian Thompson & the DIY Daily Podcast - (this guy’s daily podcast rocks)

• Derek Siver’s videos - (short animated videos that make you think)

• Transcendent Man - (this movie gets me excited to be alive… we’re about to ride the real-time technical-evolutionary wave… you in?)

• King Corn - (opened my eyes to power of corn… I know understand why people say, “grass-fed beef/butter”)

• Michael Jordan hall of fame inauguration - (this is the stuff I watch for motivation)

• Mark Sisson (paleo diet) - (saw this guy speak in 2010 at the 21 convention… he’s 58 with a 6-pack)

• Matt’s Personal Development Meetup (in Miami) - (first meetup this weekend… 10+ people rsvp’d)

• Skip Winter Conference - (scott’s gang of digital/lifestyle entrepreneurs)

• Dynamite Circle - (‘pay to play’ group of young entrepreneurs making it happen)

Until next time, keep rockin’ !

-Matt Horwitz & Scott Brills

I just got an email from someone I used to work with:

“Hey Stranger. How are you. I see your in Florida now. I want your life. You travel so much. What’s your secret?”

My reply was this: 

Simple secret: I figure out what my values are and I make it a priority to create a life around them. I direct my education and consume helpful information. I face fears and push myself to grow.

All the info is out there to learn anything we want. Always work on yourself. Inner success is the key to the outer :)

Matt

I Thought I’d Add A Few More Things…

1. I don’t fuck around… I know my time here is limited.  I want to learn, grow and experience as much as possible.

2. I read a lot of books.

3. I consume a lot of educational and inspirational content: documentaries, audiobooks, podcasts, newsletters, blogs, etc.

4. I attend seminars, events, retreats, expos, conferences, masterminds and I create meetup groups around topics of interest.

5. I travel often.  Putting myself in new environments where I’m forced to adapt pushes me to evolve.

6. I also meet lots of people and I’m constantly exposed to new ideas and new ways of living.

7. I realize that most people live in a fuckin’ bubble and never step outside of their home town, their social circle of shitty friends, or their thoughts and ideas.

8. I realize I’m not like most people.

9. Working on yourself is the real key to success.

10. Your thoughts really do become things.  If you don’t believe me, you’re a douchebag – look it up.

11. I brush at least twice a day and floss every night.

12. I take a photo of myself everyday to see how I age.

13. I do 11 squats and 11 pushups morning and night to practice consistency.

14. I track all of my income and expenses each month, as well as a balance sheet to track my net worth.

15. I take my priorities and I make them a priority.

16. I spend 25% of my time learning.

17. I eat healthy because I want to live a long life.

18. If you don’t face your fears they will haunt you forever.

19. I spend time outdoors in the sun.

20. I live in warm weather because living in cold weather is fuckin’ stupid.

21. When you want something but are scared, you need to take action. This is where growth happens.

22. Comfort challenges are the fastest way to do this.

23. If you can’t deal with negative opinions of others, or people not “getting you”, then you should do nothing with your life.

24. You can learn something from everything that happens to you – good or bad.

25. I don’t check the weather.

26. I don’t watch the news.

27. I don’t own a TV or subscribe to cable.

28. I don’t drink soda, eat candy, or consume fast food.  If you do, you are retarded.

29. Mainstream anything is complete and utter bullshit that makes you a numb, dumb consumer who doesn’t question anything.

30. You only find good information when you seek out good information.

31. When you ask shitty questions, you get shitty answers.  Start asking better questions.

32. If you think the government will save you, help you, or owes you anything, you’re weak.

33. If you what I say scares you, toughen up.

34. If you’re not living your life by your own rules you’re living it by someone else’s.

It’s time to step the fuck up!

-Matt Horwitz

You need to say “fuck you” to the status quo, take out your machete and trail-blaze the life you want to live.

Will it be easy? - No.

How much time will it take before you “make it”? – A long time.

What if I told you, “You don’t have the balls it takes to put in years”…

“You don’t have the courage to take the ridicule from family and friends”…

“You can’t handle the pressure of standing out”…

Did I scare you?

Maybe you should mope your lazy-ass home and give up…

Did I fire you up to take massive action?

Then push yourself harder and do what it takes to reach the desires you once set out to achieve.

26 Tips for Living a Dope Life…

1. Fortune favors the BOLD.  

2. The universe has laws — study them.

3. Success leaves clues — model others who have achieved it.

4. Books — read ‘em.

5. Motivation — you need that shit daily.  Set aside time each week for it.

6. Nothing in life comes easy.

7. Fuck instant gratification.  It’s sold so much in society.  Hard work, attitude, action, good ethics, long-term thinking… that trumps it all… that’s success.

8. Chance favors the connected mind.

9. Self-reliance is a top quality to build.  Start building it now.

10. Life is short.  We will all die soon.  I don’t know about you, but I want to look back on my life and know that I didn’t live like a coward immobilized by fear.  

11. Are you going to stand up for what you believe in?

12. If you want to avoid critics and shit-talkers, then you should do nothing.  Just stay in bed, watch TV and be lazy.

13. If you’re headed in the right direction, why do you care what people say who are going the wrong way?

14. Refresh your look from time to time.  Don’t wear the same clothes.  Grow a beard.  Buzz your head.  What are you so damn scared of?

15. Whatever you do, don’t stop moving forward.

16. It’s time to step up and follow your passions.  Information is at your fingertips.  We live in a hyper-connected world that’s never been seen before.  Seize the opportunity.

17. It’s perfectly okay to want something, but not know how to get it, or even get started–just get fucking started, man! 

18. If you’re around negative, lazy people who aren’t doing shit with their life, you’re setting yourself up for failure.

19. Think you need a 4-year education and a bunch of certifications to have an impact on someone, or on the world? Think again.

20. Seriously… fuck what others think about you.  Keep rockin’ on your own path and blaze your own damn trail.

21. Take advice from only those who are truly enjoying their lives.

22. If you do not face your fears, they will haunt you forever.

23. No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.

24. Surround yourself with people and information that feed your heart and your intelligence. Be learning, be growing and be inspiring.

25. Your beliefs shape your reality.

26. If you want to experience things you’ve never experienced before, you need to STEP THE FUCK UP.

Have something to add?  Toss it in the comments below!

And don’t forget, keep rockin’ and always be moving forward in life.

-Matt Horwitz