5 Things Learned This week!

OWN YOUR FERTILIZER

This past week has been a challenging one for me in all honesty. Wrestling with questions about life, how to live it, how to make it better, how to be more intentional and how to make be significant. Many times this week I found myself frustrated with where I am. "Nathan you should be further than this!", "What is holding you back?", "Face your fertilizer and deal with it!". However, as the week passed, I found myself beginning to place responsibility, really blame for where I am... on situations, circumstances and people. However I was hit between the eye when someone in my inner circle said "BE HUMBLE AND OWN YOUR SHIT!". Immediately I was given the choice... Either own my fertilizer and make a growth opportunity, or stick it in the backyard of my mind and let it culminate. I think you know which decision is more detrimental. I don't know where you are today. Maybe things are going great, maybe life is danndy. Maybe your life seems like it's in ruins and everything around you is crumbling... Either way, the only way to grow in life is to OWN YOUR FERTILIZER. I know I am working to do that. 

"God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."

Life Is Hard & Worthwhile 

My good friend and mentor John Maxwell is known for saying that everything worthwhile is uphill. I have heard this for the past few years but it never took weight in my life until this past year. With changes like having a baby girl, juggling relationships, my health, my business, even my sanity... There are many times when I could have given up and said that I am done. But My good friend Mark Cole once told me that "your values do not become valuable until you have sacrificed for them". How true that statement has apparent in my life. No matter what life throws at us, remember that in those trials, we discover and decide the things that we truly place value on in our life. What do you value today?

I Need An Inner Circle.

Never has it been more apparent in my life that I need people whom I can trust with my life, thoughts and dreams. There have been major shifts in my life and business in the past week and with those shifts comes a lot of responsibility and a lot of intentionality. I am definitely not the smartest person in the room, but I can tell you that I surround myself with people who are further, wiser and more brilliant than I. Without them... I would still be sitting at home in front of a TV screen playing video games. The people whom you surround yourself with will either lift you or sink you. Find lifters in your life and give them permission to be honest with you. It won't be easy, but you will grow from it.

Always add value

This morning I was at a chamber of commerce event and I was reminded to go the extra mile, to listen intentionally, to encourage and to uplift. Normally this is something that I do automatically, however this morning I decided to be aware of the people I was trying to add value to. To be aware of what was happening. After three amazing, I would even argue life changing, conversations I can honestly say that my day was better because I poured myself out in adding value to others. It doesn't need to be grandiose, but even the smallest things like opening the door for someone at Starbucks and make the difference in one's day. Be Intentional in add value to today.

Always Jump Towards Opportunity

I have a tendency to pass up opportunities because I'm afraid that I will FAIL... That I will make a fool out of myself. That what I have isn't good enough... I know I'm not the only person in this boat but I have a tendency to mentally isolate myself in this boat, if you know what I mean. As if I am the only one in the world with this fear. Well Today is a new day were I step out of my comfort zone and accept challenges that cause me to grow, to be stretched, to become better! And in doing so, I will be able to help others be better. Jump at the opportunities that are in front of you... You never know what they might lead.

Are you on the Sideline or In The Game?

After this week I am jumping in the game whether "they" like it or not.

If you want to play...

If you want to lean-in...

tell me in the comment what you have learned this week!