John,” I sit them down and make them analyze, take inventory, of what they’re doing day to day. How do they spend their time—every waking minute? Do they take the steps necessary to get what they want, or do they half-ass it? Are they hacks or do they give their projects 100 percent of their undivided attention, put their hearts and souls into

Do you see the point? We’re driven like hell to acquire so much temporary nonsense and bullshit, things that mean absolutely nothing in the scope of permanence and what’s real. Simple living and high thinking are key to a fulfilling life.

You can’t buy your way out of the blues. We’re not born happy; happiness comes through our unique set of experiences and how we choose to respond to them. I’ve experienced more happiness meditating and chanting at sunrise than chasing down some materialistic mirage.

When the only reason we’re doing something is to stroke our ego—because we’re hoping for fame, adoration, and distinction—then we have the wrong mindset.

So don’t sit around worrying what your critics will say. You know what I say? Fuck the critics. The world is full of them. Most are failures who themselves gave up and then turned their anger against those who try. Just keep going. If you have passion and a hunger to improve, you’ll get there even if you fail. Remember: slipping up and giving up

Personally, I learned to simply enjoy the challenge and be present for it, in the moment. If I were to sit and overanalyze things I would never even get started. So many people I know fall victim to this. They worry what everyone will think if their effort doesn’t bring the best result.

Try it. Develop a new mindset. Everything you do in life, do it for real. Live with purpose.

lives. They pay attention to detail. They take notes and study. They learn the formula, apply it, and get the desired result. If they fail at something, they analyze why, then take the necessary steps to make sure it doesn’t happen again. Even in the fight game it’s said that a true champion is one who comes back after a loss. He or she goes to the

“You don’t need to take a course or buy a product. All you have to do is change your mind. Turning pro is free, but it’s not easy. When we turn pro, we give up a life that we may have become extremely comfortable with. We give up a self that we have come to identify with and to call our own. Turning pro is free, but it demands sacrifice.”