How not to be BROKE at Christmas....

I must have been 26 or 27 years old. It was Christmas day and I was alone and looking for a place to eat lunch by myself. I landed in a Chinese restaurant named Chef Wang's. I remember feeling "broke and broken." I had come off a relationship with the woman I thought I was going to marry and was wondering around aimlessly with no real purpose or focus. Although I had poured my life into being a successful basketball coach and was starting to get some traction I was a wreck personally, but nobody got to see that part.

I had wondered away from God and wasn't hanging around progressive people. I was reaching out to strugglers who only confirmed my position in life by feeding me more doubt (which is exactly what other strugglers do). When we are low on confidence we always do one thing; we go back to old habits in new ways. I didn't realize it at the time but I was broke, not necessarily financially (although that too), but emotionally, spiritually, and even mentally. I just couldn't see a bigger future.

I needed a breakthrough.

It's hard to believe that was just 15 years ago. At that time I didn't have a much bigger future to work toward. I was just sitting there at that Chinese restaurant asking myself, "What am I doing and how did I end up here on Christmas day?"

This may be a question you are asking yourself this Christmas. I saw family members that seemed lost and confused with very little hope about the future. I want to encourage you to know that there is a bigger future if you will get up off the mat and work for it. All things are created twice, first mentally and then physically. Until you get around people who see and operate at much higher levels than you then you'll keep wallowing around in a big ole pile of mediocrity.

The word "broke" has many meanings including but not limited to:

* Having completely run out of money

* Down and Out

* Separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain.

Let's focus on that last one. Broke is a state of mind that separates you into compartmentalized pieces and keeps you apart from two things: hope for a bigger future and your purpose. Life "breaks" you and therefore you feel "broken." The opposite of broken is "whole."

To be whole we have to go to work on four parts of our nature:

1. Our body- This is skill and physical intelligence

2. Our mind- This is knowledge and our intellect quotient

3. Our heart- This is love, passion, and desire

4. Our spirit- This is connection to a higher power and God

Let me tell you where I didn't find any of these things; in bars, around low level thinkers, or involving myself in low energy activities. They were all mirages that left me wanting more and confused about my future. What I was missing was purpose. What I was missing was a self-image. What I was missing was my confidence.

What I needed was to get my own SWAG back. You see I had sold it out and allowed the opinion of another person to dictate my bigger future. I was low. I was depressed. I was even toxic to others.

I made up my mind that I was going to go to work on me. I was going to overhaul my self-confidence. I was going to surround myself with better people. I was going to become attractive to the world. I was going to become a "Person of Interest." None of this was going to happen while I threw my own pity party.

Nobody likes a whiner.

Nobody likes a complainer.

Nobody likes someone who is moping around.

We attract back in to our lives who we are.

I had to learn to "self-encourage" vs. "wait on encouragement."

What would happen as a result of those low and lonely moments was a new person. One that was filled with hope and energy. Over the next 15 years I would work hard to build, maintain, and protect my confidence because I learned in those days that confidence is the ONE THING that affects EVERYTHING. (Watch this video I did called "Cultivate your BOUNCE BACK." ) I would make up my mind that I would never lose my confidence again by placing it in the hands of anyone else. I had to go to work on my body, my mind, my heart, and my spirit.

I don't know know where you are this CHRISTMAS but I've been on both sides of this ball game; the losing side and the winning side. I'm grateful for those low moments as they taught me something valuable. Latch on to a vision of your bigger future. It is available to all of us......

As my grandfather used to say, "Success is out there son you just have to reach for it."

It may be time that you get off the couch, say good bye to the pity party, and find some people who can help you play at a much higher level. What got you here won't get you there and only you know if I'm talking to you or not.

If you're interested in being around other "like minded people" who are serious about their potential then check out MONSTER PRODUCER, my biggest coaching program where we teach you how to never lose your SWAG again.