Life's Tough, Wear a Helmet

For weeks, my Netflix account had been pushing this recommendation on me—Pain Hustlers. I watched the preview, read the description. “Awesome,” I thought to myself. “Just what we all need. Another movie where Hollywood vilifies the sales profession. Keep up the great work, Hollywood!”

And yet again Netflix won. I folded like a cheap suit, giving in to the pressure that Netflix was throwing at me. Ironically, somehow in the same way that I gave my mother shit for when she gave in to that Filter Queen door-to-door salesman in the late 90’s (in hindsight that vacuum was a beast - but that’s not my point).

For an old sales dog like me (and some of y’all), there were many scenes that brought back memories, both good and cringe worthy!

One in particular came to mind…

Sales vets will remember this. For you post-COVID sales babies who have yet to sit in a reception area waiting for your prospect, and depriving the world of your “new car smell” and purity, let me paint you this picture…

You walk into this funky office space, buzzing with energy and creativity. Three year old Fast Company magazines cover the coffee table in front of you, a thick layer of dust lines the leaves of the fake plant in the corner of the room… Amidst all the hustle and bustle, there's this quote hanging on the wall, almost like a hidden gem waiting to be discovered. It’s a classic framed poster, a picture of a sunrise. The quote on the bottom goes something like this:

“Intelligent direction, skillful execution and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities.”

Well shit, ain’t that a mouthful?

But wait.. those are more than just fancy words. When you sit with it a little longer, and you start to hear the music play in your head, and the soothing voice of Bob Seager starts to sing "Still the Same", those words start to resonate, like having a roadmap for your life or your next big adventure.

You wouldn't set off on a road trip without knowing where you're headed, right? I mean, you may have full intention to head south, but there’s a huge difference between Opolusus, Louisiana, and Miami, Florida (no offence to my friends and the amazing people of Opolusus - I do love you guys).

Well, the same goes for life. We've gotta have a clear destination in mind.? A purpose to drive us forward.

Think about it. How often do we find ourselves just going through the motions, living someone else's version of success?

Are you living someone else’s version of success?

Maybe it’s time to hit pause kids, and ask ourselves: what's our intention every day, out here hustlin’?

Whether it's family, career, or personal growth, you gotta be intentional about it. That's when your efforts truly become sincere and powerful.

Are there going to be challenges and bumps along the way? Ya… lot’s of them.

Like my brother used to tell me at least once a week, “Life’s tough, wear a helmet”!

There’s one universal trait that successful folks share - They don't just see obstacles, they see opportunities.

It’s MINDSET. Life throws you a curveball, embrace it! It’s turning lemons into lemonade. That's where the magic happens.

I can just hear some of you now. “That’s great… Thanks for the story, Billy Shakespeare. How the hell am I supposed to do this?”

Here’s a simple 6 step process:

1. Define Your Intentions: Get clear on what you want out of life.
2. Create a Roadmap: Break down your goals into actionable steps.
3. Shift Your Mindset: See challenges as opportunities for growth.
4. Seek Inspiration: Surround yourself with supportive and visionary people.
5. Take Action: Consistently move towards your goals every day.
6. Celebrate Progress: Acknowledge and celebrate your wins along the way.

Cliché, you think? You already knew these steps? Right… Yet you’ve continued reading this far.

Here’s the thing - the old adage of “knowledge is

power” is bullshit. True power is in the application of knowledge. Because if knowledge alone could change the world, everyone would be rich, skinny, and successful.

Now go help someone buy something!