Are You Living Each Day Like It’s Your Last?Courage, Commitment, and the Power of Your Genius

"If you live each day as if it could be your last, one day you’ll be right." — Steve Jobs

?? Tomorrow Is Promised to No One

This week, I had the honor of speaking to a room full of business owners and entrepreneurs, sharing a truth that resonates deeply with me: tomorrow is promised to no one.

I spoke about my dad, who passed away years ago in a sudden car accident. He didn’t know it would be his last day, and neither did we. That moment became a stark reminder that life can change in an instant. It also taught me a lesson: time isn’t something we can control or buy back.

How often do we delay our dreams, set aside meaningful goals, or leave words unspoken because we think we have time? As entrepreneurs, leaders, and creators, we can’t afford to waste the most precious resource we have: today.

The question is not how much time we have left, but how we’re choosing to use the time we have now.

?? The Courage to Step Into Your Unique Genius

Every person is born with unique gifts, talents, and strengths—what I call your unique genius. This is the work only you can do, the ideas only you can bring to life. Yet so many people let their genius go untapped because of fear.

Fear is natural. Neuroscience tells us that fear activates the amygdala, the brain's “fight or flight” center, often leading us to avoid risks or stay in our comfort zones. But here’s the key: courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s taking action despite it.

Every time you lean into courage, you strengthen your brain’s neural pathways, making it easier to face challenges in the future. Courage is like a muscle: the more you use it, the stronger it gets.

?? Action Steps for Courage:

1. Identify Your Fear: Is it fear of failure, judgment, or the unknown? Write it down to bring clarity.
2. Take One Bold Step: Start small but act today. Each courageous step builds momentum.
3. Visualize Your Victory: Neuroscience shows that visualizing success activates the same neural circuits as actual achievement, increasing your likelihood of succeeding.

?? Commitment: The Catalyst for Breakthroughs

Courage often feels like the spotlight, but behind every act of courage is commitment. Commitment is the spark that ignites action. Without it, dreams stay dormant, ideas remain untested, and potential goes unrealized.

Dan Sullivan’s 4 C’s formula highlights the transformative power of commitment. When you commit to a goal, it sets the stage for courage to take over, capabilities to develop, and confidence to soar. Neuroscientifically, commitment engages the prefrontal cortex, the brain's decision-making hub, helping you prioritize and follow through.

Commitment also simplifies your focus. When you truly commit, you eliminate distractions and make room for what matters. It’s a declaration that says, “I’m all in.”

?? Action Steps for Commitment:

1. Define Your Non-Negotiables: What’s the one goal or project that aligns with your deeper purpose? Write it down and make it non-negotiable.
2. Set a Deadline: A commitment without a timeline is just a wish. Anchor your commitment to a specific date.
3. Tell Someone: Share your goal with a trusted friend or mentor. Accountability strengthens resolve.

When you commit, you enter a new state of being. It’s no longer about “trying.” You’ve decided, and that decision has power.

? Reclaim Your Time with Purpose and Tools

If time is our most precious resource, why do so many of us spend it on tasks that drain our energy or distract us from our purpose?

The secret lies in focusing on the 20% of your genius that drives 80% of your results. This principle, known as the Pareto Principle, urges us to identify the areas where we have the greatest impact and delegate or automate the rest.

In today’s world, tools like AI, automation, and delegation can help you reclaim hours from mundane tasks, giving you the freedom to focus on your unique strengths. Imagine the ripple effect if every entrepreneur spent their time on what they’re best at, rather than what keeps them busy.

?? Action Steps to Maximize Time:

1. Audit Your Time: Track your activities for one week and identify what drains your energy versus what amplifies your impact.
2. Delegate Ruthlessly: What tasks can someone else handle? Empower your team or hire support where needed.
3. Leverage Technology: Use tools like AI to automate repetitive work and create more bandwidth for creative pursuits.
4. Schedule Genius Time: Block out dedicated time each day for deep work on what truly matters.

?? The Neuroscience of Resolutions and the New Year

As we approach the New Year, it’s natural to reflect on what we want to achieve. But here’s a sobering statistic: most resolutions fail within the first month. Why? Because they lack the twin pillars of courage and commitment.

Neuroscience offers a solution: when you tie your resolutions to a purpose larger than yourself, you activate the brain’s reward system, increasing motivation and follow-through. Combine that with habits like visualizing success and tracking progress, and you dramatically increase your odds of success.

This year, don’t just set resolutions—commit to the life you want. Use courage to take the first step, and let tools and systems support your journey.

? Final Thoughts: Time Is Your Legacy

Time is slipping through your fingers, like grains of sand in the wind. You can’t stop it, but you can choose how to use it.

So, what will you do with your time? Will you let fear and distractions hold you back? Or will you lean into courage, commit to your genius, and make your unique impact on the world?

"Time is free, but it’s priceless. You can’t own it, but you can use it." — Harvey Mackay

Don’t wait for tomorrow. Live fully today. The world is waiting for the gifts only you can bring.

?? Reflection Questions:

1. If today were your last day, would you be proud of how you’ve lived?
2. What fear is holding you back from stepping into your genius?
3. What is one courageous action you can take before the end of the year?
4. How can you reclaim time and focus on the 20% that matters most?
5. What commitment will you make to turn your potential into reality?

If you found this article valuable, please like, share, or comment to help others discover these insights! And if you know someone who’s capable of more—someone who would benefit from unlocking their full leadership potential—feel free to share this with them as well.?

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To a Better You,?

Dr. Eric Goodman?

P.S. ?? What’s your genius? Share it in the comments. Let’s inspire each other to step boldly into the New Year!

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