The World Needs You to Be a Bigger and Better Person

I love this article by Steven Pressfield, author of the War of Art.  He writes that panic is a natural state and that it precedes the shipping of your best art.  He says,

New Year’s is a big time for panic. Self-expectations of what’s ahead, self-recriminations for what’s behind. If you feel a twinge of panic, take a breath and step back. Re-examine the past six months, the past twelve. Are you growing? Is the arc or your evolution upward? I’ll bet the ranch it is, even if it’s hard for you to see because you’re too close to it. Ask a friend. Ask three friends.

Steven is a writer writing for other writers so when he talks of art he means in the traditional sense.  Your art is whatever you do with your heart.  My art is bookkeeping and coaching business owners about the flow of money in their business and this Business Owners Success Club.

You should never feel comfortable. There is something wrong if you are. You should always feel under threat, on the edge of your seat and pushing yourself. Win one and you want to win more. It`s never-ending. – Damon Hill, F1 Champion

Formula 1 auto racing is the pinnacle of racing.  The cars are wonders of engineering and the drivers are elite.  There’s nothing finer than watching one of these machines twitching at the edge of control as the driver makes a move past another.  What would it feel like to be that close to the edge?  Kinda puts your fears about posting that post in perspective, doesn’t it?

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.  Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.  It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.  We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?  Actually, who are you not to be?  You are a child of God.  Your playing small does not serve the world.  There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you.  We are all meant to shine, as children do.  We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.  It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone.  And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.  As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. – Marianne Williamson

To me, this is the highest and best value that a mastermind group brings – a group of fans cheering and egging you on to be the best you can be.   A great mastermind group helps you feel invincible,  offers you practical advice and inspires you to be the best you can be. (a tip of the hat to Jeffrey Hosick, Gary Morton, Trevor Stokvis, Francois Weststrake, Regine Albrecht, Bodo Albrecht, Joshua Harbert, Connie Herman and Rex Williams, masterminds all)

Join or create a mastermind group.  Find a mentor.  Follow (I didn’t say stalk) a successful person to learn and take inspiration.

We have an obligation to be the best we can be.  Yes, that will feel uncomfortable, but do it anyway.

Similar posts
  • Janet Thinks About Scaling Her Busine... “Janet” Janet was in the building supply store checking in on things when she heard her name called. They were a major supplier, therefore a major part of her business. She wanted to make sure they knew who she was and that they were happy with her. She looked around to see who was calling [...]
  • You are the product of the 5 people c... You have the same health, the same bad and good habits and the same beliefs as the 5 people closest to you. Choose those people wisely. The research is in and this holds for your personal life. I see the same hold for business. More than anything, you share the same beliefs with the people [...]
  • 6 Stages of Starting Your Business I resisted. For the longest time. Working with people starting a business. People in startup mode are overwhelmed and when my clients are overwhelmed, I get overwhelmed. When you are starting, you need so much. All at once. I didn’t think I had the ability to be effective and really help. Until I realized that [...]
  • The Three Common Myths that keep smal... The business environment is changing and if you have been in business for more than 5 or 10 years, you, like everyone else, are making less profit for more effort. It’s been slow and insidious. Think about small business owners 20, 30 and 40 years ago. They built our communities, made a great living and [...]
  • What if this were your life? You wake up without an alarm. It’s still early and you feel refreshed. You get something to eat and drink, then do your favourite things for your physical and mental well-being. Maybe yoga, swimming, paddling, running, walking, dancing, weights, spinning, or playing a sport. Then you sit down to work because this is your most [...]