You're Best Isn't Good Enough.

I've had abs since I was 6 years old.

Over 21 years later, I still have abs.

I don't say this as a flex [get it, flex - abs, okay ;)] I say this as a fact.

I don’t have an epic transformation or before and after photos. I’ve been healthy consistently from a young age. Just gradual progression of strength and size.

When it's "always been that way," you assume it doesn't take any effort, thought or investment to keep. That's where you'd be wrong.

Don't do your best. Do what's required. Do it daily.

Everything worthwhile in life is uphill... all the way.

The most underrated qualities: consistency and faithfulness.

Nothing in life is owned, it's only rented, and rent is due everyday.

The world belongs to those who can keep doing without seeing the result of their doing.

Deadlifting 225 for 30 reps isn't easy. It becomes easier as you get stronger.

Things Worth Having Will Never Be Easy.

You want life to be easy.

You want to do what you feel like doing in the moment.

You lack three things:

1. Vision - for the life you long for

2. Planning - how you will execute your vision

3. Discipline - in your daily activities

Because you lack these three things, you say yes all the time (without first filtering your decision through your priorities).

You don't want to miss out (not realizing that you're missing the life you want by saying yes to other things).

You want life to be easier:

• The bills lower

• The work more meaningful and better paying.

• The friendships to happen without effort.

• The girl of your dreams asks you out (and you never have to risk getting rejected).

• To not budget and end up with money at the end of the month and invest without noticing.

• You want your best to be good enough to be world class (but right now it isn't).

You say "I'm trying my best" at school/work... but are you scheduling your work? Are you executing on your plan? Are you re-adjusting in real time, because you've identified your priorities and have proactively planned your day with those most important things done first?

I have bad news for you. Nothing changes if nothing changes.

Every time you say yes to something, you are saying no to to other things. If you don't know what things are important to you, you can't say yes to what you want most.

If you don't know where you want to go, any road will take you there.

It’s a few months into 2024, are you still working on the vision or the goals you set out at the beginning of the year?

It’s nearly the end of February. You look back, wondering... did you focus on the things that mattered to you?

Did you do what you truly wanted to do? Did you prioritize what mattered most to you? did you live with enough self accountability to live in freedom from wandering?

Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in forced labor. - Proverbs 12:24

It's so easy to wander through a day. Wander through a week or month and think: where did that time go? If you don't choose what's most important to you, other people (or society) will choose for you.

Feelings are great followers, but terrible leaders.

Actions -> Emotion

Daily actions > How you feel

An Ordered Life Brings Freedom.

You were bold today. You took action in alignment with your long-term vision. (what would that feel like?)

I have good news for you. If you choose to write out your priorities, you're one step closer to being able to live by them.

You'll start to have a sense of what you need to do every day. There is a sense of peace when you measure your actions, and know you did what mattered most today.

Sometimes you take daily action for years, and still feel like you've gotten nowhere:

My first 7 years playing drums I played in front of 200 people.

After seven years in the shadows, playing for audiences that didn't exist, the dream gnawed at me: to unleash my drumming on a real stage. But despite the blood, sweat, and "doing my best," progress was glacial. Then, year eight and a half: a sick drummer, a canceled replacement, and a conversation with Josh. He saw what others missed - the potential for rapid growth under the right guidance. I seized the opportunity.

Over the next 7 years I played drums in front of over 70,000 people.

Everything you want is on the other side of:

• Risk

• Effort

• Energy

• Money

• Time

(And even after all that, you may not be good enough.)

“All high achievers are paragons of perseverance.” - Steven Kotler, Art of the Impossible

The results you're looking for are in the work you're avoiding (or in the conversations you are afraid to have).

You often lie to yourself saying "I did my best."

What if your best isn't good enough?

Then what?

Then you do what is required, not your best. (and you measure those results)

Forget doing your best. Measure actions (daily).

Being led by your emotions and letting yourself do whatever you want doesn't lead to a fulfilling life.

You can't grow without priorities. (If everything is important, nothing is important)

This is the start, and this is how you do what's required.

Identify What Matters. Act on it Daily.

Did you do what you said was most important to you today?

The grit that matters most is learning to be your best when you're at your worst.- Steven Kotler, Art of the Impossible

Why would choose to live a scheduled life?

You won't be happy living on a schedule... The truth is that you already are living on a schedule, and if it isn't a planned one, it probably isn't a good one. - Frank Bettger, How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success in Selling

"The world belongs to those who can keep doing, without seeing the results of their doing." Alex Hormozi, 100M Leads

How do you determine what is required of you?

Know what you are saying yes to. (this makes saying no much easier)

Embrace JOMO (the joy of missing out).

“No discipline seems pleasant at the the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11

It takes a few different steps (this is the big picture, then below is what you can do today)

1. Identify your current priorities in life: (Include all major areas of life: Physical, Spiritual, Mental, Relationships, Financial, Professional, and Personal)

2. Identify what one activity in each of these areas will move your life towards where (and who) you want to be.

3. Develop a weekly self organization day (don't know what that is? Newsletter coming soon) to schedule what is most important to you. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.

4. Read and listen to The 12 Week Year, and use this as a blue print to create process control so you know how you are doing on a weekly basis. (10 minute summary video linked below)

5. Do an association audit. (Newsletter coming soon) Identify who the people are that are helping you become the person you want to be, and prioritize time with them.

6. Have a weekly score (using The 12 Week Year system to have a 0-100%) You will objectively measure your progress, without injecting your feelings into the equation. (Last week my score was 92.2%)

Take action Today. Today is the only day that counts.

Feelings are wonderful followers; they are terrible leaders.

You can control your actions, which lead your feelings. (I smile, then I start to feel more gratitude)

What do you do today?

1. See your daily actions as levers.

2. Write out your priorities (And DM me a picture of them: https://www.instagram.com/danielbaarns)

3. Watch this Youtube video explaining The 12 Week Year (and apply it) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wQhRRWPqFE&feature=youtu.be

4. Download the notion template for The 12 Week Year and fill it out. https://digitalmakers.club/products/12-week-year-notion-template

5. Send me a screen shot of the weekly work filled out (this is version one, Action > Perfection)

6. Schedule your daily priorities for this next week. (if it’s not in your calendar it probably won’t happen)

7. Execute the plan even when you don't feel like it.

8. Do what's required. Don't "do your best."

Here is an example of my priorities from halfway through 2023:

P.S. None of this is a life sentence. As you take action you will gain more clarity. Take the action and adjust.

P.P.S. Need a vehicle detailed in the Sacramento area? Click here to follow my Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/baarnsdetailing/

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