Ryan Johnston

It’s probably someone you know.

It’s probably someone you see everyday.

There’s a good chance it’s someone you live with.

Most of the time, we get in our own way.  We make up excuses for why we shouldn’t do something great.  We come up with reasons to do something that wastes our time.  We figure out ways to postpone our greatness.

But, maybe if we got out of our own way, we might be surprised at just how much we can really do to change the world around us.

I don’t know about you, but I have a tough time getting started on things unless I know they’re going to turn out well.

But, why do it that way?

Why not do it simply because you can?

The thing that seems to get in the way is whether it’s the right thing to do.  I don’t know if I should do something, so I look for some kind of sign or look for permission from someone.

The problem with this is that we give the permission to someone else.  We let someone or something else determine what we do and when we do it.

We need to take responsibility for ourselves.

No one ever says, “boy, I’m sure glad I let Jim tell me what to do with my life.”  That just proves that we have no control over ourselves.

So, if you’re ready to take control of your own destiny:

This is your sign!  It doesn’t get any easier than this.  If you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it.  If you’ve been waiting for something or someone to tell you when to start moving, it’s now.  Go!  Stop reading and go do it.   You don’t need me to tell you, but I will.

This is the sign you’ve been waiting for.

I haven’t posted in quite a while.

I’ve been searching and trying to define what exactly I’m supposed to do with this site.

I have far too many interests to just do one thing.  So, instead, I’m going to being talking about a lot of different things.  But, the overall theme will be change.

We’ll be talking about changing anything that needs to be changed, which is everything, and how to go about it.

So, if you’re interested in changing the world, please stick  with me.

I’m going to try something different for a while, just to see what the response is, if any.

I’ll be posting quotes about making a better life for ourselves.

My hope is that it will inspire change and help push you to do something that might take you beyond your average self and on to something really great.

Ultimately, I’ve wanted this blog to help people realize that life is great and can be truly lived, not just endured. And I hope these quotes will help you realize that too.

Here are a few to start with:

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive and then go do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

-Howard Thurman

A man who dares to waste one hour of time has not discovered the value of life.

-Charles Darwin

All life is an experiment. The more experiments you make the better.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

Believe that life is worth living and your belief will help create the fact.

-William James

Every man dies. Not every man really lives.

William Wallace

Thoughts, comments, replies?

If you have a backup plan for anything you’re doing, then do me a favor.

Find it.

And get rid of it.

When you have a backup plan, you’re already admitting and accepting the fact that you might fail.  If you already accept that you might fail, then why not just let yourself do it?  Why not fail off the bat so you can get on with the backup plan?

Why even have a backup plan if you don’t intend on using it?

If you get rid of it, then you have no choice but to succeed with the first plan.  Without any other plans, it’s do or die.

Go ahead.  I’ll wait.

Delete it.  Throw it out.  Burn it.  Eat it.  Whatever you need to do.

OK, after you’ve done that, do me another favor:

QUIT MAKING BACKUP PLANS!

Stop admitting defeat before you’ve even started.  Quit giving up on yourself before you’ve even started.

Tell you what.  Just start and don’t stop until you’ve completed whatever your first plan was.  Complete it.  Good or bad.  Just get it done and move on.

You have to get your stuff out there.  Whatever it is.

Get started.  Work on it.  Get it done.  Send it out. Done.

By the way, this is something I’m struggling with a lot.  I’m writing this to encourage you as much as I am telling myself to do this.

Why?

You have to have an answer to that simple question for everything you do.

Why do you spend time checking Facebook instead of writing that book?

Why do you you want to blog?

Why do you want to be self-employed?

Why do you check email more than once a day?

Why do check your traffic stats all the time?

You’re starting a new project?  Why?

You want to become a famous blogger or artist?  Why?

If you can’t answer why for what you’re doing, then you shouldn’t be doing it.

I know I’ve talked about Seth Godin here before.  And I’m going to do it again.

But, right now, I’m telling you to never read anything by Seth Godin.  Don’t read his books or his blog.  Oh, and don’t listen to him speak either.

Well, don’t do any of these things as long as you want to stay the same.  If you want to stay average, mediocre, and maintain the status quo, then don’t even speak his name. 

You shouldn’t read anything by Seth (I use his first name because I feel like I kind of know him after reading his stuff for so long) because it will change you.  It will change your thinking, your way of working.  It could change your business, or just the way you manage your time. 

Unless, of course, you actually want all of those things.  Then, by all mean, read anything and everything by him. 

But don’t say I didn’t warn you: 

 You’ll be changed!

But, then again, maybe that’s not such a bad thing.