[Podcast] 11 Simple philosophies that could change your life with Mark Creedon | Build a Business, Not a Job Podcast

I have found most successful people have at least one, but usually a number of guiding principles.

Things like phrases or ideas by which they live and work.

To help you develop or add to your own guiding principles, in today’s show I have rounded up a number of philosophies or thoughts that I’m going to discuss with Mark Creedon, founder of Business Accelerator Mastermind in our monthly Build a Business, Not a Job podcast.

But before we get into the main show, I’d like to share all of the philosophies of Steve Jobs, the late co-founder, and CEO of Apple.

Jobs said: "You can't connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So, you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future."

Another interesting philosophy comes from Michael Jordan how famously said:

"I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my career.

I've lost almost 300 games. 26 times I've been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed."

In today’s show, you’ll hear Mark Creedon and I talk about failure and how the way you think about it makes a huge difference in how you approach all areas of your life, so welcome to today’s show.

Life philosophies that could change your life

You don’t have to look far on the Internet to find blogs about the philosophies that successful people live by.

I enjoy reading those blogs and learning what drives successful people.

Interestingly I’ve found some of the best lessons I’ve learned are the simple ones.

I’m still a voracious learner and if I haven’t learned something new by lunchtime every day, I’ve had a bad day.

1. Take responsibility for your world

Shouldn’t we all?

There’s a belief in this world, that I completely resonate with, that everything that has happened to you in your life is a direct result of your actions, either your physical actions or your mental actions.

Thoughts are things. As you think so you become. This belief is The Law of Attraction.

I know everyone doesn’t agree with this – but I believe you should be a part of your life, not a passenger.

2. Don't make excuses, take action

“You are what you do, not what you say you’ll do” — Carl Jung.

Action creates momentum and momentum matters.

Sure, it’s important to make plans and know which way you’re heading, in life, in your investments, and in business but plans are just theory unless you take action.

3. You are the company you keep.

Someone once told me that you’re the sum of the five people with whom you spend the most amount of time and I couldn’t agree more.

Studies have proven this time and time again – a Harvard study found that if your friend is happy, your chances of being happy increase 15%. It doesn’t just stop there – if your friend’s friend is happy, your chances of being happy increase by 10%, and if your friend’s friend’s friend is happy, your chances still increase 6% (if 6% doesn’t impress you, you’ll be interested to know that a $10,000 increase in annual income only increases your odds by 2%).

This rule also works in the negative sense – if your friend becomes obese, your chances of becoming obese increase 57%. The same goes for smoking (61%) and other negative habits.

4. Embrace your limitations.

I know one of my strengths in creating – coming up with the big ideas and implementing them.

Or creating things like blogs and podcasts. However, I know I’m not in my flow when doing other types of tasks.

Trying to change fundamental aspects of your personality is like swimming upriver – you exert tremendous effort with little forward progress. Instead of trying to change these aspects of myself, I’ve surrounded myself with others who are better at various aspects of our business than me

5. The race is only with yourself.

“Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long, and in the end, it’s only with yourself.” – Mary Schmich

When you measure your success against that of another, you create an ever-distancing destination at which you’ll never arrive. Develop your own goals and celebrate every achievement.

6. Don't stop when you're tired, stop when you're done

You’re going to get tired of being an entrepreneur and you’ll probably even get burned out… especially when things aren’t going well.

What’s helped me succeed over the years is that I am persistent.

It doesn’t matter whether I am exhausted, or if I feel that I’ve put enough hours in the day, I just don’t ever stop until things are done.

As long as you keep on chugging along, eventually, you will accomplish your goals.

7. Commit to doing whatever it takes to succeed

Of course, with the exception of causing harm to others!

This discipline underpins all of the above. If we wish for success in life, it’s essential we commit to making that wish become a reality. The key to success in life is to go from interest to commitment to taking action from personal power.

8. Honesty is a very expensive gift, do not expect it from cheap people

As an entrepreneur, you are going to have to look to other people for feedback and advice.

Over the years I’ve learned that not all advice is equal, as some people give better advice than others.

The best advice you are ever going to get is the truth.

The truth may hurt, but it will save you time and money.

Just don’t expect the truth from people who care about saving your feelings.

9. Behind every successful person are a lot of unsuccessful years

When people look at what I have accomplished, most of the time they feel that I’ve done it over the last few years.

What they forget to realize is that I have been an entrepreneur for over 10 years.

And during that 10-year period, I’ve lost millions of dollars, made more mistakes than I can count, and put countless hours into my businesses.

So as long as you keep pushing forward as an entrepreneur, your odds of succeeding will go up over time.

10. Live in such a way that if someone spoke badly of you, no one would believe it

Businesses come and go, but the one thing you should protect more than anything else is your reputation.

Your reputation affects any new business ventures or a job you may try to get later down the road.

Be so kind and helpful that if someone spoke badly about you, no one would believe them.

11. Just because you are struggling does not mean you are failing

Every great success requires some kind of struggle.

You’re going to have to work hard, fight through the tough times and keep pushing forward.

So, when you are struggling, don’t give up, keep pushing forward until you see a light at the end of the tunnel.

12. Give Back

“The meaning of life is to find your gift. The purpose of life is to give it away.” ―Pablo Picasso.

This is a great philosophy because I feel happiness doesn’t result from what we get, but from what we give.

I am blessed beyond imagination in life, and I feel it’s my duty to give back.

If I can help others in some way, then I do it. Whether through writing, creating, guidance, feedback, listening, financial, volunteering, etc. There are so many ways to give back.

Links and Resources:

Why not join Metropole’s Business Accelerator Mastermind

Learn more about Mark Creedon – Business Coach to some of Australia’s leading entrepreneurs

Get a copy of Mark’s new book here – Have a business not a job

Get a heap of special reports and eBooks here- www.PodcastBonus.com.au

Some of our favourite quotes from the show:

“I do things that I’m good at doing, and in my business and my now partnership, I allow other people to do things that they’re good at doing.” – Michael Yardney

“If you think about it, you never get everything done. There’s always things on your to-do list.” – Michael Yardney

“There’s also the luck that you create for yourself by doing the right things, by being the right person, by having the right mindset, so when the opportunities come, you actually take advantage of them.” –Michael Yardney

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