Episode 141: What Is It That You Want & How To Get It

Hi there friends!

Today I want to open episode 141 with a quote from Shoe Dog,

A memoir by the creator of Nike,

Phil Knight.

And if you've read the book you know that many people,

All of his loved ones,

Call him Buck.

Anyway,

The quote is,

Luck plays a big role.

Yes,

I'd like to publicly acknowledge the power of luck.

Athletes get lucky,

Poets get lucky,

Businesses get lucky.

Hard work is critical.

A good team is essential.

Brains and determination are invaluable.

But luck may decide the outcome.

Some people might not call it luck.

They might call it Tao or Logos or Dharma or Spirit or God.

Put it this way,

The harder you work the better your Tao.

And since no one has ever adequately defined Tao,

I now try to go regularly to mass.

I would tell them,

Have faith in yourself but also have faith in faith.

Not faith as others define it,

Faith as you define it.

Faith as faith defines itself in your heart.

Hey there,

I'm Steph and I want to welcome you to the Beautifully Changed podcast.

This is where we explore how ordinary people do big things.

Welcome to your tipping point.

Well my friends,

I hope that quote spoke to you in some sort of way.

It definitely spoke to me.

So I wanted to talk about this episode about the power of taking action.

And taking action even when things are really hard and when it feels like some things are going for you and other things are going against you.

And how the power of having something that really speaks to you and that you want to do even when other people around you are telling you no or you can't do it.

That there's a way to be creative and to find a solution.

And Shoe Dog came into my life because Keone was at the library and he saw it and he was like,

Oh I'm gonna get this book and I'm gonna read it.

But he left it home one day so I decided to read it.

And let me tell you,

You know,

By the time I was a teenager and shoes were like a thing,

Nikes were already a really known brand.

Like it was like,

Oh there's Nikes.

That's like the thing.

Nike,

Nike,

Nike,

Right?

And I guess I never really thought that there was a struggle behind creating that brand and that business and the culture and everything behind it.

But as I read Phil's story,

As he talks about all the years of just starting off as Blue Ribbon and how he had this idea that came to him in one of his college classes.

Like he had to make this project and he was like,

You know what?

I think I'm gonna pursue that.

So he decided he was gonna travel the world and his dad agreed and his mom agreed and so he sold his car and grabbed a buddy and went to Hawaii and then all these places and his friend was supposed to go with him but ended up staying in Hawaii because he met a girl.

And so Phil just continued this journey and stopped in Japan and was brave enough and he moved through the discomfort and the fear and any doubt that came his way.

And he just kept pursuing.

And it talks about the,

He talks a lot about the people who really stood by him and with him throughout his journey and his team and you can really just feel how much he loves them and how much he cares about them.

And you guys,

Like if you haven't read the story of Nike,

Definitely read Shoe Dog.

It's so good.

And one of the pieces of advice that Phil would play in the back of his head very often would be,

Don't tell people how to do things,

Tell them what to do and let them surprise.

.

.

Let me try that again.

Don't tell people how to do things,

Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with their results.

And that basically,

From my perspective of the book,

Is how he ran his business.

He hired people that he trusted and that he knew were capable and if they weren't in the right role instead of just firing them he found a role that would use their strengths.

And he had this team that really believed in what he was doing.

You guys,

It's just such a wonderful story.

It was a very,

Like usually I read books really fast,

But this one was like,

You know,

A really savory heavy meal where I just eat it a little bit slower.

So I had to like read a little bit and take it in and oh I'm glad I did though.

And Phil really talks about his love for his family,

His employees,

Which he never really calls them employees.

It's just more like family that he works with.

Especially his coach Bill Bowerman who ended up being his partner and pre all the athletes he ever worked with.

I mean there's a real love,

Like after reading this book and hearing all the struggle and how he like was a game changer and how his team really made huge difference in lots of ways and how he really strives to make the world a better place and he gives away like a hundred million dollars a year.

He really strives to make the factories that his shoes are made in to be like the gold standard.

And as I'm reading his book too,

It reminds me so much of how Jim Rohn would say that it rains on the rich that no one is excused from obstacles and pain and heartache in life.

And Phil's story really shows that because he was trying to balance family and the business and grow this business and grow this idea,

But he wanted it to be more than a business.

He wanted it to be about just really making the world a better place and letting people know that they care and that work can be fun and playful.

And not only did he lose friends and athletes that meant so much to him,

His son died at a young age as well.

He died in a scuba diving accident when he was in his 30s and it just really shows that no matter who you are or how successful you are that it's so important to,

It's just so important to find the things that fill you up and you know spend the time with the people you love and care about and practice forgiveness even when it's really hard especially with people that really meant a lot to you in your life.

And to move through the obstacles because obstacles are gonna be there at every turn but you can make it through them.

You can get creative,

You can find new ways and there's so many great takeaways from this book,

So many great stories.

So Phil was a guy who liked to run,

Who loved sports,

Who grew up in Oregon and he took a chance on himself and he continued to take a chance on himself and be creative in the process and trust the people around him.

And instead of micromanaging them he gave them space to be free to get creative and make mistakes and have wildly amazingly successful days as well.

Phil was an ordinary guy who believed in himself and his dream and moved towards it every day especially in the really hard ones and I think he talks about like running a lot he would go for a run pretty much daily,

Nightly and it's like a six mile run and that's kind of I think what was such a great thing for him to do to help him move through all the stress and challenges that were coming his way.

So find that thing for you find whatever it is for you that is gonna help you move through your stress and stay grounded.

So Phil went from an ordinary guy to the owner and creator of a several billion dollar business and the culture there is unique and it's designed to help the employees thrive and that they're working for a company that makes a difference in a positive way not only to their lives but everyone who's involved with them.

And he also discusses how when there's devastation that doesn't mean that's the end of the story that people can make things out of the runes and out of the devastation and part of Phil's bucket list was writing this book so he could share his story which I'm so thankful he did because reading his story is truly inspiring and I'm sure he had to leave so much out.

He even talks about when pre-past that someone needed to curate his rock and that it would be them and even though they didn't have the money for anything like that he talked with he talked with his team and they agreed that as long as we're in business we'd find money for things like that.

And I just love the playfulness that he had with his team like they would have a yearly retreat that they would call butt face and they would get together and problem-solve and find solutions for their company and the book is way more than I thought it would be.

It's so good.

So anyway I'd like you to think about how you're an ordinary person with a dream with a goal and discovering if you're ready to go after it and what's in your way what are the obstacles that are coming up from you.

Is it financial?

Not knowing how?

Not trusting people?

Not trusting yourself?

What are the obstacles that are in your way that are trying to stop you and maybe they've succeeded this far?

Are you willing to let those go?

Are you willing to move through the obstacles?

Maybe you move around them?

Maybe you move through them?

Maybe over them?

Maybe you collaborate with other people to get through them?

To tap into your creative side?

As I discussed with Morgan a couple episodes ago there's helpers everywhere.

Find the helpers and helpers can look like somebody that you just have an awesome conversation with that you brainstorm with.

Phil talks about how he got on the phone with his dad almost nightly especially during the most challenging times and he would also not only would he go for a run he would always read a bedtime story to his boys and he would include his boys into them so he'd call them like Matthew history Matt history and Travis history and they would go on these adventures and then he would talk with his dad and he'd also spend time with his wife so in a sense even though they don't seem like a typical helper when you think of a helper they are they're being supportive encouraging brainstorming and that is a powerful thing so now I want to take a few minutes and I want to talk to you the person who knows that there's something out there for you there's something bigger that you want to achieve there's something that's missing and you can't quite put your finger on what it is or maybe you know what it is you know that there's something you want to go towards and when you think of that thing you want it so badly sometimes you almost feel desperate pleading and I want you to think of that thing that you want that outcome and where do you feel it in your body does it ever steal your sleep or the hours in your day and everyone else around you seems to have it times it even feels a bit unfair as if it's as if the universe is almost shoving your face in it look what they have and you don't and then you question is it really meant for you anyway if it was meant for you wouldn't it already be maybe you're not meant for it and sometimes it feels like it's almost mocking you at how impossible it feels to even have it come true it seems so far out of your reach and then some days it feels like it's waving you on it's inviting you to come on this journey things start to line up and then you get knocked off course and it could be confusing you feel stuck unsure and every time you try to move on from this want this goal this dream it always finds a way back to sneak in and at times it comes in with an urgency that surprises even you it's the weirdest cat-and-mouse game you've ever played but a part of you knows it's possible or it wouldn't be something that pulls on your heart it wouldn't be something that captivates your thoughts that has you dive in to the problem-solving the what-ifs the how could eyes and my friend this is your sign it's time it's time to start it's time to take action towards that dream that goal that want so I'd like you to do is to close your eyes if you can and if you can't just think about it and I want you to think about what it is that you want your goal your dream and just breathe and relax and if you're able to if you're not driving not operating heavy machinery or doing something that needs your attention close your eyes and breathe and relax and if you can't close your eyes keep them open still pay attention and allow yourself to think about what it is you want your goal your dream what is pulling on your heart on your thoughts now imagine that you've met this goal you're at a 10 if we're to play with a scale of 1 to 10 10 being that this goal is complete this dream has been accomplished this want is in your hands and one is the complete opposite so I want you to imagine what your 10 looks like nothing could be better really dive into this vision notice what you're wearing who you're with well you can hear taste and feel what things are you saying make this picture or movie really big and colorful bright and close to you turn up the volume really be there feel how you feel inside experience that joy that excitement that pride that accomplishment and create the details to make this the best it could possibly be spend a moment there in gratitude for this accomplishment for the action you took and for all those who supported and challenged you on your way imagine now what did you do what actions did you take what steps did you put into place that brought you there think about your journey you don't have to know all the steps right now because you're imagining what your 10 would look like so you're also imagining what your steps would look like who would be your support system you're doing very well now I want you to think of that scale from 1 to 10 now that you know what your 10 looks like and feels like and one is the opposite where would you place yourself on that scale today write that number down let's say you're at a three that's fantastic you're on a three on your way to the your goal you've already put some steps and action into place that's fantastic so whatever number you're at acknowledge it feel good about it even if you're out of one hey you're starting your journey so I want you to think now so I'm just gonna play with the number three so let's say you're at a three how will you take yourself from a three to a three and a half what action needs to happen remember this is a small step you aren't gonna jump from a three to a seven that won't work it won't work because you're not putting in all the steps you're not doing the work you're just trying to skip stuff and then that's gonna backfire on you so let's take it one step at a time one step at a time is gonna get you to that ten slow and steady right just like the hair the hair wins the race no the turtle slow and steady like the turtle and do yourself a favor and close your eyes again really fast picture that ten got it now imagine that you cut it into pieces it's more like a jigsaw puzzle now and do you have your puzzle wonderful go ahead and open your eyes now have you ever been able to complete a puzzle with one piece now it wouldn't be a puzzle that picture would already be done so this dream this goal this want that you're pursuing it's like a puzzle you have all those pieces you need to put together to get to that ten so right now you're working on putting this puzzle together all the pieces matter or the end result will be missing something so this is why we don't go from a three to a seven we go from a three to a three and a half nail that celebrate then move on to four okay I hope you're saying I got it Steph I got it this is making sense okay now that you know what's going to move you towards your goal what will make you move away what would happen that would take you from a three to two and a half maybe this could be watching too much TV spending all your time doubting yourself just planning planning planning but never doing doing doing what is taking you away from your goal and how can you put a plan into place to prevent that from happening do you need to have an accountability buddy declare your goal to someone learn theirs check in with each other some people like to make a bet there's all these sorts of apps now if you don't follow through with your goal then you have to pay money or you have to pay money to a charity that you don't support if you don't follow through you can get creative on this so be clear on what you want and what part of the puzzle you're on no step is too small that's going to take you towards your goal that's going to take you towards your dream every count every step counts and is very valid in your journey if you don't know how to do something learn ask people find resources and is this going to take time you bet it is can you do it yes you weren't born with self-doubt you will learn that you can unlearn it and you do that by doing action is going to be key here there's times in my life where I also dream of a genie that can come and grant me some wishes but until that day comes until that genie shows up I've got to show up every day for myself and you've got to show up every single day for yourself because if somebody else could do this work for us it would already be done somebody would have done it so encourage yourself push yourself a little bit out of your comfort zone to lean into it expand growth will help you complete your puzzle it's part of how you get the pieces as you grow you expand you learn you take action and your puzzle matters or it wouldn't be a part of you that dream that goal wouldn't exist if it didn't matter because it matters to you that has value and you have value so honor it honor yourself honor that goal be creative in your action steps no journey is gonna look the same because we all have different steps we tweak it along the way as we go and regardless of what anyone else thinks of your puzzle it's yours own it not everyone has to like it not everyone has to understand it the person it needs to speak to is you and it's speaking to you for a reason when you own your own journey and you take action towards it and you put in preventatives to not go backwards to take you away from it you're teaching everyone else around you to do the same you're giving them permission to go after their goals their dreams and you'll probably start encouraging them and they'll be encouraging you and you can share notes and strategies and ways to come up with actionable steps that take you towards your goal so believe in yourself and check in come back and do this activity whenever you need to you know it now you can do it visualize your 10 on a daily basis if you want to before your feet even hit the floor visualize what your 10 looks like feel that gratitude that love that excitement that passion in your body and see how it changes things as always thank you so much for spending this time with me today I believe in you you can do this I'd happily be your accountability buddy if you need one just find me on Instagram at beautifully changed and I'd also love it if you took a minute and left me a review I know everyone asks you to do that and I can feel like oh yeah I know I know I know review review review but honestly they make a huge difference so if you found this episode helpful to you at all please leave me a review I'd really appreciate it because the more reviews I get the more feedback I get and the more ears that my podcast can fall on so again thank you and have a beautiful day know that I appreciate you I believe in you and I know that you can achieve this goal one step at a time as soon as you make the decision to go for it and to take action towards it every single day even if those actions are small five minutes or two hours doesn't matter as long as you're moving in the right direction I'm sending so much love to you always remember you're enough right now in this very moment just as you are and you matter the world needs you I'll talk to you next Tuesday bye thanks for listening to today's episode remember you're welcome to download share and subscribe as always you can connect with me through Instagram at beautifully changed or through my blog at beautifully change calm I'm sending so much love and positivity your way remember you are enough the world needs you and you make a positive difference now go out there and create your best life bye