The methodology to spur such massive attention is congruent across the activewear titans. Inclusion of athletic achievers, celebrities and occasionally the average person provides for company-to-consumer rapport. The initial 1988 Just Do It ad featured Walt Stock, the then eighty year old running icon (2). Lumbering across the Golden Gate Bridge, the shirtless legend describes his daily seventeen mile workout. The color contrast of such commercial adds to the distinct edge the lightweight footwear provides a person; the advantage is simply black and white, which remain the branding pigments that grace the performance logo’s Twitter, FaceBook, Instagram, and Pinterest profiles. The blatant nature of Nike’s commitment to convert top performers to brand ambassadors is exemplified in their immediate 1985 partnership with then rookie stand out Michael Jordan. Their 1988 commercial pitting Jordan with an extremely curious Spike Lee demonstrates performance psychology, with Lee searching for Jordan’s success secret by constantly questioning  “Is it the shoes, Michael?” (2). The same year, Bo Jackson emerged as the world’s top athlete, and shortly thereafter starred in a Just Do It Bo Knows ad (2). Mixing lyrical and sports culture, Nike amalgamated rebellious tennis player Andre Agassi with The Red Hot Chili Peppers to enlarge viewership interest. Two years later, Charles Barkley’s I’m Not a Role Model ad demonstrated the pitfalls of societal athlete glorification, revealing a realist company view (2). The basketball legend’s quote, “Just because I can dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids,” established Nike’s edgy authenticity. The company furthered its humanitarian image when Agassi and tennis rival Pete Sampras set up an impromptu tennis court in the middle of New York City, and in the 1995 If You Let Me Play video highlighted how female inclusion in sports reduces breast cancer and partner abuse probabilities (2). However, instances of athlete regression and consequent societal resentment can make a Nike endorsement seem out of place. Nike’s alignment with Tiger Woods in 1996 fostered years of successful branding until his scandalous affair, which occurred the same year that brand superstar Lebron James left the Cleveland Cavaliers for the Miami Heat, disgusting basketball loyalists. Company damage control re-oriented public opinion from the athletes’ life decisions to their sports performance with the phrase, “winning takes care of everything” (2). Fortunately, Derek Jeter’s impeccable image and 8.7 million retirement video views brandishing the Swoosh logo atop his uniform ameliorated the company image in 2014 (2). Novel emphasis on real world experiences demonstrated in the Find Your Greatness video featuring an overweight male jogger struggling to trudge down a remote road also garnered public favor (2). As the words, “Greatness is no more unique to us than breathing. We’re all capable of it,” echo through the tape, Nike appeals to the average person fighting to get in shape, a demographic encompassing its consumer majority (2). Supplementing their four years of relatively strong ads, the company published its Bradley Cooper voice-over Possibilities video featuring ordinary people completing against Lebron James and Serena Williams (2). Product-result association via alignment with celebrities and top athletes encompass effective marketing strategies for such activewear companies.

Works Cited

1. “Under Armour Inc.” Under Armour | Mission & Values. EOE, Web. 25 Apr. 2015.

2. Taube, Aaron. “25 Nike Ads That Shaped The Brand’s History.” Business Insider. Business Insider, Inc, 01 Sept. 2013. Web. 25 Apr. 2015.

On the beginning of this journey, I did not see myself as the most productive individual. My brother Marc is the model of such ideal as he manages emails, coaches individuals on how to build a social media empire, prospers incredibly in junior year of high school and provides peak content for his 181,000 Twitter followers. His twelve Amazon published books supplants his legacy as an ultra-productive Business Whiz Kid. On the other hand, I entered the business-academics balance with my familiar tactics for accomplishing tasks, only to learn they no longer suffice. In order to balance both entities, I had to become more mentally and physically than before. As the demands mounted, I learned the power of simple resource management systems. For example, penning my responsibilities on an index card linked me to a past association that empowered my mindset in the present. I linked index cards to productivity as a child. They were my tool to study for quizzes and tests, bearing strong results in middle and high school. Embedded from years of effective use, an index card became the place to write down my activities that needed attention. In retrospect, the intellectual tie between these cards and action propelled me.

However, I can learn many methods to accomplish my tasks, but if I lack the mindset, my efforts will be fruitless. This realization spawned a mental evolution of how I must see myself. Originally, the dominant belief was, “If a business demands you to perform four times as many items as usual, you must become four times better than you are now.” I still occasionally revisit this belief as it has served me before (again I gather comfort from a past understanding that I associate with success). Now, the focus has evolved into, “If I could only complete one task today, which would it be?” Singularity of focus provides for uplifting direction when reviewing the tasks one must complete. Rather than start six projects and have them idle half-baked, I dedicate myself to one. This can be difficult since old patterns of lesser productivity try to invite watered down performance. The most potent temptation of the antiquated frameworks is familiarity. It is easy to wade down into the comforting pit of complacency where the notion of challenge has no residence. However, just as atrophic muscles are born from non-activity, weakened productivity arises from the absence of challenge. Hence, I strive to manifest stellar results in the two fields.

Nuancing into principles, I discovered that intellectual limits are self-imposed. Years ago, I believed that there was a number of tasks I should complete in a day, and past that threshold, my quality of execution would only decline. I relied on my body to cue the peak. Afterwards, motivation to continue was neutralized so as not to compromise effectiveness. This is not an empowering sentiment. Through reflection, I discovered that mental growth is a requisite for higher performance. Just as an individual reorganizes furniture in a room, I redesigned my mental beliefs lest I snare myself in outdated intellectual paradigms. The process of uncapping my daily potential empowered my mind and body. Sensing a conceptual and corporal shift, I began acting in my novel belief. My productivity has increased as a result of mentally unhinging my hindrances. “I Choose” became and remains my psychological center. I decide to be tired, energetic, fearful, upbeat, or beat up. Negative information can be interpreted as positive, while positive information can be viewed as disempowering. Each individual makes these choices; anyone believes that they do not have free will does not, and has simultaneously given up the most powerful attribute they could have possessed. My lifestyle is rooted in self-improvement, which others may view as painful, intellectually tedious or a “sticky situation”. Their perception is strengthened by the fact that I must balance scholastics with business responsibilities. In their eyes, I “get out” of that sticky situation by adopting new practices and beliefs that empower me. In my view, I just choose an elevated life, the mindset and methods of which I teach others through my business Business Whiz Kids.

Many business individuals are inspired by a motivational speaker and then act immediately. This can lead to overwhelm, as they feel that they have hundreds of tasks to complete. However, they rationalize their frenzy-like nature by internally declaring, “at least I am not lazy.” Conversely, a lazy person rationalizes their stagnancy of action with “at least I am not crazy.” As another fine line of life, we need to learn how to balance effort with relaxation, and effectiveness with enthusiasm.

Two strategies to intelligently walk the line separating crazy from lazy are:

1. Infuse enthusiasm into your work. “Work” need not be depressing and cumbersome. Ask yourself this question, “what mindset can I adopt or methods can I implement to make my work fun?” If you answer this question accurately, you will elevate your occupational enjoyment.

2. Know when to give yourself a break, as well as when to elevate your standard of action. Yes, if you desire, watch some of the football game at night. In the process of your decision, understand that tomorrow you must choose to work hard and effectively.

It is my hope that these strategies arm you with the abilities to elevate your life. Please comment below to describe how you will maintain a humble attitude, and to join our community of conscious motivators and entrepreneurial achievers.

As always,

Dream Big.

Achieve Greatness.

Unlock Your Potential TODAY!

Condescension seems like an easy path for successful individuals to take. Nevertheless, those individuals need to continue to treat others with respect. They do not want to neglect the characteristics that fostered their success—respect for the knowledgeable, empathy for the struggling, support for the needy—lest their fountain of prosperity dry up. Perhaps, the characteristic of a humble attitude was the deciding factor that convinced the investor to support your mission. Now, if you drop that personal attribute, people are less likely to feel aligned with you. This cyclical dismantling can result in a lack of influence and success.

Stick to your root beliefs. Yes, you may have succeeded, and I wish that you do prosper and accomplish your dreams. When you do, remember what character traits helped you succeed. Two strategies to stay humble are:

1. Honor and live in the traits that made you a winner. Rather than drown in egoism, bathe in the characteristics that brought you success. Write them down, elaborate on them and truly understand how you embody them. What practices or rituals did you perform that made you _____ (humble, respected, well-spoken)? Those notes will become your lifetime reference whenever you face a struggle. You will have written your blueprint for personal success.

2. Remember what Tampa Bay Rays third baseman Evan Longoria said, “I constantly try to humble myself; if you don’t, I’m sure the game is going to find a way to humble you.” Life is a game. Win with humbleness.

It is my hope that these strategies elevate your life. Please comment below to describe how you will maintain a humble attitude, and to join our community of conscious motivators and entrepreneurial achievers.

As always,

Dream Big.

Achieve Greatness.

Unlock Your Potential TODAY!

Working out is often seen as a cumbersome task by society. Many people ask those who physically condition themselves, “Why are you doing that? Are you really enjoying yourself?” I was asked this question once, and its effects were interesting. In passing, a friend saw me working out, and asked me, “Do you really like doing that?” At the time, I was thirty seconds into a spinning plank. This move entails holding a plank position and spinning clock and counter-clock wise. It can be exhausting, if you choose to believe it is. I was focusing on an inspirational individual at the time, and the question from my friend drew my focus away. Many top psychologists have studied the power of questions, specifically their ability to attract a person’s focus. The problem with this question was its negative attributes, and it drew away my positivity manifested in action. Thankfully, I regained my positive state after the initial blackout. How? I realigned with my high standard of maintaining a fit and healthy body.

Standards are built or destroyed by what we choose to believe. Belief can be interrupted by others, but, that is something you choose to allow. When we are sad, we choose to be sad. We decide to be our emotions at all times. Two strategies to fight through the initial dry season of success (that you will overcome) because of heightened standards are:

1. Attach fun to your cumbersome or painful activity. Who amazes others? Someone who can do an easy activity well, or someone who can do a hard activity well? Fitness is a fantastic example. Not everyone is physically fit because most of the population believes it is hard and painful. It is when you keep telling yourself and thinking about how painful it will be! Ask yourself, “how can I make fitness an enjoyable activity?” For example, many workout programs offer a “Cues and Music” option. Now, think of something that motivates you when you listen to it. Perhaps this is a self-improvement program, or series of songs (Rocky is a great choice). Play your ‘empowerment audio’ while you exercise, and the workout cues will keep you on track. Take the best of both worlds.

2. If you perform the first step, which is incredibly powerful, keep the following mindset, “I can do it.” You must believe you can reach a standard before you set it. Adopting this belief is simple, say, “I can” truthfully. Truthfully entails that you believe you can accomplish this goal.

With these two strategies, you can have enjoyment and self-belief attached to a higher standard of success. Suddenly, the bar is not high at all, and your achievement is.

It is my hope that these strategies supercharge and hyper-elevate your life. Please comment below to describe how you will attach enjoyment and self-belief to a higher standard of success and achievement, and to join our community of conscious motivators and entrepreneurial achievers.

As always,

Dream Big.

Achieve Greatness.

Unlock Your Potential TODAY!

Challenge—it is a rough word. Based on a serious intention watered down by those who choose not to push themselves, a challenge can spark a potent motivation or deep inner resentment. When we dare ourselves to live a better life, and we do not act on it, we feel like a part of our lives just left. We can not get it back, sadly. That one individual portion of you is left to wander in the darkness of lost potential until we decide to stretch our limits again. This does not mean overextending ourselves—there is a fine-line between intelligently packing our schedule and flooding it with tasks that amount to little personal improvement or direction. Challenge means consciously deciding to make positive changes in dosages that you can handle, and increase over time, perhaps exponentially.

Winning the internal negotiation of motivation and fighting against fear are powerful skills to learn. Two strategies to consult with your inner self, and prompt him or her to take willful action are:

1. First, understand the power that you have as a “thinking thing.” Of course, I know I have mental faculties and abilities. How often do you use them to manifest your deepest desires, then? To those who do, the world is theirs. Those who do not allowed the other person in the room, fear, who they let in, give you that icy stare, and stop you from acting. You can choose who you let into your mind. Fear, faith, doubt, action, boldness, shyness— they can all be your mental houseguests. Unlike your family, you get to choose these dinner partners. For example, instead of fear, invite faith into your mind. When you are tempted to look at the dark, sunken eyes of fear, choose to glance only a few feet away into the warm, empowering eyes of faith. Choose your mental houseguests wisely.

2. Feel good when you use your willpower. Just like television channels, you can demand certain emotions into your psyche. Demand gratification to immerse your soul and channel it into your body when you use your willpower.

It is my hope that these strategies elevate your life. Please comment below to describe how you will challenge your inner self towards an actionable mindset oriented for success, and to join our community of conscious motivators and entrepreneurial achievers.

As always,

Dream Big.

Achieve Greatness.

Unlock Your Potential TODAY!

However, there seems to be a slog that all achievers must go through before achieving the desired result. This test refines the mindset and methodology of the striving individual in the fires of resistance. Slow progress can create constant feelings of inadequacy. I met a New York Times bestselling author who started a business recently. He says that he wakes up and immediately feels like an under-performer. Why? The burden of his workload, and a lack of results from such work, create a void of inner fulfillment. The reason behind your work is tested if you do not see initial results. The challenge is to keep the colors of your portrait of future success bold and vibrant. You must attract yourself towards that desired goal amidst the perceived stagnancy.

One must act in the sentiment that “I will succeed. I will get through this dry patch. Yes, right now, it is rough. One day, rather soon, I will succeed.” Two strategies to keep your focus fixed on your future success are:

1. Draw pictures, gather photos and dream about what your life victories will look like. How will the drive home from your Fox Five interview broadcasted to millions of viewers feel? After you sell those products, what will the conversation be like around the dining room table with everyone gleefully sipping apple cider?

2. Emphasize action. Yes, I know this involves overcoming fear. That process can be terrifying. The pain of emotional honesty comes when you say, “I am afraid of _____, but now I am going to face my fears. I am about to test my power against the fear I gave life to.”

As always, it is my hope that these strategies elevate your life. Please comment below to describe how you will fight through a dry season in your work, and to join our community of conscious motivators and entrepreneurial achievers.

As always,

Dream Big.

Achieve Greatness.

Unlock Your Potential TODAY!

Doubt is all around us. Some people provide it to you in abundance; some worldly situations crack our armor of confidence, allowing this emotionally-bacterial substance into our sub-conscience. Suddenly, instead of being opposed by other people, and learning to overcome them, we are opposed by ourselves. He or she is a mighty opponent. This “other you” has been sickened so severely by the hemlock of doubt that they now seek to exterminate all positive ambition. This perverted life form of ourselves restricts the flow of positivity, success, and self-belief. It blurs the lenses through which we view life, negating our recognition of personal talents, aspirations and progress. Worse of all, after shelling us in a cocoon of callousness, it looks to spread to others like a viral disease, unsatisfied until it engulfs the enthusiasm and life of the world.

However, doubt can not establish residence in your mind and begin its process of debilitation if we do not open the door. When you feel its putrid tentacles scaling the armor of your self-esteem, peer through the door, look at doubt in the eye, and shut your mind from it. You know it is there, but you intend to keep it there and not in your mind. Two strategies to dismantle doubt are:

1. Know the reason behind your fear. There is an internal inconsistency that is creating your uncertainty. Doubt begins to knock louder and louder when it feels your hesitation. Look at doubt, say, “Not today” and move on. Courage is acting in the face of fear.

2. Channel your internal cabinet of leaders. We all have people that we look up to. In times of tribulation, ask yourself, “what would my hero do?” In their honor, act to beat fear.

As always, it is my hope that these strategies elevate your life. Please comment below to describe how you will defeat doubt, and to join our community of conscious motivators and entrepreneurial achievers.

As always,

Dream Big.

Achieve Greatness.

Unlock Your Potential TODAY!

Grace under pressure—the world adores it. Millions of people flock to watch professional athletes each year, the best of whom can perform brilliantly when circumstances dictate they should crack under the weight of the moment. The individual who stays calm, cool and collected is held in reverence by those who panic before the important company presentation. The fact that the phrase “calm, cool and collected” has garnered significant popularity solidifies it as a societal ideal. It is the goal of athletes, business people and everyone in between. Those who make the difficult look easy, and do not seem to break a sweat doing so are honored. The business owner who is incredibly successful financially, and has no relationship drama becomes the model for aspiring entrepreneurs. They are, after all, in search of the whole package. Peace in your personal and psychological life, and success in all other endeavors— internal fulfillment and external rewards. What more can you want?

Learn to embrace the struggle of growth that comes before prosperity with an attitude of peace and gratitude. This is the ultimate human strategy as you march towards the higher ground that few have ever reached. Two strategies to manifest this reality are:

1. Trust and act in your willpower. Often, the extra push to intellectually assert your happiness when you are tired, or the strength to create another product brings individuals to their Promised Land. It is time to take the helm of your life again. You can choose ultimate greatness today.

2. Adopt a belief system, and live in its principles. Too few people follow the edicts of their religion or beliefs. Hence, ideology blurs into the background of life, losing its potency in favor of hollowness. The belief system becomes archived instead of actionable. It is limited by its ‘believer’. It is time to build the connective tissue of credence back into your life principles. If you seek peace and prosperity, and you live in the Christian faith, act in this mantra, “ ‘Ever laboring, you are ever at rest because you are your own peace.’ ” Saint Augustine spoke these words to God. Why can’t you speak them to yourself, and live them?

As always, it is my hope that these strategies elevate your life. Please comment below describing how you will finally attain peace and prosperity, and to join our community of conscious motivators and entrepreneurial achievers.

As always,

Dream Big.

Achieve Greatness.

Unlock Your Potential TODAY!

Recently, I encountered a situation in which one of my team members was engaged in a passioned argument. Although the person was not screaming, he was sincerely expressing an opinion contrary to the person he was talking to on the business phone. As I watched the conversation progress, I was inspired to see the team member taking the time to respectfully educate the other person on the phone. Rather than a battle, my conscious member resolved the issue, and went from arguing a rudimentary point to wishing that person a Merry Christmas. A stark contrast of interpretation was evident here. My member saw the conversation as an opportunity to settle differences and infuse clarity. The other individual on the phone was offended by a question for more information. One hung up the phone intellectually informed, the other egotistically inflamed.

This is the power of interpretation. While this example is on a small scale, there are many powerful illustrations of leveraged interpretation that have changed people’s lives. Two strategies to orient your interpretation for success are:

1. Be a humble pupil of almost every situation. This can be difficult to do. Why? It requires dropping your ego by saying you do not understand something, and requesting help. Many people can not do this, but those who do will learn much faster.

2. Ask yourself in every situation, “how can this benefit me?” If you are religious, and truly believe the incredibly effective credo that “Everything happens for a reason,”  you are set. This angle or lens allows you to find the beauty in every occurrence.

There is a reason you are reading this. You are improving, elevating your standard of life, and over time, like connective tissue coming together to form a muscle, you are growing into the person of your dreams.

It is my hope that these strategies improve and elevate your life. Please comment below describing how you will control and optimize your interpretation (which determines your life), and to join our community of conscious motivators and entrepreneurial achievers.

As always,

Dream Big.

Achieve Greatness.

Unlock Your Potential TODAY!