Let's talk about getting comfortable...

[Michael_]

I know some of you here are probably around my age or older and have been through some insanely rough times, same as myself. So, I wanna open something up for discussion: How are you guys maintaining that 20yr old's drive that you once had as you find yourself growing older and becoming less "hungry." (or if that is even an issue for you).

I remember when I was 16-24'ish, once I got an idea in my head that was going to catapult me to millionaire status, I was an unstoppable freight train of action.

My mind, then, worked like this: "Well, if I could replicate what this guy is doing, and I could build out X per day, it would take me this long to exceed him. How about I just pull repeated 36-hour days and just cut that time in half, fuck it." And off I would go.

The fact that I knew nothing was delaying me except time itself sparked a tremendous amount of action, and I would condense months worth of work into weeks, and, because that drive, goal, and outcome was so clear in my mind, I would relish the process while I was doing it. I would feel empowered finishing up a 16 hour day, getting 3 hours of sleep, and then doing it again. The harder I worked, the more hungry I became. The power of sculpting your own path is insanely motivating, liberating, and powerful.

Then, somewhere along the line, among the many kicks in the teeth that life has dealt me, combined with not being 21 anymore, I find myself taking on new projects and struggling to even catch a glimmer of that once insatiable drive and grit. Almost as if I've become so comfortable in my current situation that it's like, "Yeah, I can imagine all the good things that *might* happen if I bang this out, buuuut...." and then I struggle to put in a full days work on it. It's like I start with that same fuel and fire as I always have and bang out a tremendous amount at the start, but it seems to taper off so much more quickly now.

The only thing I can even relate the scenario I'm trying to convey to, is that people get used to their prisons. Like, I'm still eager and seeking success, but, just as prisoners become used to and dependent on the cells that hold them, I find myself feeling the same way in my comfortable life. I know this is all beta as fuck, but I really don't care.

Any of you bros experienced anything like this? And, aside from putting myself out on the streets to get some perspective, how did you break it and get back to that 21-year old, hungry-as-hell, pull-multiple-24-hour-days guy/girl that we all started as?

 

[SkyFire]

Perhaps focus on smaller, more easily attainable goals until you get the taste back.

 

[Michael_]

Perhaps focus on smaller, more easily attainable goals until you get the taste back.

Yep, this is currently the only way I'm getting anything done. But, if I can, I want that to see if I can get that unstoppable beast that I used to be back. (Maybe this is a mid-life crisis? Heee!):food-smiley-002:

Surely some of you old fuckers know what I'm talking about.

 

[Instrumentalist]

You said it yourself. Got comfortable in your own prison. Sounds like you need to change things up. Take some time off, take up a hobby, do some coke, do whatever to change up your current scenario. Go out and find some meaning to your life.

 

[ToddW]

Are you eating enough? Eating healthy?
Low testosterone?
Are you active at all? (Sports, Weight lifting, etc..)


I've found as I've gotten older making sure I eat regular healthy meals and take certain supplements, minerals etc... really help in the recovery process.

If you haven't maybe you could get some blood work, nutrient analysis, etc... and just find out where you're at.

I know for ME my brain tells me go go go and I attempt it like I used to and then I`m dead recovering for the next 2 days. So, just going all out may not be the best idea until you can sustain it... work up to it kind of thing

Getting comfortable be it with money or without is a bad spot to be in. I try to change things up, and travel at least 2-3 a year out of state just to maintain that "ALIVE" feeling. Get some adrenaline pumping, do something stupid, etc...

 

[GimpSpack]

Hey Michael, quick question:

Did all the hustle you use to put in wield lucrative/positive results? Or did you experience frustration after frustration or failure after failure?

Because I can relate to what you're saying. I'm pretty young (in the 18-24 range) and I'm already feeling a bit burned out. And it's because most of my IM projects never really went anywhere, or didn't work out as I expected, or I fucked something up along the way. That in itself is demotivational.

Your brain is probably like, "Listen, dude. If I'm going to be pulling 16 hour days, you better be sure it's a worthy goal. Because the last few times didn't turn out so well."

I know for sure I'd feel more motivated had I experienced greater success earlier on. But now, I kind of just want to chill for a while. However, I can't drop IM altogether because the rewards of making it are far greater than any alternative in my mind.

 

[boatBurner]

Follow through with the projects you commit to. If you can't then get rid of them from your daily routine and focus on one thing.

Some of the best advice I received when I was slumping was to focus on doing one thing a day. Get rid of the noise, get rid of the excitement for multiple ideas, and focus.

If you're focused, you won't have these problems.

 

[Michael_]

Hey Michael, quick question:

Did all the hustle you use to put in wield lucrative/positive results? Or did you experience frustration after frustration or failure after failure?

Because I can relate to what you're saying. I'm pretty young (in the 18-24 range) and I'm already feeling a bit burned out. And it's because most of my IM projects never really went anywhere, or didn't work out as I expected, or I fucked something up along the way. That in itself is demotivational.

Your brain is probably like, "Listen, dude. If I'm going to be pulling 16 hour days, you better be sure it's a worthy goal. Because the last few times didn't turn out so well."

I know for sure I'd feel more motivated had I experienced greater success earlier on. But now, I kind of just want to chill for a while. However, I can't drop IM altogether because the rewards of making it are far greater than any alternative in my mind.

A little bit of both, to be honest. More failures than anything, but I did have times where I was on top of the world, making more than I had ever made. But, as it stands now, I'm not still riding high or floating upon on any of those successes.

 

[c4yrslf12]

What's your reward system? Sometimes your mixture of delayed vs. immediate gratification reward system needs altered. Reward yourself for a few small victories, but after the first few, push it out further and further and further. MMO style living bruh.

 

[quintana]

If you're too comfortable you need to get out of your comfort zone.

You can't expect to maintain the same enthusiasm when you do the same thing all the time. Instead of trying to get that back feeling back whilst doing what you usually do, look for something new and challenging that excites you.

Or it could be that you're rationalising this situation as you being too comfortable to protect your ego, when in reality you may not have the same confidence in your abilities. You said you've had many kicks in the teeth, and when you start a new project you already start making excuses, "I could do this, but...".

Do you regard yourself as being very successful at what you do?

 

[Michael_]

You said it yourself. Got comfortable in your own prison. Sounds like you need to change things up. Take some time off, take up a hobby, do some coke, do whatever to change up your current scenario. Go out and find some meaning to your life.

Yep, can certainly agree with that assessment, but, baring going out and trying to flock like a peacock at the bars and chasing women, like I used to, I don't know what that really is for me, or what would negate the years that this has been building up.

 

[Michael_]

If you're too comfortable you need to get out of your comfort zone.

You can't expect to maintain the same enthusiasm when you do the same thing all the time. Instead of trying to get that back feeling back whilst doing what you usually do, look for something new and challenging that excites you.

Or it could be that you're rationalising this situation as you being too comfortable to protect your ego, when in reality you may not have the same confidence in your abilities. You said you've had many kicks in the teeth, and when you start a new project you already start making excuses, "I could do this, but...".

Do you regard yourself as being very successful at what you do?

Great post, and no, I don't. If I had already found the one thing that I was an extreme badass at, I probably wouldn't be making this post. I've become proficient in quite a few areas over the years, but nothing to where other people recognize me as an industry expert, or anything that brings me significant success.

I'm extremely unsure of what activities I could involve myself in that would break me from this comfort zone. As I said in the post above, I'm above the age where chasing girls and flaunting my status would be enough to do so. It's become a real "beta" problem at this point, to be honest. (the fact that I realize this should say much, too. It's beta as fuck, when I used to always operate my ventures/ideas/etc as unstoppable alpha).

 

[ayzo]

I remember when I was 16-24'ish, once I got an idea in my head that was going to catapult me to millionaire status, I was an unstoppable freight train of action.

My mind, then, worked like this: "Well, if I could replicate what this guy is doing, and I could build out X per day, it would take me this long to exceed him. How about I just pull repeated 36-hour days and just cut that time in half, fuck it." And off I would go.

The fact that I knew nothing was delaying me except time itself sparked a tremendous amount of action, and I would condense months worth of work into weeks, and, because that drive, goal, and outcome was so clear in my mind, I would relish the process while I was doing it. I would feel empowered finishing up a 16 hour day, getting 3 hours of sleep, and then doing it again. The harder I worked, the more hungry I became. The power of sculpting your own path is insanely motivating, liberating, and powerful.

Then, somewhere along the line, among the many kicks in the teeth that life has dealt me, combined with not being 21 anymore, I find myself taking on new projects and struggling to even catch a glimmer of that once insatiable drive and grit. Almost as if I've become so comfortable in my current situation that it's like, "Yeah, I can imagine all the good things that *might* happen if I bang this out, buuuut...." and then I struggle to put in a full days work on it. It's like I start with that same fuel and fire as I always have and bang out a tremendous amount at the start, but it seems to taper off so much more quickly now.

You pretty much identified the issue on your own brah, it's all about being uncertain of the outcome. When people look at apples stock price from 10 years ago they all say the same thing, "if only i had a time machine". When you're absolutely certain that doing x will get you y then there is very little that anything could do to stop you from doing it.

I'm not such a big fan of "gurus" but Tony Robbins does have a way of breaking down and explaining it:

Start watching at about the 14 minute mark

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUmooRyU0Bg]Tony Robbins, Frank Kern and John Reese on the Most Important Skill of Achievers. - YouTube[/ame]


But you probably already knew all of that, so how do you fix it?

I notice that procrastination/paralysis/lack of motivation/etc is something that affects SEOers more than it affects PPCers and I think it's because PPC teaches you a very valuable skill which is to start failing as fast as possible. I know it sounds cliche but in PPC all you can really do is setup a campaign, see how it performs, ditch the losers, further optimize the winners, tweak the ones that have potential, and then do it all over again.

So my advice is the same as any other self help book really, start failing faster and embrace losing. If you can't come to grips with embracing it, outsource it to somebody who can and just copy the stuff that gives them results.

 

[Michael_]

which is to start failing as fast as possible.

Yeah, I've seen almost all of Tony's stuff and I'm a big fan of failing as fast as possible.

I wonder if it's just becoming jaded with age? You try and fail at sooooo much shit (at least you do if you're working hard) and then, once you get older, you just lose that wonderful naivety?

I remember spending months on projects when I was younger, the thought of them failing never crossed my mind until they actually did fail. Now, not so much. I don't go looking at every project as a predetermined failure - far from it. What I'm working on now, I absolutely believe that it can be 6-7 figure project. I just don't seem to be able to maintain the drive I once had.

 

[bodiddley]

1) Exercise your pineal gland

2) Take care of your adrenal glands



Your pineal gland is where imagination and visualization takes place, so you can see the work being done before you do it.

Your adrenal gland is likely worn since our society stresses people out and the medical community are a bunch of bastards who don't want to recognize and publicize adrenal issues (which are widespread).

See if that doesn't help your drive.

 

[contract]

It's easy to start thinking like that...

Thought process: I've accomplished this or that. Look at what I've done! Fuuarkk, I'm not tired but I'm happy and more importantly damn proud of myself. Look at everyone around me, not doing shit. They have never reached the peaks I have, and they will always be too lazy to ever be successful. I can stop now, because I will always be ahead of them. Even if xyz takes off, I'll be alright, and can still keep up and still maintain my honor of working hard back then. To me, I've accomplished more than they ever will in two lifetimes.

.....

And then you stop getting motivated..
And then you see/deal with lazy people all freaking day long.

No matter where you go, you're surrounded by robots, living out nature's course never being original but human machines.

You can't avoid them, ever.

So you start getting comfortable, what can you do when it's considered "normal"?

.....

I've gotten sucked towards that path before, and it sucks. Wasting time with people who are "friends", who are really just sketchy, don't motivate you, and genuinely wouldn't help you out in a dire situation that would affect them. Let's be real..

Not many people have more than a few close, REAL friends.

So you start turning into the people you are around. An 99% of the people you meet and become friends with are just a drag on your life.

I'm all for keeping people close, and networking, and friendships, but it's a complete challenge to find business-focused people. Ones that wake up at 8am everyday, shoot you a text, and bitch you out for not already running 5 miles. What I'm saying is.. It's hard to find people that want YOU to be successful.

The reality is..

Most people don't even want to be successful themselves.

Want to disprove this theory? Look the fuck around.

......

How to get out of this funk.

Find your passion.

Encompass yourself with like minded individuals.

Stop treating yourself with small pleasures just because you can; focus more on rewards that offer no return until years down the road. (Small rewards are great, but man up and realize that if you want small rewards... Just go ahead and work at Mcdonalds flipping burgers for that $5/hr paycheck. Maybe then you can finally buy those new shoes with 3 months saved up, and still be a broke peasant. Remember, MOST people LOVE small rewards like this, they work their entire lives like slaves to buy stupid shit. Think of the dollar store, on a $30K salary).

Understand that only YOU can make it happen.

Ignore all self help bullshit, including this post, which may or may not have some solid advice. Perhaps after this.. Stop looking for the answer, draw the damn line and move the fuck forward.

Be willing to learn, it gets harder with age.

Accept that even if you don't become a millionaire, it's NO reason to stop trying to be one. Treat ALL success as a personal reward.. That is, until you can play with barrels of cash and make it a "new", more real-world reward.

Don't put things off. Often answering that question of do I want to? Will just suck up massive amounts of time during the debate. Put that in the back of your mind, while "I'm getting it done and will find out later if I should have" needs be in full focus.

Invest in more traffic cones, you cannot go wrong.

 

[CCarter]

Yeah I've been there... feeling like:

It's a rollercoaster - this life we chose. Some days I'm like:

There were times when clients made me feel like:

Gave that life up. I'm not a people person. Other days I'd be in bed like:

Next day, I've got a great process in mind and getting the team together like:

And turn on that charm and can deal with people while killing it like:

And rarely I turn on BOSS Mode and turn into a completely different character - (usually I post a big thread on those days) - and am like:

But most of the time I'm like:

My one advice:

Anyways,

It's friday night on south beach - time to venture out into the wild... Peace Out.

​

 

[thehobbster]

TIL: CCarter is a hot emo-goth.

 

[Michael_]

TIL: CCarter is a hot emo-goth.

Would bang CCarter, in that case. (Who am I trying to lie to, I'd bang him anyway.)

Love that Tony Robbins video, by the way. 99.9% of bullshit is all mental. Figuring out how to get past those blocks (which, from my original post, you can see those blocks didn't exist in my younger years. We develop them.) is what it's all about.

 

[Kiopa_Matt]

Are you still in the trenches doing the actual work to turn your ideas into reality? If so, I hear ya, and I'm in the same position.

This is actually a good lesson for the yougin's on the board. You're not going to be able to continue pumping out 18 hour days with mad ambition forever, so get yourself into a management position asap. That way when you're 35 and slowing down a bit, you have a team of strong and ambitious minds straight out of uni to bang out those 18 hour days for you.