We live in a world of constant distraction. There are the constant pulls on your attention away from what you are doing whether that’s a new notification on Facebook from a Facebook friend, or an email from your boss. 

How do you cope with it all? Break up with distraction. Here’s some tips to get started:

Break the cell phone and social media habit. 
Turn off your cellphone.
Trim unnecessary followers from your news feed.
Use an app that limits your time on social media

Clear the internal and external clutter in your life
Take notice of what is draining your energy-thoughts, projects, etc.
Practice focus in small spurts. 
Unsubscribe from anything unnecessary

Remember that you don’t need to do all of this at one time.  If you can work on trying one of the above tips and adding others when you are ready, you will be amazed at the level of focus you can develop outside the culture of distraction. 


Your mental energy (your will) is one of your greatest gifts. Use that power on things that matter.
Don’t drain your brain on social media. Your life will thank you.

How to Eliminate Distraction

No matter where you are, you have a “comfort zone” for your finances, your health, and lifestyle. This state is where we either stay in or strive for. While building a stable environment is important, it’s also important to realize how not growing in that environment could cause problems. Think about Kodak or Blockbuster. 

If you have ever wanted to take a step out of that comfort zone, but hesisted, I invite you to ask three questions to yourself:

Am I afraid to step out because of the past? Realize that fear is primarily a mental reaction to what we perceive. It doesn’t exist outside of you or the situation. 

Will I die if I do this? IAt its most basic level, fear is about keeping us alive. That being said, a lot of fear that we bring to the table isn’t about keeping us alive. It’s about keeping us mentally and physically comfortable. 

Are you prepared? Anytime you learn something new is comes at the risk of failure.  Are you able to press forward knowing this? 

How to Get Outside  Your Comfort Zone

Where are you in your pursuit of an awesome life? 
If you’re like most people, you’re probably not as awesome as you could be.  Part of the problem might not be your efforts. It might be, the level of your goals. I strongly believe that the level of our goals defines the level of our success.  
 
While there is nothing wrong with pursuing small and achievable goals, they frame the kind of success you get. I challenge you to consider adding at least one massive goal to your to-do list.  
My effort to win a basketball game is different in an Olympic setting versus my backyard. Massive goals are different for everyone, but they often feature three key characteristics: 
Motivation-fueled: Massive goals should involve something that deeply interests you 
Outside Your Comfort Zone: Massive goals should scare you a little bit 
Personal: Massive goals are based on your interests 
Why don’t more people pursue massive goals? Here’s my top 3 guesses:  
Fear of the unknown 
Lack of clarity 
Limited Mindset 
So, how do you overcome the obstacles I just mentioned above? Start practicing these principles: 
Belief in yourself 
Belief in your dreams 
Belief in the power of the next step 

Visit Blog.jordanstrauss.net for full summaries, videos and quotes related to this episode. Visit JordanStrauss.net to signup for latest stuff, and keep sharing. – Jordan

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Why You Should Set Big Goals

Let’s assume we have two people who have the same goal of managing their time at work better. These two people decide to pursue their goal the same way (use a timer to focus more and take regularly scheduled breaks). One person achieves massive success that day and  leverages that success into a record-breaking month at work. The other person is still in the daily habit of reviewing their 29+ notifications on Facebook. 
 
While there could be many reasons why the two people in this scenario achieved different results, one area that could have impacted the results is language. In particular, I’m focusing on the “innocent phrases” that we use daily. Here are five good ones: 
I’m not special. 
I don’t have time. 
I’m lazy. 
I don’t have a good memory. 
I’m stupid. 
While these might sound like innocent-sounding phrases, I invite you to think a little deeper about the impact repeating these phrases, either internally or out aloud, has on your mind.  Become aware of the situations you use these phrases and how you feel. What impact do you think these words have on you when you use them over and over again? 

Visit Blog.jordanstrauss.net for full summaries, videos and quotes related to this episode. Visit JordanStrauss.net to signup for latest stuff, and keep sharing. – Jordan


5 Things You Should Never Say

For people who have things to do, there is nothing like a to-do list. The problem is that to-do lists never stop growing. Don’t get me wrong, to-do lists often start off with the best intentions. After about a day or two (or even shorter), that list is filled with guilt, regret, and procrastination. 
 
Why does this happen? 
There are two reasons that I believe that it happens, both stemming from psychology. The first is that we excessively “brain dump”. By that I mean, we don’t just include items on a to-do list. We include obligations, wishes, things we feel guilty about and all kinds of things that don’t belong. The other issue is our brain’s tendency to go for the “easy win”. While looking over our to-do list, most of us tend to do the easy stuff first or the stuff that makes us feel happy.  
 
So what can you do to improve your to-do list? Organize your goals, tasks, and projects with four simple questions: 
What is most urgent? 
What will have the most impact? 
What will make the most income (money or return on your effort?) 
Is this really the best use of my time? 

Visit Blog.jordanstrauss.net for full summaries, videos and quotes related to this episode. Visit JordanStrauss.net to signup for latest stuff, and keep sharing. – Jordan


How To Priortize

Filtering your water so that toxic chemicals don’t get in your body is important, but there’s another filter that most people tend to forget about, the one between their ears. Like water, our minds are exposed to a lot of things (both good and bad) in the environment. This is important because what we put into our minds is what will come back out! That is why my challenge for you is to check your mental filter. I want you to become more aware of what’s going into your mind.  
So, how do you create a mental filter? You can do it in three easy steps, three things to stop doing and one big thing to start doing: 
Stop watching the news (or limit it to just 30 minutes around lunch). 
Stop watching gossip, rumors, or reality-staged entertainment. 
Stop watching or listening emotionally negative stuff  
Start watching entertainment that empowers, motivates, and inspires you 
When you take more control of what goes in your mind, you take more control of what comes out of your mind (thoughts & words). Take control now so that you can use that power to be awesome. 

Visit Blog.jordanstrauss.net for full summaries, videos and quotes related to this episode. Visit JordanStrauss.net to signup for latest stuff, and keep sharing. – Jordan

5 Ways To Bullet Proof Your Mind

We live in a beautiful world filled with people who contribute positive value. We also live in a world where people can act frustrating, irritating, or downright rude. As a person seeking your best life, it is important for you to be able to deal with both types of people you encounter, those who contribute positive value and those who don’t.

In my study of personal development and my own life, I’ve come across seven lessons that bear repeating when it comes to dealing with difficult people. Those seven lessons are:
1.Remember that ‘difficult” people are PEOPLE. They desire happiness, just like you.
2.Remember that each person is unique. People will see from their own perspective.
3.Detach from the situation. If you see an argument coming, mentally step out the situation!
4.Take the high ground. Avoid getting into battles that you don’t need to fight.
5.Speak their language. Communicate with people, not at them.
6.Make peace.. Sometimes, all you can do is accept that a person won’t change their POV.
7.Establish and enforce boundaries. Be nice, but don’t be a doormat either.

Keeping these seven principles in mind will help you maintain a helpful balance between boundaries and cooperation

Visit Blog.jordanstrauss.net for full summaries, videos and quotes related to this episode. 

Visit JordanStrauss.net to signup for latest stuff, and keep sharing. – Jordan


How to Deal with Difficult People

I asked people on Facebook for future topics they would like to see. Overwhelmingly, they  asked for book suggestions for entrepreneurs, so here are my top four along with the key lesson I got from them:

1.The Compound Effect by Darren Hardy
Darren Hardy, a “virtual mentor” of mine, introduced me to the powerful (although not without controversy) concept of 100% responsibility, which means that you are in total control of your response to life’s situations.
2.The 10X Rule: The Only Difference Between Success and Failure by Grant Cardone Grant Cardone introduced me to the power of massive effort when chasing your goals so you achieve more than you thought possible.
3.The Four Hour Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich by TIm Ferriss Tim Ferriss introduced me the concept of treating time as value instead of a race. The	focus should be on using time rather than being used by time.
4.The ONE Thing: The Surprisingly Simple Truth Behind Extraordinary Results by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan Greg Keller and Jay Papasan introduced me to the concept of focusing on the essential  to ensure you are maximizing your use of time.

Visit Blog.jordanstrauss.net for full summaries, videos and quotes related to this episode.

 Visit JordanStrauss.net to signup for latest stuff, and keep sharing. – Jordan


4 Must Read Books for the Entrepreneur

Like a good “responsible” adult, I created a budget. On paper, everything looked great. I had everything accounted for. In reality, I suffered from “empty piggy bank syndrome”. Every month, without fail, I exhausted my budget and had to dig into my savings or debt just to survive.

That’s what happens when your income is only $30,000 per year but your debt is $70,000 and the bills keep coming.

Breaking out of this pattern felt like an impossibility until I started to take small and specific steps to dig a path toward financial freedom. I took specific steps, some of them outlined below, to build a life centered around my financial future and not my financial past. 

1.Get a REAL honest picture of where you are. 
2.Start looking for the “leaks” in your budget.
3.Pay yourself first.
4.Pre-spend every dollar. End the month with a zero budget.
5.Set up auto-pay, if you are can afford it.
6.Become a financial adult. Delay instant gratification.

One resource I found to very helpful to me was Dave Ramsey.

Please note that I am providing general financial principles, not specific advice. For specific financial advice, please contact a certified financial advisor. 

Visit Blog.jordanstrauss.net for full summaries, videos and quotes related to this episode.

 Visit JordanStrauss.net to signup for latest stuff, and keep sharing. – Jordan


How to Manage Your Money

Let’s talk relationships. Relationships are some of the most complicated things for humans to get right. Sure, they start off rather fun, but that initial phase quickly turns into confusion, unclear boundaries, and arguments. Relationship advice from a trusted person can be helpful but if often comes late. By the time a person reaches out for help, their relationship is already on a downhill slope.

In other words, let’s try to avoid the “do-over” if we can. While you can’t prevent every relationship problem (Someone like myself would be rich if they could do that!), you can decrease problems that stem from your own problems.

That’s right, I said your own problems.

I say “your problems” because I am a big believer in Darren Hardy’s 100% responsibility approach to life, including relationships. I believe that when it comes to relationships, it shouldn’t be a 50% split. The people involved should bring 100% of themselves to the relationships. That way, honesty can be expressed when it needs to be expressed. You didn’t need to reveal everything, but you do need the space and comfort to reveal the important things that will keep your relationship together.

Visit Blog.jordanstrauss.net for full summaries, videos and quotes related to this episode.  

Visit JordanStrauss.net to signup for latest stuff, and keep sharing. – Jordan



Building Healthy Relationships

After suffering 2 strokes at the age of 31, I realized that every day, moment and opportunity is precious.  We must go "out there" every day and take real steps towards achieving our goals.

Its great to fill ourselves  up with self improvement strategies and motivational quotes.  If we do not live these things on a daily basis, they do little more than hypnotize us into feeling better for that moment.

My goal is to be there with you every step of the way as you progress towards the things that you   desire and deserve in your life.