Note: This article is by writer and entrepreneur Evan Tarver, who shares his experience transforming from an ordinary employee to a prominent businessman, and the factors that helped him along the way.
I commuted an hour and a half one way to work a dead-end job at an investment firm with no chance to develop. Looking for any way out, I downloaded this new Apple app called “Podcasts” and desperately searched “entrepreneur.” With that, my life changed, and I don’t think I’m overstating it.
The first result was a podcast called (Entrepreneur on Fire) by John Lee Dumas. I downloaded it, and listened to an interview with Tim Ferris; it took a little while to come around to this new form of content, but love it or hate it, I’ve been listening every day since then.
Although John’s podcast is geared toward an aspiring entrepreneur, it gives so much valuable information on how to live a life that matters. Whether you’re a stay-at-home, a young college student, or a Fortune 500 CEO, you’d be crazy not to listen.
5 Things We Learn From Enthusiasm
There are five common themes I’ve discovered after the enthusiasm I felt while I kept listening to him five days a week for two years now:
1. Mindset matters
Your mindset is the first step to any lasting change or significance in life. How you perceive the world directly creates the reality of your life. If your mindset is one of positivity, tenacity, ambition, and happiness, then your reality will be the same. If your mindset is one of negativity, blame, hopelessness, and laziness, it will also be reflected.
Before we can live a life that matters, we must believe we can live one. We need to focus on self-improvement and consistent growth but to do that, we need the right mindset first. Everything that proceeds with your mindset is a direct result of your mindset.
2. Education is the basis of everything
A positive mindset is great, but without knowledge, that mindset will go nowhere. Teach yourself, and learn from people. Books, podcasts, and other audio/video content should be part of your everyday routine.
With self-education, you can learn vicariously through some of the greatest minds in history. You can see their failures and triumphs, so you know what to avoid and what to pursue.
3. Turn education into experience
Education is great, but there’s a reason why the saying “If you can’t do, teach” rings true. It’s because even though self-education is immensely important, it’s worthless if you don’t use your knowledge in the real world.
Education is wasted if it isn’t leveraged. The only way that what you learn will actually stick is if you field-test it in the real world. If what you learned in a book works in your life, then forge ahead. If what you learned doesn’t work in your life, then you now know a path you shouldn’t pursue.
Most people never turn self-education into experience because of fear of failure. But the only real failure is not trying. Use your education and turn it into experience, positive or negative; it’ll be worth it. So, it’s time to hit the books again and try something else.
4. Create your own relationship network
It’s safe to say that everything positive in your life comes from your experiences and the people you share them with. That’s all that matters.
With this in mind, the most important action you can take to live a meaningful life is to network. Some connections can help you immediately, some might help you years later, and others might just be great friends.
More importantly, however, your connections allow you to add value. The reciprocity will be undeniable and immediate by focusing on adding value to the lives of the people you meet. Create your network by growing your ability to help those around you. This alone will cause you to lead a life that matters.
5. Follow the plan, put in the work
As with anything in life, always follow the plan and put in the work. This is so important no matter what we repeat. Nothing you want in life is going to come easy and quick. Almost all overnight successes were 30 years in the making.
But if you set a plan and follow it, chances are you’ll get what you set out to achieve. If not, it’s great too—another chance for a real-life learning experience, after which the process repeats itself. No matter if the going is easy or tough, stick to the plan and put in the work. Compounding daily achievements will amount to a mountain of attained goals and the most meaningful of lives.
Whether you are a podcast listener or not, these five themes are essential to living a life that matters. And when it comes down to it, follow the plan, and put in the work.
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