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Category: Learning

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How Do I Make More Money?

The Four Questions On Everyone’s Mind: Part 1 of 4 

Freedom By Wealth

By Sam Makhoul

These four questions may not be something you would like to admit, but the research tells us that it is pre-occupying most people’s minds. In this article, I am going to cover the first question…

1. How Can I Make More Money? #Tree of Wealth

The reality is that, in our subconscious, there is a fundamental human need for freedom. And, like it or not, in today’s world, freedom comes from having money. Money to live life on your own terms. But the first step to having freedom starts with defining your wealth in the eight areas of life.

You need to define wealth as:

  • Good health, high energy, peace of mind and emotional strength #Tree of Health
  • Being in an intimate relationship #Tree of Love
  • Having a loving and supportive family #Tree of Family
  • Being in a job that brings the best out of you #Tree of Work
  • Friends that bring you joy and fun #Tree of Friendship
  • The time to read, learn and grow #Tree of Learning
  • Having empathy and compassion for others #Tree of Charity

Ultimately, money is a double-edged sword. It can help you achieve those things listed above, but it can also stop you from enjoying them if your quest for money robs you of time.

The human desire for money:

There is a human desire for money and material wealth. This primal desire is natural and is the reason why humans have made progress. Like any desire, however, this can be corrupted. Let me explain…

In today’s society, there is underlying guilt associated with wanting to make more money. This guilt is sometimes propagated by popular culture and usually justified by misrepresenting eastern philosophies and misquoting bible scripture such as “Money is the root of all evil”. But the truth and correct scripture is that it is “the love of money” that is the root of all evil, meaning that it is greed and the pursuit of material things at the compromise of the eight areas of our life that is wrong.

You have often heard me say that “Owning things is not wrong as long as they don’t own you”, which means that you should never neglect your humanity in the eight areas of life for the pursuit of money. You should not define your identity by what you own. Things that can be taken away from you is like establishing an identity on shaky foundations. You will have an identity crisis and may end up suffering from depression if you lose some of the things that you own. And in this age of uncertainty and chaos, anything can happen.

This is not to scare you. In fact, it is to empower you to be fearless by living life without reliance on an addiction to consumerism. Getting off the hedonic treadmill is liberating.

One of the reasons I founded A Higher Branch Success Academy was because I saw many of my colleagues in the corporate world compromise (and in some cases destroy) their health, family and relationships in the pursuit of profit and promotions.

 

What is Real Wealth?

At A Higher Branch, we contextualize wealth as filling the fundamental human need for freedom. Freedom to live in the eight areas of life daily without neglecting any. Freedom to take care of your health, freedom to spend time with your partner, freedom to spend time with your children and family, freedom to relax and unwind, freedom to read a good book, freedom to ‘stop and smell the roses.

So I ask you… Where is the freedom in having to work long hours to buy things that sit there collecting dust because you don’t have the time to enjoy them? There’s no freedom in that! In fact, that is a form of enslaving yourself. I am amazed at how much time people spend at work and how little they spend on the other areas. That is not wealth. And for some, work is used as an escape from a personal life riddled with unresolved conflict and past hurts that we’d rather not face or fix.

So here is the principle I want you never to forget. Wait for it….

Freedom should not be defined simply by how much money you have but ALSO by how much TIME you have to enjoy in the eight areas of life.

 

 

The object of making money is to give you more TIME to do that, time to work less and live more. But there is an element even more important than time. It is your ENERGY level.

Now I think ENERGY is a better currency than both time and money. Because with high energy you can do more in your day. And ultimately, that is what living is all about. Having the energy to do as much as you can each and every day. In fact, life span should not be measured by the years in your life but rather the life in your years. That is, by how much you accomplish in the eight areas of life. As the saying goes, “I’d rather live a year as a lion than a thousand as a sheep.”

So ask yourself, do I have enough energy in my day to devote to each of the 8 areas of life? If the answer is no, then the reality is that you are probably neglecting one of those areas.

Can you guess where the true source of our energy comes from? Is it from eating healthy, exercising, doing yoga, meditating, sleeping well and taking supplements? Not really. These aspects affect the quality of your energy when it manifests itself, but they are not the source of your energy. In fact, the source of your energy is from living a holistic life in the eight areas.

Your source of energy comes from mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. It is from love, family, work, friendship, learning, wealth and charity that we stimulate those three ‘energies’. That is why it is fatal to chase money, work long hours and neglect any of those areas. Every time you do, you will diminish your energy by that one. I have known people who eat so well, exercise and meditate and still suffer from fatigue. Why? Because they are neglecting one or more of the eight areas of life.

The Role of Money:

So, if real wealth is about having more time and more energy, the questions become; how do I have more of both? The answer does circle back to money and the money conundrum. And this is where the game of life balance is won and lost. Let me explain….

Whether you work for someone else or work for yourself, earning a living does NOT make you “free”. Only passive income does that; passive income from share dividends, positively geared real estate holdings and passive income from a business that runs itself whether you are there or not.

But does that mean you stop working when you have enough passive income? No, because your energy will come crashing down when you do. And remember what I said earlier. Energy is a better currency for freedom than time and money, acknowledging there is a synergy between the three elements.

Many people make the mistake of aiming to build up enough passive income sources so they don’t have to work at all. This approach is wrong on many levels. It’s like saying I want to get married so I can stop dating. You should never stop dating your partner in a successful relationship; otherwise, it will fail. Likewise, you should never stop working when you have passive income because the Tree of Work fills a fundamental need for fulfilment.

Fulfilment is a critical element in the eight areas of life needed for optimal energy levels. Working gives us purpose. If we focus on making a difference, working also fills the fundamental need for contribution #Tree of Charity, especially if we have a job where we get to see how the fruits of our labour directly help others.

 

 

As I said earlier, I started A Higher Branch Success Academy because I saw so many colleagues in the corporate world destroy their health and relationships in their quest to make money. Still, conversely, I also started to see colleagues over-correct by abandoning their work to pursue an overly obsessive healthy lifestyle filled with supplements and yoga classes, only to lose their way and lose their sense of self-worth. AND to their frustration, their energy levels came crashing down.

 

What is the answer? 

So the objective is NOT to neglect the seven other areas of your life in the pursuit of building a business or climbing the corporate ladder.

Your objective is not to completely abandon your work when you make money. That will only make you feel lost and rudderless. And that’s not real wealth.

What is the objective, then? The objective is to work for love, NOT money. The objective is to work because you want to, not have to. The objective is to work for fulfilment and a sense of achievement. Ironically, people who take this approach make the most money because working for love makes you fearless and bold; and fortune favours the bold. This makes you play a bigger game and makes you more effective.

 

The Love Of Work

 

So, ultimately REAL wealth is about having enough TIME and ENERGY for the eight areas of life. 

Money does play a role in giving you time, but only when you assess how much you need to live a happy life. For many, they don’t know how much is enough because the goalposts keep shifting every time they spend and borrow. The fact is that the more you spend, the more money you need to make and the more personal freedom you need to sacrifice. Most people say that they have a plan to stop and enjoy life when they reach specific money targets. That can be in your 30’s, 40’s, 50’s or even your 60’s. My argument is that the less you spend, the younger you can be to have that freedom. It’s a simple formula; If you want freedom at a younger age, spend less.

Unfortunately, the big challenge is in knowing what to spend on and what NOT to spend on. You don’t want to compromise your happiness by being too miserly and stingy. It comes down to what value you put on things. This is probably one of the most important questions you can ask yourself in life:

“Do I really need to buy this? Is the short-term boost in happiness 

worth having to defer my sense of long-term freedom?”

The answers to these questions are outside this article’s scope, but I cover two scenarios that demonstrate my point in the podcast published on 15 April 2021; you can find this episode HERE. We will also be doing a deeper dive into this topic at Upgrade Your Life 2022, but I hope, for now, I have you thinking.

Therefore, the real question reframing wealth is this: How much money do you need to give you the freedom of more time? And the answer ultimately depends on how much money you feel you need to spend to be happy.

 

Freedom Through Wealth

Whenever I suggest this to my clients, the following questions often pop up:

  • How do I spend less? Meaning, what things do I really need to buy?
  • How do I work less? Meaning, how much time do I really need to commit to my job or business?
  • How do I live more? Meaning, do I really know what to do with my time? Or will I end up spending it on Netflix and other frivolous pursuits?

The answer to these three questions is a critical step in achieving freedom. It is also outside the scope of this article but will be covered at Upgrade Your Life 2022. If you would like to know more about our annual event, please subscribe to our mail list or Instagram to get the speaker announcement and be the first in line. Ok now that we have outlined the principles to defining your wealth let me take you through the….

The 2 rules to making more money:

Rule Number 1 

Whether you work for someone or have your own business, my number one rule to making more money is to exceed expectations.

How do you do that? In today’s competitive world, you need to go above and beyond to stand out, attract customers or spark that promotion, and that is the reality.

What does it mean to go “above and beyond”? It simply means to make a positive impact on all stakeholders in all your interactions. Not just your end consumer, but with your team, your suppliers, and within your industry. Whether it is an email, a phone call, a face-to-face meeting, or any place on the value chain, your aim is to make the person you’re interacting with feel like your contribution made a material impact on the customer experience. You need to spark a response where the other person thinks, “wow, I was not expecting that.”.

In short, you need to make your contribution unforgettable, so people talk about you. This is how a personal brand is built, and a business goes from being small to being large. Remember that all big businesses were once small. And the main reason they became big is that they exceeded expectations and created a following of raving fans. 

 

Rule Number 2

My second rule to make money is to invest in income-producing and capital growth assets. My investment strategy mix is unique to me but is not unique in itself. So, in all cases, you should get specific advice from your accountant or financial advisor.

I suggest you view investing in four primary vehicles:

1. Investing in yourself:

You need to see yourself and your energy levels as your number one asset. You need to view your energy levels as your number one currency because, in my experience, people with the highest energy get more done in less time, more sustainably and have the biggest impact. They tend to be the most energetic and engaged people in the room. As a consequence, they tend to make more money. Much more.

So you need to invest your money in things that make you happier and healthier. When I say on things, I don’t mean material things; I am referring to good quality food, quality supplements, good health care, meditation coaching, personal training, attending courses, mentoring, just about anything that boosts your energy and vitality.

2. Investing in your own business (if you have one) 

If you own your own business, it is imperative that you invest your super profits back into your business after allowing for your living expenses. This is where being frugal in your early years is so vital to your future success. As a lawyer, I have witnessed the number one reason why good businesses go bad. And it is because the owners take out the profits to spend on material things instead of re-investing back into their own business. The second reason is where they invest their money into ‘other’ areas where they have no competency; typically, things like buying listed shares or cryptocurrency. Listen to my podcast for a deeper dive into this investment strategy.

3. Investing in other people’s business. That is Shares on the stock market/index funds. 

This is not a contradiction of my number 2 investment vehicle. It is in addition to it. Only super profits should be involved in investing in shares and other speculative vehicles. Listen to my podcast on 15 April 2021 for my investment mix between direct shares and index funds. My 80/20 rule and when to cash in to buy real estate. There I also list some of the index funds that I like. 

4. Real estate.

I suggest owning positively geared real estate as a safe and effective vehicle for building passive income and/or capital growth.

What mix between shares and real estate? My strategy is to cash in index funds holdings to purchase real estate, giving me a 20-30% equity stake in real estate. I also prefer positively geared investment unless there is potential for capital growth greater than market movements.

Please listen to my podcast for more explanation. Remember that all geared investment depends on your business’s profits and your personal tax position, which is why you should always consult your accountant for more specific advice.

But I hope I have you thinking about your investment strategy.

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How To Work On Your Weaknesses

Fist lifted in the air

Image of a fist

By Sam Makhoul

Imagine there is a severe drought and you only have one bucket of water. You look out onto your lawn and notice that most of it is doing ok, except for one small brown patch.

Will you water the green flourishing grass? Or will you try and save the struggling brown patch?

In this example, water represents your time and energy, and you are the grass. The point is this; we all have limited time and energy in a day.

The question is, how do we use those two precious resources? Most of us will use them doing things that we are already good at (i.e. watering the green patch) and ignore improving our weaknesses, our brown patch, because it takes time and effort.

However, the key to making progress in life is to work on our weaknesses. Here’s how:

  • If you are a good talker, chances are you are a poor listener. Learn to consciously listen and practice it daily.
  • If you lose concentration and make silly errors, remind yourself to ignore external distraction and cross-check your work thoroughly.
  • If you go to the gym, don’t just work out your chest, work harder on your leg and back exercises. Also, don’t just lift weights, work hard on your cardio and flexibility.

When you work on your weaknesses, you become a well-rounded person with many talents and strengths. A full and complete beautiful patch of green grass.

More importantly, when you work on your weaknesses, you will feel like you are growing and developing to be the best you can. Research shows that the key to happiness in life is to keep making progress.

Every time you achieve a new goal (no matter how small), your body releases the feel-good hormone called dopamine, which is very powerful at keeping you happy for longer. It’s the joy of the journey.

Most positive psychology experts focus on being grateful to make you happy, which means appreciating your strengths. But most ignore the other more powerful way to be constantly happy and that is to push yourself and work hard on your weaknesses, daily.

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How To Slow Down Time

Person holding a clock

Person holding a clock

By Sam Makhoul

Have you ever looked back on a day or week or month or year and thought, “where did the time go?” You are not alone.

Almost everyone is experiencing this phenomenon where time feels like it is flying by. For some limited number of people however, they look back on the same period and feel, “wow there was so much I did.” 

People in this latter category will one day lay on their death bed and think, “I lived a full long life. I am grateful for every minute.”

What is the difference between the two mindsets? We all have 24 hours in the day. For some, it feels full, but most others, fast and uneventful.

In the present moment, time is the same for all of us. It has an infinite feel about it, especially if you are in a state of flow or meditation.

But the passing of time is only evident upon reflection. This is where it is relative and feels different for all of us.

Therefore, you cannot slow downtime in the present. But you can either look back on it as if it went fast or as if it went slow. 

Have you ever gone for a long road trip and noticed that it took forever to get to your destination, but on the way back, it felt so much faster? This gives you a clue into the reason for the relativity of time.

Everyone Dies, Not Everyone Lives:

The answer to the conundrum of time lies in your five senses: seeing, touching, smelling, hearing and tasting. When your five senses experience the same thing every day, they become numb.

Consequently, you become too familiar with the known. Some call that their comfort zone when in reality it is a dead zone where you spend your seconds, minutes, hours and days living predominantly from the subconscious.

You are not really conscious of your thoughts, feelings and decisions. Consequently, you look back on your life and feel like nothing much happened and you interpret that as time flying.

So, while everyone is pursuing a long life, the real answer is to pursue a conscious one. The big question is how do you live a conscious life?

What is the formula? We hear so much about being mindful, but mindfulness is very different from consciousness.

The former is all about witnessing. The latter is more about decisions and actions that help you live a purposeful life where the speed of time is in your control.

The latter can only happen when you choose to live with fearlessness and adventure. This is where your five senses come alive.

I (Sam Makhoul) have been teaching a five-step method called the Circle of Conscious Living, which I have personally lived by from a very young age. I explain this method in great detail in my book, A Higher Branch.

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Learning: Essential Daily Ritual #4

Images of books

Jim Kwik sitting on a table encouraging positive learning

By Sam Makhoul

This article is in a series of articles about the system of daily rituals, habits and hacks you that will completely transform your days. When you live by this four-five-six system, you will find that obstacles and setbacks will not trip you up.

You will find that on the days where motivation abandons you, you will still stay on track.

Diagram of the four-five-six methodology

In case you missed the three previous essential daily rituals here are the links. It’s a good idea to go back and read them as a refresher anyway.

Essential Ritual #1: Journaling

Essential Ritual #2: Movement

Essential Ritual #3: Meditation

But this whole series started with this article that so many people absolutely loved: Is Motivation Destroying Your Identity

In this article we will go through:

  • Why continuous learning is important to your success?
  • How and when to infuse learning into your day?
  • What books and podcasts should you learn from?
  • Who or what are the best teachers on earth?

Why Learning Is Important:

Learning is how we grow personally and professionally. It is the sixth most important area in our lives and the foundation upon, which A Higher Branch has been established.

It is the essence of our philosophy of climbing higher in life and the quest for constant upgrade and improvement in all eight areas of our life. Without learning, we stagnate in those areas.

We do the same things every day because we do not know any better. Learning empowers us to try new things and reach for new goals and dreams.

All the latest brain research also shows that continuous learning and looking after your brain is good for our health and longevity.

3 mistakes we make when it comes to learning:

Gentleman drinking a drink while learning with a book

  1. We stop learning after we finish school and/or university.
  2. We only continue to learn about our job and subject matter expertise. True learning is a lifelong adventure where you continuously learn about each of the eight areas of life.
  3. We learn from the wrong sources. We live in an era of information overload and making sense of this information is difficult when digested in an unstructured way. The internet is also filled with information designed to promote one fad over another; one diet over another; one lifestyle over another; one product over another.

When Should You Learn Daily?

Something becomes a ritual when you do it at the same time every day or on cue. Learning should not be done as part of your morning and nightly rituals.

These times are reserved for movement, meditation and journaling for the reasons previously discussed in those articles. Welcome to Commute College.

Most of us commute to and from work daily. This is the perfect time to plug in, listen and learn.

Learning should be done whenever you have dead time. Boredom should be your cue to read, listen and learn.  In the car, on a plane, train or bus or whenever you having nothing to do.

You need to resist the temptation to drift to mindless entertainment on radio, television, and social media. You need to be in conscious control with what you let into your brain.

This is what the highest of achievers do. Learning is their daily ritual.

What Should You Learn?

Two ladies learning a podcast recording

You should be seeking books and podcasts about all eight areas of your life and not just one area of interest (typically health). This is a problem in itself.

I know some people who become obsessed with one area and start to neglect other parts of their life, especially relationships. It is important that you spread the learning equally among all areas.

We are so fortunate to live in an era where we have so much to read, listen and watch. We not only have so many books written by pioneering minds, but we also have audible, we have podcasts and we have YouTube.

But we need to be discerning and distinguish between entertainment and information. Two decades ago the challenge was the lack of information and lack of scientific research.

Today the challenge is to sift through all the overwhelming and often conflicting information. To help you on your learning quest, check out the below podcasts.

  1. Kwik Brain with Jim Kwik
  2. Impact Theory with Tom Bilyeu
  3. The Joe Rogan Experience with Joe Rogan
  4. Found my Fitness with Dr Rhonda Patrick

In these podcasts, the hosts are caring, knowledgeable, authentic and share information generously with no strings attached. They also interview experts, researchers and actual practitioners across the eight areas of life.

Is JIM KWIK The Best Teacher On Earth?

Jim Kwik standing on stage

The standout and foremost world-renowned expert on the superpower of learning is Jim Kwik. He is a world expert in memory improvement and optimal brain performance.

1 (founder, Sam Makhoul) attended one of Jim’s workshops and implement his brain training methods and let me tell you, it is unbelievably effective. It has helped me think smarter and faster in meetings.

Jim is also one of the humblest people I have ever met. He has worked with actors on the biggest Hollywood blockbusters, top global organisations and CEO’s that includes Harvard, Virgin, Nike and GE.

His personal story is also compelling. One of the principles I learned from Jim is that your own curiosity is the best teacher on earth.

If self-awareness is a great teacher of all things internal, then curiosity is the greatest teacher of all things external.

Applying Curiosity To Information:

So, it is important when you read or listen to books and podcasts that you apply a curiosity mindset. Are you accepting everyday information as it is or are you adding to it or contradicting it with your curiosity?

This means having your own opinion and questioning everything you learn. Do this by asking yourself, “yes and…” or the “yes but…” principles.

To apply these principles, we must let our curiosity break through our fear barrier. We all have this curiosity inside of us as children but over the years fear tends to keep it locked away.

Trust that curiosity. Unleash it. You will find behind every curious thought is the potential to discover your own wisdom on what you read. It is that curiosity that leads to genius or a genius idea.

Applying Curiosity To People:

There is also another huge area of knowledge, apart from books, where we can learn from – people. This is the fastest way to acquire knowledge.

Therefore, we must master the skill of listening with undivided attention. We can never know everything in life but by listening to others we can learn from their experience and that accelerates our learning.

Listening is a dying art. Many people overindulge in constant talking that they go through life never really learning from others.

But my advice is that the people you must listen to first come from the eight areas of life, in the following order:

  • Your partner who often knows you best.
  • Your mother, father or grandparents – they have experience and perspective.
  • Your work mentors, colleagues and customers.
  • Your closest friends.

But as always you need to filter any knowledge from these sources by using your own curiosity and asking the two questions above. This does not make you a contrarian. This make you progressive where you build on wisdom from others to create what’s right for you.

Want to read the rest of this series? You can find them here:

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How to Stop Making Excuses

Sign that reads what's your excuse

Sign that reads what's your excuse

By Dr Guy Winch

Do you have an excuse mindset that is sabotaging your goals and growth? This article will provide you with five essential antidotes. 

I have lived by this daily system for over 20 years and I promise you it has been the single most important reason for my personal growth and business performance. This system does not require any motivation or willpower. 

Whether you are training, parenting, innovating, writing, speaking or whatever, this system prevents you from drifting aimlessly and lays the foundation for taking action in all eight areas of your life. There is no progress without taking action.

But there is one kryptonite we all have that prevents us from taking action. Our fears!

5 Excuses People With Fear Of Failure Make:

Denying your fears will sabotage your chances of success. Setting meaningful goals can be scary and anxiety-provoking.

Unfortunately, our mind is likely to respond to our fear by providing us with excuses that encourage us to give up before we start, that sabotage our efforts once we do begin, or that send us into an endless cycle of procrastination. Here are five common excuses we give ourselves when we fear failure—and what we should say to ourselves instead.

The key is to acknowledge our fears, recognise the challenges and set correct expectations, yet create an open path to success.

Sign that reads I have results not excuses

1. What You Feel: “This Goal Will Be Very Difficult To Reach.”

What your mind tells you: “I’m not capable so there’s no point in trying.” 

If you believe you’re incapable, there is indeed no point in trying. But if you acknowledge the difficulty, you can begin to strategise, plan, and figure out what you will need to do to overcome the challenges—which will make you more likely to succeed once you do try.

2. What You Feel: “I’m Afraid To Fail.”

What your mind tells you: “I don’t want to try.” 

It’s your goal, so of course, you would like to try and succeed. Therefore, if your mind is telling you that you don’t even want to try, know that this is actually false and a response to the fear of failure you feel. The good news is, acknowledging fear is the first step in overcoming it. Own your fear and then confront it.

3. What You Feel: “This Is Going To Take A Lot Of Effort And Preparation.”

What your mind tells you: “It’s not worth it.”

Again, the more meaningful the goal, the more effort it might take. But meaningful goals are also the most rewarding, empowering, and life-changing. So the effort is well worth it.

4. What You Feel: “Setting A Clear Start Date Makes Me Anxious.”

What your mind tells you: “I’ll get to it when I’m ready.”

One of the most common reasons we fail to meet goals is that we fail to set a clear start date that could hold us accountable and prevent procrastination. Simply setting a start date, and putting it in your calendar to make it official, can give you the extra kick you need to get going.

5. What You Feel: “If I Try Really Hard And Fail, I’ll Be Devastated.”

What your mind tells you: “I’ll give it a try but there’s only so much I can do.”

Fear of failure often manifests in making excuses upfront that can then be used to explain the failure, such as expressing pessimism about your chances of success and using that as an excuse to limit your efforts. 

“The problem is, the excuse mindset then turns into a self-fulfilling prophecy.”

By holding back your efforts, you’ve increased your chances of failure. So, acknowledge the fear, but instead of imagining what it will feel like to fail, imagine what it will feel like to succeed.

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How To Love Your Life

Three girls in a sunflower field

Three girls standing and smiling in a sunflower field

By Sam Makhoul

I’ve been asked time and time again, what are some of the practical things people can employ to be happier and more successful on a day-to-day basis? To begin with, focussing on the below eight areas will provide you with an excellent foundation for personal and professional success. 

Here’s how:

1. Health:

Cherish your body. Nothing else matters more. Focus on the energy you have. Eat well, exercise and relax daily. Fill your daily life with purposeful activities that give your body a reason to manifest energy.

2. Love:

Love yourself by looking after your health and guarding your mind against negative images, negative thinking and negative associations. Look your best by wearing clothes that make you feel attractive. Have the courage to show and give love to your life partner, whether or not they give it back. Tell your partner daily what you love about them – these words are powerful. Work just as much on your love life as you do on your work.

Family cuddling

3. Family: 

Support your family at all times. Give them the confidence to pursue their goals and dreams. Help them overcome obstacles. Focus on their strengths and good qualities. Remind them daily of their worth. Tell them you love them no matter what happens – whether they succeed or fail at anything. Spend time developing a relationship with all family members.

4. Work:

Choose to love your work. Always do your best. Focus on the difference that your product or service is making to society. Have empathy for your customers. Value the privilege of serving them from the heart. Be grateful that you live in a society where there is the opportunity to work. At all times be honest in the execution of your work. Master your job by constantly learning and evolving. Always ask yourself, “can I do this job better?” Be impeccable in your conduct at work. Be fearless in your execution.

5. Friendship:

Let your words, laughter and charm bring a smile to others. Help your friends see the lighter side of life and not take themselves too seriously. Act with integrity and hold true to your standards and beliefs. Never compromise them to be popular. Never pre-judge others. Be open to new friendships. Always greet people with a smile and a friendly hello. How others respond is their own reality and has nothing to do with you.

Man reading a book and drinking coffee

6. Learning: 

Commit to 45 minutes of learning daily about every aspect of your life and not just your work and wealth. Limit watching TV and other popular media. Watch uplifting talks by great thinkers on TED.com. Read books from pioneering minds. Attend courses and seminars organised by people who care and have something unique to share. Listen twice as much you talk. Discover your talents by having self-awareness for your thoughts and feelings. Live a conscious life where you decide what you want to listen to, read and watch. Develop a growth mindset.

7. Wealth: 

Invest in yourself first before you invest your money. If you have a business invest in your own field of dreams first before investing with others on the stock market. Live a frugal lifestyle and reduce your dependence on money. Spend less, save more. Say no to consumerism and your addiction to buying more and more things that end up collecting dust or in the landfill. Spend money on experiences. But don’t skimp on things that improve your life like better quality food or better quality education for you and your children.

8. Charity:

Learn about the plight of others in need. Don’t shut yourself out to other people’s suffering. Help others by giving your time and/or money. Charity does not have to be grand. A simple kind word of support is sometimes all that someone needs. Help a team member at work.  Share an idea that can help a friend live a better life or simply listen to them without distraction.

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The 10 attributes of greatness

Three friends dancing

By Sam Makhoul

Have you ever wanted to achieve greatness but don’t know how? Have you ever thought about what greatness actually means and why it exists?

These are thoughts most of us have. That’s why we’ve collated the top 10 attributes of greatness to help us all achieve and succeed in all areas of life.

So, What Does It Take To Live Life Less Ordinary?

  1. Ordinary people can fool anyone in the short term. Great people build trust and earn respect for the long term.
  2. Ordinary people panic about deadlines and forget their priorities. Great people know that spending time with family and friends and doing work that matters is all that counts.
  3. Ordinary people spend too much time talking and complaining. Great people take action quietly and without fuss.
  4. Ordinary people watch TV when they get home. Great people read/listen to books, write in their journal and meditate.
  5. Ordinary people seek attention. Great people let their work and conduct speak for them.
  6. Ordinary people dodge responsibility – “someone else will clean up the problem”. Great people take ownership of challenges with a smile on their face.
  7. Ordinary people gossip and tear others down to get ahead. Great people take others with them on the way up.
  8. Ordinary people skip class or lectures or seminars. Great people know that education and learning pay off.
  9. Ordinary people pick up takeaway food on the way home. Great people pick up groceries, cook at home and make enough for lunch the next day.
  10. Ordinary people react defensively to customers with gripes or demands. Great people listen patiently and show empathy.

We all can act ordinary sometimes. Great people, however, are mindful when they are being ordinary and step up to greatness every time.

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Become the CEO of your own brand

Lady holding a cup

Lady holding a cup

By Sam Makhoul

Your personal brand is what makes you unique and instantly recognisable, it’s a fact that people with a positive brand are more successful. Here are five tips to develop an inspirational brand.

1. Be Ridiculously Good At What You Do:

Most people talk about how good they are but the ones who let their work do the talking develop the best personal brand. Associate with people with a strong work ethic.

2. Live By Your Personal Values And Never Compromise Them:

Some values include:

  • Honesty
  • Humility
  • Humour
  • Patience
  • Generosity
  • Kindness
  • Fairness
  • Respect
  • Reliability

Let your words and actions reflect these values. It’s easier to live by your values if you hang out with people who share them.

3. Wear Clothes That Are True To Your Personal Style:

If you’re sporty by nature – dress that way, if you’re posh – dress classy, people will start to associate you with that style. The aim is to be comfortable with who you are. Nobody likes a fake; which means ignoring trends.

4. Keep Learning And Keep Developing Your Brand:

Every night I go home to be with Deepak Chopra, Steve Jobs, C S Lewis, Jim Rohn, Martin Seligman, Daniel Pink, Sir Ken Robinson, Anthony Robbins, Stephen Covey. I have read all of their books and each has shaped my personal brand in one way or another.

5. Be Original:

Oscar Wilde once said “be yourself. Everyone else is taken.” One of the great tragedies of life is that we are born into this genius, this originality, this authenticity, and yet the world beats it out of us.

Our parents and teachers, well-intentioned, say, “be like everyone else, talk like everyone else, think like everyone else, don’t be a disrupter.” As we grow through life there’s this resignation into mediocrity.

My advice to you is to find your hidden talents, not the talents of the person in the workstation next to you. Walk your talk, live your values and ask yourself, “how can I return to originality?”

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What is Peak Performance?

Someone performing at their peak

Man standing pm a cliff with his arms open

By Sam Makhoul

Peak performance means you are highly energetic, mentally sharp and emotionally solid. It means you are performing at your very best.

Not just in the gym, but across all aspects including love, sex and intimacy, parenting and family life, friendships and social life, work performance, leadership and wealth creation. When you operate at peak performance, your self-confidence soars.

You live life on your own terms because you have figured out who you are, what you want and (most importantly) how to get it. You will start to say no to the things you should have said no to all these years.

You will have a growth mindset and look at any failure and rejection as a learning opportunity. Emotionally you will become invincible.

You will know how to deal with the inevitable rejection or failure. You will have more fun in your life, be more inspirational, and become more empathetic, loving and compassionate.

You will start to make a difference and become a source of strength to everyone around you.

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Forgiveness is always on your path to greatness

Two people hugging

Two ladies hugging

By Sam Makhoul

Many great people don’t realise they’re brilliant simply because they get stuck in the past. You can choose to stay angry at someone who hurt you or you can forgive them and move on to live an amazing life. 

You cannot do both!

Getting hurt is a reality of living and if you do not forgive a person that really hurt you. It will feel like you are carrying that person on your shoulders through life.

If you fail to forgive, how can you be creative or maximise your productivity? How can you learn or teach effectively?

How can you do iconic things if you are carrying the past on your shoulders the whole time? You simply can’t.

You Need To Forgive, Here’s How:

 1. Don’t Judge The Person That Hurt You:

Path to greatness includes forgiveness

Try to understand them. Remember the saying; “don’t judge a person unless you have walked a mile in their shoes,” maybe that person who was abrupt with you is feeling the pressure of meeting their monthly target.

Or the customer who was rude to you is struggling financially. Or the person who cut you off in traffic just received a call from their doctor telling them they have cancer.

Everyone behaves according to his or her own personal reality. If someone did something to you because they thought you were not being nice to them or they thought you were being dishonest, that person has created their own story, their own reality.

You just happen to fall into their perception. They were stuck on their assumptions.

They were stuck in their core beliefs and they were stuck in their own pain. So, don’t judge them. Choose to understand them instead.

2. Communicate With The People That Hurt You:

Two people hugging after being accepted for forgiveness

It takes a lot of courage to speak up and say, “when you did this, this is how I felt. You crossed a boundary that’s important to me.”

Don’t judge them. Don’t attack them. Just communicate.

It will get it out of your system and it will teach them how to better treat you. If they don’t get it, then maybe this person is not who you want in your life.

Remember that forgiveness isn’t only for the person who wronged you. It is a gift you give yourself.

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Is speed killing your life?

Car racing

Car racing to slow down

By Carl Honore

We live in a culture that is addicted to speed. We eat fast, talk fast, work fast as we try to cram more and more in the day.

And this is having dire consequences on our lives at home and at work. Why have we caught this disease called, speed?

Why are we doing everything faster in the name of good customer service? And why have we peddled the idea that speed of service is the performance criteria by which customers judge us?

Has anyone stopped to ask, “do customers really want fast service?” Or “do they want good, attentive, thorough service?”

If your business is running on speed, it is not sustainable. In the short-term, you will get results, but over the medium to long-term, the bubble will burst.

You and your team will get stressed and tired; absenteeism will rise. And that’s when you start seeing productivity drop and worse still, you will start to lose good people.

9 Signs You Are Addicted To The Stress Of Speed:

Do you experience three or more of the following symptoms? If so, you may be addicted to the stress of speed.

  1. You find it difficult to sit and do nothing for more than 10 minutes.
  2. You find it difficult to focus and listen to what the other person is saying.
  3. You eat at your desk or in your car and get indigestion.
  4. Poor concentration and irritability.
  5. You need alcohol to relax and constantly crave carbs or sweets.
  6. You rely on coffee for energy.
  7. You suffer from intermittent insomnia.
  8. You find it difficult to notice the beauty around you or you are numb to it.
  9. Loss of creativity and passion.

5 Business Consequences Of Speed:

Team members from office sitting around a desk discussing business strategy

Don’t believe the speed of stress will impact your business? Well, here’s how:

  1. Hurried consultations with no real customer connection.
  2. Inability to really listen to your customer.
  3. Higher error rates.
  4. Irate customers from regular misunderstandings.
  5. Lower performance.

12 Excellent Strategies For Slowing Down:

Image showing a slow lane and a fast lane

Are you ready to accept you live life in the fast lane? Are you wanting to take a step back and slow things down? Here’s how you can:

  1. Don’t schedule in more than two meetings per day.
  2. Don’t schedule any meetings after 3 pm – it is the most unproductive time of day and also the time of day where most misunderstandings and conflicts occur.
  3. Don’t pick up your second line or call waiting when you are already on a phone call.
  4. Don’t rush your meetings or calls. Take your time and ensure that you understand the other person.
  5. Turn notifications and pop-ups off on all your devices. They train your mind to live out of the present moment.
  6. Take at least two renewal breaks throughout the day to stretch, breath and meditate for five minutes.
  7. Don’t take on too much work and learn to say no.
  8. Don’t rush individual tasks. Enjoy doing them to the best of your ability knowing and reminding yourself that the quality of your work affects the customer.
  9. Don’t accept any last-minute deadlines imposed on you. Last-minute deadlines usually arise from somebody else’s inefficiency. It is somebody else’s problem. Don’t make it yours unless it is truly a rare exception requiring you to go beyond the call of duty.
  10. Take at least 45 minutes for lunch and pack from home at least three days in the week. You will get more nutrition and you will save money.
  11. Take a walk after work, preferably where there is a park or trees – and go alone.
  12. Keep a photo on your desk and look at it throughout the day. It could be a photo of your partner, your children or a picture of your next holiday destination.
  13. Sleep more.

If you’re interested in reading more about the dangers of speed, read our faculty member, Carl Honore’s books Bolder, In Praise of Slow and The Slow Fix.

Learn more about Carl by visiting his profile here.

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20 Tips On How To Live A Long Life

Four people in the car with their hands in the air

By Sam Makhoul

In the current generation Y and millennials, more and more will get the chance to live a long life until 100. You can be one of them too if you play your genetic cards right.

There is no doubt that medicine also makes this goal of a long life achievable. But if you look closely at the statistics, you will notice that whilst people are living longer, some are not living a quality life.

The following list of lifestyle tips has been carefully researched as having the most impact on our wellbeing to allow us to live a long life. They will sharpen your mind, keep your body strong, resistant to disease and help you live a long happy life without reliance on medicine.

1. Have Long-Term Goals:

Having something to wake up to every morning is the strongest of motivations for living with vitality. There is a cocktail of healthy chemicals that give life to our creativity, our energy and our zest for living.

Having a purpose in life releases these chemicals daily. It is the difference between waking up with an energetic burst or waking up with lethargy and a headache. So, what are your goals going to be?

2. Socialise More With Friends:

A group of friends socialising

Friendships are one of the most important aspects of our lives – it is one of the most crucial elements. That’s why research shows that people who have a wide circle of friends and who socialise often are much healthier than people who are isolated and lonely.

3. Stay In A Good Relationship:

For some, staying in a negative relationship is driven by the fear of change or being alone. But it is important to remember the positive impacts being in a thriving relationship can have and how it can help you live a longer, happier life.

Research has shown that those who are in a loving long-term relationship are much happier and healthier compared to their single counterparts. That’s because positive relationships form a bond; a  partnership that allows encouragement, achievement and passion to be shared with each other.

4. Travel Regularly:

Man with a suitcase off to travel the world

Humans are nomadic by nature. When we stay in one location, we stagnate; when we roam, our five senses are stimulated.

We feel most alive when we experience adventure. Travelling does not have to be overseas. In fact it’s healthier to travel locally.

Get out and explore your own part of the world. Make a habit of going on weekend trips with your family and friends.

Drive to the mountains, visit apple orchards in autumn or go to the beach in summer. The main thing is to get out of the house. 

5. Wake At Sunrise And Sleep Within Two Hours Of Sunset:

Sounds hard, doesn’t it. Especially when you’re living life at full-speed and working long hours at work. Well, maybe it’s time to make a change?

Research has proven that every hour of sleep before midnight is the equivalent of two hours after midnight. Studies have also reported that waking at sunrise reduces our blood pressure, which is the single most dangerous factor leading to heart disease and stroke.

6. Follow A Diet That’s True To Your Heritage:

A lady at a table eating food of her heritage

Before air travel, we did not travel long distances within hours. This meant that our bodies evolved over many years by eating essentially the same food.

That’s why it is overly simplistic to claim that some diets followed by certain cultures are best for everyone. If you are Japanese then eat Japanese food, if you are Italian, eat Italian food. It is in your DNA.

7. Pick Up A Book And Read Often:

Reading not only sharpens your mind but if you read the right material it can enlighten your view of the world and this keeps you inspired. I would also add, doing crossword puzzles and other brainteasers. Check out Lumosity.

8. Mix It Up By Using Your Opposite Hand And Foot:

Lady writing with her right hand in a notepad

Our founder, Sam Makhoul commonly tries to use his left hand whenever he can, especially before he has to do some creative thinking. Why?

Well, using the opposite hand or foot helps to sharpen the mind and keeps both sides of your brain working. Studies have also suggested that if you practice this from a young age, the chances of recovery following a stroke in older age are greater. 

9. Have Afternoon Naps – Yep, Napping Is Allowed:

The siesta was made famous in Spain, which had one of the lowest rates of depression in the world. It is a modern tragedy that cities in Spain that have abolished the siesta now experience the highest rates of Prozac prescriptions.

Having a nap may be difficult because most of work the common Monday to Friday, but even a 10-minute power nap is sufficient. If you are unable to do this during the week, then definitely make it a ritual on weekend afternoons. 

10. Watch Comedies And Hang Out With Friends Who Are Funny:

Two ladies sitting together and laughing

We are often told to adopt the “don’t worry be happy” mantra. The easiest way to do that is to have more reasons to laugh in life.

Laughter releases so many feel-good hormones that replenish our cells. So before flicking to a dark movie or TV series, make the switch to a comedy or opt to watch a televised comedy show with your favourite comedian – we guarantee you will feel so much better.

11. Move Your Body Naturally:

Exercising in a mechanical way on expensive equipment in gyms is not what primes your body for natural strength. Walking, running, swimming, and moving your body in natural movements does.

Squatting while doing gardening is natural. Bending to clean your home is natural.

Push-ups, chin-ups, squats and sit-ups are also natural movements. In fact, I think the best form of exercise you can do is to join a martial arts club.

You can be eight or 80-years-of-age and still get the benefits. The best form is Wing Chun. 

12. Drink Filtered Or Spring Water:

A little girl pictured drinking clean, filtered water

One of the best investments you can make is the installation of a reverse-osmosis water filter. It gets rid of the most harmful chemicals in our water supply. In particular, fluoride that is added to water and causes many ailments, which lead to premature ageing. 

13. Never Eat When  You’re Stressed Or Upset:

Go for a long walk or cardio the stress right out of your system. If you are going through a period of emotional stress it is better to eat very small meals or better still, drink vegetable juices instead.

14. Keep Your Bowels Clean:

Two baskets full of vegetables

Nobody likes to talk about this subject but the fact is that stagnant food in the colon is the cause of much toxicity. And this is easily preventable.

There are two easy lifestyle tips to follow:

a) First, consuming lots of fruit and vegetables.

b) Second, schedule “no. 2” toilet breaks as part of your morning and nightly ritual.

A lot of people are so busy being busy that they neglect this routine. They don’t realise how much harm they are doing to their body. 

15. Brush Your Gums And Tongue:

Did you know there is a link between gum disease, heart disease and stroke? Poor periodontal health causes certain oral bacteria to make the arteries sticky and inflamed.

Excluding this risk factor is easy. All you have to do is floss and brush your teeth regularly – but at least at night.

16. Do Your Pelvic Floor Exercises:

A lady instructing another lady with her pelvic exercises

Also known as Kegel exercises. This assists in preventing prostate cancer in men and avoids incontinence in both men and women, which is listed as the single most demoralising ailment for old people in nursing homes. 

17. Listen Carefully To Your Body:

Whilst you may not experience obvious signs of intolerance to food and situations, it may be affecting you in a subtle way that undermines your energy. Often we are too distracted with life to really notice what is going on in our body.

Paying attention to what drains us and what lifts us is the single most important thing that we should bring our self-awareness to. It can be the food we eat, the company we keep and our surroundings – like noise or air pollution.

Just because the body gets used to something, it doesn’t mean that it’s not being affected by it in a negative way. So, how aware of your body are you?

18. Meditate – Yep Take The Time To Check-Out:

Woman standing with her eyes closed meditating

Most people do not meditate because they think it is a complex eastern philosophy. The truth is sitting quietly in a warm and comfortable spot can be meditation.

Listening to the sounds of nature can be meditation – sitting at a beach or natural reserve can also count. So too is having a warm bath.

Even going for a long walk in nature is meditative. The magic happens around the 45-minute mark. Your monkey mind will switch off and slow down. 

19. Give Yourself To Charity:

Why do celebrities go to Africa and put their time and energy into helping others? Because when you have all the money in the world you will realise that giving to others is the single most important way we can connect with other people.

Do not under-estimate the power of good wishes bestowed upon you by the people you are helping. But you need to remember, charity doesn’t always need to involve money.

Donate your time to someone who needs someone to listen to them. Donate your knowledge to help someone achieve and thrive at home, work and in life overall – the charity can be what you make of it.

20. Do A 12-15 Hour Fast Daily:

A group of lemons on a white board

Start by not eating three hours before you sleep. Why?

Well, research has overwhelmingly shown that this habit helps your body clean itself. It improves the function of all your organs, reduces insulin resistance, cleans your arteries in your heart and in your brain to prevent dementia and arteriosclerosis.

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2 Things You Need To Do Different In The New Year

Chalk that reads you got this.

Lights that read change

By Sam Makhoul

This year is going to be a defining year in human history. Old ways and old thinking will not cut it.

You will need new systems for living with some new rules. Here are two rules to help you outperform, out-psyche and dominate in your industry.

Rule 1: The 40% rule:

“On the other side of suffering is greatness” – David Goggins.

As the world gets more and more competitive, there is one quality that all successful people have in common. They are mentally tough and they will do the hard stuff that others don’t do or choose not to do.

You simply cannot upgrade your life if you do not upgrade your mental toughness. And the only way to do that is by the 40% rule.

The Goggins Effect:

The 40% rule was made famous by David Goggins – ex-navy seal and the toughest man alive. His life shines like a beacon on the path for everyone to take.

The path of most resistance or the road less travelled. Goggins goes out of his way to seek discomfort and to become uncommon among uncommon. We invited him to present at Upgrade Your Life for a reason that goes beyond his content.

He is inspiring an army of new warriors (both male and female) who live by the 40% rule. Myself included.

What makes him so inspirational? He lives by his word.

The most recent example of the 40% rule is his epic effort earlier this week in the MOAB 240 mile race in some of the harshest terrain in the world. He was disqualified by officials after seeking hospital treatment for VAPE (vertical altitude pulmonary edema), even though he was ranked second for most of the race and at one stage going off track for 15 miles (one of the challenges of being a front-runner on a track without markings).

After he checked out of the hospital, he still went back and finished the race, even though it did not officially count!

“Don’t stop when you’re tired. Stop when you’re done.” – David Goggins.

Are People Getting Softer?

Goggins tells us that it is getting a lot easier to stand out in this world because everyone is getting too soft. There is no doubt that the world is getting more and more comfortable, which is making it harder for us to find circumstances that challenge us.

Our ancestors had hardship thrust upon them and this made them tough. We don’t have that privilege.

We have to go looking for the uncomfortable to make us tough. Even though our lives are getting more and more comfortable the rate of anxiety and depression is skyrocketing.

Just think about this. We don’t have to grow or cook our food. We never go hungry.

We never get too cold or too hot. We don’t have to walk for anything.

Technology is making life easier and easier. Consequently, our physical, mental and emotional resilience is suffering. It’s ironic! What is going on?

It’s not our fault – our brain sends us outdated warning signals based on it’s the primitive desire for comfort. It is still wired to (over)react to potential threats even when there is no primal danger.

This served us well when avoiding predators in a hostile environment but now, it is no longer relevant in our comfortable modern life. Simply put, our brains have not evolved fast enough to keep up with the rate of technological change.

The survival software in the sub-conscious limbic part of the brain needs an upgrade. And the 40% rule is that upgrade but it’s in the pre-frontal cortex part of the brain. The mindful rational part.

What Is The 40% Rule?

40% balloons

Out of the 10 principles outlined in Goggins’ book Can’t Hurt Me, the 40% rule is my favourite and the most powerful because it has taken my performance to a whole new level. 

The 40% rule is simply this: when you think you have reached your limit and your mind is telling you to back off (it could be when you’re training, playing a sport, studying, working on a project with a deadline, or whatever the challenge) you are actually only at 40% of your mental and physical capacity.

This is where most people will quit. But this is when you need to tell yourself that greatness lies on the other side of 40%.

You should also remind yourself not to waste that 60% of your potential. How do you break through the 40% mental barrier?

The beautiful thing about this rule is that anyone can learn and implement it. By his own admission, David Goggins considered himself the weakest person with low self-esteem. He built himself into the toughest man alive by seeking the uncomfortable.

“If we never experience physical and mental discomfort, how will we ever get the chance to display our courage and strength of the spirit?” – Sam Makhoul.

We cannot truly eliminate the mental resistance felt at the 40% threshold when we do something difficult but we can learn to identify it, be mindful of it and be stronger than it. You can train yourself to beat it by constantly seeking the uncomfortable.

I do the uncommon in a number of ways:

  • Cold showers or cold swims – even in winter
  • Fasting for 24 hours – even when I am hungry
  • Meditating more than 20 minutes – even when my monkey brain is busy
  • Jogging for longer distances on days that are cold and rainy
  • Cooking at home instead of getting takeaway – even when it’s late
  • Writing articles like this – even when my friends are calling me to go out
  • Staying up to listen to a friend with a life problem even though I am tired
  • Honouring my commitments even when circumstances have changed

You see, training yourself to do the uncomfortable is the best practice to prepare you for those moments when you need to push through the 40% barrier.

How Do You Get To 40% In The First Place?

You need to make a start. Don’t focus too much on the end goal.

Once you have that end-goal (dream) in your heart, you need to trick your brain by focusing on the tiny stepping-stone goals. When I ran my first marathon, at around the halfway mark I remember feeling that overwhelming flashing warning signals from my brain to stop.

I asked myself, “am I injured? No”. “Is my body capable of more?” I did not know the answer because it was unfamiliar territory, and I was exhausted.

But I pressed on by telling myself, I will just do another kilometre, and another, and then another. “Maybe if I just get to that landmark and see how I feel?”

Bit by bit I took my mind on a journey to the finish line by tricking it into thinking I can stop at any time after each milestone. To my surprise, I realised that the body is much stronger than the mind gives it credit.

This strategy applies not just to physical feats but to all eight areas of our life, including work and relationships. For example, after a break-up, many people realise that they are much stronger than they thought.

It makes them stronger, less needy and better in the next relationship. Likewise, when people lose their job; after the initial devastation, they pick themselves up and move on to bigger and better things and surprise themselves as to how much more capable they are.

It toughens them for the next job. Sometimes it toughens them to start their own business and become thought leaders.

Here Is The Biggest Takeaway:

We never know what we are capable of until we push ourselves past that 40% barrier. With each milestone, you build confidence and your brain just gives you a little more slack and that 40% mental barrier threshold shifts to 50% and then 60% and so on until you find that life is actually getting easier.

In the wise words of David Goggins:

“When you believe you have given it your all, that’s when it truly begins.”.

Rule #2 – Exponential Learning & Growth:

 

We live in an era where information is changing fast, so what you have learned so far will become redundant very quickly. So knowledge is no longer power. Not even applied knowledge. But rather your ability to learn NEW things very quickly and acquire NEW knowledge. In my own business at MSA National, we have law graduates who are having to learn how to work with robotics and Ai. This is something that was not taught at Uni because by the time schools work out the curriculum and get it through all the red tape, the world has shifted again. Especially in technology and digital disruption.

“Make no mistake, your NUMBER 1 skill going forward is LEARNING HOW TO LEARN QUICKLY!”

The Challenge:

As you grow older, your ability to learn things faster is going to be challenging. The old belief is that as you grow old, you slow down and become less agile mentally (and physically) and you need to make way for someone younger and faster.

But that is simply not true. You need to discard that old belief.

The brain is like any other muscle. There are three reasons the brain slows (each reversible):

  1. You are not looking after your brain health with diet and exercise
  2. You are not seeking new experiences in the eight areas of life
  3. You are not training your brain to learn new things

How Do You Learn New things Fast?

There is a meta-learning principle that Jim Kwik teaches that is based on the fact that learning fast comes down to memory recall. It makes sense right?

It doesn’t matter how much you learn, if you do not retain it and have the ability to recall that learning in the future, it is pretty useless. At school we were taught two layers of learning that are outdated:

  1. Memorising things without understanding – this is the lowest form of brain training. It serves you well to cram for an exam and get the marks you want but does nothing for your brain training and future success.
  2. The second is to understand what you are learning – this is better but still does not guarantee memory retention and recall in the medium to long term.
  3. The third and most potent method is to learn not just through understanding but with emotion.
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The Power of WHEN

By Sam Makhoul

WHY ignites motivation.
WHAT clarifies outcomes.
HOW is the process.
but
WHEN is your point of difference!

There is no doubt that we should all start at WHY. WHY sparks the motivation for change that shapes your beliefs and defines your identity, which is critical for behavioural change.

But in my opinion, if you do not get the WHEN right, the WHY along with your motivation will disappear behind a sea of inevitable setbacks, energy dips, failures, rejections, hurts and disappointments. Timing is everything.

If you get your timing wrong you are more likely to fail or get rejected; whether it is the time of day you wake, eat, sleep, exercise, work, and even initiate sex with your partner. Timing is critical.

You may think you are not good at something, when in fact you just did it at the wrong time of day that is not aligned with your optimal chrono-type. Munich University pioneered the research into discovering your chrono-type with a simple quiz but if you really think about it, you would know intuitively whether you are a morning person or a night owl. 

The research shows that approximately 30% of people are ‘morning’ types, 30% are ‘night owls’ and 40% are in-between. Most modern work schedules favour the morning types.

I know some people who have gone into business for themselves purely so they can be in control of when they eat, sleep and work. Others have asked their boss if they can work different hours that favour their chrono-type.

If you don’t have the privilege of either, don’t despair. Read on….

8 Tips To Get Your Timing Right?

Using the Higher Branch framework, consider how you can get your timing right in the following eight areas of life. These tips can make a huge difference to your energy, motivation and performance.

Health:

There are three branches to your physical health. Nutrition, sleep and movement (exercise).

Sleep is by far the most important factor for your cognitive performance, emotional happiness, immunity and longevity. If you are a night owl, going to bed early may cause you to slip into self-induced insomnia as you lie awake trying to get to sleep before you are ready.

You start developing a negative association with your bed and it’s a spiral into anxiety from there that causes more insomnia. If your optimal time to go to bed is 11 pm and wake at 7 am then stick to that and be true to your chrono-type.

If you prefer to sleep at 9 pm and wake at 5 am then go with that. When it comes to eating, typically morning people can’t survive without breakfast, while night owls prefer to snack at night and fast till midday the next day.

Some can have one or two meals per day, others are primed for grazing throughout the day. For some, exercise first thing boosts their energy level, for others midday or late afternoon is the best time.

Don’t try and be something you are not. You need to listen to your body.

And if you cannot figure out what your body is telling you then maybe it is time to have an Ayurvedic or a genetic consultation with a peak performance coach. We recommend Mark Bunn, Alessandra Edwards and Anthia Koullouros. 

Love And Intimacy:

Couples can sometimes think they have relationships problems simply because they have their timing all wrong. For example, if you try to initiate sex with your partner late at night and they are a morning person, then you are setting yourself up for rejection.

So, it is important to get your timing right. How do you do that?

Start with sleep. In a previous article The Sex/Sleep Connection I talked about how important sleep is to a relationship.

Family:

If you are a morning person, then the best time to spend with your children is in the morning. Driving them to school is a great way to do that.

Otherwise, I know some parents who wake early and go jogging or swimming with their children. If they are too young, then a playground is an awesome way to start the day.

If you are a night person, then flip that around and do those things later in the day. Pick them up from school. Read to them at night.

Play board games. Please don’t watch TV or have any screen time at night with your children.

Artificial light at night will mess up their sleep and yours whether you are a morning person or a night person. More on the importance of your circadian rhythm in the next article.

Work:

If you are a morning person you need to do your most important work in the first 90 minutes after you start work. Why only 90 mins?

Research shows that after 90 minutes, your attention span and focus deteriorate, and you need a 15 min break outside in the sunlight to reset. Why the first 90 mins?

For a morning person, the first 90 minutes at work is the most productive. This should never be spent checking email!

Or in meetings, unless the meeting is for brainstorming or decision making. The converse is true for a night person. You need to ease into the day and do your best work later in the day when your brain comes alive.

Friendships:

Socialising is a critical element to our wellbeing. In fact, all the research shows that the longest living humans in the blue zones of the world all have very strong social networks that keep them happy and mentally sharp.

Friendships help us have fun and bring laughter to our life. BUT only when you socialise at the right time.

If you are a night person then going out at night to the footy or a bar or restaurant brings the best out of you. You will be a lot more fun and energetic.

If you are a morning person, then perhaps you should avoid going out at night and choose a morning cycle and coffee or a long lunch on weekends. Timing can be the difference between being perceived as fun or boring.

Learning:

At A Higher Branch, we consider learning to be an essential element for growth. Our whole mission is built around sharing actionable knowledge with our community. 

Learning is not just about attending seminars about your subject-matter expertise. But more importantly about your personal life.

Your health, how to be a better partner, friend or parent and all the eight areas of life. And learning is no different from working.

You should read, listen or watch when you are most alert. Again, this leads back to whether you identify yourself as a morning person, a night person or an in-between.

The best ways to learn on the fly is during your daily commute. Some call it ‘Traffic University’. By far the most effective exponential way to learn is face-to-face at seminars and events with other like-minded people.

Wealth:

Your appetite for risk varies according to the time of day. If you are a morning person, then the worst time for you to make investment decisions is later in the day when you are more emotional and prone to impulsiveness.

The converse is true for night owls. The morning is the worst time to make an investment or business decisions.

Charity:

Helping others, whether it is the new person at work or a friend that needs someone to listen to is best when you are emotionally solid. Otherwise, you are going to come across as insincere or nonchalant.

It is amazing how your chrono-type can influence the way you help others. I know the timing for helping others may be difficult but if you do have the choice, always choose the time of day when you are most empathetic and patient.

Listening requires both. I hope you enjoyed this article. It is shared with care and the utmost of respect for your time.

In the next article, we will be discussing the most important success factor for just about every component of your life. SLEEP. The absolute latest research reveals some stunning truths about the importance of sleep and the TWO lifestyle changes that will take away all the anxiety that can sometimes be associated with sleep.

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The Difference Between Being Impatient and Impulsive

By Dr Guy Winch

Feeling restless is very different from unplanned risky behaviour. Danny, a 43-year-old store manager, was stopped by the police for doing an illegal U-turn across a busy highway.

As he explained, “our lanes weren’t moving at all and it was going to take forever to get to the next intersection. Then this truck cut in front of me and I got pissed, so I figured I’d just cut across and go back a couple of miles so I could take a different route.”

He shrugged and said, “I’m impatient.” Danny’s wife had a different take on what happened: “I almost had a heart attack when he turned into the incoming lanes—there were cars heading right at us.

“One of them had to brake to avoid hitting us.” At which point Danny assured me he had plenty of time to do the turn and if the police motorcycle hadn’t happened to come by at that moment, it would have been no big deal.

But was Danny’s illegal U-turn merely a sign of impatience or was it a sign of impulsiveness? And if so, what exactly is the difference between the two? 

  1. Impatience is defined as the feeling of being annoyed because you have to wait, or feeling restless because you want something to happen as soon as possible. According to a recent review in American Psychologist, impulsiveness (or impulsivity) is typically defined as acting in a rapid and unplanned way without considering the consequences. In other words…
  2. Impatience refers to specific feelings (such as restlessness) or to an action that implies such feelings such as tapping one’s feet, while impulsivity refers to actual actions and behaviours. This distinction between feeling and action is also why circumstance matters, as…
  3. Given the right circumstance, anyone might have moments of feeling impatient (like being stuck in traffic) but impulsive actions (like doing an illegal U-turn on a busy highway) are not considered normative psychological responses. Indeed, psychologically speaking…
  4. Impulsivity is considered a problematic psychological behaviour ADHD (emphasis on the H—hyperactivity), depression and antisocial and borderline, and manic episodes. The reason psychologists consider impulsivity to be pathological is that…
  5. Impulsivity is significantly related to conditions such as and personality disorders, and the actions associated with impulsive behaviour are often not just unplanned but risky or dangerous. Indeed…
  6. Impulsivity is characterized by a failure to inhibit risky thought or behaviour. We all get bad ideas, but most of us can think them through, recognize they are risky or dangerous, and then stop ourselves from doing them. The fact that impulsive people cannot is why…
  7. Impulsivity is considered a problem with executive functioning—the suite of abilities that include and impulse control. We sometimes see changes in executive functioning and in impulsivity when…
  8. People who suffered closed head injuries or traumatic brain injuries can manifest impairments in executive functioning. Someone who had always been measured, disciplined, and risk-averse can begin to exhibit impulsive behaviours. But it isn’t just a brain injury that can cause a rise in impulsivity…
  9. Chronic or acute drug abuse has also been associated with changes in impulsivity. This is especially true of people who abuse multiple drugs<, as opposed to those who abuse only one. There are treatments available for impulsivity…
  10. Several approaches are used for treating impulsivity depending on the severity of the tendency. Mindfulness mediation has been used to slow down emotional reactivity, and certain medications have also been found to reduce impulsivity.
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9 Rules To Start The New Year

By Sam Makhoul

New year resolutions are as outdated as the fax machine. And change does NOT have to be grand or radical.

The biggest mistake people make on 1st January is to make unrealistic and unsustainable goals. Please don’t.

It’s best to make none at all. The second biggest mistake people make is they wait around for the perfect time to start.

The thing is, transformation does not fall out of the sky or happen as one big epiphany. Becoming a better version of yourself often only requires little steps and small changes that honour the life you have already built.

1. No More Diet Or Exercise Fads!

Please. You are born different from everyone else. Think about that.

There is no other you on this planet. Stay true to your uniqueness by eating and exercising to your genetic type.

Don’t listen to self-indulgent gurus who preach. They are probably trying to sell you something.

And what works for them may not work for you. One person’s paleo is another person’s poison.

One person’s gym session is another person’s stress. Get bio-tested by an expert to work out what foods you need to stay away from, what exercise is right for you and what sleep patterns optimises your performance.

Biotech is now converging with infotech and you need to stay informed. Ageing is for people who don’t know any better…

2. Don’t Dump On Your Past:

I know you want to upgrade every component of your life but don’t look back on your past with regret or sadness. You need to honour the achievements of your past that brought you to this moment.

They were your building blocks. Sure you made mistakes and sure life has dealt you some blows but it is still your life to own and respect.

When you really think about it, you have achieved more in your life than you give yourself credit for. To help you appreciate how awesome you are, read the next rule.

3. Become Your Own Hero:

By this time next year, you need to look back with joy on your achievements for the whole year. So please give yourself the important exercise of keeping a hero file of every email, every text, every card, every photo that somebody has sent you telling you how much they thank you or appreciate you.

Start today by writing the first note to yourself listing the 8 things you love about you. Don’t think this is strange.

YOU need to love YOU because love goes to where love is – Ben Okri. You will never attract good things, good people and wealth if you do not love yourself and take the time to appreciate how much you do and how much you have.

4. Make An Impact To Better Measure Your success.

5. Be Generous. Be Polite. Be Punctual. Be Impeccable With Your Conduct And Words.

Words matter. Stick and stones may break bones, but the wrong words scar for a lifetime.

6. Make Time To Sleep More:

This is the secret weapon of the highest performers.

7. Don’t Hang Out With Toxic People:

Life is too short to spend it with whiners, blamers and complainers. Your energy will crash along with your bank account. Sorry to be blunt but the company you keep is far more potent on your performance than the food you eat.

8. Focus On  Your Growth:

Listen to audiobooks. Attend seminars and workshops. To double your income and wealth, you need to double your investment in learning and growth. If you are always the smartest person in the room, find a new room.

9. Never Ever Be Too Busy For Family, Friends And People In Need:

Kindness, love and compassion have untold and immeasurable reward both material and spiritual. That is the way of the world.

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Who Will You Be In One Year?

By Sam Makhoul

Humans are designed for progress. It’s what makes us happy, fulfilled and excited to be alive.

Growing, learning and challenging our boundaries. When we stop progressing, we stagnate, lose clarity and can become lost, and even disillusioned with our lives and the dreams we once kept in our heart.

Many believe that gratitude is the key to happiness. What some forget however is that gratitude must be coupled with progress, otherwise, you will end up drifting in the direction of your greatest weaknesses; whether it is eating too much, watching too much media, working too many hours, buying things you do not need, arguing with your partner, complaining and blaming at work, wallowing in fear and worry etc….

What some people call depression is sometimes nothing more than stagnation of the human spirit through lack of progress. For progress to be made you need to have a compelling and clear vision of who you want to be, not what you want to be.

There is an important difference. The former is what gives us the power to stay relevant in an ever-changing world.

Who You Will Be In One Year’s Time Will Depend On Four Important Aspects:

  • Your vision for every aspect of the eight areas of your life and not just work.
  • What you learn and re-learn by constantly reading, watching and listening.
  • What you do and the actions you take in each of the eight areas.
  • Who you give your time and energy to.

Ask Yourself the following important questions. It is by asking the right questions, that we find the right answers….

Health:

  • What will your body look like? Your face? your hair? your skin?
  • Will you be fitter, stronger, more flexible and be able to balance just as you did when you were younger.
  • Will you be free from your addiction to sugar and other bad cravings?
  • Will you sleep more peacefully at night?
  • Will your mind be sharper and faster?
  • What about your thoughts and feelings?
  • Will you be more spiritual and practice love and compassion?
  • Will you walk around with a sense of gratitude for everything that you have in your life?
  • Will you be more kind and giving not only to others but to yourself?
  • Will you do things with less haste and learn to savour your food and the warmth of the sun?

Love:

  • Will your relationship be stronger?
  • Will you have more touch, more affection and more intimacy?
  • Will you have more understanding and learn a smarter way of handling conflict?
  • Will you hold hands in public?
  • Will you kiss each other hello and goodbye every time?
  • Will you read to each other?
  • Will you respect and support each other’s goals and dreams?

Family:

  • Will you love and support your family unconditionally?
  • Will you be an inspiration to them?
  • Will you guide by example and not by imposing your will?
  • Will you go on picnics together?
  • Will you turn off the TV and Wi-Fi to cook, eat and clean together?
  • Will you take turns telling stories and sharing goals and dreams on a Sunday night?

Work:

  • What new skills will you have learned?
  • How will you pivot and upskill yourself in the new era of Ai?
  • Will you be an inspiration to your colleagues and stakeholders?
  • Will you be so valuable that every employer and client will want you?
  • Will you be achieving more, in less time, more sustainably?
  • Will you love your work and stay fulfilled even during the inevitable tough times?
  • Will you be fearless in the execution of your work and in coming up with new ideas?

Friendship:

  • Who will your friends be?
  • What standards and beliefs will they have?
  • What social agenda and hobbies will you have to enjoy your friendships?
  • Will you surround yourself with friends make you laugh and feel good about yourself?

Learning, Wealth & Charity:

  • What new skills would you have learned to stay up to date with a fast-changing world?
  • What new books would you have read or listened to that caused a shift in your thinking?
  • Will you be more frugal and less reliant on money for happiness?
  • Will you be kinder, more generous and more conscious of others in need?

Know Thy Self:

Who you will be in 12 months depends on what you do each and every day. Each day is a building block of who you want to be.

The key is to live consciously and know that how you live is totally within your control. What to eat?

How to sleep? What to think? How to work? What to learn? How to love? And on it goes….

Most people have systems for working in their job but do not have systems for a living. This is the gap left by schools and workplaces.

At A Higher Branch Success Academy, we have designed a system for living that is unique and equips you with a powerful and proprietary framework for constantly upgrading every aspect of your life.  If you have not yet downloaded your FREE copy of the eBook, GUIDE TO GREATNESS, please do so here.

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