A friend of mine doesn’t watch much television. He believes that spending time watching other people live their fake lives is a huge waste of a real one.

However, he does enjoy movies that offer valuable life lessons—films like Rocky, Rudy, and Mr. Holland’s Opus. Stories that inspire and teach.

The first time he watched It’s A Wonderful Life it had a profound effect on him. He told me he cried a lot. That was the moment he realized he wanted to be like George Bailey. But when he compared his life to George’s, he saw a stark contrast.

He asked himself: If I died today, how many people would truly care? Have I done much for anyone besides myself?

That moment was a turning point. He dove headfirst into self-help books, audio programs, and seminars, determined to change. He’s the kind of person who doesn’t do things halfway—when he commits, he goes all in. His belief was simple: If you want to become more, you have to learn how.

After all, you can’t give what you don’t have.

That journey led him to the work he does today—helping others, sharing knowledge, and making an impact.

Now, he often asks people: What do you want to stand for?

He talks about books like As a Man Thinketh by James Allen, which emphasize the power of thought. He believes that we all become exactly what we think about most. Life isn’t an accident; where we end up is a direct result of our mindset.

Of course, circumstances—chance meetings, unexpected challenges, the family we’re born into—shape our journey. But despite those influences, we still get to decide where we go from here and who we become.

Even highly successful people—actors, business leaders, politicians—reach a point where they start wondering what their life truly means. They don’t want their legacy to be just the roles they played or the deals they closed. They seek purpose beyond success.

That’s because real happiness doesn’t come from wealth or fame—it comes from serving others, from having a purpose.

He always tells people: If you’re feeling stuck, anxious, or unmotivated, examine your thoughts. Are they focused only on yourself? If so, you need a bigger purpose. Set some goals. Find something meaningful beyond your own needs.

And most importantly, take it one step at a time. Don’t try to do everything at once. Read one book. Take one action. Make one change.

The key is simple: stop looking for the answer—you’re reading it now.

Help someone else. Every hour.

That could be as simple as doing your job well in this moment. By showing up and giving your best, you’re helping customers, colleagues, employers, vendors—countless people whose lives are connected to yours.

You don’t have to make a grand gesture. Just focus on being useful. When you do that, joy and fulfillment will follow.

And before you know it, everything starts to make sense.

Today’s Winning Beliefs

✔ I focus on helping others
✔ I know that my thoughts shape my reality
✔ I am a positive and optimistic person
✔ I have released all selfish thoughts and ways

Yesterday, a friend of mine had a real wake-up call.

He’s been a loyal customer of the same auto service shop for years, bringing his car in every couple of months without fail. But this time, he forgot his wallet at home. He did have his AMEX card on him, but the shop didn’t accept it. Instead of allowing him to run home and grab his wallet, the owner—someone he’s known and trusted for ages—insisted that someone bring another form of payment before he’d release the car.

Then came the kicker. The owner actually said, “So you want me to chase you around to get paid?”

For $39.

This is a classic example of not being able to see the forest for the trees.

So often, we get caught up in policies, procedures, and momentary frustrations, forgetting to see the bigger picture. That shop owner wasn’t just dealing with a random customer—he was dealing with someone who had supported his business for years. A little trust and flexibility could have gone a long way.

It got me thinking about the power of appreciation. When people feel valued, they naturally want to give more. Even kids understand this—if you’ve ever seen a toddler help out with something and then light up when they’re praised, you know what I mean. We all crave that sense of recognition.

But what happens when appreciation fades? When people feel like their efforts go unnoticed, their enthusiasm starts to dwindle. They disengage. They hold back.

I realized that this applies to so many areas of life. How often do we hesitate to go the extra mile because we don’t think it’ll be appreciated? And on the flip side, how often do we fail to show appreciation for others and then wonder why they’re not as motivated?

The truth is, we can’t always rely on external validation. That’s where self-esteem and confidence come in. The people who succeed—whether in business, relationships, or personal growth—are the ones who recognize their own value, even when others don’t. They don’t wait for applause; they just keep showing up and giving their best.

And that’s the secret. Success isn’t just about talent or luck—it’s about showing up, being of service, and focusing on helping others. When you make that your priority, everything else starts to fall into place.

And if appreciation doesn’t come from others?

That’s why self-affirmation matters. You have to remind yourself of your own worth. Every single day.

Today’s Winning Beliefs:

• I am committed to serving others.
• My purpose is to make a difference.
• The more I help, the more I receive in return.
• I trust in my ability to add value.
• Everything I do is rooted in love and service.

I heard of someone who recently lost over $175,000 in the stock market over the past 12 months. He just watched as it kept going down, down, down—trusting the advice of a small-town broker who, unfortunately, didn’t know much more than he did.

It breaks my heart because this loss was completely avoidable. We live in a time when information is available at our fingertips, yet so many people still make decisions blindly without taking the time to educate themselves.

In today’s world, we have no excuse for getting blindsided like this—not just in investing, but in every area of life.

Want to lose weight? Gain muscle? Break a bad habit? Improve your relationships? Help your kids succeed in school? Build a thriving business? The knowledge is out there. But here’s the key: You have to seek it out and then take action.

I know this firsthand.

There was a time when my life was in complete shambles—I was literally living out of my vehicle. No one expected me to turn things around, let alone succeed in a big way. But I did. And it was only possible because I committed to learning, applying what I learned, and refusing to settle for ignorance.

For nearly three years, I begged this guy to subscribe to investment newsletters, read financial reports, and educate himself. His response?

“I’m fine. The market will turn around.”

Now? He’s paralyzed by fear, afraid to put his money anywhere. That’s what a lack of knowledge does—it breeds fear and inaction.

For years, making money in the market was easy. But because he never expanded his knowledge, he knows just as little about investing today as he did 10 years ago.

And investing is just one example. The same principle applies to every area of life.

It’s not enough to rely on motivation or belief alone. You need knowledge, a solid plan, and the willingness to act on it.

Take Warren Buffett—arguably the greatest investor of all time. Why doesn’t he put his money into high-tech startups or internet stocks? Because they lack a long enough track record to prove they can weather different economic conditions. His approach is based on proven principles, not speculation.

The lesson here is simple:

If you want to succeed in something, learn from those who have already mastered it.

Don’t take relationship advice from someone who’s been divorced four times.
Don’t take stock tips from your neighbor.
Don’t take weight-loss advice from someone who struggles with their own health.

When I wanted to build my book business, I didn’t guess my way through it. I called successful people in the industry, reached out to my largest supplier, and tracked down their top distributors. Then I picked their brains, learning everything I could for over a year.

Within 12 months, I had built the largest business of its kind in the world. Not because I was the smartest, but because I sought out the knowledge and put it to use.

Was it hard work? Absolutely. But I have no regrets. The money came and went, but the skills, confidence, and belief in myself? Those remain.

It reminds me of a bodybuilder I once knew. He wasn’t just strong—he was perfectly proportioned. I asked him about his dedication to training, and he said something that stuck with me:

“I get to carry my trophy around with me forever.”

The same goes for any skill, any knowledge, any success you build for yourself.

Seek out the right knowledge. Apply it. And you, too, will get to carry your trophy with you—forever.

Today’s Winning Beliefs

✅ I grow and develop with every new experience.
✅ I use my knowledge to improve my life and help others.
✅ My confidence in my abilities increases daily.
✅ When I need to know something, I seek out the knowledge.
✅ I stay informed in areas that matter to me.
✅ I am worth the effort it takes to build my skills.
✅ I am my own greatest asset—and I act like it.

Picture in your mind someone who has already achieved one or more of the big goals or distant dreams you have.

This should be a real person.

In the pursuit of any ambition, there are countless others—dozens, maybe even millions—who have succeeded before us.

And they leave behind clues.

“Well, of course,” you might say. “If I want to build a barn, I need to learn from someone who’s done it before.” Or, “To become an accountant, I have to go to school.”

It’s “common sense.” But when it comes to long-held dreams, common sense isn’t so common.

Think of a big dream you have. Come on, you have one…

Losing weight and getting healthy. Building a thriving business. Coaching your team to a championship season. Inspiring a love of math, reading, or science in your students.

Have you carried this dream for years—maybe even decades—without making real progress?

Why do you think that is?

Are you lazy? Unintelligent? Maybe—but probably not.

The real reason most people struggle with self-discipline and fail to achieve their dreams is that they don’t share the core beliefs of those who have succeeded in the same area.

Take smoking, for example. Smokers often believe they won’t suffer the consequences, that cigarettes taste good, or that they need nicotine to manage stress. These are deeply ingrained beliefs—often numbering in the hundreds. On the other hand, lifelong non-smokers hold the opposite convictions to their very core.

The same is true for successful entrepreneurs, athletes, and leaders. They possess thousands of beliefs that differ from those who have never tried or have repeatedly failed.

Yet, most people never consider this.

Instead, they blame fate or a lack of knowledge for their failures. They wonder, “How could my beliefs be holding me back?”

But give me anyone who has just failed at achieving a significant goal—something that could have dramatically improved their life—and I guarantee their underlying beliefs played a major role in that failure.

This is why “how-to” programs fail more than 95% of the time.

Want a funny example? Okay.

How many awful websites have you seen, despite there being dozens of excellent books on web design and e-commerce?

See? Information alone isn’t enough.

What truly matters is developing the mindset that fuels discipline and drive. When you have that, even if you don’t know exactly what to do, you’ll go out, learn it, and succeed.

If you’ve been in your field for 20 years and a newcomer with just two years of experience races past you, it’s not their talent—it’s their beliefs. Your beliefs shape your attitudes, dictate your emotions, and directly control your actions.

If you procrastinate, produce mediocre work, or struggle in certain areas of your life, take a hard look at your core assumptions.

A 30-Second Exercise to Experience the Power of Belief

Pick an area of life where you’re struggling—health, habits, relationships, career, finances, sports, school—you name it.

Now, grab a pen and ask yourself:

• Have I mapped out exactly what I need to do to reach my goal?
• Am I absolutely confident I will achieve it?
• When I make a mistake, do I quickly recover, or do I let it derail me?
• Do I truly believe I deserve success, even though millions of equally deserving people fail?
• Do I think external factors will ultimately decide whether I succeed?
• If achieving my goal takes months or even years, am I okay with that?
• Do I find it difficult to follow through on what I know are the right choices?

Now, picture the most successful person you know in that area.

Look at those questions again.

How do you imagine they would answer?

The difference is night and day, isn’t it?

This is how false, limiting beliefs hold you back.

Because belief is such a foundational issue, we focus on it first whenever we create a new Think Right Now! behavior modification program.

Of course, past experiences contribute to limiting beliefs. But trauma alone doesn’t explain lifelong failure—many people use their struggles as fuel to achieve great success and happiness.

It’s not what happens to us that determines our future—it’s what we believe about what happens.

If you’re interested in learning more about belief systems, there are many excellent books on the subject. It’s a fascinating and valuable area of study.

Today’s Winning Beliefs

• I absolutely believe I can achieve my biggest goals.
• I am just as deserving of success as anyone else.
• I control my actions and my destiny.
• Making the right decisions comes easily to me now.
• The answers I need come to me effortlessly.
• I can handle any situation that comes my way.

I often talk about momentum and the power of believing in yourself—getting into a positive rhythm. When you truly believe you can accomplish something, you tap into an almost supernatural ability to make it happen, even if you’ve never done it before. And if you stumble along the way, seeing the setback as just a delay rather than a denial allows you to rise again and keep pushing forward.

When belief burns bright enough, even casual onlookers can see the transformation—from doubt to an undeniable passion for success.

If you’re not a sports fan, don’t worry—this message is about belief, not just basketball.

One night, I watched the NBA playoff game between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bucks had a commanding 16-point lead—it seemed like an easy win.

But the 76ers never lost faith. Their star, Allen Iverson, was having one of the worst scoring nights of his career, yet he was relentless on defense.

Their coach, Larry Brown, kept reinforcing belief. Of course, he discussed strategy, but his real job? Keeping his team’s spirits high. He was animated, urging them to fight for every loose ball, treat every pass like the most important one of the game, and keep the pressure on.

It was pure emotion. He knew they had the skill—the key was keeping their heads in the game.

Did he scold them for mistakes? No. He reminded them, “C’mon, that’s not like you. You’ve got this!”

They responded. Their belief grew. By the fourth quarter, they had tied the game at 63-63. The crowd erupted.

Momentum—it’s pure emotion.

When things go right, they tend to keep going right. But the opposite is also true, isn’t it?

As the 76ers’ confidence surged, the Bucks started doubting themselves. Suddenly, they were missing shots, making careless passes, and committing frustrated fouls. Their early-game smiles turned into tense, frustrated expressions. It was stunning to watch—their belief in themselves had evaporated.

This game was a masterclass in the power of momentum.

Philadelphia capitalized on Milwaukee’s mistakes, sinking 22 consecutive free throws and clinching an 89-88 victory.

The lesson? Even when things aren’t going your way, you can still achieve your goal—if you don’t give up.

Had the Bucks made just one smarter pass, one extra basket, or avoided a single unnecessary foul, they could have won.

When I was selling face to face every day, it was often at the very last moment—after I had laid out every reason why my prospect should say yes—that they finally agreed.

I realized then: Never give up. Never, never, never. Ever.

So today, if you can believe in yourself just a little more—push yourself to move faster, perform better, and bring more enthusiasm—momentum will shift in your favor.

Soon, you’ll replace frustration with confidence.

Success and happiness always begin in your own mind. Don’t wait—start now. Put on that winning smile and keep telling yourself all day:

“I can.”

Every hour. “I can.”

During lunch. “I can.”

Before a big call. “I can.”

And before you know it—you will.

Today’s Winning Beliefs

• I believe in myself, and it shows.
• My confidence is growing every day.
• I have eliminated the habit of giving up.
• My resolve to win is stronger than ever.