Author: tom

Motivation is like taking a shower…. You definitely should take one, but you’re gonna need another one soon.

Do you know what DOES last? Necessity. When you absolutely need to do something, it gets done. You don’t waste your time in the junk drawer shuffling things around. You just get it done.

About five weeks ago I made some very small significant changes in my life. Not only have I lost more than 20 pounds, but my sleep and energy are through the roof. Learning how to take care of your body and make it your slave is huge. And it’s been a whole lot easier than I ever thought it would be.

Part of leadership and coaching is constantly working to make sure I’m at my best… so I can give my best to those around me. So be sure and SUBSCRIBE to The Impactivist Show podcast (streaming on our website and anywhere you get your podcast fix)… we’ll be jumping into each of those things in more detail!

#growthmindset #podcasts #mindset #inspiration #learning #community #health #relationshipgoals #exercise #motivation #tomcottar #hope #inspire #impact #success #business #exercise #prayer #spirituality #faith #leanandgreen #optivia

Most likely, EGO is not your problem.

Most of us are driven by fear, more than hubris. It’s not that we think too highly of ourselves… it’s that we think too less.

Most likely, you’ve never heard the full story I’ll share in this episode… so get ready!

There’s a new episode drop of The Impactivist Show today! Stream us on YouTube and wherever you get your podcast fix!

#growthmindset #podcasts #mindset #inspiration #learning #community #health #relationshipgoals #exercise #motivation #tomcottar #hope #inspire #impact #success #business #exercise #prayer #spirituality #faith

“Forget politics.”

That’s what I told one of the people I’m coaching. She just stared at me.

“Think about YOU”, I continued. “Every action you take is a vote for the person you are becoming.”

Let’s be honest. You can’t change yesterday. But by adjusting what you do today can predict tomorrow. It’s like being a fortune teller… you can have a pretty good idea what tomorrow or next week or next month will look like based on what you do today… or this week… or this month.

What are you waiting for?

Giddy up.

#growthmindset #podcasts #mindset #inspiration #learning #community #health #relationshipgoals #exercise #motivation #tomcottar #hope #inspire #impact #success #business #exercise #prayer #spirituality #faith

Life lesson #327: Building something you’ve already built, even when it’s unhealthy, is an easy trap to fall into. Most people assume that something ‘feels right’ … when it only feels FAMILIAR.

If you end up using unhealthy old habits, seeking the same unhealthy relationships, you’ll just build the same house again and again. And it’ll ‘feel’ right even when it’s just familiar.
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#growthmindset #podcasts #mindset #inspiration #learning #community #health #relationshipgoals #exercise #motivation #tomcottar #hope #inspire #impact #success #business #exercise #prayer #spirituality #faith

This morning I’m a couple of miles from home, and the clouds in the sky look like the bottom is about to drop out.

Which is kind of exciting.

See, I went on a morning walk today to clear my head and take care of my body. And I know that the rain is about to come, and I’m OK with that. Actually, I hope it rains on me the whole way back.

Self praise stinks. So please don’t take this as “ look how awesome I am..” Because… I’m not that awesome. I’m just me. But I’ve made a couple of decisions.

One of those is a conscious decision to do those silly-but-hard things that others won’t do. The idea is that by doing those things, it will train me to do the important-but-hard things that a lot of people don’t do, so I can have the kind of life that a lot of people don’t have.

Again, this isn’t about self praise.

The reason I’m sharing this is to remind myself and anyone else being attention that all progress, all momentum, all impact begins with baby steps. Those small changes that are common sense but not common practice. If you can do hard things that don’t really matter… You can accomplish hard things that do DO matter.

It’s like compounding interest. All those small changes build on top of each other. Before you know it, you’re sitting on a pile of something you never thought you would have.So do something hard today. Even if it is as small as drinking one extra glass of water. Walking one time around the block. Sending one encouraging voice message or text. Saying “I’m sorry “to that person that you still have a grudge against.

It’s not about self praise. It’s about experiencing your one and only life to the fullest.

This week I heard a woman say, “A sparrow wouldn’t trade anything for the way it feels to fly.”

And it rang true to me.

Progress, no matter how small, can feel a little like flying. The thrill of your feet leaving the ground, knowing that when you touch down you’ll do so as a different person. You’ll have learned something. Experienced something. You’ll know something others don’t unless they take the leap for themselves.

The key for me has been to keep leaping. Keep trying. Keep flying. No matter how short-lived or insignificant it may seem from the outside. Trying to become a better version of who God made me to be is a better use of my one-and-only life than trying to be better than someone I see on Instagram.

Talking with a friend early this morning, I was reminded how hard it can be to leave behind someone who’s not excited about your growth. When you’re learning to fly, people who are only interested in walking won’t understand you. They’ll misunderstand you. They may be jealous or angry or confused.

What are you doing?!?!? You’re changing. Is walking not good enough for you anymore? Who do you think you are?!?

It’s fine. Go ahead and fly. When you get there, reach back. Maybe you can show them how to learn for themselves.

Welcome to The Middle.

Today is a new day. A fresh start. Last week (or last month) wasn’t the end. If you’re reading this, your story is still being written. Which is just ONE reason I love our Impactivist group on Facebook… we remind each other of this very thing.

Today is about PROGRESS not perfection. After a few weeks of ‘calendar overwhelm’, last week I got back on track with sending 3 voice messages to people every day (just a little thing I do to stay connected with people during this crazy season of our history)… which launched some really great conversations about life and friendship.

If you’re not already doing so, I’d encourage you to give it a shot today. Send 3 people VOICE messages (not texts) with no strings attached.

‘Hey, just wanted you to know I’m thinking about you. I saw ______ today and it made me think of you. Thanks for your friendship.’

‘Dude. I just passed that coffee shop where we met up last year. That was a good day. Just wanted you to know I love you, man. Let’s do it again soon.’

‘Hey, girl. Thinking about your mom today… she sure did love you. I know she’s proud of who you are. Just wanted you to know.’

Yeah. It may feel awkward at first. Especially if you’re a dude. But do it anyway. Vulnerability is strength. And the gratitude and connection you’ll create far outweighs what other people may think.

This pandemic may have changed us in some ways. But more than that, I think it exposed us.

See, we were covering up the things that weren’t working. We’d become masters of misdirection in such a way that no one could see the toxic and broken things in our lives. When relationships and habits can be covered up with busyness, nothing gets fixed. The roots only continue to grow deeper.

But when the busyness is stripped away and forced isolation becomes our routine, well… the things that are hiding in the dark begin to creep into the light (kind of like those super creepy zombies in Will Smith’s film, I Am Legend).

And in the last year I’ve had countless conversations with friends whose struggles and anxieties have floated to the top of their world an can no longer be ignored.

Divorce.

Abuse.

Depression.

Bankruptcy.

Addiction.

Wherever you are today, I hope you remember that your mess doesn’t invalidate you.

This isn’t the end of the story… it’s only the middle. And you’re not alone. Your gifts, your strengths, your insights, your passions, your creativity… everything you’ve been given is still valid. Your struggle is only one facet of who you are.

Like a diamond that has many, many sides, some may be perfect while others may be scratched and chipped. But when you’re standing in the Light, you’re beautiful.

Including the mess.