In 2011 my entire life story changed. I went from having nothing and having a disgusting, toxic mindset, to changing my life story and inspiring millions online.

I don’t tell you that to brag; I tell you because if I can do it, so can you.

The reason I changed my life story is because of a website called Addicted2Success. It all started with one new opportunity that I decided not to waste.

I concluded – after hours of personal development – that if Tony Robbins, Martin Luther King and Tim Ferriss can come from the darkest of places, to change history, then so can I.

Here are the 13 super simple, easy to implement tips that can change your life story:

1. Look who you are surrounded by.

The people that you spend time with transfer their beliefs and mindset to you without you even realizing it. Make a list of all the people you spend time with and then put a red line through any who are toxic and bring you down.

Do a second pass through and delete anyone else that is not serving you or always complains. By the end, you should be left with the people to keep. That list will be short and that’s the whole point. You need to make room for new connections and new friends.

This exercise is harsh and so is life. Doing the difficult stuff is how you change your life story.

2. Become a podcast junkie.

Stop being pissed off at traffic or long waits at medical appointments. This forced spare time is a gift. The challenge is most of you don’t use it. You sit there and look at your phone rather than doing something that will alter the course of your life.

Your life story will only change when you get some new inputs and a few fresh ideas. Podcasts are the quickest way to get these free sources of inspiration. During 2011 when I went through a change in my life story, I started by doing short walks around my local neighborhood and listening to audio tapes from Tony Robbins.

His opinions and thoughts were different to everything that people around me were saying. He planted new seeds in my mind that eventually turned into massive success several years later.

“School taught me how to follow the rules; podcasts taught me how to break the rules and forget everything I thought I knew”

Podcasts disrupted my thought patterns and that’s exactly what you need too.

3. Start creating something online.

Building an online presence in what I loved was the start of something new. When I began sharing my message with the world, it helped me refine my thoughts and ideas. I also got to engage with lots of other people who shared their wisdom with me for free because I had given them free content.

Before I changed my life story, I was scared to create something online because I was worried I’d be judged or not good enough.

“As soon as I dropped this superman complex and started creating something online, I became comfortable in my own skin and with who I was”

The story of your life is best told online. Pick a channel (any channel, just pick one!) and then stick to it. Post on their as much as you can. Don’t hold back, be vulnerable and tell stories. This will alter the course of your life.

4. Turn your media habits upside down.

Take your TV and put it in the closet. Replace your daily habits of watching the news with audiobooks or podcasts. Take those endless TV shows that make you stupid and read a book instead. Most of the traditional media is negative because that’s what sells.

“Media is a business to get your attention and make money from you. Disconnect from that Ponzi Scheme and consume media that educates and transforms your life story”

Watch a documentary on Warren Buffett, listen to Oprah’s online show that interviews extraordinary people crushing their field, and see what Tim Ferriss is experimenting with on Facebook.

Just stop consuming endless amounts of information that doesn’t serve you. Focus is key and media will distract it if you don’t make the right decision.

5. Sell your car and buy a juicer.

That’s what Tony Robbins said in a book I read and he’s right. My life story changed when I started to have more energy. Giving my body a metaphorical injection of nutrients every morning stopped me from getting sick, and made me feel like I had just consumed 15 espressos.

If you need to sell your car to buy the juicer, then great. The extra energy you get from juicing will double your productivity which will give you extra income. Within a year you’ll probably have enough extra income to buy two cars. Energy is king.

6. Bounce your way to a new story.

For me to help you create this new life story you’re going to need even more energy. Bouncing on a trampoline gets the blood flowing and your passions started.

You feel good after bouncing (I won’t go through the science of why as Google can tell you that) and it will give you another block of time to listen to podcasts. Bounce baby bounce!

7. Become ruthless with negative talk.

The bloke behind you want’s to chew the fat about how bad his day was? No thanks.

Lunch lady wants to tell you how she lost money in cryptocurrency? Sorry, she’s not qualified and you got enough to think about already.

These meaningless, negative conversations are screwing with your mind. Negative people love to complain yet they forget how lucky they are to have even been born.

If someone starts a conversation with you and it’s not serving you, politely excuse yourself and make something up if you have to. Just escape like you’re stuck in Alcatraz.

“Walking away from negative conversations will teach you discipline and demonstrate to yourself that you’re in control”

8. You’ll never know the answer.

Racking your brain over any obstacle that’s put in your way will chew up time that you could be using to create something phenomenal. No matter how much you plan, you’ll never predict correctly the outcome of every challenge.

So if I don’t know, and if the universe can’t tell you, and your mentors can’t tell you, then don’t worry. Worrying is not going to get you anywhere. Stop getting lost in the desert with no water and take a drink from the fountain of faith. Faith that says:

“I am good enough.”
“I will find the answer.”
“I can be amazing.”

These are the answers you should seek. Believe in yourself.

9. See the world.

With your own two eyes. Not on social media or through your mates Instagram account. This whole “Work Till You Die Hoax” is stopping you from changing your story.

“Warren Buffett spends time every single day doing deep thinking and that’s one of the reasons he’s a billionaire”

Deep thinking happens naturally when you’re traveling. You begin to compare your surroundings at home, with the paradise you’re visiting (Notice I said paradise? That’s because the world is beautiful when you get off the couch and see it).

My 2011 change in circumstances all started when I got out of Melbourne and saw places I had always dreamed of. The subtle art of getting on planes and carrying suitcases through customs became a quarterly experience.

The first trip to Sydney showed me that I could fly 60 minutes and not get trapped in a storm and die in a horrible plane crash. The fear of flying subsided and the love of travel began a new page in my life story. Seeing new countries gives you inspiration and that’s exactly what you need if you’re stuck in a rut and going nowhere fast.

10. Quit your current job.

This one’s not straight out of one of those self-help blog posts that says we can all be rich if we quit our 9-5. That’s BS advice. There’s a good chance though that you hate your current income-producing activity known as a job.

I was at this same point in 2011 and it bugged the crap out of me. So if you really are serious about changing your life story then let’s get serious for a minute and make a decision to quit your job. The cool thing about quitting your job is that you’ll be forced to find another one (unless you don’t like eating). Urgency will motivate you to do something else.

You’ve got to where you are now based on your previous decisions and so we can’t create any change without making some new decisions. The biggest benefits will come from the hardest decisions. The more tough decisions you make in a short space of time, the greater the change in your life story.

We all get bored in our career and quitting your job is how you escape this nightmare.

11. Use the Internet to reach out.

The cliché of “We’re all connected” has been beaten into our head like a boxer that’s taken one too many punches to the temple. We know we can talk to anyone yet we still mingle with the same people. It’s similar to when you go to a seminar with a friend and the speaker asks you to find a partner and you pick the same person you came with.

My life changed when I backed myself and began using tools like LinkedIn to reach out to interesting people that I could create mutual value with. Out of the ten requests you send, probably half of them will be declined or ignored. The rest will probably lead to conversations.

These new conversations will demonstrate to you that anyone can be reached. Therefore, you can access the blueprint for almost any successful person’s life. Then you can copy part of those blueprints and paste bits of them on the pages of your life story.

I’ll say it again: You need new inputs and to mix with different people who won’t accept your lame excuses.

The cold reach out that transformed my life story was thanks to a man named Joel Brown. He’s why I am here today typing these words to you.

12. Experiment with giving.

In the early stages, I gave back through writing blog posts like this one. As my formula for life became more evolved, I started volunteering at homeless shelters. This year I’m taking it a step further and trying to impact the lives of 300 disadvantaged / victims of domestic violence.

Even if you impact only one person, that one person could become the next Mother Teresa. I’ve been like a scientist in a lab for the last five years testing the act of giving. I’ve bought cars and tech that made me happy for a short while, and then I’ve experimented with giving my money and knowledge to people who have nothing.

The second experiment has given me the most growth and fulfillment. The material things literally did nothing to change my life story. Try the act of giving. Watch it transform the story of your life!

13. Give up the perfection game.

Wanting people to follow the rules of how you play the game of life is sabotaging your success. No one is ever going to act the way you want them to so quit expecting this false idea to come true. Accept the fact that humans make mistakes and piss each other off.

Get used to quickly moving on from disappointments that are created by your circle of colleagues and family, and get back to reality. What’s that reality? Creating something that will be remembered long after you’re gone.

Create a blog, business, a family, a charitable cause, speech, a funny stand-up routine.

The story of your life won’t be perfect either so leave your expectations at the door and get to work showing us all what you got. You’re capable of achieving so much more than you have done to date. I want to see you double your results by getting focused and cutting out all the noise.

Life can be full of disappointment or packed with joy and happiness. The story is yours to write so get the pen out and make a decision which one will be true for you.

Go all out. Be you. Change the world.

If you want to increase your productivity and learn some more valuable life hacks, then join my private mailing list on timdenning.net