Everybody is claiming to be an expert these days. While I am not against the idea of being an expert, I have grown more skeptical of the term over the years. I have worked hard to establish myself as an authority. More importantly, I have devoted my life to being world-class at everything that I do. You are not an expert simply because you can google information and duplicate systems that someone else created.

I am not attacking anyone that does this, but on the other hand, I know how much work it takes to build a great brand and become recognized around the world for your work. My disciplines and dedication have been pillars to my success. More importantly, my thinking has been one of the greatest keys to my success.

Implement a few of the strategies below and I assure you that you will find yourself living a life of success and prosperity:

1. You need to confront self-limiting beliefs and perceptions

I could just throw out a bunch of success tips and inspire you for the moment however, I believe in adding value to your life. You can read all the success and motivation material in the world but that will not produce a greater life. The sad reality is that I talk to people everyday with great potential. Great potential is no match for flawed thinking.

Many things shape our thinking including our family and our experiences. Most people try to pack principles on top of dysfunction and disempowering beliefs. The first thing you need to do is confront self-limiting beliefs and perceptions. These are ideas and philosophies that you have accepted as true and established your life upon. The danger in this is that your mind does not know what is true or false.

Therefore, the mind accepts whatever you give permission to access it. These philosophies form your psychological construct and ultimately determine the cycles of your life. Make sure that you are establishing your life on truth. Your psychological construct forms the pillars of your life. Address every thought pattern that will threaten your progress.

“Anyone can train to be a gladiator. What marks you out is having the mindset of a champion.” – Manu Bennett

2. You need to break cycles in your life once and for all

After you have confronted self-limiting beliefs and perceptions, you must next make the decision to break the cycle. One of the most powerful discoveries I made years ago is that nothing has the power to live in your mind without your permission. Often times we want to make excuses for where we are in our lives however, I learned years ago that it is your job to take responsibility for your life.

Your life is not the product of chance, your life is the product of choices. Therefore, we can establish that your thoughts have brought you to this place in your life. If your thoughts brought you to this place, then your thoughts can also bring you into a place of breakthrough.

When you decide to take responsibility for your life, you are empowered to reverse cycles and reclaim moments. Cycles are broken when we make the bold decision to stop making excuses for our lives and start engaging to see change in our lives.

3. Understand the power of stretching your thinking

I was stuck in my life for a long time. I could not figure out why I was not moving forward. It was a very frustrating time and I wanted so desperately to give up. I was not reaching my goals, my finances were drying up and I found myself trapped in cycles of frustration and defeat. Then one day I had an epiphany and it change my life. I realized that simply desiring to upgrade my life was not going to change my life.

Instead, I discovered that I was going to have to upgrade my thinking to change my life. In other words, you will never upgrade your life until you are first willing to get uncomfortable. You have to be stretched if you want to embrace the next dimension in your life. Every elevation will demand your evolution. When was the last time your mind was stretched?

How do you stretch your thinking? You have to introduce your mind to new ideas. Old patterns will never unlock new possibilities. Until you challenge your paradigm you will never create new pages in the story of your life. Ideas create new tipping points in your life. Some thoughts are no longer serving you and it’s time for you to stretch your thinking.

“To create something exceptional, your mindset must be relentlessly focused on the smallest detail.” – Giorgio Armani

Unleash the champion mindset

I am so thankful that I made it through those years of adversity, frustration and failure. The things that I learned during those years were invaluable. Everyone sees my life today but most people have no idea. People read my books, see me featured in magazines and even see me on television however, not many people know about the years of struggle, the failure of my business and the dark moments that tried to break me.

The world respects my work and values my wisdom today. I would not be where I am today if I did not learn the lessons that this journey was attempting to teach me. Adversity is a great classroom that will develop an unstoppable champion within you. Everybody wants to get to the top however, trials, testings and tribulations are the things that will empower you to get to the top. Challenges are what unleash the champion inside of you.

The champion mindset does not accept defeat. The champion uses every adversity as a catalyst to victory. The storms of life are developing in you and you’re an overcomer that cannot be shaken. Pressure is simply an opportunity to unleash the power of your mind. Pressure is the portal to new possibilities and new realities.

How do you become a champion? Comment below!