Success Advice
5 Mindset Shifts That Will Help You Become a Decision-Making Samurai

As entrepreneurs, we are under a lot of stress as the world is continuously moving at a faster and faster pace. Instead of slowing it down, entrepreneurs like us strive daily to outpace it. The entrepreneurs and influencers we admire seem like they have it all together, and so we try to repress our own emotions to be more like them. We believe we’ll take a breather once we’ve made it.
STOP! Unless you’re a psychopath, emotions are not only necessary, they’re your secret weapon. I’m going to walk you through five mindset shifts that will help you become the master of your emotions and harness their power to make tough decisions . . . like samurais.
See the 5 mindset shifts below:
1. Life will almost never be as bad as whatever “worst case scenario” you’ve imagined
“Negative Visualization” is a technique beloved by stoics and samurais alike. To conquer their fear of failure, samurais force themselves to imagine the worst-case scenario a lot. No, it’s not pessimistic, it’s a reality check.
Negative Visualization puts you back in control. Rather than being at the mercy of a random universe, you now know the worst that could happen. Due to this, you’ll probably discover that it wasn’t all that bad after all.
Mindset shift: “When I’m dealing with a stressful decision, I will imagine the absolute worst-case scenario. Then, I will realize that a) this is very unlikely to happen, and b) even if it does, I’m now in control and prepared.”
“In morning meditation, see yourself killed in various ways, such as being shredded by arrows, bullets, swords, and spears, being swept away by a tidal wave, burned by fire, struck by lightning, dying in an earthquake, falling from a great height, or succumbing to overwhelming sickness.” – Yamamoto Tsunetomo, 17th century samurai
2. Nobody actually knows what they’re doing and that’s okay
Everybody’s winging it. When we’re in the pit of self-doubt, facing a decision that feels impossible, we feel inadequate. We wonder if we deserve to be where we are or if we are an imposter. The truth is, nobody knows what they’re doing—not really. Sure, they can put up an impressive front on social media, but inside, even the most successful people in the world have doubts.
Mindset shift: “It’s normal to feel lost. Everybody does—especially when facing important decisions. Instead of fighting those emotions off, I’ll embrace them for what they are: a completely normal part of the entrepreneurial life.”
3. You make irrational decisions when your emotions are out of control
Wild emotions lead to irrational decisions. This may sound obvious, but so many entrepreneurs interpret it as “bury your emotions” rather than “address them.” Burying emotions flat-out doesn’t work, so stop trying.
Phrases such as “Suck it up,” “It’s not that bad,” “Everybody else can handle this better than me,” are negative self-talk which flusters and burns more of your limited cognitive energy. Instead, accept your emotional state as it is and try this Navy SEAL technique: intentional breathing.
Mindset shift: The next time I’m making an overwhelming decision, I’ll take five minutes to breathe like a SEAL:
- Inhale for 4 beats
- Hold for 4 beats
- Exhale for 4 beats
- Hold for 4 beats
4. Acting “tough” doesn’t help anyone
Many of us became entrepreneurs in the first place because we want to change the world for the better. However, if you aren’t taking care of yourself, there is no way you’re going to be able to help others effectively. If your basic needs aren’t met, you can’t support your friends, family, and clients in the way you’d like to. Because of this you must always take care of yourself.
Mindset shift: “I won’t sacrifice my wellbeing to appease others. My decision will prioritize my ability to eat right, sleep well, take breaks, meditate, have fun, work out, and check in with my emotions.”
“Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back and choose the path that leads to wisdom.” – Buddha
5. Sometimes, you need to be tough enough to ask for help
When samurais are young, masters teach them Kendo (“the way of the sword”), Zen Buddhism, the samurai moral code, and how to live according to Bushido (“the way of the warrior”).
Three-fourths of those deal directly with the inner workings of the mind. And yet, so many of us entrepreneurs today are hesitant to seek help for the problems in our own minds. If you’re happy and well-rested, you’re more likely to have a productive, positive meeting.
Mindset shift: “I accept that unclouding my mind will lead to better decision-making. To achieve that, I’ll probably need outside help: a nutritionist, a confidant, a therapist, or a trainer. Getting help doesn’t make me weak—it shows I’m willing to do whatever it takes to achieve my goals.”
Samurais don’t reject their emotions or fears, they lean into them to find the strongest way forward. So whether you are selecting your next entrepreneurial venture, deciding who to hire or fire, or determining the most productive way to spend your morning, elevate your judgment by staying grounded in reality and focusing on what you can actually control. Only then can you become a true decision-making samurai.
Which one of these mindset shifts resonates most with you at the moment? Let us know which one and why in the comments below!
Image courtesy of Twenty20.com
Success Advice
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Success Advice
How to Break the Cycles of Mediocrity and Manifest Your Greatness
There is no greatness without becoming and there is no becoming with authenticity

In just a few weeks, we will be wrapping up 2023. Can you believe it? This year has been absolutely incredible for me.
I have seen amazing doors opened, new relationships formed and I am seeing dreams realized in my life. While this seems like the hallmarks of a great year, this has also been the most challenging year of my life. With all of the change happening in my life, I have been forced out of my comfort zone and challenged to grow in every area of my life.
I can truly say that I have made the most of my moments this year and I have used everything as a catalyst for maximizing my greatest potential.
As a revolutionary leader, I have the pleasure of consulting and advising leaders around the world to fulfill purpose, realize their greatest potential and make an impact.
I want to share some insights with you that will help you to break cycles of mediocrity and manifest your greatness.
Everything legal must come through the matrix
I am sure that some of you are wondering why I am using the term matrix. However, what you have to understand is that I am trying to make a highly complex spiritual principle practical to understand.
Regardless of your spiritual beliefs, every life has an origin and I believe that origin is divine and begins with eternity. You are birthed from eternity and into time to fulfill a unique purpose and assignment in your lifetime and generation.
The matrix is simply the portal or vehicle that brings something out of the invisible realm and into tangible form. The problem with much of the teaching today is that it excludes the matrix. We are told to believe that success is instantaneous and overnight.
Nobody talks about how a dream progresses through stages beginning with visualization and ultimately culminating in manifestation. Without a matrix or portal then everything that you attempt to birth and build will be illegal.
The matrix not only makes you legal but it gives you the authority and power to function as the greatest expression of who you were created to be.
Every matrix has an incubation process
While many people admire and respect me today, I remember a time when nobody knew who I was or the significance of my message. How did I get to where I am today? I got here through an incubation process.
In other words, everything that has been destined for your life is incubating and awaiting a set time of manifestation. The problem is that most people live their entire lives idle and never initiate the incubation process.
What do I meany by that? Most people are living reckless and very few people are living intentionally. I am amazed at the number of people I have conversations with that have no vision, goals or strategies for their lives. They show great promise and they have undeniable potential.
However, without development they will die with their dreams still in them.
Everything that has been destined for your life must be incubated and converted to become realities born to time.
“Visualize this thing that you want, see it, feel it, believe in it. Make your mental blueprint and begin to build.” – Robert Collier
You must give expression to that which is not yet born to time
When you think about a matrix or a prophetic incubation process, you have to understand that potential is often unrealized and untapped. In other words, your potential is in raw form and your potential cannot serve you as long as it is untapped.
The thing that makes me valuable is that I have the ability to convert potential into power. I have done it in my own life and I have empowered leaders around the world to do the same. How do you convert potential into power?
First, it is important to note that you have to perceive potential. If you cannot perceive your potential then you can never cultivate your potential. In addition, you must take the time to cultivate your potential. We often get excited about our capabilities; however, we never expand our capacity in order to realize our greatest potential.
In other words, the strength of your potential is only discovered through your willingness to stretch. The more we are challenged the more we are empowered to expand our capacity for greatness. Most of all, you must begin to express your potential. The expression of potential is different for every person.
For example, the expression of my potential is best demonstrated through the thoughts, ideas, products, services, books, etc.
For another person the expression of potential may look like a screenplay, artwork, sports, scientific discoveries, medical breakthroughs, etc.
Regardless of the form of expression, I know that you will live empty and unfulfilled until you make the decision to express your potential. The expression of your potential gives voice to your dreams, life to your vision, significance to your moments and activates your true power.
You must manifest your greatness
As a revolutionary thinker and leader, my work has impacted people around the world. I am grateful that my life is a source of empowerment to so many people. However, before anyone could ever benefit from my life, I had to make a non-negotiable decision to become who I was born to be.
I wish I could tell you that this journey is easy and that you will get there overnight. However, in a world that celebrates us for doing we are often criticized for being. As a result, I wasted a lot of time trying to be who other people wanted me to be instead of being who I was born to be.
There is no greatness without becoming and there is no becoming with authenticity. It is through our bravery to be vulnerable that we ultimately manifest our greatness. We do not bless the world by being a duplicate. We bless the world when we honor our difference. When you honor your difference you honor your potential.
Ultimately, your difference is how you manifest your greatness.
When you present anything but your authentic self to the world, you are playing small and you are robbing the world of your significance. Manifesting your greatness requires you to master your gifts.
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