Are you settling for mediocrity?

Mediocrity is the state of accepting and living life according to average standards.

I understand why settling is tempting. I've been there. It's the safer option. Unfortunately, nothing grows in a comfort zone.

You can be, do and have whatever it is that you want in life. However, you have to be willing to do what most will not.

If you want to know how you can stop playing small and start living bigger, read this!

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Are you ready to break free from the mediocre majority? 

Unfortunately, the majority of people lower their standards and settle for less. They don't know how to take charge of their life. Instead, they try to escape their reality by numbing their emotions through drugs, food, or alcohol. Their goal is to avoid how they truly feel.

They work, day in and day out, at a job that they hate and live paycheck to paycheck. Although they are unhappy and desire to make a change, the unknown terrifies them. So much so that they decide to remain complacent.

The problem is that we live in a society that encourages us to conform to social norms. A study published in Nature Human Behaviour shows that people tend to copy other people’s choices, even when they know that those people did not make their choices freely, and when the decision does not reflect their preferences.

If you do whatever everyone else does, you'll get what everyone else gets – not much! Fitting in should never be the goal. Rather, you should strive to stand out. This is the moment at which you take control of your life.

Get real with yourself… are you stuck in a mediocrity trap?

Are you living life on other people's terms or your terms? I don't know about you but living a life of mediocrity is the one thing that terrifies me the most. Life is meant to be lived to the fullest.

If you're not satisfied with your life right now, here's the great news… YOU have the power to change your story. At this moment, you can commit to living bigger. Doing so will require that you raise their standards so that you can design a life that you desire and deserve.

Before you can live bigger, you need to understand what your current mental model is. People live in 3 different time zones, so to speak – the past, the present, or the future.

Living in the past is the WORST place to focus your attention because the past is said and done. You no longer have control over it.

You cannot create a compelling future or make any progress in life if you take this route. A lot of people ruminate on the pain of what happened to them in the past. They adopt a victim mentality because they don't think that they have the power to change their circumstances. I used to be this person.

When I was 17 years old, I was insecure and depressed. I hated myself and my life, and I didn't believe that I could change. Once I dove into the world of self-development, I decided to no longer accept self-defeat. I realized that my past didn't have to equal my future. That “aha” moment was a game-changer.

Some people choose to live in the present moment.

The present moment is all that we have, so we have to make the best of it!

However, there are consequences to adopting this belief. If you live in the here and now and focus on instant gratification at the expense of your future, you will get yourself into trouble.

If you're not planning for your retirement NOW and investing in your future, you will pay the price down the road. Yes, it's hard to save your money and make sacrifices. However, what's even harder is when you're 65 years old and you can barely survive financially. That's painful.

Only you can choose your version of hard. The same thing goes for your health. Today, you can flood your body with whatever you want – junk food, alcohol, drugs. However, down the road, you will pay the price.

Are the pleasures that you are indulging in right now going to backfire on you in your future? Is this way of living sustainable, long-term?

You don't want your physical vitality to be comprised. Living with obesity, diabetes, heart disease, or cancer is no way to live. At a certain point in your life, if you do get sick, no amount of money will save you.

Some of the wealthiest people in the world would give all of their money away if it meant that they could live longer. What dictates the quality of your health long-term is how you decide to live in the present moment.

Some people live in the future.

They strategize and anticipate what could go wrong. Usually, this means sacrificing their present moment experiences to set themselves up for success down the road.

At the same time, if you're only living for the future and you become overly obsessed with the destination, you will miss out on the journey.

So the question is… What is the BEST way to live?

Well, I think you can have a balance of all three. The best thing that you can do is learn from your past, enjoy the beauty of the present moment, and plan for your future. The key to accomplishing this feat is by raising your standards.

Don't accept mediocrity. Hear me out… you can settle for good. However, we live in a competitive world. Good isn't good enough, especially if you're an entrepreneur. If you want to be successful in business, you have to over-deliver and do what others will not.

The same thing goes for a 9-5 job. You won't climb the corporate ladder if you don't go above and beyond in your role. Somebody else will come along and do a better job because they will be more hungry to stand out and achieve more.

The same thing goes for a relationship. If you don't show up for your partner's needs and do the work, he/she will not feel seen and may look elsewhere for attention.

If your version of good is not yielding the results that you desire, you have to commit to doing better. Practice doing hard things consistently.

This is how you develop unshakeable grit and become the master of your world. 

It all comes down to one decision – how you are going to play the game of life? Will you choose to be a spectator, sitting on the sidelines and watching everyone else succeed, or will you be the superstar of your life?

Yes, choosing the latter can be scary and uncomfortable. However, it's better to dare greatly than never try. If you're reading this, you're not a dabbler. You're showing up for yourself and consuming knowledge because you want to learn and grow. Am I right?

If you're feeling stuck right now, that's OK. It's not comfortable to reflect upon where you're falling short. However, it's also a prerequisite for growth. If you don't get real with yourself and admit what is not working in your life, you won't know what you need to change.

Use your pain as motivation. Which pain is worse? The pain of discipline or the pain of regret? Only you can answer this question.

I don't know about you, but I would rather endure the pain of discipline so that I can write on my tombstone one day, “I lived with no f*ucking regrets.” 

Are you settling in your life? 

If so, now is the time to do something about it. Stop settling for less than you deserve. Your spirit is unlimited and you are capable of so much more than you could ever imagine.

It's time for you to get out of your way, stop sabotaging yourself, and start unleashing your power. Everything that you need is inside of you. It's up to you to decide if you are ready to embark on your hero's journey.

With transformation comes adversity. If you want to actualize your potential, you must courageously stay the course. It's not what you achieve, but who you become along your journey that matters most.

In the words of the famous author Joseph Campbell, “If you travel far enough, you’ll eventually meet yourself.”

What is ONE thing that you will commit to doing today that will help you raise your standards? Change starts with a single step. Take a deep breath and start walking.

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Get real with yourself… are you setting your goals effectively?

If you are still wishing that your life was different, you have yet to convert your dreams into goals.

A lot of people talk about their goals, but not everyone follows through and makes their dreams a reality. I want to make sure that your dreams don't go up in smoke.

It starts with understanding how to set goals. Once you know how to do that, you will feel more motivated to take action to achieve them.

If you're ready to start setting goals the smart way so that you can create the life you've always wanted, this blog is for you…

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Setting goals helps you to achieve your ultimate vision. 

Goals give you a sense of direction. When you know where you're going, it's a lot easier to stay on course. Without goals, it's easy to dabble and jump from one thing to another, without ever accomplishing anything. Research tells us that 92% of goal-setters don't actually reach the goals they set. Naturally, this creates a lot of pain and suffering for people.

This is why setting goals effectively is critical to your success in life. However, before you can set goals, you need to have a vision for your life. Take a step back, look at the bigger picture, and ask yourself, “What am I moving towards?” Start with the end in mind.

Goals are merely actions that you need to achieve in order to bring you one step closer to your ultimate vision. If you want to achieve success in life, it's critical that your vision and goals align with one another. If there is misalignment, your motivation will dwindle. In this state, reaching your goals will be unattainable.

This is why I encourage you to set goals in a SMART way. SMART goals are goals that are Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely. Let's break down this goal-setting strategy for success.

S – Specific

You want your goals to be specific. It is pointless to set a vague goal. If you say to yourself, “I want to be skinny” you're not setting a goal. Rather, you're just stating an unfulfilled desire. Get more specific. How much weight do you want to lose? Once you have a starting point in mind, it will be easier to review your progress along the way.

M – Measurable 

Once you have a specific goal in mind, now you want to determine how long it will take you to achieve that goal. When you create a deadline for yourself, you have a plan in place for when you need to achieve it. By measuring your goal it will ensure that you stay motivated to follow through. More importantly, you'll have a better understanding of when you're close to reaching your goal.

Going back to our example above, how many times per week will you need to work out in order to lose X amount of weight?

A – Achievable

Your goal must be attainable, meaning possible to achieve. You want to challenge yourself and stretch your capabilities. However, if you don't believe you'll be able to follow through, you'll quit before you're ahead.

If your goal is to lose X amount of weight, how will you accomplish this goal?

R – Realistic

Where a lot of people get into trouble is that they set goals that are highly unrealistic, meaning that it's unlikely that they will be achieved in a timely manner. Not surprisingly, it's hard to stay motivated if there is no end in sight. There is no point in setting a goal if it isn't achievable.

You need to determine if your goal can be realistically achieved, based on the resources you have at your disposal and the time you have to achieve it.

Are you willing and fully able to commit to losing X amount of weight? If you have a crazy work schedule, maybe it's not realistic for you to go to the gym 7 days a week. If this is the case, you may want to set a more realistic goal.

T – Timely

Every goal needs a timeline for completion. If you don't put one in place, you will only end up procrastinating. It's okay if you end up modifying your schedule along the way, but get clear on your time frame. What is your target date for achieving your goal? If you don't set a date, someday will never come.

SMART goals provide you with the structure that you need to achieve your goals. The reason why I achieve all of the goals that I set for myself is that I follow the above strategy. With every goal that you set for yourself, you need to determine what your level of desire and belief is.

You want your level of desire and belief to be a 7 or above. That is your sweet spot.

Anything below that isn't strong enough. You set yourself up to win when your desire and your belief are aligned with your goals.  When you set goals, it's natural to focus on the outcome. However, the true reward of goal achievement is who you become along the way.

The process of achieving a goal is what ends up changing your life.

Going back to our SMART goal example above, the reward for losing weight isn't just about how your body will change physically. The act of losing weight isn't an event. Rather, it's a process of becoming the person who you truly want to be – healthy, fit, and confident.

More importantly, it's about the journey you will have to go through to build willpower, discipline, and lasting results. In the words of Henry David Thoreau — “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”

Personal growth will always trump the outcome if you're willing to fall in love with the process of becoming the best version of yourself. Focusing on the process is what will allow you to enjoy the results even more.

Are you ready to start setting your goals the SMART way?

The people who achieve their goals in life are the ones who are willing to do anything and everything to achieve them. If you feel yourself being pushed towards your goals, they aren't the right goals for you.

When you want a goal bad enough, you will be pulled towards your dreams and inspired to design a vision for your life that makes you come alive inside. Ultimately, having a burning desire and belief in your goals will prove to be the fuel that drives you forward, despite the obstacles you will face along the way.

Do you want the most cutting-edge strategies for achieving your goals faster and mastering every area of your life? CLICK HERE to join my Life Mastery Accelerator program!

Do you have the motivation and commitment needed to fulfill your dreams?

You can't achieve anything of value in life without commitment. More importantly, you cannot commit to your dreams without first believing that your dreams are possible.

Have you ever had dreams that you were so excited about, but somehow you ended up getting off track and stopped pursuing them altogether?

If you need motivation so that you can recommit to a vision for your life that makes you come alive inside, keep reading! I have some words of wisdom that will help you design your ultimate dream lifestyle.

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Your dreams won't happen unless you make them happen.

Choosing who you want to be and what you want to do in life is only one half of the puzzle. Dreams don't magically come true. Success requires effort. You've got to be willing to put in the hard work if you want to achieve your goals in life. Until you are committed to your dreams, you will keep coming up short.

Think about it… if you are working towards a goal, but don't have a plan in place for how you will achieve it, your efforts will be thwarted. Harvey MacKay put it best when he said, “A dream is just a dream, a goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline.”

It's time to get real with yourself… how bad you want success? In my experience, a lot of people only want to achieve their dreams if it's convenient and easy. They may have a desire to achieve something, but their commitment to doing whatever it takes is missing. Unfortunately, this isn't how success works.

Success demands that you have an unwavering commitment to excellence and a commitment to persevere, despite the obstacles that life may throw your way. I have never met an incredibly successful person who didn't have laser-sharp focus and the determination to succeed, despite all odds. Giving up was and will never be an option for them.

If you want something bad enough, you will do whatever it takes to get it.

However, if you don't believe that it's possible to manifest your dream lifestyle, then your determination to succeed will only take you so far. You can have anything that you want in life if you believe that anything is possible.

This is why self-belief is everything. Your life is shaped by your beliefs. The story that you tell yourself about who you are and what you're capable of is the one thing that determines your success in life.

What is your story? A toxic narrative is a recipe for disaster. When you say things like, “I don't deserve success” or “I'm not smart enough” or “Good things never happen to me” you send a message to the Universe asking for more of that which you are focusing on.

You attract what you think. Doubts, fears, and limiting beliefs only hold you back from stepping into your greatness. I know for a fact that nothing in your life will change unless you are willing to change. Sometimes you've got to hit your emotional threshold before you're ready to adopt this mindset and fully let go of your fears and limiting beliefs.

The real work lies in reprogramming your disempowering belief systems so that you can create more of what it is that you want. When it comes to building your dreams, think of it as if you're planting a seed. Seeds take time to grow, so too do the rewards from your efforts. Those seeds won't sprout for awhile. Just like an entire garden doesn't sprout overnight, neither will your dreams.

There is no easy road to success.

If there was, everyone would be successful. This is why you must learn how to fall in love with the process, rather than fixating on the results. This mindset is what will help you crush your goals and create the life of your wildest dreams. At the end of the day, the difference between success and failure is the quality of your inner game.

When you encounter challenges on the road to success, don't give up when things get tough. If you can't find a way, make a way! You've got nothing to lose, so go all-in and refuse to play it safe. The biggest risks in life can lead to the biggest rewards, but you will never know unless you try.

Your dreams are your source of motivation.

If you want big results in life, you have to be willing to make big changes. Right now is a new opportunity for you to change your life.  Commit to your dreams. Your future self will thank you for it.

What will you commit to doing this week to move the needle forward towards making your dreams a reality?

Do you want to figure out which online business will best help you manifest your wildest dreams? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE business quiz!

These are the decisions that changed my life forever.

The life that you live today is the result of the specific decisions that you've made. The external world influences your decisions.

However, at the end of the day, you are solely responsible for the choices that you make and the actions you take.

If you aren't happy with how your life looks right now, you have the power to make new decisions that serve your highest self.

Ready to discover the decisions that changed my life? Keep reading…

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Decisions shape your destiny.

The extent to which you are able to make decisions that fulfill your dreams depends on the state of your mind. Research in cognitive psychology has shown that a person’s thoughts will influence the quality of their mood as well as their life experiences and actions.

The way that you feel determines the types of decisions that you make. Think about it… if you’re angry or overwhelmed, do you think that you're going to be in a position to make sound decisions? Probably not. However, if you're feeling grounded, clear, and confident, you will be more likely to make proactive decisions.

Keep in mind that when you make a new decision you don't always see the impact right away. It may take weeks, months, or even years until you realize how that one decision drastically altered the direction of your life. Take a moment and think about a good decision that you made 5-10 years ago that led to you being where you are today.

If you're not happy with the decisions that you've made in the past that are impacting your life now, I've got great news! You have the power to make new decisions that can change your life forever. At any moment, you can walk away from something that is no longer serving you and choose a different path.

I want to share with you the biggest decisions that changed my life forever. In sharing these life decisions, I hope that you will feel empowered to make similar decisions if you have been putting off doing so.

Committing to self-development 

I discovered self-development when I was 17 years old. Before that time, I struggled with depression and anxiety. I experienced a lot of challenges as a result. If I hadn't discovered self-development, I don't know where I would be today.

Luckily, I found mentors and teachers who inspired me and gave me hope that anything was possible. Some of these people included Brian Tracy, Tony Robbins, and Wayne Dyer. I learned from them that I could be, do, and have anything that I set my mind to. I started modeling their success habits. Today, I've been able to create a 7-figure online business.

It's not only my finances that have drastically improved because of my commitment to self-development. So too have my relationships, my mind, my emotions, and my spirituality. It wasn't easy, but I'm so grateful that I made the decision to level up my life.

Recommitting my life to Jesus Christ

I grew up as a Greek Orthodox Christian. My family wasn't super religious. We went to church twice per year. It wasn't until my self-development journey began that I started to further develop my spirituality. I studied Islam, Buddhism, and Daoism to name a few.

After studying different spiritual teachings, I noticed that there were limits to the mind. I came to realize that there were aspects of my life that could only be solved with a higher power. At that moment, I experienced a massive shift in my life. A lot of people try to fill a void within themselves through money, success, and significance, at the expense of their happiness.

It's not until you surrender and call in a higher power that you feel connected to something greater than yourself. Recommitting my life to Jesus Christ has changed my life. It's made me a better person overall. I am more loving, patient, compassionate, and forgiving. It's also added a new level of richness and meaning to my life. No matter what I go through, I know that there's a purpose to everything. Everything good that has happened in my life is because of God.

Learning how to meet and attract women

The first book that I read on self-development was called, “Double your Dating” by David D'Angelo. This book changed my life. At this stage of my life, my biggest pain point was that I didn't have friends or a girlfriend. Building my self-confidence was the only thing that I cared about.

Socially, I was very behind because I was a shy video game addict. I didn't socialize with people because it made me very anxious. I used gaming as a way to escape. As a result, I got bullied which caused me a lot of pain. When I committed to learning how to improve my confidence and social skills, everything changed.

When I was 18 years old I met a group of men who I found on an online community message board. They taught me how to interact with women. I committed to going out four times per week and forced myself to have conversations with people in public places.

I'm not going to lie… I was terrified. But I acted in spite of my fear. I ended up overcoming my fear of approaching women and committed to improving my communication and social skills. In turn, I became a more attractive version of myself. Women started to become naturally more attracted to me. Today, I'm engaged to my soulmate. I would never have found her if I did not commit to becoming a better man and human being.

Starting an online business

At a young age, I knew that I didn't want to work for someone else. I hated school. I always wanted to do my own thing and be independent.  When I was 21 years old, I started a coaching business. It was called Lifestyle Transformations. The decision to become an entrepreneur was life-changing.

I had zero experience, but I learned what I needed to know in order to succeed. Eventually, I got into Internet marketing. This decision gave me financial freedom and the lifestyle that I now have. Today, I never have to worry about money. Making more money has allowed me to progress rapidly in many other areas of my life.

I have more time to devote to things that matter to me, like my health, my relationship, and my spirituality because I have more resources available to me. That being said, even if I lost all of the money that I have, I am confident that I could make it all back.

The skills and qualities that I have cultivated over the years will never go away. You can lose money, but you can never lose who you are. If you have the desire to build an online business, don't wait. Take action and start creating your dream life. 

Volunteering

Giving to others has taught me how to be a selfless and more giving person. When I was in my early 20s, I realized that I had a scarcity mentality. I was always afraid of losing money. In turn, I was limiting myself from making more money. I realized that it's not how much money you give to others that matters.

Rather, its the habit of giving money that counts. When I was young, I would give small amounts of money to homeless people every day. I was training my mind to be a giver. In my mid-20s I started going on volunteer trips to third world countries in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Kenya, and Ethiopia where I helped build schools and houses for families in need.

I've also helped fund the construction of 10+ schools in countries like India and Ecuador. To this day, giving a home to someone in need has been one of the most powerful and emotional experiences of my life. Volunteering and philanthropy have brought so much more meaning and joy to my life. As Tony Robbins says, “The secret to living is giving.”

Quitting pornography and masturbation

When I was first exposed to pornography I didn't know what the negative effects would be. I used it as a way to relieve stress and anxiety. However, once it became an addiction, I knew that I had to quit. I started experiencing performance issues, like erectile dysfunction, or I would jump from one partner to the next because I would lose attraction for women quickly.

Why? I was being aroused by a variety of women on a screen that did not exist in reality. In turn, I wasn't able to connect with or be intimate with women in real life. On top of that, masturbation was taking away my energy, drive, and motivation. I felt lazy. It was hard to feel happy.

While enjoying pornography, your dopamine levels rise to around 200% of what is normal. While this feels good in the short-term, these abnormal levels of dopamine can mess with your mood. Once I detoxed my brain from pornography, everything in my life changed.

Committing to a morning ritual

I've been practicing a morning ritual for over 16 years now. Rituals have changed my life because they've allowed me to build healthy habits. What you do every day is who you end up becoming. When you make it a priority to take time every day to nourish your mind, body, and spirit, you get so much more out of your days and your life.

Engaging in rituals like praying, journaling, reading, meditating, and reciting affirmations, has shaped me into the person I am today. My ritual is non-negotiable. I encourage you to choose rituals that align with your interests and values. When you commit to making your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual self a priority, I promise that you will experience more fulfillment, confidence, and energy in your life.

Investing

I got into investing when I was 18 years old. I read the book, The Wealthy Barber and it changed my life. It taught me about compounding and dollar-cost advertising. The sooner that you invest, the sooner that you benefit from compounding. My first investment was $500 in a Bank of Montreal mutual fund. I started paying myself first.

Ten percent of whatever I made I put aside and invested it. At 21 years old, the next investment that I made was $5,000. Over the years, I continued paying myself first and reinvesting the money that I made. As I started making more money, I got into individual stock picking and index funds. Because of the investment portfolio that I've been able to create, I could retire now and never have to work another day in my life based on the dividends that I receive from my investments.

Starting my YouTube channel

I started Project Life Mastery when I was 25 years old. However, years before that I was a public speaker and a life coach. I've received so much value from helping others. Being a Youtuber has forced me to access a better version of myself.

I've had to tap into the best version of Stefan, someone who is charismatic, articulate, and of service to others' lives. It's allowed me to further my self-development journey and create an impact on a global scale. To date, my YouTube channel has gotten over 50 million views.

I have also reached millions of people through my podcast, blog, and social media. It's mindblowing to know that so many people have consumed my content. I wouldn't be where I am today if it wasn't for my audience, who have watched my videos.

I've been able to build my coaching business through YouTube, as well as sell my online courses. It's been an incredible journey and I can't wait to see how my channel continues to evolve and grow.

These are the decisions that changed my life forever.

If you are someone who struggles to make decisions, I hope my story has inspired you to become a better decision-maker. It's the decisions that you make today that will determine what your future looks like. Every day brings with it a myriad of choices that need to be made.

What decision will you make today?

Are you feeling lost right now? If so, you're not alone.

Coronavirus has created a lot of uncertainty in the world.

It is causing a lot of people to feel like they don't have control over their lives.

Research shows that not being able to participate in meaningful work, engage socially with friends and family, and move about freely are serious losses to our personal autonomy.

Now, more than ever before, it's important to stay inspired and find your life's mission. Ready to discover how you can do this? Keep reading!

Watch the video below:

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Have you been feeling lost lately?

Feeling lost in life can be a painful experience. However, if you allow your pain to define you, you will always be a victim of it. What if I told you that by embracing the feeling of being lost you are actually redirecting yourself to a better place? Your pain can lead to your purpose.

Oftentimes, it is only until we hit rock bottom that we are forced to change our lives. Difficult times shed light on what isn't working, making us question who we are and what we want out of life.  Now is the time to create a compelling future that excites you.

This is what I like to call your purpose or life's mission. Without a compelling future, you won't feel inspired to do much of anything. You will succumb to laziness and procrastination. The question is, “What if your future isn't clear?”

For a lot of people, the education system contributes to this lack of clarity. From personal experience, I found traditional schooling to hinder the discovery of my passions. Whereas some of my classmates knew exactly what they wanted to do when they finished school, I did not. I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. It's fair to say that I was lost and confused. 

How can you know what your mission is in life is if you don't have the courage to try new things?

A lot of people invest an insane amount of time, money and energy into their education only to find out that they are no longer interested in their degree once they're finished. I believe that the pursuit of passion requires time for play, exploration, and self-directed education.

Luckily, at the age of 17, I found the world of self-development. My perspective towards learning shifted dramatically. My life was forever changed. I realized that you don't find your passion in a book or by impressing others.

Rather, you find your passion by trying new things and doing what you love, regardless of whether or not others agree with your path. Through trial and error, I started to figure out what my natural talents were. In turn, I was able to determine what my values were.

I was blessed to figure out what my passion was when I was 21 years old. I went on to pursue my passion as a career and I created an online business. Over the years, my passion has evolved and changed. However, the essence of it still remains the same.

The mission of my brand, Project Life Mastery is to transparently, passionately and powerfully be a positive example of the unlimited possibilities that life offers for those that are truly committed to mastery.

If you're feeling lost and have been struggling to figure out what your mission is in life, I encourage you to take action and experiment with new things. Try different jobs, business ideas, or hobbies. Pay attention to what it is that you enjoy and don't enjoy. Observe how you feel with each experience. There is no better way to discover what makes you come alive inside.

You may find that your passions change over time and that's okay.

All that matters is that you take action. If you've been sitting around and waiting for your passion to knock on your door, think again. Don't dream about what could be. Instead, be the driver of your destiny. You and only you are responsible for moving the needle forward in your life.

If you're not living your life on purpose, now is the time! Your purpose is waiting for you, but you have to be willing to trust yourself.  Harness the power of your imagination and start envisioning the kind of life that you want to create. You have the ability to manifest anything that you want using the power of your intentions. Once you realize this, your life will change.

Are you ready to find your life's mission?

While it may not feel like you are in control of what's happening in the world right now, you always have control over your inner world. You have two choices. You can either let life happen to you, or you can embrace life's challenges and commit to starting a new chapter in your life. Now is the time to rise up.

In the words of Mark Twain, “The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” How will you make a difference in the world? Find your life's mission and the rest will take care of itself.

Do you want to know which online business is best for you? CLICK HERE to take my FREE business quiz!

Are you going through a difficult time?

If so, you're not alone. A lot of people are struggling mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially.

People are getting sick and losing their jobs, and businesses are going under. It's fair to say that the Coronavirus pandemic has negatively impacted the world at large.

However, I know that we will get through this together. We are being called to rise up and step into our power.

If you're going through a difficult time and you need some inspiration, keep reading. I'm here to help you.

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

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Do you want access to 21 powerful morning rituals that will nourish your mind, body, and spirit? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE Morning Ritual Habits Cheatsheet!

Difficult times are sent to strengthen you.

No matter what you're going through, I promise you that this adversity is merely a season. This too shall pass. Unfortunately, we don't know when. However, what I do know is that all of us have the ability to use challenges as opportunities for growth. Even when adversity strikes, growth is always possible.

Research shows that the positive changes resulting from a traumatic experience are called post-traumatic growth. The question is, “How will you respond to the challenges that you are currently experiencing?” During difficult times like these I encourage you to pull upon your resilient spirit. That voice that tells you to keep going, no matter how helpless you feel or how much you want to give up.

I know what it feels like to experience fear, anxiety, and financial instability. I want to share a vulnerable story with you. This was one of the lowest points in my life. It was the moment at which I hit rock bottom. By sharing this story, my hope is that it will bring you some comfort to know that, no matter how bad things get, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

When I was 25 years old I was living in a small apartment in downtown Vancouver. For a few years I had been trying to figure out how to make money online. I made a lot of mistakes along the way. Eventually, I started making enough money to support myself. During this time, I was dependent on Google for all of the traffic to my website. One day, Google decided to change their algorithm. In that moment, I lost 70-80% of my monthly income.

Everything was gone. Scary, right?

The fear that I went through during this time was inexplainable. On the day that this happened I was leaving for a three month trip to South America. As you can imagine, this adverse experience changed all of my travel plans. Let's be honest. It changed my entire life.

I was now in a position where I had to step up and deal with the adversity that I was facing. Within 2-3 years of my rock bottom experience, I went on to become a millionaire. I ended up moving into a penthouse in downtown Vancouver, attracted the woman of my dreams and impacted millions of peoples' lives through my content.

My entire life changed because I was committed to mastering my mindset. No matter what it is that you're going through right now, there is no reason why you can't adopt the same mindset as I did. I encourage you to watch the video above, where I talk through my adverse experience in more detail, and how I was able to transform my pain into possibility.

If you just lost your job or you're broke because of the Coronavirus pandemic, right now is the time to grow and evolve. You are being called to step into your power. On the other side of all of this adversity, you can step into the life that you've always dreamed of. However, it's up to you to create it. I believe in you, but it's time for you to believe in yourself.

If you are going through a difficult time right now, have faith.

I know that everything feels challenging right now. However, I promise that if you take the right action, you will be so much better off for it. Take a few deep breaths and trust that the best is yet to come. I will continue to do my part to inspire and uplift you. We will get through these difficult times together.

Now is the time to decide… will you be a victim of your circumstances or a victor of your life? The choice is yours.

Do you want access to 21 powerful morning rituals that will nourish your mind, body, and spirit? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE Morning Ritual Habits Cheatsheet!

Do you want it bad enough?

Take a moment and think about the “one thing” that you want more anything in this world.    

If you have yet to make progress towards achieving this goal, you need to get real with yourself and figure out why.

The problem that a lot of people face is that they want the result without having to put in any effort. Unfortunately, that's not how success works.

Everything in your life will change when you want it bad enough. Ready to discover how you can adopt a success mindset?

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

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Are you ready to master every area of your life? CLICK HERE to join my Life Mastery Accelerator program!

Success requires sacrifice.

You've got to figure out what it is that you are willing to give up to reach your desired destination. If you find that you keep coming up short, there's a high likelihood that you aren't going all in. In my opinion, it is people's unwillingness to sacrifice that prevents them from achieving real success in life.

If you want to live a life unlike anyone else's, you must be willing to sacrifice what others are not willing to give up. In the words of Mark Manson, “People want to be rich without the risk, without the sacrifice, without the delayed gratification necessary to accumulate wealth.”

I had to sacrifice a lot to have the success that I have today. It took me a long time to accept the fact that true success doesn't come without sacrifice. If you have big dreams in life, you will have to give up something to achieve them. That's exactly what I did and I've never looked back. Was this easy? Absolutely not.

You don't grow inside your comfort zone. If you keep doing what you've always done, you will continue getting what you've always gotten. It's not until you start embracing change that new opportunities start to present themselves in your life. Yes, change can feel scary.

However, it's not the change itself that causes fear.

Oftentimes, it's your interpretation of the change that makes the situation appear negative. One of the most powerful ways to change your life is to surround yourself with people who are more successful than yourself. Who you surround yourself with is who you end up becoming. If you spend time with people who are motivated, disciplined, and successful, you will be empowered to level up your life. It's that simple.

I encourage you to study and learn from people who have already achieved what it is that you want. Why go through years of struggle and stress and waste precious time and money when you could learn from the masters? This is the best way to fast track your success.

In today's world, you don't have to reinvent the wheel. This is why I have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into my self-development. In my experience, learning is the best tool for success. You never lose when you are growing and improving yourself.

This is your daily dose of Stefan James motivation.

A huge part of getting what you want in life is knowing what you are willing to pay in order to have it. When you want something bad enough you will do anything and everything to get it.

Eric Thomas said it best – “When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you will be successful.” What would happen if you went all-in? You will never know unless you try.

Are you ready to master every area of your life? CLICK HERE to join my Life Mastery Accelerator program!

Before you can change your life, you need to learn something very important.

We've all faced dark times where we questioned whether or not we had the strength to carry on.

There was a time in my life when I was in a really bad place, to the point where I was having suicidal thoughts. Luckily, I pulled through.

Self-development saved my life. If you're not where you want to be right now, but you are ready to change your life, this blog will help you take the leap of faith.

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

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Change is the only constant in life.

Nothing ever stays the same. Change is the one thing that you can always count on. The question is, “Are you able to embrace change and fearlessly face the unknown with an open heart?” For a lot of people, this isn't an easy feat. When everything is going great in life we assume that the good times will keep going, right? Well, at least that's what we hope.

However, life doesn't always like your plans. Challenges and adversities will happen. When this happens, life will force you to change. If you resist change, it will strike you harder and faster. However, if you embrace change and allow yourself to be open to the process, you will thrive. How you choose to respond is up to you.

Although you can never change what is going on outside of yourself, you always have the power to affect change in your own life. Change asks you to learn new things, master new skills, and develop new qualities like flexibility, optimism, courage, and persistence. This is what I discovered when I was introduced to the world of self-development.

I finally realized that I could become the master of my world. The only thing that was stopping me was me. The self-development gurus, like Tony Robbins and Wayne Dyer, gave me unwavering hope and a compelling vision for my future.

However, nobody was going to wave a magic wand and change my life for me.

If I wanted to change, I had to commit to doing the deep work to let go of everything that was no longer serving my growth and evolution. This wasn't an easy path at the beginning. However, once I started to see the rewards from my efforts, it was no longer difficult. It was at this point that I was able to transform every area of my life.

One of the most profound lessons that I've learned along my journey of personal growth is that everything you need is already inside of you. Even though I grew up shy, anxious, and introverted, there was always a confident, intelligent and resourceful person inside of me, begging to be heard and seen.

The challenge that a lot of people face is that they define their worth based on limiting beliefs. In turn, they end up living in fear. They hold themselves back from success because they don't believe that they deserve it. What we don't realize is that many of our unconscious beliefs developed during childhood, meaning that they aren't even our beliefs to begin with. If you continue to be the person who you've always been, your life will never change. You have to question your belief systems and get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

Being scared beyond belief is a sign that you're doing something right. 

A second challenge that I see a lot of people struggle with is the desire to meet their need for significance through self-development. We all have six human needs. These include a need for certainty, security, variety, connection/love, contribution, and significance. As long as you are driven by significance, you are always going to be comparing yourself to others. Comparison is the thief of joy.

There are always going to be people who are further ahead of you in certain areas of life. Don't concern yourself with their path. It's not yours. Stay in your lane and make it your goal to become the best version of yourself. More importantly, don't limit yourself based on others' projections of who you are. It's a losing battle and one that is not worth fighting.

This is how you change your life.

When you change, everything in your life will change for you. To become more, you have to expand yourself and be what you are not. Think empowering thoughts, face your fears, step outside your comfort zone and become the you that you've always dreamed of becoming.

In the words of Bruce Lee, “Absorb what is useful, discard what is useless and add what is specifically your own.” Are you ready to step up and do whatever it takes to change your life? Tomorrow isn't promised. Take action today. Your future self will thank you for it.

Are you ready to discover how you can create your own Mastermind Group of highly successful people? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE Mastermind cheatsheet!

Are you ready for a sneak peek of the best of Project Life Mastery in 2019?

As 2019 comes to a close and I prepare to welcome 2020, I've taken some time to sit back and reflect upon what has unfolded this past year.

I'm so grateful for the amazing people I met, the goals that I achieved, and the unforgettable memories that will forever be etched in my heart.

I'm excited to see what the new decade will bring. Until then, I want to share some of Project Life Mastery's magic moments in 2019!

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

Project Life Mastery is all about self-mastery.

Those of you who follow me know that I'm always striving to master every area of my life. In turn, I'm inspiring others to do the same. Every aspect of your life is interconnected. If you are experiencing an imbalance in one area, the other areas will follow suit.

When you become the master of your own self, you understand who you are on a deeper level. In turn, you are better able to connect with others and share your gifts with the world. The key to mastery in anything is practice; the more you practice, the more proficient you become. This is why every year I commit to growing and improving myself in different areas of my life.

I want to share with you a sneak peek of some of my 2019 highlights that made this a year to remember.

Social/Fun

This was the year of travel! Tatiana and I traveled all over the world. By the end of this year, we will have been to over 16 countries. We went to South Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Africa, Israel, and South America to name a few.

The beautiful thing about having an online business is that it allows you to be location independent. All that I need in order to work is my laptop and great Wi-Fi. I've said this before and I'll say it again… traveling is the best education.

Any chance that you have to go and explore the world, do it. Traveling offers you the opportunity to step outside your comfort zone and explore the unknown. There is nothing that will allow you to learn more about yourself and others than putting yourself in new environments.

Business

As many of you know who follow me, I've been attending the Traffic and Conversion Summit for years now. This is an event that brings together the world's smartest marketers. While I was there, I had the opportunity to connect with and interview some of the top minds in marketing.

Some of these people include J.J. Virgin, Trevor Turnbull, John Benson, and Ryan Deiss. If you want to level up your life, you have to put yourself in environments with people who are more successful than yourself. I learned so much from each of the top marketers whom I interviewed.

Moreover, the knowledge that I learned at the event helped me accelerate my business and propel my marketing efforts. I hope the strategies that I shared from these interviews helped you grow your business this year as well.

I also attended SellerCon In Las Vegas.

This is an event hosted by The Amazing Selling Machine. It is the largest Amazon seller event in the world. While I was at the event, I had the opportunity to interview my mentors and some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the e-commerce space. Some of these people include Robert Kiyosaki, Dave Asprey, Ryan Moran & Ezra Firestone.

One of my favorite things about attending SellerCon is that they have built up such a strong community of entrepreneurs. We come together every year with the goal of supporting and elevating one another in our personal and professional lives. It's a win-win.

And I got to work with Tony Robbins!

One of my top highlights of 2019 was partnering with Tony Robbins to help launch his Knowledge Business Blueprint as an affiliate. This is a course Tony created that helps people turn their knowledge into a highly profitable business. What was even more incredible is that this is the first product that Tony has launched in over 12 years. To be a part of this milestone was a dream come true for me.

Contribution

Contribution is a huge part of my work and my life. Scientific research shows that giving is a powerful pathway to personal growth and lasting happiness. I couldn't agree with this more. Contributing to the lives of others is the key to a happy and fulfilling life.

This year, together with We.org, Tatiana and I traveled to Kenya where we helped to build schools for children in need. We.org is an international development charity and youth empowerment movement. I have partnered with them in previous years to help build a school in Ethiopia.

I believe that all of us have the capacity to give to others less fortunate than ourselves. You don't have to travel to another country to make a difference in the world. Start small and figure out how you can contribute locally.

Mind/Emotions

As many of you know who follow me, Tony Robbins has been my mentor since I was a teenager. This year I was personally invited to a 4-day mastermind session with Tony and ten other entrepreneurs at his all-inclusive Namale resort in Fiji.

I was masterminding with people like Dean Graziosi, Russell Brunson, Lewis Howes, and Jenna Kutcher. It's fair to say that this was a life-changing experience. I promise that when you surround yourself with successful people you will become successful too. As Jim Rohn once famously said, “You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Choose wisely.

This was the best of Project Life Mastery in 2019.

Before you enter into 2020 I encourage you to take some time to reflect upon your year, both the highs and the lows. What are you ready to let go of, and more importantly, what are you ready to create?