If you don’t do the inner work, your limiting beliefs will control every decision that you make in life.

A lot of people shy away from inner work, for fear that facing it, will be painful.

Growth can be difficult, but it can also be transformative. Research shows that many people report psychological growth as a result of experiencing highly stressful events.

Now is the time to release yourself from the past, recondition old belief patterns, and re-write your story. Are you ready to learn 3 ways that you can transform your negative self-talk?

Watch the video below where I talk about how to be confident instantly:

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Inner work sounds daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.

It’s all a matter of perspective. We all know how powerful beliefs can be. The mind believes what it wants to believe. If you think that inner work is hard, that’s exactly what it will be. However, if you are able to reframe your experience and view self-growth as an opportunity to become a better version of yourself, the game changes. As Tony Robbins says, “Whatever you hold in your mind on a consistent basis is exactly what you will experience in your life.”

Don’t get me wrong… inner work will challenge you to your core. The process will force you to go inward and look at yourself and your life in unfamiliar ways. If you aren’t willing to drop your ego, be vulnerable, and face your fears, there will be resistance. However, if you can open yourself to the experience, you will set yourself up for a massive internal win.

I always say that anything of value is hard work. On the other side of inner work is purposeful living and it feels damn good. There is nothing more rewarding than stepping into your power and finally living in alignment with your true self.

How do I know? I’ve been on both sides of the coin.

When I was younger, I was a shadow of my true self. I was a shy, anxious, depressed kid. Needless to say, I wasn’t exactly living the high life. Studies have linked negative self-talk with higher levels of stress, lower levels of self-esteem, and depression. I can relate to these toxic effects.

My negative self-talk was like a bad song that I played on repeat in my head. It’s fair to say that the image I held of myself was below average. One day, I looked myself dead in the mirror and I said, “Never again will I allow myself to feel less than.” I knew that the only person that was going to change me, was me. In short, I hit my emotional threshold. 

I was tired of playing small, so I made the decision that I would no longer stay stuck in one place. Living each day as if I was merely surviving didn't feel good. I was ready to thrive. The core of my inner work revolved around my beliefs about who I was. My journey from feeling like a nobody to being a somebody has had its fair share of highs and lows. However, what I have learned about myself throughout the process has been life-changing.

To this day, I continue to learn and grow because life is always changing and so am I.

I’m not perfect. I still experience moments when I feel down or experience self-doubt. However, because I have conditioned my mental muscle on a daily basis, I am now able to shift my state, almost instantly, from one that is disempowering to empowering. This is how I have overcome my shyness and social anxiety. One thing that I know for sure is that doing the inner work is the only thing that has allowed me to become the person that I am today.

I want to share with you 3 ways that you can transform your negative self-talk. I have personally used these strategies in my own life and they have allowed me to create a success-oriented mindset.

1. Become Mindful of the Words You Speak

You are where you are today, in part, because of what you have been saying to yourself. If you tell yourself that you're not enough, you will act from that belief system. Your words are strongly connected to your future self. If you think negative thoughts and speak them out loud, you attract that same energy into your life.

You can't talk about how much you lack and expect to have abundance. Eventually, this negative state of mind becomes a part of your reality. This is how the Law of Attraction works. Keep in mind that, just because a negative thought pops into your mind, it doesn't mean that you have to believe it. Don't allow negative words to prevent you from becoming the person that you were destined to be.

If you want to live a positive life, you need to think positive thoughts. This starts with learning how to reprogram your mind for positive thinking. The best way to foster a more loving relationship with your inner self is by practicing positive affirmations. As you start to speak empowering words out loud to yourself, over time you start to believe these things to be true. This is how I have been able to master my psychology. 

2. Reframe Your Thoughts 

Have you ever wondered how some people thrive through life, while others constantly struggle? It comes down to how they interpret their life's challenges. Successful people are able to effectively reframe their experiences by replacing unhelpful thoughts with more positive and adaptive ones. You may not be able to control what happens to you, but you can always transform how you feel about something.

In their book, What Went Right: Reframe Your Thinking for a Happier Now, Michael Wetter and Eileen Baley suggest that, by changing your thinking, you can unlock self-affirming feelings and actions that are needed in order to create a more empowering life story.

The next time that you find yourself spiraling into self-deprecating behaviors, stop yourself, shift your narrative, and reframe your thinking. For example, “I hate my body” can be reframed to “Yes, I may not be happy about the current state of my health, but I know that if I commit to eating healthier and going to the gym, I will get the body that I want.”

If you want to change something about your life, you've got to start by changing your beliefs first. By shifting your thoughts, you automatically put yourself into a more empowering state of mind.

3. Be A Better Best Friend To Yourself

Do you treat yourself like you would treat your best friend? A lot of people spend so much time being present for others, but they forget about themselves in the process. Instead of celebrating their wins, they beat themselves down and are overly self-critical about everything that they do. 

If you can relate to these behaviors, now is the time to change the view that you have of yourself and start appreciating the amazing person that you are. The next time that you catch your inner critic getting the best of you, check-in and stop this negative voice dead in its tracks. Ask yourself, “Would I speak to ____ in this way?” If the answer is “no,” then you certainly don't deserve it.

The most important relationship you will ever have is the relationship with yourself, which is why it's critical that you make it a priority to put yourself first. Being a better friend to yourself means showing yourself unconditional love and compassion. It's about learning how to love your own company. I encourage you to create a self-love ritual where you take some time every day to celebrate who you are and how far you've come.

Are your ready to start paying attention to your inner self?

Only you can begin this work. It starts with making the decision that you will no longer allow your negative self-talk to control your life. There is nothing or nobody that can give you what it is that you are seeking. Yes, inner work can be challenging, but the person that you become on the other side is well worth the journey. You will start to embody your true power and begin the process of embracing all parts of yourself.

In the words of Helen Joy Butler, “Even though this work may look and feel messy, there is so much beauty in the mess. It's incredibly liberating and life-changing if we have the courage and strength to go there.“

There is nothing that you cannot do. Do not fear the journey of self-discovery. Commit to showing up for yourself and do the work to shift your narrative. Life will take care of the rest.

Do you want to learn how you can create an empowering morning ritual? CLICK HERE to join my Morning Ritual Mastery program!

I have created a new and improved version of K Money Mastery which is called, Mastering Book Publishing!

Do you aspire to write a book but are struggling to start because you don't know your reason for doing so?

You know you can do it, but there may be a little voice inside your head that keeps telling you to wait, or that you aren't a good enough writer, or that you're just too busy.

Yes, writing a book can feel like a daunting task, but it's also an incredibly powerful tool for sharing your message.

Are you ready to learn 7 reasons why you should write a book this year?

Watch the video below where I talk about how to market your business and product online:

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Do you want my proven step-by-step system for publishing books on Amazon? CLICK HERE to purchase my new and improved Mastering Book Publishing course!

Books can have a huge impact on people's lives.

Think about the most important book that you've ever read. How did it make you feel? The power of books is unmeasurable. I have dedicated my life and my work to personal growth and development. Reading has been a powerful tool that has allowed me to learn more about myself, others, and the world. But don’t take it from me. Here’s what the late and famed scientist, Carl Sagan, had to say:

“What an astonishing thing a book is. It's a flat object made from a tree with flexible parts on which are imprinted lots of funny dark squiggles. But one glance at it and you're inside the mind of another person… Writing is perhaps the greatest of human inventions, binding together people who never knew each other… A book is proof that humans are capable of working magic.”

A lot of people ask me, “Stefan, how do I write a book?” I've written and published quite a few books of my own. Over the years, I've shared my process for writing and publishing best-selling books on Amazon. As a result, I've helped a lot of writers become successful Kindle publishers.

Despite this, I know all too well the difficulties that you can face when writing a book for the first time. The biggest mistake that I see a lot of writers make is that they try to cram too much information into one book. When you take this approach, it's easy to get stuck on an idea, ruminate about the topic, procrastinate, and then stop altogether.

As Steven Wright once said, “I'm writing a book. I've got the page numbers done.” Your first book doesn't have to be a masterpiece. Don't get hung up on writing a best-seller right out of the gate. All that matters is that you just start and don't stop.

Let's take a step back for a moment. Before you can sit down and write a book, it's important that you have a strong enough why for doing so. I want you to successfully finish a book that you are proud of. Here are 7 reasons why you should write a book this year.

1. It Provides A Platform To Share Your Story

According to the esteemed psychologist, Dr. Dan McAdams, the deepest level of our identity is our “narrative identity.” Everybody has a life story that they hold in their hearts that articulates where they have come from, where they are now, and where they are going. This life story is just like any other story. It follows an exciting plot, features main and supporting characters, and has lessons to learn.

Writing can be extremely cathartic. In fact, research shows that emotional, autobiographical storytelling can be a path to truly owning your story. As a writer, vulnerability is one of your most powerful tools. Not only that, but it is also the most beautiful form of human self-expression.

Humans love hearing stories because it gives them a sense of unity, clarity, and purpose. So, what better way to provide that gift to the world than to write your own story in a book? Not only will you help others to relate their lives to yours, but you’ll also bring a psychological boost to your own life as well!

2. It Allows You To Make Passive Income

A little extra money never hurt anybody, whether that's to pay your bills more easily, treat yourself to something nice, or to save for the future (or maybe for all of these!). Writing a book is one of the easiest and most effective ways to make passive income. I’m not talking about a few dollars here and there… I’m talking about building an online business model that has the potential to make you a lot of money.

The self-publishing age is here and it continues to grow every year. According to the latest report from ProQuest affiliate, Bowker, more than 1 million books were self-published in 2017. There is no doubt that there has never been a better time to write a book.

It's important to realize that a lot of people don't have the attention span for books that are longer than 100 pages. When you start writing your book, don't fall into the trap of assuming that long is good. In actuality, short eBooks sell better than longer novels. I have been able to create a 6-figure book publishing business, selling short Kindle ebooks and audiobooks. How would it feel to have these kinds of earnings in your bank account?

Of course, eBooks aren’t the only way to make passive income. You can also take the more traditional route of paper publishing. J.K. Rowling, who wrote the Harry Potter books, now has a net worth of almost $1 billion after being poor when she first began writing. It worked for her. There's no reason why it can't work for you as well.

In all of these cases, however, it’s the same: Once you’ve written your book, you keep making money from it every time someone buys a copy. Compare that to any other job where you have to work for someone else in order to get your monthly paycheck. Making money while you sleep is a sweet deal.

3. It Positions You as an Expert 

I believe that writing a book is one of the best ways to build credibility and position yourself as an expert in your industry. Ever since I became a published author, my opportunities have increased tenfold. As a result, I have been able to expand my area of influence.

Let’s face it, knowledge is power. Not only have my books allowed me to reach my target audience, but they have also attracted a whole range of new followers as well. More reach means more opportunities. It’s time for you to become a thought leader in your niche. Maybe it’s a life philosophy you’ve adopted, maybe it’s a challenge that you've overcome, or maybe it’s a new way of mastering habits that have transformed your life.

Whatever it is, I know that you have something that people could learn from you.  You’re already an expert at something. Go ahead and write about it. When you add value to the world on a consistent basis, over time you are deemed to be a credible and trust-worthy person. There is no greater honor.

4. It Gives You a Sense of Accomplishment 

In their ground-breaking research on self-determination theory, psychologists Dr. Edward Deci and Dr. Richard Ryan found that people have a fundamental need to feel competent. In other words, they want to feel as if they are achieving worthy goals. Without fulfilling this need, it will feel as if you are missing something in your life.

Think about the times when you felt sluggish and procrastinated. Didn’t feel that great, right? Now think about times when you were completely in the zone and checking off everything on your to-do list. That’s what it feels like to fulfill your need for competence. Or in other words, your need for accomplishment.

The great news is that you can fulfill this basic need for accomplishment by writing a book. Just imagine writing that last sentence now. How amazing would that feel? It might sound hard right now, but once you break it down, you begin to realize that it isn't all that daunting. If you write one page a day, you’ll have a 365-page book in a year! If you write two pages every day, you’ll have reached that milestone in half a year. It's all about perspective.

5. It Teaches You To Be A Better Reader

The best communicators are the best listeners. The best painters are the best observers. And the best writers are the best readers. Like any art, the best books are created from the inspiration gained by studying the great books that have already been written. Are there any books you’ve been meaning to read but haven’t gotten around to yet?

Now is your chance to because it will make you a better writer. By reading great books, you’ll learn the tricks of the trade and start to appreciate the little things that only other writers would appreciate. Soon, you’ll have a library in your head ready to pour out into a book of your own.

6. It Challenges You To Grow

What’s the last thing you did that really challenged you? Think about bodybuilders. Week in and week out they show up for themselves. They possess sheer determination and persistence and stop at nothing to build their physical and mental strength. The fact of the matter is that you can only grow by challenging yourself. No pain, no gain.

If you want to transform yourself, then you've got to be willing to step outside of your comfort zone and do something that scares you. Writing a high-quality book requires a lot of self-discipline, effort, and commitment. Researching, writing, editing, re-writing, adhering to deadlines, crafting ideas, and then spending time putting it all together into a final manuscript is a lot of work.

However, I believe that when you truly want something, you will do whatever it takes to make it happen. Trust me when I say that it's all worth it when you finally see the end product and find out that people are receiving value from it. There is no greater feeling knowing that your work is impacting lives.

7. It Allows You To Make An Impact

When Malala Yousafzai was just 11, she wrote a blog exposing the grueling details of her everyday grind living under the terrifying Taliban rule in Pakistan. A few years later, she was on a bus going home after writing an exam. But this wasn’t a normal bus ride. She was shot and hit in the head by Taliban assailants because of her activism. Miraculously, she survived.

But she didn’t stop there. She began advocating for everyone’s right to have an education. Overnight, she became famous around the world for the impact that her message had. She then wrote a book called, I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, which quickly became an international best-seller. In 2014, at the age of 17, she became the youngest-ever winner of the Nobel Peace Prize.

Many people would want to go into hiding after such a brutal attack. Some would even aggressively retaliate against those who tried to hurt them. But Malala did something unique and special; she used her ideas to inspire change and action in the world through advocacy and writing a book.

In her words: “Let us pick up our books and pens. They are the most powerful weapons.” Malala is a shining example of the change that is possible through words. You too can change the world. Go ahead and start writing.

There has never been a better time to write a book.

Like I said above, writing a book doesn’t have to be hard. It all starts with that first word. By the end of it, you’ll surprise yourself how much you learned along the way. As I always say, it's not what you are, but who you become that matters most.

So, what’s stopping you? Discover your message and share it with the world. I trust that you will impact the lives of others. I can’t wait to read your book.

Do you want my proven step-by-step system for publishing books on Amazon? CLICK HERE to purchase my new and improved Mastering Book Publishing course!

Are you ready for a sneak peek of the best of Project Life Mastery in 2018?

As 2018 comes to a close, 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 lessons I learned, the goals that I achieved, and all of the unforgettable memories that I will never forget.

I invite you to connect with the power of every moment of every day. Find the extraordinary in the ordinary, and share those experiences with people that you love and admire. 

In the words of Dan Millman, “Life is a series of moments. The quality of attention and action that we bring to each moment determines the quality of our lives.”

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

Project Life Mastery had a lot of magic moments in 2018.

Before I close the chapter on another year I always take some time to engage in a process of self-introspection. I'm immensely proud of what my team and I have achieved this past year. It's so important to reflect upon your milestones. Doing so allows you to understand where you've been, where you currently are, and where you're going.

I encourage you to make it a priority to celebrate your wins, no matter how small they are. The act of celebrating changes your physiology and strengthens your psychology, thereby reinforcing your success. If you don't acknowledge your progress, it's easy to let another year pass without much thought.

Those of you who follow me know that I'm always striving to master every area of my life. Every aspect of your life is interconnected and influences one another. If you are struggling in one area, it will affect the other areas as well. For example, if you aren't doing work that fulfills you, your relationship may suffer. Similarly, if you aren't physically strong, your mental health may suffer. 

Every year I strive to grow and improve myself in different ways. I want to share with you a sneak peek of some of my 2018 highlights that made this a year to remember.

Body

When I was diagnosed with heavy metal toxicity in 2017, I was shocked. However, I took this news as a challenge to heal my body and master my health in 2018. When bad things happen in life, don't put your head in the sand. Rather, find ways to transform hardships into opportunities for growth.

This year I made it a priority to biohack my health so that I could continue operating at a peak level of performance. In early April, Tatiana and I went to Venice, California where we had the opportunity to meet Garry and Anela Lineham, who are the co-founders of Human Garage. This power couple has pioneered a holistic approach to bodywork that heals the body and brain from the inside out.

While we were there, we got to experience their treatment first hand. They developed a personalized protocol for me that consisted of a full body alignment session, movement rehab, and nutrition optimization. The results of their tests have empowered me to continue hacking my health habits so that I can maximize my well-being. 

Social/Fun

At the beginning of June, Tatiana and I sold all of our things in Canada and moved to Panama to start a new chapter in our lives. Both of us have always wanted to live in a foreign country so we decided to take the plunge. We will make Panama our home base for the next few years until we find our dream home and move to the U.S.

Shortly after we got settled in our new home, my friends at Bitcoin.com graciously invited me on a cruise throughout the Mediterranean. As part of the Bitcoin conference, Tatiana and I had the opportunity to learn from 100+ Bitcoin speakers while enjoying some epic ocean views. While I was on the cruise, I got to interview Roger Ver, who is the CEO of Bitcoin.com.

After the cruise, Tatiana and I spent 3 months traveling throughout Spain, Italy, Greece, and Singapore. This is one of the many upsides of having an online business and living the laptop lifestyle. You have the freedom to live where you want while doing work that you love.

Relationships

Proposing to Tatiana in Santorini, Greece was, by far, the highlight of 2018. This was one of the best decisions I've ever made. It was a fairytale proposal, set in one of the most romantic places in the world. I spent weeks preparing and planning for the big day.

From the moment that I laid eyes on Tatiana I knew that she was the woman who I wanted to spend my life with. However, before I could find her, I had to do the work to be the man that she was looking for. When we met we were both very clear about what our core values were. Luckily, Tatiana and I had a similar vision for the life that we wanted to create, ensuring that we were moving together in the same direction.

This year Tatiana and I collaborated on a lot of great content together, which allowed us to grow as a couple and take our businesses to the next level. There's no better feeling than being able to grow, travel, and work, side by side with the love of your life. I'm a lucky man to have such a beautiful woman in my life. We are both super excited about our future together and all of the amazing things that we plan on creating in 2019.

Business

I'm always looking for ways to connect with other like-minded people in my industry. This is why I jumped at the chance to attend the SellerCon event in Florida. At the event, I networked with thousands of other Amazon Sellers. Even better, I got the opportunity to interview almost every speaker, some of whom included Rob Burns, Cherie Yvette, and Jeff Cohen. Their Amazon success stories were so inspiring, proving that financial freedom is possible if you are willing to believe in yourself and put in the hard work.

I was also able to collaborate with a lot of people whose work and philosophy of life I admire. Some of these people have been mentors of mine since I was in my early 20's. This year I got the opportunity to interview successful online influencers, like Dan Lok, Gary Ryan Blair, Mike Rashid, Anik Singal, and Eben Pagan.

I always make it a priority to connect with content creators that align with my vision and values. By sharing one another's work, we have been able to inspire and support one another's personal and professional growth. More importantly, some of these partnerships have transformed into long-lasting friendships.

It's been really exciting to see the Project Life Mastery YouTube channel grow so quickly. What started out as a hobby has transformed into my life's greatest work. Knowing that my content has impacted so many peoples' lives is beyond humbling. I hope that my videos continue to inspire and motivate you to become the best version of yourself. I'm looking forward to creating more motivational content in 2019 that inspires you to take action and create life, on your terms. 

Thank you for being a part of the best of Project Life Mastery in 2018.

Now, take a moment and reflect upon your year. In what ways did you grow? What lessons did you learn? If you don't feel like you've been living your life to the fullest, now is the time to change that. You are the only one that is responsible for your life. The moment that you embody this truth is the moment at which you become fully free to create the life of your dreams.

You have two choices in life. You can either be an example of what is possible or you can be a warning of who not to be. At the end of the day, success is a mindset. Once you learn, study and master the principles of success, anything is possible. If you can push yourself past the limits of your life, there will be no end to what you can achieve.

As someone once said, “Life isn't about waiting for the storms to pass. It's learning to dance in the rain. I believe in you. The Universe believes in you. Now it's time to believe in yourself.

What do you want to accomplish in the New Year? Make 2019 your year to shine.

The fastest way to success is simpler than you think.

Don't fall into the trap of believing that success is only reserved for ‘special people.' It's easier to succeed today than ever before. Anyone can do it. However, not everyone will.

The strategy that I’m going to share with you has allowed me to build a multi-million dollar business, attract the woman of my dreams, and travel the world doing what I love.

I'm not saying this to impress you, but rather to express to you the power of this strategy.

Are you ready to fast track your success so that you can get to where you want to go, faster?

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

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Do you want to model my success, fast? CLICK HERE to check out my courses and learn how you can take your life to the next level!

Success always leaves clues.

If anyone is successful at anything in their life, it's not because they are lucky. For most, success comes from preparation, hard work and taking advantage of opportunities. Successful people engage in specific behaviors and rituals. They understand that success isn't a one-time event. Rather, success is a habit.

A lot of successful people are conscious of certain things that lead to their results. However, most of what they do is done on an unconscious level. They don't necessarily know why they are masters of their craft.

The four stages of competence is a model based on the idea that before a learning experience begins, learners are unaware of what or how much they know. However, as they move through four psychological states, their competence develops. Let's deconstruct each stage.

Level 1 – Unconsciously Incompetent

This is when you struggle with something, but you aren't even aware of it. It's not until someone points your incompetence out to you, that you develop awareness about it.

Level 2 – Consciously Incompetent

This is when you are consciously aware of being incompetent. This is the first step to changing anything in your life. When you are aware of the change that needs to be made, you feel empowered to do something about it.

Level 3 – Consciously Competent

This is when you are aware of your ability to do something. You dedicate yourself towards the improvement of your skill through repetition and practice.

Level 4 – Unconsciously Competent

As you build up your experience and credibility, eventually you reach a level where you don't even have to think about the very thing that you are good at. It just becomes a part of who you are.

As an educator, I am always trying to break down everything that has led me to achieve success

I want to share this knowledge with others. However, a lot of people that you want to learn from aren't necessarily aware of the specific mindset, beliefs, and behaviors that have gotten them to where they are today. It's your job to figure out what they are doing that is working for them, and then apply those strategies to your life.

If you want to be successful, the fastest way to get there is to find someone who is getting consistent results and then model his/her behavior. Your job is to become a detective.

However, you can't just model their strategies.

You also have to master their inner game as well, which is comprised of the mindset, beliefs, and values that they live by. This is where a lot of people come up short. For example, they may go through a training program but don't know how to take on the mindset of the person that developed it. This is when inner conflict ensues. Rituals and affirmations are a powerful way to condition new beliefs so that they become a part of who you are.

When it comes to success, don't try to reinvent the wheel. Find people that are crushing it in your niche of interest. Study them and buy their products. All of the information is available there for you. If they have a great business and it's working, you can market and sell your products in the same way, without copying them of course. Doing so will ensure that you achieve similar results.

Similarly, you could research your top ten competitors and look for the commonalities amongst them. What are they all doing that is leading to their success? Once you know, model their strategies. The proof is in the pudding. Yes, you've still got to hustle if you want to achieve success. However, what's even more important is that you learn how to work smart.

The fastest way to success is achieved by modeling the habits of successful people.

Doing so will allow you to compress decades into days. Drop your ego and give up thinking that you know it all. Rather, be coachable and learn from as many people as you can. More importantly, always question what it is that you already know. If there is a better way of thinking about something, be the first to take it on.

In the words of Robert Kiyosaki, “The most successful people in life are the ones who ask questions. They're always learning. They're always growing. They're always pushing.”

Now is the time to get real with yourself… are you ready for success?

Do you want to model my success, fast? CLICK HERE to check out my courses and learn how you can take your life to the next level!

Are you ready to discover how to learn anything FAST?

I recently did a live Q&A session where I answered your questions about this very topic.

Learning is the foundation of personal growth and development. I believe that it is the one habit that everyone should strive to master.

You have the ability to learn anything, and more importantly, retain anything that you want. Now is the time to transform knowledge into action.

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

Are you ready to learn how you can master your life? CLICK HERE to join my Life Mastery Accelerator program!

Learning is the foundation for growth and change.

As many of you know, I have committed my life to personal growth, for the sole purpose of actualizing my potential. I will continue to engage in this ritual every single day until I die. If you are going to invest time, money and energy into developing yourself, it makes sense that you learn how to learn better. Doing so will allow you to retain more of the information that you are consuming.

In today's information age, people are drowning in knowledge and suffering from analysis paralysis. They are learning a lot of great knowledge that has the potential to change their lives, but they aren't applying any of it. This is why learning how to learn is such a valuable skill.

The most important thing that you should ask yourself before you learn anything is, “What is the purpose of learning this?” Oftentimes, what you get from something and how motivated you are is related to your purpose. When I was in high school, I was a horrible student. I put in the effort to study now and then but I wasn't consistent with it. As a result, I didn't get good grades, nor did I even graduate. I didn't get any value from school because I didn't see the benefit of it. As a result, I wasn't motivated to learn.

However, when I was 17 years old, I had a burning desire to change my life.

At that moment in time, my biggest pain point was my lack of confidence, fears, and insecurities. I committed to doing whatever was necessary in order to change my life. Today, I am a very different person. I love to learn. I've read hundreds of books and have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into my personal growth and development.

Before you dive into learning anything, ask yourself the following questions:

1. What will be the benefit of learning this?
2. Why do I want to learn this?
3. What is the consequence of not learning this?”

One of the reasons why people are slow learners is because they approach learning from a place of passivity. I was first introduced to the F.A.S.T. learning method by the learning expert, Jim Kwik. F.A.S.T. is an acronym that teaches you how to learn anything fast. Each letter represents a powerful reminder which, if applied, can take your learning to a whole new level.

F – Forget

Any time that you learn anything, you need to forget what you already know about it. Forget your limiting beliefs and your ego. The three most dangerous words in the human language are “I know that.” The moment that you say this, you close off your mind from learning anything.

Oftentimes, it's your preconceived notions about what you think you know that prevent you from learning more. I always consume knowledge with a beginner's mindset. Children are amazing learners because they are curious. They are willing to try anything new and aren't worried about what people think of them. That's how you need to be.

Unfortunately, as people get older, they become less coachable. You've got to be willing to go through a “suck phase.” Sure enough, you will get better and better over time. 

A – Active

Most people are passive learners. This is a problem. Research shows that we tend to lose almost 40% of new information within the first 24 hours of first reading or hearing something. This is why, when it comes to learning, you've got to be active and involved. Whatever you learn, take notes.

The actual act of writing things down improves your attention. I don't want you to waste your time. This is why you need to be more strategic about how you learn. Always take the time to reflect on what you learn and make a plan for how you are going to apply that knowledge to your life. Asking yourself questions is a powerful part of the learning process.

S – State

If I were to ask you, “Do you remember where you were on 9/11?” you would most likely be able to remember where you were and how you felt because your emotions were attached to that memory. However, if I asked you where you were on 10/11, it may not be as easy for you to recall. Information attached to emotion becomes a long-term memory.

If you aren't learning something that excites you, you won't be emotionally invested. Always make sure that you are in a positive state so that your learning gets anchored and associated with the knowledge that you are consuming. This will ensure that you are more likely to remember the knowledge and do something with it.

T – Teach

I am a big believer in teaching what I learn and sharing it with others. In my experience, it's incredibly beneficial to have a learning buddy. Mine is my fiancée, Tatiana. Whenever we learn something, we talk about it with one another. By sharing that knowledge with her, we grow as individuals and as a couple.

By teaching something to someone, you learn it twice. This is one of my #1 reasons for learning. This is why I love what I do. I think that I have the greatest job in the world because I get to share what I learn with my audience and create content with the intention of inspiring others.

Every video that I publish I personally benefit from. It allows me to integrate what I'm learning on a much deeper level and live it every single day.

Your mind is the foundation for everything that happens in your life. When you learn how to become its master instead of its slave, you are winning. There are 3 levels that comprise the mastery mentality – knowing, doing and living. Unfortunately, a lot of people get stuck at level 1, which is knowing. Knowing doesn't have value unless you are doing and living it on a consistent basis.

Level 2 is doing, which means that you are applying whatever it is that you know.

Lastly, level 3 is living, which means that you are living whatever it is that you are doing. I live what I teach people. The knowledge that I consume becomes a part of who I am. 

When you know how to learn anything FAST, you accelerate your success.

As many of you know who follow me, my ultimate mission in my work is to grow, give, and serve. A live stream has always been a great opportunity for me to take on your questions and share my knowledge. 

Are you ready for a sneak peek of my live #AskStefan Q&A?

Here are some of my answers to the questions that were asked by audience members who attended my live session. I chose a few that I believe will be of benefit to most people. 

How can I get more confident?

Confidence is an emotional state. You may not know it, but you can access this state any time that you want. Think of a time when you felt unstoppable. How did you stand? How did you move? What was the expression on your face? How were you using your voice? If you actually mimicked this state, you would start to feel confident again.

As an example, someone who is shy will usually display exaggerated physiology. They don't give good eye contact, they speak softly and they don't use their body a lot. However, if you shift this person's physiology, it will automatically change their emotional state.

What you focus on, you feel.

If you are lacking in confidence, you are focusing on the worst-case scenario situations, like why you can't do something. This will only create uncertainty. Confident people focus on the best possible scenarios. What words are you using when you talk to yourself and others? Language is connected to emotions. Your brain is like a supercomputer. Everything you say is like a command. If you say, “I can't do this” then you've installed that software into your program.

That won't serve you.

This is why I love positive affirmations. When I say them out loud, I speak with intensity and emotion because I want to condition my brain to be the best that I can be.

Is it better to focus on mastering one thing or learning multiple things at the same time?

Everyone has a different capacity of what they can learn. I'm able to do a lot more than most in terms of the number of goals that I have each year. For most people, I've found that they get overwhelmed easily. I enjoy taking on a lot because it forces me to grow in a huge way. This is what has allowed me to get to where I am today.

You need to choose what is realistic for you. I recommend starting small and focusing on one area of your life.

If you were starting a YouTube channel today, would you do anything differently?

Yes, I would have put out a lot more content from the get-go and I would have gone through a training program. I think I would have been able to grow my channel a lot faster if I had a solid strategy in place for doing so. When you are first starting a YouTube channel, it's easier because you don't have an audience yet.

Therefore, you can experiment more and put out a lot of different types of videos.

However, I can't do this anymore. I have to create content that is based on what my audience wants and what they will benefit from them the most. Sometimes I will publish a video on a topic that I love but it won't end up doing very well because I failed to take into consideration my audiences' needs, problems, and goals.

When you learn something new, should you figure out how to do it along the way or plan a lot in advance?

A little bit of both. I'm more of a fan of the mindset of ready, fire, aim versus ready, aim, fire. I see a lot of people that only aim. They wait for everything to be perfect before they take action and fire. Why not fire and learn as you go? Those are the people that get further ahead in life. Whenever I have ideas, I like to put them into action right away. 

Life is a never-ending learning process.

When you learn how to master the art of learning the right way, you accelerate your success tenfold. In the words of Jim Kwik, “If knowledge is power, learning is your superpower.” How would your life change if you were able to learn something in half the time? 

Are you ready to learn how you can master your life? CLICK HERE to join my Life Mastery Accelerator program!

I want to share with you the worst advice that I've ever received.

I have a feeling that some of you have either been given this advice before or have given this advice to others. 

We've all been on the receiving end of advice at some point in our lives. When you are struggling and desperate for answers, any advice can feel like good advice. Unfortunately, this is not the case.

Are you ready to learn about the one piece of advice that could have left me stuck in one place forever? What I have to say may surprise you.

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

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

Choosing to ignore the worst advice ever saved my life.

Sometimes people give advice without thinking about the effect that it may have on others. Their intentions may be good, but they've still got their own agendas in mind. The wrong advice can lead you down an entirely wrong direction in life. Here is a story about how I came to receive the worst advice ever.

I used to be the opposite of who I am today. For those of you who don't know my story, I used to struggle with extreme shyness and social anxiety, on top of depression. I got bullied a lot, so much so that I had to move schools three times. As a result of all of these setbacks, I barely graduated high school.

My way of escaping pain was through video games and watching TV. That became my entire world. I didn't want to take responsibility for my life. It's fair to say that I was in a dark place. Thankfully, I hit my emotional threshold and decided that it was time for a massive change.

That is when I discovered the world of self-development which allowed me to realize that ANYTHING was possible. During this time, the one thing that I really wanted to work on was my social life. Unfortunately, the advice that I was consistently getting from people was to just be myself.

That ended up being the worst advice ever.

It only served to limit my true potential. If I had followed this advice, my life would have never changed. I would have continued to be a shy, depressed, and lonely person.

Research shows that painful, early experiences and definitions affect the way individuals perceive and present themselves throughout their lives. This leads them to develop an “accidental identity”, rather than a true sense of who they are. I didn't want to be known forever as the shy guy who had no friends and who could never get a girl.

In order to become more, I had to be what I was not. I knew that if I wanted to change my life, I had to level up. This meant being brutally honest with myself about how I wasn't showing up. I was forced to step outside my comfort zone and face my fears. None of that would have ever happened if I had chosen to play it safe and stay stuck in old patterns of thinking and behaving.

The best advice that I can give you is to be your best self.

You can be, do, and have anything in this world. However, in order to step into your power, you've got to be willing to let go of anything that doesn't serve your highest self. I promise that when you change, everything will change for you.

What does your best self look like? Let that version of yourself be the motivating force that drives you to level up your life.

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

Business coaching for entrepreneurs is the secret to accelerating success.

Before I dive into “the why” I want to start off by saying that, if you've made the jump from employee to entrepreneur, congrats! Starting a business is an exciting time, but entrepreneurship is a rollercoaster ride of highs and lows. In order to navigate the bumpy terrain, you need guidance.

In walks business coaching for entrepreneurs. A business coach is someone who can help you get through the challenging times and keep you on track. Oftentimes, a lot of entrepreneurs start their businesses blindly and try to learn as they go along.

However, if you want to leverage your success and not waste precious time and money, you need to think smart. Many entrepreneurs, including myself, attribute their success to the help of a business coach.

Are you ready to grow your business and make the leap from where you currently are, to where you desire to be? If so, it may be time to hire a business coach.

Are you ready to learn 7 online business models that made me an Internet millionaire in less than 3 years? CLICK HERE to receive instant access to my free course!

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If you are reading this, you may be thinking, “What does business coaching for entrepreneurs involve?”

A lot of people misinterpret what a business coach does. A business coach is not someone who does the work for you. Rather, they are in your corner, acting as your cheerleader. Like a sports coach, they ‘keep you in the game', and are there to motivate and keep you focused on achieving your goals.

As an entrepreneur, you may think that you already know everything, but this just isn't true. The three most dangerous words in the human vocabulary are “I know that.” These words hold a lot of entrepreneurs back from business success. Yes, you may have specific talents that have allowed you to be deemed an authority figure in your industry, but oftentimes, entrepreneurial skills are things that you learn along the way. 

A recent report by Infusionsoft and Emergent Research, Defining and Achieving Small Business Success, found that the vast majority (94 percent) of small business owners surveyed identify specific financial goals for their business, and yet only 65 percent are confident that they will achieve them. 

Today's business world can be a tough place, which is why business coaching for entrepreneurs has become so important. Everything changes at the speed of light, including business strategies and techniques. What works today may not work tomorrow, which is why you need to be constantly updating your knowledge and learning in order to stay at the top of your game. 

If you aren't committed to personal growth and development, you will get left behind. In the words of Louise Penny, “Life is change. If you aren't growing and evolving, you're standing still, and the rest of the world is surging ahead.”

Every entrepreneur needs help from time-to-time. Even the most successful people in the world seek out help when they don't know the answer to something. Being resourceful is a key success trait. If you are resistant to getting a business coach, ask yourself, “Is my ego getting in the way of my business moving forward?” If so, it's time to drop that story.

The fact of the matter is that you will never know how successful you can really be until you find a business coach that pushes you to take risks and step outside of your comfort zone. If you want to stay competitive in the thick of never-ending growth and change, don’t be afraid to ask for help from a business coach, who has been where you want to go. This is why business coaching for entrepreneurs is so important.

Now that you know what a business coach is, the question remains, “How do you know when you need a one?” The red flag is usually the point at which you say to yourself or someone else, “I don't know what I'm doing.”

Here are 5 reasons why business coaching for entrepreneurs is so powerful, and why you may need it.

1. You Are Burned Out

Here's a brutal fact – if you are unable to cope with the constant feeling of overwhelm that comes with being an entrepreneur, you are going to burnout and you won't be able to sustain your business, long-term. As an entrepreneur, you are the face of your business and brand, which means that you have to juggle a lot of different hats.

Nobody can do it all. It's not possible, or if it is, it's a surefire way to burn the candle at both ends.

The American Psychological Association’s David Ballard describes job burnout as “an extended period of time where someone experiences exhaustion and a lack of interest in things, resulting in a decline in their job performance.” 

Have you ever experienced this state? It's horrible, but it can be prevented, and it starts with accepting that you can't do it all. This is one of the biggest reasons why you need to think about investing in a business coach.

Business coaching for entrepreneurs helps take the overwhelming out of entrepreneurship. When you feel like giving up, a business coach is there to listen and provide you with the strategies that you need to follow, in order to get past your stuck points and take your business to the next level. 

2. You Want To Save Time & Money

When you are an entrepreneur, there never feels like there is enough time in the day to accomplish everything. You need to step back and ask yourself, “How much is my time worth?”

A big thing that holds a lot of entrepreneurs back from hiring a business coach is the cost. Some people drop into scarcity mode and think to themselves, “I'll just brave it on my own.” Sure, you could take this route, but it will take you a hell of a lot longer to get to where you want to be. 

Not to mention, if you make too many mistakes along the way, you may never achieve your goals. Not hiring a business coach will end up costing you a lot more money and time, which can be avoided if you choose to work with one.

3. You Need An Accountability Partner 

We all need to be held accountable from time to time. When it comes to running a business, if you aren't following through on your goals, you aren't making money. Business coaching for entrepreneurs is all about accountability. When you are accountable to others, you are more likely to follow-through on what it is that you say you will do.

Conversely, when you don't have someone checking up on you, it is easy to make excuses. This is something that a lot of entrepreneurs struggle with. When you are an employee, if you don't show up to work and accomplish what it is that your boss tells you to do, you will most likely get fired.

However, when you are an entrepreneur it's all on you. It requires strict discipline, time management, and persistence to stay on track and be accountable to yourself.

One of the most important roles of a business coach is to be an accountability partner; they help you grow your business by clarifying what your vision and purpose are, and how they align with your goals. 

Linda Galindo, the author of the book, The 85% Solution: How Personal Accountability Guarantees Success, says that “Accountability partners are an entrepreneur's secret weapon for quick growth”. If you want to grow your business faster, a business coach is a way to go.

4. You Are Lacking In Self-Confidence 

We all struggle with confidence at certain times in our lives. Even the most successful entrepreneurs have days when their confidence wanes. When you are running your own business, your self-belief is constantly being tested because there are so many moving parts.

Oftentimes, entrepreneurs will get discouraged when they don't know how to do something, thinking that this is proof that they don't have what it takes. 

If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you need to embrace failure and have an unshakeable belief in your ability to succeed, no matter what life throws at you. If you lack confidence in yourself and your business, how do you expect your customers to believe in you?

Confidence comes and goes. If you want to master your business, you need to commit to developing and constantly improving it. 

A business coach for entrepreneurs is someone who instills confidence in you and gives you the space that you need in order to explore who you are, how you want to show up in your business, and what success means to you. Even if you have a strong sense of self, sometimes you need to someone to light a fire under your butt in order to convince you that you CAN accomplish your business goals.

A business coach shows you what you are capable of achieving, by inspiring you to step outside of your comfort zone and do the thing you think you cannot do. Sometimes all you need is a little push in the right direction.

5. You Aren't Getting Results

If you aren't getting the results that you desire in your business, then that probably means that you aren't seeing a high ROI. Sometimes the vision that we have for our business doesn't always lead us in the right direction. It doesn't mean that it's the wrong one. Rather, it may just mean that we are slightly off course and need to be re-directed on the right path.

When we are in our own heads, it can be hard to look at our business model from an objective point of view. A business coach is someone who can help to remove the setbacks that are preventing us from achieving the results that we desire.

At the end of the day, success in any business is determined by the results that you get, so if you aren't getting them, it's time to think about seeking help. Bob Nardelli, the CEO of Home Depot said it best, “I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum capabilities.”

Business coaching for entrepreneurs has become a “must” in today's ever-changing world.

No matter what state your business is at, a business coach can accelerate your growth and help you achieve your goals at a much quicker pace. When I first started my online business, even though I couldn't afford a business coach, I found the money and did whatever I could in order to learn from them.

It was one of the best decisions I ever made. What I learned gave me the confidence I needed to know I could do anything and I was on the right track.

Business coaching for entrepreneurs is the secret to accelerating success. It takes a lot of the stress out of entrepreneurship. In reality, if you aspire to be a successful entrepreneur, or want to be a coach of your own one day, a business coach is someone that you cannot afford to live without.

Learn from the best and invest in yourself. It could be one of the best decisions you ever make. Every top performer in the world has a coach, so why don't you?

Are you ready to learn 7 online business models that made me an Internet millionaire in less than 3 years? CLICK HERE to receive instant access to my free course!

Do you want to learn 3 signs for when it's time to hire a business coach? CLICK HERE to read the article I wrote on Medium!