by David Andrew Wiebe | May 26, 2023 | Inspiration
A change of environment does the soul some good.
I have only been in Penticton, BC since February, but I have traveled to the coast (Vancouver, BC) three or four times already (usually for a few days). In fact, I spent this week in Maple Ridge, BC.
Penticton has yet to grow stale for me, though it certainly isn’t a large city, and it doesn’t take too long to get acquainted with it. Even so, I’ve been finding value in getting away from the status quo.
A change of environment can:
- Give you a fresh perspective.
- Inspire new ideas.
- Offer a change of pace.
- Give you the opportunity to interact with different people or visit friends or family.
- Give you the opportunity to eat different food.
- Offer the chance to see new or different sights.
- Give you time to think and reflect.
- Offer you the chance to reset your habits.
If you’re not getting away at least once every three months, consider making changing your environment a part of your quarterly routine.
by David Andrew Wiebe | May 11, 2023 | Inspiration
I read Derek Sivers’ post on saying something nice about someone and I made a quick list of people that came to mind:
- Richie Kotzen. Your prolificacy inspires.
- Nuno Bettencourt. I’ve never seen you more candid in interviews. Thank you for being you.
- Kip Winger. There would be less head-banging around here without you.
- James Schramko. Thank you for being the kind of man I can see myself becoming.
- Seth Godin. Without you, there would be no me.
- Dan Kennedy. The principles you teach changed my life.
- Russell Brunson. If I’m ever short on marketing ideas, I turn to your content. You make me believe it’s possible.
- Pat Flynn. You got me excited about passive income and affiliate marketing.
- Tim Ferriss. For helping me see that most communication is not urgent.
- Todd Henry. For the richness and depth, you bring to the world.
- Kevin Trudeau. For leading me to a better feeling space.
- Marie Forleo. I love your interviews.
- Paulo Coelho. For The Alchemist. Wow.
- Fredrick Tamagi. Words cannot express my gratitude to you.
- JonTron. For all the ways you make me laugh.
- Will Smith. For crystallizing the idea that what happened to you isn’t your fault, but it is your responsibility what you do with it.
- Mom. I owe it all to you.
And now it’s your turn!
by David Andrew Wiebe | May 7, 2023 | Inspiration
I’m patient. I’m a good listener. So, I will give just about anyone time to say their piece.
But don’t mistake my kindness for naivete. I’ve made every mistake you can name and have learned from those experiences – fraudsters, scammers, liars, cheaters, shills, charlatans, and more. I have no interest in making the same mistakes twice.
I will not give just any business a “try.”
I will not give just anyone an opportunity.
And I will certainly not give money to the desperate, just because they’ve asked, especially if they have time and money enough to hang out on Facebook. I have no idea what the truth of their situation is. Just because they told me they ate popcorn for dinner last night doesn’t make it true.
Take responsibility. You played a part in the circumstances and events you’re now facing. Examine your way of being. If you want to change your life, become the kind of person others want to be around and work with.
I’m not a fool. Don’t mistake me for one. I have high standards for everything I do, and it reflects in how I show up every day. Don’t waste my time. I’m busy living up to my standards for excellence.
I have a positive outlook. But I worked my ass off to cultivate it. It does not mean my bank account is always something to be envied, or that my client accounts are worth getting jealous over. That’s missing the forest for the trees. Look at how I show up and how I create. Look at the level of detail I pore over. Look at how consistent I am. Take something from my way of being if you want my life.
by David Andrew Wiebe | May 6, 2023 | Inspiration
Many people don’t recognize when life is calling them up to the majors.
They’re stuck in a way of thinking and a way of doing things that has them showing up as unreliable and unstable, not realizing that their way of being is what’s preventing them from finding a job or reliable work.
Entrepreneurs don’t have time to waste. They will find space in their company for sharp, hardworking individuals any day of the week. But they will either ignore or test those who don’t seem to have it together.
How are you showing up? How many calls to the majors have you steamrolled without even realizing it?
by David Andrew Wiebe | May 3, 2023 | Inspiration
Most of us get our information from a variety of sources. It’s sensible, especially given world events and the relentless news cycle. Skepticism is healthy, even necessary.
But when it comes to gurus, experts, or coaches, you can’t ride two horses to the finish line. You’ve got to choose.
This doesn’t mean you can’t read books by different authors, listen to different podcasts, or take different courses. But what you learn and discover needs to be filtered through a singular source.
The Bible wisely states no one can serve two masters. If you were brought up with Biblical traditions, you likely take this to mean you cannot serve God and another god.
But what I hear in “No one can serve two masters” is that you can’t have more than one intention at a given time. Too many intentions inevitably serve as counter intentions, canceling out each other. What I also hear in that is that you can’t have more than one focus at a time. You must know what you’re working towards and give your attention to only that.
Similarly, when you’re serving two masters, you end up giving too much attention to contradictory information instead of acting on the information you were already given.
Surrender to your master. Trust that you will learn everything you need to learn through them. That’s where the juice is.
by David Andrew Wiebe | May 2, 2023 | Inspiration
You don’t have to change just because you’re 30, or 40, or 50.
Many people do reflect on their lives as they reach milestones. Some like to coast. Some go through a midlife crisis. For others, their family or their kids start taking precedence over all else.
There’s nothing wrong with any of it.
But I felt the need to change.
I wasn’t necessarily looking to transform myself wholesale. But I knew there were aspects of my personality and skillset that had yet to find expression.
I’ve had the privilege of diving deep, not just into music, but also into personal development, leadership, entrepreneurship, productivity, publicity, digital marketing, and social media. I can sing, play most instruments with strings and frets, write songs and lyrics, produce, and mix music. I can draw, paint, design graphics, and make websites. I am also fluent in Japanese, and I love food, comedy, fishing, escape rooms, and skateboarding (although I cannot skate at all).
It doesn’t usually come up in conversation because I like to practice, as Dale Carnegie termed it, “conversational generosity.” I listen to people. If I started talking about myself, there would always be more layers to peel back. It could be hours, days, weeks before I ran out.
But exploring the outer reaches of who I am, led me to the point of reassessing. And I realized how much “square peg in a round hole” thinking I’d done to that point. Not that a change in direction would ensure success. But a change in direction could be enjoyable, needed even.
There are things I value. One of my greatest values is freedom.
I’d thought of business as my ticket to freedom. But there are many roads leading to that destination. And I began to think, “Maybe there’s a road better suited to me.” Again, a seismic change may not be required. But change is required nonetheless.
