Latest / Reborn w/ Antonio Boutros / Just Keep Walking: The Secret to Unstoppable Progress

Transcript

Just Keep Walking: The Secret to Unstoppable Progress · Reborn w/ Antonio Boutros

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hey everyone, welcome back to the Reborn Podcast.
• 0:03
  SPEAKER_00: I am Tony Boutros, your host, and I am pumped to have you here today.
• 0:08
  SPEAKER_00: For those of you who are new, I'm a 20-year-old entrepreneur, uh, deeply rooted in my faith and passionate about personal and spiritual development.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: Whether you're navigating the challenges of entrepreneurship, leadership, or your spiritual journey, this podcast is here to help you grow and keep moving forward.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: Today's episode is all about one simple but powerful idea.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_00: Just keep walking.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: We'll dive into the importance of persistence in both faith and business and how sometimes the best thing you can do is put one foot in front of the other, even when the path ahead isn't clear.
• 0:51
  SPEAKER_00: And yeah, we might even throw in a little bit of humor to keep things light because who doesn't love a good finding Nemo reference?
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: So if you ever felt like you're lost at sea or stuck on a tough trail, this episode is for you.
• 1:06
  SPEAKER_00: Let's get started.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: Alright, let's let's kick things off with a bit of humor.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: You know that classic line from finding Nemo.
• 1:16
  SPEAKER_00: Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep just keep just keep swimming.
• 1:21
  SPEAKER_00: Sung by none other than Dory, the ever optimistic fish with short-term memory loss.
• 1:29
  SPEAKER_00: It's funny, but it's also profound.
• 1:34
  SPEAKER_00: Dory's mantra, just keep swimming, is more than a catchy tune.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_00: It's a powerful lesson in persistence.
• 1:43
  SPEAKER_00: No matter what obstacle she faces, no matter how low she gets, she just keeps going.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_00: And in many ways, that's exactly what we're called to do in our journey of faith and entrepreneurship.
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: When I first started my business in February 2024, I felt like I was swimming against the current.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: Before that, I was hustling in a zero-based, all-commissioned sales job that left me exhausted and discouraged.
• 2:10
  SPEAKER_00: And actually, uh, I had left that sales job uh in about June of 2023.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: And so from June to Jul to uh to February, I was all over the place.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: I was debating between two different, actually, several different businesses.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I was running in circles, I wasn't doing the right things.
• 2:32
  SPEAKER_00: I was networking really to no uh uh avail because I feel like networking can get you from one to a hundred, uh, but it's very difficult for it to get you from zero to one.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_00: Um I tried starting different businesses, uh, but ended up running in circles.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: February 2024 is actually when I committed to my business and I started generating revenue.
• 2:55
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, but before then it felt like I was lost at sea with no clear direction, but then something shifted.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I came to Christ in October 2023, and it was like suddenly I had a compass, a guiding start.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: Now, again, you know, it took a few months, it was October, November, December, January, and then February that I finally started generating commit uh not commission, revenue revenue.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um and so it still took some time.
• 3:22
  SPEAKER_00: But here's the thing even with faith, the journey isn't always easy as straightforward.
• 3:30
  SPEAKER_00: There were still days when I felt like going nowhere, just treading water.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_00: And that's when Dory's simple advice came to mind.
• 3:40
  SPEAKER_00: Just keep something.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: It's funny because I my mom's favorite movie has always been Finding Nemo, and just love that uh love that love that quote.
• 3:51
  SPEAKER_00: I love that advice from Dory.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_00: In Philippians 3 and 14, Paul says, I press on towards a goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
• 4:06
  SPEAKER_00: This verse remind us reminds us that a journey is ongoing, and our responsibility is to keep moving forward, even when it's tough.
• 4:17
  SPEAKER_00: Let's switch gears and talk about hiking.
• 4:22
  SPEAKER_00: I love using hiking as a metaphor for life and business because, like a challenging trail, the entrepreneurial journey is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, and sometimes paths that seem impossible to navigate.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Imagine you're on a hike.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER_00: The path is steep, the terrain is rocky, and the trail ahead is winding through dense forest.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: You're tired, maybe even thinking about turning back.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_00: But you don't.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_00: Because you trust that the trail leads somewhere.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: Perhaps to a breathtaking view, a peaceful clearing, or even just a satisfaction of completing the victory.
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_00: One of my mentors, who is also my pastor, uh speaks in parables pretty often.
• 5:13
  SPEAKER_00: And uh one of the things he said recently is he was backpacking.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: I can't remember what the when you're going up a mountain, you have this, you have this rope hanging down, and you are you're you know, you're pulling on the rope to get up the mountain.
• 5:26
  SPEAKER_00: He was saying he had some people invite him to that, and they and they they showed they are at first he was like, Man, I am not doing that.
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: But they finally convinced him he did it, and uh, once he did it, he saw at the top, okay, that so you guys aren't just insane, this view is beautiful.
• 5:48
  SPEAKER_00: And ultimately, the the more of the story is that while the journey, while the climb may be scary, may be difficult, maybe challenging, but the view is worth the climb.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_00: Likewise, the battles, the struggle, the perseverance that you have to have of entrepreneurship and of faith, the view is worth the climb.
• 6:21
  SPEAKER_00: And so that's that's how it is with both our faith and our business ventures.
• 6:26
  SPEAKER_00: There are moments when the path ahead is unclear, when we're unsure if we're even on the right track.
• 6:31
  SPEAKER_00: But just like on that hike, you don't need to see the whole path to keep going.
• 6:36
  SPEAKER_00: You just need to trust that each step is taking you closer to your destination.
• 6:39
  SPEAKER_00: I had another another brother in Christ who I had heard speak um towards the beginning of this year.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: And one of the most uh powerful things that I think he said that stuck with me was God will show you the end.
• 6:58
  SPEAKER_00: God will show you who you will become, but he will not show you the steps there or every single step there.
• 7:06
  SPEAKER_00: Um he'll show you what's in up in front of you, and he'll show you the you know who you're gonna become.
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: The rest is where faith comes into play.
• 7:22
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs three and five to six reminds us of this truth.
• 7:26
  SPEAKER_00: Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lay not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER_00: This verse is like a trail marker on our hike, reminding us that even when the way forward seems uncertain, God is guiding our steps.
• 7:47
  SPEAKER_00: In business, there were many times when I felt lost, especially early on, and when I was trying to figure out how to turn an idea into a successful venture.
• 7:58
  SPEAKER_00: But I learned that it's not about having all day answers or knowing exactly where you're going.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: It's about trusting the process, staying the course, and taking the next step, even if it's just a small one.
• 8:11
  SPEAKER_00: I was hiking in a local park recently, uh holiday park, grew up there as a kid, was there pretty much every weekend, and loved that, love that place.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: And I was doing so because I was feeling burnt out.
• 8:25
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, and but uh there were I I went deeper than I've ever really ever really gone before.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_00: And I just kept going, I just kept going, I just kept going because I wanted to see what the end looked like.
• 8:34
  SPEAKER_00: And there were several, I mean, every couple minutes really, that there would be two, maybe even three uh different ways I could go.
• 8:43
  SPEAKER_00: And some of the times I would take the other way, and it would be a dead end, so I'd get back on the course.
• 8:49
  SPEAKER_00: And then I would see another thing and pique my interest, I'd get out of the way, and it's a dead end.
• 8:54
  SPEAKER_00: So I'd I would go back to my my course.
• 8:57
  SPEAKER_00: And ultimately, I had to keep making these decisions, and what I learned is stay in the course, just keep going, just keep walking, just keep swimming.
• 9:11
  SPEAKER_00: So, what are the key lessons we can take away from this idea of just keep walking?
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: I've learned a few things on my journey that I want to share with you.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: First, progress over perfection.
• 9:24
  SPEAKER_00: One of the biggest traps we fall into is thinking we need to have everything figured out before we start or continue on our journey.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_00: But the truth is, perfection is an illusion.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_00: It's better to make progress even if it's messy than to be stuck in place because you're waiting for the perfect moment.
• 9:42
  SPEAKER_00: Ecclesiastes 11 and 4 says, Whoever watches the wind will not plant.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_00: Whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.
• 9:53
  SPEAKER_00: This verse reminds us that waiting for perfect conditions can lead to inaction.
• 9:59
  SPEAKER_00: This is something I really struggled with in the beginning of my entrepreneurial journey.
• 10:05
  SPEAKER_00: I wanted everything to be perfect, the perfect system, the perfect CRM, the perfect uh network, the perfect uh uh uh leads, the perfect team, etc., rather than just getting started, just putting one foot in front of the other.
• 10:24
  SPEAKER_00: Uh the second is trust the process.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_00: Just like hiking a challenging trail, there will be moments in life and business when the path ahead is not clear.
• 10:36
  SPEAKER_00: Trust that each step you take is moving you closer to where you need to be, even if you can't see the destination yet.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: Jeremiah 29 and 11 is a verse that has always brought me comfort.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord.
• 10:51
  SPEAKER_00: Plans to prosper you and not to harm you.
• 10:54
  SPEAKER_00: Plans to give you hope and a future.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_00: And third, surround yourself with encouragement.
• 11:02
  SPEAKER_00: Hiking is easier with companions.
• 11:04
  SPEAKER_00: Similarly, in life, in business, having a community that supports you and encourages you is invaluable.
• 11:13
  SPEAKER_00: When I was running in circles, trying to start my business, what kept me going was the support from mentors, friends, and my growing faith community.
• 11:22
  SPEAKER_00: Proverbs 27 and 17 says, as iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
• 11:31
  SPEAKER_00: Surround yourself with people who lift you up and push you to keep moving forward.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER_00: I also want to touch on it real quick.
• 11:45
  SPEAKER_00: Not making the desire, the need for companions to be a crutch.
• 11:52
  SPEAKER_00: Because that's another thing I did.
• 11:55
  SPEAKER_00: You can start on your own.
• 11:58
  SPEAKER_00: You can start with no one around you.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER_00: Is it easier to start with companions?
• 12:02
  SPEAKER_00: Support community, yes.
• 12:06
  SPEAKER_00: Can you start alone and can you make progress alone?
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 12:11
  SPEAKER_00: When I went on my hike the other day, I was alone.
• 12:14
  SPEAKER_00: Although I never I I believe that you're never truly alone because you have the Holy Spirit, you have Jesus with you.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_00: Don't use community as a crush.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: Now, let's get practical.
• 12:30
  SPEAKER_00: How can you apply the just keep walking mindset in your life and business?
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: First, set small, achievable goals.
• 12:40
  SPEAKER_00: Break down your big goals into smaller, manageable steps.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: This makes the journey less overwhelming and gives you a sense of accomplishment as you hit each milestone.
• 12:50
  SPEAKER_00: This was another thing I struggled with as a business owner.
• 12:55
  SPEAKER_00: I have this long-term vision of a massive business, trillion dollar, billion, whatever, huge number.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but that's not gonna motivate me today when I'm making 10 grand a month, 100 grand a month, million a month, even.
• 13:11
  SPEAKER_00: Why?
• 13:12
  SPEAKER_00: Because I'm so far from that goal.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_00: Let's say I'm making a million dollars a month, I'm making 12 million dollars a year.
• 13:22
  SPEAKER_00: I'm 988 uh million dollars away from that billion dollar goal.
• 13:28
  SPEAKER_00: I'm 98% away.
• 13:30
  SPEAKER_00: So am I gonna wake up motivated to hit that goal?
• 13:33
  SPEAKER_00: Probably not.
• 13:35
  SPEAKER_00: And the reason why is because I seem so far away from it.
• 13:38
  SPEAKER_00: But when you break down your bigger goals into smaller, manageable steps, you wake up knowing exactly what you're gonna do today, this week, this month, this quarter, this year, the next five year five years, etc.
• 13:51
  SPEAKER_00: to get you that end goal.
• 13:55
  SPEAKER_00: The second one is embrace uncertainty.
• 14:01
  SPEAKER_00: Accept that you won't always know the next step.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_00: Instead of letting uncertainty prayer lize you, let it drive you to take action.
• 14:08
  SPEAKER_00: Remember it's okay to pivot if you need to.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: Just keep moving forward.
• 14:14
  SPEAKER_00: Number three, stay grounded in your faith.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_00: When a journey gets tough, lean into your faith.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_00: Spend time in prayer, read scripture, and remind yourself of God's promises.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_00: This will give you the strength and perspective you need to keep going.
• 14:32
  SPEAKER_00: And number four, celebrate the journey.
• 14:34
  SPEAKER_00: Don't wait until you reach the summit, quote unquote summit, to celebrate.
• 14:40
  SPEAKER_00: Take time to acknowledge the progress you've made, no matter how small.
• 14:43
  SPEAKER_00: Gratitude and reflection can fuel your perseverance.
• 14:47
  SPEAKER_00: Here's the thing: there is no summit.
• 14:50
  SPEAKER_00: I repeat that, there is no summit.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: This is especially true in business.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_00: Right now, my business, my goal is$100,000 a month in revenue.
• 15:04
  SPEAKER_00: But I know as soon as I hit that goal, I'm moving it to a higher summit, to a higher goal, to a higher target.
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_00: And as soon as I hit that target, I'm moving it.
• 15:21
  SPEAKER_00: And so don't wait until you reach a summit to celebrate, because you will never celebrate.
• 15:27
  SPEAKER_00: James 1 and 12 says, Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because having stood to test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
• 15:39
  SPEAKER_00: This verse is a powerful reminder that there's a reward for those who keep going, even when the road is tough.
• 15:49
  SPEAKER_00: As we wrap up this episode, I want to leave you with this.
• 15:56
  SPEAKER_00: Four practical takeaways.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER_00: First, set small, achievable goals.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_00: Second, embrace uncertainty.
• 16:02
  SPEAKER_00: Third, stay grounded in your faith, and fourth, celebrate the journey.
• 16:07
  SPEAKER_00: No matter where you are in your journey, whether you're just starting out in the middle of a challenging season or feeling like you're lost, remember to just keep walking.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_00: Trust that God is guiding your steps, and that each step, no matter how small, is taking you closer to where you're meant to be.
• 16:27
  SPEAKER_00: If you found today's episode helpful, please consider subscribing to the Reborn Podcast, sharing it with a friend, and leaving a review.
• 16:36
  SPEAKER_00: Your support means the world to me and helps us reach more people who need encouragement on their journey.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_00: Also check out my YouTube channel and Instagram for more content on personal and spiritual development.
• 16:49
  SPEAKER_00: Let's keep this conversation going and continue growing together.
• 16:54
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for joining me today.
• 16:55
  SPEAKER_00: Stay strong, stay faithful, and remember, just keep walking.
• 17:01
  SPEAKER_00: God bless you all and see you in the next episode.
• 17:06
  SPEAKER_00: Hey listeners, before you go, I want to hear from you.
• 17:09
  SPEAKER_00: What is one step you're taking this week to keep moving forward, even if the path ahead isn't clear?
• 17:15
  SPEAKER_00: Send me a message on Instagram or leave a comment on my latest YouTube video.
• 17:19
  SPEAKER_00: Let's support each other on this journey and keep walking together.
• 17:24
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you again for being part of the Reborn community.
• 17:27
  SPEAKER_00: Take care and God bless.