Latest / Inspirations for Your Life / This Is Why You're STUCK! (S5) S43:E5 Wednesday

Transcript

This Is Why You're STUCK! (S5) S43:E5 Wednesday · Inspirations for Your Life

0:23
Well there, hello everyone, and welcome to the
0:26
ever-popular Inspirations for Your Life show.
0:28
It is Wednesday, it is October 21st, 2026,
0:32
and welcome to the show.
0:34
If this is your very first time joining
0:36
me, well, I want to take the opportunity
0:39
to say thank you, and of course, a
0:40
welcome, but if you've been here one, five,
0:42
10, 100, or maybe even more times, I'd
0:45
like to say thank you, welcome, and of
0:47
course, I'd like to say something else, I'd
0:49
like to say the important words, welcome back,
0:51
because it is always great to have you
0:52
guys here, and have you learning from me,
0:55
and all this great stuff that we have.
0:57
So Wednesday, we're in the same main master
1:02
topic, which we'll get to in just a
1:03
second.
1:03
Don't forget to grab some RL water, I
1:05
have some RL water here with some fresh
1:06
lemon.
1:09
Maybe you want to, I don't know, get
1:12
a piece of candy, another drink, feel free
1:14
to do that, and come on back to
1:15
the show right away.
1:16
And don't forget to check out BelieveMeAchieve.com,
1:20
of course, for more of my amazing, inspiring
1:22
creations.
1:24
So this is why you're stuck, Series 5,
1:28
Show 43, Episode 5, it's Wednesday, and it
1:31
is October 21st, 2026.
1:34
Welcome, everyone, to the ever-popular inspirations for
1:36
your life show.
1:38
I'm John Seymour, a serial entrepreneur, engineer, marketing
1:41
specialist, video producer, podcast host, coach, professional keynote
1:46
speaker, graduate student at Montclair State University, a
1:49
passionate lifelong learner, and now so grateful to
1:51
be a published author.
1:54
Yes, let me ask you something, everyone.
1:56
Have you ever promised yourself that tomorrow would
1:59
be different?
2:00
Tomorrow you'll start that project.
2:02
Tomorrow, I don't know, you'll make the call.
2:06
Tomorrow you'll finally do what you've been putting
2:09
off.
2:09
Have you ever done that before?
2:11
But tomorrow arrives, and strangely, nothing changes.
2:16
Yeah, surprise, surprise.
2:18
What if the biggest obstacle isn't always what's
2:21
happening around you?
2:22
What if part of the answer lies in
2:25
what you're choosing to do or not choosing
2:28
to do?
2:29
Our weekly series is Stop Giving Your Power
2:33
Away, Take Back Control.
2:36
Saturday, we learned to own it.
2:38
Sunday, we explored knowing your worth.
2:42
Monday, we learned to think clearly, and Tuesday,
2:45
we learned to set priorities.
2:47
Today, Wednesday, and our theme is Take Responsibility.
2:52
So let's explore 30 ways to turn accountability
2:56
into meaningful action.
3:00
Number one, recognize the difference between explanation and
3:04
excuse.
3:05
An explanation helps you understand what happened.
3:09
An excuse can become a reason to avoid
3:11
making necessary changes.
3:14
Number two, stop blaming circumstances for every decision
3:19
within your control.
3:20
Some obstacles are real and unfair, but where
3:25
you have choices, focus on what you can
3:28
actually influence.
3:30
Number three, understand that responsibility begins with honest
3:34
self-assessment.
3:35
Ask yourself what worked, what didn't, and what
3:39
you can improve.
3:41
Growth requires an accurate starting point.
3:44
And I think a lot of people think
3:46
they got to be at the finish line
3:47
when they start, but they don't.
3:52
Number four, guys, recognize when avoidance is delaying
3:57
necessary action.
3:59
Ignoring a problem rarely makes it disappear.
4:03
Identify the smallest reasonable step you can take
4:07
toward addressing it right now.
4:09
Don't wait till later.
4:11
Stop waiting for perfect conditions before beginning.
4:14
Number five, you may never, ever have unlimited
4:17
time, complete certainty, or ideal resources.
4:21
Start responsibly with what you have now and
4:26
appreciate that, okay?
4:28
Number six, please learn to acknowledge mistakes without
4:33
attacking your self-worth.
4:36
Making a mistake doesn't make you a failure.
4:40
Accept the error.
4:42
Learn from it and move forward.
4:43
I think a lot of people think that,
4:45
you know, successful people never made mistakes.
4:47
And that's wrong.
4:50
Everyone that has ever done something, made something,
4:54
pioneered, has made mistakes, including Einstein, including Thomas
5:00
Alva Edison, that, you know, invented the light
5:02
bulb and many other things.
5:04
So let's think about that, all right?
5:06
Let's not be so hard on ourselves.
5:09
As I said, making a mistake doesn't make
5:10
you a failure.
5:11
Accept the error.
5:13
Learn from it and move forward.
5:15
Number seven, recognize the importance of following through
5:19
on commitments.
5:21
Every promise creates an expectation.
5:25
When you do what you say, you build
5:27
trust with others and yourself.
5:30
And I think that's hard for a lot
5:31
of people because they don't do what they
5:35
say.
5:35
Like, oh, I'll do it next time, all
5:38
right?
5:38
I'll do it next time.
5:39
Number eight, stop making promises you have no
5:42
realistic plan to keep.
5:45
Enthusiasm isn't a substitute for capacity.
5:48
Before committing, consider the time, resources, and effort
5:52
actually required.
5:54
Number nine, understand that accountability strengthens personal credibility.
5:58
People are more likely to trust someone who
6:01
acknowledges responsibilities and follows through consistently.
6:06
Number 10, recognize when defensiveness is preventing you
6:10
from learning.
6:12
Feedback can feel uncomfortable.
6:14
Instead of reacting immediately, consider whether it contains
6:18
something useful.
6:20
And I think that's something we have to
6:21
do in the beginning, and it's something we
6:22
have to do in the middle, and it's
6:23
something we have to do at the end.
6:24
And then we can say, wait a minute,
6:26
is this working for me?
6:30
That's really the key.
6:33
That's the real key.
6:36
And the sooner you do that, the better
6:38
off you'll be.
6:42
So stop expecting other people to solve your
6:44
problems.
6:47
You can address them.
6:49
Support is valuable.
6:51
Responsibility means participating actively in solutions rather than
6:54
waiting for rescue.
6:57
Number 12, guys, learn to distinguish responsibility from
7:00
unnecessary self-blame.
7:02
You aren't responsible for everything that happens.
7:05
Focus on your decisions, your behavior, and realistic
7:09
opportunities to be able to respond.
7:12
Don't look at, oh, well, this happened or
7:14
that went wrong.
7:15
Okay, things are going to happen.
7:17
Okay, that's the most important thing I can
7:20
tell you.
7:21
You have to understand what that means.
7:25
And if you don't understand what that means,
7:27
you're going to be like, oh my gosh,
7:28
how do I ever change?
7:30
How do I change?
7:32
And you can.
7:34
Number 14, stop allowing embarrassment to prevent corrective
7:39
action.
7:41
Everyone gets things wrong once in a while.
7:44
Correcting an error is usually more productive than
7:48
hiding it to protect appearance or save your
7:51
face.
7:52
Everyone knows that people make mistakes.
7:56
I think the problem comes in when people
7:58
say, you know, I'm perfect.
7:59
Like, I never make mistakes.
8:01
That's the real problem, okay?
8:05
And, you know, trying to protect your appearance
8:08
is great, but people can see right through
8:11
you.
8:12
Number 15, understand why consistent effort matters more
8:17
than occasional intensity.
8:19
One extraordinary day cannot replace dependable habits.
8:24
Sustainable progress comes from repeated action.
8:28
Repeated action.
8:30
Doing things over and over and over again
8:31
consistently.
8:33
Number 16, recognize when procrastination is creating avoidable
8:39
consequences.
8:40
Delaying an important task may increase stress and
8:44
limit your options.
8:46
Address it while you still have choices.
8:52
Because when you have choices, things become a
8:56
lot easier than if you didn't.
8:58
And if you can be grateful for those
9:00
choices and say, wait a minute, I actually
9:03
am able to choose.
9:04
I don't have to do something because someone
9:06
else is telling me something or because someone's
9:08
saying, oh, this is the way you have
9:09
to do it.
9:10
No.
9:11
Number 17, guys, please stop confusing good intentions
9:16
with completed results.
9:18
Wanting to improve matters.
9:20
It does.
9:21
But intention alone doesn't finish the work for
9:24
you.
9:25
Turn your goals into observable actions.
9:29
That's the real key.
9:30
And I'm not going to tell you it's
9:31
going to be easy because it's going to
9:32
be a little challenging for you.
9:34
You know, it may not work out the
9:36
way you want the very first time, but
9:38
I have news for you guys.
9:39
You can get through it and you can
9:41
prosper.
9:44
OK, so you've got to understand what that
9:46
is.
9:47
OK, and that makes a very big difference
9:50
for a lot of people.
9:53
OK, number 18, learn to create realistic plans
9:56
with measurable next steps and defining what
10:06
needs doing, when you're going to do it,
10:10
and how you'll recognize progress, right?
10:14
You have to know that in order to
10:16
be successful, I often talk about this a
10:18
lot in marketing and advertising, is that if
10:20
you can't measure it, right, how do we
10:23
evaluate?
10:24
That goes for anything.
10:25
If we can't measure it, whether it's quantitatively,
10:29
like being able to count something, or it's
10:33
indirectly.
10:34
So directly or indirectly, we have to be
10:36
able to measure something.
10:36
If we can't, we can't change it.
10:39
Specific plans support follow through.
10:42
When we have something we can measure it
10:46
on, based on indirectly, like we're able to
10:49
indirectly based on some output, or directly based
10:54
on something we're seeing.
10:55
But indirectly can be hard, because the output
10:59
may not be clear.
11:02
So we may have to measure it on
11:04
a couple of different things to decide are
11:06
we on the right track or not, right?
11:10
So we have to understand that.
11:12
And if we understand that, a lot can
11:14
change, OK?
11:17
And if you understand that, you'll be like,
11:18
oh, wait a minute, this makes sense.
11:20
So recognize the importance of repairing mistakes when
11:24
possible, number 19.
11:26
An apology does matter.
11:28
Yes, it does.
11:29
But meaningful correction may require additional action.
11:34
And ask yourself what you can reasonably make
11:36
right.
11:37
If you can't measure something, you're never going
11:40
to be able to improve it.
11:42
I don't care what it is.
11:43
I don't care if it's a recipe.
11:44
I don't care if it's a marketing campaign,
11:46
an advertising campaign.
11:49
I don't care if it's a campaign speech.
11:51
If you cannot measure something's results of it,
11:55
you're never going to be able to improve
11:56
it.
11:56
You're never going to be able to change
11:58
it, because you won't know how.
12:01
You're just going to be guessing.
12:03
Number 20, stop using past disappointments to justify
12:08
present inaction.
12:10
Previous setbacks may explain your hesitation.
12:13
They don't have to determine every decision you
12:16
make next.
12:18
That's key, guys.
12:20
They don't.
12:22
But maybe you'll think that you've got to
12:23
get the whole kitchen sink.
12:26
You don't need the whole kitchen sink.
12:29
You just need to work on what you're
12:30
working on at the moment, OK?
12:32
So don't let those past disappointments justify the
12:37
inaction you're taking right now.
12:39
Number 21, understand that asking for help can
12:44
be a responsible decision.
12:47
Independence doesn't mean doing everything alone.
12:51
Seek guidance when improved safety, understanding, or even
12:55
results.
12:57
And no one accomplishes anything all alone.
13:00
They have a team behind them at one
13:03
point in time in their life or more.
13:06
Teams make things more collaborative.
13:08
They make things easier, more effective.
13:12
I think that's another important one for us
13:15
to understand.
13:19
Recognize when your habits contradict your stated goals
13:23
that you started.
13:23
Number 22, if you say something matters, examine
13:27
whether your routine supports it.
13:29
If not, adjust the pattern rather than merely
13:34
repeating the promise.
13:36
So many people do things over and over
13:38
again like, well, it's not working.
13:40
Right, that's a definition of insanity.
13:41
Doing the same thing over and over again,
13:42
expecting different results.
13:46
That's hard.
13:48
That's the truth, right?
13:53
Adjust the pattern rather than merely repeating the
13:56
promise.
13:57
And I think it's easy to repeat the
13:59
promise, but adjusting the pattern is a lot
14:02
more difficult because we now have to figure
14:05
out, well, how do I improve this?
14:07
Let's take a simple advertising or marketing campaign.
14:13
Do I measure it on, you know, cost
14:18
per click?
14:19
Do I measure it on impressions per thousand
14:23
or per million?
14:24
Or do I measure it on a tangible
14:27
result, like how many tickets are sold?
14:29
Well, that's the end game, but maybe you
14:31
have to first figure out where the needle's
14:35
moving.
14:36
Like, are you getting people on your homepage?
14:39
Are you getting people to read your offer?
14:41
If yes, then maybe the problem isn't with
14:44
your prospects, it's actually with your message.
14:49
I think that's an important thing to understand.
14:53
We have to stop expecting motivation to appear
14:56
before every important task, 23.
15:00
Motivation fluctuates.
15:02
A practical routine can help you begin even
15:05
when enthusiasm is low because I said to
15:06
you guys before, enthusiasm can wane.
15:09
It's going to happen.
15:12
But our discipline is what will keep us
15:15
in check and will keep us on the
15:18
journey to being successful.
15:21
Number 24, learn to make decisions based on
15:27
available facts and resources.
15:29
I think that's another one.
15:30
A lot of people think they can't do
15:31
that, but really, you know, you can.
15:39
You won't always know everything.
15:41
Just deal with that right now.
15:42
You're not going to know everything.
15:45
Evaluate what you know, recognize uncertainty, and make
15:49
a reasonable choice about which way you're going
15:53
to go.
15:53
Now, you may not be right, but that's
15:57
also how you learn.
15:59
And when you see something's working, you continue
16:01
it.
16:02
When it doesn't, you change it.
16:05
Number 25, guys, recognize that accountability includes treating
16:10
others fairly.
16:12
Let me read that again.
16:13
Recognize that accountability includes treating others fairly.
16:18
Taking responsibility isn't just about personal achievement.
16:24
It's also about the integrity, the honesty, the
16:28
respect, and the impact of your actions.
16:36
So if we're to look for a moment,
16:37
let's go to Merriam-Webster, and let's look
16:41
up the word fair, OK?
16:43
We'll go right over to Merriam-Webster right
16:44
now.
16:45
And I want to give you the definition
16:46
of the word fair.
16:51
And so according to Merriam-Webster, which I'm
16:59
just pulling up here right now, sometimes they've
17:01
added this new thing on their website right
17:03
now, unfortunately, that, there we go, it has
17:05
this advertising piece in it.
17:07
Fair is an adjective, according to Merriam-Webster
17:10
Online, marked by impartiality and honesty, free from
17:15
self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism.
17:20
Fair, conforming to what is just, good, or
17:23
proper, conforming to what the established rules or
17:28
doctrine, conforming to its merits or its importance
17:33
do, being or involving in the equitable exchange,
17:37
not unreasonable, justified, valid, open to legitimate pursuit,
17:43
attack, or ridicule, not very good or very
17:47
bad, of average or acceptable quality, sufficient but
17:53
not ample, adequate, moderately numerous, large or significant,
17:59
not stormy or foul, just fine, having very
18:03
little color, coloring, or pigmentation, very light, pleasing
18:09
to the eye or mind, especially because of
18:11
fresh, charming, or flawless qualities, superficially pleasing, clean,
18:18
pure, clear, legible, ample, promising, likely, favorable to
18:25
a ship's course, carried to the utmost point
18:28
or highest degree, utter, free of obstacles.
18:32
Now, fair as a noun is a gathering
18:35
of buyers, so that's a little bit different,
18:36
but when we think about fair, am I
18:39
being fair?
18:40
That's a little bit different, right?
18:43
Fair as an adverb is a manner that
18:47
is honest or impartial that confirms to the
18:49
rules, so we can look at it that
18:51
way, but we're really talking about fair as
18:53
an adjective and an adverb.
18:54
I think that's probably one of the most
18:56
important things that I can share with you,
18:58
and I think when we think about the
18:59
word fair, a lot of people wanna throw
19:03
their own definitions into it to make it
19:06
work with what they have, but really, they're
19:10
not being fair.
19:12
They're trying to figure out how to engineer
19:14
something so it looks quote-unquote fair from
19:17
the outside, but they're doing everything but being
19:20
fair.
19:21
That's a pretty interesting thing.
19:24
Number 26, stop treating setbacks as permission to
19:30
abandon progress.
19:32
A difficult day doesn't erase everything you've accomplished.
19:36
No, reassess your approach and continue when possible.
19:42
How many times have you done something, oh,
19:43
it didn't go well?
19:44
So you feel the rest of your day
19:46
is just gonna go downhill.
19:47
You wanna think like that?
19:49
Sure, it will, but why not think about
19:51
it from a positive perspective that your day
19:53
could actually get better?
19:59
That's an amazing thing, guys, and if you
20:01
embrace that, life can change for you.
20:03
Number 27, understand that meaningful change requires repeated
20:08
action.
20:09
One decision can start a new direction, but
20:13
your habits determine whether that direction becomes lasting
20:17
progress.
20:17
If you do it once, probably nothing's gonna
20:19
happen, right?
20:20
You know yourself, you've gotta do things multiple
20:22
times, sometimes for many days.
20:24
It could be seven, 14, 20, 30, 60,
20:27
or 90 till it becomes an autonomous habit.
20:30
You just do.
20:33
That's an important thing.
20:34
Number 28, identify one responsibility you have been
20:39
avoiding.
20:39
Name it clearly.
20:42
You can't create a practical solution while pretending
20:45
the responsibility doesn't exist, but many people try
20:49
that and then they're oftentimes disappointed because, well,
20:54
it's not there, and they try to make
20:58
it something when it isn't.
21:00
Number 29, take one concrete step toward addressing
21:04
it today.
21:05
Send the message, schedule the appointment, begin the
21:08
assignment, or complete the next manageable task.
21:15
It could be something small.
21:16
It doesn't have to be anything big.
21:18
Number 30, own your actions because responsibility gives
21:26
you choices, real power.
21:29
You cannot control every outcome, but you can
21:32
influence your future through deliberate, consistent decisions.
21:40
So you get my point consistency over time
21:43
is what breeds success.
21:47
Now, here's your Wednesday challenge.
21:50
Choose one responsibility you've been postponing.
21:54
Maybe it's a difficult conversation, an unfinished project,
22:00
an important financial decision, or a commitment you've
22:05
been avoiding.
22:06
I'm sure you have one.
22:08
You don't have to share it with me,
22:09
but I'm sure you have one.
22:12
Be honest with yourself.
22:14
You don't have to tell anybody about it,
22:15
just yourself.
22:16
Identify the next practical step and complete it
22:20
today or tomorrow at very latest.
22:24
So if the situation involves someone else, well,
22:26
then you've got to go back.
22:27
Maybe it's the choice to forgive someone.
22:30
Maybe it's the chance to, I don't know,
22:34
it could be the chance to learn something.
22:38
It could be a chance to give yourself
22:40
a second chance to do something when you
22:43
are hard on yourself.
22:45
Then ladies and gentlemen, I want you to
22:46
establish a realistic deadline for what remains and
22:50
put that on your digital calendar or your
22:52
paper calendar.
22:53
I don't care which.
22:54
Don't promise yourself you'll handle everything overnight.
22:59
That'll frustrate you.
23:00
Make a specific commitment you can actually keep.
23:05
You'll probably do better than that.
23:07
And remember, ladies and gentlemen, taking responsibility isn't
23:11
the same thing as blaming yourself for circumstances
23:15
outside your control.
23:16
So many people do this.
23:18
It's about recognizing where your choices can make
23:21
a difference in your life and others.
23:25
So look how far we've come this week.
23:29
Saturday, we learned to own it and reclaim
23:35
our decisions.
23:36
Sunday, we learned to know our worth.
23:40
Monday, we learned to think clearly instead of
23:46
reacting to emotional pressures, which we know they're
23:49
around every day.
23:51
We don't have to be set off by
23:54
these emotional things.
23:55
We can keep our emotions, our ego, we
23:58
can keep all that in check, being very
24:03
quiet, observant, and aware.
24:09
Tuesday, we learned together to set priorities and
24:13
protect our time and our energy.
24:18
Your time is very valuable.
24:20
Make sure you're only using it for things
24:22
that are of your highest value for yourself
24:25
and for others.
24:27
Today, Wednesday, we're now learning to take responsibility,
24:34
grab the bull by the horns, and turn
24:36
intentions into actions.
24:39
Many people say, oh, I want to do
24:40
this, I want to do that, but then
24:41
they don't really take any action toward it.
24:45
I think that scares a lot of people
24:46
because they're like, well, wait, it didn't work.
24:48
Of course it didn't work.
24:50
You thought about it and then you just
24:51
magically thought it was going to fall into
24:52
your lap.
24:53
You've got to take action for things to
24:55
happen, guys.
24:57
That should be no secret.
25:01
Grab the bull by the horns.
25:03
When you have an intention, act upon it.
25:08
Not later, not two weeks from now, not
25:11
a month from now, not a quarter from
25:12
now, not a year from now.
25:16
Now, tomorrow is Thursday.
25:20
We're going to learn another valuable skill.
25:22
We're going to learn how to protect our
25:24
power by establishing healthy boundaries.
25:27
And I think a lot of you'll feel
25:29
that when you establish boundaries, they're being mean
25:31
or nasty.
25:32
You're not.
25:32
You're actually being kind to yourself.
25:38
And Friday, ladies and gentlemen, we're going to
25:40
live with integrity by making sure our actions
25:44
reflect our core values.
25:48
Our core values.
25:51
Not someone else's, your core values.
25:56
Do you know what your core values are?
25:58
If you don't, it might be time to
26:00
think about what they are.
26:02
If you don't come up with them right
26:04
away, it's okay, take a few days.
26:08
Think about what they are.
26:10
Companies don't come up with their core values
26:11
in five seconds.
26:12
They take time.
26:13
You should too.
26:17
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
26:20
Morley.
26:21
I'm a serial entrepreneur, engineer, marketing specialist, video
26:24
producer, podcast host, coach, professional keynote speaker, a
26:29
graduate student at Montclair State University, a passionate
26:31
lifelong learner.
26:33
And I'm so grateful now to be a
26:35
published author.
26:36
And I thank you from the bottom of
26:38
my heart for choosing to join me on
26:41
another empowering episode of the ever-popular Inspirations
26:44
for Your Life show.
26:46
Remember, ladies and gentlemen, your past may explain
26:54
where you've been.
26:57
It may, but it doesn't have to decide
27:05
every step you take next.
27:08
It doesn't have to be your future if
27:11
you don't want it to be that way.
27:16
I think the most important thing I wanna
27:18
tell you today, and a lot of people
27:20
may be sidestepping this, stop waiting for the
27:26
perfect moment.
27:27
There is never gonna be a perfect moment,
27:28
a perfect time, a perfect day, a perfect
27:30
person.
27:30
A perfect situation.
27:32
It's not gonna exist.
27:34
So stop waiting for the perfect moment.
27:37
Take responsibilities, take action, and keep moving forward
27:43
now, not later, guys.
27:46
Not later.
27:49
Now is the time to do this.
27:54
Stay driven, ladies and gentlemen.
27:55
Keep growing.
27:56
And you know what, ladies and gentlemen, I
27:57
am gonna see you on another show tomorrow.
28:00
Have a great one.
28:02
And don't forget to check out believemeachieve.com
28:03
for more of my amazing, inspiring creations.