Day 1: The Make it Happen Mindset

Welcome to Day 1 of Make it Happen!

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Now, let’s make it happen!

In today’s lesson, you’ll learn about the 8 guiding principles of the Make it Happen Mindset.

After each principle, I’ll ask you to make a personal commitment to yourself that you’ll follow through on cultivating each of them on our 30-day journey together.

The 8 Guiding Principles of the Make it Happen Mindset

The Make it Happen Mindset is a way of thinking that revolves around approaching our goals and tasks with a proactive, anything-is-possible kind of attitude. It’s focused on taking action, achieving results, and enjoying the process along the way.

When you bring this mindset into your life, it will shape you into a highly motivated, purpose-driven person who consistently seeks out opportunities and solutions to overcome obstacles and achieve your goals. But adopting a Make it Happen Mindset isn’t always easy: it requires hard work and dedication, but it can lead to a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction like you’ve never known before. My goal is to help you get there, one day at a time.

Here are the guiding principles of the Make it Happen Mindset:

1. Courage

Being “fearless” is a myth. Everyone is afraid of something. Those of us who succeed have courage. But what is courage? Courage is your ability to take action regardless of how afraid you are.

Affirm this principle by reading the following statement aloud, or to yourself: I am committed to bringing my most courageous self to everything I do, even if it scares me. If it’s important to me, I will feel the fear—and take action anyway.

2. Goals

Setting clear, specific goals that stretch us and excite us is everything. Whether it’s starting a business, getting a promotion, or getting in the best shape of your life—having ambitious goals are a crucial component of the Make it Happen mindset. But make no mistake: We don’t set ambitious goals to get exactly what we want, whenever we want it. That’s just not how it works. We set our goals, take consistent action, and detach ourselves from becoming overly focused on the outcome. Being flexible in your approach is key. Because flexibility leads to open-mindedness, and when you have those two in line, you open the possibility of something even greater in the future.

Affirm this principle by reading the following statement aloud, or to yourself: I am clear and unapologetic about what I want. I make my goals happen by getting clear and specific about the outcomes I desire. I accomplish my greatest goals by breaking them down into small steps taken daily. But I am not attached to the outcomes I desire. I am flexible in my approach, willing to adjust, and open to the potential of something even greater in the future.

3. Action

Goals are great, but action is how we make them happen. To make it happen, you’ve got to get moving.

Affirm this principle by reading the following statement aloud, or to yourself: I’m committed to developing a bias to ACTION. I actively pursue my goals by taking consistent + focused action, and I have the courage to take strategic risks and make mistakes, because everything is an opportunity to learn and get better.

4. Purpose

What’s your purpose? What’s your big Why? To make big things happen, we need to have a big and inspiring vision to work towards on a daily basis. Whatever your most important goals are, an inspiring purpose will help you get there. If a goal is your ultimate destination, purpose is the fuel that powers you along the way.

Affirm this principle by reading the following statement aloud, or to yourself: Purpose is power. With a strong enough WHY, I can make any HOW possible.

5. Optimism

When it comes to making big things happen, developing a positive and optimistic outlook is a proven and powerful way to not just do what we need to do, but to do it whole-heartedy—even if it isn’t “fun”.

Affirm this principle by reading the following statement aloud, or to yourself: I maintain a positive outlook, believe in my abilities and have a make it happen mentality with everything I do.

6. Growth

What happens your muscles when you lift weights? They grow. What happens to your muscles when you stop? They shrink. When we stop growing, we start dying. And I don’t think you want that to happen anytime soon. Growth propells us forward, it excites us, engages us, and keeps us going. Whether you want to grow your business or career, your finances, your skills, your health, or your social circle—growth is a key driver of success regardless of what you endeavor to do, be, or have in life.

Affirm this principle by reading the following statement aloud, or to yourself: I am committed to embarking on a journey of constant and never-ending growth. Every failure is an opportunity for me to learn and get better. And the successes I experience, are an opportunity for me to continue growing. 

7. Antifragility

Antifragility about the things in life that improve—and actually thrive—when subjected to stress… Just like your muscles come back stronger when they’re subjected to stress. But being antifragile is not the same as being resilient. While resilience is about resisting stress while staying the same, antifragility is about resisting (and even welcoming) stress, while getting better and better.

Affirm this principle by reading the following statement aloud, or to yourself: When I experience setbacks and failure, I view them as opportunities to learn, grow, and come back even better than before.

8. Energy

We can’t make a darn thing happen if we can’t get ourselves out of bed in the morning. Your career, your finances, your emotions and relationships—none of these matter if you don’t have your health. Are you honoring the simple fundamentals of healthy living? To make things happen, we need to make sure our physical health is in check: exercise, nutrition, sleep… These things matter more than any of the others because without our health, nothing else matters.

Affirm this principle by reading the following statement aloud, or to yourself: I am committed to taking charge of my health, and prioritizing my wellbeing, because without it, I have nothing, but with it, I can make anything happen.

In tomorrow’s lesson, we’ll be getting a bit more tactical by clarifying what YOU want to make happen.

See you then.

—Dean.