In his book The 10X Rule, Grant Cardone writes, “One of the greatest turning points in my life occurred when I stopped casually waiting for success and instead started to approach it as a duty, obligation, and responsibility.”
Grant grew up with his mother, who didn’t have a very good relationship with money or success. From her perspective, money was scarce, and even a little was something to be grateful for.
However, that never sat well with Grant. As he saw his mom in constant fear and financial worry, he decided that when he grew up, he wanted to become so rich that he’d never have to worry about money again.
Although at the age of 26, he would have to first overcome 9 years of drug addiction before finally being on the path towards his potential.
Grant then made his first million by 30 and has since built five companies and a billion-dollar fortune. Indeed, he is living proof of the saying:
“It’s not about the cards you’re dealt, but how you play the hand.”
Tony Robbins has similarly said, “It is your decisions, not your conditions, that determine your destiny.”
The remainder of this article will explore 4 of the mindsets and decisions that helped him create the life he lives. Here we go.
“Quit settling for reality and focus on your potential.”
When Grant left rehab after twenty-nine days of being sober, his counselor gave him these parting words, “You’ll never make it,” he said.
“You are a defective person. You have an addictive personality. You have a disease you can never recover from. You have no power or control over your disease or your life, and the chances of you never using drugs again are zilch. The most successful thing you can do with your life at this point is never use again. Focus on anything else and you will fail. Drop all your grandiose ideas of money, fame, and success.”
The counselor was obviously making his story about who he’d been, whereas Grant was committed to telling his story about who was going to be.
He saw a bigger future than just being someone who was constantly struggling with a drug addiction. Instead, he wanted to be successful and wealthy, he wanted to be a leader and an author, and that’s what he created.
Indeed, you don’t have to be content with your current reality. You don’t have to live a life that’s consistent with who you’ve previously been. Instead, you can see a bold vision for your life and then create it. As Hal Elrod has said,
“Whatever future may seem like a fantasy to you now is simply a future reality that you have yet to create.”
“Your excuses might be legit, but they won’t improve your life.”
Robert Kiyosaki has similarly said, “For many people, the power of their excuse is more powerful than their dreams.”
Grant holds the firm believe that excuses are for people who refuse to take responsibility for their life and how it turns out. Why? Because there’s no excuse that can or will take you to a better place.
Think about it; does complaining that I don’t have money, I don’t have enough time, or that I don’t have the energy ever improve your condition? No! The only time your life changes is when you’re committed to different results.
As John Assaraf has put it,
“If you’re interested, you come up with stories, excuses, reasons, and circumstances about why you can’t or why you won’t. If you’re committed, those go out the window and you just do whatever it takes.”
Rather than making excuses, clearly define what you want and commit to the pursuit of it.
“Most opportunities are disguised as problems.”
Most people see problems in their life or business and aren’t willing to face them. They view them as constraints and then become a victim.
However, Grant sees problems as opportunities and believes the bigger the problem he solves,the bigger the reward. Darren Hardy has similarly said,
“A person’s life can generally be measured by the size of the problems they are trying to solve.”
Success does not come from having no problems, it comes from focusing on the right problems and delivering solutions that move people forward.
Whenever things get difficult, look for a solution, not an exit, as it’s easier to work towards the life you want rather than avoid the one you don’t want. As Benjamin P. Hardy has said,
It’s easier to ‘approach’ a desired future than ‘avoid’ an undesired present.”
“Anything worth doing is worth doing every day.”
Grant doesn’t just work when he feels like it. He doesn’t allow the inconveniences of life to become an excuse. Instead, he hits the ground running every day.
If you truly want something, you’ll put in the work. You’ll show up day after day. You’ll drop the excuses and be committed. As Tony Robbins has said,
“It’s not what we do once in a while that shapes our lives. It’s what we do consistently.”
Zdravko Cvijetic has similarly said, “The majority of goals people pursue don’t require innate talent, or working a 12-hour a day — in most cases they lack old-fashion consistency.”
The life you want may seem far away now. However, consistent steps will take you there quicker than just relying on random jolts of inspiration. As Nicolas Cole has said,
“Tiny steps will take you much farther than infrequent home runs.”
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