"The ability to say yes to life, to take risks and embrace new experiences, is what makes life worth living "- Mark Twain
Pregame Prep (today's overview)
This week I'm writing about how saying 'yes' has changed my life. We are presented with countless opportunities every single day, when you think about how many opportunities we over our life time it's hard to comprehend. Most everything comes down to a yes/no decision that most of us don't even think about. I know that before I started working on my mindset I used to say 'no' without a second thought. I missed out on experiences I never even knew existed. It's all good, life has never been better, but recognizing sooner that in this life it's up to us to decide whether or not to take opportunities. Saying 'yes'Â even when it's uncomfortable is key to personal growth and achieving freedom.
I fully admit I say yes to a lot of things especially in the last 5 years, and the result of me saying yes has absolutely 100% contributed to the success, opportunities, friends, and freedom I have today. Does it always work out? Of course not. I have a pretty good intuition so there are some things that are definite no's for me with no guilt and no regrets. There is a future article about the power of no as well, but today we're talking about the possibility of yes!
Film Review (my experience)
In the past couple of years I've had at least 5 truly life altering experiences all of them started with the simple word of 'yes'. I'm not talking about fun experiences, I'm talking about holy sh!t what just happened, where the trajectory of my life changed in ways i could have never envisioned! A couple quick stories/examples:
While networking on an island in the BVI's I was invited to spend a week in Mexico with a person I had only known for 4 days. Have you ever connected with someone to the point you felt like you knew them all your life? It was like that: and by just saying 'yes' to a week in Loretto Mexico I created memories that will last a lifetime, I found a lifelong friend who pushes and supports me, I found out how charity and serving people in need doesn't have to be a publicity stunt, and I shifted my mindset. Â
Another example (I could do this all day).
A person I knew only virtually (but we were talking every day) asked me if I wanted to go to New York City for a stock options trading conference. I really had no idea what I was getting into, but I also knew I have never been to NYC and the whole experience sounded slightly terrifying and fun all at the same time. Let me tell: you that long weekend again changed my life in ways I could have ever imagined. Remember how I said your network is your net worth? Well I had a friend pick me up from the airport. Who picks up someone from LaGuardia to drive them in the city? A great friend, that's who! After spending the day being a total tourist I ended up in Connecticut sitting on the beach with two friends, a glass of wine as we watched the sun set over the bay with Manhattan sky scrapers in the background... Do you hear me? I said yes to a trading conference all of this happened before I even met the friend who invited me to NYC as he was arriving the next day. That long weekend changed my life forever. I ended up forming an amazing friendship, I made lifelong memories of NYC, and had discussions and ideas that sparked Good Kids Trading! A simple 'yes' led me to find a friend who is basically my brother, and is now my business partner.
So as you can see, saying yes opened my life to experiences that had unimaginable results. I've noticed a lot of people expect 'no' for an answer. You should start saying 'yes' and watch what happens! Not just for you, but watch the other person as you agree to something they say: it's super fun when you say 'yes' and just watch their reaction. Side note: I love watching people's face when they ask "where do you work" and when I say "I trade the stock market full time"… the look on their face is so good. The reaction of wait did you just say yes, or did you just say you are a stock trader its truly so uncommon people just have the funniest facial expressions.
It's up to you to say 'yes' more often. If you are saying no out of fear, or because you think you already know how things will turn out you are making a really big mistake and you are definitely missing out on opportunities and experiences. If you aren't aware, this life is just a journey of experiences so stop cheating yourself from life (experiences)!
Just last week I agreed to take a jiu jitsu class. Am I scared and uncomfortable?? Of course. Do I have preconceived assumptions on how this will go, what is going to happen?? Yes… I refuse to let any of that stop me, I will give it a chance and I will see how it goes. I want you to do the same thing (not jiu jitsu specifically) and say yes to something that scares you.
Offensive Game Plan (actions to obtain freedom)
If you don't push yourself you aren't going to grow. I encourage you to say yes to things that normally you would not do. Don't be afraid of silly things like looking dumb, or the possibility you might not like or enjoy yourself. I'm not encouraging you to say yes to dangerous things or people. Be smart here, but fear of the unknown is not a good reason to say no.
Saying 'yes' to these opportunities allows you to step out of your comfort zones and gain new perspectives. Saying yes is how you find experiences and freedom.
Defensive Game Plan (actions to defend your freedom)
It's natural to feel scared or doubtful when faced with new opportunities. Don't let these temporary feelings hold you back. Build up your resilience and ability to handle uncertainty. By facing self limiting beliefs and fears head-on, you can begin to dismantle them and realize that they were never as formidable as you thought.
Audible (changes to the game plan)
If you say yes to something and it's not working out after giving it some time, it's totally fine to make a change to your plans and change the yes to a no. Not everything is going to work out exactly as you planned, you may not like what others like. It's fine, don't beat yourself up, and don't feel guilty.
Post-Game Review (key takeaway)
Saying 'yes' to new opportunities is crucial for personal growth and achieving freedom. It allows us to step out of our comfort zones, gain new perspectives, and challenge our limiting beliefs and fears. However, it's also important to recognize when it's time to say 'no' and make adjustments to our plans as new opportunities arise. So, next time a new opportunity comes your way, remember to take the field, protect yourself, recognize the penalty flags, and be prepared to make an audible."
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What are scares you but you are ready to say yes? Lets talk