Rubin “Huricane” Carter, who passed away over the weekend,led an inspired life. A victim of a highly publicized wrongful conviction, he did something that most in his situation would never have done: he didn’t allow his circumstances to influence who he was as a person. Instead, he focussed on righting a wrong, and invested in himself to overcome the adversities he faced.
It may have been others who were at fault for his situation, but it was Carter who to the responsibility to fix the situation he was in.
Hi story is echoed in the determination that we see in many athletes (of which he was one) whose focus on reaching a goal is their solitary guide to a positive outcome in their lives.
Until recently, I never really recognized the value of having a drive or discipline in order to actually achieve something great. Sure, I’ve seen inspirational athletics and triumphant military action… but I never equated these acts, and the determined minds behind them, with success in business and in life.
That is, until recently.
For years now, I’ve been a marketing strategist, seriously considering human reaction and potential action to the campaigns that I’ve run. But I’ve not thought at all about myself and the importance of working on my mind and mindset in order to better help others, and in turn, help myself.
It wasn’t until just before my 40th birthday last year that I realized that a change was needed in my life. A change that would turn out to be the force behind an improved business, improved financial, and most importantly, improved family dynamic. I’m slow to change (aka stubborn), but it became clear to me that I’ve been leading my life and conducting my business in such an inconsistent manner that things required a swift kick in the pants for a change.
And so, over the last several months I’ve taken time to invest in myself, but reading and listening to positive and inspirational messages. I’ve crossed paths with Les Brown, Jim Rohn, Dale Carnegie, and, yes, Rubin Carter, who, spent much of the last decade of his life as a motivational speaker - particularly working with prisoners and with the Innocence Project.
As I continue to work with clients in my marketing business, I have added one crucial element to my standard lineup of advice. That is that in order to improve their business, they need to be certain to invest in improving themselves first.
If the ideas of motivation, inspiration, and personal development appeal to you, I’d like to introduce you to the Inner Circle Audio Vault, a monthly subscription that is the backbone to shaping my mindset.
Why mindset? Because the better you treat yourself, the better you will treat others… and because “Everything Is Marketing.”
This post originally appeared here.
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