Want the Best Odds? Bet on Yourself.

If you’re anything like me, you like the confidence and adrenaline boost that come when you make a decision that puts you in the driver’s seat of your life, taking back your power from the forces that constantly swirl around us, pulling us in seemingly infinite directions.

When we lack the clarity or vision of the True North direction we want for our lives, it becomes all too easy to get caught up in the following things that pull of off course:

• Over Consumption of Media — Bullshit sitcoms, 24 hour news, passive web surfing, social networks
• Opinions of Others — Parents, siblings, peer group, co-workers, etc. Not many will get you.
• Alcohol, Substances & Buffoonery — Very easy to fall into this, especially when not pursuing a emotionally compelling goals for your life purpose. “Oh, I’ll just go out on the town and pick up some women.” Fast forward 2 months and you haven’t made any traction on business and personal goals. Shit’s weak.

What happens when we bet on ourselves?

Ultimately, the act of betting on yourself is giving yourself permission at the deepest level to go after what you really want in your life.

Examples of When I’ve Gone “All In,” and Shocking Results

Bet # 1: Said “no thanks” to the traditional route of Law School, and chose to sell my belongings and travel South America for an indefinite amount of time.

Result: Had 4 years of amazing growth, experiences, opened and ran my first digital business — a music production and talent agency representing a handful of talented artists in the U.S.A., Latin America, & Europe.

Bet # 2: Saw the writing on the wall for the music industry, and decided to close up shop and pursue my MBA at a top program.

Result: Took 3 months of time to study like a man possessed for the entrance exam (GMAT), and was able to score myself a 50% academic scholarship, worth nearly $50,000. Nice.

Bet # 3: Moved to Alaska with only one suitcase of belongings to my name — No car, no apartment, and no job.

Result: After a few months of couch surfing with friends, I was able to land the highest paid job I’ve ever had.. Nearly 6 figures! I believe that was a result of my laser-like focus, the fact that I had “burned the ships” behind me, and that I had a clear, written goal for what I wanted in my next job.

What about you?

With the seemingly endless choices we have for pursuing goals, directions and, yes, distractions for our lives, it’s easy to get “knocked off course.”

The reality is, nobody feels like they are always on the right path.

The sign of an enlightened mind, I think, is just simply someone who takes a personal inventory more often, and then consciously acts to get themselves from where they are to what they are feeling a calling to become.

When have you decided to bet on yourself, even if the end-result was unclear?