Remember high school? For some people it was at absolute blast and for others it was four years of torturous hell. For most people it was some of both.

What I remember most about high school was the feeling of not quite fitting in. I was popular and all and had many external successes, but as you know, our mind often creates an entirely different reality.

I spent a lot of energy trying to be like other people that I thought were cooler, better looking, smarter, funnier, had a better body…you fill in the blank.

It wasn’t until years later as I dove into personal development work that I found out many, many people experienced very similar things. Like me, tons of people lived (and are still living) through comparing themselves to others.

What’s the deal with that?

It’s fricken exhausting, isn’t it?

Why do we run from our own self-expression?

Many people have been doing it their entire lives.

At some level, many people would rather imitate others than just be who they are, as if somehow, the knock-off version of someone else is better than the original version of themselves.

From a business and marketing perspective, this is a slow death. It would be easy to say that this happens because we teach people to model successful people. We say to find someone that has what you want and model them.

Doing what successful people do is certainly a way to success, but unless you model successful habits while developing your authentic self-expression, it’s easy to lose yourself in the process.

Is success worth it if you are just a carbon copy of a bunch of other people?

I think this is one of the big reasons people fail in this world. They don’t trust themselves.

I can speak from personal experience that I have had many incredible ideas that I stuffed away for fear of whether they were good enough, only to act on them years later when I got the balls.

Waiting doesn’t work.

Filtering your ideas against what the rest of the world is doing only dilutes your value.

Vanilla is a pretty boring flavor.

“Don’t ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”
- Howard Thurman

Yes, come alive.  That is it.

When it comes to marketing, blogging, copyrighting and presenting your business…sure there are some fundamentals that you want to learn and put in place, but nothing and I mean nothing, can replace your spirit.

If all of your articles, posts and blogs read just like a hundred other people in your niche…why would anyone follow you?

Be fricken original.

We see this all the time online. People model others but forget to make their work their own. The result is bland, boring copy.

Don’t be that guy.

Find your sweet spot. Identify what really lights you up.

Then, focus on letting your own light shine instead of trying to borrow a tiny bit of someone else’s.

“There is a vitality, a life-force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost.”
- Martha Graham

So, my dear friends, it’s time to get jiggy with it. Go get your freak on! Your authentic, true to yourself, completely original, flava boiling over…self-expression.

Choose today, right now, to do ONE THING that celebrates your self-expression. Let the tiger (or tigress) out of the cage. We want to hear you roar.

It’s time the world sees what you (the one and only you) are really made of.

Please comment if you connected with this post and tweet/re-post to your heart’s desires.

You have been a victim I am sure.  Nearly all of us have.

There you are, just minding your own business and you get a friend request.  Simple & harmless…someone just wants to be your friend.

Or so you think.

Being the wonderful, open, nice person that you are, you welcome this new friend into your inner circle of personal and business contacts on Facebook.

Then it happens.

They post an advertisement on your wall without ever even attempting to initiate contact with you or build any type of relationship.

It’s like you are sitting alone at a bar having a leisurely drink and they walk up to you and say, “Hi, my name is John.  Want to screw?”

Actually, it’s more like you are having an invitation only party at your home and a stranger comes to your door…they seem friendly so you invite them in.  They walk straight to the middle of the room and stop and say, “hey everyone, I have no interest in getting to know any of you, but I really want to get laid…anyone interested?”

It’s disgusting.

This will occasionally work, mind you, as some people respond to assholes being direct (that’s an entirely different blog post), but it will likely land you with more slaps and drinks in your face than bed partners.

Don’t get me wrong…that approach will likely get you laid.  But wealth in business, especially network marketing, is about lifetime loyal relationships, not one night stands.

Seriously, is someone out there teaching this or are people just really that stupid?  I am not sure which is the more comforting thought.

Okay, before we commit you to SMA (Social Media Annonymous) to get serious help for your problem, try a few of these ideas to support you in moving from being the rapist guy to relationship guy (or gal).

• Take sincere interest in people and build the relationship FIRST.  When you befriend someone, send people a personal note, read their profile, look at their personal websites.  Learn about them before your ‘pitch.’

• Provide value upfront – what can you do for them before asking for anything for yourself.

• Take your time.  Invest yourself.  I have developed some of my best friends in the world through network marketing…start with this intention and you’ll win more than you’ll lose.

• Follow up gracefully and professionally.   Be the kind of person you would want to work with.

So, for you wall posting date rapers out there…STOP.  You are annoying us all and you are getting NO action.

Button up the shirt, get rid of the gold medallion, throw away the ruffies & trade in the creepy van with no side windows.

Step up to the plate as an authentic human being.

Once you do, we’ll gladly invite you into our homes…and we might even introduce you to our horny friends!

Are you fricken kidding me?

That is the question that burned like a cattle prod in my mind.  My son and I were leaving Home Depot and this truck was parked in the first handicapped parking spot available.

Every now and again I can be a bit reactionary.  : )  So, after the initial spark of disbelief and disgust went off in my head, I thought…well perhaps there is a good explanation.  Then, as I looked closer at the truck and saw the jacked up suspension, the monster tires, the tricked out features…my blood started to boil.

Generally I think guys with big trucks like this are just trying to overcompensate for other shortcomings (I am guessing he has small hands and feet:), but I can’t even imagine the size of the balls this guy must have to park a truck like this in a handicapped space and proudly display his blue hanging wheelchair sign.  Seriously, it must be why he needs such a big truck…because his balls are riding shotgun.

You may say, “What’s the big deal?” 

Yeah, maybe you’re right.  It’s not like three old ladies with walkers had to circle the parking lot because there wasn’t space upfront.  You’re probably right, what’s the big deal?  I know with millions facing the loss of their jobs and homes, this is just a small, insignificant thing that shouldn’t even be given a thought.   I am sure I am overreacting. 

Bullshit.

It’s this feeling of entitlement and lack of integrity that is a root cause to so many of the challenges facing our world today.

Seriously, what would have to be going through someone’s head to feel good about taking up a handicapped space when they literally have to jump down 4 feet to get out of the driver’s seat pf their monster truck?

It’s mindboggling.

Who does that, really?

Does jackass fit? 

I think we are getting warm.

I was lucky enough to still be in the parking lot when these fine upstanding pillars of society came out of the store carrying some long pieces of lumber.  Three able bodied physically fit men no more than 40 or 45 years old.  I nearly took a picture of them too.  I should have.  But I was a tad fearful for my well being if they got mad as I am sure there was also a gun rack in the truck and a rebel flag sticker somewhere.

I mean, if they can steal parking spots from wheelchair ridden old ladies…I am sure they’d think nothing of running over my little Altima with their personal version of Gravedigger.

It’s people like this that somehow think the world owes them something.  That things like handicapped parking spaces are their right to claim…even if it’s their grandmother’s, wife’s, child’s or parent’s tag.Regardless, do you get to live the rest of your life with your handout because you have challenges. 

Yes, I have empathy for them if that is the case.  Somehow I doubt it is. 

Who the hell doesn’t have tough stuff their working through?  We all do.

Entitlement is such a huge issue in our world and it equally afflicts the poor and the rich, the haves and the have nots. 

No contribution.  No value created.  Nothing added or put into the world…just the belief that you deserve to get something for nothing.

It’s disgusting.

So jackass, let me give you a shout out from the cheap seats. 

J – A – C – K – A – S – S ! ! ! !

I bet you still fly with your 5 year old on your lap.  Jackass!