I Didn't Know I Needed MORE In My Life

Hey there, fellow wanderers of the intellectual landscape, Carissa here, still reeling from the mind-bending extravaganza Josie and I were lucky enough to attend a few weeks back. Dianna Kokoszka's MORE Training event (Maximize, Opportunity, Relationships, Experiences) in support of the Maxwell Leadership Foundation was a rollercoaster🎢 of enlightenment💡 that left us clutching boulders of wisdom instead of mere nuggets. Nashville, oh Nashville, you're like a party in a cowboy hat 🤠, but toss in some incredible folks, a boatload of wisdom, and an atmosphere that screams "make positivity your jam," and you've got yourself one heck of a ride. Let me tell you, soaking up all that goodness was like catching lightning ⚡ in a bottle—it doesn't happen every day.

But here's the kicker: we weren't just there for the honky-tonk tunes 🎵🎶 and hot chicken (actually, we didn't get a chance to do any of that because our days were so packed). Nope, we had a mission—to soak up every nugget of wisdom and bring it back to the masses who couldn't join us. Consider us the messengers of enlightenment, spreading the gospel of empowerment to all who crave it.
Day one started early...so early, as a matter of fact,  we were the first ones to arrive at registration! We were ready to meet new people, open our minds to new possibilities and strip down those self-limiting beliefs. We were ready for ALL the information. Speaking of information,  let's talk about our addiction to information and our bizarre allergy to implementation, shall we? Tony DiCello hit us square in the face with that one. We gobble up knowledge like it's our last meal but struggle to put any of it into action. Sound familiar? I dare you to break the cycle. Take that first step, implement that brilliant idea you've been hoarding. It's not rocket science, folks, just hard work. And you know what they say about hard work—it's simple, but it ain't easy.

Now, let's unpack the whole expectations game. Dianna dropped some truth bombs on us about how expectations can make or break a mission. Expectation is KEY🔑 to execution. Clarity, my friends, is just as important. Set those expectations high, but not so high they're out of orbit. Keep 'em realistic, keep 'em achievable, and watch the magic happen. And hey, don't forget to check in every now and then. Flexibility is the name of the game.

Don't be afraid to ask questions...but ask these questions to be less judgmental. Your thoughts are the cage you live in and only YOU have the key to unlock it. Part of growth is understanding that there is always going to be more than one way to approach a situation.  

Competition—ah, the age-old dance of comparison. But what if I told you it doesn't have to be a dance of doom and gloom? Enter collaborative competition, where the only person you're really competing with is yourself. Social media got you down? Stop comparing your behind-the-scenes to someone else's highlight reel. Instead, let their successes fuel your fire. Shift that mindset from one of jealousy to one of inspiration, and watch your creativity and productivity skyrocket.

Drumroll please🥁 🥁 🥁...Did I mention that we got to meet The JOHN MAXWELL!!?? I know I said we got to the event super early on day one, but day two👀👀...let's just say we probably should have slept in the lobby. Listening to John speak was nothing less than magical. Now, let's talk about the hustle, baby. John Maxwell wasn't mincing words when he said, "If you are persistent you will get what you want, but consistency will allow you to keep what you want." We all know what it takes to succeed, but how many of us are willing to put in the consistent effort? It's all about the DIDs before the DOs, folks. You want to bask in the glory of success? Well, you better be prepared to roll up your sleeves and get your hands dirty.

And lastly, let's chat about action. Decision paralysis got you stuck in neutral? Cut it out. You don't need to have all the answers to start making moves. Get comfortable with being a little clueless—it's where the magic happens. Surround yourself with people who challenge you, who push you to grow. And remember, generosity is its own reward. Give more than you take, and watch the universe repay you tenfold.

So there you have it, folks. A whirlwind tour of wisdom, courtesy of your Operational Mavens. You know we love to share everything we learn with all of you! Now go forth, conquer your fears, get MORE than what you imagined and remember: the only thing standing between you and greatness is a little thing called action.

Author: Carissa Mason