WHAT IS THE MOST CONTROVERSIAL STAND YOU TAKE IN LIFE AND / OR IN BUSINESS?
Grant Cardone says, “Every empire needs an enemy to stand against.” I don’t know that I 100% agree with that, but I do think it’s critically important to be authentic… and to stand both FOR and AGAINST something. This is important in life, but also in business.
Do your people know what / who you stand FOR? What or who you stand against? Or are you AFRAID of having your beliefs, your reactions, your instincts KNOWN by your market?
Please don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not saying respond loudly to every little thing you disagree with online. It IS possible to see something you don’t agree with and to keep focused on your OWN online agenda. lol… I’m not suggesting you go out of your way to argue with people with whom you disagree. In case you missed the memo, this doesn’t work to sway them to your opinion. I’m CERTAINLY not suggesting behavior that is unmeasured, tantrum-like, bully-like and child-like in a professional setting.
I’m talking about being true to your CORE values, even if they’re unpopular. I’m talking about holding FIRM to the things that matter most to you. I want to talk about one of the most controversial things I personally stand for, believe in and WILL ALWAYS LIVE OUT, NO MATTER HOW UNPOPULAR IT GETS, no matter what.
Now, am I posting about this every day?
no.
Instead, I LIVE it. And, my daily actions around my CORE beliefs are LOUD.
You see, with my CORE, most precious, most FUNDAMENTAL beliefs, you’ll NEVER find me arguing over them. I do not debate them, ever. I will always answer questions, but I will not debate. You will not find me trying to convince someone of my beliefs, nor prove my RIGHTNESS over my core values and someone else’s WRONGNESS. You will not find me EVER battling to win some version of moral or ethical superiority.
For your CORE values, you see no need to do any of this. Why?? BECAUSE YOU DO NOT NEED “THEM” — whoever “they” are — TO AGREE WITH YOU. Their acceptance– or rejection– of your core belief system does not sway you in the least.
This is how you know what your core beliefs are, by the way. They are dependent on NO ONE ELSE joining you, agreeing with you, defending you, patting you on the back. THESE things are your CORE values and because they are so STRONG in YOU, you have no need for a chorus of supporters.
And as an aside, I think LIVING SOMETHING OUT is far more — infinitely more — influential than just saying something or sharing something while hiding behind your computer.
Before I get to my OWN most controversial belief, I want to REASSURE you that when you approach a topic — any topic — with an open heart and TOTAL authenticity, people will GENERALLY accept you for who you are, even when it is exactly opposite of how THEY are feeling.
Will there be people who are too closed off to be in a conversation, let alone a RELATIONSHIP, with someone whose views differ from their own? OF COURSE. Close-mindedness has been around since the dawn of time and it doesn’t APPEAR to be heading towards extinction anytime soon. You ARE likely to lose these people, but that’s okay.
Bless them and let them go.
The entire point of this post is to encourage you to DEVELOP a mental toughness that allows you to be YOU, in all situations, to have NO attachment to the court of public opinion. And to invite you into a 30-Day Immersion experience with me (and a handful of others) as we CULTIVATE the profit, productivity, and PEACE inherent in unshakeable mental tenacity. You can find out more here… but we start July 31st and PRE-WORK goes live this weekend. bmichellepippin.com/
So, no surprises here… my CORE beliefs include:
- A practical daily faith.
- An ironclad commitment to my family.
- A do no harm approach to health.
- FREEDOM to choose what is best for ME and for my FAMILY without outside interference.
- The pursuit of REAL (vs contrived) accomplishment.
- An absolute commitment to continuing to learn and grow, and a willingness to be challenged in order to do so.
- KINDNESS to all people, no matter what. (Except, to be very frank, pedophiles. Pray for me. I have no heart towards them. At all.)
- Choosing RELATIONSHIP over being RIGHT.
- Simplicity.
I can’t imagine MUCH of the above is SUPER controversial… but this last one has become so… and I Literally cannot fathom why. Or how we got here as humans.
Self-reliance.
On the surface, this doesn’t APPEAR so controversial… as many beliefs may not. It is only in APPLICATION that it becomes controversial.
And a belief without action is NO belief at all.
But in APPLICATION, I expect able-bodied and able-minded adults to CONTRIBUTE to society, starting with taking care of themselves. As my Grandad did, dropping out of school in the 4th grade and starting life as a sharecropper. As my Dad did, with only a high school education and growing up poor. As my Mom did, despite a childhood of foster homes and an alcoholic mother.
If you think I’m talking about just government stuff here, you are dead wrong…. which is perhaps where this particular core belief becomes even MORE controversial.
I am also talking about parents of adult children who excuse their “children” from working and funding their OWN life. I am also talking about women who are CONTENT to have their entire lives “husband funded.” I am talking about teenagers who don’t have the DESIRE to work to earn their own money… despite earning a “starting wage” in those beginning years.
So, you see, I am NOT just talking about those living way below the poverty line. I am ALSO — and EQUALLY– talking about those who live far above it.
BOTH extremes can impact our motivation and worse…. our perception of what WE’RE capable of, in and of ourselves.
I believe in hand UPS, for sure, but hand ups do not last for years, or decades or generations. At that point, the person receiving the “hand UP” has accepted a LIFE of DEPENDENCY, and that saddens me… not for the person(s) or agencies doing the funding… but for the person accepting it. It is NOT what they want in their hearts. It is NOT what they were created for.
Do I have a core value of self-reliance because I don’t like people, don’t have a heart for people or think LESS of them??
NO WAY.
ON THE CONTRARY, it is because I BELIEVE in the human condition. I believe EACH of us was called to more. I believe in possibilities that are UNBOUND by current conditions. I believe we EACH have a purpose that BEGINS with us taking care of ourselves…. so that we can then impact the world. I believe this for ALL people… regardless of race, religion, sex, orientation, economic means, or any other trait, fact, or detail.
I am often grateful that I struggled so much financially at such a young age. Because in doing so, I was able to see what I was capable of producing on my own. I saw my potential to take care of me. I learned EARLY that I didn’t need to rely on anything or anyone else.
ULTIMATE Freedom & UNSHAKEABLE Confidence were the results.
And my heart TRULY ACHES for people (ultra rich or very poor) who NEVER see this possibility for themselves… who NEVER get to see what THEY ALONE can create… who never know what it is to leap for something without a safety net.
Back to my point. I don’t rail about this online. I don’t start debates or any of that.
I Just LIVE as self-reliant as I can. And hope my example is enough to inspire others (starting in my own home, of course, to do the same.)
So, here’s the challenge. Is there an area of YOUR HEART, of YOUR CORE that you’re not really LIVING FULL OUT right now? And is there ANYTHING in your business that you do NOT feel you’re CAPABLE of doing ON YOUR OWN?
If so, message me and let’s get it out there. Let’s look it in the eye, and rise up together, friend. I am SO for you, in every way. Let’s do this.
Just because we can.
