Life Is Easy. We Make It Hard.: The World Wants You to Win. Get Out of Your Own Way!
By Cory Collins
()
About this ebook
Through not only years of his own personal experiences, but also through the lens and perspective of some of the greatest thinkers, doers, and achievers that this world has ever seen, inspirational speaker and success coach, Cory Collins, reveals just how EASY life was designed to be, and how HARD we make it!
Unlock your full potential.
Find your true calling.
Push through the obstacles along your journey.
Build meaningful relationships.
Connect through communication.
Get out of the rat race.
Stop sabotaging your success.
There's only one thing powerful enough to stop you. YOU!
Related to Life Is Easy. We Make It Hard.
Related ebooks
Achieve Your True Potential - How To Break Down The Shackles Of Childhood Limiting Beliefs Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSecrets to Success in the Corporate World Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEnough Already Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsFind a Career (Not Just a Job) Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to be a Conversational Success! 2nd Edition Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Elevated Leader: Level Up Your Leadership Through Vertical Development Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsSelf Approved: A Guide to Accepting, Loving and Expressing the Person you Truly are Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHer Toolbox: Learning to Be a Female Leader with Advice from Women in Power Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLead With Value: How Leaders Unleash Their Vision, Empower Others, and Evolve Their Business Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsUnlock Your Full Potential - How To Unlock Your Full Potential And Create The Life You Desire Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsNo Regrets: How to Live Today for Tomorrow’s Emotional Well-Being Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStrategies for Happiness Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Power of Potential: A Straightforward Method for Mastering Skills from Personal to Professional Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIt Happened on Purpose: Value Yourself without Being Full of Yourself Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsStop Networking, Start Needworking: The Intersection of Maslow's Needs and Networking Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Intellectual’s Self-Help Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsABCD: Finding Happiness through Awareness, Values, Principles, and Actions Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsHow to Appreciate Your Strengths Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Balanced Leader Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsProcrastination - How to end procrastination step by step: Mental health, #1 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Art Of Discussion: How To Have Better Conversations Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsButterflies and Sweaty Palms: 25 Sure-fire ways to Speak and Present with Confidence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThoughtless: Think Less, Be More Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Art of Chit Chat: How to Talk to Anyone Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBegin Here. Discover Love the foundation for all else. Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings5 1/2 Mentors: How to Learn, Grow, and Develop from Everyone and Everything Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings42 Days To Confidence Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratings
Personal Growth For You
Self-Care for People with ADHD: 100+ Ways to Recharge, De-Stress, and Prioritize You! Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5How to Talk to Anyone: 92 Little Tricks for Big Success in Relationships Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Big Book of 30-Day Challenges: 60 Habit-Forming Programs to Live an Infinitely Better Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life: Life-Changing Tools for Healthy Relationships Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Think and Grow Rich (Illustrated Edition): With linked Table of Contents Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Present Over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unfu*k Yourself: Get Out of Your Head and into Your Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Changes That Heal: Four Practical Steps to a Happier, Healthier You Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes are High, Third Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Four Loves Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Crucial Conversations Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Second Edition Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Personal Workbook Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Unfuck Your Brain: Using Science to Get Over Anxiety, Depression, Anger, Freak-outs, and Triggers Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What Happened to You?: Conversations on Trauma, Resilience, and Healing Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Mastery of Self: A Toltec Guide to Personal Freedom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Girl, Stop Apologizing: A Shame-Free Plan for Embracing and Achieving Your Goals Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Maybe You Should Talk to Someone: A Therapist, HER Therapist, and Our Lives Revealed Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Source: The Secrets of the Universe, the Science of the Brain Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The 5 Second Rule: Transform Your Life, Work, and Confidence with Everyday Courage Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Reviews for Life Is Easy. We Make It Hard.
0 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Life Is Easy. We Make It Hard. - Cory Collins
EPILOGUE
INTRODUCTION
Seven years before this book was published, my wife, daughter, and I were visiting my family for the holidays back in my hometown of Hazlehurst, Mississippi. We were all at my parents’ home convened in the kitchen. My younger brother was there as well.
My wife and I got into a huge argument. Of course, all couples have disagreements, so this wasn’t necessarily anything unusual. We’d had minor arguments in front of my parents before, too, but this one escalated. I remember exactly what it was about, but I’m too embarrassed to mention the reason in this book. That’s not because it was so bad, but because, looking back, it was totally avoidable. At the very least, it didn’t have to reach the level that it did.
My brother hadn’t seen us go at it like this before. He didn’t say a word. I have no idea what was going on in our young daughter’s head. She was our only child at the time. My mom tried to intervene several times, but to no avail. My dad was noticeably quiet. I wondered what he was thinking. Soon he quietly, yet abruptly, walked away, adding even more awkwardness to an already tense atmosphere. He headed outside, and told me to come, too. I was flustered, and said that I would be out in a minute. I needed a little time.
After somewhat gathering my composure, I went outside feeling like a kid walking to the principal’s office. He was out back in his storage shed waiting. I couldn’t remember the last time my dad had lectured me. It had to have been in early high school. But when I walked in, he was as calm as could be. The vibe was the opposite of what I was expecting. He began talking. I listened. He didn’t choose a side. It wasn’t about who he felt was right or wrong. Instead, he told me about times he’d been in similar situations, and how simple it is to defuse them. When I first walked in, I wasn’t even able to look him in the eye in anticipation of what I thought was to come. But soon, I’d raised my head and we were having a good-old conversation about life. At one point, we were even laughing. Not about the situation, but about life.
While some of what he said is a blur now, there’s one thing that he told me that night inside the storage shed that resonated profoundly. He said, Life is easy. We make it hard!
It was one of those aha!
moments. Though it was something that I’d always subconsciously believed myself, I’d never interpreted, visualized, or articulated this concept in such a clear, concise, and distinct manner. I haven’t told my father how significant that moment was for me, nor have I thanked him. So I’ll do that now. Thank you, dad. You may not even remember it. But I will never forget it!
What really helps me buy into such a bold belief is understanding the difference between something being hard
and it being a challenge.
We are often too quick to label things as hard.
Yes, life can be challenging. Actually, I think life would be pretty boring if it wasn’t. But we truly have more control than we think over whether or not it’s hard. I don’t claim to be a life coach, but I do consider myself a life observer
and life learner,
if there are such terms. I don’t pretend to have all the answers about life, either. In fact, much of this book is comprised of quotes from people who are much smarter than me. I also don’t claim to be perfect in any way. To be totally transparent, as I sit back and evaluate my own life, I find myself speaking directly to myself in this book. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that I wrote much of this to myself as a reminder, and in some cases, as a lesson, and then decided to share it with the world.
My intention isn’t necessarily to enlighten you on these things, but also to reinforce them. As you read, you’ll find that you already know a lot of what’s written. But just knowing it is not enough. I don’t believe that mere knowledge is power. I believe applied knowledge is power. One of the biggest gaps in life is that gap between what we know, and what we actually do. For example, we know that we should eat healthy and exercise, but we don’t. We know that we shouldn’t use our cell phones while driving, but we do it anyway. Individually, the nuggets contained in this book may not make much of a difference in your life. However, a series of small things eventually adds up, much like healthy eating or exercising over time.
When I say life is easy,
I am in no way making light of things like tragedy, disaster, disease, or terminal illness. For the most part, these are uncontrollable. I’m only considering situations that are controllable, although we often don’t realize that they are. It’s extremely important to distinguish between the two. Many of life’s frustrations are brought about simply because we don’t differentiate.
By the end of this book, it is my hope that you can recognize the areas of your life that you’re making hard, so that you can start making them easy!
CHAPTER 1
YOUR JOURNEY
When I made the decision to pursue entrepreneurship, I gave two weeks’ notice at my job. It was a good, stable job with benefits. I was leaving to go do sales, which I needed to learn before opening my own business. Not only was this something that I hadn’t done before, it was completely commission-based pay without any benefits, which is probably the opposite of what most would consider stability. My manager was shocked. After reading the resignation letter, he asked me if I would make one change to it. Based on the date that I turned it in and the date that would be my last day working there, it technically was one day short of a full two weeks. He asked me to work one additional day. His exact words were, I want you to give us a full two weeks’ notice, because after you go try that little sales thing and it doesn’t work out, I want to be able to ask my boss if we can hire you back.
WOW!
I thought. I didn’t know whether to take that as a compliment of my value to the company, or the belittlement of my future endeavors. I took it as the latter. What a disrespectful thing to say to someone! So I took it personally, and wanted to make sure that I didn’t give him the satisfaction of being right. Not only did I not want to ever have to go back to him for reemployment, I didn’t ever want him to see that the move didn’t work out. In hindsight, what he said was actually a blessing in disguise. It gave me even more of a drive to push forward on my new journey. Whenever I second-guessed myself, I could just see his face and hear his voice. I closed a back door that would’ve otherwise always been open for me to return to my old job.
Ultimately, things worked out and I accomplished my goal of starting a business. This showed me one reason why so many people don’t get ahead in life. They simply never go for it. They don’t even attempt to go after the prosperity that’s available to us all, yet unique to them. But you must realize that the longer you wait for your future, the shorter it will be! Fred Smith, who mentored the legendary author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, said this:
When God lays something on your heart, your only responsibility is to start. When you negotiate with God, you always lose. It’s okay to start before you feel comfortable or before you’re completely ready, especially if what you’re doing is God-size.
That means that you can count on his strength and his answers while you’re in the middle of it, but he’s not going to provide them until you start the journey. He gives you the strength while you’re overcoming.
To be clear, this is not about becoming an entrepreneur. That’s just the route that I took, and the example that I gave. It’s not limited to your career, either. This applies to any aspect of your life where you have aspirations that are greater than the situation you’re in. Some people settle. They hate their job, but say at least it pays the bills. They hate their relationship, but say at least they have one. Other people dream. They say that they’ll have a new job or be at that ideal weight in the following year. It’s great to dream, but don’t let your dreams be dreams. Then there are those who take action. These people are usually the ones who flourish.
Most people would rather be certain they’re miserable, than risk being happy. – Robert Anthony
The irony is that the person not taking the risks feels the same amount of fear as the person who regularly takes risks. – Peter McWilliams
Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is. – Unknown
Motivation
Although I had already taken action, when that manager at my old job said that to me, it fueled me with even more motivation. Another reason why people don’t excel is because they lack motivation, or don’t know what gets them motivated. This is something that’s very important to identify. It can be the difference between winning and losing. For example, consider a person who’s single, doesn’t have kids, and has little desire to maintain full-time employment. It could be because they’re content with meager accommodations for themselves, or because they’re just lazy. Generally, their drive would be different if they were married and had kids to take care of.
I’ve found that there are six distinct ways that you can be motivated:
Internally—You’re self-motivated and a self-starter. This is the kid who always takes the initiative to do their homework or clean their room without having to be told by their parents, or the employee who gets things done without always being instructed or asked by the boss.
Externally—You need a push. You’re motivated by outside factors or the success of others. This is the person who’s out of shape, and runs into an old classmate or colleague who’s really fit, and then gets motivated to start going to the gym.
Toward—You’re goal-oriented, and motivated