The following is an excerpt from my book, Living in Your Top 1%: Nine Essential Rituals to Achieve Your Ultimate Life Goals by Alissa Finerman. The book transforms the way we think about our potential.
LIVING IN YOUR TOP 1%
“If we did all the things we are capable of doing, we would
literally astound ourselves.”
THOMAS EDISON
How many people actually love what they do and enjoy their
life every day? For some, parts of life are repetitious, parts are
“have-to-do’s,” and parts are pure play. For most people, the
pleasurable part is probably not as frequent as it could be.
From the time we are children, many of us are conditioned
to win science fairs, sports games, or talent shows. We learn that
we will be given medals, trophies, and other awards for a first
place finish. We are trained to think that “winning” is based
on being better than others. As we mature, we notice that the
media showcases winners and often highlights the weaknesses
of second and third place finishes. The Olympics celebrates
athletes who are better than all the other athletes in the world.
We learn that comparing ourselves to others extends globally.
What about all the other contenders who did their best? After a
while, it’s natural to think that in order to be the best you have
to be better than others. Many people define success by being
in the top 1%, when in reality it’s about living in your top 1%.
Looking back on your life, what are the moments that have
brought you the greatest pleasure and a sense of personal
achievement? Naturally, you will be proud of winning the Fifth
Grade Spelling Bee or being chosen MVP of your high-school
volleyball team. To begin expanding your mindset and thinking
bigger, try to remember shining moments in your life that were
not based on competition. Was it turning your photography
hobby into a full-time career, raising money for a charity close
to your heart, coaching your child’s soccer team, or getting the
promotion you worked day and night to achieve?
Often, we allow the beliefs we grew up with to dictate what we
believe today. You may have mental maps in place that no longer
serve you in different parts of your life. Some people are held
back from reaching their full potential because of self-imposed
limitations such as fear and lack of confidence. Others do not
realize it is even an option to strive for something personally
significant and exciting. People tend to have preconceived
notions about what is possible and impossible. The best award
is lasting personal fulfillment which comes from within. You
can win gold every day by achieving your personal best.
You can live in your top 1% and enjoy moments of great
success and satisfaction regardless of what other people around
you are doing. Imagine what the world would look like if we
all reached our greatest potential. Living in your top 1% is a
win-win scenario. It’s about living your best life and choosing
the right road for you.
Top 1% living is about having a vision, making progress
in key areas, and understanding that small shifts
in mindset produce powerful shifts in behavior. It is not
dependent on your age, the size of your bank account, or your
education. Top 1% moments are defined by the feelings of
fulfillment, excitement, and joy that come from the experience
of reaching for your best, rather than the accomplishments
alone.
* The above passage is an excerpt from Alissa Finerman’s book, Living in Your Top 1%, available on Amazon.com and in select Barnes and Noble bookstores. The book will be available March 10th.
Alissa is a life coach, author, and speaker. She works with individual clients and corporations to help them think bigger and get results. She has an MBA from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania and a BA from the University of California, Berkeley. You can learn more about the book by visiting Alissa’s website or emailing her at alissa@finermanliving.com.
Tags: living in your top 1%, motivation, personal goal setting, personal growth, self-improvement, setting and achieving goals
