If you take a stone and toss it into a pond, what happens? As soon as the stone strikes the surface of the water, you get a series of ripples or waves, which spread outwards in a circular direction, creating larger and larger ripples. The larger the stone, the larger the ripplesâŠ
Podcast Version: Inputs vs Outputs
Now, if you were to take two stones of different sizes and weights, and tossed them both into a pond at the same time, theyâll both create a series of ripples, which will eventually merge with one anotherâŠ
When the two sets of ripples converge, there seems to be a bit of a struggle as to which one overcomes or passes the other.
If the ripples are both the same size, they seem to stop or neutralize each other when they collideâand the ripples just disappear.
But if one set of ripples is larger than the other, the larger set sweeps over the smaller set and creates waves in the wake of the smaller ripples.
Letâs consider this analogy in relation to our own thought-patterns and mental impulsesâŠ
Imagine youâve got two stones in each hand.
- The stone in your left hand is labeled, âfailureâ.
- The stone in your right hand is labeled, âsuccessâ.
If your âfailureâ stone is heavier, then its ripples will sweep over the ripples created by your stone labeled âsuccess.â
But if your stone of âsuccessâ is heavier, itâll sweep over the ripples created by the âfailureâ stone.
The weight of each stone is in direct proportion to the amount of thought and attention you give its label.
How heavy are your stones?
How much time do you dedicate to thinking about failure?
How much time do you dedicate to thinking about how you compare to other people?
How much time do you dedicate to thinking about how youâre not good enough?
And how much time do you dedicate to improving and enriching your life?
Iâm here to tell you that if your âfailureâ stone is bigger and heavier than your stone of âsuccessâ then itâs time to make some drastic changes, because the ripples youâre creating will not help you become the person youâre capable of becoming.
If you want your stone of âsuccessâ to be heavier than your stone of âfailureâ then an input plan is one of the most practical ways in which to make it happen.
Inputs vs outputs
We each have the power to change the direction of our lives by altering our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
What we consume on a daily basisâour inputsâholds a disproportionate amount of influence over what we think, how we feel, and how we behave.
Some examples:
- If you sit around watching Keeping up with the Kardashians all day long and wonder why you feel like youâre not good enough, then that might be why!
- If youâre constantly scrolling through your Facebook feed and comparing your life with your friend from high school whoâs in a perfect relationship, just bought a purple Lamborghini, and has a six pack so defined you could wash your T-shirt on her torsoâand youâre constantly feeling depressed and less-than, then that might be why!
- If all you do is watch the newsâwhich is predicated on scaring the shit out of you and displaying everything thatâs wrong about the worldâand youâre wondering why youâve got such a negative outlook on life, then that might be why!
Itâs all about your inputs vs outputs.
STOP wasting your time on inputs that distract you, diminish you, and depress youâŠ
âŠand START investing your time on inputs that move your life forward and help you flourish, that motivate you to make meaningful moves towards your goals and ambitions.
And hereâs the good news: You can control your inputsâyou can control what enters your mind on a regular basis.
Create an input plan.
Assess your inputs by looking at all the stuff youâre consuming in your life: media, books, internet, conversations, etc.
If 80% of this content is not moving you forward in life, arrange yourself such that they are.
Your input determines your output. You can program yourself to do better and be better by choosing high quality inputs which will lead to high quality outputsâthe actions that help you thrive and succeed.
Here are some ideas for creating an input plan to reshape your mind towards growth and success.
Actionable insight(s):
- Ensure 80% of your inputs are growth-oriented. I follow an 80/20 ratio when it comes to my input: 80% of what I consume is what I believe to be quality content that helps me improve my life and achieve my goals. Stuff that keeps me sharp, stuff that keeps me growing. Things like books, audiobooks, and podcasts on topics I care about. Business and self-improvement seminars. 20% of what I consume is in the âwhateverâ categoryâwhich involves stuff like binge-watching House of Cards or listening to Kanye West.
- Build up your library with physical and audiobooks. Create a reading schedule. Listen to audiobooks on your commute. Always be feeding your mind.
- Stay away from negative people with negative inputs. Do not allow people to dump negative thoughts into your mind. Period. Donât allow it. Tell them you wonât accept their negativity or keep those people at a distance.
- Start your day with inputs that empower you. When you wake up each morning tell yourself âitâs a great day to take advantage of the opportunities the world has to offer.â Be excited about waking up. Start your day with enthusiasm. Do this in the first part of the day before any negative messages have a chance to enter your mind. Fill your brain with powerful, positive thoughts first.
- Turn your positive inputs into positive outputs. Feed your mind with quality, good, clean, powerful, positive thoughts and things consistently and daily. Never stop. Donât just consume the information, but learn it until it becomes a part of you by transforming what you consume into what you create. The ultimate goal of an input plan is to generate outputs that help you become a better version of yourself. The inputs should lead to actions that lead to a better quality of life.
Let me cap this discussion off with a few insightful words on inputs vs outputs by the original gangster of motivational speaking, Zig Ziglar:
âYour input determines your outlook. Your outlook determines your output, and your output determines your future.â