“Badass.”
The first time I heard this word, I knew it was the word I was looking for. It’s not hard, but it’s tough. It doesn’t mean you’re an asshole, but that you’re driven. It’s not that you have a fuck-you kind of attitude, but you’re assertive as hell. Being a badass means you’re ready to go for it, and you’re not afraid to fall. It means that, even if you fall, you’re ready to get back up, dust yourself off, and keep moving forward.
“Badass” is really the only word I’ve found that says it all for me. As a business owner and Success Champion, I embrace it, and here’s why you should too.
Screw what other people think
Being a badass means not giving a shit what other people think about you or the journey you’re taking. It also means that you understand that everyone lives their lives with their own filter, looking through their own lenses, and what people think about you is really none of your business. Stop listening to what other people have to say about you. Turn off that noise in your head and keep pushing forward on your journey. That’s not to say that you can’t ever listen to constructive criticism. It just means that you need to take that criticism and weigh it against your gut instinct before deciding how to proceed.
Badasses understand that taking things too personally is a huge mistake and can end up creating bumps in the road. Instead, they stay in their lane and move forward, despite the naysayers.
Do the shit that scares the hell out of you
Seriously, do it. Don’t let fear hold you back from achieving your goals. Instead, use it as a compass to create your own purpose-driven life and business by understanding that doing what scares you is exactly the way forward to your success. Fear can be good for you. Being afraid is natural. The presence of fear is what kept our ancestors safe from imminent danger- from predators or dangerous situations. Today, the fear we feel usually means there’s a big change in our future. That change also usually brings with it opportunity.
There are two types of people in this world: people who run from fear, and those who square up and face it head on. Those people who face it head on are the ones able to achieve their goals. Be that kind of person. Staying safe isn’t badass territory. Take a fucking risk, and find other people who are doing the same.
“Everything you want is on the other side of fear.” Â – Jack Canfield
Take ownership of every piece of your life
Full stop. Being a badass means being willing to take ownership of your life- every aspect of it. That’s what badasses do. They take responsibility for the losses, and they sure as hell take responsibility for the wins. Badasses don’t complain or make excuses, and they sure as hell don’t blame other people for the way they feel or for their failures. They recognize their strengths and weaknesses, and do what they need to do to achieve their goals.
Sure, taking ownership can be scary. But so is failure. When you make the decision to take responsibility for your own actions, your own feelings, your failures and successes, you are telling the world, “I’m a badass. If I lose, that’s on me. But when I win, I made it happen.” It’s scary as hell, but it’s also a beautiful thing.
Play offense
Playing defense is a good way to get stuck and never achieve your goals. Instead of moving forward, those who play defense are simply trying to protect what they have. Badasses play offense and win regularly. In short, they’re always going for it. They’re jumping out of their comfort zone, making the tough plays, adjusting where needed, and then doing it all over again. Badasses are serious action takers.
Adopt a learner’s mindset
Do you shy away from the tough times, or do you lean into it and power through? Badasses know that the tough times bring with them lessons to be learned, and don’t judge these moments as “good” or “bad”. Instead, they view them as opportunities to learn, practice, and grow. They embrace the hardships that come along during their journey and look forward to doing better next time. They understand that these tough times aren’t failures, and that each mistake is simply a stepping stone toward their goal.
Start the journey to your badass self
The journey to becoming a badass isn’t just about facing your fears and powering through them, although that will happen along the way. It’s about who you become along the way, before you reach your goal. It’s about the hits you’re willing to take, as well as your ability to get back up and keep on keeping on. The willingness to do things others won’t is what sets you apart from the rest of the flock. The secret is to know that, no matter what comes your way, you’ve got this, and you can roll with the punches.
You’re reading this blog right now because you’re ready to step up and be the badass you dream of being. And you’ve got this. I have faith in you, and you should too. I see that inner badass trying to come out. Now it’s time to rip off the duct tape wrapped around your spirit and Run Like Hell.
Ready to hang with the cool kids?
Join us in my Facebook Group: Success Champions (Where Champions Hang Out & Rise Together)