How To Be Successful At Hard Shit (Anyone Can Make A Viral Video)

Learning how to be successful at hard shit has been a key to the fulfillment I feel in my life.

I believe I can do just about anything. I also believe that you can do just about anything. 

Don’t worry I’m not going to tell you that you can do anything, if you just believe in it enough. It is going to take a ass load of work, making smart decisions, and also taking a leap into the unknown.

But you can do it and it is probably easier than you think.

This post is for those looking for inspiration to tackle some really challenging goals in their life. If you have this handled or just aren’t interested, skip this one and head out on a walk.

In high school, I went from an average long distance runner to an All-State runner in a few years.

At my first job after college, I worked 120 hours a week, lived in the woods, and challenged troubled teens to drastically change their life. Despite wanting to quit the job every day for a couple years, I stuck through it. In a few years, I was the director of the school, had helped hundreds of students, and was even helping my own peers gain direction in their life.

When I decided to hitchhike around the USA, a lot of people told me that this would be the end for me. I didn’t believe them and went on to do it for myself. It was one of the most amazing year’s of my life.

Then I chose to make a viral video about my trip and was aiming to have a million people watch my video. My friends thought I had really lost it this time. Truth be told, if you are into betting the smart money was on them too, because I didn’t know much about videography, editing, or how to be successful on Youtube. Fortunately though, they were also pretty happy for me, when my video received over 100,000 views in the first week. Although I didn’t get a million views, 100,000 was enough to jumpstart my career in online video and blogging.

Since then I have been traveling for the past 4 months and making money by creating videos about my travels. Some would call this a dream job, but I still have bigger goals I’m shooting for.

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Yes… anyone can make a viral video or be successful at whatever dream keeps you up at night.

For example, I just opened a course to help online videographers make their own viral video. Most will tell me that this is crazy or is too good to be true. I will tell them that this course probably isn’t for you then.

Those of you that are thinking, “Hell yeah! I’ve been wanting to have a viral video for awhile now and could use some experienced help,” should read all the details here. If this sounds perfect for you, then sign up now. I’ll only accept a limited number of folks in the inaugural course, before I close enrollment.

If the course isn’t perfect for you, no sweat.

Each of my successes have come where so many others have failed. It might be easy for the cynical part of your mind to say something like, “But you are different from me, because you (insert trait that you wish you had) or (thing I have done that you wish you had done).”

Being cynical doesn’t help you grow and learning to shut down that voice was one of the first things I learned. Here are the 6 steps I use to be successful at the hard stuff.

6 Steps To Be A Success At Hard Shit:

1. Create a successful mindset

When I set out to make a viral video 2 years ago, I saw all the challenges that my friends were pointing out. I’m not stupid. I knew it would be tough. But I didn’t let that stop me.

I suspended my disbelief long enough to do some research, come up with an idea, and then set up a plan on how I would execute the idea. Once I had this plan, I knew I could do it. I truly believed in myself.

Then whenever the criticism or challenges got too tough, I would take a break from the work. I would head outside and go do something I loved or maybe take a fat nap.

When I was rejuvenated, my confidence would usually return and I would get back to work.

With the right mindset, your success will be inevitable.

2. Act

Action is the great separator. Lots of people have great ideas, but few people actually do the work to make it happen. If you learn to act, right now, then you have taken a huge jump towards being successful.

When I wanted to be a great runner, I ran at least one mile a day for over 1000 days. Go run for 1000 days or do whatever your passion is for 1000 days and see how much progress you can make.

Maybe you want a successful blog…

Maybe you want to be homeless, unemployed, and single…

Maybe you want to live in an RV…

Whatever it is you want, action is the number one way to get it.

3. Get experienced help

I have had some brilliant mentors teach me some mind-blowing shit. I wouldn’t be who I am without the help of my high school track coach, Mr. Aldrich or my counseling mentors, Josh, Ben, Nick, and Dave.

Plus, I’ve read or worked with some of the most brilliant minds online like:

Chris, who inspired me to set huge goals.

Ev, who inspired me to go all in.

Corbett, who taught me how to make epic shit.

Tyler, who showed me to embrace risk.

Leo, who taught me less is more.

Matt, who showed me how I could make a living with a travel blog.

Lea who showed me how to make a get my momentum going.

You can’t do it all. Know when to get help and who to get help from.

So many people love dishing out advice as they sit back in their Lazy-Boy slowly getting chubbier. These people subconsciously (some consciously) want you to live the same boring life they are leading.

Be very choosy about whose advice you listen to.

I only listen to advice from those who have done what I’m trying to do.

4. Learn from feedback

Don’t let your ego lead your projects, so that you can’t learn from your mistakes. Ask others for feedback often and really listen to what they don’t love about your project. You will learn a lot and you can use that knowledge to succeed.

If what they are saying is valid, then use it. If they are full of it, then continue with what you think works best and ask someone else.

5. Play to your strengths

I have never tried out for the NBA, because I’m short (compared to Manut Bol anyways). I don’t run a blog about online marketing, because I’m not an expert on this subject, despite it being one of the most profitable topics online.

I choose goals that are aligned with my strengths. I might have to do a lot of work to make these goals happen, but I’m not trying to shove a square peg into a round hole.

This is why I won’t ever try out for a sumo championship, even though I know you want to see me in one of those huge thongs.

6. Take the fucking leap

If you and I were drinking an India Pale Ale and shooting the breeze, I would curse if I told you this… for emphasis, of course. So I will curse here too.

Take the fucking leap. At some point, you have to put your chips on the table. You have to tell all your friends that you will make a viral video in 3 months (ps. I will make another viral video in 3 months. One million people will watch this video in a week.)

You will never know how everything will pan out. Maybe you succeed or maybe you fail. If you really want to go for something, then go for it. If you fail, at least you will know for yourself. Plus, you can learn from actual experience, tweak your approach, and try again.

The best part about going for big dreams is you will never have to look back on your life and wish you would have smootched that beautiful girl, or made that epic video, or started that unconventional business. Now that feeling of regret is horrible.

Failure ain’t so bad actually.

Take the fucking leap.

Ps. Take the fucking leap.

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Remember: These 6 steps worked for me, but you might have a different approach. If so, that is awesome, go do it your own way… you sexy sucker.

The most important thing is to start doing it for yourself right now. 

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Take a look at your own life. What have your successes been? What has helped you achieve them?

I’d love to hear what you think about this post on Twitter or in the comments.

Oh yeah… take the fucking leap.