The New Year Starts Right Now
Host: Eric Chow · December 2, 2021 · Episode 58 · 23 minutes
Transcribed from the episode audio and edited for names and terms. Wording can differ slightly from what was said; the episode itself is the record.
Quoted from this episode: 6 quotes on the quotes page.
Hey everybody before we get started with what this episode is going to be all about Here is a quick message on how you can start your own podcast if you want to Alrighty, what is going on everybody? Thank you so much for tuning into this episode of the Eric Chow Empowers Podcast The show that is designed to empower you. I'm your host Eric Chow and man First of all, I just want to say to those of you who have been listening to my show for a while, I just got my Spotify for podcast. There's a podcast host. We get our own Spotify wrapped for our show alongside our regular Spotify wrapped, of course.
And 41 of you listen to this podcast more than any other podcast. And I just want to say I'm honored. I am humbled. Thank you so very much for listening to this show.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. Three of you actually listen to almost every single episode, which is crazy. I mean, I think that y'all may have listened to more episodes of my show than I have. I mean, it's ridiculous. So. I appreciate you guys so much. I know there are many, many more of you where I was in the top five of the podcast that you listen to this year. So I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you so, so, so, so much. As you guys know, I've been at this for almost two and a half years and I'm definitely planning on continuing the show and it's because of people like you.
And so I'm just super honored, super humbled. And I hope that in the course of listening to my show, you have been inspired and encouraged and most of all empowered. I hope that you are not just enjoying the show and of course I want you to enjoy the hell out of this show but I hope that you are also thinking about your life and how you can make small improvements. I was telling somebody this the other day and I'm a math guy so I like math.
a 1% improvement every single day. You hear this a lot I think and a lot of you know, maybe on Instagram the cliche idea or whatever, right? But I like math. So I put in very mathematical terms. If you take 1.01, 1 being you, you are one whole, right? But if you improve 1%, 1.01, Every day for a year, so 1.01 to the 365th power, you are 37.78 times better than what you were. That's not a 37% improvement, by the way. 1.01 to 365 power equals 37 plus, plus some change, decimals, right? You are literally 37 times yourself. I don't know about you guys, but if I had 37 Eric Chows running my business, I'd be pretty happy. My business would be growing quite a bit with 37 versions of me. That'd be awesome.
All right, if we had 37 versions of me running different aspects I mean I'd have one guy running the podcast one guy running this business one guy running that business one guy doing school homework That's only for me. I mean that'd be incredible right? But literally that is what happens with one percent improvement on a daily basis And why do I mention that I mentioned that because in my opinion in my view 2022 starts right now when you're listening to this. It starts right now. I'm recording this 9.45 pm December 2nd, 2021. And as far as I'm concerned, 2022 started yesterday for me. Started on December 1st. I have my vision. I have some goals. I have.
Things that I want to accomplish in 2022 and as far as I'm concerned, it starts right now because right now is the time that I need to set myself up for success. The change will not happen suddenly on 2022 when it hits Jan first. The change will only happen if I set it up for change. If I start right now and if I don't, then I do not believe it's going to happen. Change does not happen like this. It does not happen at the moment, but you know, the clock suddenly changes to a new year. That is not that's not how this works. It changes day by day by day by day by day 1.01.
That's what you need to think about. So I hope that you guys are thinking about what are your goals? What are your resolutions? And more importantly, what is your plan?
What are the things that you need to change? What do you know how to change right now? What can you start working on right now? Who can you talk to? You know, I mean for example, right? I've to earlier today I had a conversation with one of my business partners and You know, I'm looking to make some changes. I have some ambitious goals and This guy has been extremely successful in a particular aspect that I need to work on. I realize this is something that I need to work on. And so a couple of days ago, I texted him, Hey, can we have grab, get on a call?
And can you tell me about how you're doing this? Because I know I need to start implement implementing those changes. I need to do better at this. If I'm going to set myself up for success in 2022.
So what can you do? Who can you talk to? Gotta start thinking about that and well when I say you gotta start thinking about that Don't think of it like I'm trying to tell you what to do I Definitely don't want to do that. I'm just saying that more to myself to be honest I need to do that because that is important to me. That's just That's what I feel like I need to do I just have that drive and I need to make some changes and I have big goals and big dreams. I'm an ambitious guy and so I start right now because I'm not delusional about everything suddenly going to change in January. It's not.
It starts right now. In fact, you know, I was having a podcast episode on someone else's show. I don't even remember if this made air or not, but I was having a conversation with this guy and he said, listen, man, my 2022 started when Q4 of 2021 started because we were already Q4. We're setting up for Q1 of 2022. So we were already getting set up a few months ago and we're still getting set up. And for me, that's a bit early. I get it. I mean, hey, it's super important. Trust me. Who knows? I may be like that when you can, you know, September 2022 comes around.
But for right now, I feel like I'm just starting right now. Whenever you're listening to me, they'll start right now. And I want to ask you a very serious question. I'm really, I want to dive into this, right? And it's a difficult question. Are you happy?
with your life. Are you satisfied? Would you be okay with living the rest of your life as it is right now? I know that's technically a couple of questions, but I think you'll agree they're all really the same thing. Are you complacent with your life? And for me, I'm not. Listen, I would love to say I'm happy with my life. I really would. But that'd be lying to myself and I've decided I don't want to lie to myself anymore. The truth is I'm not happy with my life. I'm not done yet. I'm sure as hell not okay with living the rest of my life as it is right now.
Now do not get me wrong. I love my life. My life is awesome. And I'm so excited about the many many things that are happening right now. I am enjoying the hell out of it, but I'm not satisfied.
I know I'm capable of more. I want to do more. I want to be more. I want to have a greater impact on people on the world. I have so much growth that I know is possible and so many dreams that I want to make come true and so many other people's dreams who I want to make their dreams come true or at least be a part of that process. So for me, I'm not satisfied. Now, it's not my place. to tell you whether it's right or wrong to be complacent. Whether you should or should not shoot for more in life. This is your life, it's your ambitions, it's your happiness.
If you were happy with where you are, if you were satisfied where you are, that is fantastic. Just don't lie to yourself because I did. And I don't think that's productive. If we want to empower ourselves, we have to admit to ourselves.
that there is more we want out of life. One way you can do that, one way you can realize that I think is if you are envious or jealous of somebody else, you need to wonder if you want what they have. I'll say it like this. If you are saying that you do not care or that you do not want something, but you are feeling envious or hurt, you are probably lying to yourself. Let me repeat that. If you are saying that you do not care or you do not want something and you are feeling envious or hurt, you are probably lying to yourself. That's called cognitive dissonance.
It is simple, basic psychology. We have to be real with ourselves if we are going to empower ourselves. Identify what you do and don't want. Are you happy with your life? Only then can you empower yourself and make some changes. And of course, Don't get me wrong. I'm ambitious as hell and I want more out of life. I'm not happier satisfied with where I am, but that does not mean I love where I am. I enjoy everything that's happening. I'm so excited about where my life is right now. I'm excited about the journey. I'm excited about what I've done. I'm even more excited about the future.
I'm having a blast along the way. I am just not comfortable staying where I am. I am happy in progress. I am appreciative of the moment and I'm refusing.
To settle. That's how I feel. If that's not how you feel, this is totally fine. You do not have to be me. But what I want you to think about is are you truly happy with your life? Are you satisfied? Or are there changes you'd like to make? And it doesn't have to be big changes. I'm telling you 1.01 1.01. It does not have to be big. But if you do need to make some changes, start right now. Figure out right now. What is it that you can do? What is it that you can do? You don't want to just set that set the intention like I'm gonna change Great Wonderful.
That's a fantastic start, but that's not it Studies have found you are more than 90% more likely to follow through if you have a plan of implementation I was just listening to that on a podcast the other day. I wish I remembered what it was, but I listened to a lot of podcasts. What can I say? And so you got to make a plan for implementation. Okay, you want to change this. Fantastic. Awesome. What are you going to do? How are you going to change? Who can you talk to? I'll give you an example, personal example, right? Business.
Awesome. I'm so excited about what I'm doing in my businesses. So excited about what I'm doing with my personal brand. Awesome things are happening, but I realized maybe a week ago, a couple of days ago, that there's a particular aspect of my business that I'm a little bit weak in. I mean, I'm doing pretty good. Don't get me wrong, but I realized I need to level up that skill if I'm going to achieve my goals in 2022. So what I did. Was I talked to somebody one of my business partners who I work with and he is very good way better at this particular skill than I am and I have texted him and I talked to him and I said listen can we set up a call and Can I have you share with me some ideas?
So that I can start working right now in December To set up for 2022 and we had that call earlier today and it's time for me to take action Because 2022 starts right now as far as I'm concerned. So Who can you talk to? What can you do? What changes would you like to make and you have to start right now? It's a difficult question. I get it. I think that in the modern day right now with so many things happening online you constantly you just pick up your phone and there's access to so much computers whatever But I feel like it's so important for us to take some time to actually be thoughtful.
I think that's really missing in a lot of people's lives and that thoughtfulness, that intention is so, so important. That's why I think that a lot of us are so drawn to content like this, like podcasts like this. The reason maybe potentially you're listening to this is because you like thoughtfulness.
And you're almost missing that. You're almost craving that. And that's why you listen to shows like mine or like other people's. And the key is not just to listen to it, but to actually be thoughtful for yourself too. I'm not gonna be able to give you all the answers and the secret to life. Because I don't know you. I'm not you. So you have to answer those questions for yourself. And all I'm doing is sharing what I'm doing. That's it. I mean, I don't talk about what I don't know or what I'm not doing. I talk about what I'm doing, what I'm figuring out, what I've learned, what I am learning, what I'm implementing, what I've implemented.
Like that's all I'm doing. And that's how we all grow together. I share what I know and you guys share what you know with me. And we level up.
I feel like I need to make some changes. I feel like I need to level up in order to achieve some of my goals for 2022 and 2023 and for the rest of my life and For me it starts right now Don't wait for the new year man. I mean just don't wait Why I mean it's not like you know, oh my god the clock changed to noon or not noon midnight 12 o'clock Oh wow, fantastic. Or it's all zeros. Maybe you're in military time. You go 0 0 0 0. Oh, no, nothing changed. Your phone calendar now says January 1 1 2 0 2 2. Fantastic. Nothing changed. It changes because you decided to make some changes in your life.
Not just an intention, but a strategy. You made some actual real changes in your life. That's how it starts. 1.01, just 1.01. And one thing I would tell you guys to kind of balance the ambition side of things, maybe some of you feel like you wanted to make some changes in the past. Maybe some of you feel like I tried and it didn't work out. I tried and failed. where I set some goals and I failed or I set some New Year's resolutions in 2021 and I failed. Let me tell you this, there is no external deadline. There is no external deadline. I mean, sure, there's external deadlines if you're in school and you have an assignment to turn in.
Sure, there's an external deadline if you're at work and you have a deadline for your project. Absolutely, there is. But in life and in personal growth, there is no external deadline. You grow according to your desire.
I hope you understand that there is no external deadline. You grow according to your desire. There is no there should be no outside pressure. It should be yours should be your desire. So don't worry about that. I mean, it's amazing how many people love themselves more than others. They care about themselves more than other people except they care about other people's opinions over their own. It doesn't make any sense. I mean, it's amazing. It's hilarious How we care so much more about ourselves than anybody else, but we care about other people's opinions More than our own that doesn't make any sense There is no external deadline you grow according to your desire It's that simple and if you feel like you failed if you feel like you've fallen short If you're wondering can I really change it is truly One of the great abilities that we have as human beings, that we have the capacity to change.
We are so fortunate to have this ability. We can adapt, we can change. I mean, it's just the nature of humanity. That is why we are the most powerful species on Earth. Because of change. Because of our ability to adapt, to be creative, to come up with new things. And man, we are such powerful creatures.
But it takes time. We don't change in a day. We change over time. And if you really want to change, you got to change. Start changing right now. Jim Rohn. Amazing. Jim Rohn said, the longer you wait to do something you should do now, the greater the odds that you will never actually do it. The longer you wait to do something you should do now, the greater the odds that you will never actually do it. So whenever you are listening to this episode your new year starts right now and I hope that you will sit down or go on a walk or whatever and think about What changes you would like to make in your life?
How you are going to make those changes who can you talk to and understand this too? Life can only be understood by looking backwards and only lived by looking forwards So don't worry about the past It only makes sense when you look backwards So learn from that but don't live in it. It's only lived by looking forwards in the moment looking forward if you were driving and You were trying to drive looking in the rear view mirror You'd probably crash pretty quickly, right? But every once in a while when you're driving you want to take a glance back so you see what's going on You want to be aware of it?
You want to learn from it you want to take a look at it, but you live by looking forward You move forward by looking forward Right I mean, it's just as simple as that so guys. I hope this episode helps you. I hope it fires you up. I don't mean this to be a Entertaining thing although. I hope it is too But I hope it fires you up. I hope it gets you thinking and I hope you start making some changes because I know for me I'm excited about where I am. I'm excited about what I've done. I'm excited about what I've accomplished It's life is exciting There's so much to look forward to though It's only up from here truly I feel like the best is absolutely yet to come Because I know that I'm improving myself every single day and I'm doing my best to grow every single day and I believe in me and I believe in the people around me And that includes you. So I love you guys. Let's get to work. Take care.