This has been a week of losses, but I want to inspire you. 🧡

Earlier this week, an old friend passed away. Rest in peace Amber.

Yesterday I attended a meetup with a few business owners, and we started the meeting with a visual gratitude exercise.

The image you see consists of 80 squares, which is our average lifespan. We marked through the squares equal to our age, to get a visual of what’s remaining. Powerful.

Here’s the thing; Had I done this visual exercise 10 years ago, I would have felt more anxiety and fear. Even though I had more squares remaining than today, I knew at 40 that I was just comfortable in life and I was settling for less than my potential.

Back then, I was only impacting those within my proximity. My family, friends, my employer, co-workers, team members. While this is good, I knew the potential to positively impact thousands existed… and I wasn’t making an effort to do it.

It wasn’t because I was lazy. It was because I feared the pursuit of something that may not ever happen. If I failed, what would others say or think about me? Why should I step out of comfort to do more impactful things?

Yesterday I marked through those squares, understanding I have fewer remaining. I felt no anxiety or fear. Absolutely zero. It’s because I’m pursuing my purpose and potential, and have positively impacted thousands of strangers. I’m doing the work to expand my proximity beyond what I can see or touch.

After I got home from the meeting, my dad called me. I knew something was wrong, because he never calls me at that time. He told me his brother died. Rest in peace, Uncle Jim.

I mourn these losses, but at the same time I’m inspired by them. Each loss is a reminder that time becomes more and more valuable, and it continuously counts down to zero.

I want you to consider your remaining squares. If you feel anxiety or fear about them… you still have time to make some changes. It’s time to stop settling for less. It’s time to step out of complacency and challenge yourself, again.

This is what people you’ve lost would have wanted for you.

-Tony