You Are What You Do

You are what you do

Imagine that your life is on the line. You are bleeding to death, and you need someone who is amazing at healing wounds (i.e. a doctor) to treat you and save your life. You would probably want that person to be a professionally practicing doctor, someone who does this every day. Imagine a guy now coming up to you assuring you “Don’t worry, I’m not an asshole like most people!” or “I have such a drive to do hard work” and that is all he says. You would probably say okay well what does that have to do with my bleeding wound and how can you help me?


At some point in our lives we’re one of those two people: the one needing that guy to save your life and the guy who is needed at that moment. The life saving moment was just an example, but imagine a situation you need help in right now that may involve other people - Maybe it is applying for a job, asking a girl out, being chosen for a movie part. All of these things are generally based on a person needing something and choosing the best fit candidate for that role. Let’s say that you are the person who is wanting to be chosen, not the chooser: 

What do you DO?

Who are you? Think about this very deeply. Think of 5 things most important about yourself, but here is the kicker: do not describe yourself based on your personality etc. (“I am a really nice guy!”) and do not say things you are not (“I am not some douchebag in a trucker hat”). Describe yourself based solely on only the things that YOU DO.

I spend my money as a construction worker on clothes and a gym membership

Your list might be 

1. I am a musician 
2. I am a runner
3. I make people laugh everyday 
4. I write blogs 
5. I make people’s lives better... etc.



Why is this so important to think about? It is because I keep seeing people deceiving themselves, and it is sad. We all have that friend who says “I am an actor/actress” and you may say “Great! What movies/plays/shows/pornos have you been in?” and they reply “well, none yet, I am just trying to find an agent...” They have nothing to show, and they are not an actor/actress: They are someone wishing to become something but have not made the right amount of effort to BE that. 

The cover for this book is gonna be awesome! When i finally write it..

Science has shown that when people get praise from their friends etc. for something they told them that they do, or will do in the future, they get the same rewarding feeling as if they would have actually done it. For example, “I’m gonna run everyday this week!” is just as rewarding to tell to someone as “Yea I ran everyday this week!," as far as our brain and mental well-being is concerned. Thinking back to the example with the bleeding to death, and you would probably be freaked out to have the guy who has talked about healing wounds for a living VS. the guy who has actually done it before.

What do you offer?

The world only cares what you can offer it. What can YOU offer that will make you valuable? So many times we hear that guy complaining “I don’t know why she won’t date me! I’m not a douchebag like that other guy...” If all you have to offer to the world is a bunch of faults that you don’t have, then please step away from me while im bleeding. There is someone else who is prepared for this job that would be happy to take your place.

When I tell people this, most people tend to either get very mopey and complain more and their problem never gets solved, but for a select few people, they “learn how to do surgery” to give it relevance to the wound example. It’s up to you, but don’t complain about how girls fall for jerks; they fall for them because those guys have something to offer (i.e. mustangs and looking cool). “But I’m a great talker!” That’s great. But hey there’s another guy in the other room who is too, and he can play Ukulele. Saying you are a nice guy is like a restaurant whose only selling point is that the food doesn’t make you vomit. There is a reason why we all still eat at fast food restaurants knowing that the corporations are secretly evil: they offer things we like.

This douchebag gets money because he makes clothes people like... even though he's a douche

Stop thinking “How can I get a job” or “How can I get a girl?” and start thinking “How can I be the type of person a company wants?” or “How can I be the type of person pretty girls like?”. You might be asking “Why can’t I find someone who likes me just for me?!” The answer is simple. Humans need things; That victim is bleeding to death and all you can do is look down and complain that the wounds aren’t fixing themselves.

“But I’m not good at anything!”

Well here is some good news: throw countless hours of practice and determination into something and you can become very good at nearly anything. I started off as a crappy magician when I was 10 years old, and after years of dedicated, relentless practice all the time I became very good at it: I was not born like that. I know how to play 3 instruments because I would practice nearly everyday with them.
Think about how much time is spent consuming things other people made like TV, movies, video games etc and think about how much time you have spent creating your own. Only one of those things adds to your value as a human being.

Think about who you are on the inside and how it relates to what you do. Too many people give the naive answer of “it’s all about who you are on the inside!” While this is true, it only matters if those things on the inside help you accomplish great things. Do you feel bad for the people across the world who need fresh water? Good. Does this make you actually do something about those people like donating money? Or are you the thousands of people in church that say “Oh dear! They are in our prayers...” Stop doing that. Millions of people die every year because they were “kept in our thoughts”. Those thoughts do nothing. Stand up and give something that will actually benefit the world.

Get up and do something epic

Please do not take any of this as an insult to your life or others; this is criticism. I am just telling life how it is. A person has two choices: stay in misery, which is easy because misery is comfortable. Or they can stand up and climb a mountain to achieve great things. There are going to be people that you will meet on your trip to achieving greatness that will criticize you and try to hold you back. Your fat friends will tell you how useless your dieting is, your lazy friends will try to hold you from working. But they only tell you these things because they aren’t able to do it themselves; they are cowards. They would

rather trash your work than get off of their sofa and achieve their dreams as well. People are afraid of what others can do.

Richard Branson is the definition of DOING awesome things

In summation, for the next few months, maybe a year from now, maybe even days from now, try to do SOMETHING. Anything. A goal you want to accomplish. Make yourself DO something that will make you a better person. And my God, keep it to yourself until you have completed it. Become the someone that people need.
In summation, climb mount everest and don’t tell anyone about it: That is the secret to becoming awesome.

What a beast. Not even tweeting to let everyone know he's doing this

-Hayden