June 26, 2025 • 28 mins
Welcome to another powerful and thought-provoking episode of the Inspirations for Your Life Podcast! I’m your host, John C. Morley, and today we’re diving into a theme that reminds us of the untapped richness in every moment, choice, and connection: Nothing Should Go to Waste. Whether it’s your time, energy, emotions, or even your failures—every piece has value if we choose to see it. This episode is all about embracing that mindset and uncovering how to live more meaningfully by repurposing, redirecting, and reimagining everything life gives us.
1️⃣ Maximize value in everything Everything you possess—skills, ideas, time, and even your setbacks—holds potential value. It’s not about having more; it’s about using what you already have to the fullest. By being intentional, we can transform ordinary resources into extraordinary outcomes. Think of your energy, your voice, your presence—none of it should go unused or unnoticed.
2️⃣ Repurpose experiences Not every experience will feel “positive” in the moment. But if we reflect, we often discover lessons in disguise. That awkward job, failed project, or difficult conversation? Repurpose it. Turn it into a story, a teaching moment, or a motivator. Life isn’t just about what happens to us—it’s about what we do with it.
3️⃣ Adopt a sustainable mindset A sustainable mindset goes beyond eco-consciousness—it's about emotional, mental, and practical sustainability. Are you burning out by overcommitting? Are you giving energy to people or things that don’t serve your growth? Sustainability means pacing yourself and cultivating long-term balance, not just short-term wins.
4️⃣ Recognize hidden potential Just because something or someone doesn’t shine immediately doesn’t mean it lacks value. Hidden potential exists in overlooked people, forgotten talents, and even the “junk drawer” of our lives. Practice curiosity. Question what you've written off. Treasure isn’t always obvious—it often needs to be revealed.
5️⃣ Don’t waste emotional energy Worry, jealousy, regret—these emotions drain energy when we allow them to spiral unchecked. Instead of suppressing them, learn to redirect them. That frustration might become a drive to change. That sadness could spark connection. Every emotion has a use when channeled purposefully.
6️⃣ Value time intentionally Time is the only resource we can’t get back. Are you spending it—or investing it? Be conscious of how your hours and minutes are allocated. Even leisure time should feel meaningful. When you value your time, you naturally start respecting your goals, your values, and yourself more deeply.
7️⃣ Grow from every moment Personal growth doesn’t require perfect conditions—it just requires presence and reflection. Whether it’s a big achievement or a quiet failure, every moment offers a lesson. Growth isn’t a destination; it’s a way of being. The more you embrace that, the more rewarding every step becomes.
8️⃣ Redirect negativity constructively Negativity is energy—misguided, but still energy. Don’t suppress it—repurpose it. That criticism? Turn it into a motivator. That conflict? Use it to clarify boundaries. When you learn to redirect rather than absorb, you reclaim power and stop negativity from going to waste.
9️⃣ Learn from all relationships Not every relationship will last, but every one can teach you something. From close friends to casual encounters, people reflect parts of ourselves back to us. What annoyed you? What inspired you? What did they bring out in you? If you pay attention, even difficult relationships become teachers.
🔟 Think in terms of legacy What are you leaving behind—not just when you're gone, but each day? Your impact, your example, your words—they ripple out. Thinking in terms of legacy helps us live more intentionally. We stop wasting our efforts on distractions and start building something that matters.
🎯 Incorporating these practices consistently can
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
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(00:19):
Well, hey guys, good morning and welcome to
Inspirations to Your Life.
I'm glad you decided to join me here
today.
It is a Thursday, it's June 26, and
welcome to the show, everyone.
Our master topic for the week, in case
you didn't know, it's Multiply Meaning Not Effort.
And our granular for today is Nothing Should
(00:42):
Go to Waste, series four, show 26, episode
six.
Hey friends, if you're thirsty or maybe hungry
or want a snack, go to the kitchen,
get yourself something great to eat or drink.
I've got my RO water here, delicious and
refreshing.
Get yourself something healthy, something sweet, or not
healthy, that's totally up to you.
(01:04):
And don't forget to check out BelieveMeAchieved.com
for more of my amazing, of course, inspiring
creations after the show, that is.
All right, guys, without any further ado, let's
kick this puppy off, all right?
All right, welcome everyone to another powerful and
thought-provoking episode of Inspirations to Your Life
podcast.
Whether you're joining us for the first time,
I say welcome to you.
(01:24):
If you are coming back, well, I say
welcome back.
It's always great to have fellow colleagues, friends,
and associates coming back that enjoy the content.
So I am your host, John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur, podcast host, video producer, engineer,
and many other things.
And today I'm diving into a theme that
reminds us of the untapped, well, let's say,
(01:47):
richness in every moment that can be possessed,
like choice and connection.
Nothing should go to waste, whether it's your
time, your energy, your emotions, or even your
failures.
Every piece has a value if you choose
to see it that way.
This episode is all about embracing that mindset
and uncovering how to live more meaningfully by
(02:08):
repurposing, redirecting, and reimagining everything life gives us,
all right, guys?
So let's get started.
Number one, maximize your value in everything.
Yes, everything you possess.
That's skills, that's ideas, that's time, and even
your setbacks.
Yes, guys, your setbacks.
Hold potential value.
(02:29):
It's not about having more.
It's about using what you already have to
fulfill your needs and your desires.
By being intentional, we can transform ordinary resources
into extraordinary outcomes.
Think of your energy, your voice, your presence.
None of it should go unused or unnoticed.
Number two, repurpose your experiences.
(02:54):
And so not every experience will feel positive
in that moment, but if we reflect and
we often discover lessons in disguise, that awkward
job, failed project, or difficult conversation, repurpose it,
turn it into a story, a teaching moment,
or a motivator.
Life isn't just about what happens to us,
(03:14):
guys.
It's about what we do with it, and
I think that's important.
We can't get stuck because we've got lemons
today.
Let's work on turning into lemonade.
Adopt a sustainable mindset.
Sustainable mindset goes beyond eco-consciousness.
It's about emotional, mental, and practical sustainability.
(03:34):
Are you burning out by overcommitting?
Are you giving energy to people or things
that don't serve your growth?
Sustainability means pacing yourself and cultivating long-term
balance, not just the short-term wins.
I think a lot of people want those
short-term wins because they think it's going
to be easier, but in the long run,
it's just going to hurt you or burn
(03:56):
you.
Number four, recognize hidden potential.
Just because something or someone doesn't, let's say,
shine immediately, doesn't mean it lacks any value
or luster.
Hidden potential exists in overlooked people, forgotten talents,
and even the junk drawer of our lives.
Practice curiosity.
(04:18):
Question what you've written off.
Treasure isn't always obvious.
It's often needing to be revealed, so be
a little exploratory.
Number five, don't waste emotional energy, worry, jealousy,
regret.
These emotions just drain energy when we allow
(04:39):
them to spiral unchecked.
Instead of suppressing them, learn to redirect them.
That frustration might become a drive to change.
That sadness could spark a connection with someone.
Every emotion has a use when channeled purposely.
Number six, value time intentionally.
(05:02):
Time is the only resource we can't get
back.
We all get 24 hours in a day.
Are you spending it or investing it?
Be conscious of how your hours and your
minutes are allocated.
Even leisure time should feel meaningful.
When you value your time, you naturally start
(05:22):
respecting your goals, your values, and yourself gets
to feel more deeply respected.
Number seven, grow from every moment.
Personal growth doesn't require perfect conditions.
It just requires presence and reflection.
Whether it's a big achievement or a quiet
(05:42):
failure, every moment offers a lesson.
Growth isn't a destination.
It's a way of being.
The more you embrace that, the more rewarding
every step becomes.
Number eight, redirect negativity constructively.
Negativity is energy, misguided, but it's still energy,
(06:03):
right?
So don't suppress it, repurpose it.
That criticism, turn it into a motivator.
That conflict, use it to clarify boundaries.
When you learn to redirect rather than absorb,
you reclaim power and stop negativity from going
to waste.
It's like if you have a cut, right?
If you don't suppress or put pressure on
(06:27):
that cut, it's going to keep bleeding, right?
It's not going to clot.
So we need to do something.
So we need to make sure that we
stop the bleeding first.
All right, I think that's a very, very
important thing.
And guys, number nine, learn from all relationships.
Not every relationship will last, but everyone can
teach you something.
From close friends to casual encounters, people reflect
(06:49):
parts of ourselves back to us.
What annoyed you?
What inspires you?
What did they bring out in you?
If you pay attention, even difficult relationships become.
Think in terms of legacy.
Number 10, what are you leaving behind?
Not just when you're gone, but each day,
(07:13):
your impact, your example, your words, they ripple
out because when you're not there, people are
still thinking, people are still hearing you just
like me.
When I'm not on the air, you're not
watching me.
Well, I'm always on the air, but when
you're not watching me, what message am I
leaving in your heart or in your mind?
Thinking in terms of legacy helps us live
more intentionally.
And we stop wasting our efforts on distractions
(07:34):
and start building something that means more and
that matters.
And when something matters, guess what?
We are more intentional with it.
Well, guys, here's the part of the show.
I love every part of the show.
I'm sure you know that.
But here's one of the part of the
shows I really like.
So I'm going to basically give you a
personal story or lesson for each point today.
(08:01):
And I'm hoping that this will help you
solidify what I'm talking about.
And by doing that, it's going to give
you kind of like a bridge of where
you can go.
Because I know sometimes it can get very
confusing to say like, John, I'm lost.
Like I don't know where I'm supposed to
(08:21):
go.
I don't even know where to start.
Do I go clockwise or do I go
counterclockwise or do I go in a circle?
Do I go in a line?
Do I go zigzag?
I mean, the straightest point between two lines,
between two points is a line.
But does that always mean that?
(08:41):
Because sometimes we're doing things, but the straightest
point between a line may not be correct
because there might be other hindrances.
Like we learned the other day, roads were
exploding.
287 was actually buckling and the road was
melting.
So we have to look at the situation
that we're in.
And we have to say, gee, is this
(09:03):
really relative to me at the current moment?
If it's not, then I think we've got
to do some, let's say, digging.
And by digging, we can actually discover some
curiosities.
And these curiosities, I hope, will inspire you
to, let's say, regroup.
(09:27):
Sometimes start over.
But sometimes you don't want to throw everything
away.
Sometimes you've already started and you've got a
good path, but maybe you just need to
change part of the recipe, right?
We've all made cookies before, and you guys
know I love to do culinary.
Sometimes when I made cookies the very first
time, they didn't come out great.
Will that mean I throw the whole recipe
away?
No, maybe I can doctor it up.
(09:48):
Maybe there's something I'm missing.
Maybe I forgot something.
And so these are important things.
And so when we understand this, it's a
gateway for us to become, I'm going to
say, more intentional, okay, much more intentional.
All right, let's get into these points, all
(10:10):
right?
So number one, maximize your value in everything.
Remember, once I was helping a client who
felt defeated, deflated, because they didn't have the
right tools to start their business.
They were so focused on what they lacked
that they ignored what they already had, knowledge,
connections, and a true passion for their industry.
(10:33):
I helped them shift their mindset to see
their current resources as valuable.
Within months, they were running a profitable business
built entirely from what was already at their
fingertips.
I think so many times we're always looking
to judge even ourselves that we forget to
applaud what we've already done.
(10:55):
I think that's a very, very, very important
thing.
So personally, I used to look at my
free time as wasted time if I wasn't
working, but I learned to shift that thinking.
I began using that time to learn something
new, reconnect with people, or simply reflect.
See, that change allowed me to recharge my
batteries and bring even more focus and energy
(11:18):
into my work.
Every moment, tool, or challenge truly has something
to offer if we open our mind to
look closely enough.
Number two, repurpose experiences.
Early in my career, many, many years ago,
I was part of a project that completely
(11:39):
fell apart.
At the time, I felt like it was
a failure and embarrassment.
This was like one of my first gigs
I did after college before I really took
the company full time.
It was always started when I was in
college, but it was part time.
But a year later, I was mentoring someone
facing a similar challenge.
I drew from that failed project to guide
them through their journey, and they avoided many
(12:01):
of the same pitfalls that we did and
faced.
What seemed like a loss turned into be
a blueprint for someone else's growth.
In my podcasting journey, some episodes didn't perform
the way I hoped in the beginning, but
instead of deleting them, I revisited them.
I pulled the best segments out, and I
reused them in highlight reels and coaching sessions.
(12:23):
Every piece of content, every stumble, became part
of a bigger purpose.
Nothing truly goes to waste when you're willing
to repurpose it.
I think that's a big key for today.
Number three, adopt a sustainable mindset.
There was a time, guys, when I tried
(12:43):
to be everything to everyone, working nonstop, taking
every client on, and saying yes to every
request, both professionally and even personally.
I thought I was being productive.
I thought I was being polite, but I
was burning out.
Eventually, I realized I was living unsustainably emotionally
and physically.
(13:04):
I had to step back and reevaluate how
I managed my energy.
Now, guys, I build space into my schedule.
I prioritize tasks that align with my long
-term visions and values.
I even give myself permission to rest.
Yes, I do.
Adopting a sustainable mindset allowed me to deliver
(13:25):
consistent value without sacrificing my well-being.
Sustainability isn't just about the planet, guys.
It's about preserving ourselves.
Number four, recognize hidden potential.
Well, years ago, which again, this was years
ago, I was working with a young intern
(13:46):
who seemed shy and uncertain.
Many overlooked him, but I noticed he had
a great eye for detail and acquired strength.
I gave him more responsibility.
Over time, he blossomed into a confident, creative
leader.
Today, he runs his own successful business.
That hidden potential just needed someone to believe
(14:07):
in him.
I've also found hidden potential in everyday things
like an old camera that sparked my interest
into visual storytelling or an unused notebook that
became my journal of breakthroughs.
Life hides treasures in plain sight.
When we look beyond the surface, we often
find gold in places we never expected.
(14:28):
One thing I want to share with you,
and we'll do a whole episode on this,
is our dreams.
Last night, I had a dream about basically
helping some guys on a bowling team, 13,
14, 15, and 16-year-olds, teaching them
how to bowl and also answering questions for
them about life.
(14:49):
That indicated and resonated very well with me
that I'm here to mentor people, maybe not
just 13, 14, 15, and 16-year-olds,
but everyone.
I think when I was able to do
that, I was able to get them to
not only appreciate life, they actually started bowling
better.
It was a bowling dream.
I love to bowl.
Number five, don't waste emotional energy used to
(15:15):
spend a lot of time replaying negative conversations
in your head, the things I wish I
said or how someone wronged me.
It drained me.
Move on.
It's a bump in the road.
One day, I wrote a letter to someone
I was upset with, not to send it,
but to release the emotion.
That simple act gave me clarity and helped
me move forward with peace and tranquility.
(15:35):
Emotional energy, guys, is powerful, but like electricity,
it needs to be directly channeled.
When I started transforming frustration into motivation and
sadness into empathy, I found that those emotions
became tools rather than burdens.
Letting go or redirecting that energy is one
of the healthiest things that you can do
in life.
(15:56):
Number six, guys, value time intentionally.
There, ladies and gentlemen, was a time.
It was a stretch where I said yes
to every meeting, every call, every invite, thinking
I was being productive and also polite, but
I often left these conversations drained and behind
(16:17):
on my real priorities.
I finally started time blocking and asking, does
this align with my visions and goals?
That one filter changed everything for me, like
overnight.
Now I spend my mornings in focus mode
and leave my afternoons more open.
I also protect time for things that matter,
(16:39):
learning, exercise, family, rest.
You know, in the beginning, I used to
take interviews or podcast people all the time.
Now I set aside time when I do
pre-chats with my potential guests.
Every hour I control ads richest in my
life.
(17:00):
Time is our most precious currency, and how
we spend it defines who we become, and
it shapes the level of respect.
And when we have a higher level of
respect for ourself, guess what?
Other people start to have that same level
of respect.
Respect yourself and other people will respect you.
Grow after every moment.
(17:21):
After losing a major client unexpectedly, I felt
defeated.
But once the shock wore off, I asked
myself what I could do to learn from
it.
So many of you know that I broke
my tib and fib, oh gosh, over 70
years ago or more, and I did it
by no fault of my own, and I
(17:41):
was a great intermediate skier, but this resort
where I went to, Hunter Mountain, they decided
to give the resort over to their grandkids,
their grandfather.
They didn't know anything about business, money, of
course, nothing about skiing, nothing about hospitality, or
even the restaurant industry.
They should have closed the mountain down, but
they didn't because they were so money hungry,
(18:03):
and that's what they did.
I was one of the two or three
people that day or that weekend that went
to the hospital and didn't have surgery.
I remember going to the top of the
mountain and coming down.
It was a little icy, so I said,
I'm going to go to a bigger mountain
because it's going to be less ice because
it'll be higher up.
Good idea.
(18:24):
Unfortunately, when I started going down the mountain,
I pivoted left, right a few times.
When I went right, I was about to
pivot left again, my left leg just snapped.
I blocked out any pain or discomfort, which
was amazing.
When I fell, it was like my leg
(18:47):
felt disconnected, but again, I didn't know if
it was the cold.
It felt because the weather does funny things
to you.
Then I healed my leg without any surgery.
I won't get into all that now, but
I used something called bone energy, like sugar
pills, and that energy caused my leg to
(19:08):
heal.
I think it's important to realize what goes
on in your life.
What happened in this case was I hired
some people to help because I wasn't able
to run my business with having a broken
leg and in a wheelchair and back and
forth and whatnot.
Starting my day took, let's say, a few
hours just to get going, when now it
(19:29):
only takes like a half hour or so.
I remember this one kid that I hired,
and I went through all the due diligence
to make sure I hired somebody good.
He was great in the beginning, but then
when I started to put confidence in him
and rely on him, he started missing the
mark, deciding that he was going to take
(19:51):
lunch because he needed lunch, but he never
checked in and asked if he could take
lunch.
A client was waiting for him, this one
client, at four o'clock.
He got busy that day.
He didn't have a chance to take a
break.
He didn't ask me if he could take
a break.
He just assumed he would just take a
break at four o'clock when the client
was waiting for him.
(20:12):
I'm sure if he would have called me,
I would have said, hey, look, yeah, go
take a break.
I'll tell the client you're going to be
there in 30 minutes.
Would have been no problem.
The fact that he never called me and
he just showed up an hour late, that
was disrespectful.
The fact that he didn't know what he
was doing and he broke things, that was
disrespectful.
When I brought him into a exit interview,
(20:34):
he was like this person that was so
afraid.
I've given him warnings, but it's like he
didn't see the writing on the wall.
I think sometimes we have to see our
own writing on the wall and we have
to not be afraid to let somebody go.
(20:54):
Letting him go was one of the best
things I did.
And letting that client go or them getting
rid of us was one of the best
things we ever did because they were abusing
us and no one should abuse them.
We have a very strict policy.
We don't discriminate for race, religion, sexual orientation,
creed, color, political party, whether it's an employee,
whether it's a vendor, right?
(21:18):
Contractor, important, very, very important.
Even on a personal level, I now look
at little setbacks, a canceled plan, a bad
day as invitations to pause and grow.
There's always something to extract if you're paying
attention.
Life's lessons don't always come gift wrapped or
(21:40):
in the right paper that you want or
the right bow or maybe in the right
flavor of a sandwich, but they're always there
for you.
So make sure that you pay attention to
them.
Number eight, redirect negativity constructively.
This is key.
I once received harsh feedback after a presentation.
(22:01):
At first, it hurt me.
I wanted to defend myself, but I paused
and asked what truth might be in this.
I took the comments separately and the emotions
from the facts and distanced them and used
it to make my next talk even better.
That presentation ended up being one of my
best.
This happened, actually.
(22:21):
I was giving a presentation for a group
of librarians, and I was training as a
contractor for a large software company.
I won't mention them.
They start with the letter F, and they're
in many college libraries and bookstores.
But two things.
One, they didn't treat their contractors and employees
very well, and second, these librarians had this
(22:41):
kind of attitude.
It had to be their way or no
way.
They were definitely not open to new ways
of learning.
Negativity is like fire.
It can burn you or it can fuel
you.
I now teach clients to write down their
complaints or frustrations and turn them into vibrant
goals or aspirations or solutions.
That shift in energy changes everything.
(23:05):
We can't always avoid negativity, unfortunately, but we
can choose what we do with it and
how we respond to it.
Number nine, learn from all relationships.
A former friend of mine and I had
a falling out for a while, and I
felt a little bitter about it.
But when I reflected, I saw how much
(23:26):
I learned from that relationship, how to set
boundaries, communicate early and clearly, and trust my
instincts.
That difficult chapter ended up being one of
my greatest teachers.
Even though we didn't come back to being
friends because the person was a little bit
pigheaded, and I was willing to forgive them,
(23:47):
and I was hoping they were willing to
forgive me, I just chalked it up to
the universe and said, you know what?
What's meant to be is meant to be,
and I don't hold any grudges against this
person, and I wish them all the best
in life.
Even short interactions, a barista's kindness or a
stranger's impatience can teach us, well, relationships are
mirrors.
(24:07):
They reflect what we need to see if
we're willing to look.
Now, I view every person as a potential
mentor in some way, and I was somewhere,
and I was talking to somebody, and my
friends go, well, you're just talking to a
person.
Do you know them?
I'm like, no, I just had a conversation
with them.
(24:27):
But do you know them?
I said, yeah, but we had something in
common.
We live in the same community, or we
went to the same school, or something like
that.
So I always find a way to make
an inroad.
If somebody doesn't welcome it, well, then I
just thank them for the time, and I
wish them a good day.
Number 10, think in terms of legacy.
A few years ago, I started asking myself,
(24:48):
if I stopped working today, what would people
remember?
That question shifted how I show up each
day.
I began focusing more on service, consistency, and
authenticity.
I realized legacy isn't something we build at
the end.
It's what we build every day.
I got to tell you, with all my
content, from the content I create to the
conversations I have, I now ask, does this
(25:09):
add value beyond me?
Thinking in terms of legacy helps me live
with more intention, more purposefulness.
It reminds me that the ripple effect of
today can become someone else's inspiration for tomorrow.
I know that you might be saying, John,
I can't do that.
Well, you don't have to be a content
creator, but you need to just be purposeful
(25:29):
in your communications, even if you're not a
speaker.
If you talk with somebody, it could be
whether you're a mother, father, brother, sister, relative.
You don't have to be a boss.
Be purposeful in your communication.
Remember to listen more than you speak.
That's what we're given, two ears and not
only one mouth.
(25:52):
I think when we start to assimilate these
things and we start to appreciate even our
setbacks, because our setbacks can be pretty interesting.
I'll give you another example.
There was a college course I was taking.
I decided to leave the course because the
(26:12):
instructor and I were not aligning.
Not only were we not aligning, but the
instructor was starting to put blame on me.
Really, the instructor couldn't teach.
Now, I have been in class before where
I teach myself.
I couldn't even make heads or tails what
the syllabi is because they kept changing it.
(26:34):
When I reached out to this professor and
I said, hey, I have a question, I
was told, well, you need to chill and
just take it step by step.
I reached out again.
I was told I studied too much.
I reached out again.
I was told I should drop the course.
I didn't take that advice right away.
But one thing I did learn from this
(26:56):
person is I don't want to be in
that class again.
I don't want to be in a class
like that with that person.
That person disrespected me.
Once somebody disrespects me, it's very hard for
me to go back and let's say I
can forgive them, but I don't forget.
(27:17):
I don't ever want to be in a
class with that person again because they had
this very big ego.
One thing when I get my next master's,
my PhD, I'm not going to have that
ego.
I'm going to be humble.
I'm learning so I can become better, so
I can inspire others, not so I can
shove it down somebody's throat that I have
a PhD or I have a master's.
(27:40):
I have it so I can enrich the
world and make the world a better place.
I think that's a very important thing, but
I realize some people, they get a degree
because they want to brag about it.
That's not who I am.
I went back to college just recently, not
because of anybody, but because of me and
(28:00):
because I want to add more value to
this world.
Some people are going to challenge you.
I want to let you know that nothing
should go to waste.
If you're not sure what I'm talking about,
well, then sit down with a pen, paper,
or your laptop, take some notes, journal.
You'll eventually figure it out.
(28:20):
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, a serial entrepreneur.
Be sure to check out BelieveMeAchieved.com for
more of my amazing, inspiring creations.
I'll catch you real soon.
Have a great one and don't waste anything,
especially not your time.
Well, hey guys, good morning and welcome to
Inspirations to Your Life.
I'm glad you decided to join me here
today.
It is a Thursday, it's June 26, and
welcome to the show, everyone.
Our master topic for the week, in case
you didn't know, it's Multiply Meaning Not Effort.
And our granular for today is Nothing Should
(00:42):
Go to Waste, series four, show 26, episode
six.
Hey friends, if you're thirsty or maybe hungry
or want a snack, go to the kitchen,
get yourself something great to eat or drink.
I've got my RO water here, delicious and
refreshing.
Get yourself something healthy, something sweet, or not
healthy, that's totally up to you.
(01:04):
And don't forget to check out BelieveMeAchieved.com
for more of my amazing, of course, inspiring
creations after the show, that is.
All right, guys, without any further ado, let's
kick this puppy off, all right?
All right, welcome everyone to another powerful and
thought-provoking episode of Inspirations to Your Life
podcast.
Whether you're joining us for the first time,
I say welcome to you.
(01:24):
If you are coming back, well, I say
welcome back.
It's always great to have fellow colleagues, friends,
and associates coming back that enjoy the content.
So I am your host, John C.
Morley, serial entrepreneur, podcast host, video producer, engineer,
and many other things.
And today I'm diving into a theme that
reminds us of the untapped, well, let's say,
(01:47):
richness in every moment that can be possessed,
like choice and connection.
Nothing should go to waste, whether it's your
time, your energy, your emotions, or even your
failures.
Every piece has a value if you choose
to see it that way.
This episode is all about embracing that mindset
and uncovering how to live more meaningfully by
(02:08):
repurposing, redirecting, and reimagining everything life gives us,
all right, guys?
So let's get started.
Number one, maximize your value in everything.
Yes, everything you possess.
That's skills, that's ideas, that's time, and even
your setbacks.
Yes, guys, your setbacks.
Hold potential value.
(02:29):
It's not about having more.
It's about using what you already have to
fulfill your needs and your desires.
By being intentional, we can transform ordinary resources
into extraordinary outcomes.
Think of your energy, your voice, your presence.
None of it should go unused or unnoticed.
Number two, repurpose your experiences.
(02:54):
And so not every experience will feel positive
in that moment, but if we reflect and
we often discover lessons in disguise, that awkward
job, failed project, or difficult conversation, repurpose it,
turn it into a story, a teaching moment,
or a motivator.
Life isn't just about what happens to us,
(03:14):
guys.
It's about what we do with it, and
I think that's important.
We can't get stuck because we've got lemons
today.
Let's work on turning into lemonade.
Adopt a sustainable mindset.
Sustainable mindset goes beyond eco-consciousness.
It's about emotional, mental, and practical sustainability.
(03:34):
Are you burning out by overcommitting?
Are you giving energy to people or things
that don't serve your growth?
Sustainability means pacing yourself and cultivating long-term
balance, not just the short-term wins.
I think a lot of people want those
short-term wins because they think it's going
to be easier, but in the long run,
it's just going to hurt you or burn
(03:56):
you.
Number four, recognize hidden potential.
Just because something or someone doesn't, let's say,
shine immediately, doesn't mean it lacks any value
or luster.
Hidden potential exists in overlooked people, forgotten talents,
and even the junk drawer of our lives.
Practice curiosity.
(04:18):
Question what you've written off.
Treasure isn't always obvious.
It's often needing to be revealed, so be
a little exploratory.
Number five, don't waste emotional energy, worry, jealousy,
regret.
These emotions just drain energy when we allow
(04:39):
them to spiral unchecked.
Instead of suppressing them, learn to redirect them.
That frustration might become a drive to change.
That sadness could spark a connection with someone.
Every emotion has a use when channeled purposely.
Number six, value time intentionally.
(05:02):
Time is the only resource we can't get
back.
We all get 24 hours in a day.
Are you spending it or investing it?
Be conscious of how your hours and your
minutes are allocated.
Even leisure time should feel meaningful.
When you value your time, you naturally start
(05:22):
respecting your goals, your values, and yourself gets
to feel more deeply respected.
Number seven, grow from every moment.
Personal growth doesn't require perfect conditions.
It just requires presence and reflection.
Whether it's a big achievement or a quiet
(05:42):
failure, every moment offers a lesson.
Growth isn't a destination.
It's a way of being.
The more you embrace that, the more rewarding
every step becomes.
Number eight, redirect negativity constructively.
Negativity is energy, misguided, but it's still energy,
(06:03):
right?
So don't suppress it, repurpose it.
That criticism, turn it into a motivator.
That conflict, use it to clarify boundaries.
When you learn to redirect rather than absorb,
you reclaim power and stop negativity from going
to waste.
It's like if you have a cut, right?
If you don't suppress or put pressure on
(06:27):
that cut, it's going to keep bleeding, right?
It's not going to clot.
So we need to do something.
So we need to make sure that we
stop the bleeding first.
All right, I think that's a very, very
important thing.
And guys, number nine, learn from all relationships.
Not every relationship will last, but everyone can
teach you something.
From close friends to casual encounters, people reflect
(06:49):
parts of ourselves back to us.
What annoyed you?
What inspires you?
What did they bring out in you?
If you pay attention, even difficult relationships become.
Think in terms of legacy.
Number 10, what are you leaving behind?
Not just when you're gone, but each day,
(07:13):
your impact, your example, your words, they ripple
out because when you're not there, people are
still thinking, people are still hearing you just
like me.
When I'm not on the air, you're not
watching me.
Well, I'm always on the air, but when
you're not watching me, what message am I
leaving in your heart or in your mind?
Thinking in terms of legacy helps us live
more intentionally.
And we stop wasting our efforts on distractions
(07:34):
and start building something that means more and
that matters.
And when something matters, guess what?
We are more intentional with it.
Well, guys, here's the part of the show.
I love every part of the show.
I'm sure you know that.
But here's one of the part of the
shows I really like.
So I'm going to basically give you a
personal story or lesson for each point today.
(08:01):
And I'm hoping that this will help you
solidify what I'm talking about.
And by doing that, it's going to give
you kind of like a bridge of where
you can go.
Because I know sometimes it can get very
confusing to say like, John, I'm lost.
Like I don't know where I'm supposed to
(08:21):
go.
I don't even know where to start.
Do I go clockwise or do I go
counterclockwise or do I go in a circle?
Do I go in a line?
Do I go zigzag?
I mean, the straightest point between two lines,
between two points is a line.
But does that always mean that?
(08:41):
Because sometimes we're doing things, but the straightest
point between a line may not be correct
because there might be other hindrances.
Like we learned the other day, roads were
exploding.
287 was actually buckling and the road was
melting.
So we have to look at the situation
that we're in.
And we have to say, gee, is this
(09:03):
really relative to me at the current moment?
If it's not, then I think we've got
to do some, let's say, digging.
And by digging, we can actually discover some
curiosities.
And these curiosities, I hope, will inspire you
to, let's say, regroup.
(09:27):
Sometimes start over.
But sometimes you don't want to throw everything
away.
Sometimes you've already started and you've got a
good path, but maybe you just need to
change part of the recipe, right?
We've all made cookies before, and you guys
know I love to do culinary.
Sometimes when I made cookies the very first
time, they didn't come out great.
Will that mean I throw the whole recipe
away?
No, maybe I can doctor it up.
(09:48):
Maybe there's something I'm missing.
Maybe I forgot something.
And so these are important things.
And so when we understand this, it's a
gateway for us to become, I'm going to
say, more intentional, okay, much more intentional.
All right, let's get into these points, all
(10:10):
right?
So number one, maximize your value in everything.
Remember, once I was helping a client who
felt defeated, deflated, because they didn't have the
right tools to start their business.
They were so focused on what they lacked
that they ignored what they already had, knowledge,
connections, and a true passion for their industry.
(10:33):
I helped them shift their mindset to see
their current resources as valuable.
Within months, they were running a profitable business
built entirely from what was already at their
fingertips.
I think so many times we're always looking
to judge even ourselves that we forget to
applaud what we've already done.
(10:55):
I think that's a very, very, very important
thing.
So personally, I used to look at my
free time as wasted time if I wasn't
working, but I learned to shift that thinking.
I began using that time to learn something
new, reconnect with people, or simply reflect.
See, that change allowed me to recharge my
batteries and bring even more focus and energy
(11:18):
into my work.
Every moment, tool, or challenge truly has something
to offer if we open our mind to
look closely enough.
Number two, repurpose experiences.
Early in my career, many, many years ago,
I was part of a project that completely
(11:39):
fell apart.
At the time, I felt like it was
a failure and embarrassment.
This was like one of my first gigs
I did after college before I really took
the company full time.
It was always started when I was in
college, but it was part time.
But a year later, I was mentoring someone
facing a similar challenge.
I drew from that failed project to guide
them through their journey, and they avoided many
(12:01):
of the same pitfalls that we did and
faced.
What seemed like a loss turned into be
a blueprint for someone else's growth.
In my podcasting journey, some episodes didn't perform
the way I hoped in the beginning, but
instead of deleting them, I revisited them.
I pulled the best segments out, and I
reused them in highlight reels and coaching sessions.
(12:23):
Every piece of content, every stumble, became part
of a bigger purpose.
Nothing truly goes to waste when you're willing
to repurpose it.
I think that's a big key for today.
Number three, adopt a sustainable mindset.
There was a time, guys, when I tried
(12:43):
to be everything to everyone, working nonstop, taking
every client on, and saying yes to every
request, both professionally and even personally.
I thought I was being productive.
I thought I was being polite, but I
was burning out.
Eventually, I realized I was living unsustainably emotionally
and physically.
(13:04):
I had to step back and reevaluate how
I managed my energy.
Now, guys, I build space into my schedule.
I prioritize tasks that align with my long
-term visions and values.
I even give myself permission to rest.
Yes, I do.
Adopting a sustainable mindset allowed me to deliver
(13:25):
consistent value without sacrificing my well-being.
Sustainability isn't just about the planet, guys.
It's about preserving ourselves.
Number four, recognize hidden potential.
Well, years ago, which again, this was years
ago, I was working with a young intern
(13:46):
who seemed shy and uncertain.
Many overlooked him, but I noticed he had
a great eye for detail and acquired strength.
I gave him more responsibility.
Over time, he blossomed into a confident, creative
leader.
Today, he runs his own successful business.
That hidden potential just needed someone to believe
(14:07):
in him.
I've also found hidden potential in everyday things
like an old camera that sparked my interest
into visual storytelling or an unused notebook that
became my journal of breakthroughs.
Life hides treasures in plain sight.
When we look beyond the surface, we often
find gold in places we never expected.
(14:28):
One thing I want to share with you,
and we'll do a whole episode on this,
is our dreams.
Last night, I had a dream about basically
helping some guys on a bowling team, 13,
14, 15, and 16-year-olds, teaching them
how to bowl and also answering questions for
them about life.
(14:49):
That indicated and resonated very well with me
that I'm here to mentor people, maybe not
just 13, 14, 15, and 16-year-olds,
but everyone.
I think when I was able to do
that, I was able to get them to
not only appreciate life, they actually started bowling
better.
It was a bowling dream.
I love to bowl.
Number five, don't waste emotional energy used to
(15:15):
spend a lot of time replaying negative conversations
in your head, the things I wish I
said or how someone wronged me.
It drained me.
Move on.
It's a bump in the road.
One day, I wrote a letter to someone
I was upset with, not to send it,
but to release the emotion.
That simple act gave me clarity and helped
me move forward with peace and tranquility.
(15:35):
Emotional energy, guys, is powerful, but like electricity,
it needs to be directly channeled.
When I started transforming frustration into motivation and
sadness into empathy, I found that those emotions
became tools rather than burdens.
Letting go or redirecting that energy is one
of the healthiest things that you can do
in life.
(15:56):
Number six, guys, value time intentionally.
There, ladies and gentlemen, was a time.
It was a stretch where I said yes
to every meeting, every call, every invite, thinking
I was being productive and also polite, but
I often left these conversations drained and behind
(16:17):
on my real priorities.
I finally started time blocking and asking, does
this align with my visions and goals?
That one filter changed everything for me, like
overnight.
Now I spend my mornings in focus mode
and leave my afternoons more open.
I also protect time for things that matter,
(16:39):
learning, exercise, family, rest.
You know, in the beginning, I used to
take interviews or podcast people all the time.
Now I set aside time when I do
pre-chats with my potential guests.
Every hour I control ads richest in my
life.
(17:00):
Time is our most precious currency, and how
we spend it defines who we become, and
it shapes the level of respect.
And when we have a higher level of
respect for ourself, guess what?
Other people start to have that same level
of respect.
Respect yourself and other people will respect you.
Grow after every moment.
(17:21):
After losing a major client unexpectedly, I felt
defeated.
But once the shock wore off, I asked
myself what I could do to learn from
it.
So many of you know that I broke
my tib and fib, oh gosh, over 70
years ago or more, and I did it
by no fault of my own, and I
(17:41):
was a great intermediate skier, but this resort
where I went to, Hunter Mountain, they decided
to give the resort over to their grandkids,
their grandfather.
They didn't know anything about business, money, of
course, nothing about skiing, nothing about hospitality, or
even the restaurant industry.
They should have closed the mountain down, but
they didn't because they were so money hungry,
(18:03):
and that's what they did.
I was one of the two or three
people that day or that weekend that went
to the hospital and didn't have surgery.
I remember going to the top of the
mountain and coming down.
It was a little icy, so I said,
I'm going to go to a bigger mountain
because it's going to be less ice because
it'll be higher up.
Good idea.
(18:24):
Unfortunately, when I started going down the mountain,
I pivoted left, right a few times.
When I went right, I was about to
pivot left again, my left leg just snapped.
I blocked out any pain or discomfort, which
was amazing.
When I fell, it was like my leg
(18:47):
felt disconnected, but again, I didn't know if
it was the cold.
It felt because the weather does funny things
to you.
Then I healed my leg without any surgery.
I won't get into all that now, but
I used something called bone energy, like sugar
pills, and that energy caused my leg to
(19:08):
heal.
I think it's important to realize what goes
on in your life.
What happened in this case was I hired
some people to help because I wasn't able
to run my business with having a broken
leg and in a wheelchair and back and
forth and whatnot.
Starting my day took, let's say, a few
hours just to get going, when now it
(19:29):
only takes like a half hour or so.
I remember this one kid that I hired,
and I went through all the due diligence
to make sure I hired somebody good.
He was great in the beginning, but then
when I started to put confidence in him
and rely on him, he started missing the
mark, deciding that he was going to take
(19:51):
lunch because he needed lunch, but he never
checked in and asked if he could take
lunch.
A client was waiting for him, this one
client, at four o'clock.
He got busy that day.
He didn't have a chance to take a
break.
He didn't ask me if he could take
a break.
He just assumed he would just take a
break at four o'clock when the client
was waiting for him.
(20:12):
I'm sure if he would have called me,
I would have said, hey, look, yeah, go
take a break.
I'll tell the client you're going to be
there in 30 minutes.
Would have been no problem.
The fact that he never called me and
he just showed up an hour late, that
was disrespectful.
The fact that he didn't know what he
was doing and he broke things, that was
disrespectful.
When I brought him into a exit interview,
(20:34):
he was like this person that was so
afraid.
I've given him warnings, but it's like he
didn't see the writing on the wall.
I think sometimes we have to see our
own writing on the wall and we have
to not be afraid to let somebody go.
(20:54):
Letting him go was one of the best
things I did.
And letting that client go or them getting
rid of us was one of the best
things we ever did because they were abusing
us and no one should abuse them.
We have a very strict policy.
We don't discriminate for race, religion, sexual orientation,
creed, color, political party, whether it's an employee,
whether it's a vendor, right?
(21:18):
Contractor, important, very, very important.
Even on a personal level, I now look
at little setbacks, a canceled plan, a bad
day as invitations to pause and grow.
There's always something to extract if you're paying
attention.
Life's lessons don't always come gift wrapped or
(21:40):
in the right paper that you want or
the right bow or maybe in the right
flavor of a sandwich, but they're always there
for you.
So make sure that you pay attention to
them.
Number eight, redirect negativity constructively.
This is key.
I once received harsh feedback after a presentation.
(22:01):
At first, it hurt me.
I wanted to defend myself, but I paused
and asked what truth might be in this.
I took the comments separately and the emotions
from the facts and distanced them and used
it to make my next talk even better.
That presentation ended up being one of my
best.
This happened, actually.
(22:21):
I was giving a presentation for a group
of librarians, and I was training as a
contractor for a large software company.
I won't mention them.
They start with the letter F, and they're
in many college libraries and bookstores.
But two things.
One, they didn't treat their contractors and employees
very well, and second, these librarians had this
(22:41):
kind of attitude.
It had to be their way or no
way.
They were definitely not open to new ways
of learning.
Negativity is like fire.
It can burn you or it can fuel
you.
I now teach clients to write down their
complaints or frustrations and turn them into vibrant
goals or aspirations or solutions.
That shift in energy changes everything.
(23:05):
We can't always avoid negativity, unfortunately, but we
can choose what we do with it and
how we respond to it.
Number nine, learn from all relationships.
A former friend of mine and I had
a falling out for a while, and I
felt a little bitter about it.
But when I reflected, I saw how much
(23:26):
I learned from that relationship, how to set
boundaries, communicate early and clearly, and trust my
instincts.
That difficult chapter ended up being one of
my greatest teachers.
Even though we didn't come back to being
friends because the person was a little bit
pigheaded, and I was willing to forgive them,
(23:47):
and I was hoping they were willing to
forgive me, I just chalked it up to
the universe and said, you know what?
What's meant to be is meant to be,
and I don't hold any grudges against this
person, and I wish them all the best
in life.
Even short interactions, a barista's kindness or a
stranger's impatience can teach us, well, relationships are
mirrors.
(24:07):
They reflect what we need to see if
we're willing to look.
Now, I view every person as a potential
mentor in some way, and I was somewhere,
and I was talking to somebody, and my
friends go, well, you're just talking to a
person.
Do you know them?
I'm like, no, I just had a conversation
with them.
(24:27):
But do you know them?
I said, yeah, but we had something in
common.
We live in the same community, or we
went to the same school, or something like
that.
So I always find a way to make
an inroad.
If somebody doesn't welcome it, well, then I
just thank them for the time, and I
wish them a good day.
Number 10, think in terms of legacy.
A few years ago, I started asking myself,
(24:48):
if I stopped working today, what would people
remember?
That question shifted how I show up each
day.
I began focusing more on service, consistency, and
authenticity.
I realized legacy isn't something we build at
the end.
It's what we build every day.
I got to tell you, with all my
content, from the content I create to the
conversations I have, I now ask, does this
(25:09):
add value beyond me?
Thinking in terms of legacy helps me live
with more intention, more purposefulness.
It reminds me that the ripple effect of
today can become someone else's inspiration for tomorrow.
I know that you might be saying, John,
I can't do that.
Well, you don't have to be a content
creator, but you need to just be purposeful
(25:29):
in your communications, even if you're not a
speaker.
If you talk with somebody, it could be
whether you're a mother, father, brother, sister, relative.
You don't have to be a boss.
Be purposeful in your communication.
Remember to listen more than you speak.
That's what we're given, two ears and not
only one mouth.
(25:52):
I think when we start to assimilate these
things and we start to appreciate even our
setbacks, because our setbacks can be pretty interesting.
I'll give you another example.
There was a college course I was taking.
I decided to leave the course because the
(26:12):
instructor and I were not aligning.
Not only were we not aligning, but the
instructor was starting to put blame on me.
Really, the instructor couldn't teach.
Now, I have been in class before where
I teach myself.
I couldn't even make heads or tails what
the syllabi is because they kept changing it.
(26:34):
When I reached out to this professor and
I said, hey, I have a question, I
was told, well, you need to chill and
just take it step by step.
I reached out again.
I was told I studied too much.
I reached out again.
I was told I should drop the course.
I didn't take that advice right away.
But one thing I did learn from this
(26:56):
person is I don't want to be in
that class again.
I don't want to be in a class
like that with that person.
That person disrespected me.
Once somebody disrespects me, it's very hard for
me to go back and let's say I
can forgive them, but I don't forget.
(27:17):
I don't ever want to be in a
class with that person again because they had
this very big ego.
One thing when I get my next master's,
my PhD, I'm not going to have that
ego.
I'm going to be humble.
I'm learning so I can become better, so
I can inspire others, not so I can
shove it down somebody's throat that I have
a PhD or I have a master's.
(27:40):
I have it so I can enrich the
world and make the world a better place.
I think that's a very important thing, but
I realize some people, they get a degree
because they want to brag about it.
That's not who I am.
I went back to college just recently, not
because of anybody, but because of me and
(28:00):
because I want to add more value to
this world.
Some people are going to challenge you.
I want to let you know that nothing
should go to waste.
If you're not sure what I'm talking about,
well, then sit down with a pen, paper,
or your laptop, take some notes, journal.
You'll eventually figure it out.
(28:20):
Ladies and gentlemen, I'm John C.
Morley, a serial entrepreneur.
Be sure to check out BelieveMeAchieved.com for
more of my amazing, inspiring creations.
I'll catch you real soon.
Have a great one and don't waste anything,
especially not your time.
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