Priorities | Joshua Bevan

Stop Settling for Average

Posted by Joshua on December 3, 2010 in Earn All You Can, Videos with View Comments

Joshua Bevan shows how society is failing our youth. True talent is squandered in the quest for mediocrity.
The message: Stop Being Average! Work on improving the areas in which you excel. Others will help you in your weak areas.

transcript
Hi there, this is Joshua Bevan learning how to earn all I can save all I can so I can give all I can. Something came up yesterday with a HUGE life lesson in it, and I had to get out the camera and tell you the story today.

One of the parts that I love about owning my own business is that I write my own schedule and can make the time to give back to the world in the way I want. One thing I really enjoy is volunteering as a director at a summer camp. I started as a counselor and loved it so much that I now train young adults how to be awesome counselors as well; how to truly make a positive impact on the lives of the campers. So last night while we were at a fundraising event…

If you have a few dollars extra to make a tax deductible donation that would go a loooong way to improving the lives of local youth, send me a personal message or email and I’ll put you in touch with the right people. Thank you!

…So last night, we were at a fundraising event, and I was chatting with one of my best counselors. I’m not going to use her real name on here because I don’t want to embarrass her, but we’ll call her Nicole.

Nicole is a junior in high school. She is a wonderful writer. I’ve been lucky enough to read some of her short stories, and it blows me away, how good they are!

Now, Nicole also happens to be a good student. She works hard to earn good grades in all of her classes. This particular night, she was stressed out over an upcoming history test. She was having trouble memorizing all of the names and dates.

This got me thinking. Here’s a girl who has a great creative writing talent – and writing is something she LOVES. With the proper encouragement, I have no doubt that she will become one of the great writers of our time.

But our society is failing her.

Instead of nurturing and developing the talents that each individual excels with, our system is designed to encourage each individual to focus on being average, across the board.

I’m going to tell you what I told Nicole last night:

Stop being average!

You are allowed to be great!

I’m giving you permission right now to stop focusing on improving your weaknesses. If you’re particularly good at memorizing facts, that’s ok. If not, that’s ok too, because there are other people whose strengths lie in your areas of weakness. You will find them, and help each other succeed.

But for now, the best thing you can do is focus on your strengths. What are you good at? What do you LOVE to do?

And just like you now have permission to have weaknesses, I now also give you permission to love your strengths.

Put most of your focus into working on those strengths. Love doing it! Know that there is always room for improvement. You can always learn something from each new person that you meet.

That is how you become GREAT!

How are you working on becoming great? What are your talents? What do you love?

Tell me and the rest of the community about it. Leave a comment below and we’ll help each other succeed.

Successful People are Always Moving Forward

Posted by Joshua on November 11, 2010 in Earn All You Can with View Comments

Look at any successful person that you know. Chances are, he is not sitting still. He is driving from one office to another, running from one lunch meeting to the next, checking in on one factory or the other. Even if he is only taking phone calls, he’s pacing the hallway the whole time. Successful people move. And most of them move quickly.

Now, from an outside perspective, this motion may seem random. It may look like he is all over the map. But highly successful individuals possess a rather sharp focus. While they may appear random, every move is highly calculated to bring him closer to his goals.

How Do I Obtain the Success I’m After?

“This is good news,” you say, “because I’m always fidgeting. That means I’m on my way to success!” Maybe. There are a few key steps to make sure that you get there.

Know Where You Are Headed. In order to achieve anything, you must first know what it is. Sit down and plan out your goals on a regular basis.
Take Action. Always stay light on your feet. Newton’s First Law applies to everything: if you are always in motion, it’s easier to stay in motion. Then, direct that motion towards your goals.
Move Closer Every Day. Make it a point to move a little closer to your goal every day. Know what the next step is and take it. If you can’t take a full step, take half a step.

Focus on where you are going in order to be successful

The trick is to do the same tasks that a highly successful person in your field does, every day. If you need help figuring out who you want to be, leave some comments. I’ll be glad to help.

If you need a swift kick in the pants to get it moving, tell us about that also. We’ll all be happy to oblige.
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Success in Life Begins with an Oxygen Mask

Posted by Joshua on July 20, 2010 in Give All You Can with View Comments

When airline passengers board a flight, an attendant will describe the emergency procedures. She will remind us: “In the event of an emergency, be sure to secure your own oxygen mask before helping others.” I’ve heard these instructions used metaphorically many times, and I mostly agree with the descriptions I’ve heard. In this article, I’d like to carry it further and discuss what’s missing.

On the plane, the number one priority is to make sure that we can breathe properly. Otherwise, we may pass out while trying to help our fellow passengers secure their masks, and everyone will suffer. Similarly, in life, we need to make sure our own business and personal lives aren’t going to suffer when we take the time to help a friend with his crisis. That’s a valid metaphor. We do need to follow it because the equivalent to passing out in the airplane is a failed business or a disastrous personal life.

The part I take exception to is that this is not the case only during emergency situations. In other words, we all need to help each other, always. Most of us can remember to help during times of crisis or in an emergency. For example, when there is a large natural disaster in the world, it is immediately followed by an outpouring of support from people and organizations. Or, we all remember to help a friend who is going through a divorce, or whose wife has health problems. What we forget is that we are supposed to help each other, always, during good times and bad.

I believe that the best way to get what you need is to ask for it. However, you must also remember to ask others what they need for bigger success. More than likely, the huge need that was hindering your friend’s forward momentum is no big deal for you to provide: maybe it’s a vendor referral, or a new client introduction. Assistance that may cost you only a little time and effort will help him see huge progress. As everyone makes these small gestures the rule instead of the exception, we all become more successful.

If the plane loses cabin pressure we need to make sure that children and the elderly can put on their masks. But we also need to hold the terminal door for the man with full hands and help the lady put her carry-on in the overhead compartment. We all need to strive for success (however that looks to each of us) and the best way to make that happen is by helping those around us achieve their goals.

First visit? Play this video!

While building his businesses from the ground up, Joshua Bevan sought out some of the best mentorship. He has learned that the path to success is difficult and simple at the same time. Joshua has committed his life to learning how to, “Earn all you can. Save all you can. Give all you can.” Through videos, blogs and speaking events, he will pass that knowledge forward.