“You need to think from the end back, Brandt!

This is some of the best advice I’ve ever received from my dad. I forget how young I was, but I remember being early in my teenage years. I was going through a rough patch with soccer and was ranting about all the bad things that were happening. When he said it, I had no idea what he was talking about. Or even what he meant. But as I gave it more thought it began to sink in.

So often, we get so caught up with what’s happening to us right now. And while I’m a full advocate for living in the moment, I also believe it’s just as important to keep your long-term goals in mind. 

At the time, I was frustrated with how things were going in that moment. Maybe of my life when I should have been focused on my long-term goal of playing in the MLS. My dad was trying to tell me to keep working, to never stop believing in myself, and to stay true to my goals and dreams. For many, it’s hard to ‘see’ yourself in the position that you really want to be in. But you need to! Close your eyes and ‘see’ it. ‘Feel’ it! ‘Smell’ it. ALL of it!

Don’t let the ‘here & now’ consume you!

Look, I’m not saying ‘here & now’ isn’t important, I’m just saying that where you’re now isn’t where you’ll always be!

I mean think about it. If you sit there and run through the rest of your life, what would it look like starting from now? Or, even better, how would it look like from the end, back to now? It really puts things into perspective. There’s a metaphor I learned from listening to one of my favorite motivational speakers, Inky Johnson. He refers to our lives as a bucket. And every day we put a drop, or deposit, in the bucket, until it’s full.

“What are you trying to say here, Brandt?”

Here’s what I’m saying: if you’re doing your best and you’re still frustrated with how things are, remember, you’re still making deposits into your bucket! Your work is still adding up! It’s compounding, and slowly but surely propelling you toward your goals and dreams!

So….

• Keep working!

• Fill that bucket!

• Every day!

• Don’t stop believing in yourself!

• You’re capable of so much more than you can possibly fathom!

Begin with the end in mind!

Or as my dad would say, “Try to think from the end back!”

Ask yourself these questions:

• WHO do I want to be?

• Where do I want to go?

• What is ‘success’ for me?

• What are my dreams?

• Why do I play the beautiful game?

This kind of perspective, preparation and self-reflection is a great way to prepare yourself for your dreams! I apply this to my life everyday, and I encourage you to do the same.

Keep going, keep working, and keep grinding. Keep making those deposits no matter what, knowing that it’ll all be worth it in the end!

“Optimize your mind for your Grind!” 

Brandt Bronico
#13 Charlotte F.C.
#BloggingBronicosBrain