In tough times, it’s often challenging to find motivation. These days, our way of life is being highjacked by the coronavirus and with political uncertainty. These problems seep into our lives like nothing before. A consequence is that many people have to change what they do professionally and how they go after their goals. When times are tough, motivation and inspiration fall by the wayside. However, motivation and inspiration need to be one of the tools that we use to get through these tough times and excel when things get back to normal.

 Throughout my life, I have struggled with motivation and inspiration. There were periods of my life where all I could see was every single challenge in front of me. Over the years, I learned that if I wanted to achieve success, be happy, and be motivated, I had to look beyond my challenges and create motivation.

 A mistake that I see many people make is the fact that they think that motivation and inspiration is something that...

This year has been filled with unbelievable challenges. First, was the arrival of the pandemic.  Second, was the amplification of systemic issues brought to the forefront by the death of George Floyd. Third, is the sheer limitation that the first two issues have impacted on most everyone in the world. Lastly, the everyday challenges that we have to deal with as human beings living in these times. We have to navigate these challenges if we want to improve our lives furthermore, we have to learn how to engage each other in order to build a stronger community so we all thrive.

With the explosion of the internet, social media, and information comes the ability for many voices to be heard. Although this is a positive step, there are negatives that are drawbacks.  One of the drawbacks that concerns me is the fact that if we don’t agree with any certain view, we have the option to find exactly the view that we do agree with. Many human beings don’t like to be...

 Six months ago, the new decade started. You probably wanted to start off this year and this decade right. You may be a business owner or an entrepreneur who had ambitious plans for the decade, or you might be a person who decided to improve your existing business.

 When I started off this year, I was in the middle of a six-month project. I was also excited about a new business venture. The pandemic put a wrench in both, and everyone is affected by the pandemic. This is a calling card for you to step up your game.

 I know all about challenges. I have dealt with cerebral palsy, a speech impediment, and a body that gets in the way of life in general. I always had the ability to dream and work around my challenges. In this post I want to show you how you can get your life and business on track.

 My goal is to empower you and show you how to take control of 2020.

1. Adjust your expectations. When I look at other people without a disability, I see who I would be if I...

Oftentimes, there is a tenuous connection between mindset and success. When people want more out of life or want to get out of a jam, the last place they look is mindset. Mindset is almost a luxury. My job is to show you how mindset drives success. I believe that mindset touches everything important in your life. 

 The actions that you take on a daily or hourly basis are the building blocks to your life. They are also the input that fuels your life.  The better the input, the more success you will have. Actions lead to behavior which lead to habits then to processes then to living the life that you have.

 Mindset affects the actions that you take. Over the course of a day, you take dozens or even hundreds of actions. Some examples of these actions are what happens when you first open your eyes in the morning, whether you have a healthy breakfast or not, how you say good morning to your loved ones, whether you start off the day with meditation, exercise, or being...

Adversity is a great teacher, and when adversity happens, it often shines a light on underlying problems. Similarly, success, can always mask or dampen underlying issues.

This year has been one of the most challenging years we have ever had. First, there was the pandemic. Then there was the death of George Floyd. What exacerbates both challenges are underlying societal, economic, and political issues. The events over this last year are signs that we have underlying issues that we need to improve. However, beyond the obvious issues, there are many more factors that lead to challenges that we face. Although this country is incredible, we can do better.

Let’s talk about you.

 You are a highly ambitious person who wants a better life. You work hard for your family and for yourself.  When challenges are faced, you deal with them.

 One way to live out an amazing life is to practice the habit of consistent improvement. Instead of shining a light on your issues...

Notes About America

When my parents arrived with me in 1979 I was two and I had come here to be diagnosed with a lifelong disability.  We arrived from Iran which at the time was in conflict with my new home, America.  At the same time, there was a movement that disabled people were partaking in that would impact my life greatly.  This movement gave me the chance to attend school through college and it still gives me the opportunity to live an easier life.  When I go out to a restaurant, I don’t have to worry about handicap accessible anything.  When I go to the mall, I don’t have to worry about whether or not I can get around.  When I check into a hotel, most of the time I know that I will get a hotel room that will be conducive to my disability. My life is easier now than it would have been without the movement.

In the ‘70s and ‘80s the United States made a conscious decision to include persons with disabilities like...

As entrepreneurs or business professionals, we have many responsibilities. We are juggling projects, ideas, relationships, and our own personal needs. ESPN released a ten-part documentary on Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Growing up in the ‘90s almost every boy in my neighborhood had a pair of Jordans.  In fact, I received my first pair for eighth grade graduation. 

  I loved basketball then, and that love has not died. Like so many others, one of my favorite players of all time is Michael Jordan. Even though in 1991 he beat my Lakers, he still remains a favorite. His moves on the court were magical. But, even more magical has been his ability to leverage his basketball stardom into great business success. Over the years, I put time into thinking about exactly how Jordan was able to be so successful. Keep reading. I think the answer may surprise you.

For the last twenty years, I have been looking at what makes someone successful and where...

I recently watched Crip Camp on Netflix. The documentary was about disabled people in the 1970s and 1980s. It featured the life and the political activism. They were fighting for the rights that I have now. I knew that the Americans With Disabilities Act was fairly young. However, I did not realize that it was only the generation before me who made my amazing life easier.

 I was born in 1977 and, in 5th grade, I was mainstreamed into a public school where I was the first person in a wheelchair in the district. Throughout high school, I was provided with an assistant and had a robust social life. When I entered college, I had access to a whole department dedicated to students with disabilities. I was provided accommodations for classes and tests. When I go out on the town, the last thing on my mind is whether or not there will be ramps or even if I can use the restroom.

 The United States made an important decision that disabled people will be included in life. It’s...

After a mother saw an interview with me, she messaged me and said that even though she appreciates the work that I do, my message does not apply to her son who has a cognitive disability. Her expectations for her son were not realistic. The best advice that I gave her was to readjust her expectations. Otherwise, she would not find peace and happiness.

This got me thinking about my own life and the pandemic. All my life, I have dreamed of what my life would look like if I was not disabled. I would dream of speaking without a speech impediment, driving a car, hiking in Hawaii, giving my kids piggyback rides, and more.  Some of these activities are adventurous and some are downright mundane. Oftentimes, I was paralyzed by this idea of perfection. Even when my life was amazing, I said to myself: “This could be so much better if I was not in this body.”  Although I still have my moments, my number one goal is to make my life amazing. 

 Due to the pandemic,...

One of the most important goals that I have is raising my sons, Andrew and Tyler, who are 6 and 5 respectively. As any parent, I want them to do well in school, experience life, have extracurricular activities, have fun, and have the skills necessary to excel in life. As their father, my job is to support and facilitate these goals. Before the pandemic hit, they were involved in many activities including karate, soccer, and piano. 

As we all are dealing with the coronavirus, our job as parents has evolved and has become more intense. Before the pandemic, parents relied on teachers, coaches, or even family members to get involved in helping our kids grow. This responsibility has now been thrust more on the parents. In addition, we are all learning how to deal with this amazing situation. It’s easy to enter into survival mode.

One of the keys to success is to be engaged in our goals. This included being more engaged in our kids' lives, especially during these tough times....