If you are going to change the world, you must first change yourself. Almost everyone has heard this. I’ve thought about it for who knows how long because I do want to change the world – and I always add “and I think I am crazy enough to do it.”

When I started this project, I had no intention of changing the world. In fact, the only thing I wanted to do was change myself into something better. But there’s the answer. The answer to changing the world is changing yourself. A great deal of the time, the thing we are capable of creating eludes us until we take a look inside and start working on the broken parts. The gears only start turning when you line up the teeth.

We change the world by being the best possible versions of ourselves. That moment, and it comes every day, when you choose to love deeply, act boldly, live passionately over letting the Black Dog consume you changes the world. Because all of that energy you have when you point your life in a positive direction gets sent out to the world. We all get dragged down into the dumps. Anyone who tells you that they don’t have bad days isn’t speaking the truth. But life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond. That is a choice you get to make every day. And the string of failures you’ve had, well, you can turn those into a string of successes.

Don’t compete with anyone else. You’re aiming low if you think that beating someone or winning a prize over someone else is your competition. No, aim for something far far more challenging. Compete with your potential. Compete with the person you know you could become. Set a ridiculously high goal, one you know that is so damn tough to achieve, and eventually you will morph into the person that can achieve it. Yes, your potential, is your ultimate competition. If you keep chipping away at it, you’re going to eventually make something beautiful. Give it a run for its money.

I encourage you to do one last thing. Believe. It’s harder than it sounds…but in all seriousness, believe as much as you can. Strive to act nobly, drive yourself through the failures, be happy even during the lonely times, and above all else – believe. It will take you places.

Evan Sanders
The Better Man Project