Be the Greatest You with Trent Shelton
Five Principles for a Champion’s Mindset
Based on Trent’s experience, he shares the five mindset principles that successful people have.
Principle #1 – Commitment
Commit to your own words and follow through if you expect big results.
“Stay loyal to what you said you were going to do, long after the mood you said it in is gone. … It’s powerful for us when we [commit to something].” – Trent Shelton
Find small things to commit to, like going for a daily run, following a diet, waking up early, etc; and staying committed to that one small goal.
Principle #2 – Discipline
Trent stresses that as much as discipline is about saying yes to good habits and following them through, it is also about saying no to things that you may like in the moment, but that is bad for you in the long run.
“There are a lot of bad habits [out there], … but you have to get good at saying no to things … [despite the] temptation. [By giving in to temptation you get] a false sense of fulfillment that moves you nowhere.” – Trent Shelton
You may like to party a lot or indulge in other activities, but you must stop for a moment and ask yourself, “Where is this taking me?” If the answer is “nowhere,” take steps to improve your discipline and shift your focus.
Principle #3 – Consistency
Follow up on your word or goal and work towards it through consistent action.
“Consistency is [about] anchoring your actions in greatness, so [that you put in nothing] less than your best [each day]. You don’t have to be the most talented, but if you are consistent, it pays off and makes you a go-to person.” – Trent Shelton
When you are consistent, you become reliable. And when you become reliable, you become a trustworthy person.
Principle #4 – Faith
If you are putting in the effort, creating the right habits, and making the right sacrifices, then growth is definitely taking place, even if you cannot see it on the surface.
“Faith for me is believing [that] the odds are beatable, even when the odds say [that] it’s impossible. [There’s something] I learned from my grandpa … [called] the ‘gardener’s mindset’ — it is about being able to plant a seed and watering it. … You may not see any growth happening on the surface, but if you have the right mindset and the knowledge, … then you will know that there is growth taking happening [beneath] the surface. … And it’s the same way with your business.” – Trent Shelton
If you are doing the right thing, following the proper habits, and believing in yourself, it will keep you focused, and you can experience massive growth taking place.
Principle #5 – Heart
Having a heart is all about finding the strength to give more, even when you have nothing left.
“[It’s like having a] marathon mindset, [when you feel that] you can’t [go on] anymore, but you have to [push yourself], and use the leverage questions in your heart. … Your personal life might not be going right, … but you know that as long as you keep pushing through and moving forward, [you will achieve] a breakthrough.” – Trent Shelton
At times you may feel that things are getting tough, there is pressure in your life, and you can’t go ahead. But as long as you practice daily and keep pushing through, you will know that the breakthrough is near. And sometimes, it is important to have a breakdown in order to have a breakthrough. That’s a champion’s mindset.
Lead by Example
His son’s birth made Trent realize that his life was bigger than he was. Now, someone else depended on him. His son’s birth is what caused Trent to start to learn these principles and put them into action.
“[My son] Tristan really made me into a man, … [and taught me about] responsibility. … I didn’t want him to grow up to be like me, [and to achieve that, I had to alter my actions]. [Kids] are always watching you, [they pick up your habits and learn from you]. … So I’m not just talking to him, I’m living it [in front of him], [and I am] leading by example.” – Trent Shelton
To change your surroundings, you first have to look inwards and make that change in yourself. You should live the change, believe in it, and impart your knowledge and learning by showing rather than telling. If you learn from your past experiences and do what you believe in, others will also start believing in you.
Burn the Bridges of the Past and Move on in Life
Trent goes on to explain why and how we need to burn bridges in our lives. He doesn’t mean ALL bridges: just those that can take you down a path of destruction.
“There are certain bridges in life … that lead you back to pain, … and to a toxic place in your life. … [It could be] addictions, [or your] mindset or your habits, … but you have to [learn to] burn them [and move on] because these bridges don’t serve you [well]. … When you do that, you have no choice but to move forward and build bridges [that you need].” – Trent Shelton
By burning the bridges that bring misery and hold no value in your life, you open up space in yourself to grow. Build new bridges that are valuable and stand true to your purpose. You also have to let those people go who make you feel unhappy, drained, and unfulfilled.
“[On the other hand] there are people who bring energy, positivity, and growth into your life. … Even though [these people] don’t always say what [you] want to hear, they might be telling [you] things that [you] need to hear. They challenge [you] and make [you] see the bigger picture. [And these are the people you need].” – Trent Shelton
You need to make a list of the people, activities, habits, addictions, and other things in your life and analyze the value that they add. By doing a self-analysis, you will understand what’s worthy and what’s not — and you can go down the path of finding your inner peace.
The Power of Peace
The greatest thing in Trent’s life is peace. If you have all the success in the world — fame, money, family — but don’t have any inner peace, life can feel a little empty.
“[Inner peace] is the top priority for me. … Peace is [about] getting to my core self, … it is about who Trent Shelton really is at the core.” – Trent Shelton
Whenever you start to feel stressed and overwhelmed, pull yourself back and seek peace within yourself. The power of peace and the four A’s allow you to balance your life and make sure that you and everyone around you are happy and healthy.
What are the Four A’s?
How you start your day influences the rest of your day. This brings Trent to what he calls “The four A’s,” which are simple and easy to integrate into your routine.
“The first A is ‘appreciation’ — [you must] wake up with gratitude … [for all the people around you and] appreciate it for life. … The second A is ‘affection’ – … A hug a day keeps the pressure away. [So get out] and hug your [family], … or a co-worker, [and spread the affection]. … The third A is ‘accomplishment’ — set your day up for a win. … It would make [you] feel powerful if [you] started your day with a win. [And the fourth] A is ‘activity’ – … movement is very critical when it comes to mental health, get outside, [travel, explore] nature, or [anything else] and protect your peace.” – Trent Shelton
Everyone should be focused on their own selves first; otherwise, you won’t have anything to give to others. The four A’s give you a way to carve out space for finding your inner peace and practice self-care.
Take your game to another level by being more diligent, committed, disciplined, consistent — and believing in yourself. Create a routine that allows you to reach your goals and find a real sense of purpose. Remember, the bigger the challenge, the more committed you become to achieving something greater than yourself. Even if you fail, you’ll end up gaining confidence, belief, poise, and grace.
Why You Should Listen to this Trent Shelton Podcast Episode Right Now…
This interview with Trent was so educational and enlightening. I am so grateful to him for not allowing success to make him lazy, and I honor his commitment to not taking the easy way in life and encouraging so many other people to do the same. Listen to this whole episode, and don’t forget to share it with someone who needs to hear it.
I am extremely thankful to Trent for joining us today on this episode of The School of Greatness. Do not forget to follow Trent on Instagram @trent shelton, as well as on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Check out his website for more inspiration with this motivational speaker.
Before signing off, I asked Trent for three truths that he lives by.
“Number one is … ‘self-responsibility’ … [and to remember that] everything starts with you … and the world owes you nothing. Number two is ‘protect your peace.’ And number three is ‘your life is never over’ until it is really over. [You can always rewrite a new story and die a peaceful death].” – Trent Shelton
And I will bid adieu with this quote by Albert Einstein, who said: “Peace cannot be kept by force, it can only be achieved by understanding.” Find your inner peace, and greatness will follow.
To Greatness,
