Picture this, y’all: eerily empty LA streets on a beautiful summer day. Crazy, right!?
During COVID, my brother Ryan, my friends Cog and Millz, and I created a ritual to keep our spirits high and our dreams alive. We called it BNB: Bike and Brews.
Manifesting The Future
Bike and Brews started with us committing to a 20 to 30-mile bike ride that always ended with a brew, usually a double IPA. As we pedaled around the city, the goal was to get a workout but it was also an opportunity to hang with the fellas. During lockdown, the time spent amongst friends was priceless. That human connection was critical.
We’d find ourselves deep into the neighborhoods of San Marino and La Cañada Flintridge, neighborhoods none of us lived in but admired. These neighborhoods had massive houses. I mean, they were more like estates. I’m talking properties so grand you’d scratch your head and wonder, “What the hell does the owner of this house do for a living?” They were gorgeous.
During COVID, we were all deep into our sales careers and quite successful, yet we were intentional about fighting for the lives we wanted. None of us were content. And if I’m keeping it real, none of us were even close to living in houses like the ones we were riding by. As we pedaled through these wealthy cities on the outskirts of LA, we’d talk about our future. What it would take to afford a home like the ones we admired. We’d point out the houses we liked the most, highlighting all the things we loved and the elements we’d change to make them more “us.” Man, we could see it clear as day. It wasn’t just talk; it was our way of manifesting the future we wanted for ourselves and our families.
The War Cry
As we cruised down these streets, in awe of the estates around us, we’d scream “Danza!” (Dawn-zaa!) at the top of our lungs. If you’re picturing four grown men riding their bikes down empty streets yelling “Danza,” looking like crazy carefree teenagers, you’d be exactly right. We looked nuts!
Intentional Dreaming
But it didn’t matter. We were intentional about dreaming. Not just dreaming, but dreaming BIG. MASSIVE. We didn’t worry about the optics or whether it looked cool – what mattered most was how WE FELT. And yelling “Danza” at the top of our lungs felt amazing. It was a wake-up call. A reminder that the life we desire is out there, waiting to be claimed. You just have to have the guts to go for it and the ability to dream BIG ENOUGH to claim it.
What Danza Means
See, the word “Danza” comes from “abbondanza,” the Italian word for abundance. An abundance mindset is the belief that there are enough resources in the world for everyone to succeed. It’s a mindset built on gratitude, recognizing the vast possibilities around us.
Scarcity Mindset
But for us, Danza means so much more than just abundance. It became our war cry – a shout-out to celebrating wins, fighting through bottlenecks both personally and professionally, and believing that our biggest dreams are within reach and worth fighting for. In stark contrast, a scarcity mindset focuses on what you don’t have. It’s a destructive way of thinking that keeps you stuck in a loop of fear and limitation, creating a sense of competition and stress. Scarcity thinking makes you believe that opportunities are limited, leading to anxiety, jealousy, and poor decision-making.
It’s so easy to settle and get caught in the monotony of day-to-day life. But our “Danza” war cry is a reminder to go for it. Life is too short to settle. I’m not just talking about wanting a bigger house. I’m talking about settling in our careers, in our relationships, and our lifestyles. It’s okay to want more and to be inspired by the process, and intentional about celebrating the journey with the people you love.
Switching from a scarcity mindset to a “Danza” mindset is a game-changer. It’s about celebrating wins with the people you love most, embracing the journey, and recognizing that even when things get tough, we have the power to take massive action toward progress, not perfection. We’re all the main characters in our own movie, and the middle of the movie is the best part.
Living The “Danza” Mindset
So, how does someone start practicing this “Danza” mindset? The first step is to start thinking about your thinking. This is called metacognition – the practice of examining the thoughts bouncing around in your head. A great way to become more aware of these thoughts is by journaling with your morning coffee or after lunch.
Take a moment to reflect on what’s running through your mind. What are they? Grab a pen and some paper, take a moment, and write down your pattern of thinking up to that point in the morning or day. Be completely honest with yourself! Now ask yourself – do your thoughts align with a scarcity mindset or a Danza mindset?
To further this practice, consider the following steps:
- Mindfulness Meditation: Spend a few minutes each day focusing on your breath. This can help you become more aware of your thoughts and reduce stress.
- Positive Affirmations: Start your day with positive affirmations that align with an abundance mindset. For example, “I am capable of achieving great things and there are enough opportunities for everyone to succeed.”
- Gratitude Journaling: Write down things you are grateful for each day. This practice shifts your focus from what you lack to what you have.
The Work I Do
As a speaker and success coach, this is what I do. I help high-achieving, ambitious execs recognize their destructive thinking patterns that might be holding them back, empowering them to break through barriers and achieve their full potential. I encourage them to fight for the “big dream” while putting together an actionable game plan to actually achieve it.
Danza, to me, is more than a mindset – it’s a lifestyle. And… It’s going to be a chapter in my upcoming book! So get ready for that!
Let’s Work!
If you’re curious and want to dig deeper into mindset principles that can improve the quality of your life personally and professionally – book a complimentary coaching session here.
