Any good talk show host will tell you there is a secret to success on talk radio.  Make a provocative or controversial statement…and then defend it.  It gets people fired up and gives your audience a chance to chime in.  When done right (and admittedly it’s not always done right) it can also give listeners a chance to examine their own opinions on a matter.

Here Are 5 Provocative Statements That Are True

I hope these will make you think.  Once you read through them, let me know your take.

Money Is NOT the Root Of All Evil

As a matter of fact that is not even what the Bible says.  Money is a tool.  And this strange belief that money is somehow evil often holds people back.  It’s not unsavory to be successful.  It’s beautiful.  Not only does it give you something to strive for (and purpose is powerful), but it allows you to make a real difference.  It doesn’t mean you are being greedy.

With money you can help feed hungry people, sponsor a local youth soccer team, help a friend chase down a dream or invest in a new business.

Passion and purpose are amazing, but if you lack profit, it will limit the impact you can make in the world.

Don’t Wait Until You Are Ready

You will never be 100% ready to try something new and scary.  There will always be more you need to learn.  But the number one thing holding many people back is themselves.  They just fail to launch.

This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do your research.

But more people are held back by procrastination and fear.  Most people that I see spend way too much time thinking about an idea and not enough time acting on the solution.

If you want to make a difference, or to start something new, stop thinking about it.  Start something new.

Success Is The Best Revenge

When something goes wrong in any of our lives, it’s easy to look for someone to blame.  Whether you are fired, disregarded, let down, or disappointed, we often fixate on those that “wronged us.”  The problem with this behavior is it takes our vision off of what we can do to improve.  When we look outward for others to blame, we take our eyes off of our goals and what we want to achieve in our life.

The most productive (and best) reaction when something goes wrong is to focus on what we want our life to become.  Create your own goals and grind on them.  Work relentlessly to them.  Keep your focus on that.  Over time, as you move toward creating the life you really want, you will realize that putting that negative energy toward others would have only served to hold you back.

If you focus on you and create your own success, the revenge part will take care of itself.

You Should Seek Out Fame

I don’t mean you should seek to become a Kardashian (please don’t).  But the fact of the matter is, in most organizations, your problem is obscurity.  As Grant Cardone would say, “people just don’t know you!”  If you want your organization to succeed, it’s not only okay to create a bigger brand, it’s imperative.

Get out there and seek to create content and buzz that helps your audience and your customers succeed.  The more you do that, the more your brand will build.  If you can create a tidal wave of helping others, that’s the sort of fame that can really make a difference in the world.

It’s Important To Be Selfish

This doesn’t mean you always need to take the last cookie.  But if you are chasing a big dream or goal, there will be times you have to be selfish to keep it going.  I ran a marathon.  And I can tell you that training for an event like that is a selfish act.  It takes time away from family.  You have to prioritize that training or you will fail.  The same is true for any big endeavor in your life.  If you want to succeed, you have to be selfish at times.

It goes back to the lesson from an airplane.  You have to put your oxygen on before you can assist others.  Sometimes we need to be selfish in order to be our best selves…and that’s okay.

Those are my 5 Provocative statements that are true.  What do you think?

Oh…and if you want to read more of my “rules,” check out this blog about my Rules of Life.