17 Dec 2025 · 3 min
A short motivational podcast (Heroic +1) by Brian Johnson encouraging listeners to firmly believe they will fulfill their purpose. Johnson uses a child’s anecdote, a quote from Orison Swett Marden, and personal reflections to emphasize that belief precedes effort, then issues a call to clarify one’s purpose and take consistent action.
Hey hero, if you're enjoying these daily plus ones, make sure you head to heroic us to check out all of the other goodness we have to help you activate your best every day. And now, today's plus one. Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another heroic plus one. In our last plus one we talked about the trip I made to Whole Foods with the kids last weekend and the chat about the circus on the way home. As you may recall, Eleanor surprised me with her response to my question about how the guy who did flips on the spinning thing got so good at it. I expected her to say that he practiced to get so good. She said he believed in himself. Head exploding emoji yes. Before we will even think about putting in the work to see what we can do, we must believe we can do the thing. There are so many threads I can and want to pull after that plus one from a recent dinner I had with my friend John Mackey who started Whole Foods to to a quote I have on my desk from Orison Sweat Martin to an important distinction I've been thinking about regarding the science of hope. Where shall we go next? Let's go to the Orison Sweatt Marden quote. Then we'll hit the other themes soon as we've discussed. Martin founded Success Magazine in 1891. Ryan Holiday introduced me to him and his work when I flipped open to his recommended reading list in the Obstacle Is the Way. Remember my Joseph Campbell inspired rule number two on how I choose the books I read? Start by reading everything an author who grabs you has written, then read everything they've read. So Martin is amazing. If you haven't read our notes on an iron will he can. Who thinks he can the miracle of right thought and making life a masterpiece. Check him out. I have them printed out and on my desk with a collection of other all time favorite notes I've read many, many times. Now here's the Orison Sweatt Martin quote. Believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do. I got goosebumps typing that out. That's today's plus one. What are you here to do, my beloved hero? Serious what are you here to do? All caps. How will you give your greatest gifts in greatest service to your family, community and world? Let's unplug from all the nonsense inputs long enough to do the hard work to get clear on who you are and what you're here to do and believe with all your heart that you will do what you were made to do. Then ask now what needs to get done and go dominate that all day, every day, especially today. All in. Let's go. We hope you enjoyed today's Heroic one. For more ancient wisdom, modern science and practical tools to help you flourish in energy, work and love, head to Heroic US where you can get started on your heroic journey for free.
