The Power of $20 – A Bronx Tale
The Power of $20
A Bronx Tale
It seems no matter how positive we try to be every day, there are people who try to bring us down.
You know who I’m talking about. Those people who are always negative and complaining. They try to make us feel as bad as they feel. It could be a friend, family member, haters on YouTube or just a co-worker.
Most people can just shrug it off, but for some, the negativity can consume their day and take it over.
Once you are able to let go and not let them affect you, you will have more time and be a lot happier.
All you need to do is give them that “$20 bucks” and they’ll be gone forever.
Let me tell you a story.
A Bronx Tale is a movie about a young kid, ‘C’. Growing up, C looked up to Sonny, a local crime boss. C’s dad, Robert De Niro, tries to keep him on the straight path.
Well one day, Sonny (the gangster) is giving C advice.
C (as a teenager) is telling Sonny about loaning this other kid $20. And now this kid is ducking C because he doesn’t want to pay him back.
C was saying he is pissed off and hating this kid. It was basically consuming his thoughts.
Sonny asked C, “Do you like this kid?”
C says, “No, I hate him!”
Sonny tells C, “Perfect, then it only cost you $20 to get him out of your life.”
C thought about it for a second, smiled and agreed.
The lesson was, don’t let these negative people have any of your time.
You have goals, dreams and shit to do. While they’re busy being miserable, get busy living.
Start surrounding yourself with like-minded people and those who have big goals and dreams. Don’t let the haters have any input into your day.
Give them their $20.
Smitty
Leave a comment about how you’ve removed negative people from your life.
By Smitty on January 14th, 2011
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Great story Smitty–love it!
Life is too short to be negative!!
Keep up the great work!
rock on
Mike T Nelson PhD(c)
Well I unexpectedly ran into him again and instead o asking for th 20 I asked him if he wanted to borrow any more. He jumped at the chance and I slipped him ANOTHER 20. He grinned at me and took off. I haven.t seen him around or a long time, seems the 20 I slipped him was counterfeit!
Great post, Smitty! A very simple way to teach a powerful and important concept. I write a lot about this for my newsletter subscribers because it’s so important and most people overlook it. You have to get your head right if you want to get your body right.
If your happiness depends on what someone else thinks of you, you’ll never have control of your life. And you’ll never be happy.
You can’t please everyone. Trying is a sucker’s game. Stop hanging around with people that are holding you back.
Kick them to the curb. Drop them like a bad habit. Screw ‘em. I know, it sounds harsh but whose life is it, anyway? Yours or theirs?
Gregg
Great advice from a very underrated movie. Almost as good as: If she doesn’t reach over and unlock that door…dump her.
Great point! It is great to think it could only be that easy. There are so many people that are negative and in many cases they are not satisfied with where they are in life. This causes them to think since they are that low, they want to put folks to a point below or at least at the same level as them. The successful folks, if strong enough, will shrug it off and move on. Hopefully by giving them $20 that will improve their outlook on their own life. One can only hope.
Awesome. Well said. Have to share this link around, because I know a ton of people on both sides that NEED to read it!!! Good stuff man
So right on. Negativity is contagious. Positive energy can be too so keep thus stuff coming. Thanks.
It really is worthwhile to think of things like that in that sense- we don’t need any nagging negativity, there’s plenty of it already and if there’s something simple we can do to rid our lives of just a little, by all means, do it!
Oh yes Smitty i know exactly what you mean.
Sometimes it is hard ignoring such people or to get rid of them.
The same is with friends or so called friends. Who impose your kindness, and if you would need someone to help you, they are gone. You defenetly get to know who your REAL friends are in that times.
I don´t need such friends, for me this persons are downgraded to people that i know.
For myself i learned that it is better for me to only have few friends but this ones on high quality 😉
I also already had some problems in work. On a jobside in china i had an older technician(30years older than me) picking on me and giving me real hard (unnecessary) things to konstruct, so that i would fail and that i would have to fly home again much earlier.(He did this with two others before me – I heard that later) But i fired back with heavy artilleries and he got big trouble. (I gave him his 20$ 😉 )After that he got “normal” again, showed me some respect and we could work good together the following months.
Sometimes you have to show these people “Until here and not further”
So i wish you a nice weekend and keep on spreading GOOD MOTIVATION and positiv thinking around the world.
Training/lifting is multidimensional. How can you train properly if you are in a bad mood or in the wrong state of mind because of others? I agree, ditch them. I made a decision almost a decade ago that I was not going to hang out with people who drunk, smoked, did drugs, cursed, were immoral, and/or who lived to be negative and infect others. Anyone I felt I could not have around my family (especially my children) I just parted ways with. It was one of the best decisions of my life and I am a better person today because of this decision. Great article Smitty.
I have had several people in the past try to laugh at building my body saying it will never happen. Great story.
Tim
I live off other’s negativity! When I was selling high end fitness equipment I would have people all pissy over price, or the fact that I asked them how their day was going. As soon as they gave me a glare or quick, “JUST LOOKING” it was on!
Now I work with bariatric patients (I know save the comments!), but it is experience with those that hate me and what I stand for that gives me the drive. Instead of coming home all bummed I train harder and I envision them watching me. Pushing myself to the point of puking, and then yelling,”One more time!” And my favorite line from Big Ronnie, “Everybody wants to be a bodybuilder, but ain’t no body want to lift no heavy ass weight! I do it though!” I take the liberty of exchanging “bodybuilder” with “strong”, but hell it’s my house, my rules.
Negativity is a state of mind! If you’re around someone that is upset/hater then you smile and talk about the beautiful weather (even if it is 0 degrees). Sometimes a positive attitude is all they needed to change their attitude, but if that doesn’t work keep it up because they will get pissed and leave.
If I feel a negative mood coming on I start laughing, and then my two sons start laughing. Their laughter is all I need.
Get Train!
Keep up the good work Smitty!
People who light fires are attracted to people who like to light fires. That’s how they validate themselves. I have had enough experience with negative people that I can smell them a mile away. I always smile and stay positive. Eventually they can’t stand being around me, so it kinda takes care of itself. But you know there’s always that one who makes you their project. Bring it on! I can handle it! What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
Take all those negative comments that people seem to throw around and let it be the fuel to stoke the fires of desire….
Negativity breeds negativity and I used to be a breeder until Smitty motivated me to make some positive changes and look at things outside the box a little and it’s been well worth it. Thanks Smitty keep up the good work…..Thank You
I’m a PT and a Life Coach so negativity is an opportunity to defuse it, address it and not get enroled in it…. notice when I do and choose again.
Good advice!!! Positivity within oneself shines and effects all that surrounds that individual and brings goodness and peace in all aspects of life and humanity. Negativity is for the weak and confused. Stay postive no matter what situation you may fall upon. Thanks Smitty for that piece!!
hey Smitty!
Nice post. I love that movie, I’ve seen it a million times! It is definitely something to think about. I read somewhere a chinese proberve which said “you cannot change the wind, but you can redirect your sails”
Keep it up!
Vicente
It is up to you as a person to surround yourself with people that are supportive and you give a shit about. I have moved to Norway and before starting my own gym I need money, so I work in a corporate gym. I see other trainers taking in clients that suck the fun and energy out of the job, I have been at the gym for a week and have already turned down three potentials because they were whiny energy vampires. All of my people need to work hard, and I only take clients that will work hard, if you don’t want to work hard and be supportive of the people around you then get the eff out of my gym, and my life. YOU create the life you want to lead, and you dictate the culture that you surround yourself with.
We all have the choice. Let that stale hater water run right off your back and stay on track.
Duck feathers, baby!
Some great videos and outstanding training ideas.
The inspiration’s greatly appreciated.
Negative people will always be around us, their attitude their choice. We have the choicew of putting our focus on anything we want. Put your focus on that wich empowers or inspires you and not the things that bring you down or weaken you. It’s also your choice on where to put your focus
J
Negative people. Just give them a good rock to suppress!
Haters and Negative folks abound! It amazes me how many truly miserable people there are. Happiness, Joy, Peace… They live in the Heart. Only YOU can make YOURSELF Miserable or Happy… The choice is yours!