On the newest installment of “Celebrity Apprentice”, 15 acclaimed figures heard the words “you're terminated” and “get to the chopper” in an Austrian accent. The beloved and multi-talented “American Ninja Warrior” host, Matt Iseman was the only competitor to not hear those words, but instead was hired after earning an enormous victory for The Arthritis Foundation. Incidentally, he was the least well-known among the cast, but this win is far from surprising for those tuned in each week. He bested strong competition including Laila Ali, Ricky Williams, Vince Neil, and even Boy George in the finale. With all of the Celebrity Apprentice host controversy aside, there's a lot we can learn from Matt when striving for our goals.
Having a positive attitude always makes a difference when striving for success. No matter how well or terribly Matt was doing in the competition, he never lost optimism. This in turn brought out the best in his teammates, leading them to victories and the best possible showing of their talents. While it was a competition, he showed that you don't need to be sly to gain a win. He made allies who shared his joy in his accomplishments.
He wasn't afraid to let his personality shine or humor show. He even went ahead and did an Arnold impression in the final challenge, which was a risk in itself. Throughout the competition, he didn't lean on the side of safety. He allowed his creativity to fuel his projects, constantly striving to push the envelope.
Staying in our comfort zones certainly is safe, but when our dreams are bigger than we are, breaking out of our shells is necessity. Arnold questioned Matt's earning potential at various points during the competition. This didn't discourage Matt – it lit his fire. The decision to be brave led him to earn $573,329 for his charity, well over the insane goal he had set for himself.
Of course Matt made a huge contribution to The Arthritis Foundation by raising such wealth, but the awareness he spread was just as rich. He shared his struggle with the rheumatoid arthritis, making it much more comprehensible to people who don't have first-hand experience. In turn, he inspired those who do struggle with the disease.
The only person in control of making your dreams become reality is you. That's why it's so important to be your own leader. Matt led himself and his celebrity competitors as a project manager on many occasions. He never lost sight of his purpose in the competition and consistently put his best foot forward.
Stepping out of the crowd of course put him on the chopping block, but he was confident in his decisions and what he believed. He shows how important it is to believe in yourself, because sometimes you don't just reach your goals-you crush them.
