Archives for 2013

Carry and Capture

Moleskine Notebook

Photo Courtesy of Alexandre Dulaunoy

Carry a notebook always.

I hope that was plain enough. Why you ask? In order to capture your thoughts and memories in a moment. How many times have you been sitting somewhere and an incredibly awesome idea hits you? You promise yourself that you are going to remember it. Two days later you have this nagging feeling like there was something important that you should have remembered and you just can’t figure out what it is.

I have either small blank cards, my pocket notebook, or my phone with me.  Even at night there are a few notebooks and a pen sitting on the table beside me.  There is always something around me that allows me to capture what I am thinking when an idea strikes.  Many of the blogs that I write come from these moments.  I’ll be driving down the road and a title will hit me.  As soon as I stop I hit the record button on my Evernote app and do a voice recording.  It syncs and when I sit down to do my writing I can listen to the recording easily.

If I am writing in my notebook I do a regular checks of it to see what I need to take care of.  I use a hard covered Moleskine pocket notebook.  They are very durable and don’t bend easily.

Regardless of the method you use make sure you have something on you where you can capture your thoughts at the moment.  When inspiration strikes you will be ready.  Maybe it is that million dollar idea or that book you want to write that all comes in that moment when you are not expecting it.  Always expect it.

Resolve to Quit

New Year New MeIt may seem early to you that I am already talking about resolutions.  However, right now is the time you should be setting your goals for at least the first three months of 2014 and have a pretty good idea of what your major goals are for the year.

That being said I think it is time a lot of people give up a big habit.  It isn’t smoking or dieting.  I believe it is time to give up the resolutions and move on to creating breakthroughs and goals. You have heard but it’s time to really start setting goals and letting the resolutions fall by the wayside.

Studies show that 88% of people drop their resolutions by the end of January.  These big plans we have for ourselves and they only survive for four weeks?  I think there is something going on here.  That something is no real plan or target.

In order to succeed at something you have to have a specific measurable goal to shoot for.  Zig Ziglar said it best when he talked about the best archer in the world can’t hit the target blind folded.  In order to accomplish anything you have to know exactly what you are trying to accomplish.  Once you get this anything is truly possible!

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If you haven’t heard yet you can check out my new program called New Year New Me!  It is to help out with turning your resolutions into goals and doing it with liked minded people through teleseminars, one on one coaching, and group mastermind calls.  For more information you can visit http://www.newyearnew.me

Are You Getting the Role You Want?

Auditions

Photo Courtesy of wetwebwork.

A few weeks ago I wrote about casting your own life and auditioning people for it.  After I published it I received a message from my magician friend Basil.  He mentioned that we are always trying to be cast ourselves in our dream role and that we never know which small part we are given by someone else might take us to our next level.

I loved his thinking here.  Not only are we auditioning other people they are auditioning us.  We want to play a role in their life because we want them to play one in ours.

Next time you run into a stranger treat them with dignity and respect.  Whether it is a customer in your business or someone you are running into randomly during the day, you never know what that person may hold for you or how much power and help you can give to them.

Several years ago I was selling a camera to a gentleman.  I took time with him and answered his questions.  I made sure he had all the information he needed to make a good decision.  Immediately after finishing the man hands me his business card and tells me if I was ever looking for a job to give him a call.  While I never took him up on that offer what if that card would have opened to doors to one of my dreams?

Why Do You Go To Work?

Time Card

Photo Courtesy of Marcin Wichary.

There are very few things that you have to do in life. You have to eat, drink, and take care of yourself in order to survive but other than that there really isn’t anything that you have to do.

With that, why do you go to work? Is it because you enjoy it or because you need a pay check? If the answer is because you need a check I think you might need to look a little deeper as to the reason you go.

I am an advocate of doing work that you love. There really needs to be more of a reason to go to work than just to trade your time for money. You should enjoy what you do and find deeper meaning in going to work. If you don’t then it may be time to look for another line of work.

“If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.” Martin Luther King Jr.

You have the choice to go to a job you hate tomorrow or to look for another job. If you do not enjoy your current employment then come up with an exit plan over the next 60 days. Put in applications, make phone calls and once you secure a job doing something you find meaning put in your notice and go do good work that matters to you.

Question: What is something that gives your current job meaning?

You Need Mystery In Life

Mystery by Candlelight

Mystery by Candlelight by Glen Bledsoe.

Everyone needs some mystery in life.  Human Needs Psychology says that people need both certainty and uncertainty.  You want to know you are going to have a birthday party but you don’t want to know what you are going to get until you open the box.

People get their uncertainty from different places.  A haunted attraction at Halloween is full of them.  I am personally drawn to magic and professional wrestling because there is a mystery on the “inner workings” of these performances.  I love to know just enough to keep it interesting while wondering how that magician knew what card I chose!

Allow some mystery in your life.  Think of some ways that you can provide some mystery for the people in your world.

Say No?

I Said No

Photo Courtesy of Roland Tanglao.

Is it time to say no?

It has been my experience that most humans are people pleasers.  They want to make everyone, at least in their immediate circle of family and friends, happy.  They do this at the sacrifice of themselves and their own time and at some point they start feeling drained or even resentful if the requests keep pouring in.
Do you think it is time you start telling people in your world ‘no’?
Chris Gillibeau in his book “The Art of Non-Conformity” says to ask “What is the worst thing that will happen if I say no?”  Most of the time the answer is nothing.  If it isn’t a life or death situation then you need to consider whether you want to spend your time doing the request.
This isn’t to say you should be self serving and only thinking of yourself.  There are plenty of times that you want to help others when asked.  But before you do consider all of the factors and whether you truly have the time to give at that moment.  Time is a precious thing so handle with care.
What was a time that you said yes to someone and after the fact realized you should have said no for one reason or another?

Review: The Total Money Makeover Classic Edition

TTMM Classic EditionThe Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey is a classic text on how to eliminate debt step by step and why you would want to do such a weird thing.

The book is broken up into the seven baby steps which are:

* $1,000 Starter Emergency Fund
* Paying Off Debt with the Debt Snowball
* 3 to 6 months of Expenses in Savings
* 15% of Household Income to Retirement Accounts
* College Funding
* Pay Your Mortgage Off Early
* Build Wealth and Give

Dave not only give you instructions that work but also explains why he recommends doing things in the order given. There are several examples of families that have gone through the steps woven into the book so you can see that real people have made a real difference in their life.

I can’t say enough good about this book. It is a game changer for many people and I have seen the principles here turn on light bulbs for people through Financial Peace University. It is a common sense approach for managing your money written in a quick and easy to read style. It has budget worksheets in the book that you can use to help you along the way.

With all of that being said I will tell you that even following the plan the journey isn’t always easy. There will be difficulties here and there and when that happens you just have to keep pushing forward. I promise you it is worth the effort! I ordered my first edition of this book in 2010 somewhat by accident. When it arrived I read it anyway and it began a change that has lasted ever since in my family. It taught us how to be much more financially responsible and for that I thank Mr. Ramsey.

Lastly, this book is not for everyone. You really do need to be ready to take charge of your finances before this book will be of help to you. Also, in full disclosure, while I agree with 98% of what is taught there is that 2% that I think people need to make their own judgements on. That being said, his plan does work and I would recommend for anyone to try it and make adjustments where they feel it is needed in their own life.

For more information, other reviews or to purchase check out the book on Amazon.

*Note: I received a copy of this book at no charge in exchange for my honest review.*

World Gratitude Day

Thank You In Every Language

Image Courtesy of Woodley Wonderworks

This Saturday, September 21, is World Gratitude Day.  It is a day to express appreciation for the wonderfully awesome things groups and individuals do in the world.

Take a minute to think of something someone did for you that you are grateful for.  What is something you can do for someone so they have the same feeling about you?

You can find out more about World Gratitude Day and it’s history at Holiday Insights.

Cast Your Life

Clapper Board and Reel

Image Courtesy of M4D Group

Think about your life as a television show for a moment. Season after season (year after year) you are the director, producer, editor, and caterer. You are the star and you get to control just about every aspect of what goes on. But would you like to know what your most powerful job is? You get to work in casting and decide who gets a spot in your show!

You get to choose the people who play a lead roll and those that are the extras in the background. Each role is your decision. You are the boss when it comes to casting and this task should never be given to anyone else. While characters will be introduced by other people you have full authority whether to give them a spot.

Choose carefully who you add into your life show. Audition those that you are considering for your cast and think about the role they will play carefully. Be gentle with those that you won’t be allowing to return next season and always keep open the possibility of a return spot if circumstances change.

And remember, give an award winning performance that you are proud of!  Your life show is your legacy for other generations!

Your Great Concern

Abraham Lincoln“My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.” -Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln wanted to know if you were okay with your failure.  Are you?

I hope you are okay with having failed.  However, being okay with failure and also being just fine staying down are two different things.

Get up.  Dust off.  Correct errors. Start again.

Do these four things often enough and success will come to you.