2012 February

There are many things that hold us back from achieving greatness. Sometimes it is because we are lazy – not wanting to pay-the-price for success. Sometimes it is because we are fearful – we lack the courage to face our fears head-on. And sometimes it is because we lack confidence in our ability to really bring about transformational change (e.g., quit addiction, start a business, lose 40 lbs). Now, while it is true that all these things do hold us back from achieving our goals, from achieving greatness, there is a bigger obstacle that most of us face today – current lifestyle.

To ‘break free’ from where one is, to where one wants to be it often requires ‘taking risks’. For example, many people desire to work for themselves; to be an entrepreneur. I understand this desire as I am a small business owner and there is nothing like being your own boss; being in control of your own destiny, your earnings, and your freedom. To start a business requires faith, courage, and enthusiasm. Moreover, it requires taking a risk that you will succeed; that you will have the ability to support self (and possibly others). Now, while this challenge, risk is real the greater challenge we have is putting ourselves in a position “to” take risks. This is perhaps the central problem we face today – the inability to take risks. Most people are not in a position “to take risks” (like start a business) because they have too much debt, too big a house, too expensive a car, etc., etc. The sheer weight of current lifestyle prevents the “willing” to break free, cut over, take risks and begin living a better, more authentic life. Consider your situation today. Are you able to take risks? How does your ‘current condition’ prevent you from taking risks to begin living a better life? In my opinion, it is our current ‘overweight’ lifestyle that is preventing many people from pursuing, living their dream. We are not living within our means and as a result we are denied from ever really living life; from maximizing the personal, professional, and financial potential that life offers.

What is the solution to this sad state? It is simple – we must downsize our lifestyle. Practically what this means is to do one or more of the following:

Drop from a two-car household to a one-car household

Sell your bigger house; move into an apartment or condo

Stop eating out at restaurants for lunch; brown-bag it

Find ways to reduce common, recurring costs (e.g., insurance, groceries, utilities, etc.)

Get rid of the housecleaner; clean the house yourself

Begin relentlessly tracking your money and what you spend it on

Avoid expensive vacations; explore your local surroundings to generate fun

Sell some possessions to generate cash to lower your debt

Apply 100% of tax return to lower your debt

Become ‘handy’ by reading a how-to book; do your own home repairs

Etc…

What the list above suggests is that there are multiple tactics one can employ to reduce debt to enable oneself to “take risks”. Here is the reality: by employing the tactics above (and others that you think of), you will inch closer to living the life you want to live. Taking any of the actions above takes a certain amount of commitment and courage, but the payoffs can be breathtaking. There is one person I know who employed many of the tactics above to get himself (and his wife) to a point where they could operate their own home-based small business. How are they doing? They are making six-figures and the best part is they are happy, alive, and free! Amen. What a great testimonial for all of us to emulate. Therefore, swallow your pride. Check your ego at the door. If you are nervous about what others will say when you lose the car, or move into a smaller home, or drop needless life amenities (like a lawnmower service, or house maid, etc.), just tell yourself “better days are coming, just around the corner”. Your “real” friends will understand and support your move. And to the critics, like you really care what they think anyway.

So…what are you going to do? Will you take action today? Will you put one foot forward today to inch closer to who you are and want to be on the surface of life? I hope so. This is my wish for you. To live as soul would live, for when we do this…happiness follows.

All now rests with you!

Look forward to your reply.

Randall

LIFE COACHING: I’m available for one on one life coaching. Whether you want to acheive higher levels of success in business and life or feel you are moving on a random course without definition, direction, or control, I’d love to work with you. Together, we can determine your next steps. Together, we can identify and prioritize the appropriate actions needed to succeed. Together, we can make great things happen! If you are interested in developing personal strategy, establishing personal alignment, and/or maximizing the life experience, email me at randall@personalstrategy.org.

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For most of us, happiness, success, love, and health rank high in terms of desires. We desire to be happy. We desire to be successful. We desire to be loved. And we desire exceptional health. The challenge is such things do not occur naturally. Said differently, to achieve such things requires effort – and plenty of it. Therein lies the rub. While most of us want such things, few are willing to pay-the-price to achieve such things. There are many reasons why we don’t pay-the-price. One reason is we are complacent. We would rather sit on the couch watching TV than ride the stationary bike. We would rather read a book, than write a business plan. We would rather hold a grudge, than work out our differences with others. Another reason we do pay-the-price for success is that we fear failure with the task. We reason, “why bother with exerting effort as I will not likely achieve my goal anyway”. Finally, we do not pay-the-price because we do not know what to do. We lack precision with what ‘key leverage points’ to address to improve condition. With the first two obstacles, I offer three words of advice: faith, courage, and enthusiasm. Have faith that you will succeed. Be courageous with your thinking, acting, feeling. Finally, be enthusiastic about the ‘emerging’ you. As I like to say, “better days are just around the corner, so just keep going”. Regarding the latter obstacle, I offer a different strategy:

Step 1 – Commit to paper what happiness/success/love/health mean to you (i.e., a vision)
Step 2 – Define a personal strategy to realize your vision
Step 3 – Commit to reviewing your goal, personal strategy, and progress daily
Step 4 – Course correct your strategy based on daily learning’s

Repeat steps 3-4 continuously.

If you are like most people, and to lean on a phrase from Joel Osteen, you are not likely ‘living’ your best life yet. This does not have to be your reality. You can work for yourself. You can be exceptionally fit. You can have healthy relations. And you can be financially independent. You just need to get busy executing the steps above. What is holding you back? Don’t do what most people do and trick yourself into thinking that next week, month, or year you will finally get it right. TAKE ACTION TODAY! You have only one shot at life; at living. As such, we have great need to get busy sooner, than later. What helps me with the ‘stinking thinking’, with getting my butt in gear, is to imagine the life I have always dreamed of and then realize how far I am from living that life. Why do I do this? Because every time I do so, I get mad. And when I get mad, I get busy. If getting mad is what it takes for you to get busy, then get mad. Today, and everyday!

Look forward to your reply.

Randall

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