ACTION ITEM: (it helps if you sing this) “I get by with a little help from my friends,” wrote John Lennon and Sir Paul McCartney. I’m guilty of not asking for help in times of need. I know others feel the same way. So I thought, If I can’t fix my own stubbornness, I can make the effort to help someone else. Ask often, and ask with integrity to help.
ACTION ITEM: There are very successful people out there who have no problem creating momentum for themselves. They may be reading this post (I hope they are). This is a lonely race to run and a challenge I’ve struggled with. The real success I was searching for, came in magnitudes much greater when I started working for everyone else. Challenge, teach, encourage and build with high standards.
ACTION ITEM: When you see the word “invest” think money. Yes, I do think it is possible to get better without spending a dime, but it also lacks commitment. Books, audiobooks, online courses, exercise classes, seminars,…do something! Get invested in yourself or be prepared to live in the mediocre middle.
ACTION ITEM: This just feels weird reading, doesn’t it? Uncomfortable…I’d rather settle into this couch. The US Navy SEALS train in the uncomfortable every day. If you don’t know what “wet and sandy” is, I recommend Googling it. The more uncomfortable the scenario, the more they are prepared for anything anyone can throw at them. I’m certainly no SEAL, but I love the mindset. Hooyah!!
ACTION ITEM: In order to grow stronger and build muscle, a person must lift heavier weights. Is the person lifting afraid of the weights? I highly doubt it. So, why then should you be afraid of a challenge standing right in front of you? The only way to grow is to accept the challenge and punch fear in the face!
ACTION ITEM: If you’ve ever said to yourself (and I know you have), I wonder what <insert name> is up to? Then you need to take this challenge and call them. There’s a pretty good chance they’re feeling the same way (except they didn’t read this post!). Unless of course you’re one of those SUPER AWESOME people who help share my content.
Incase you missed it yesterday, or you’re wondering what the heck you’re looking at, I launched a 31 day series in the month of March titled “31 Days of Challenging Questions” – follow the link to get up to speed. Enjoy and I’ll see you tomorrow!
ACTION ITEM: I don’t think anyone can be accused of being overly thankful. Take a moment out of your day and thank a person or two who wouldn’t see it coming. It will make their day better and your gratitude will not be forgotten.
While on a flight back from New York about a month ago, I was doing some thinking. I wanted to do something truly BIG on my blog for the month of March. The answer I settled on was 31 days of posts focused on the challenging questions I learned during the last year.
After 31 days of challenging questions and learning more about yourself, it will be terrific to look back at where you were when you started! As my good friend Juan Teran always says, with tremendous enthusiasm (in tribute to his friend Zig Ziglar), “See you at the top!”
ACTION ITEM: Why not you? Why can’t you start that new opportunity, get that raise, run that marathon? Take desire and turn it into action.
Why? Because life happens. Our lives aren’t rigid and they don’t happen in 30 minute intervals (even though every digital calendar ever created says so).
Time management feels about as fun as budgeting your entire month’s spending with real dollars and envelopes (yes I know people do this and I don’t mean to offend). Effective, yes. Fun, not a chance. Do you think people continue doing things that aren’t fun? Some may…most don’t.
I’m going to distill this down to something you can use immediately after reading this post. Think of a project or task you have on your “to-do list” but that doesn’t have a due date for a week or two. What do you do now?
The answer is: Everything but the task due in two weeks! The reason for this is there is no immediacy or priority associated to completing it today. So how can we change this?
If I have a big presentation, strategy, or concept I’m working on it can feel daunting. I have the end in mind of where I’d like to go, but the path to getting there is muddled with questions and idea euphoria. INSERT PARKINSON’S LAW.
Now instead of having two weeks to complete a project and investing 12 hours on the last day, you’ll have started your work and can break the project up into smaller and more achievable mini-projects. Your stress level will be greatly reduced and your finished product will reflect your commitment to start sooner.
ACTION ITEM: Think about a project you’re working on right now. Maybe you have a couple of them. Use Parkinson’s Law to your advantage and start with a short commitment now.
Money can be a taboo topic for many. I get it. It’s highly personal and no one can really evaluate the choices of others because we don’t have a great understanding of their: upbringing, family, debts, income, etc.
But none of these factors should stop you from getting educated on the topic of money. After all, it’s the #1 cause of stress in households in 2015 (by a landslide) says CNBC.
To begin, I’ll confirm to all of my readers that I’ve read each of these books. Each more than one time. Secondly, I’m recommending these books specifically because they offer contradictory recommendations (what did you think I’d just tell you what to do?).
I want you to be able to use your brain and figure out your own financial path. It was already expressed that we’re all in different situations financially, so why offer one cookie cutter answer? Get intelligent, and use this intelligence the rest of your life to evaluate opportunities. When you complete these five books, you will understand there are guiding principles to create your unique financial foundation.
The Total Money Makeover: Classic Edition: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
Dave offers a very no nonsense approach to money through his book and nationally syndicated radio show. The foundation revolves around elimination of debt (all debt). I encourage you to learn Dave’s Seven Baby Steps. A person has to understand they can’t get ahead by battling a mountain of debt. Dave also outlines simple strategies to live by a budget and save for retirement. To put this in my own words, “Stop buying shit you can’t afford!” I don’t care what the neighbors are driving or wearing.
Ramit is a Stanford grad educated in personal behavior and his book is great for those starting out. There is a ton of actionable info in this book. His six-week action plan will lay a solid strategy for anyone getting started in the money game. He talks debt reduction, credit cards, 401K/Roth IRAs, asset allocation, and living a truly “rich life”. Here’s a hint – rich isn’t just a number, it’s a lifestyle choice. You can also follow Ramit’s blog at I Will Teach You To Be Rich.com. I get emails from Ramit daily.
Rich Dad’s Guide to Investing: What the Rich Invest in, That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!
This book will help you think about money in a very non-traditional “go to work and get paid” linear way. Earlier, I told you I’d provide contradicting advice in this post to get that noodle of yours working. Check out what Ramit thought of Rich Dad Poor Dad here on his blog No book is perfect, but I do love the angles Rich Dad Poor Dad presented to me when I first read it. It made me think about money differently. It makes you take a step back and ask yourself, “What am I really doing to improve my financial picture?”
MONEY Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom
This book was just released in the latter part of 2014. I got it for Christmas and it took a while to devour its 600+ pages of material. You may be thinking, “Tony Robbins? Isn’t he the life-coach/self-help author?” Yup! He tapped some of the most unreal relationships anyone could ever imagine to strip down the topic of money. He takes some of the strategies of the ultra-rich and makes them available to you and I. If you’re putting this in order, I think this is more of a master’s level book. Not only is it 600+ pages, it offers many contradicting investment strategies from the world’s most accomplished investors and investment strategists (once again there isn’t only one right answer here folks). If you’re into audio, I love listening to Tony’s interview with Tim Ferriss on his Four Hour Workweek podcast regarding the release of the book.
Think and Grow Rich: The Landmark Bestseller – Now Revised and Updated for the 21st Century
This book was written nearly 80 years ago. How could it possibly be relevant today? Hill’s book helps to answer the question, “What makes a winner?” The reason I’d like you to read this book is because it creates a spark. There are hundreds of stories of people retiring rich who didn’t have large incomes to begin with. I think that’s wonderful. I also think a little bit of motivation and focus goes a long way to achieving one’s goals and this will help you get started. I’ve probably picked this book up 20+ times and read it cover to cover three times.
Okay, so I left out a few books. If you’re hungry for more, there are a few you can dive into:
The Richest Man in Babylon
The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich
The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America’s Wealthy
Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth
ACTION ITEM: The worst choice you can make is to do nothing. And yes, it is a choice. Don’t try to eat the whole elephant either. Choose to pick up one book and start learning. Pick up another and challenge what you’ve just learned. Tell me where you are a year from now.
~Here’s to a rich life
