Are you living Day to Day?

Words of wisdom from a multi-millionaire...

"The very poor live day-to-day, the poor live week-to-week, the middle class live month-to-month, the wealthy live year-to-year and the very wealthy live decade-to-decade" - Kyle Pacetti

Wow. I can’t stop thinking about how true this is. Imagine how this can affect the decisions we make. I've been everywhere from poor to very ‘comfortable’… I can attest to this. When money is tight you can’t even see beyond the week or the month and you make decisions accordingly. When things are going very well then you can plan out a year in advance. I would love to get to the point where I can plan out decades in advance.

I started to really think about this in terms of mindset and ethics. Think of someone who is very poor and living day-to-day. If someone struggles to get through the day and someone leaves a $20 bill unattended on the table do they take it? I’m sure we all know someone who would. I suspect they would have a way to justify to themselves as well… Perhaps saying that if the roles were reversed, the other person would do the same. Maybe they would justify by saying they need it more. On the other hand, what if this person were wealthy? Would they take it? I highly doubt it…

There was another successful speaker that spoke of the fact that she gets to change lives for a living. The money is really just a bonus. I totally understand. I believe that we all need to make a living and so why not earn your living by doing something with the purpose and intention of helping others. However, at the same time I looked around the room and saw that some people were rolling their eyes.

Why is it that some people think that it’s all about the money?

I believe that our current circumstances shape how we perceive the intent of other people. If things are rough in your life and someone approaches you with a way to help you that has a dollar figure attached to it, you might immediately become skeptical and defensive. What’s more is that you don’t have to be homeless to be in a bad situation. Maybe there is some uncertainty in your job… any time fear creeps in you will potentially react in a negative way to people who are trying to help.

Bottom line is that, it is okay to be skeptical. There are certainly people out there trying to scam you.  However, there are also so many people out there who want to help you. Just learn to ask the right questions. It is important to find out what the "win-win" situation is. If you can be clear on what each of you gain from the deal then you can make a better decision on whether you should move forward.

Who's the Boss?

It's 11pm and I’ve just had a totally unproductive day. It seems like I just keep getting pulled in so many directions that it is hard to get anything done. I’ve spent the last 20 minutes planning my day tomorrow and I hope that I can get my things done.

Sound familiar? For me this cycle repeats daily.

‘We are constantly being tugged on from a thousand different directions, so your ability to be productive & ultimately achieve your big hairy audacious goals has more to do with all the things you DON’T do versus the things you do. Doing MORE is not the answer. Doing less is. Saying “no” to more things so you can say “yes” to the right things is the key to taking you more efficiently & expeditiously toward your goals.’ - Darren Hardy

I get this. I just don't always know how to  it. I know I'm being too nice. As soon as someone needs me I cave. What is worse is that today, technology has made me way too accessible. People can get ahold of me by text, phone, facebook, email, twitter… The list goes on and on. It seems that everyone's priorities are SO urgent and my priorities pale in comparison. Not to mention the guilt trip I get if I do happen to say "no".

I attended a leadership conference a couple months ago that spoke about "being your own boss". The only 'job' of a boss is to make sure the work gets done. To be completely honest, I have done a very bad job at being my own boss. 

We need to take more responsibility for advancing our own lives forward… Which means being the boss. Otherwise, we let other people and other circumstances take over.

'If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you will fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.' - Jim Rohn

Picture this. You were at work, the boss gave you a serious deadline and a friend asked you for a favor what would you do? I bet you would say; "I'm so sorry, I can't, my boss is on my back about getting this work done."

So why is it easier to say no when there is a "boss" telling us what to do?

I had an ‘a-ha’ moment. I know that I have a hard time saying no and taking the "blame" for disappointing a friend. When I have a "boss" then it is not my fault. So I decided. Why not implement my own boss? It sounds crazy but if you adopt the mindset of an employee then you can blame the boss all you want. When someone pulls you in a direction other than the one that your 'boss' has defined for you, then blame the boss.

Here's how I did it. I put the "boss" hat on and I define all the goals and tasks for the day. My "employee" self has no choice but to finish what is on the list. I also add 1 more "miscellaneous" task to my schedule. When I am asked for a favor I simply say "I need to check my schedule, just send me a quick text/email to remind me." I never drop what I'm doing to take care of the favor. I simply finish what I'm doing and then take care of the miscellaneous task.

So I ask you this.  Are you ready to be the boss?

The mistake I couldn't afford

Almost 4 years ago...

I'm sitting at the airport.  I just missed my flight to Denver, Colorado. I am supposed to go there to learn about a new health challenge that could help eliminate obesity. I used to have a great job in high tech, but I got laid off. I decided to start working with a handful of small businesses to take care of their technology needs. I am not even making enough money to cover my expenses yet, but the business is growing and I am hopeful. Either way, I used all my points (totaling $800) on this flight and the ticket desk is telling me that it will cost another $900 to get to Denver today.

I can’t afford to spend the money...

Wait… did I just say that?

I first learned about the challenge about a month ago… and it sounds amazing. Everyone around me is overweight and I can’t think of one person who is getting healthier. If this challenge is able to turn the trend, then I could make millions. Still, I haven’t spent one second sharing it with anyone. I’m so busy trying to get my computer business off the ground.

I can’t afford to spend the time...

Oh no… I just said it again!

What is wrong with me? I have no extra money. I have no extra time. I’m sitting in an airport with a chance to go learn about something that could make me millions and give me my time back and I can’t afford it?

What if my car broke down?  What if I had a health scare that wasn't covered by insurance? I would find the money.  I have spent thousands last year on eating out, pubs, TV, movies, sporting events, computer equipment and gadgets that I didn't even need… I found the money for that.

What I’m really saying is that I can’t afford to waste time and money. If I’m going to spend my time and my money I want to make it worth it. I feel that the car, food and fun will be worth it, so I find the money. I know what to expect.

This ‘health challenge’ is an unknown. Is it going to work? Are people going to try it? 

Back to the airport... I think to myself.  In 5 years from now... if I still have no extra time and no extra money… How do I want to look back on today?  Do I want to talk about how I wasted a couple grand trying to change the world and it didn't work?  Do I want to regret not spending the couple grand for a chance at changing the world and my life?

I can live with my mistakes. I've made plenty and I've spent thousands on weekends that I barely remember… I do not want to live with regrets. I can’t afford to miss a chance to get myself out of debt.  I can't afford to miss a chance to free my time so that I don’t have to work like a slave until I’m 65 and miss my son’s life.

I spent the $900.  That $2000 dollar trip has earned me close to a quarter million in almost 4 years.

Albert Einstein once said; "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results."

If you have no time and no money then can you afford to be in the same position next year?  If not, then it is time to start spending your time and money differently.

Are you really "thinking about it"?

I am about 11 years old and laying out in the hot sun with some friends at the neighborhood pool. My friends decide to try the high diving board.  To impress the girls, and in the excitement of the moment, I think this is an excellent idea.  Finally, it is my turn.  As I climb the ladder, I feel it in my stomach.  Time slows down as my friends are watching in anticipation.  I walk to the end of the diving board and look down.  Wow... It looks so much higher from up here.  I walk back and take a deep breath.  I figure I need to take a minute...  It seems that the more time I take, the more terrified I get.  Finally... screw it.  I run and jump...  landing flat on my belly.  It hurt like crazy, but I did it.

Have you ever had a great idea?  You got super excited about it and started to plan it out in your head.  Then you decide to "sleep on it"...  Morning comes, doubt sets in, and the "genius" idea is much less exciting. You continue with your day and think about it later... Then you determine that it's not really a very good idea after all and scrap it. Months later, someone else has it implemented!!!

"The longer you wait to do something you should do now, the greater the odds that you will never actually do it". - The Law of Diminishing Intent

Just like the high diving board sounded like a great idea, the more I thought about it, the more I felt the fear.  Everyone is watching me... What if I make a fool of myself?  Let's look at another scenario.  Want to lose weight?  A friend tells you about a program that works.  You get excited at first, but the more you "think about it", you wonder... Can I stick to this plan?  What if I fail?  What happens when I stop the program?  Sound familiar?

"We intend to take action when the idea strikes us. We intend to do something when the emotion is high. But if we don't translate that intention into action fairly soon, the urgency starts to diminish. A month from now the passion is cold. A year from now it can't be found." - Jim Rohn

Do you believe that a good decision needs to be thought out completely?  It is good to know the facts... The problem is that most of us use "thinking about it" as an excuse so we can put off decisions until the excitement wears off.

“Successful people make their decisions quickly and change their minds slowly. Failures make their decisions slowly and change their minds quickly.” - Andy Andrews

Leaders often make multi-million dollar decisions with incomplete information.  They take advice from trusted partners that have knowledge in the particular field and move forward.  It is far more difficult to shake a successful person off their path than it is to get them on the path in the first place.

Are there things that you want but have not taken action on yet?  Why not?  Have you been passing up opportunities so you could "think about it"?  Is it time to change the pattern?  You already know what you want, and you likely already know how to get it.

The word "decide" comes from the Latin dēcīdere literally, to cut off.  When you truly "decide", you must cut off from other options. Trust your first instinct.  You will never really know until you try.   If you land flat on your belly, at least it will make for a great story.  If you "think about it" then you always wonder "what if" and regret the chances you didn't take.

The best decision is the right one.  The second best decision is the wrong one.  The WORST decision is no decision at all.  Make a decision, take action and do it now.