This morning, while surfing the web, I ran across this video. Now, I run across tons of videos on a daily basis, but a lot of them I ignore. For whatever reason (obviously meant to be), I felt compelled to view this one. I'm so glad that I did. This man discussed the importance of the your sacrifice in obtaining success and this video put a mirror up to my actions. So many of us want to be successful, but few of us actually go to the extremes that it takes to obtain it. You get tired so you go to sleep. You have a bad day, so you take a 'break' and tell yourself that you'll work on it tomorrow...except tomorrow never comes. You come up with another 'bright idea' and start working on that...not realizing that A. you haven't finished what you started and B. your impulsive antics are the reason why you haven't been successful at anything. You say you're doing all you can, but you're not...and you know it. You allow your frustration to pull you away and allow you to find comfort in the very place that you are trying to escape.
After you view the video below, think about where you are in your quest for success. Are you doing enough? What can you do differently? I'm taking an inventory of myself and finding out that I'm not liking all of the things that I'm coming across. I need to do more...and you probably do too. The man in this video said it best: "You need to want success as much as you want to breathe," and I most certainly do.
In today's world and especially in the economy we live in, saving money is on top of everyone's list. With things in the shape they're in, even the richest of the rich are finding ways to cut corners. The mindset of most is "every little bit counts"....and it does. Lately, I've been thinking about how people have so many 'miscellaneous' funds that they have no clue where it goes. You only realize when your money is gone, and even then, you're wondering where it went off to. With this in mind, I've come up with a few tips that you can implement daily to help you guard and balance those runaway funds.
Tip #1:Brew your own coffee: Now, you have to understand, as much as it pains you to hear this, it pains me even worse to actually have to say it, but it's true. On average, Americans spend over $800 on coffee alone and this is at the bottom of the curve. This doesn't include if you actually get some food along with it. If you're a lover of the fancier drinks at Starbucks, then you're looking at spending over $1825! Wow! Think about it. What could you do with all of that money? It's easy to ignore it because everyday it's not in the form of a great lump sum, so it doesn't hurt as much. When you do the math, it's a completely different story.
Tip #2:Bring your lunch and learn to make your dinner. Food costs way more than we think it does. Five dollars here, 7 dollars there, adds up...and quickly. Before you know it, you spend an amount that could purchase you a substantial amount of groceries. Those groceries can save you from having to buy food everday and therefore save you money. Not to mention, it's a great bonus for your health as well.
Tip #3:Pick a day to shower yourself. Let's be real. Being an adult means responsibilities and responsibilities don't allow for many personal indulgent wants. What happens in going day after day without getting anything that you want, is that you start to suffer and crave those things regardless of the lack of necessity. People need some of their wants. That's just the way things are and there's no need to feel bad about that. The key is balance. When you deprive yourself of that, you become like a person on an insane diet. You go from eating barely anything to eating everything in sight and end up worse than you were before. Same things goes for spending. By choosing a day to treat yourself, you quench the thirst for your new "it-toy" and still stay on top of all that needs to be done. Do I hear a win-win?...yup, I think I do. :)
These tips sound simple, but getting yourself into the habit of NOT spending unnecessary funds, is actually pretty intense. When you do, however, you'll be in a better fiscal position. Below is a great video of Bob Proctor and his secret to wealth. It'll give you plenty of thoughts with your newly increased fiscal freedom! Enjoy...
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
I was sitting in church Sunday morning and during the sermon, something was mentioned about choices. I can't exactly remember the specifics, but it got my mind spinning. I started thinking of all the decisions I've made in the past, good and bad, and how each one, individually, catapulted me to where I am today. Oftentimes, we see where we are and if it's not in a good place, we blame it on life in general, but few of us really take the time to see that where we are now, is the direct reflection of all of the choices we've made. As I sat there, I started thinking of the good and progressive choices that I've made. I felt such pride in those choices and was happy that I made them. Then I began to think about the negative choices that I've made. I immediately whinced at the thought of them. Mentally, I tried to run away from them and made up award-winning reasons to excuse my actions. After I went through my mental rant, my sanity whispered "it's your fault. You made that choice, no matter what the options were." I rolled my eyes at that thought, but it was true....and I had to face that.
For the very first time, I took FULL responsibility for my choices. In the past, I told myself I did take responsibility, but I really didn't. I made myself believe that there was no better choice, but this time, I finally knew it was all me. I thought about the choices and actions I made in the past that got me the positive things that I had. I wouldn't have gotten those things if I had chosen to either do the opposite or nothing at all. Then, I traveled to the dark side and thought of the wrong decisions that took me to where I am. How much different would my life be if I hadn't made that choice? It's pointless to stress over that because A. I'll never know and B. there's nothing I can do to change that now. What I can change are the choices I make from here on out. If you are consistantly in the frame of mind that every single choice you make will determine your future, you'd choose more carefully. With that in mind, I think of the endless possibilities and doors that I will open as soon as my choices coincide with that path.
Think about your past choices. Are you happy with where you are? If you are, then that's wonderful, but a lot of people aren't. Sit and think about the things that you could have done differently. Do you see how they brought you to the place that you are? Now what are you going to do differently? Remember, the place that you're in now, is not the place that you have to be. You just have to make that personal, executive decision and go from there. I'll leave you with a few of my favorite quotes.
"If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise.”
"Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.”
'There are always two choices. Two paths to take. One is easy. And its only reward is that it's easy.”
Meditation brings wisdom; lack of meditation leaves ignorance. Know well what leads you forward and what holds you back, and choose the path that leads to wisdom.”
Certified Life Coach. Editor for Fearless Magazine. Life Coach Contributor for Hope for Women Magazine. Contributor for www.thefreshxpress.com. Lover of God. Driven. Intelligent. Fashionista. Motivated. Disciplined. Beautiful. Visionary. Author. Public Speaker. Entrepreneur. Successful....these are some of the things that describe me. I am all about moving forward and progressing toward achieving all that my heart desires. I believe in embracing all of my talents and not locking in to one aspect of my interests. Feel free to send me a message on specifics of what I do and projects that I am available for. Be blessed.
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