You are being watched

People watch what you do and how you do it.  They notice how you behave in various situations.  Even when you are alone, they can see the results of what you have done or not done on your alone time.

Based on what they see, they will give you opportunity or not. 

Work with you or not. 

Go along with your ideas or not.

Speak to you with respect/kindness or not.

You are the cause; your experience is the effect. The world is responding to you.  Be your best, always.

Living to your potential takes courage

Living to your potential takes courage.

You must get out of your comfort zone.  Take on challenges.  Risk. Do things you have never done before on a regular basis.  Face adversity.  Overcome problems.  Endure ridicule and criticism.  And get hurt.

If you are timid, play it safe, or let fear run your show, you will not live to your potential.

Be courageous (which is different than not being afraid), and go out there and see what you can really do.

It's ok to not be perfect

When we try to get better at something, whether it be a specific skill, a score, juggling schedules and getting everything done, or just being a good person, we strive for perfection and use it as our model.

As we do so, we must understand that we will never likely achieve perfection, and not let that get in the way of striving to be our best.

When smart phones become all you do

So many people are glued to their phones.  Phones are useful tools – and lots of entertainment and chewing gum for the mind. 

When something TO DO, becomes WHAT YOU DO, you fill spaces that would and could be used for something else.  

There is 100,000 times more information online than you can ever pay attention to anyway.

Leave space.

How to have a breakthrough

In order to have a breakthrough, you have to break something.

-the bonds of a bad relationship

-bad habits

-old beliefs and ideas

-a part of your identity

A Phoenix doesn’t just rise from the ashes.  First, something needs to burn.

What is it for you?

"10% of all you earn is yours to keep"

Yesterday I talked about “The Richest Man in Babylon,” a book by George S. Clayson. It’s a great fable about personal finance.  

The first idea is this – “Ten percent of all you earn is yours to keep”. You might be thinking, “What do you mean, all the money I earn is mine”. But is it? You have to pay for rent or your mortgage, food, for your car, etc. That money is not yours to keep. The idea is you should save at least 10% of your income in a permanent savings/investment account.

10% – not too much to ask? Try it.

Oh, and read the book – the audio version is great.

"Start thy purse to fattening"

Many years ago, I read one of the greatest books about money and personal finance ever written. It’s a short book, a fable called “The Richest Man in Babylon” by George S. Clayson.

One of the simple ideas in the book is “Start thy Purse to Fattening.” The idea is if you start saving, you’ll feel like you are making some progress, and you will feel like adding to your savings. Each time you add, you’ll get a feeling that you are becoming prosperous – a feeling you like and want more of.  

If you are broke, you have a feeling of despair and hopelessness around money and that it will never end.

So start thy purse to fattening. It’s a very small amount at first – but see what it does to your emotions.

Produce more than you consume

To save money, invest it and have it grow for you, you must spend less than you make.

If you keep spending as much as you make, or more than you make, you will continue to be broke.

If you produce more value than you consume, your wealth will grow.  As it grows, it will compound.  As it compounds, it works for you, and you will have to work less.

Yes, it takes a long time, but if you never get started, it will never happen.  The best time to get started was years ago.  The second best time is now.

The first part is spending less than you make.  You can spend less than you are spending now, make more, or both.

Produce more than you consume.

How to make the whole world better

The world is made up of people.  America is made of Americans.  Your community is made up of citizens.  Your neighborhood is made up of neighbors.  Your family is made up of individuals.

The world is made of you.

How do you make it better right now?  Be the best you that you can.  The world needs more energized, successful, diligent, caring put-together people who can be an example for others young and old to follow, and who are equipped to help others.

Being the best version of you, is the best thing you can do for humanity.

Stand naked in front of the mirror

That’s all I have to say about that.