The truth is I have been practicing the 80/20 rule. 20% of my activities produce 80% of what I’m trying to accomplish. I spend my time setting up systems and automating everything so I can spend less time at work and focus more time on LIVING!
I recently ran across the statement, "What would you do if there were no retirement?" Most people work their lives with the idea that they will start living when they retire. Somehow they will travel, fish, boat, race, dive, swim, eat, drink and live the life of their dreams when they retire.
That’s NOT the way I want to live. I want to live life with balance now so when I do reach retirement age, I can say I’ve had balance for the past 30 years, and I’m not changing a thing.
I’m always on the lookout for motivational movies, books, music, people, seminars, etc. I found a great new video. I wonder if any of these new videos are spinoffs from The Secret.
I received a package on Monday from Amazon. In it, The Secret.
The Secret to Life
The Secret to Getting Rich
The Secret to Happiness
If you haven’t seen The Secret, then I highly suggest you get it. I was just reading back through some of my motivation posts, and I have been using The Secret for 3 years now without knowing it.
The Secret is The Law of Attraction. You attract whatever you think and want in life. For example, there are people who sign up for money-making programs and internet marketing courses and are highly successful because they focus on becoming successful in that program/course. And there are people who say, "This is a scam. I’ll never make money." Guess what? They are right. They are getting exactly what they are focusing on while the people who make money get exactly what they focus on.
That’s The Secret.
Here’s a short clip for Thursday’s Motivation Theme: The Secret
Every once in a while (everyday), we need a swift kick to get us up and running. After getting into the house and focusing on what I truly want in life, Thursday’s motivation is back. This week’s theme comes from Pistol Pete. Basketball fans will love this. Before Magic, Before Jordan - there was Pistol Pete. He was the original showtime. I found this video on Yahoo and I’ll think it will inspire and motivate.
I got the chance to see Ron Clark when I taught 6th Grade Science. He left his teaching job in North Carolina and went to Harlem Elementary where he took the "brats" of the school and took them higher than the honor students. They passed their placement tests and everyone of his students received vouchers to the best schools. Before that, NOONE in Harlem received any kind of voucher. He received Disney’s Teacher of the Year.
Every Thursday, I try to come up with a MOTIVATIONAL theme for the day because I believe in the power that is inside YOU. And I think we all need someone, something to push along every so often. That’s why I started Thursday’s Motivational Posts.
As you heard on Tuesday, I am closing on my first home at the end of the month. I decided that my first place is SO AWESOME that I cannot and will not bring any of my OLD furniture into it. YES, ALL NEW COOL FURNITURE for my new place.
All my furniture now, I think, is good quality and barely used so I thought I could make a couple of dollars by selling it online.
I took a picture of my dining room table and put it on www.craigslist.com .. Price: $300
It sold within TWO HOURS!
I thought, WOW I can sell my whole furniture lot in less than a day. So I went to work putting my couch, my credenza, miscellaneous items, laptop, computer desk, etc, etc..
I received over 100 emails. People were coming over after work to come pay me cash for my old stuff and haul it off for me. You can’t beat that.
I actually put my computer desk for ONE BUCK because I’ve had it since college and I’ve gotten alot of mileage out of it. I felt bad for putting a pricetag on it.
I got an email from a mother who said:
I am very interested in this for my son who is moving into his first apartment. Do you have a phone number where he could call and talk to you about picking it up? Also, your posting says that most of your furniture will be sold or given away, what else are you wanting to sell or give away?
I look forward to hearing from you! Thanks
It’s my belief that what you give to society, you get 10 times back, and what you take from society, you pay 10 times over. I was on my way to the gym around lunchtime when it hit me. I was 20 once. I was in college and broke and needed furniture for my place.
WHY NOT GIVE ALL OF MY FURNITURE TO THIS COLLEGE KID? He’s just starting out. I will get about a thousand bucks for all of it anyway. This is my chance to give and help someone in need where not too long ago, I was in the same situation!
So I met the two college kids at my place to make the exchange. They pulled up in this SMALL tiny truck barely big enough to hold the computer desk. It certainly would not hold the couch, the patio furniture, the credenza, the laptop..
I had this crazy idea. I just talked to his mother on the phone so I had complete trust in the situation beforehand. I said, FELLAS, I have the solution. I have a RAM QUAD CAB that you guys can borrow. We’ll split the stuff into both trucks and just bring it back when you are done.
People, by now, would think I’m completely off my rocker!
We loaded up both vehicles and I received a call 2 hours later. They were nearby ready to return the truck. They were extremely grateful, I was extremely thrilled.
I wrote an email to his mom:
Hey Sharon,
What a thrill to be helping your son out. It wasn’t long ago that I was in the same situation. Actually, 8 years ago, I can remember sleeping on my best friend’s couch while I finished up my last semester of school. They will be going through some of their BEST, MOST fun years and I hope that I gave them enough information to help them out and push them to be better in everything they do.
I believe that what you give to society, you will get 10 fold and what you take from society, you will have to pay back 10 fold.
I hope everything works out and I’m happy to help.
Kit Elliott
I received her email back the next day:
You are such an amazing person! I am grateful for, yet amazed by your generosity. Thanks for helping Brandon out with all the things you gave him. I know he appreciates everything! Also, thanks for letting him borrow your truck to transport the sofa and table, etc. back to our home. Brandon and I talked last night about what you say in your email about giving and taking from society and agree with you. I know you have inspired Brandon and me to help out others when opportunities arise. Life will present those opportunities and we need to recognize and act on them when they are presented.
We wish you much success and happiness in all aspects of your life. Thanks, again!
Sharon
And this is Thursday’s Motivational Message:
Life will present opportunities and we need to recognize and act on them when they are presented. It is these random acts of kindness and greatness that will carry you far in life.
As we stick with the Thursday’s Theme of Motivation, I want to talk a little about Kaizen (the Japanese concept that small changes can produce dramatic results). When it comes to change, most people either JUMP in head first or they make RADICAL changes to try to get their desired results.
Let me show you the power of how SMALL changes can deliver BIG results.
A year ago, I was teaching 6th grade Science. Teaching nowadays is not the same as teaching 20, even 10, years ago. It’s much more demanding, requires longer hours, and places more stress on you than I ever imagined. Parents do not treat teachers like they did back when I was in school. When teachers inform parents about their child’s unruly behavior, some parents find it hard to believe that their child would ever disrupt class or act out - and instead, blame the teacher.
YES! The world is changing.
Due to this work-related stress, I started getting nerve twitches in my right leg.
I was limping and sometimes had to walk with a CANE!
Rewind to January 2006 - I started making small changes. I visited the gym daily. I found a new machine that I really liked: One machine that worked every body part. My thinking was that if I could start strengthening ALL my muscles - #1) my pain would go away #2) my leg would get stronger.
I went EVERY DAY to the gym. Did I feel like going? Sometimes. Did I push myself to do hard grueling workouts everytime? NO. At first, I did a bunch of cardio and LIGHT leg routines. Nothing too major. Then, I started working out all my muscles.
Next month, I was limping ONCE a week instead of DAILY!
Summer rolled around and I was limping ONCE a month instead of WEEKLY!
2007 jumped up on us, and I have NO LIMP! I have never felt better!
Small changes have the power to deliver big results! I tell you this to motivate you to incorporate this "Small Changes" concept in your life, in all areas of your life, and start seeing positive results.
Welcome to the New Year. With the holidays gone, for many people it’s time to start New Year’s Resolutions! Within the past three years, I have had an enormous amount of success both online and offline.
I quit my day job this year, and I feel like I’m making progress every single day. I talk to my customers daily on the phone, through email, or by snail mail (yes, people still write letters!) so I have a good grasp of problems, and it’s through this that I try to create solutions to the problems.
I really feel that this success is due to a NEW way of thinking that was actually inspired by the Great Anthony Robbins (Tony). A couple of years ago, he said that he looks for areas in his life that need improvement. While the traditional goal setting rules have always been, "Don’t do this.. Don’t do that.. Do this… Do that..," he said that he makes SMALL changes within those areas in need. He called it The Kaizen Way.
Don’t let the name scare you. It’s that simple, actually. You look for areas that you want to improve, and every day or week, you make a small improvement! I think by doing so, you bring more balance to your life and become more aware of what you really want out of life. The above graphic is an illustration of "The Kaizen Way." This year, I’m not going to make resolutions, I’m going to make small improvements every single day!
The book is entitled, ."One Small Step Can Change Your Life!" by Robert Maurer, Ph.D.
Let’s make 2007 the BEST year yet by making small improvements… every single day!
Our sales hit the 7 figure mark for 2006. Let’s make 2007 the year where there are no boundaries. I just found this video on You Tube: No Boundaries. From my family to your family, I pray that 2007 will make you HEALTHY, WEALTHY and WISE!
