Committment

To the readers in Japan: I wish you well during this trying time.

News
No new updates for this week.

Quote
"There's a difference between interest and commitment. When you're interested in doing something, you do it only when circumstance permit. When you're committed to something, you accept no excuses, only results."
-Unknown

Thoughts
I wrote the following with the assumption that you actually want what you are seeking (example: You think you need an MBA because so-and-so told you that you do. You say you want to get it, although deep down inside you don't really want to).

Do you find yourself unable to achieve whatever it is that you desire? Perhaps you would like more money, better health, better relationships, etc... but you keep coming up short. You say you've tried your best but it's still not working.
Where can you look for answers?

Two places: Time and Money.

I hear these two excuses the most:
1. I am so busy, I don't have time to do xxxx.
2. I don't have enough money for xxxx.

Time is obviously much more important than money because you can never get time back. So, where do you spend your time? Let's suppose on a typical weekday:
You work 9 hours a day.
You sleep 8 hours.
This leaves you with 7 hours free.
What are you doing with that time? Are you taking effective action?
Of course that doesn't include the weekends which, assuming you don't work on the weekends, means that you have 16 hours of free time on Saturday and 16 hours of free time on Sunday.

So if we add all that up we get 67 hours of free time every week. You get to choose how you use this time. Are you using it to achieve something that you want, or are you wasting it?

The other area you need to look at is money. Where is your money going? Is it going to an area that will move you closer to your desired goal?

Most people say they don't have money for:
Coaching, Training Courses, Personal Trainers, School, etc...

However these same people find money to:
Go out drinking, buy new clothes, shoes, phones, computers, etc...

They have the money they just haven't committed to their goal yet.

Let's use an example:
When I decided to get my coaching certification I was working as an analyst for a defense contractor. My schedule during the week usually looked like this:
Work: 9 hours a day
Gym: 1.5 hours a day (5 days a week)
Sleep: 7 hours a day

That left me with 6.5 hours of free time during a typical weekday.

However I felt I needed to unwind after work. Sound familiar?

So what was I doing with that extra time? In order: Playing video games, Watching TV, Mindlessly browsing the Internet, Occasionally reading a book. Or: Going out and partying.

Then one day I made a decision. I decided that I was committed to pursuing the coaching certification and I was committed to starting my own business.

Here is what my schedule looked like immediately after I made this decision: In order: Coaching training calls, Reading books related to my field, Research.

Since that time I have not played video games and I don't watch TV. Both were not in line with my future goals.

What about money (after paying rent and necessities)?

Before the decision: Partying, Car related items, Workout related items.

After the decision: Coaching certification, Books, Other training courses, Workout related items.

As you can see there was a big shift in priorities. Don't get me wrong, you do need time to relax. However, most people put way too much time and money in that category if they plan on achieving big goals.

The point here is if you want to break out of your current circumstances and start making your dreams become a reality, then you have to stop making excuses.

If you are not getting the results that you want, then I encourage all of you to take a serious look at where you are spending your time and money.

Have an excellent week.

Change

Quote
"Goals allow you to control the direction of change in your favor."
-Brian Tracy

My Thoughts
Change is inevitable and it often happens when you least expect it. One day you may think you have a secure job only to find out the next day that you've lost it. If you don't have a goal you will get tossed around by change and end up finding yourself in similar situations over and over again.

The way to start to get comfortable with change is to take responsibility for your life. After doing this setting goals will allow you to handle change much better.

How so?

Well, let's suppose you set a financial goal to earn $15,000 a month. Let's say you are currently earning $3,000 a month. So you set the goal and - change happens - you get fired from your job. Because you have a goal that you are committed to, you now may see other opportunities that you weren't aware of earlier. Without a goal you may just end up working another job making the same amount you've always made.

I suggest all of you spend some serious time thinking about your future. What do you want your life to look like? Once you figure this out, I encourage you to set some goals.

Until next time...

What are You Willing to Give Up?

Quote
"The heights by great men reached and kept were not attained by sudden flight, but they, while their companions slept, were toiling upward in the night."
-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

My Thoughts
This is quote is referring to sacrifice.
You can not attain something of a higher value without giving up something of a lower value.
For example, maybe you would like to lose weight. However, you currently eat fast food five times a week. In order for you to achieve a healthier/fitter body (higher value) you will have to give up, or cut back on, the fast food (lower value).

Sometimes, people look at someone they perceive as more successful and think "I wish I could be that person.". However, what many people seem to forget is what that successful person gave up in order to get to where they are. Most successful people have given up large portions of their time and money to achieve their dreams. Successful people will spend time reading, researching, working, etc... in order to achieve their dreams. They will spend money on books, professional memberships, seminars, etc.. in order to achieve their dreams.

Sidney Poitier referred to sacrifice in his book 'The Measure of a Man'. He said "You have to go down before you can go up". You must become the person that is capable of handling what you desire before you will be able to achieve your dreams.

Here is something I recommend asking yourself if you are not making progress towards your goals:
Am I making the necessary sacrifices?
Really take a close look at where you are spending your time and your money.

Until next time...

Committed Decisions

Quote
"Committed decisions show up in two places - your calendar and your checkbook."
Dr. Carole Hildebrand

My Thoughts
We all say we are going to do things. But how often do we follow through? What Dr. Hildebrand is saying is really take a look at where you are spending your time and money. This will show you where you are headed.

Most of us would love to change one or more areas of our lives, but are we committed to it? Or do we keep saying "I'm gonna", "One day, I'm gonna do this". If you keep going down that path you are not going to accomplish very much of anything.

If you would really like to change one area of your life and you keep wondering why it is not working. Really take an honest look at where you are spending your time and money.
For example: If you have a goal to be at your ideal weight by June; but you are not spending the necessary time working out and you are not spending any money related to your goal (trainer, books, supplements etc...) are you really committed to it? I would say it's more of a wish, than a decision.

One final tip: The vast majority of us have weak decision making abilities. To strengthen these start with small things and you will find it will become a habit over time. You could do this with things like deciding to wash the dishes when you see them and actually doing it. Or you could decide to fix something in your house and actually doing it. Or, and this is a very common one, when everyone is trying to decide what to eat for lunch or dinner:

Indecisive Person 1: What do you want to eat?
Indecisive Person 2: I don't know, what do you feel like eating?
Indecisive Person 1: Not sure, whatever you want.
-----This continues on for five more minutes-----
Decisive Person (that's you): Let's eat xxxxx.
Indecisive Person 1&2: Wow, that sounds like a great idea.

By doing this you will not only strengthen your decision making abilities, but also get rid of procrastination.

Until next time....