How to Avoid Wealth: 3 Things You're Doing Wrong

The world we live in is more competitive today than in any other time of our lives. There is no traditional route to success. This is good news for anyone with the vision, drive, motivation, and tenacity to seize an opportunity to create their own path to success. For everyone else, it seems that no matter what they do, they just can’t break free from the very lifestyle they despise. Why is that?

Here are three things keeping people from breaking out of the cycle of financial misery they’re in. A change in any one of these things leads to an understanding of the overarching difference-maker between those that have and those that don’t. A change in all of them leads to an escape of the perpetual cycle of insufficiency and misery in which you may currently find yourself.

By the way, if any of the following factors resonate and you get your feelings hurt, then you may want to pause and look in the mirror before you scoff and run away with your emotions. If, on the other hand, you acknowledge and own up to any that apply, you’ll have found yourself at the threshold of insight that can have a profoundly awesome effect on your life.

The Blame Game

The old adage, “Lame people blame people” applies here. These people use excuses (cleverly disguised as reasons) to justify their current circumstances. In reality, this is a protection mechanism designed for procrastinators. Blamers always use external factors to justify an internal condition.

To overcome this factor, become more aware of the statements that are coming out of your mouth. “I don’t have the time, money, expertise, or the support I need.” “I’ll never be wealthy.” “I’m not good with money.” “Oh sure, it’s easy for them. They have money.” Statements like these have no value in creating wealth and only serve to keep you stuck right where you are. Instead of blaming everyone or everything else, take a look at what you can do to change your circumstances.

The Fear Factor

Fear holds more people hostage than most any other factor. Whether it is fear of failure, fear of success, fear of making a mistake, or fear itself, there are more people who consciously choose to stay exactly where they are because they fear the unknown more than they fear what they have become familiar with — lack, insufficiency, and financial struggle. The fear factor is a protection mechanism that must be overcome in order to break out and begin the wealth-building process.

Fearful people routinely use phrases that begin with “What if…” and then support it with a negative word or phrase.

What if I fail?

What if lose?

What if it doesn’t work?

What if my friends (or family) don’t like me?

What if I make a mistake?

To overcome this factor, start small. Start by changing the way you think. Instead of supporting your “What if…” with a negative word or phrase, think instead of a positive word or phrase that empowers you to overcome your fearful thinking.

What if this is possible?

What if this really works?

What if I make new friends?

What if I win?

The difference between a negative and positive frame of reference is mind-altering.

The Excuses Ego

This one is fairly straight forward. You can make money, or you can make excuses, but you cannot make both. An excuse is nothing more than a lie you have convinced yourself to accept as truth. So, stop lying to yourself.

You can come up with several excuses to remain in your miserable financial circumstances or…you can come up with one powerfully compelling reason to escape them. By the way, circumstances are always temporary. You have the power to accept them as your fate or accept them as your teacher. Any way you slice it, you’re going to accept one.

To escape the excuses trap, accept responsibility for both your current circumstances and the circumstances you aspire to. Then take action to make the change.

A State of Mind

Each one of the three factors above point to one overarching factor — your state of mind. You see, while there are a number of actions you can take to become wealthy (save more than you spend, invest, cut costs, etc.), none of them will work if you don’t start with the right state of mind. It’s the reason why 70% of lottery winners end up worse off than they were before collecting their winnings. It’s the reason most businesses fail within the first three years. And it’s the reason you are still stuck in the very place you despise.

Change always begins with a mindset shift. It is not always comfortable or popular or easy, but it always produces change. Ready to make a shift but don’t know where or how to begin? Reach out to me in the comments section to start the discussion.

Until next time...

- G -

"Your income zone will never exceed your comfort zone." 

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Excellence without Excuses

Excellence without Excuses

It’s said that we truly define ourselves by our actions.  If that holds true, then we wear our identities on our sleeves.  Most of us are taught at a very young age that we can accomplish anything in life as long as we try hard enough.  Why is it, then, that somewhere along the lines of life, some accept mediocrity while others strive for excellence? 

Aristotle once wrote,

“We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, therefore, is not an act, but a habit.” 

It holds true, then, that excellence can be considered a result of doing the right thing consistently, or doing things right often enough to produce an excellent result.  You see, not all habits carry negative connotations. 

Excellence is a mindset.  It’s a set of personal ideals that define an image of oneself and the lifestyle they demand for and of themselves.  It’s an elusive term to succinctly define, yet, it is most certainly recognized when it reveals itself. 

Excellence is a personal quest to better oneself through self-discipline.  It requires consistency, follow-through and the elimination of all excuses.  “Tasks” become “steps,”  “obstacles” become “elements,” and “I can’t” becomes “I will.” 

  

Excellence is born by a decision and driven by a vision of purpose and determination.  Setbacks, failures, obstacles, and diversions fall by the wayside and are considered elements of a rite of passage reserved for the few who learn to recognize them for the value they hold on the path to excellence. 

Excellence can be obtained if we care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible. 

The achievement of excellence defines an elevated personal standard that, once realized, is not easily forgotten.  It is proud but not boastful, it is difficult but not risky, and it is often elusive but not impossible. 

The question arises, therefore, on whether the desire for excellence resides within us all or just those few who are determined to exploit it.  If it resides in but a select few, what makes them different from us?  Or…do we all have the seed of excellence within ourselves?  If we all have the seed of excellence, as I believe we do, what is it that compels some to embrace it while others do not?  Could it be that excellence requires more from us in order to achieve it?  Think about it.  Excellence, by design, is awarded to those who…

…care more than others think is wise, risk more than others think is safe, dream more than others think is practical, and expect more than others think is possible.

One more thing that excellence requires of us is to “do more" than most others are willing to do in order to achieve it. 

Some things to keep in mind as you pursue excellence…

Recognize that the ability to achieve excellence resides in and with you!  It can be achieved if you apply the principles described earlier – care more, risk more, dream more, expect more, and do more! 

Step out of your comfort zone!  The warm embrace and safety of familiarity and routine are traps that keep us suspended in the status quo.  Accept comfort and you’ll watch the world go by.  Refuse it and join the ranks of those collecting the most from life.   When you look back upon it all from the perch of excellence you’ll see with clarity that ordinary comfort doesn’t come close to living up to its hype.  In fact, you’ll find that the achievement of excellence often brings about a quality of life that provides a level of comfort unmatched by ordinary measures.   

SEE yourself in an excellent situation!  The mind cannot distinguish conscious reality from subconscious reality.  Visualize yourself achieving excellence in the manner that best suits you.  Mentally place yourself in the best of situations and bring reality to your doorstep through creative vision. 

Practice your pursuits relentlessly!  Consistency and repetition produce results.  Your competition will practice, study, train, build, and work hard.  You must simply do more in order to achieve excellence.  

Make NO EXCUSES!  You have the time, the resources, the determination, and the ability to achieve excellence.  Granted, you may have to get creative in order to formulate your plan, but you already know the alternative of doing nothing.  

Tap into the things that DRIVE you!  Make a promise to yourself, starting NOW, that you’ll commit to doing whatever it takes to get up, take action, get up again when you stumble, drive through inevitable obstacles and setbacks, and follow-through until you can see your excellence coming into view on the horizon.  Feel determination well within you when you first catch your glimpse of excellence.  Then take a breath, reach out and grab your excellence!  Claim it.  Savor it.  Celebrate it.  And never forget how you feel as you step into the company of those who, like you, have tasted the victory of excellence!

Until next time!

- G -

"Doing more is not the chore it’s cracked up to be.”   - G. Westfal - 

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