This post is simple and to the point. There is no need for any further commentary.
READ - CONSIDER - APPLY YOUR GRATITUDE!
Until next time, remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
"Where there is no VISION the people PERISH" (Proverbs 29:18)
I've completed my articles on the expansion of "Project 141". If you've not done so, be sure to check it all out by going HERE and reading all of the previous articles as well as the podcasts and even some videos. The top half of what you find there is all about the initial information about my dream behind "Project 141" and the bottom half of that page/article is where you find all of the articles and podcasts on my expanded vision for "Project 141".
In a nutshell, the idea behind it is that you do ONE (1) thing every day to improve your life FOR (4) ONE (1) full year. BAM!
This is DIFFERENT than your typical New Year's Resolution in more ways than one but, for one, it requires an absolute COMMITMENT from you to do this for ONE FULL YEAR!
And, friend, the only way for that to happen is to have a VISION and to MAKE A PLAN so that you CAN follow your path to your vision. In other words, "Where there is no vision, the people perish". Put yet another way, IF YOU DON'T HAVE VISION YOU WILL FAIL. No ifs, ands or buts about it.
You also need to listen to the podcast on this topic by going HERE.
First of all, you must have a VISION of where it is that you are going. In this situation, we are talking about you dedicating yourself to do SOMETHING every day in these different areas (spiritual, personal development, health, relationships, community and wealth) for one full year. If you don't know where you are going how will you know when/if you get there?
If you are taking a trip and going somewhere that you've never gone before, how can you know if you are on the right road or not if you don't have a plan (map/gps) to follow? How will you know that you are on the right "track" any other way?
Here's your answer: YOU CAN'T!
So it is imperative for you to TRACK your actions and your progress so that you CAN reach your goal and your vision and STACK your results in these areas. So, yeah, go ahead and visualize it as a big stack of money that represents your success in these areas. "TRACK IT AND STACK IT!"
So, talking about doing all of these things (Project 141) and deciding that, indeed, you WILL commit to do these things over the next full year is great, BUT, how will you go about developing the HABIT that is necessary to actually carry it through to the end?
As I've basically already said, you must TRACK your activity in order to make sure you are moving toward your VISION. Then, you get the joy of "stacking" your gained results that have taken place over that time period!
It takes DISCIPLINE to follow through with these things for the next year...every single day.
SUGGESTED ACTION PLAN:
If you can develop a plan of action that "fits" you better, go for it! However, consider at least the concept/idea behind this suggested action plan and go from there. Remember - EVERY day!
I have listed 6 different areas of focus with this expanded use of Project 141 but you have come up with more for your situation. But I will be using 6 in this example.
You must get very SPECIFIC about your actions. This may be "difficult" (if you are not a very structured person) at first but, over time, you WILL develop the habit of doing these things without even having to think much about it. I will become something that you just simply "do" and that you "have" to do!
For example, take the first 3 areas (spiritual, personal development, health) and make a commitment that you will do SOMETHING in these areas before noon (for example). SET A TIME to make it specific and easier to measure. Then, decide that you will complete the last 3 areas (relationships, community and wealth) by 1 p.m.
Again, the order of events and the "time of completion" are flexible but, do pay attention to the fact that the later in the day that you put as "time of completion" the less likely you are to complete that task.
I suggest that you even break these time frames down even further. For example, on the first 3 that you plan to accomplish no later than noon, set a specif "no later than" time for each of these. "I will do something to strengthen my spiritual life by 8 a.m." or "I'm going to do something (read something/listen to something) in the area of personal development by 10 a.m." and then, "I'm going to do something to improve my health no later than noon".
YES, IT IS IMPORTANT TO GET THAT SPECIFIC in order for you to develop a habit and to succeed!
Now, follow up at the end of the day - BE TRUTHFUL and HONEST - and check off as to whether you did or didn't accomplish that action. If you didn't complete your task, don't make excuses but maybe write down WHY you didn't. Again, BE HONEST and you likely will see how "weak" your "reason" for not accomplishing this task really was. On the other end, if you DID complete your task, check it off as such and also make a little note about how THAT makes you feel. "I feel really good that I disciplined myself to follow through and DO what I had planned!"
That's it! Be sure to record the date that you began taking this on so that you can gauge your improvement one year from this starting date.
I'd love to hear of your journey with "Project 141". I'd love to hear of your ups and downs and how YOU have made this your own...especially in the area of "COMMUNITY".
YOU GOT THIS!
Until next time, remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
DEFENSE
Whether you know it or not, most truly wealthy people will tell you that it is NOT about "how much do you make" as much as it is "how much do you KEEP".
Yes, it's important to "make more" but, at the same time, if you continue to "spend more" to the point that you fail to "keep more" you will never gain any ground with your financial future.
I'm sure you've seen "the pretenders" out there that walk among us. They drive a nice, fancy car, go out to eat at expensive restaurants and do all of the things that make them "look like" they are successful. But, truth be told, they are broke. They have more debt than they have income but they continue to do these things so that they can keep up an "image of success".
I've literally seen new, fancy, high priced cars in front of what I would call a shack.
This, my friend, is foolishness!
So, I want to encourage you to take the "DEFENSE" approach and think about how you can PROTECT the money that you have and not just let it slip out of your fingers.
In other words, like you see in the picture above, you MUST "plug up" that leaky bucket. This takes discipline, my friend!
Step 1: Get out a piece of paper and list everything you spend money on over the course of a week. Yes, I DO mean to actually have that piece of paper with you as you go through your week and write down EVERY little thing that you spend money on. THIS IS KEY! Why is this important? Most people have no idea how much money they actually spend on a daily and weekly basis.
Write down EVERY - LITTLE - THING. Don't just write down the amount but also write down what it was for so that you know. Do you pay to park while at work? Write it down. Do you stop in for a coffee on your way into work? Write it down. Did you contribute to an office collection for someone's birthday present? Write it down. Did you make a trip down to the vending machine and get a cola and/or a snack? Write it down. Eat your lunch at a restaurant? Write it down.
Get the idea?
Don't cheat on this. C'mon, just do it and, at the end of the week, add up your figures. I suggest that you even do this at the end of each day. (By the way, this also includes anything you spend money on via online sources. ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that you spent money on during the week.)
Once you have shocked yourself at how much money goes through your hands during the course of a week, not it's time to go on to the next step.
Step 2: Decide what you can cut out to reduce the "outflow". No, obviously, I'm not telling you to get rid of all of that all at once. Chances are there are some things that you listed that you cannot eliminate and that's o.k. BUT, what things CAN you eliminate?
Have you ever heard the phrase, "Defense Wins Games"? Again, it doesn't matter how much you make if you spend more than you make. So, WE MUST GET STINGY ON DEFENSE with your finances.
Maybe you can drop one thing on Monday, something different on Tuesday and so on during the rest of the week. For example, maybe you DON'T stop for that coffee on Monday and, maybe on Tuesday, you bring something from home for lunch.
Try to pick out at least one thing for each day and, if possible, even choose two!
Look at the list from the week that you wrote down all of these expenses and just base the amount that you didn't spend on that. In other words, if you wrote down that you spent $8.00 for lunch that week, go ahead and assume that would be what you SAVED by NOT doing that one day this week.
Then, we move on to...
Step 3: Put it in the jar! O.k. yes, you can just see that "on paper" and know that you saved money but I want to encourage you to take it one step further and PHYSICALLY take that amount of money and put it in a jar of some sort. Yes, go to your ATM if necessary and withdraw that amount of money and put it in the jar.
The visual for this is very powerful! Watch your jar fill up during this week and then, at the end of the week, count out how much money that you saved by taking just a little action and "playing some defense" to help "plug the leaky bucket".
Now it's time to "play offense" with your money!
OFFENSE
Until next time, remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
Project 141 Expanded Application:"Do 1 thing a day, week or month for others (community)"
As I continue to discuss the expanded application of "Project 141" (do 1 thing per day 4-1full year in different areas of your life in order to improve and strengthen those areas), I will focus our attention, today, on the area of "Community".
I want to define or clarify my use of the word "community" as it relates to this approach.
Yes, it can definitely attach itself to the idea of a neighborhood or town but it can also simply refer to others that may have a need. This can be a group of people (such as the community in which you live) or a person or organization that you can do something to contribute to in one way or another.
Keep those two ideas in mind as you read through the rest of this article and push yourself to even consider applying BOTH "definitions" of the word, "community" into your application of "Project 141".
If you have read and/or listened to the previous articles/podcasts about this expanded use of Project 141, you should recognize these two questions used today as being a version of the first two questions that we have asked about our different relationships. Use these and add your own thoughts as a way to "spur you on" to ACTIVELY do SOMETHING in this area.
-------------APPLY THESE QUESTIONS TO TODAY'S TOPIC---------------
WHAT DO I DO TODAY TO IMPROVE THIS COMMUNITY (or specific situation - R.A.K.)?
WHAT DO I DO TODAY TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS COMMUNITY (or specific situation)? ---- am I just going to whine and complain about "something needs to be done" or will I be a part of doing what needs to be done?
NOTE: Of the different areas that I am using in this extended application, THIS is the only one that I would suggest that it is o.k. to do something once a week or even once a month.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The "Random Act of Kindness" approach to "community": The actual description of this section states: "Do 1 'Random Act of Kindness' per day/week or month (whichever fits you)". I love this idea and, if you've never done anything like this before, SO WILL YOU!
Using the two questions above, approach it as: "WHO do I know that I can do SOMETHING for that would help improve their current situation?" This doesn't have to be something huge. It can a simple phone call and just spending a few minutes chatting with them. This is especially true of elderly people that have been confined at home due to the current pandemic. This could also be a young mother that is overwhelmed trying to juggle taking care of toddlers while, at the same time, trying to work with the "virtual learning" situation going on again, due to the pandemic.
Want to REALLY have some fun with this? Find a way to do something and remain ANONYMOUS. Maybe you've come across a little extra money (even something like $20) that you think would help out with some gas for the car or for a meal. Then find someone else and ask them to deliver it for you or drop it off with a card where you KNOW they will find it. I once had the opportunity to deliver $100 to a lady. It was not my $100 but I got the joy of seeing joyful tears roll down her cheeks when I told her that someone wanted me to come by and give that gift to her.
When you get someone else involved you add another layer to the process. Think about this: the person that you brought the gift to gets blessed, YOU get blessed by doing something like this and the person that you chose to deliver the gift also gets blessed by being a part of the process and seeing that person's response! WOW! And, the person you chose to help you may now want to do that with someone else, themselves, which means that you have added another person to the "Project 141 Expanded/Random Act of Kindness Army"!
The "This is the neighborhood/community in which I live" approach to "community": Have you ever found yourself saying, "Somebody really should do something about that" concerning something that you've come across...particularly in your neighborhood or community?
What are you waiting for or, more precisely, WHO are waiting for to get it done?
Hey friend, what about YOU? What about YOU getting others together to help out? Chances are, if YOU have noticed something that needs to get done, others have as well and it might simply take YOU to serve as the "spark" to bring people together to get something done.
For example, a few years back, I found myself griping and complaining about something that, obviously, bothered me. I had griped and complained about it before (even to management in a certain store) but had never thought about if there was some way that I could do something to make a change.
With those thoughts in mind, I put the graphic you see below together to challenge myself to DO something and to stop just TALKING about it.
If you find yourself doing the same thing then, friend, perhaps it's time for you to change your thinking as well. If you feel the task is "too big" for you alone then talk to others about it, brainstorm together and see what ideas come together that can help with a solution.
But, here's the kicker on ALL applications of this approach to "community"...you have to do more than just "talk about it". Here's another graphic that I put together several years ago about that very thing...
Until next time, remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
So, you should already know what I'm about to say as you get ready to read this article...have you already read parts 1 and 2? If not, go do that first. If you have, then welcome to part 3!
And, while you are at it, be sure to check out the podcast by clicking HERE.
In this article we are going to look at our "Project 141" expansion application to the area of relationships and, more specifically, your relationships with family, friends, coworkers and even your boss. Yep. Even your boss.
I'm also going to use the exact same graphic that I used in part 1 of this section when I discussed your relationship with your spouse/mate. Here it is:
Here's the kicker, friend...THESE 3 QUESTIONS can be (should be) applied (considered and acted upon) to ANY relationship that you value. Yes, even your relationships with your coworkers and your boss. "Wait a minute, Mike, I wouldn't say that I 'value' my relationships with my coworkers and, for sure, I'm not sure I'd say that about my boss!"
Let's think about that for a moment. When you go back and reconsider the importance of guarding and protecting your mind (personal development) and, along with that, you throw into the mix a group of people that you likely spend more time with than anyone else...shouldn't you "value" that relationship to the point of at least wanting to make them the best possible? Do you REALLY want to "add on" to the negativity that wants to consume you ever day as it is?
And, when you consider that your "boss" or manager or whoever it is that is in a position to promote you or fire you, is a part of your "work life", wouldn't it make sense to try to make that relationship as positive and productive as possible?
I've shared this example before but I feel it needs to be shared again in this discussion. Years ago my wife went to work for a store and was warned on her first day to "stay clear" of the assistant manager because she was grouchy and negative. Yes, on day one. Little did those that said those things know that, for my wife, they simply presented a challenge for her. Her thought was, "I'm going to do whatever I have to do to make her (the assistant manager) smile each day that I'm here at work".
And, take a wild guess what happened...she accomplished her goal of putting a smile on that assistant managers face every day that my wife worked with her. No, it was not an immediate change but, day after day, when my wife would say something positive to her with a HUGE smile on her face, the assistant manager had no choice but to smile back with a positive response. And that's not all. To the shock of all of her coworkers (who were already in shock at what all had happened), this assistant manager hand-knitted a "blanket or throw" for her and told her how much she appreciated her.
WOW! Talk about my wife doing something DAILY to improve her relationship with this assistant manager. What an incredible change!
I'm not telling you that this will always be the type of reaction that you can expect but, at the same time, I can pretty much promise you that there WILL be some positive change and improvement in that relationship.
So again, regardless of whether you are talking about friends, family, coworkers or, yes, even your "boss" it is important to apply these same 3 questions on a DAILY basis:
1. What do I do TODAY to IMPROVE this relationship?
2. What do I do TODAY to BE INVOLVED in this relationship?
3 What do I do TODAY to make ______________ glad that they are a part of this relationship?
Notice that, in all 3 of these questions, the question is NOT, "What do THEY do..." but, rather, "What do I do". This is a key ingredient in this "exercise" - this must be turned "inward" and applied to YOU taking the action and not waiting on the other person and/or blaming the other person. That is about what YOU need to do and what YOU need to do TODAY.
1. How do you improve or "make better" your relationship with your friends, family, coworkers and your boss/employer? How can you be a better friend, family member, coworker and employee?
2. What do you need to do to make sure you are "involved" (engaged) in these same relationships? For example, at work, are you there just to "get the check" or are you involved/engaged in a way that shows you are dedicated to doing your absolute best at whatever your position may be there. Are you one that constantly whines and complains or are you one that, again, is focused on "turning off" the negativity that surrounds them and is focused on doing their job to the best of their ability?
3. What do you do TODAY to make (fill in the blank) GLAD that they are a part of this relationship with you? Are your friends - especially your really close friends - GLAD that you are their friend? Are you "involved and engaged" in that friendship or are you only "connected" when you want/need something? What are the "needs" that your family has at this stage of your life. Are you fully engaged in whatever role that might be and are they glad that you are a part of your family? And, yes, even with your coworkers and your "boss"...do they like to see you come into a room or are they happier when you leave? Is your employer GLAD that they hired you or do they regret that move?
Do NOT take the power behind these 3 questions lightly! They ARE, indeed, POWERFUL but only if you take them seriously and honestly answer and apply what you need to do.
Until next time, remember, YOU'RE HERE FOR A REASON and, whatever you do, always be sure to...
"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"
