Mike's Quotes #7: You Can't Stay Here!

“Staying where you are will never get you where you want to be.” - Mike Spillman (8.10)

This article - just like the podcast and video-cast - will be short and to the point! Seriously, there's not a whole lot that needs to be said about today's quote.

When you read the quote it can come across as quite simple but, as I have said many times before, "Often, the profound can be found in the simple!"

Whatever area it is in your life in which you want to improve, this truth is absolute: "Staying where you are will never get you where you want to be." 

All kids are different but, many times a child will want to jump off the side of a pool or maybe even want to jump off of a diving board. They really WANT to do that but, at the same time, the comfort and safety of where they are (on the side of the pool or standing on that diving board) will often control them to the point of them never actually jumping in.

Then, many times, once they finally do so they can't wait to do it again because they found out that the JOY of "jumping in" was greater than the fear that initially kept them on the side lines.  

Now sure, they don't think of it in those terms but that's exactly what has taken place. Now I have to point out (many of you are probably already thinking this about one of your children) that some children are like one of my sons who wouldn't even wait for you to get in position before he would jump! He just knew that you would be there, one way or the other! He really knew no fear when it came to doing things like that.

Listen, when we make plans to "step out" into something that we wish to accomplish in and for our lives, it can be quite daunting, can't it? People around us may even say, "Just jump!" but, as you and I both know, it's often easier said than done.

But, remember, "staying where you are will never get you where you want to be".  

Don't look around at me, friend because I'll tell you, "You can't stay here!". 

Yes, prepare the best you can but, sooner or later, you will just have to "jump in" and swim. Oh, but the JOY that you may very well experience once you do so. 

I'd love to hear from you. Stop by my page on FaceBook (link below) and say, "hi" and let me know where you are from and how long you have been a part of Future You University. Also feel free to leave comments about this article or others. And, as I often remind you, be sure to also listen to the podcast and watch the video in order to get the "full impact" of today's topic.

And, until next time, whatever you do, always be sure to... 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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The Old Barn and Miss Jeannine

The barn that you see in the picture above is one that I had planned to stop and take a picture of for a long time. I literally would pass by this old barn every day on my way to work and, many times, on my way back from work, depending upon which route I would take.

It actually became a running joke with my wife when we would pass by the barn - on days that I wasn't on my way to work - and I would say, "One of these days I'm going to stop and take a picture of that old barn!". The reason it became a running joke is because I said that for about a year and a half.

And then, one day I finally did it! I finally pulled over on my way to work one morning and took a couple of pictures of this old barn. I love pictures of old barns and other buildings like this and I finally did it! THEN my next plan was to take a picture of it for each of the four seasons. As you can likely tell from the picture, this one was taken this past Spring.

About a month or so I passed by and noticed what you see in the picture below. That's right, the old barn had collapsed and, shortly after, was completely removed to where you could not even tell that the barn had ever been there at all.

I'm so glad that I did finally pull over and take that picture that I had talked about for so long because, little did I know at the time, I would not have many more chances to do so before it's collapse. 

Now for Miss Jeannine. I didn't post a picture of her but she has been a dear friend to my wife and I for about the past twelve years. We first met her when we moved to a new town back in late 2005 and got to know her very well over the course of the 5+ years that we lived in that town. Even after we moved from there we stayed in touch and even got to see her from time to time even after she moved from there as well.

She spent the last year or so in a nursing home and we would stop by and see her whenever we had the chance to do so and I would even stop by when I was by myself and on my way somewhere related to my work.

The last few times we got to visit with Miss Jeannine were a bit disconcerting to us because she was starting to struggle with maintaining a good mind and, once, when I stopped to see her by myself, I spent a bit of time helping to calm her down because she didn't know where she was and who all the people were that were there. They were the other residents of the nursing home.

My wife and I saw her towards the end of this past March...about four months ago and have talked about how we NEEDED to go see Miss Jeannine again. But, for whatever reason, "things" came up and we just never got it done.

Last week I received word that she had been placed in the hospital with pneumonia and, then, the day after that they were going to be placing her in hospice. My wife and I were trying to arrange our schedule to where we could go see her and hoped that she would be able to know that we were there. We received word that they actually had placed her in hospice on Monday and we finally figured out that we would go see her on the following Friday.

On Tuesday I received word that she had passed.

There were no longer any more chances to go visit with our dear friend. Ever.

We attended her funeral this past Saturday and we both talked about how much we wished we had gotten the chance to see her "one more time".

The old barn is one example and Miss Jeannine is another but, friend, there are situations and examples like that around you each and every day.

We tend to get complacent and we tend to take things for granted but I want to encourage you to make a sincere effort to "wake up" from that complacency and to take action TODAY and EVERY DAY!

Stop putting off whatever it is that you keep saying that you need to do and just do it.
Stop saying you need to call or go visit someone and just do it.

Stop forgetting to tell someone that you love them and how much they mean to you and just do it.

Stop talking about "one of these days" and do it TODAY while you still have the chance.

If you don't you will likely regret it and if you do, you will be glad that you did.

With that in mind, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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Taking the Journey - Why Do I Need a Journey?

A little explanation before we get into today's blog article. As you can see from the above graphic, this topic is from a LIVE EVENT that I did on January 21, 2018 (the night before this article was published). There will, again, be a lot of graphics that I'm going to be sharing with you that I also used during this LIVE event. Be sure to check out the links at the end of this article so that you can also access the recording of this event as it took place on the fan page on Facebook as well as the recording on my YouTube channel. You will also find the link to listen to the podcast on this same topic.

BE A PART OF THIS SERIES OF LIVE EVENTS! For now these LIVE events are open to anyone that would like to join but, at some point, it will become a closed group for a select small number of people. This will be taking place each Sunday evening @ 6 pm CST on the fan page on Facebook.

Although this is starting a new "titled" series, this is still a continuation of what was started with the last topic of, "What Do YOU Want?" as we discussed the importance of knowing WHAT we want in order to pursue our goals and dreams.

Here's the thing: "Setting" a goal is not all that impressive. People do it every year at the start of every year, right? They call them "New Year's Resolutions" and, yet, very few people stick with them beyond a few weeks or maybe even a month or two. 

Instead, we should be determined to do MORE than just "setting" goals. Again, ANYONE can do that and just about anyone and everyone does! But, as the graphic above points out, let's pay more attention to goal "getting" - or achieving. Going back to the last article, it goes beyond just DREAMING and turns into DOING. 

So, once you decide what you actually want to achieve in your life, once you have not only SET those goals but you have also STEPPED OUT in order to achieve those goals, you are - of necessity - on a JOURNEY. That journey is going from where you are right now to where you will be a year from now (or ANY time period).

However, in order to take such a journey, in order to make any significant change in your life in ANY area, there are some things (pointed out in the graphic below by Jack Canfield) that tend to hold people back as they SET the goal. The question is, will they move PAST these 4 things listed to GET those goals?

For some people, one of those "limiting beliefs" is that they don't believe that they actually have the potential to reach those goals that they have set. They don't think that they "have what it takes" and, guess what? If they don't shed those limiting beliefs, they will NEVER reach their potential!

I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to hear Jim Rohn speak in person before he passed from this life. Of the many quotes that he is known for, this may be one that I see quoted more often than others: "For things to change, you have to change."

Think about that - doesn't that just make sense? You would think so but, yet, too many people think that they can achieve results (that REQUIRE something to change) without making any changes! Sounds a bit crazy, doesn't it? A very simple example can be found with the many people that set a "resolution" that they are going to lose weight. The main problem with this? Too many people want the RESULT of having lost weight but are unwilling to CHANGE their eating habits. And, guess what? They never reach their "goal". I wonder, is it really a goal when no real and serious effort is put into it's achievement? The truth is, not only do they not reach their goal, they usually end up GAINING weight. Why? Because NOTHING changed!

So, for me, as I have prepared for this journey - a very SERIOUS, thought out and DETERMINED journey - I have made a "Statement of Fact" concerning the necessary change in my life that MUST take place. You can read it in the graphic found below. 

Hey, if you're willing and if you want to be a part of taking your journey along with me, I invite you to help hold me accountable to these words. And I'm serious about that invitation.

mike@FutureYouUniversity.com

Yes, to be honest, it IS a little "scary" because I will be stepping out into new territory. I am going to allow myself to be CHALLENGED and pushed OUT of my comfort zone in a way unlike I have ever done before. But, as John Maxwell points out, "Everything worthwhile is uphill."

It all begins with a DECISION and a COMMITMENT.  Doing so can actually change your DIRECTION overnight.

I don't have the graphic up with the quote but, Jim Rohn also would talk about how it's just as easy to NOT do something as it is to actually DO it and reach success. What's YOUR excuse? Don't tell me "reasons" because, quite honestly, most excuses are disguised (by us) as "reasons".  So, let's get real and get past that thought. 

The fact is - you see it referred to as "The Law of Diminishing Intent" in the below graphic - the longer you put it off and the longer you wait to "get started" the more likely it is that you NEVER will even begin the actual process. And then nothing changes.

DON'T MISS THIS POINT! James Allen said it in such a way that SHOULD get our attention - but will it? Does it? He says that we will "remain bound". BOUND! Chained. Tied down. Frozen. Paralyzed. 

Friend, if THAT doesn't get your attention then I don't that there is anything that I can say that will. Bottom line is simply this: What WILL it take for you to "wake up" and get "laser-focused" on beginning this journey?

Notice what John Mayer said in the graphic below about time. Even a SHORT period of time. STOP TALKING and START TRAVELING!

Again, I really want to encourage to take the time to watch one of the videos - either the recording of the LIVE event on my Facebook page OR by going straight to my YouTube channel. It would be particularly helpful on this next part that I will share with you in this article. I do think that you would benefit more by watching me talk about "My Journey Map" that I have posted below. I think hearing me talk about it would help make it come more "alive" for you as you, hopefully, prepare for your own journey.

This "map" is a very "easy" layout. At first glance you might even think that there is not much to it. It actually depends on YOU and what YOU put into it!

For those that approach this with the importance that it deserves, it is a very DEEP and THOUGHT PROVOKING exercise. You can start either with where you are going in order to "get what you want" OR you can start with where you are now and work your way up.

For me, I clearly came to a knowledge of what I REALLY want and set my goals accordingly. Honestly, for me, this goes way beyond past attempts at so-called "New Year's Resolutions" that have come and gone without any fulfillment. I spent the time to formulate in my mind - and on paper - what I truly, ultimately want in and for my life (and for my wife and I as a couple). 

Yes, I had to do a little research to find out how much time and money that this might "cost" me and then I had to figure out "how" I was going to do that and what was needed in order for me to accomplish this part of the "map". This "how" is what I call my "vehicle" in this illustration. (By the way, our next LIVE EVENT next week will focus completely on this topic: "What Is Your Vehicle?").

Before you can adequately figure out what your "vehicle" will be for this journey you will need to actually take a look at WHERE YOU ARE right now. This part might hurt a little but it is imperative that you be 100% totally honest on this part. No one else has to see this but you must be honest as far as where you actually are. This is your "starting point" for your journey.

On this part, make it personal for YOU. The things that I listed were things that I used on my own "map" so that I could see "where I was" compared to "where I am going to be" at the end of this year. I got personal and wrote down the amount of my current debt and how much money I had in my bank account. Again, you do what you need to do to make it personal for you!

But, for me, I knew that I needed to address something more than just the financial factor. I knew I needed to address my attitude and my past excuses! Again, make it personal for you. I'd love to hear some of the things that YOU decided to put on your "map".

Hey listen, when I took a long look at where I was currently I KNEW, beyond a shadow of any doubt, that I MUST leave where I was and get moving on this journey to where I KNOW I will be a year from now.

A lot of stuff to look over, I know. But I hope that you will get out a piece of paper and draw out your own personal "map" for YOUR journey. There is just something about physically writing down on paper things such as this, so please, take the time and spend the time to jot these things down. YES, you can go back and add to what you start with - that's great! That means that you have continued to think about where you are going on your journey and, maybe what more may be possible when you get where it is that you really want to go.

Feel free to connect with me on this with any questions or some of your own thoughts and experiences in this area. I'd love to hear from you.

Once again, next week, I will be focusing my thoughts for the LIVE EVENT as well as the next podcast and blog article on "What Is Your 'Vehicle'?"

Until then, whatever you do, always be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University   FYU on Facebook!   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

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6th of 8 Things to Give Up

I need to get this article written for you so that you can read and absorb it's contents. So, what do you say that we BOTH wait on that and do it later?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nah, let's get it done NOW!

 

You see, it's EASY to NOT do something. Quite honestly, ANYONE can NOT do something.

 

There's no special talent or characteristic involved or needed to let something go undone. Nope. Nothing.

 

And yet, here you are, taking the time out of your day to read this blog article. Maybe you even have taken the time - or WILL take the time - to listen to the podcast and, who knows, perhaps you are one that will actually share BOTH of these with as many people as possible.

 

We already know that at least ONE of the things listed in that last paragraph describe you And, that being so, it is evident that YOU are not like the others around you that would never take the time to do such a simple - yet important - task.

 

You have invested your time in these tasks and, likely, you've even invested some money along the way to better your mindset. Am I right?

 

And yet, you - yes, YOU - struggle with procrastination.

 

If you are like me, that makes it even MORE frustrating, doesn't it? You're NOT like everyone else in that way but you still struggle with procrastination like so many others.

 

 

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Know this: PROCRASTINATION is a product of FEAR!

 

You see, it's easy to SOUND as if we are going to accomplish great things. It's easy to tell everyone what we have PLANNED to do and, it's also easy to tell ourselves those things as well.

 

Yet, sometimes, taking the steps necessary can (as we've discussed before) literally freeze us in our own footsteps and we become paralyzed by that fear. We've discussed all of that already so we will move on from that point.

 

It's not enough to just TALK about your plans. TALK will get you nowhere. You will never make progress and you will never move forward as long as you keep putting off taking ACTION.

 

Thing is, you already know that. You already know that everything I have said in this article and through the podcast is absolutely true. So, again, you know this to be true as well: It's up to YOU to take action and make it happen!

 

The best way and, perhaps, the ONLY way to face and defeat FEAR is to take action. Easier said than done? I think we've made that fact more than clear, haven't we?

 

Just remember: It's EASY to NOT do something but it takes DISCIPLINE and DEDICATION to take action and see that thing through to the end, REGARDLESS of what fear you may face or what obstacles may be placed in your way.

 

So, give it up and give it up NOW.

 

Until next time, whatever you do, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

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Another One of THOSE Days...

So, yeah...here we go again, right?

You've likely had this same conversation with yourself time and time again and, guess what keeps on happening?

TODAY just keeps on showing up!

The "comfortable" thing about putting things off until "tomorrow" is that "tomorrow" is always there. It never gets here because TOMORROW is always in the future.

But, when that time period that we call "tomorrow" arrives then it is called TODAY. So, to really look at this the way that it really is, TODAY is all that we have - there is no such thing as tomorrow.

I heard this once several years ago, "TODAY is the TOMORROW that you worried about YESTERDAY!"

Here's the thing - you know it, I know it, we all know it BUT we keep living the same way...waiting and planning and "putting off" until TOMORROW.

TODAY.

Whatever "it" is that you keep postponing until tomorrow or, even next week ("next week" still becomes TODAY sooner or later) must be faced and defeated and, friend, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN DO!

But it must be done today.

I think I've said that about enough because, for one, YOU are the only one that can get that done. I can encourage and point things out but, again, it's all up to YOU.

And, as you get done TODAY what needs to be done TODAY, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Future You University     "Like" FYU on Facebook!     Podcast on iTunes     Podcast RSS feed

                                         Start your home based business HERE

T.I.M.E.

                                Tomorrow  It  May  End

 

I know, I know. Some of you are still thinking after yesterday's blog article that I am on some sort of negativity kick.

 

Not at all.

 

As a matter of fact, I am on a major MOTIVATIONAL kick! That's right - if the fact that time is passing by and can never be reclaimed doesn't or won't get you motivated then, friend, NOTHING will!

 

I talk to people every day that "say" they are serious about the need to make a change in their lives. I have people tell me literally every day that they are ready and willing to do "whatever it takes" in order for those changes to take place in their lives.

 

But, the truth is this: few ever take action.

 

And, yes, that is their choice but, one day - one of the days that these people still allow to pass by - will be their last day and then there will be no more chances or opportunities to better the lives of their family.

 

At least not for THEM to have the opportunity to impact that change.

 

Most people - at least those that have families - say that they desire to make a change for their family. They say that they want to make a difference in the type of lifestyle that they (their family) are living and also they say that they want to improve the future for their family.

 

That is an awesome "why" or "reason" for wanting to make a change.

 

Yet, so many people let days, weeks, months and years continue to pass by without ever really making that change happen for them and/or their families.

 

The short conversation that I had with a lady today brought all of this to mind. Now, realize that I do understand that she was more or less "brushing me off" but, still, it was quite interesting.

 

I simply asked this lady - who had been visiting my work from home business website - if she had a pen and paper handy to write a couple of things down. Her response was, "No, I don't right now." I then asked if she could go ahead and get one and she said, "Well, could you give me about an hour?"

 

Now, again, I know she was just "blowing me off" but it still stuck out to me that she was actually using the excuse that she needed an hour to look for a pen and a piece of paper.

 

See what I mean?

 

Real or not, the idea of "call me back in an hour" in order to pass up information that could possibly change her life is so common. Yes, I understand that once you fill out information on line that you receive a lot calls and other contact and it can get burdensome, but that is not the point that I am making in this article.

 

How many times do you find yourself saying that you need to do something and that you'll "do it in minute" only to find the rest of the day pass by without that particular thing getting done?

 

"Tomorrow it may end."

 

TODAY is all that you have. RIGHT NOW.

 

I've heard others say it but I do remember hearing the late Jim Rohn say it as well: "No matter what you do, five years are going to come and go. YOU decide what happens during that time." (That is a not an exact quote).

 

So, what are YOU waiting for?

 

Oh yeah, I still hear that train that we talked about in the last article! You had best "get on", "get out of the way" or "get run over".

 

Your move.

 

And as you contemplate that move, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

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Still Time to Sign Up for the FREE Class

Yes, there is still time to get signed up for this FREE 8-week course!!

What are YOU waiting for? PROCRASTINATION is a KILLER OF DREAMS and it may very well be what is holding you back from getting signed up for this course.

All excuses have been removed, have they not?

Oh sure, you can use the one about TIME... but I can't remove that one for you.

But, again, it is absolutely FREE and being offered TO you and FOR you.

Go to the website: http://www.FutureYouUniversity.com and register by clicking on the banner promoting the box and I will be getting the pertinant information to you.

Zero In On Your Goals!

Zero In On YOUR Goals!

(and go for it!)

Today we complete our discussion of the "Positive Alphabet" and I hope that you have been encouraged along the way and have discovered many useful things to plug into your life as you continue on YOUR journey toward YOUR goals and dreams.

Now then - today, we close by making sure we understand one of the most important steps of this whole process - ZERO IN ON YOUR GOALS!

1. ZERO IN

Zero in, zone in - FOCUS! We live in a world where many things try to grab our attention, don't we? There are legitimate things like job and family, but there are also many things that try to grab our attention that we can definitely live without.

Many of these can be useful BUT - like many other things - when we allow them to grab too much of our attention, they can also be harmful. For example, watching television CAN be helpful - depending on what it is that you watch. But, for most, watching television is a waste of time and is something that takes our focus away from our goals and dreams. Right? The computer is another. The computer can be a wonderful aide in the pursuit of our goals and dreams. But - wow! - talk about something that so easily tries to grab our attention as we do our "work" and "research" using the internet. How easy it is for us to get sidetracked by so many things.

So, FOCUS! Pay attention! ZERO IN!

When my boys were younger I had the chance to coach all three of them in basketball and one of them in baseball. Even if you have not coached, if you have even watched kids of a very young age participate in a sporting event you know what I'm talking about. It is almost IMPOSSIBLE to keep them focused on what is going on! The baseball field seems to be the worse for some reason. Maybe it's because the field is so big and there is so much to distract these youngsters! Look at the clouds... look at that butterfly...look at those ants...look at that dog over there...why is everyone yelling at me and jumping up and down and pointing?

Sometimes we lose our focus along the way. Have you? If so, get back on track and ZERO IN on your goals and dreams so that you can actually continue to make progress toward the achievement of those things in your life.

2. On YOUR Goals!

I know I've talked about it before but, one thing we need to do as we ZERO IN ON OUR GOALS is to make sure that they are OUR goals! Take a good long look, my friend - are you really pursuing what is important to you? Are you pursuing this goal but it is not YOUR dream?

If so, please understand that even if you do reach that goal (I won't call it a dream - because in this situation it's not YOUR dream anyway) you won't be satisfied and you won't find happiness or a feeling of completion. Actually, it is very unlikely that you will ever reach that goal because the passion is not there since it is not yours.

This is part of taking control of your own destiny as was talked about with the letter "T" . It MUST be YOUR destiny and YOUR dream and it is up to YOU to step up and claim it.

Here's something else to think about while we are taking such a close look at our goals and dreams. Is it possible that what you thought was a goal or dream when you began is no longer such? Perhaps you have discovered that this particular goal/dream is really not what drives you after all.

Hey, that's o.k. too as long as you understand that there would be no need to keep working toward that goal/dream.

YOU HAVE NOT FAILED if you realize that your true passion would take you down a different path!

My friend, the whole purpose of everything that we talk about every day is for you to find YOUR goals and dreams - no one else's - and then to take action to make them a reality in your life.

But they MUST be yours!

One easy way to determine if this is truly YOUR goal/dream and if it is STILL the goal/dream that you wish to pursue is to look at your progress. This is connected to your "why". If you continuously are struggling to keep your focus and to make any real progress at all with this - chances are it is either not yours to start with or you have discovered that this is not what you really desire after all.

Hey, only YOU can decide that for yourself. You.

So...take a close look, ZERO IN ON YOUR GOALS and, once you know that this is, indeed, what you wish to pursue then GO FOR IT!

Stop talking about it. Stop dreaming about it without putting any action behind it. Stop wishing and DO something about it!

Isn't it time?

How about we do this together? Are you ready? I know I am!

I look forward to many exciting things that I have planned beginning early in 2010 for us to be able to work together on our goals and dreams.

BUT...don't wait until then - GO FOR IT for it waits for you!

And, hey, don't ever forget to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Stop Procrastinating!

Stop Procrastinating!

Procrastination is the KILLER OF DREAMS! Think about that for a moment...my guess is that you already know it to be true but you (like many others) still have a problem ridding your life of this beast.

Procrastination is a nasty habit that we let "slip" into our lives mostly unnoticed and then it burrows itself deep into our daily habits thus making it harder and harder to extricate from our lives.

Think about it for a moment. Why do I say that we let procrastination "slip" into our lives mostly unnoticed? It likely begins at an early age when we are told to do our chores and we get lost in watching cartoons or playing outside or whatever it may be. We put it off until later. This slowly becomes a habit in our lives - we can just do it later.

How many of you do the same thing today? This is a "practical examination" of how much procrastination has a hold on our lives. How many of you, right now, have something at home that needs to be done that you intended to do yesterday? My guess is - most of us if not ALL of us!

Here's a simple step to take to begin to remove procrastination from your life - DO IT!

You see, many times we try to associate procrastination to those things that we really dislike, such as doing our taxes. BUT, in reality, it takes place with everyday activities and not just the biggies!

So, again, here's the simple step - DO IT! Just take action!

ACTION IS THE CURE FOR PROCRASTINATION!

Start doing this RIGHT NOW - regardless of where you are and see what happens. This is something that you will have to ACTIVELY pursue to make happen - is it worth it to you? (Remember, procrastination is the KILLER of dreams!)

When there is something that you need to do - DO IT! Don't wait, don't put it off until later in the day or evening - DO IT!

You see, this is how procrastination works...we keep putting it off until later and later and later and then - it's so late that all we want to do is go to bed. So then, we'll do it in the morning before we go to work (we know better) and then it begins all over again for another day.

"Oh, but when I get home from work I just want to kick back and relax first before I have to do anything else."

Why not try this new approach - DO IT ANYWAY before you kick back and relax! Go ahead and get done what needs to get done - COMPLETELY and THEN kick back and relax.

Think about this - if you are DONE with all of that, won't you actually be able to kick back and relax even more completely now? Sure you will! You won't keep thinking, "Oh, I need to get up and go do that" and you won't keep feeling bad for NOT doing it.

YOU WILL BE DONE and then you truly CAN enjoy the rest of your evening!

Start now. Start today. So, again, RIGHT NOW if there is something even at your work that you need to finish (that you KNOW you can finish if you'd just do it) - then DO IT and stop harming your focus, your confidence, your joy, your professionalism and your dreams.

True, it happens one step at a time and one day at a time...but it must begin and it MUST begin TODAY!

And, just think what an AWESOME day it will be as you make progress through those things that you have set back for so long! So, yes, in the process, you have the ability to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

The "Little, Big Word" - IF

Two letters.

Small word.

Two letters...but one of the biggest words in our vocabulary!

If.

"If I had only..."

How many of us say things like this in our lives from time to time? At the end of chapter 15 of Napoleon Hill's classic, "Think & Grow Rich" he covers 57 "ifs" that many use as "alibis" (I'd say excuses) as to why they have failed to accomplish one thing or another with and in their lives.

Again, I strongly urge you to get a copy of this book one way or another and go over this list yourself - one at a time - and consider their impact in YOUR life! (I do mention each one of them in today's podcast, but too quickly for you to give each the thought needed).

I was watching the video segment that comes with the audio/DVD in each copy of SUCCESS magazine from last month and, in it, Les Brown uses a very powerful phrase..."Live full and die empty!" (I think he has a whole program based on that phrase - you can check it out yourself).

Think about that - "Live full and die empty". Yet, Mr. Brown points out the fact that most people do the opposite. They "die full and live empty". Ouch!

I have to admit that I have done this most of my life - and I regret it! I will be turning 50 years old this coming November and I feel that I have yet to fully LIVE my life!

Here's the kicker - it's never to late to make a change! I made a decision within the past year that I was going to live my life so that, if at all possible, I would not get to the END of my life saying, "I wish I had done this and that...".

All of us need to stop allowing the word "if" to become a roadblock to our forward progress! YOU do have the ability to do just that! YOU, and no one else.

What will YOU do?

Instead of, "If I had done..." what about taking a different look and start saying, "What if I DID step up and out and move forward?"

We will begin to look at this thought in next weeks podcast as we bring to a conclusion our discussions on this classic book.

Until then....remember to...

"Make it an AWESOME Day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

TERRIFIC TUESDAY- "Decision: The Mastery of Procrastination"

There it is. That "P" word. PROCRASTINATION!

Does that word make you shudder? I'm not sure if I've ever met ANYONE that didn't struggle with procrastination - putting things off until later. Waiting until later before making a decision or taking action.
The problem? The TIME for ACTION never comes...it just keeps on getting moved on to "later".

As we begin discussion of chapter 8 in the Napoleon Hill classic, "Think & Grow Rich" I want you to consider how much better our lives would be if we would finally conquer procrastination. This chapter will give you some SPECIFIC ideas to consider in this process but, as is true with everything else, these thoughts and ideas will do no good unless put into action.

THE WEALTH MINDSET vs. THE POOR MINDSET

Let's take a look at these two categories discussed in this chapter and notice the characteristics of decision making that attach themselves to each of these mindsets.

*makes decisions quickly* *makes decisions (if at all) SLOWLY*
*changes decision (if at all) SLOWLY)* *changes decision quickly & often*



Being completely honest with yourself, which column fits you?

For most of us, the right side - the POOR MINDSET - fits us more often than not! We hesitate to make decisions due to the fear of "what if I fail". We wait, we procrastinate and then, if and when we DO make a decision we are QUICK to change it at the first sign of trouble, set-back or perceived failure!

Those with the WEALTH MINDSET are CONFIDENT in their decisions. Yes, they have done their homework and they do not make the decision without thought - but they are not AFRAID to make that decision or are they afraid of any possible "failure". They withstand the temptation to "bail" on their plans at the first sign of trouble - they "stay the course" many times seeing their decision pay off when others have already "jumped ship".

WOW! Does that challenge you like it does me?

Another factor that we allow to play a big role in our decisions (or the lack thereof) is OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS! We will be discussing this in greater depth in Wednesday's podcast - but we ALL deal with this from time to time. Perhaps it is a spouse or other family member or friends. But they ALL have opinions (and seem to always feel the necessity to share them with us) on why we shouldn't move forward on a decision.

As I mention in the podcast, there are several different versions of the following thought, but this is one of the "cleaner" ones I've heard: "Opinions are like armpits....everyone has them, and THEY ALL STINK!"

Yeah, you know from experience EXACTLY what I mean, don't you? We'll discuss that more in tomorrow's podcast - be sure to join me for it and, until then...

"Make it an AWESOME DAY! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Magical Monday - STOP WAITING!

I want to encourage you to be sure to listen to today's podcast entitled, "Stop Waiting". This is the first point of five that are included in the FREE REPORT that you can request at my website (http://www.futureyouuniversity.com/). I will be using these five points for my podcasts this week and, part of next.

Due to that, I'm not going to write a lot here about the podcast - get the report and read what is there along with listening to the podcast. However, PLEASE - I'd love to hear any additional thoughts that may come to your mind on these things. Send them to me at: mike@futureyouuniversity.com

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BIG SEMINAR PROMOTION ANNOUNCEMENT coming

this Wednesday, April 22nd!!
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You don't want to miss this! Also, please be thinking about some of the things concerning this first seminar event. I NEED YOU! I will be calling you to action on a few things in connection to this first event - so please be ready to hear the announcement and be ready to go into action.

Make today "magical" - it is YOUR choice!

Remember...

"As long as there is breath - there is hope."

And, don't forget to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike Spillman