Water Your Own Grass!

THIS (the quote found in the above graphic) is a LIFE LESSON that we all need to learn and that we need to be sure to teach our children and grandchildren.

At the same time, THIS seems to be a LIFE LESSON that has NOT been taught to many in our current society. (When I say "our" society, I'm referring to those in the United States. I have no idea what your society in another country may be like but I DO know what is going on here in the U.S.).

Too many want what others have without putting in the work that the others put into what they now have. Make sense? 

We've discussed this principle before: Many look at a successful person and say, "I want that!" but are unwilling to do what that person did to build that success.

There are many in our society that do not even hesitate to admit that they have no desire whatsoever to do any work towards that kind of success at all. They simply WANT what others have because they do not think that it is "fair" that others have more than they do. What a warped sense of reality!

Hypothetically (and, often, even literally) they look over their fence into their neighbor's yard and notice how nice and green it is. They notice how thick and healthy the neighbor's grass is and also how beautifully the yard is landscaped. Then, they take a look at their own yard and notice just the opposite. They make note that their back yard doesn't even have grass growing in it because of the fact that their five dogs have worn it down. They also notice mounds of dog poo throughout  the yard but, yet, they make no effort to clean it up. They also notice that there is trash and paper shredded all over the yard because they have left trash in the back yard and then the dogs have ripped that trash to pieces. And, finally, they also notice the scattered beer and/or cola cans scattered all over the back yard.  And, yet, they don't think it's right that the neighbor's yard is so much nicer

Of course, they may or may not have paid attention to the fact that the neighbor has put in countless hours maintaining their back yard. The neighbor actually has a dog but that dog has not destroyed the back yard. The neighbors do not leave trash in the back yard so, of course, there is no trash for the dog to tear up and rip to shreds. Oh, and by the way, not only has the neighbor spent a lot of TIME on that back yard but they have also spent a bit of MONEY for the landscaping, etc. They take pride in their yard and the work that they have put into making it beautiful and enjoyable.

As the graphic above says, "Stop staring, stop comparing, stop complaining Start watering the grass you're standing on"

WATER YOUR OWN GRASS!

You likely are not one of those people wanting what everyone else has without putting in the effort to receive it but, we must all be careful to not allow this attitude to creep into our lives and mindset. 

One main way to do that is for YOU to take care of YOU and, by doing so, you won't have time to worry about anyone else and what they do or don't have. 

Make sense?

Sure it does. 

So, even if you don't suffer from this "lack mindset", be sure to teach the truth of the "water your own grass mindset" to future generations. This is a MUST!

If you haven't done so, take a few minutes and listen to the podcast (links below) and/or watch the video (see the YouTube link below). Although this is on the same topic, I did the podcast and video several days before I wrote this article which means that there is different material and thoughts available there.

Thanks again for joining me 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

YouTube
 

2nd of "3 Dangerous Myths to Avoid"

As always, if you've not had a chance to read the first blog article in this series (and/or listen to the 1st episode of the podcast in the series), be sure to take a few minutes to do so.

These are "3 Dangerous Myths to Avoid" that are a "disease" to any person, community, organization and yes, even to a society.

The first of these was covered in that last article - "It's Not My Fault", and now, let's continue on with my thoughts on the 2nd of these DANGEROUS myths:

If you want to hear my passion on this particular "dangerous myth", then you definitely need to listen to the podcast! I'm here to tell you, there are few things that get me "worked up" as quickly as the verbalization of this attitude, or in other words, TO HEAR SOMEONE ACTUALLY SAY THIS.

And, as I talk about on the podcast,  I did have a man (an older man, at that) say that to me during a situation when we were supposed to be working together on a particular "project"just the other day. The "task" that he didn't want to do because "it's not my job", was not much of a task at all. As a matter of fact, my hands were already full and I had already done a LOT of things and it would have been a BIG help - with very little effort on his part - for him to do this one small thing. But, when I asked him if he had done that, he actually said, "No, it's not my job."

I wish I could tell you that I handled that well, but I did not. I pretty much "unloaded" on him letting him know what a HORRIBLE attitude that I thought he had and that I really felt it was pretty pathetic for him to use that line in this situation.  Yeah, he had no doubt how I felt about his choice.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

Friend, let me just caution you in this way: When you find yourself even THINKING this thought, you are headed for trouble. Sure, this is my personal opinion, but look again and you'll also see that it's my blog. See how that works? But, more than that, I have observed and studied people and situations for years and I really DO know what I am talking about.

This attitude is lazy and selfish and does NOTHING to help support and/or build any sort of team. 

Apply that to yourself as an individual and you will find that you will never really contribute to ANY team situation in any real way. In other words, you won't be of value and you can be - and will be - easily replaced.

I was going to suggest that you then apply this to a group of people but, in fact, you won't have to apply this thought to a group because it is CONTAGIOUS. (Remember me calling this a "disease" earlier?) This is a CONTAGIOUS DISEASE that will spread it's deadly poison throughout any organization and, again, even society.

I'll share with you the same advice that I gave to all three of my sons when they were still living at home and applying for summer jobs..."Always do MORE than what is expected of you!"

I would tell them that, by doing so, they would always have a job and always have a list of good references. Guess what? It's true.

Oh, I know that the idea of "doing more than what is expected" just really sounds strange to some people. These are the people that have been groomed in the "It's Not My Job" mentality and mindset but, friend, THIS DOES NOT NEED TO BE YOU.

Please be sure to take a few minutes to listen to the podcast to hear my thoughts on this more in depth. I know you'll be glad that you did.

Get rid of this dangerous - and poisonous - myth in your life and help spread this message to as many as possible by sharing this blog article as well as the podcast. OUR WORLD NEEDS THIS MESSAGE NOW!

Join me in the last article of this series as we discuss the final of the "3 Dangerous Myths to Avoid" - 

"It Will Never Happen to Me"

Whatever you do, each and every day, always 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

Challenge Brings Growth

Wouldn't it be great if that big, red "easy" button actually existed?

 

Wouldn't it be great if everything always turned out the way that we wanted them to turn out?

 

Wouldn't it be great if we found "that perfect job" for our lives the very first time and that it was easy to move up in that business without any stress or hard work?

 

Wouldn't it be great if.....by now you're likely saying something like, "Uh, yeah Mike, that WOULD be great but we all know that's not going to happen the way that you are describing!"

 

BINGO. But let me continue...

 

Wouldn't it be great if getting into shape and staying in shape was easy and required no hard work or discipline at all? Watch the advertising and you'll see more and more that a lot of companies are trying to pretty much promise that very thing in their advertisements. But, bottom line is that it just won't work!

 

GROWTH IS NOT EASY!

 

You can put that into any category of growth that you'd like and it still comes out the same - IT'S NOT EASY!

 

"Easy" is staying where you are and accomplishing nothing.

 

Easy is allowing others to do everything for you and literally take care of you in every area of your life even to the point of physically clothing you, bathing you, grooming you, etc.

 

Come on...you KNOW that's not what you desire for your life!

 

"Oh Mike, you're getting a bit extreme with your examples."

 

NOT AT ALL!

 

GROWTH IS NOT EASY! It requires learning new things, doing new things, stretching and challenging yourself physically, mentally, emotionally and even spiritually.

 

But do not ever forget this point: GROWTH BRINGS LIFE!

 

Simple illustration: Ask your mother (if she's still alive - if not, ask any woman that has experienced this) if going through pregnancy and the delivery of YOU was easy? Though not easy, GROWTH BRINGS LIFE!

 

So, friend, take that "easy" button and throw it in the trash! Because in this situation "easy" = LAZY and DEAD!

 

Stay focused, stay strong and KEEP ON GROWING!

 

And, as you do so, be sure to...

 

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

 

Mike

 

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