I THINK I'm Satisfied...CAN I REALLY KNOW?

 Glad you're here. If you find value in this blog article, please "subscribe" so that you can receive my articles as they come out BUT ALSO be sure to click on the links at the bottom of this article so that you can also LISTEN to the podcast and WATCH the videos.

I do my best to do a submission on the same topic via each of these venues and you WILL benefit by checking EACH of them since I don't follow a script which means you will get THREE entries on the same topic but with EACH of them being a "little different" than the others. This means you get the BEST of the BEST by doing so.

Today's article is a continuation in thought from two previous articles ("Is it Really Fine?" and "ENOUGH is ENOUGH") in which I ended up asking the question: "How can you KNOW if you really ARE dissatisfied with your current situation?"

Don't miss the IMPORTANCE of what I'm sharing with you here (as well as in the podcast and video). GET THIS: If you will answer these questions thoroughly and HONESTLY, your LIFE could very well CHANGE FOREVER in a POWERFUL and POSITIVE way. 

Yes, I know that is a big claim but I stand behind that statement 100%!

READ THIS AGAIN: You need to listen to the podcast and/or watch the video as I go "deeper" there than I will in this article. I'm going to give you the "outline" portion of this important "formula" but you need to go deeper via the other avenues available.

HOW CAN I KNOW THAT I'M NOT TRULY SATISFIED WITH MY CURRENT SITUATION AND THAT IT'S TIME TO TAKE THAT STEP FOR HUGE CHANGE?  (This applies to ANY and EVERY area of your life - relationships, job position, finances, etc.)

Apply it to ANY area by asking THESE 2 MAIN IMPORTANT QUESTIONS (I will be using FINANCES as an example):

     1. Are you SATISFIED with your level of INCOME?

        A. If YES, are you satisfied with what you have had to "give up" in order to achieve that level of income? (Get specific and make a list of what all you have had to give up...how much time? what have you missed out on? GET VERY SPECIFIC!)

            - Then ask THIS question: How long are you willing to continue this path in order to maintain that level of income AND WHAT WILL YOU HAVE TO DO to INCREASE that level? 

        B. If NO, then what will it take in order for you TO BE SATISFIED with your level of income? What will it take for you to go from your current amount of income (specifically list the $ amount) and where you think that "satisfactory level of income" would be (again, specifically list the $ amount)?

            - Make another list of WHAT you will have to do in order to reach that level of income. WHAT WILL YOU HAVE TO GIVE in time AS WELL AS possible missed events, etc. in order to reach that level. Will you have to invest in some additional classes/courses in order to do so. What will that cost be (specifically list that $ amount)

            - How long will you be willing to continue this path in order to ACHIEVE that level of income and WHAT WILL YOU HAVE TO DO to not only MAINTAIN that level but to also INCREASE that level at some point in time?

    2. IF YOU ARE NOT SATISFIED WITH YOUR ANSWERS...What then? (Specifically list what you think your options may be).

That's it! Get real, get honest, get specific with your answers and this could CHANGE YOUR LIFE FOREVER. I can actually tell you that - either way - it WILL change your life one way or the other. You will either MOVE FORWARD in a POWERFUL and POSITIVE way or you will remain stagnant which, in reality, means that you will be moving BACKWARDS.

#TRUTH

If this has triggered something in you...leave a comment or go to www.FutureYouUniversity.com and leave a comment there OR contact me directly and share your thoughts with me at: mike@FutureYouUniversity.com

THE GOOD NEWS? I'm heading into this new year with THIS VERY THING at the center of my focus and direction for my own life and for those that are willing and ready to MOVE FORWARD once and for all.

Join me? Let's go!

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   Podcast on iTunes   Podcast RSS feed

YouTube  Leaders Are Readers (Audible Books)

REPOST: "What Are Your Dreams Worth?"

I'm still away on a trip on my motorcycle, so I wanted to be sure to leave you with something to digest for today! (And, hey, it's not just sugar free - it's CALORIE FREE!).
This was my 2nd blog article that went along with my podcast on the same topic - just like I still do today. So, be sure to read the article but, also, be sure to listen to the podcast for the "complete package" on this topic. 
Enjoy!

---------------------------------------------------------


Today, on our way home for a High School state tournament basketball game I saw this sign in front of a church building (you know, those signs with changeable letters that many churches have out front?) - "Everyone loves the harvest - no one loves the plowing" and I thought, "Wow, how profound!"

As a matter of fact, it completely took me in a new direction for the podcast that I had already planned - but that's nothing unusual for me!

We all enjoy eating the fruit of the harvest whether it be watermelon, fresh peas, lettuce or whatever it is that you enjoy. But, how many of us enjoy the hours of hard work out in the sun that MUST take place in order for the harvest to take place?

NOT MANY!

But, if you want the harvest you prepare the soil, plant the seed, keep the weeds away, water and all of the other things anyway.

What are your dreams worth? Are you willing to put in the time and effort to make them come true? Are you expecting things to just drop into your lap? If so, join the millions throwing down their money with the hopes of one day winning the lottery!

Bottom line: You must be willing to put some ACTION into your DREAMS!

What's it worth? Is it worth turning off the television? Is it worth some exta time even AFTER you return home from your "real" job?

Only you can decide. If you listen to my podcast you will hear some trememdous quotes that I found on "persistence". The "value" that you have placed on your dreams will determine the level and amount of your persistence.

What's it worth? You decide and....

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

Mike Spillman

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

Update: I DO Plan To...

"LIKE" Future You University on Facebook

 

Just a quick update: I DO still plan to do the video an audio addition to my current "series" that I am doing on PLANS and things that can HOLD US BACK.

 

Isn't that ironic?

 

I planned to do it right after I completed my last blog article (which was about 3 weeks ago). I also planned to get it done about a week ago while I had several days off.

 

But, as you can see, I've still yet to complete those. My plans? I still plan to get that accomplished THIS WEEK - hopefully over the next day or two.

 

So, here's something to think about when considering the thought brought up in the last article of "WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK?".... do we sometimes consider ourselves "busy" or "too busy" to do what it is we SAY we want to accomplish?

 

Hmmmm....interesting.

 

Stay with me? Thanks!

 

Until next time, be sure to...

 

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

 

Mike



The Value of NOW!

"The Value of NOW!"

The other day I posted something about what my friend, Jim Ferguson mentioned during our "Goals" class this past Tuesday night. He said something along the lines of, "Yes, let's all be planning for our future but let's not forget to ENJOY today!"

Isn't that something we ALL need to be reminded of from time to time? I can answer that for you - "YES!"

My guess is that everyone of you that are reading this blog entry has a calendar nearby. And, that being so, my guess is that you have things written on that calendar that has to be done or places that you have to be at a certain time on a certain day.

Some years back when I was working as a youth minister I was always working my calendar a year in advance. That's the way I had to do it to make sure that things were taken care of with many of these plans. Let me tell you - if there is ever a way for time to "fly by" and for you to "miss" the importance of today.... start planning your life a year or so in advance!

Yes, we all need to be making plans for our future. We all need to be setting goals for ourselves with some sort of timeline as to when we'd like to reach that goal. Yes, there are things we MUST put on our calendars in advance so that we can make sure we don't forget that appointment or whatever it may be.

JUST DON'T FORGET TO LIVE TODAY!

Men and women have worked long and hard hours in order to provide for their families and to ensure a well-funded retirement. However, many times, in doing so they have lost the love and/or respect of their children because the parent was never around for the events that made each day special in the life of that child. Too, many times that person got ready to enjoy their retirement and found that they would be going through retirement alone because their spouse, just like their children, had grown tired of the day being set aside for the future.

A friend of mine shared some great insight on this in response to what I posted about Jim's comment. Here's what she said:

"I learned this lesson well by the passing of my grandparents who died in their mid to late 50's. My grandmother had just retired an my papa was just about to when they both passed away. We save but I intend to enjoy life an make many fun memories with my family because even though you have a future ahead of you it's not promised."

Sad, but so true. Likely, we've all seen this in some way and vow for it not to happen to us... but, many times it still does.

This is a fine line that we all walk and we don't always do well in this area. However, the main thing is for us to be AWARE of our tendency to live too much for the future and to do our best to LIVE TODAY!

You've heard me say it and/or seen me type it in my articles - once today is gone, it is gone forever, never to be reclaimed. Today - as I type this - is Thursday, March 25, 2010. When this day is done there will NEVER be another Thursday, March 25, 2010. Ever. Gone forever.

So, the challenge for each of us is to not lose sight of this fact. We need to do whatever we need to do to call our attention to TODAY! Perhaps set ourselves a reminder on all of our little gadgets so that it will "pop up" during the day and remind us to, "LIVE TODAY!".

Remember, "Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday!"

The most expensive items (art, automobiles or ANY item) are those that are "one of a kind" or the only one left in existence. Guess what? So it is with TODAY.

Today truly is "one of a kind" and the only one left in existence.

Pretty valuable, wouldn't you say?

Live it, love it, share it! And, as you do so...

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

Mike

What Are YOUR Dreams Worth?

Again, this entry will go along with my latest podcast - but it will not cover everything mentioned there. That link to the podcast (same as in the first entry) is: http://mspillman.hipcast.com/rss/future-you-university.xml

Today, on our way home for a High School state tournament basketball game I saw this sign in front of a church building (you know, those signs with changeable letters that many churches have out front?) - "Everyone loves the harvest - no one loves the plowing" and I thought, "Wow, how profound!"

As a matter of fact, it completely took me in a new direction for the podcast that I had already planned - but that's nothing unusual for me!

We all enjoy eating the fruit of the harvest whether it be watermelon, fresh peas, lettuce or whatever it is that you enjoy. But, how many of us enjoy the hours of hard work out in the sun that MUST take place in order for the harvest to take place?

NOT MANY!

But, if you want the harvest you prepare the soil, plant the seed, keep the weeds away, water and all of the other things anyway.

What are your dreams worth? Are you willing to put in the time and effort to make them come true? Are you expecting things to just drop into your lap? If so, join the millions throwing down their money with the hopes of one day winning the lottery!

Bottom line: You must be willing to put some ACTION into your DREAMS!

What's it worth? Is it worth turning off the television? Is it worth some exta time even AFTER you return home from your "real" job?

Only you can decide. If you listen to my podcast you will hear some trememdous quotes that I found on "persistence". The "value" that you have placed on your dreams will determine the level and amount of your persistence.

What's it worth? You decide and....

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

Mike Spillman