What's Holding YOU Back?

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In my last blog I addressed the topic, "I Always Wanted To..." and talked about things that we SAY we want to do but, for whatever reason, seem to never get done. If you haven't done so, take a moment and go back and read the last entry. For the most part this is a PART 2 continuation of that article.

 

Three questions were brought up that I want to review again:

 

WHAT ARE SOME THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU HAVE SAID YOU WANT TO DO AND, AS OF YET, IS STILL UNDONE?

 

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??

WAS IT AS IMPORTANT AS I KEPT SAYING IT WAS? IF SO, WHY DIDN'T I DO IT REGARDLESS OF ANY EXCUSES?

 

I'm hoping that you have already taken the time to write down your answers/thoughts on these questions. If not, take a few moments and try to put some honest answers to them. Go ahead. I'll wait.

 

 

So, here's the main thing: What are you waiting for or, worded differently, "WHAT'S HOLDING YOU BACK?"

 

Wow. Really think about that. I'm not sure there are really any "EASY" answers for this and yet, at the same time, you may know the honest truth immediately.

 

As I said in the last article, whatever you come up will likely be connected to some sort of FEAR.

 

WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF?

Here's the deal...how much time is going to continue to pass while you (and me) wait and wait and plan and plan and talk about "one day I'm going to..." ? How much time has ALREADY passed?

You likely have heard the following quote by the late, Charlie "Tremendous" Jones :

"You're the same today as you'll be in five years except for the people you meet and the books you read." I agree with what he says but, at the same time, there will be NO CHANGE if you do not absorb the influence/impact of either the friends or the books! The late Jim Rohn talked several times about the fact that, regardless of what we do - the next five years are going to come and go. Regardless. He would then ask the question, "What are YOU going to do?" How do the lines to that song go? "Time keeps on ticking, into the future..." WAKE UP! (Yeah, I'm talking to me, too!) I'm guessing that you are like me in that you really don't want to get to the end of your life with  regrets about all of the things that you DIDN'T do. So, have you WRITTEN DOWN what it is that  you are afraid of? Have you WRITTEN DOWN what it is that is holding YOU back? Hang on to that list and began to consider (if you haven't done so already) what it is that you need to do to get rid of that obstacle in your life and your future success! Get started on that and in my next article I will attempt to help you IDENTIFY and ATTACK these obstacles. Feel free to send me what you are discovering is in YOUR way...let's get this thing done together! Until then, be sure to... "Make it an AWESOME day! (Who esle is going to do it for you?)" Mike



I Always Wanted To....

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I'm typing this on Thursday, September 27, 2012 after the legendary Andy Williams passed away on Tuesday, September 25th. Why is this significant to me? Because I have said for years that I wanted to go see his show in Branson, Missouri before he died. Now, it's too late.

 

For me this goes back to my childhood. I can remember watching Mr. Williams on television (yes, black and white) putting on some of the best Christmas specials that I can remember. I always thought he had one of the smoothest voices ever - even at my young age. I can also remember the Osmond brothers being introduced and a part of these television specials. I loved those shows!

 

Then, a few years ago, Mr. Williams brought his act to Branson, Missouri which has only been a few hours from me all along. I've said to my wife (and even to my sons who are all now out of the house) that I wanted us to go see his Christmas show sometime. I said that year after year after year. And, as I've already said...now it's too late.

 

So, here's the question: WHAT ARE SOME THINGS IN YOUR LIFE THAT YOU HAVE SAID YOU WANT TO DO AND, AS OF YET, IS STILL UNDONE?

 

Here's what I continue to ask myself about situations like the one above and others that I find let slip past me - WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??

 

My goodness, the whole thing with going to see Andy Williams boiled down to two things: 1. sometimes I felt that it would cost too much money and 2. poor planning. And now, something that I've wanted to do for years has passed me by.

 

Another thing I find that is necessary to ask with such things is this: WAS IT AS IMPORTANT AS I KEPT SAYING IT WAS? IF SO, WHY DIDN'T I DO IT REGARDLESS OF ANY EXCUSES?

 

Sometimes the truth hurts but the truth is that if something really IS important to us we WILL find a way to make it happen. Won't you?

 

Ahhhh, but there's that factor of FEAR. False Evidence Appearing Real.

 

We're still working on that, aren't we? I know I am. Hey, I'm just being honest. I appreciate you reading my blog and listening to my podcast (yes, I am doing a podcast on this topic - be sure to check it out at www.FutureYouUniversity.com) but I will always be honest with you on such things. What good does it do me - or you - to make it appear that I have it all worked out? I DON'T but I continually strive to keep moving forward and I hope that I encourage you to do the same along the way.

 

So for now, address the questions brought up in this blog. Get out a piece of paper and spend some serious time digging at the TRUTH. Make that list of things that are still waiting for you to enjoy and complete (and no, we're not talking about things like "mowing the yard") and then dig deep as to WHY it's still on that "to do" list.

 

I plan to do another blog entry in a few days to continue these thoughts and I'd love to get your feedback either by leaving a comment here or on the FYU fan page on Facebook (preferred).

 

Keep pressing forward, friend and, until then, be sure to...

 

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

 

Mike



 

 



When Is the Sky NOT Falling?

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It's been a couple of weeks now but the most recent example of this "craziness" was exemplified with hurricane Isaac. Most people across the U.S. experienced big hikes in gas prices because of this mentality. Prices jumped 12 cents per gallon in one location we passed all in the matter of two hours. Really? Was this necessary?

 

I made sure watched the news that night so I could see what the "reason" was behind this "sky is falling" activity and everything I heard confirmed that, indeed, it was all hysteria over things that didn't amount to much. Hurricane Isaac never reached anything above a level 1 category yet the hysteria was as if it were a level 4 storm! The refineries had shut down in some areas along the Gulf Coast during the storm and this drove the thought that there might be gas shortages. The interesting thing was that the reports also indicated that this area only provided about 22% of the U.S. gas supply.

 

Think about it... only 22% and the hysteria at the pump as almost as high as it was back on September 11,2001 when the Twin Towers were hit in a terrorist attack.

 

My point? DON'T GET CAUGHT UP IN THE HYPE!

 

News is driven by hype, hysteria, fear and drama!

 

Now here's the BIG question for you to consider...does this also describe what drives YOUR life?

 

I hope not! It's easy to get caught up in this type of drama even on a daily basis and that is why is is so important for us to surround ourselves with positive people as much as possible! Yes, I understand that this is not always possible but that is why it is even more important to do so when we can!

 

The more we can surround ourselves with POSITIVE influences the more it will help "protect" us from the hysteria, drama and fear that comes with this "sky is falling" attitude.

 

Gas prices? I still hear on an almost daily basis how different "experts" are predicting gas to be at one high price or another. You know what? I've been hearing it for a long time and it has yet to come to be - and I do mean YEARS when I say "for a long time".

 

It's your choice but, honestly, there are better ways to get in shape rather than constantly JUMPING to conclusions and RUNNING AROUND like a chicken with it's head cut off yelling, "THE SKY IS FALLING!".

 

Think about it and, as you do, be sure to...

 

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

 

Mike

REGRET

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That's a pretty gloomy picture up there, isn't it? For many people REGRET looms over them like a big storm threatening the potential of great damage. For many, the "cloud of regret" hovers over them and follows them wherever they go. Doom. Danger. Destruction. Disaster. Defeat.

We all have regrets, don't we? I feel that, because of my experience as a parent, I can say that ALL parents have regrets. Can't all of us - as parents - look back and wish we had done some things differently? Spent more time doing things with our kids. Focused more on helping them develop certain characteristics that one is not born with but can only be taught and learned.

Everyone that is married has regrets. Everyone that is not married has regrets.

Get the picture? EVERYONE has regrets.

I picked out a few quotes on REGRET that I wanted to share with you. Take a look at them and let them soak in...

I'd rather regret the things I have done than the things that I haven't. - Lucille Ball

A man is not old until regrets take the place of dreams.     -John Barrymore

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.     -Alexander Graham Bell

Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.     -H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I'm not sure if Lucille Ball got her quote from Mr. Brown, but they are both very similar in what they say. They both cause us to really look closely at our regrets. Do they not?

I can't help but ask the question that almost cries out from John Barrymore's quote... Have your dreams been replaced by regrets? Really examine this one closely!

I love the way that Mr. Bell brought out such a wise observation to the popular saying about one door closing and another one opening. This may be true but read again this observation and ask yourself if you are constantly standing and looking at all of the doors in your life that are closed.

REGRET - we all have it so it is important for us to consider what we DO with the regret in our own life!

Well?

Here's the deal and, if you've read much of my stuff at all you won't be surprised at what I'm about to say: IT'S YOUR CHOICE! Just like anything else in life and especially when it comes to how things impact our lives - it is a CHOICE that we make.

Think about it...we ALL have regrets but many live their lives differently when it comes to those regrets. Some live their lives FULL of regret to the point that they can never move on because of their focus ON those regrets (see again the quote by Alexander Graham Bell). Hey listen, for some, the regret is LARGE and the impact is far reaching but, nevertheless, all regrets are seen through our rear-view mirror, are they not? And, that being the case we MUST understand that we CAN learn from the cause of the regrets but we CANNOT go back and undo them and we CANNOT allow ourselves to focus on those past causes.

Seriously, what can be gained by doing this? NOTHING except bringing more regret to your life when you realize how much time you have wasted focused on this regret.

On the other hand, as has been said, you can LEARN from the past mistakes that brought on that regret and you can do everything within your power to not repeat those same mistakes thus avoiding even stronger regret due to your repetitive nature.

Huh?

DON'T DO IT AGAIN.

But we often do, don't we? That's how we are. But, hopefully, over time, we begin to break that pattern and we start repeating those same mistakes less and less to the point that we DO finally move on in a positive way.

Remember this: YOU ARE HUMAN!

Don't use that as an excuse (as many people do - "Oh well. You know, I'm only human!") but let it help you understand how we - as humans - tend to behave and how hard it is to make significant change in our lives as well as how long this significant change may take.

As was stated differently in two of the above quotes, the worst thing any of us wants to do is come to the point that we regret the fact that we did NOTHING...that we failed to LIVE.

I hope this helps. I'd love to hear from you at any time. Feel free to drop me an email - mike@futureyouuniversity.com as well as leave comments here or at the Future You University FAN PAGE on Facebook (preferred method for comments).

Until next time, be sure to...

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

Mike

  



Tell Me WHY Again?

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O.k. I'm not REALLY going to "go Hulk" because of this stuff I'm discussing but, I thought I'd have some fun and, at the same time, emphasize how disgusted I am with how some people "do business" - especially when it comes to "on-line opportunities".

If you haven't done so, be sure to go back and read my last blog since it serves as a background to what I'm talking about today. But, let me give a shortened version for a review in case you don't have time to read the last one at the moment...

Basically I ask WHY people that promote "opportunities" can't just be honest and upfront about what the cost of being involved in the program will actually be.  WHY can't they go ahead and give you the information that you really need - for the cost advertised - so that you can actually DO what they SAY you can do with their opportunity?

The two main problems that I've seen are as follows:

     1. You are sold a "watered-down version" of the program and, if you REALLY want to use this program to it's full potential (their hype applied here) then you REALLY NEED to "upgrade" to a different program OR to their "one-on-one coaching program". (Have you noticed how they all seem to have their own coaching program now?).

     2. You pay the advertised price only to be hit with page after page (or video after video) trying to "up sell" you to other parts of the program that you really need in order to get the most out of this program. HINT: When you pay and you are not immediately taken to the check out page - GET READY FOR UP SELL ATTEMPTS!

Today I will address another "frustration" that I have experienced over time and that I saw exhibited again just this past week as well as give you some hints/pointers as to what to watch out for with many of these programs.

First of all, a HINT and SUGGESTION for those of you that may take a look at some of these opportunities. GO FOR THE BEST PRICE! Here's what I mean - the price advertised is rarely the price that you CAN pay if you just make a few extra clicks. I'm sure you've noticed a box popping up on your screen asking you to not leave but to stay on the page "for a special offer", haven't you? IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED in this product/opportunity then, by all means, STAY ON THE PAGE! You CAN and WILL get the offer for a lot less than was originally advertised if you want to follow through with the transaction.

Example: the current program that I am testing out was originally advertised for something like $49 and then $39 and, finally for $19 - which is what I paid for the program. (Of course, then came the constant "up sells" trying to get me to pay more which I declined).

I'm determined to figure this out WITHOUT having to "buy in" to the other "up sells" and I think that I will be able to make it work to some extent. THE POSITIVE: I am learning a lot that I didn't know before getting into this program and KNOWLEDGE is ALWAYS valuable!

Now on to my most recent event that has me bewildered at both the person/people promoting this business as well as the many others that are "gung-ho" about this opportunity. Stay with me here...

As part of my "package" that I paid for (for a lot less than originally advertised, remember?) I am able to be a part of 12 special webinars that are supposedly designed to help me get the most out of this program. The first one was rather uneventful and set up the basics which I had already done through the already-provided on-site videos. It was the second, and most recent, webinar that, once again cased me to ask the question, "WHY DO THAT?".

It did not take me long to figure out that this second webinar was nothing but a sales pitch for another program. By listening to the name of a "tool" the speaker kept talking about I figured that this "tool" was soon to be the topic of another thing "I must have". Was I correct? YES! (HINT: Pay attention to things like this. LISTEN and PAY ATTENTION to what is being said in advance of what is going to be said - make sense?)

So, what did I do? Well, while the presenter was talking away about this "program" I did an online search and found this program listed as a program offered by a relative of the presenter. That's right, the exact same program with lots and lots of links showing up after my search. HERE'S THE KICKER: The presenter was promoting this "program" as something that HE had come up with (true, he may have and helped his relative get it going) and that it was BRAND NEW and NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN and something that he just felt he HAD to share with his students. Why? Because that's just the kind of guy he is! (I kid you not, he didn't use those exact words, but that is pretty much what was said).

Anyone that was listening in on that call could have done exactly what I did. Perhaps some did - I sure hope so! However, apparently many DID NOT and literally JUMPED AT THE CHANCE to get this extra program. Oh, it was also being promoted by the fact that the first 40 or 50 (I can't remember exactly)that signed up that night would get an extra webinar with the presenter in the future). Get this...all for the low, low price of only $997!

Yeah, you read that right - $997. Hey folks, that just $3 short of $1,000!!! (And, honestly, it may have been the first 100 to sign up that night - I had pretty much "checked out" at that point).

And, guess what? He sold out right then and there. As a matter of fact, the last 20 minutes of this webinar was a continuous push for anyone/everyone to get in on it NOW while there were spots still open. Now then, friend, DO THE MATH and see how much $$ this guy made on this call. Why? "Because that's the kind of guy I am".

Now do you share my frustration (and yes, even outrage)?

FINAL HINT: Do NOT become so enamoured/gung-ho about an opportunity that you don't THINK and keep your eyes open! All anyone on that call had to do was just THINK and do some quick research to find out that, quite honestly, this was a LIE that they bought in to at a very steep price! THINK - THINK - THINK!

So, I can hear you now: "Mike, why are you STILL doing business with this guy?" Well, I'm really not doing business with him anymore. I got in for only $19 and I am learning a LOT of things by my own follow through. Honestly, I'm determined to make some $$ in SPITE of this guys deceit and deception - yes, I said that very clearly.

Again, once I make some decent or consistent money with this, I will let you know EXACTLY what I did for FREE. Believe me, what I've learned is NOTHING proprietary and nothing that ANYONE couldn't do. Fair enough?

Bottom line: This, once again, has strengthened my resolve to FIND A WAY to make some money online in order to help fund some of my other goals.

ATTENTION: Be watching VERY SOON for a new video podcast/recorded podcast as well as a CHALLENGE TO/FOR YOU MY FRIEND to join me in during these last 4 months of 2012. Simply put, I'm TIRED of this kind of crap (excuse my language)that I just discussed and am more determined than ever to PUSH FORWARD TOWARD SUCCESS - aren't you?

Until then, be sure to...

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

Mike