3 Words That Lead You To Financial Freedom

I was requested to write a blog about discipline i.e. using time effectively. The two words in that previous phrase - "time" and "effectiveness" are two of three concepts essential to getting to that place of "discipline". Discipline itself is almost a dirty word, because it implies you need to be doing something other than what you are doing. i.e. you must "discipline" your Self to do this, instead of doing that. Right? Essentially, a definition like that could set you up to be at war with your Self. Is that how you want to start out creating something you love? Consider it differently… It all comes down to a third word "want". What do you want? In my old home, after a long and tiring day, I often washed the dishes thinking: "I don't want to wash these dishes" until one day I had an epiphany - I was telling a lie. The truth was, I did want to wash the dishes. How does that work? First, think of some chore you have today that occurs while your intention is against it. Public speaking is an obvious example, but if you consider it deeply enough, you'll find plenty of examples. Sometimes you may not even want to say "Good morning" but you do. Next, consider what Alice Miller often pointed out in her writings "Our bodies never lie." I may say ridiculous things like: "I don't want to wash the dishes" while I am washing the dishes! The truth is: I do want to wash the dishes. How do I know that? Because I am washing the dishes. No-one can make me do anything. I get decide to everything I do. Why not own that? Ever tried to move a 5 year old kid who doesn't want to move? They may not weigh much, but boy oh boy, if they don't want you to move them, you know it from their bodies. It's an assault if you actually achieve it; most respecting human beings find another way. You get disciplined when you get clear on what you want. Clarity gives you the power to act. Understand that initially what you want may feel challenging, uncomfortable, weird even. Emotions don't instantly tag along with your decisions, but if you are truly in the activity that is congruent with your whole Self, you will feel right about it in short order. If your emotions keep saying no, then maybe you've got to refigure it all. Emotions are helpful that way - if you've deceived yourself, they'll let you know. It's a dance that all partitioners in our work know: You think --> you move --> you feel What you feel tells you how well you are thinking. Is it working? Well, it feels way better and I can see improvements. Great, continue. OR. Is it feeling terrible? Hmmm, go back to your Self premises, reconsider it all again. It's a simple plan, and it's the same plan FM used to discover the amazing things he did. Now to the third word - time. Time is A Diminishing Resource Time is unique in that you can not replenish it. Factually (although not currently known) you have a definitive number of breaths in your life. Guess what? You just used up two of them while reading this sentence. There're gone forever. The number of breaths you have left is a constantly diminishing number, and it's certain that you will run out of them. In Tibetan Buddhism they have a series of 13 meditations - highly scripted and detailed - that essentially give you everything you need to realise to be enlightened. The first two meditations in this series are fascinating, as they apply equally well to building your business. The first meditation is to recognise how incredibly lucky you are to be considering this at all. How many people have the time for that? Can a dog do that? Can an insect? You learn to recognise how precious your life and abilities are: this energises you every time you realise it. This one gives you joy and energy to pursue the path to enlightenment; let's call that financial freedom for the biz builders out there. But wait. Now's it's time to sober up and get the second insight - this one is designed to frighten the bejeezus out of you, just in case you're getting too cocky thinking about how lucky you are… The Death Mediation 1.Death is Certain (three things to think about) 2.Time of Death is Uncertain (another three things to think about) 3.Therefore: what's a worthwhile thing for you to be doing today? Which brings us finally to the third word "effective." How To Be Effective Peter Drucker got it right when he said it's about getting the right things done. Effectiveness doesn't require intelligence, knowledge or much skill. Good news if you feel you lacking in any one of those isn't it? You can be as dumb as your dog and still get things done. You can be a marketing and sales neophyte, and still build a great biz. I love the question Facebook CEO Marj Zukerberg - quoted to an interviewer - asks to his Self each day: "What's the most valuable and effective thing I can do today?" It's a great question, and it implies you have plan you are creatively reconsidering every day. The Three Words Effectiveness is ultimately about focus. First, focus on your Self and what you want. Second, focus all the choices you have to get what you want. Finally, decide then which action will produce the greatest result in the least amount of time? It's a simple plan, and it works. P.S. If you read this far, then go on to my mailing list to catch my blogs, and hear about my book when it is published: Click here now and fill in the form!