I just saw a television commercial for Aleve. The guy is a mover and he has problems with his knees and according to him, Aleve helps him with his problems and his knees no longer hurt: So take Aleve! The commercial made me sick. But this commercial is typical of what we do – we go for the quick fix of the symptom and never bother attacking the real problem. If you happen to see this commercial, I want you to notice that the poor mover guy with the bad knees weighs about 300 pounds!!!!! No wonder the guy’s knees hurt. Why wouldn’t they hurt? They are carrying around 150 pounds more than they were engineered to carry.
So this guy “fixes” his problem with a pain reliever. Actually, he is making his problem worse. That pain is a CLUE!!!! The clue is to lose some weight you dim-witted lardass! Instead, he is masking his problem so he won’t notice it……..as he continues to get fatter and fatter. He is numbing himself to his real problem. Hey Tubbo, you want your knees to hurt less? Listen to the pain and go after the REAL problem: your weight… lose 150 pounds! But as I said already, this approach is typical of what we do in all areas of life and business. We mask our problems so we won’t notice them, hoping they will go away if we can’t feel them.
This happens physically: just numb yourself to the pain and you won’t have to deal with the real cause of the pain. But it also happens with our finances. People shop to feel better about the fact they don’t have any money because shopping numbs the pain. Shopping is CAUSING the pain! It happens in our jobs and relationships and in every other area of our lives. We spend money and time and energy fixing the symptom instead of dealing with the real problem. Almost always the real problem can be found looking back at you from your mirror. You are the problem. How you live, what you say or don’t say, what you do or don’t do, who you hire and who you don’t fire, what you eat or don’t eat, what you spend and how you spend it: these are your real problems.
Want a better life? Go for the cause of your problem. Don’t mask the problem. Don’t dull yourself from the pain. Instead, feel the pain and ask yourself what is really causing it. Then attack the cause!
HAHAHA! Oh man, Larry you truly are the best. I could listen to you 24 hours a day. Whenever I see people on your show moaning about their credit card debts, and then going shopping to “cheer themselves up,” I can’t believe any adult human being could actually be that stupid and still be alive. Especially since half the time they don’t seem to get how they ended up in all that debt to begin with.
Rock on, Larry.
Just found your book, It’s called work… and am loving it.
YES I can identify myself on a few things, but thakfully not too many.
I will be telling all my friends about the book.
I hope to see you speak live someday.
Many thanks for your no BS approach.
DunCAN
That is pretty funny, not really, more sad, but true. Anyway, I have just recently heard of you, and so far I like what you say.
Keep up the good work!
Elizabeth
Finally! Someone is being honest. I just heard you on KMPS (Seattle, WA) and although I haven’t read your books yet (I’m planning on it) your titles say it all. I’m so glad that someone like you (cool) is being totally honest and in their face about the truth. I’m a bit like this too and people get mad at first; then when they think about it………it’s so honest and truthful they can’t really argue it.
Keep it up!
I think the same thing when I see all those idiotic ads. Everyone just wants to take a pill and make it better. What they don’t want to do is take responsibility for their own actions. That’s one of the messages I’ve gotten from your books. I wonder if people ever really listen to those ads that are making tons of money for the huge drug companies. The ads give you glowing reports about what wonderful things this drug is going to do for you – and then the announcer names, in double time, all the side effects. Do people ever listen to that part? Maybe people don’t care that the drugs might damage their internal organs or kill them as long as they can get thin, get rid of pain, and please their woman all night long. As you said in your blog, it’s time people take responsibility for their actions and do something about the cause of their problems. Or, they could blame someone else for causing them to be so stupid and sue them. That’s a solution that’s always popular.
I have read two of your books and think they’re refreshing, though I don’t feel like kissing up as much as some of the posts. Keep getting the message out. Maybe if you kick enough butt, people will get it and make some valuable changes. We could use more responsible and accountable people in this world.
People don’t like being told the truth and people don’t like telling it how it is. I guess that’s where you come in Larry. Keep up the good work and keep us all heading in the right direction.
Give ’em hell Larry–as you say, personal responsiblity will cure all this nation’s ills–do the right thing every time and problems wil be fewer and easier to deal with.
Larry you hit the nail on the head with this one.
It is also amazing how people care coming to accept obesity as the norm, and not associating the myriad problems obesity causes with the fact they are caused by eating too much crap and not getting enough exercise.
Good post!
Larry
Loved the book. Read it before the holidays and followed through with your advice and its working. I want to read it again until I memorize it.
Maybe you should give each congressional member a copy.
Really enjoy your shows hope to see more.
Larry, First heard you at a convention in Texas… I appreciate your tell it like it is approach Ever thought of running for office… Washington needs you!
Great message. But as you well know, very few people will really take the message to heart. People do not want the truth. That is what makes Larry so different, he delivers the hard nosed truth with no sugar coating.
We have developed a fast-food or instant cure/success mentality. We want it now, just mix water, stir well and take the medicine. In the morning all the problems will be cured. Life does not work that way. If you want things to change, you have to change. And people hate change. So they take Aleve or whatever their medicine is to mask the pain and muddle through life and as Thoreau said, “…leading lives of quiet desperation.”
The real problem is laziness. People do not want to put in the hard work to reap the rewards of good health, good financial health and success in life. I know I used to be like that. We’ve become a society where laziness is tolerated and quite sadly encouraged. Where has our work ethic and sense of integrity gone?
The unfortunate part Larry is that people have not clue, they really don’t know what ails them. They aren’t the problem, the world is.
Perhaps you should write a book that is titled “Come closer so I can pinch you so you wake up from your nightmare” or “Come closer so I can slap those rose colored glasses off your face”
Hey Larry,
I first heard you about a dozen years ago on cassette. Your story about the lone ranger, the silver bullet and your “bines” (business) partner in the telephone business was on that cassette – You changed my life right there and then. Since, I have read your work and the work of others like Ed foreman and Zig Ziglar. But you opened my eyes and I have never looked back! Thanks Larry and keep it real!!!
Forever Grateful,
Don
Larry! You kick @$$. I just finished your NEW book. The yard sale is this weekend! Hahaha. I’m not joking. You mentioned alot about your show Big Spender yet it is never on…Is it still being aired? Anyone? Anyone? Beuller?
I’ve read Larry’s books and love them all. It’s not just the kick-in-the-butt you-are-your-problem advice that’s is so great, anybody can do that. It’s his kick-in-the-butt you-can-fix-your-problem advice that goes with it that differentiates him from other motivational speakers. He’s honest about the problem, but he’s also honest about the answer. Simple yes, easy no, but to the point.
This is a simple concept that most people can’t even see. Everyone is so afraid of feeling a moment of displeasure or pain that we do whatever we can to fix it- right this second. It not much different to being addicted to a drug. I know now that there is so much more value and satisfaction in giving yourself the pleasure of not giving into your addictions. After a while they cravings fade and your “changed” without even trying. Life is better without all the addictions, im glad someone like Larry is out there showing people the way.
Thanks Larry,
I like your attitude and since I red two of your books I changed.
Somewhere in the bible there is written: “…the ones who have ears should listen and the ones who have eyes should see…” Far to often people choose to close their eyes and shut down their ears as well when it comes to moving their bodies and changing their “bad” habbits.
I am gratefull you are around to kick some people’s butt, otherwise they wouldn’t know how big it has become. A majority of people would rather buy a bigger couch if they don’t fit the old couch no more instead of starting to eat less and move more.
Thank you Larry.
Good stuff here Larry! If people want to change they must accept their real Problems or issues. It can really hurt sometimes or most of time. But pain offers some great learning experiences for us if we stay open and curious.
To make serious change in our lives check out this book:
Changing for Good: A Revolutionary Six-Stage Program for Overcoming Bad Habits and Moving Your Life Positively Forward
Change isn’t easy, but it’s only possible when you start where you are NOW!
Larry RULES – let’s here it for someone who is finally a straight talking let’s be real guy and tells it like it is! if you haven’t read one of Larry’s books now is the time to run to the store and pick one up. “Shut up stop whining and get a life” it just terrific. This guy is someone to keep watching and listening to!
Larry,
I admire you greatly and love your approach. People do need to stop deluding themselves and wake up. You know, I’d LOVE it if you’d tear into the the whole wedding industry as it is one area where out-of-control spending goes on steroids. I bet half the people you work with and give advice to accelerated their downward financial spiral by getting tangled up in that whole wedding mess. Yes, I said wedding not marriage, in case anyone is tempted to critize me by drawing some kind of correlation between the amount of money spent on a wedding and the success of a marriage. Statistics prove one has absolutely nothing to do with the other.
I’m convinced that the businesses in this industry capitalize on the severely misguided notion of this recent generation that says that the more money spent is directly related to the size of love spouses have for each other. From the overpriced boulder-sized engagement rings all the way through to the multiple big-ticket gifts guests are insanely expected produce as a sign of how much they care, it’s no wonder that the concept of what is takes to prepare for an actual marriage seems to have all but vanished.
Ahhh!! Whatever happened to the simple days when grandmom and pop sealed the deal at the J o’ P or at a simple, happy affair with family and friends and went on to stay married for 40+ years. I don’t know about you, but I’d sure as hell rather get a “fake” ring (GASP!), or dare I say it–just a simple wedding band than live up to my forehead in hock. Believe me, I can live in a house but not a ring, fancy invitations, overpriced flowers, or any of that other stuff. AND I’ll have tons less to fight about with my husband.
Hi Larry,
I just wanted to leave a quick word to say that you’re my MAN !!
I’m french and live in France and if you think that americans are like what you’re describing, I invite you to see how the french are.
Best moaners you’ll ever see !!! They do nothing and expect the government to pay for them.
I am exactly like you are. I always tell everybody right in their face what they really are. End result : Not a lot af freinds.
I myself am still srtuggling to stop procastinating with some mediocre result.
That’s why every now and then I read your blog so that you could smack me on the face and remind to stop being an idiot.
Thanks for everything. I wondered if it wouldn’t be a great idea if you came out with an accountablility program that will make people motivated to change their lives.
Thanks for everything and please keep it up.
regards, Remy
Larry,
We met a few years ago when you did a speach for Carrier Corp. You were outstanding then and have been reading your books since. You have taught my family and I the many ways to handle ourselves and our finances and today we are happy, healthy and financially stable. Yes, we worry, but who doesn’t in today’s economy? However, we worry much less and we definately enjoy family time, personal time and we certainly sleep much better at night.
Thanks Larry, thank YOU very much!
John W.
Hey There Larry,
My wife and I have been a fan ever since hearing you in Las Vegas a while ago. You hit the nail on the head. Us sheep normally will find a way to mask any and every issue we have. Out of sight out of mind or at least up until we fall over with a heart attack or something.
Overcoming adversity should be something that we take more seriously — it is afterall many times life and death. It is not if adversity happens it is when it happens. Addressing our limiting beliefs and our core beliefs will empower us to put the Aleve back on the shelf for the next guy that simply ignores the issues at hand
Dear Larry,
I have been following you for a couple of years now, bought your DVD’s & books. I understand most of what you are advising but I need some help with a specific problem. I am one of the people who could wind up on your TV show in 5 years crying in the cab of your pick up truck saying “its not my fault”. Problem: My wife and I spend more than I make. Solution should be easy: “stop spending dumbass!”. The complication I have is that I recognise this problem and I do spend much less than I have in the past because I do not want to be on “a very special Canadian edition of Big Spender”. For every dollar I save by cutting back and living within my means is spent by my wife who sees this extra money as “found” money. She spends it on stuff for our kids and when I suggest she slow down a little she calls me selfish. I want a retirement for myself, I want our kids to go to University, I want to help pay for their weddings & first homes. My wife wants this too but figures the money will be there when we need it. We have borrowed and paid back and borrowed and paid back, maxed cards out, consolidated loans, remortgaged homes and got back on track until I recently found she had increased our line of credit and is putting us back behind the eight ball for a trip to Disney this winter because it is a once in a life time opportunity for the kids.
My question is this: How do I wrestle control of our finances away from my wife and not end up in divorce court. Yes I am a coward who hates confrontation and we will end up in divorce court if we are driven into the ground financially. Please give me a strategy to convince her she is a runaway train and money will not magically appear when the situation is dire.
Regards,
Paul