Chances are that you go to work, come home, eat a little unhealthy food, watch four or five hours of television, go to bed, don’t sleep well and then get up tomorrow to do it all over again. You spend more than you make, exercise less than you should and complain that there just isn’t enough time to get it all done. And you wonder why your life is the way it is.
Your life is the way it is because that’s exactly how you want it to be!
“How can you say that? I want to be happy, healthy and rich.”
That is a lie. If you really wanted those things, you would have those things.
The truth is that you want those things, but you just don’t want them enough to do what it takes to get them. You aren’t willing to sacrifice your current lifestyle in order to get what you want so you end up living with what you’ve got.
Do you have a written plan for every area of your life? Most people spend more time planning their day off than they do planning the rest of their lives.
What kind of house do you want to live in? What kind of car do you want to drive, how would you like to dress, what kind of restaurants do you want to eat at and where would you like to vacation? Do you know what you want your blood pressure to be and how much you want to weigh? How much money do you want to have in the bank for savings and retirement? Do you even have a plan for your retirement or your kid’s college or a medical emergency? My bet is you don’t have any of these things written down.
It is likely that these things are afterthoughts to you – things that happen after you have spent all of your money and watched your television shows – they are not your priorities.
Your time and money always follow your priorities. Look at how people spend their time and money and you always know what is important to them.
Do this: Get a sheet of paper and write down exactly what you want your life to look like. Be detailed. Then focus on these things every day. Add to the list when you think of something. This is not goal setting – this is priority setting. Take action on your priorities, talk about your priorities and spend your money and your time on your priorities. Then you really can be happy, healthy and rich.
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Video Podcast on October 13th. Only 50 people can register as I want to keep it interactive. $25 and you will receive a 50% coupon off anything you buy at http://www.larrywinget.com. Click for details! Sign up today as I expect this will fill up pretty quick.
I enjoyed reading the blog! It’s awesome thank you for creating it!
Can’t argue with that.
Great Blog as always Larry. Thank You.
Have often thought about and have some of those things written down – I guess I’m going to review these, rewrite some if need be and add to this list whenever something comes to mind.
More importantly, work on it daily as a Priority instead of indulging in wishful small talk at the next family gathering or neighborhood barbecue… Cheers!
Larry nothing new, and you had to go and rediscover yourself for this! keep on looking baby.
your great larry….i read in one of your books a line that said something along the lines if you dont have written goals it is like going on a trip with no destination. These arent your exact words but it is the interpretation I remember. that stuck with me….truly…..
your absolutely correct….you have to write goals down….
I love your blog and your books….your excellent….
nice! great point, one that we all want to say to others, but do not wanted said to us. give us a little warning so we can load up a steel cup before you kick us down there. :~}
When someone comes to me to complain about a problem they have I ask “what are you going to do about it?” Then they tell me there is nothing they can do. I walk them through some options and most of the time they shut up and decide they are not willing to do the work to change the situation.
Josh Bulloc
Kansas City, MO
How can I help?
What a great comeback to complainers. Good self-talk, too.
Larry,
I have my total debt down to 10000.00 since I first read your book. At that time it was 60000.00. I am also helping put my child through college. Now I hear the new Congress is going to furlough me without pay for 2 weeks, cut my salary (which is not double anyone in my neighborhood’s — they help me out!) or both. Plus overtime is going to be cut. Do you have any suggestions as to how to overcome this kind of situation that is actually not your fault? Normally, I would get a third job, but my area has been hit bad by the economy, so that is not a sure thing. I am going to get a Christmas job, as my Amazon and e-bay accounts aren’t bringing in near what they used to, and I did help the local college and get 400.00, but I’m kinda stuck.
Fortunately, I don’t watch 5 hours of TV a day. I don’t watch TV period. It’s such a waste of time!
Bullseye! We have to make telling the truth sexy again…thanks Larry for your words of truth and inspiration.
Thanks for the lines. I hope they will inspire me.
Ramona
Larry- I never reply to posts. But I have to here. I’ve actually read this post of yours before. And I do agree with what you’re saying. And I’m a huge fan of yours. I’ve read many of your books and I’ve seen every single episode of Big Spender- at least twice. And I do try to live the life you describe- I work more than 40 hours a week, we have no debt (except mortgage that will be paid off in 12 years), we have 14 months of emergency fund, etc. But here’s where the post and I part ways- I suffer from 2 rare life threatening blood disorders and a list of other less serious illnesses. I go for ongoing medical treatments – 1 full day monthly, and every single Friday afternoon. I do all of this and still make up any missed time from work to put in full time hours. Due to my poor health, it’s very hard to keep up with full time work, keeping our household together, just getting through the basic day. Do I want to do more? Yes. But I’m not sure physically what else is possible. I’m proud of where we are- and plenty of people with my conditions are on disability- and I’m not. But I’m not sure how I can take my goals much further with my current limitations? I’ve always wondered what you’re response would be to someone who’s chronically ill?
There are always going to be exceptions. I can’t write for the exceptions. I know people have issues that are not of their doing. I am sorry. My posts, books and speeches are for the 99% who don’t have anything standing in their way except for laziness. All the best. Larry
Hey Larry
With all due respect, I am one of those guys who DID write a plan for his life.
Then, my oldest got sick and died from ALS and I was his primary carfegiver. I took him to the Minnssota-based Mayo Cinic where they told me the odds wewre 80,000,000 to one against. About the same odds as winning four loteries on the same day. But here it was. Good-by plan. I was also working on a Ph.D at McGill at this time. Oooooops, slight derailment.
I was honoured to provide my son with round-the-clock medical care but it left me broke. (I was already disbled in a car crash).
Frankly, reading what you wrote was needlessly glib and off-putting because there are plenty of is decent folk who put our kids ahead of ourselves. To tell us we are not decent people because we do not try hard enough is just plain wrong! Just because we don’t have a fancy car or even a house does NOT give you — or anyone else — the right to judge us.
Yes, I know the Harvard study about goal setting. And I have watched and read “The Secret.” Here’s a thought: Like it or not, Larry, we are all in this world together and he guy who needs help to-day might be a philanthropist tomorrow.
Thank you for reading this.
Regards,
W. Perry
I asked a friend, a Vietnam vet who was injured and had 27 surgeries, how did you get through this hell. He told me he bought a stack of big index cards, listed a year on each one, going five years out. On each card he write what he hoped to accomplish each year. I tried his method while going through cancer and chemo..just looking at my goals was like a carrot dangling in front of me. The cards kept me focused and gave me the will to carry on. Ten years later I am still writing my goals five years ahead.. Feels really good to “x” off each goal as I accomplish them. I read the current year index card every night..and also review the next four years. I have given packs of index cards to several friends telling them to write down their five year plan..this works.
Thank you Larry. Right on point, as usual. A much needed help.