How many of you have ever heard someone say this, “If only I would win the lottery, THEN I would be happy?” Or maybe something like, “If only that rich relative of mine would just pass….I know they are going to leave me something. Once I get that, all my problems will be gone.” Really? Where do we get these ideas? Is that what the media is teaching us these days? Whew, better keep a close eye on what you and your kids are watching.
If happiness equals a big bank account then why do 80% of the people who win the lottery end up in worse financial shape five years after their ‘big break?’ Not enough happiness for them? What about our country’s current financial situation? Watching the news they reported how many big time CEO’s committed suicide in the last quarter due to the falling economy. I don’t remember the exact number but it was enough that they referred to these people as ‘econo-cides.’ Chasing the almighty dollar obviously didn’t bring them happiness.
You know the founding fathers of this country wanted to give everyone the right to pursue happiness. But they didn’t GUARANTEE happiness to the citizens like some people in the government want to do these days (better not even touch that soapbox).
I challenge you to make sure these words and phrases are NOT in your vocabulary. If they are, focus on taking them OUT! ‘That’s not fair! It’s not my fault! It’s not my responsibility (or that’s not in my job description)! I’m just not a lucky person! I can’t believe they did that to me! I can’t believe they said that to me! They shouldn’t treat you that way! They can’t treat ME that way!’
Those things appear when someone gets infected with what I like to call SFN disease. Yup, ‘something for nothing’ disease is sweeping across the nation. I guarantee when you succumb to a ‘victim mentality’ and start pushing away responsibly all you do is hurt yourself and the people around you. Happiness and contentment will fall further and further away. Happiness comes in the pursuit of your dreams and goals. It’s the Dream-Struggle-THEN Victory that makes you happy! Nothing worth pursuing in life is FREE or EASY. It’s the things I fought for that matter to me the most today.
*Words can’t describe this man’s story. You gotta watch the video!
Take care,
Tim Schmidt
March 10th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Tim, I agree with what you’ve said here, but I can’t say that I set a very good example myself. What are some basic tips you have for someone like me who is not very good at long-term goals? Are there any tricks or books you would recommend?
I’m the type of person that can work 20 hrs a day for 7 days straight to complete a project, but if I have to change that to working on it for 2 hours a day over the course of 3 or 4 months, then I can’t seem to maintain my momentum or focus. Do you have any advice for a guy like me? This is an area of myself I really want to improve; a skill I want to learn.
Thanks!
Travis
March 10th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
TIM: Most of ur Articles r top-notch, useful & beneficial. I enjoy them (even tho I have to rush thru them, no time). But I ‘MUST’ POINT OUT THE EXCEPTION - TODAY: LIFE, LIBERTY & THE PURSUIT… quite simply, u STARTED off-base so the article could go nowhere but even FURTHER off-base from there.
I had long wondered who came up with sayings that hold down the Poor; sayings like “Anything worth having is worth working hard for” & my favorite PET-PEEVE one: “Money cant buy happiness”. Well… if it CANT then ask the Rich to give it up. You wanna see REAL OUTRAGE? HAH! Touch “THEIR” money!! THEY WOULD RATHER BE DEAD THEN BE POOR [like us]!!! Its that simple!
From someone who has actually researched these “B.S. Sayings” then, the origins of them r really a mystery for the most part, but they certainly have their roots in familiar names as “Rothschild”, “Vanderbilt” and “Rockerfeller”… so I have long since come to the conclusion they were simply verbal-trash the RICH threw the poor with a token as they entered their Mansions, to make the poor feel better for BEING POOR, thats all… a guilt-exonerator, if u will, for the RICH. In other words, B.S.!!! CAUSE IT AINT TRUE!!!
So dont beleive it!! and PLEASE DONT PERPETUATE IT!!!!! Combine $$$ with JESUS CHRIST’s GOSPEL and ur GUARANTEED to have a WONDERFUL LIFE - NOW, and a WONDERFUL LIFE IN THE HEREAFTER as well. DONT beleive “$$ is the root of all evil” cause thats NOT what the BIBLE says… thats what the RICH have ‘translated’ for us POOR IGNORANT… The Bible says “The LUST for $$ is the root of all evil”… LUST! LUST! So winning the LOTTO is not LUST unless u have no GOD, then it will take the place of… otherwise, as u sit on the deck of YOUR new YACHT somewhere off the coast of FRANCE; bikini-clad nothings walking around, sipping on ur wine, just remember: [THIS] LIFE CAN BE GOOD… even WITH Money. It just has to be tempered by many Guilt-donations, like Bill Gates does, to make u feel REALLY exonerated for ALL the millions of customers & literally THOUSANDS of small-Biz’s u cheated, strong-armed, swindled & otherwise drove OUT of BIZ getting to where u r! Thats all! So lets get it right, OK?!! [No, just kiddin about that, altho the sarcasm about B.Gates is certainly true! It is "his" modus operandi, not mine.]
MY POINT: I’d enjoy that YACHT JUST AS MUCH, REGARDLESS OF “WHO” PAID FOR THE G.D. THING!!!!!
PROOF: I’ve been in Business 10+YRS(!!)… yes Tim, 10+YRS, pulling my own weight lifting/growing my co. with my own Bootstraps year-after-year. I now have 23 employee’s nationwide, yet to this very day I cant get a single VC to invest in me without wanting my house, cars, BOTH MARRIED Personal Guarantee’s, etc., etc., AND etc… FIRST! So dont tell me “You appreciate it more when u struggle for it”. I have EARNED a nice house, EARNED the “things” in it, EARNED a good family and the “means” -even in today’s economy- to continue the same path -and I come home and I AM bitter, I AM mean, I AM PISSED that I have to work my FRICKIN A$$ off for it, Tim. BELEIVE ME, I’d APPRECIATE IT NO LESS -ONLY MORE- IF YOU PAID FOR IT INSTEAD! OK? …or the LOTTO!
So: where MONEY may not be “everything”, a $2mil BOOST to take my G.D. Co. NATIONAL -BEAT OUT DELL/MICROSOFT at its own game & live good for once b4 I see the end of my days- would be MORE than a G.D. DREAM COME TRUE - it’d be heaven on Earth - LONG b4 GOD brings it here!
But alas, with B.S. sayings like ur perpetuating that have held ME -AND MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS OF OTHERS- back all our lives, Im here to DISPEL them, DISCREDIT them for the B.S. they’re worth and tell u: If I HAD TO DO IT ALL OVER WITH THE WINNINGS OF A LOTTO - LIFE WOULD be that much better, not worse.
…and I dont know ANYBODY but a fool who’d disagree… cause the RICH wont! HAH!
Dont perpetuate myths, Tim. Its not nice -and only lifts the hair under my collar - as I’m sure it does the LARGER PERCENTAGE OF UR READER-BASE!!!!!
Be Safe!
March 18th, 2009 at 10:54 am
Right On Target, Tim! It’s your Dream, your Desire (your Want To)and your Commitment (Determination)that creates your focus on your Target (your Goal). The Struggle, the Trip, is the Conditioning that prepares you for Victory. Joy and Happiness does not leave any space for negative attitude, negative thoughts, or negative comments. And WOW!, Nick’s video is a perfect portrayal of accomplished Happiness!! He is an AWESOME guy.
A suggestion for Travis’ consideration… You obviously can focus on a priority and work to accomplish it. You stay focused. To stay focused, you’re paying attention, moment to moment, ’till it’s finished. It looks like you may have two or more projects that need attention and you need to split your time. Due dates may be different, they may be the same (priority). Break the projects into parts, then the parts into pieces. They each have their own priority to be able to complete the larger component. Now you can schedule your time. When it’s time to switch to a different job, shift gears. Turn the Switch Off on that job. Turn the Switch On to the different job. Switch your focus. You can only focus on one thing at a time, but you can change your focus. Remember to prioritize some family time and switch your focus. Best of Success to You!
And gr8guy…. Really?