money

5 Limitations Holding You Back – And How To Turn Them Into Strengths

June 4, 2013 By deacon 7 Comments

Stuck on the highway in the desert.

In 1975 Stephen Spielberg was in the middle of directing a movie that would become a Hollywood classic. The revolutionary techniques used in this film would forever change the movie industry. Once it was completed and released he would shatter box office records.

But there was one major problem.

The shark wouldn’t work. Day after day production was delayed to repair the most sophisticated and expensive animatronic equipment ever built. And without a working shark, it was going to be pretty difficult to make the movie Jaws.

With anyone other than Spielberg at the helm Jaws would have been a theatrical and financial disaster. Yet somehow, Spielberg was able to take the limitation of a broken shark and make one of the greatest movies of all time.

How?

Spielberg understands that limitations can be a good thing. They can force you down new paths to find creative solutions. The end result is often better than you ever could’ve done with no limits.

We’ll come back to Spielberg and Jaws in a minute, but first I want to show you five common limitations and how you can transform them into a strength instead.

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The Foundation of a Life Stoked

May 1, 2012 By deacon 8 Comments

Where do you start when you want to build an awesome life? What’s the first thing you should do? What’s the key to building a solid launch pad? I could argue a number of different starting points, but one in particular sticks out as crucial to me. One thing in particular is the linchpin of your future.

Money. It’s simple. It’s measurable. And whether you like it or not, money touches every aspect of your life. Manage it poorly and you’ll be a slave to it (or lack of it). Learn to manage it wisely and it will take you anywhere you desire.

And as you start to look around you’ll notice that people who are good at managing money are also good at managing their lives. It’s not a coincidence.

So how do you make the most of your money? One simple philosophy: live debt-free*.

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The Real Crisis In America

March 20, 2012 By deacon 30 Comments

Listen up, this is important. I want to share something with you that illustrates the most fundamental difference between winners and losers – and I want you to be a WINNER!

Last week a petition began circulating to support the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012. Here’s an excerpt:

Total outstanding student loan debt in America is expected to exceed $1 TRILLION this year. Millions of hardworking, taxpaying, educated Americans are being crushed under the weight of the educational debts, while the economy continues to sputter. Support a REAL economic stimulus and jobs plan. Support the Student Loan Forgiveness Act of 2012 (H.R. 4170).

Do you hear it? That high pitched, squealing noise emanating from the words of that paragraph?

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How You CAN Afford It

February 14, 2012 By deacon 12 Comments

If there was one activity in the world I could spend every single day doing and not get tired of it, it’s skiing. I love bombing down long, fast runs. I love the technical descents of more challenging terrain. I love the obstacles of the terrain parks.

It’s the vacation I look forward to the most all year every year.

But this year was different.

This year I couldn’t afford to go skiing. Lift tickets, skis, boots, it all adds up to a lot more than we can cash flow right now.

Facing that reality was a tough one for me. And while I knew in my heart this was ultimately where we wanted to be as a family, the pain of missing a year skiing was crushing.

Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking. “Boo-hoo. My wallet’s too small for my fifties, and my diamond shoes are too tight!”

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The Five Commandments of Fastlane Businesses

January 24, 2012 By deacon 11 Comments

You want to know how to get rich? I mean really rich, not like millionaire next door rich. Like house in the mountains, skiing 4 months a year while you’re still making money rich.

Start a business. (but not just any business)

That’s the three word secret that can take you from the tedious road of working and saving for 40+ years, and put you on the fast-track to wealth.

I’m not talking about anything shady here. Not internet scams or hocking questionable goods.

I mean a legit business that makes the world a better place. I mean starting something that serves a deep need in a compelling way.

That is how you really get rich.

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How I Saved Over $20,000 In One Year

December 5, 2011 By deacon 12 Comments

I always liked to think I was good at the personal finance thing. I knew to never carry a balance on my credit cards. I knew how to invest for retirement. I knew how to stay out of trouble for the most part. I was doing pretty well – or so I thought.

The truth is I was living in a very dangerous place financially speaking. I wasn’t in any danger of not making rent or having my new 4Runner repossessed. I was investing 4% of my paycheck into my 401-k. I was doing okay. Just okay.

And “just okay” is a scary place to be. When you’re doing “just okay” you don’t have any incentive to do better. When you’re doing “just okay” you don’t have a reason to change. You can live you’re entire life doing “okay.” [Read more…]