Christopher McCandless: American Hero?

April 25, 2012 4 Comments

Who is Christopher McCandless? He’s an enigma, an idea, a philosophy.

In the early 90s, Chris abandoned his life in search of something more meaningful than the materialistic society in which he found himself a prisoner. After graduating with honors from Emory College in Atlanta, Chris donated his life savings to charity and embarked on a trip around the country without telling anyone where he was going.

Soon after leaving, Chris abandoned his car, burnt all of his money, and spent the next two years hitchhiking around the United States, eventually making his way to Alaska. In April, Chris was dropped off near Denali National Park, where he hiked into the wilderness. Four months later, a hunter found his lifeless body wrapped inside his sleeping bag.

Before his death, Chris found the ironic truth he’d set out to find in the Alaskan wilderness, which was left scrawled in his journal:

“Happiness is only real when shared.” ~ Christopher McCandless

The legacy of Chris lives on in the hearts of many, myself included. The desire for simplicity, to be free of expectations and demands from society, to seek freedom, truth, beauty, and meaning. Purpose. In these ways, Chris represents everything right about humanity: the purity of his intentions, the raw idealism of his plans, the honest belief in himself. He followed his heart, and died chasing a dream.

Chris has become an icon, and he will forever represent an idealism found only in the innocence of youth. The legacy of Chris McCandless is one of hope. I think people need that.

If you want to learn more about Christopher and his inspiring (and heartbreaking) story, check out the book Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer.

Filed under Passion, Philosophy

Complacency and Fear

February 15, 2012 Leave a comment

We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. ~ Elie Wiesel

Today there was a fox on campus.

By the time I stumbled upon the scene, there was a growing crowd of students all with their iPhones at the ready. Instead of doing anything to chase the wild animal away from the campus, the police were doing all they could to corner the fox with their SUV. It was obvious that the fox was scared and confused. I knew that if someone didn’t do something to help the fox escape, it would be killed on the spot, or by Animal Control once they showed up.

I wasn’t about to let an innocent animal be murdered because it posed a “threat” to humans.

I ran between the SUV and the fox and started yelling at it, clapping my hands and flailing my arms to get it away from the police as quickly as I could. As I’d hoped, the fox took off running. I gave chase, doing my best to keep it moving towards the woods. The police were yelling at me, students were screaming at me to “Just leave it alone!!!” While their hearts were in the right place (I’d have preferred to have left it alone myself), if someone didn’t do something, the fox would be killed.

Behind me I heard someone say, “Get that guy.” It was the police. And while I continued to do all I could to scare the fox into the woods, I wasn’t succeeding. I turned around and faced the cop who was just a few steps behind me at that point. He made some comments about it being “rabid” and that I was “in danger.” I told him that I wasn’t going to let him kill the fox. Then he started threatening me with arrest if I didn’t do as he said.

I stood my ground, refusing to compromise the innocent life I was desperately trying to protect. I was nose to nose with the cop, demanding his name and badge number. I guess he didn’t like his authority to be challenged, and demanded identification. I had none. We exchanged words for a few more minutes, him making idle threats of arrest and me demanding the fox not be killed. “If I wanted to kill the fox, I’d just kill it,” he said. Tough guy with a badge and a gun.

By this point, things weren’t looking good for me, or the fox. I decided that I’d done all I could short of being arrested. Getting arrested wasn’t going to help the fox, or myself. I asked if I was under arrest (after all the threats, who the hell knew what my legal status was at that point) and was told I was not. I turned and walked away. I’d done all I could do.

This situation made me think about how we behave in our daily life. How we just fall into line, and don’t upset the status quo. It’s why we take photos with our iPhones instead of intervening to save a life. We fear authority, even when we know that what we’re doing is right. So long as our lives aren’t the ones being threatened, we remain complacent.

We refuse to challenge social norms for fear of criticism, retaliation, or ostracization. We’re afraid to stand up for what we believe in because we’re afraid to stand alone. It’s easier to swim in a sea of mediocrity. People who fight for what’s right often face pressures to sit down and shut up. Those in charge will do everything they can to maintain power and control. Sometimes, things are just worth fighting for. You have to decide what those things are for you. For me, today, it was for the fox.

Animal Control never did show up. Apparently they were busy. And the fox disappeared back into the woods. Did I save its life? I doubt it. But I sure as hell wasn’t going to let some jerk with a gun kill it without a fight.

Filed under Activism, Life, Passion, Prioritizing

…the World Needs You!

October 18, 2010 2 Comments

Often I’ll hear someone talking about how they wish they could solve the many problems in this world.  Their concerns sound genuine and heartfelt; “It’s so terrible what’s happening in Africa!  Those poor children, I wish there was something I could do.”

They wish there was something they could do, but…

…the money, the time, my family…job, house, school.  It isn’t our fault we can’t save the world…just look at our list of responsibilities!  They’re the reason!!!   We scroll through the archive in our mind, finding countless reasons why we can’t, each a reminder that we have other priorities and obligations that need to be met.  We convince ourselves that it just isn’t possible to escape the commitments.  It doesn’t take long before we’re using our excuses as a waiver of liability. 

Even though we want to help, somehow we’re comforted in knowing that we can’t.  It was a nice thought, anyway.

Have you ever thought to ask yourself whether or not that long list of ”responsibilities” isn’t really just a fairy tale?  A bunch of lies that you tell yourself so you’ll never need to deviate from the routine or step outside your comfort zone?  Let me ask you this: if you’re afraid to expand your horizons and challenge yourself to move beyond your comfort zone, are you really living…or simply existing?

When I hear people trying to justify why they can’t [whatever], I think about the people who can, who are and who did.  What if Martin Luther King, Jr had said “I have a dream, but…”, or if Gandhi never was the change he wished to see in the world?  What if all the people who ever changed the world, hadn’t?

All around us are everyday people doing extraordinary things.  Maybe you’ve heard of Albert Lexie, or maybe you haven’t.  He earns $10 an hour shining shoes.  Since 1982, Albert has donated all of his tip money to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburg…more than $150,000.  Albert is only one example of countless people across the world whose actions could inspire a nation.  Each day people are being the change.  They, too, have a dream…

How would your life change if you were to quit making excuses?

Instead of just wishing there was something you could do to help the people of the world, without any excuses holding you back you are free to dig wells in Africa so the people can have access to clean drinking water.  If Africa isn’t your thing, you can volunteer at a soup kitchen in your own city and help feed the hungry.  Get involved!  Don’t waste another moment wishing you could help.

It’s time to quit making excuses, not only for yourself but for the world.  We need you!

Filed under Attitude, Behavior, Freedom, Goals, Happiness, Inspiration, Motivation, Opportunity, Passion, Potential, Prioritizing

In the Blink of an Eye

October 11, 2010 2 Comments

Do you care so passionately about something that you’d give up everything to chase after it?

Would you sacrifice the creature comforts of your everyday life or challenge the strength of a relationship?  Could you walk away from a stable career, even if it meant losing the assurance of a steady paycheck?  In the blink of an eye, could you turn your back on life as you now know it to risk turning it into one that dreams are made of?

Most people wouldn’t.

Not because they can’t but because it’s hard.  So many things could go wrong.  It’s far more reasonable (and safe) to stay the course with the life we’ve already created for ourselves.  Life-altering change isn’t something most of us actively seek out.  It’s one of those things that smacks us in the face when we least expect it.

Someone we love dies.  We discover that our partner has been unfaithful.  Maybe we lose our job without warning.

When these things happen, we have a decision to make; either we ignore the problems or we rise to the occasion and turn tragedy into triumph.  But why should we wait for our lives to be flipped head over heals before we become active participants in our destiny?  Why slog through yet another day ignoring our dreams and suffocating our passions.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

The Rulebook of Life doesn’t exist and you don’t need permission from anyone to live life on your own terms.  There’s no reason to spend the rest of your time here on Earth doing something that doesn’t bring you satisfaction or give your life meaning. 

It may not seem like it, but each day we have a choice to make.  Either we can put the right shoe on before the left, just as we always do, and live a repeat of yesterday or we can wake up and make magic happen.

“But I don’t really have a choice and besides, change isn’t practical.”

You do have a choice.  We all do.  The door to life isn’t locked, you just need to give it a little push and it will swing wide open.  No one else can do that for you.  And maybe change isn’t practical, but tell me, what practical person ever influenced history?  It’s the people who took risks and had big dreams that changed the world…will you be one of them?

These are your days, make the most of them.

Filed under Attitude, Goals, Inspiration, Life, Lifestyle Engineering, Motivation, Opportunity, Passion, Potential, Prioritizing

Doing Handstands

September 25, 2010 4 Comments

I love having my picture taken at iconic locations around the world but I’m getting tired of just standing there proudly with my arms in one of three positions (on my hips, crossed or by my side).  I have the same picture of myself many times over with a variety of different backgrounds.  How boring is that!?

This summer I began doing something different: handstands.

When I was in Hawaii a few months ago I wanted a “fun” picture.  The first thing that came to mind was to do a handstand.  I raised my hands above my head and threw myself forward in a desperate attempt to get my feet in the air.  I can’t tell you the last time I tried to do a handstand and the picture is evidence that I’m not very good at them!  I’ve been doing handstands ever since.

It’s become a bit of an obsession of mine, actually.  Now I think of all the places I can visit just to do a handstand in front of that landmark.  The Great Wall, the Eiffel Tower, Stonehenge, the Leaning Tower, the Pyramids, Machu Picchu, Easter Island, Taj Majal…

Where am I going with this?

Do what makes you happy.  I dream of the next place that I will get to do a handstand and that motivates me to make it happen.  Instead of imagining myself at these places, I picture myself upside down in front of them and I get excited thinking about being there.

Now I have something that drives me to visit these places.  My desire to travel is amped up tenfold just by the thought of doing something so simple as a handstand.  Angkor Wat?  Yeah, that’s cool…but doing a handstand while there?  That’s awesome!

When you find something in life that gives you meaning, chase after it with all your energy!  People might wonder what’s wrong with you (they certainly look at you weird when you’re trying to do a handstand for the fifteenth time!)  Let them wonder.  What matters is that you’re living your life, on your terms and you’re doing what makes you happy.

And so my friends, where will my upcoming adventures take me?  Into which soils will I plant my hands next?  I know…but Erin won’t let me tell you…yet!

What motivates you to accomplish your dreams?

Filed under Inspiration, Motivation, Passion, Travel

Just Do It: Five Steps to Create the Life of Your Dreams

August 14, 2010 4 Comments

Now that I’ve moved away from my hometown, I use Facebook to keep my friends and family up to date on what I’m doing.  Whenever I travel somewhere or do something exciting (like skydiving or rock climbing) I post pictures of my adventures on my profile.  Almost every time I post a new photo album, someone leaves a comment about how they wish they could do the things that I do, claiming they don’t have the time, the money or that their responsibilities as a parent or employee hold them back.

They’re wrong! And if you think you don’t have the time or money, or that your obligations are limiting your opportunities, you’re wrong, too!  The only thing preventing anyone, including you, from doing anything is the willingness to make it happen; to Just DO It! The doors are open and opportunity awaits anyone willing to reach out and grab it.  There are no gatekeepers preventing you from living the life of your dreams. You don’t have to ask anyone for permission.  The world is your oyster!

How!? How can you begin living the life of your dreams…RIGHT NOW?

Make a Choice: What do you want out of life?  Do you dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail or living in a foreign country?  Whatever your desires, if you ever hope to see them through to fruition you must make them your priority.  If you want to travel, choose to make it a priority.  Want to become a writer?  Choose to make it a priority.  Inside each of us there is an “on” switch that we must flip.  Make a choice, flip that switch, commit to your goal and pursue it ruthlessly, without hesitation or apologies.

Stop Dreaming: Dreams bring inspiration but dreams and inspiration will only get you so far.  If you ever want to accomplish anything, you must move beyond the visions in your head.  Dreaming, hoping and wishing don’t produce results.  Burgess Meredith in Grumpier Old Men said it best:

You can wish in one hand and crap in the other and see which gets filled first.

Stop Making Excuses: There’s an excuse for everything and guess what, all of those excuses suck.  An excuse is just a way of justifying inaction due to fear.  It’s easy to say “I can’t” if you can blame it on some externality that you “aren’t able” to control.  It’s not easy to admit that you’re afraid of stepping outside of your comfort zone.  It’s so much easier to blame your situation on money, time or the kids.  And since those excuses are so universally accepted in our culture, no one is going to call you out on any of them.  No one, that is, except me.  All of your excuses are bullshit. You know it and I know it.  Stop making excuses, you won’t live forever.  These guys aren’t making excuses.

Prepare: Want to quit your job?  Sit down, take an honest assessment of your financial situation and create a plan to shore up any weaknesses you find.  Create a budget, eliminate all extraneous expenses, get out of debt, build your savings.  Prepare yourself in real ways that will help you to succeed.  No matter how much you hate your job, hate alone isn’t going to set you up for success.  Do something positive each day with that emotional energy, then smile as you walk through the door because you know that you are one day closer to walking away for good.

Take Action: Preparation leads you in the right direction but, like dreams, can only take you so far.  Once you reach a point where all the preparations have been made, it is time to take action.  Action creates change.  Change brings about opportunity.  Don’t count on luck to bring you the life of your dreams.  “Luck” is just opportunity presenting itself to those people who are prepared to act upon it.  You can create your own luck by taking action towards accomplishing your goals.  Want to become an artist?  Paint.  Want to learn a foreign language?  Take a class.  Want to travel the world?  Buy a plane ticket.  Action is the only thing that separates dreaming from reality.

Creating the life of your dreams isn’t difficult, it just requires dedication, determination and a willingness to step outside of your comfort zone to take calculated risks.  Success isn’t guaranteed, but failure only comes to those who quit. Turn your dreams into reality, make the choice to make it happen.  Give up the excuses and prepare for success.  Create a new reality; the reality of your dreams.

Filed under Attitude, Freedom, Goals, Inspiration, Life, Motivation, Opportunity, Passion, Potential, Preparation, Prioritizing, Success

A Life of Quiet Desperation

June 16, 2010 Leave a comment

Today’s article, A Life of Quiet Desperation, is being hosted at Money Relationship.  Here is an excerpt to whet your apetite:

The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.

     -Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854

Deep inside us is a smoldering desire for something more, something better, something…else.  We ponder the things in our lives that could be different, how our lives could be more satisfying, if only…  We dream of following the ambitions in our heart, of throwing caution to the wind and just focusing on being alive in the moment.

Continue reading this article at Money Relationship…

Filed under Behavior, Hope, Opportunity, Passion, Potential

The Borrower is Servant to the Lender…Maybe Not?

June 3, 2010 3 Comments

I have $31,829.47 in Student Loans.

Even though my loans are in deferment, I am paying these loans back while still in school.  As I mentioned last week, I am paying $350 each month towards this debt.  I’ve been crunching the numbers and came up with some scenarios.  At the current rate of repayment, it will take 9.3 years to repay the loan in its entirety.  By increasing the monthly payment to $450, I can have the entire balance of the loan paid off in 6.8 years, a full two and a half years earlier.

In order to reach my original goal of paying off $14,417.68 by next year I would have to pay $1,246.19 each month.  In as few words as possible, “It ain’t happenin’.”  If I were to eliminate all travel expenses (estimated at $3,000 to $5,000 a year), as some readers have suggested, it would take 4.8 to 3.6 years to pay the loan off in full.  By giving up travel, I could cut the loan time practically in half.

Maybe of more concern than the length of the loan is how much money can be saved.  The interest accrued on the loan when payments are $350 a month comes to $9,363.24.  Adding $100 a month would reduce the interest charges to $6,634.26, a difference of $2,728.98.  The accrued interests at $600 and $775 are $4,637.04 and $3,444.60, respectively.  The savings on interest charges could be as much as $5,918.64.

I could be out of debt in 3.6 years and save myself $5,918.64 if I eliminated all travel and applied the money towards debt repayment.  That really sounds great but the question becomes, “At what cost?”

Should money be the only consideration when getting out of debt?

The benefits of paying down the debt as quickly as possible are obvious and living with debt limits our potential.  Debt forces us to make decisions based on servicing our financial obligations rather than making choices that will bring happiness and satisfaction to our lives.  We are slaves to our lenders.

Or so we’ve been told.

The phrase “the borrower is servant to the lender” has been around since Proverbs 22:7 and in so many ways, this idea has weathered the test of time.  As I mentioned above, debt limits our potential and becomes the driving force behind so many of our decisions.  If we are in debt, taking the risk of quitting a job to pursue a dream becomes almost impossible.  Our ambitions are stifled by our obligations to our lenders.

Still, I wonder…is it possible to live a rewarding life while in debt?  Can a balance be found?  If we are methodically paying down our debts and meeting our financial obligations by building our savings and preparing for retirement, are we slaves to our lenders?  If we are able to balance these financial responsibilities while enjoying the moment we are occupying, does that make us slaves to our lenders?  There must be something more to this idea of being a slave to our lenders.

We become slaves to our lenders when all of our life energy is focused on servicing our debts.  We become slaves to our lenders when each penny we earn is not able to be enjoyed because it must be used to pay off debt.  We becomes slaves when we go to work for the sole reason of paying the bills when they come due.  Slavery to our lenders means the money we earn doesn’t belong to us anymore.  We become the middle man, working for one to give to another.  That is slavery.

Can we escape the financial slavery while still having debt?

I believe we can.  Being a slave to debt is a very real situation for many people but for a lot of us, it is a self-imposed sentence.  It was an imbalance in our finances that got us into trouble in the first place and it is an imbalance that is forcing us into a feeling of slavery.  If all of our energy is being spent to earn money to pay down our debts, of course we will feel like slaves.  If we work to create a balance between paying down our debt, building our savings and pursuing our passions and hobbies, the feeling of slavery disappears.  Paying our debts no longer feels like drudgery.

It will take longer and cost more money to reach an endpoint but the end will come.  Does it make sense to put yourself through 3 years of pure Hell to get out of debt faster and save some money or does it make more sense to create a plan that falls somewhere in the middle while you are still able to enjoy the precious few moments we are given on this earth?

That is a decision each of us must make on our own.  As for me, I am going to try to fall somewhere in the middle to get out of debt a little sooner while still chasing after my dreams and ambitions.  I am going to review my budget, find areas that can be cut and use that money to pay off my debt.

And as for cutting travel?

…

Filed under Attitude, Behavior, Debt, Freedom, Money, Passion, Preparation, Prioritizing, Spending, Student Loans

What Do You Really Have to Lose?

April 25, 2010 8 Comments

The following is in response to an article at The Simple Dollar titled What Do You Really Have to Lose?  I encourage you to read the original article so you can form your opinion based on all of the advice he offers to an upcoming college graduate.

As another school year draws to a close, students around the country will be graduating college.  This is an important point in life where the choice of money or passion is typically decided.  Some will find careers in their field of study, realizing after four years of classes that they were chasing dollar signs rather than their passion, while others are left to flounder, unable to find their dream job and unwilling to settle for less than they deserve.

A few days ago, a college student I know was talking about his upcoming graduation.  His plans mostly revolved around getting a good paying job, but he also talked about how he might go back to school some day and study a particular branch of philosophy that he truly loved studying and reading about.

I asked him why he was choosing to put a good paying job over a path that he was deeply personally passionate about that might not necessarily earn a great deal in the near future.  He pretty much exploded, offering up a rant about how the world revolves around money and the only way he would ever be able to chase the dreams he has is if he has lots of income.

What is Trent’s advice to this recent graduate?

Since you don’t need much income, get a job sitting behind a counter at a gas station at night.  Earn minimum wage and sit there with your notebook open, collecting your ideas and thoughts about whatever it is you want to do.  Spend your mental and physical energy building the life you want.

There is no better time in your life to just throw caution to the wind and see where your passion will carry you than when you’re young and free of many responsibilities.  If it doesn’t work, you’re not out anything much – maybe a few years, at worst.  If it does work, you’ve opened the door to a lifetime of doing what you want to do.

What do you really have to lose?  Not much.  What do you have to gain?  The life you dream of.

After four years of college, Trent thinks the best option for this student is to sit behind the counter at a gas station doodling in a notebook?  Get real!  He has a degree which has the potential to earn a lot of money, he should pursue that avenue, even if it doesn’t make him happy, temporarily.  At least he will be unhappy while earning a decent wage rather than being unhappy selling cigarettes and porno magazines while barely scraping by on minimum wage.

Unless his education was financed by his parents, repayment on his Student Loans will begin six months after graduation.  Trying to pay those loans on a minimum wage job isn’t realistic.  If he takes a higher paying position, at least he could focus on knocking out the debt quickly so he is able to move on to better things sooner.

If it is his desire to return to school to study philosophy, having a cash reserve would make that transition much easier.  Most people are not able to pursue their dreams in life because of a lack of money.  It is not possible for them to switch between the lifestyle they have been living to one which might limit their income.  The higher paying position would also allow him to save money on a more accelerated schedule than a minimum wage job would allow, thus making that transition happen much faster and more easily.

This is my advice to this same college graduate:

Your job does not define you.  Society’s emphasis on a person’s career obscures our perception of self.  Defining who you are as an individual based on your career is limiting.  You are unique.  Don’t lose your individuality, don’t become another cog in the corporate machine.

Money is not everything but it can help create the life you desire.  Maybe your perception of the world is that it revolves around money.  It doesn’t.  This is a mistake many people make.  They believe that happiness is derived from driving fancy cars and living in expensive homes.  They believe success is defined by material possessions.  Life is about internal happiness, not external gratification.  Success is finding satisfaction and acceptance within and of yourself.

Income is only half of the equation.  So many people believe that making a lot of money is the foundation to the life of their dreams, only to find out that they have become a slave to their job.  Earning a large paycheck serves no purpose if your lifestyle grows with your income.  Live frugally, save as much money as possible and use this as your foundation to pursue your ambitions.

This is the time in your life when you have the power to define the remainder of your days here on Earth.  Work as hard as you can to set yourself up for success.  Seize opportunities when they present themselves, don’t be afraid to take risks.  Play the game to your advantage and build a strong foundation for the rest of your life.  Make every decision based on how it will affect your dream of studying philosophy.

Don’t work at a gas station!

Filed under Career, Education, Goals, Passion, Prioritizing, Success

Ten Commandments of Goals & Money

November 28, 2009 2 Comments

"Ten" by koDesign @ Flickr

“Accomplish Your Goals While Managing Your Finances.”

At times, the two seem to be at odds with one another.  How can a person manage their finances when goals are oftentimes lofty dreams of indulgence?  A waver in one direction has an immediate impact upon the other.  The secret to is to find balance.

For the past year I have been toeing this line in my own life.  I have managed to pay off the last of my credit card debt and paid my car loan off more than a year early.  At the same time I spent a month traveling North America, spent a night under the stars of a clear California sky and climbed Mount Saint Helens.  This experience has brought me to some conclusions.  I’ve singled out the ten most important things to consider when you begin your journey towards accomplishing your own life goals.

The Ten Commandments of Goals & Money:

1) Know Thyself: Any successful journey in life requires some degree of foresight and planning.  Your future is no different.  Take time to consider what your values are and where your passions lie.  Create a list of goals and search for a common theme.  Use this as a compass to help orient yourself in the direction you want your life to take.

2) Happiness Is NOT “Out There”: Our focus frequently rests upon what we do not have or those things that are not ideal in our lives.  We set goals as a way to better our lives, not realizing that our focus on improvement is the reason we are dissatisfied with our lives today.  We trick ourselves into believing that happiness can be found in a pay raise or that a boob job will make us beautiful.  This isn’t the truth.  Happiness cannot be found “out there”, it comes from within.

3) Follow Your Heart: Too often we ignore what is in our hearts, opting instead to think with our head.  While our brains have great capacity for extraordinary intellectual achievement, sometimes they hinder our spirit.  Listen to your heart.

4) Money IS Important: Money does not equal happiness but money is important.  Without it, our focus would change from accomplishing goals to struggling to survive.  It is important to be fiscally responsible and to find a balance between today and tomorrow.  Seek harmony in your finances.

5) Know Your Priorities & Align Your Actions: There is a difference between saying and doing.  It is easy to say you value something.  It is not so easy to express your values through action.  It is crucial that we align our values with our actions if we hope to live a life which is in harmony with our priorities.  In doing so we are able to live guilt free, knowing that we are doing what we believe is the right thing.  At the end of the day we can rest our head upon our pillow with a clear conscious.

6) Modify Your Internal Dialogue: We are too hard on ourselves.  Instead of building ourselves up, we break ourselves down.  We focus on our flaws, the things that we need to improve upon.  We ignore our talents, our individuality.  Learn to love your imperfections, they are what make you unique.

7) Debt is Slavery: We may not be pulling a plow across the earth like our ancestors but we are no less of a slave to our debts, however, we are our own masters.  Whenever you feel it is time to break free from the binding chains of debt, you are in control to make that decision.  The more debt you accumulate and each dollar you waste is another day of slavery.  It doesn’t need to be that way…break free.

8) Stop Making Excuses: If you think about something long enough or hard enough, you can be certain that you will always find a reason not to do something.  Making excuses is not productive.  Stop.

9) The First Step is Always the Most Difficult: The hardest thing about going for a jog is putting on the shoes.  After that, things tend to fall into place.  The same can be said for most aspects of life.  Overcoming inertia is difficult and may require a leap of faith, a request for assistance or admitting you don’t have all of the answers.  This simple act may be the catalyst to major change in your life.

10) Knowledge is Power: The other day I was reading a blog post and read the following:

Uncertainty is caused by a lack of knowledge.  Hesitation is the product of fear.

This simple thought struck a chord and as I thought more about it, Fear controls so many aspects of our day-to-day lives.  We hesitate out of fear and fear what is unknown.  By educating ourselves we remove the unknown variables.  We eliminate the uncertainty.  The more we know, the more confident we become as an individual.  Knowledge is power.

Filed under Budgeting, Confidence, Debt, Education, Goals, Life, Motivation, Opportunity, Passion, Potential, Preparation, Prioritizing, Savings, Spending, Success

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