My story isn’t particularly glamorous or maybe even
interesting… but I’m going to tell it anyway.
Last September I woke up and realized 2 things… I was 47 years old, and there was no way I was ever going to be able to retire…. ever.
I was lamenting my realization to a friend of mine and she looked nonplussed and said, “Oh, yeah, I’m working until the day I die”
I was shocked. I wanted to scream and rant and rave…
I mean, I want to live a nice long life and I sure as heck don’t want to be working when I’m 80 years old. THEN IT STRUCK ME… if I can’t retire, and I can’t work… I could be homeless… I mean, I suppose I could rely on my children or the government… but what if, what if I do something today…
DUH.
If you know me, you know that I am a die-hard entrepreneur. Some of my more jaded friends laugh when they speak of my past dips into Avon and the Home decor business and some of my more empathetic friends speak encouragingly… however, I’m still here. I’m still NOT prepared for retirement.
Last September a series of events changed my life. A group of people, a collection of books, a meeting and accountability… changed my life.. and I’m going to share that information with you.
I will say, that Anthony Robbins is right… WHY KEEP DOING THE SAME THING, IF IT’S NOT WORKING?
So, for starters… Here’s are the three most important things I learned over the last 6 months.
Number One: It Can’t Be About the Money
Each time, I did it for the money. Don’t get me wrong, I wasn’t out to rip anyone off… I was selling a products. I sold Avon, Products on ebay, Home Decor parties, Hand crafted jewelry at craft fairs… All of these were great products and people liked them and I enjoyed talking to people and promoting the products… but none of those products really changed anyone’s life.
I mean, I was selling a product to make money, I wasn’t selling a product to change someone’s life or make it better.
When it stopped being about the money. When it started being about, “You have got to try this product is has changed my life and I think it can change yours too” … that’s when I stopped “selling” and people started buying.
That’s when people noticed the difference in me… and wanted that difference too. 🙂
Number Two: Gotta have a Goal
A clear-concise-emotionally-driven-single-purpose-around-which-all-of-my-activities-revolve kind of goal. For a long time, I didn’t have a specific goal, I just wanted to succeed. That’s a pretty hard goal to measure, right? It’s also pretty hard to be accountable to that kind of goal. After all, having a goal that can only be measured by failure, isn’t really a goal at all. So, I set specific goals.
In order to set effective and specific goals, you really have to work backwards. My ultimate goal is to be financial free by 65.
That gives me 18 years to get to the point.
Why wait? Why spend one more minute thinking… wow I’m not going to be able to retire, when I can set the goal… and formulate a plan. Working backwards helps. I ask myself… If I want to be financial free in 18 years… where do I need to be in 15 years? Where do I need to be in 10 years, then 8 years, then 5 years, then 2 years…
Once I have that laid out… I can start to look at ways to reach those specific goals.
I was very fortunate to have a friend with a sister in a great business that offered everything I’ve always wanted… the home-business entrepreneur in me picked up on the time leverage aspect, the prospect of residual income and the products… well, let’s just say, the products changed my life.
Number Three: I needed a coach and mentor
My first coach and mentor was Robert Kiyosaki. I never met the man, but his book Rich Dad / Poor Dad really laid the ground work for my dreams. His book spoke to my mind and heart and said… You will not make it if you continue to simply get paid for the hours you work… you need to get paid for the hours you aren’t working too.
I needed to stop thinking like an hourly paid employee… and start thinking like an investor. Investors think about – residual income.
Residual income is like getting paid every time a TV show re-runs…. for you and me, it would probably come from…. real estate (you get paid rent whether you go to work that day or not) Subscriptions (like membership payments or book revenues) and Network Marketing Companies (like Market America, Scentsy, or Longaberger Company to name a few)
(Note: if you have a negative opinion about Network Marketing, like you think it’s all about sales… you should read The Business of the 21st Century, by Robert Kiyosaki )
Once I started on this path, it became easier and easier to find leaders, coaches, mentors and more that had published books, audio’s and were willing to provide ANYONE with the tools to succeed.
My mentors include Robert Kiyosaki, Anthony Robbins, Brian Tracy, Jim Rohn, Zig Ziglar, Marcia Norfleet, and my awesome sponsors and personal coaches Camille Re and Don Martin. I read what they’ve written and listen to what they say, because each one lays out the plan to success. AND in all cases, it’s never just about money.
This post is about success. This post is ALL ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS.
This post is about encouraging you to decide where you want to be in 18 years. Each day we have an opportunity to take one more step towards a goal… but you must have a goal, set it, measure it, and be accountable for it.
Personally, I don’t want to look back and say, “If only I had started this 18 years ago.” The time is now… just start thinking about it.
Just think. Set your goal. Realize that this time next year, you will be 1 year closer to your goal… For me, the last 18 years went by so fast… that I can’t wait for the next 18 years!
Let me know your goal!
If you’re in New Jersey this week. Let me know… I’ll send you an invitation to a great event!
