advice

January 14, 2015

Don’t Waste Your Time On New Years Resolutions

So, it is officially 2015! You have a clean slate, a fresh start, and a new beginning. It’s no surprise that this is the time of year we all consider the things we would like to see changed. Sadly, chances are none of them will, unless you follow these steps!

1. Set Specific Goals

Have you ever wondered why so many new years resolutions fail? It’s almost like a curse! We’ve all heard them: “I want to make more money.” Or, “I want to lose weight.” Maybe, “I want to get in shape.” Notice a trend? These are really healthy desires, and should be pursued. The only problem is, these are not goals. These are simply desires. A goal is specific, measurable, and on a deadline. Some better examples would sound like this: “I want to make $40,000 by December 31.” Or, “I want to lose 30 pounds by August 1.” Or, “I want to run a half-marathon by December 15.”

2. Determine What’s At Stake

The next step is to connect to what Michael Hyatt calls your “Why.” Why do you need to make more money? Why do you need to get in better shape? These questions are important because if you haven’t connected a strong enough reason, you’ll just quit when it gets tough. A good example might be that you want to get in better shape to keep up with your kids. Or maybe you want to live long enough to see your grandchildren. Whatever it may be, you need to connect to it because when it gets hard, that will be the only thing that keeps you going.

3. Determine Your Schedule

Once your goal is specific and you’ve connected to your why, it is time to set the progress schedule. How much progress do you need to make each month, or even each week, to accomplish your goal on time? If your goal is to make $40,000 by December 31, 2015, then you need to make about $3,300 each month. If you hope to run a half marathon by December 15, you should be able to run about 6.5 miles by June 15. If your goal is to lose 30 pounds by August 1, then you should be shedding about 4 pounds a month. One of the coolest experiences is to have a goal and be ahead of schedule. Even better, when you start to fall behind you can determine what needs to happen to get back on schedule.

Achieving your goals for 2015 is totally possible! Connect with your why, set a specific goal with a deadline, and get at it!

Question: What specific goals will you be setting this year? How do you plan to get there? Even better, check back in and let me know how you’re progressing!

December 17, 2014

The Trap of Least Resistance

We’ve all heard about “The path of least resistance.” As a teenager, all I heard in that phrase was “no fun for you!” Today, as a newly wed and fresh college grad, I understand why avoiding what that phrase entails not only means life, but a successful, fulfilled life. Following the path, or as I call it, the trap of least resistance has caused me serious pain. Read on to find out why, but most importantly, how you can avoid it.

Hakuna Matata
As a young college student I ventured out without a plan to pay for school, prepare for life after college, or how to get the most out of my time while attending. So, like many students today, I took a part time job and coupled that with Student loans. I had the H.O.P.E. scholarship, which covered most of my tuition, and the loans covered my living expenses. It was easy, stress free, and I didn’t have to think about it. Hakuna Matata. As a result, I graduated with loads of student loan debt which is a huge tax on my income today.

It Hurts!
This is the problem with the path of least resistance. It’s easy now, and may save you a little pain, but it always catches up. When it catches up, the pain is multiplied exponentially compared to what it would have been had you put forth the work of being intentional. I could have avoided the student loans with wise spending, saving, and working more hours. It would have been a little harder then, but it would have changed my life forever. Instead of living in a tiny apartment with my wife, we could be saving up for a big down payment on a house right now. Not to mention avoiding the pain of being the only one to bring debt into a marriage. Don’t follow the path of least resistance! It hurts!

You can avoid the pain that comes with this easy path. The key word is intentionality. Be intentional about how you live. Use your emotions as a gauge. How do you feel in your marriage, at work or at school? Is it easy? If so, it’s possible that you may just be in a good season. But I encourage you, strongly, take inventory. Assess your situation and see if there’s something you could be doing better, somewhere you could be working harder, somewhere you could be more effective. Don’t make the same mistake I made. Don’t just go with the flow!

Have you ever found yourself caught in the trap of least resistance? How did it affect you? What are your tips for escaping it? I would love to hear from you in the comments!