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[Joseph Ratliff]

Joseph is spot on here.

Most people are so focused on "making money" they never think of what they want the money for, whether they even need money to get what they want (often you can use joint ventures to get many of the things you want completely free), they never think of what kind of life they want to lead.

There is nothing more important than this.

If you don't have a lifestyle goal then your business will become your master instead of you controlling your business to suit you and your lifestyle.

Decide exactly what you want THEN build a business or multiple businesses to take you to that goal.

The fantasy that "life is perfect once you have a lot of money" is just pure garbage.

The happiest people I know are those who've worked out exactly what they want out of life and have designed their lives so they get it.

That might take $100,000 a year working 40 hours a week or $35,000 a year working 10 hours a week.

But ultimately you do decide one way or the other.  And if you don't make a conscious decision then you have no one to blame but yourself when you look at your life and your lifestyle and realize you hate the way its turned out.

Kindest regards,
Andrew Cavanagh

Thanks Andrew! 

And, now the reason I sought to do this for myself...

I thought that "making a lot of money" was my ultimate goal...and the ultimate "prize."

I found out I was quite disappointed after "getting there."  It wasn't what I wanted...but I actually didn't know it yet.

Then, one of my mentors pointed out that it wasn't the money I was after, it was the experiences and lifestyle that money allowed me to attain as long as that lifestyle was what I wanted.

And...I found out it wasn't...as Andrew pointed out, sometimes it's working 10 hours a week and making X amount of money and having the lifestyle that goes with all of that (too deep to list here).

So...

I was really after a version, my version, of freedom.  My "why" is written down in a hardcover journal, constantly updated, to reflect what I truly want.

I have lived my perfect day, but my next objective is to live my perfect day every day.  Maybe I will never do so, as I am human and life takes mysterious turns, but that's generally my "why."

[workaholicvictor]

hello joselph thanks youre a genius ive just gained a little knowledge in that field pls ill like to know more
                                                      cheers    workaholicvictor.   

[jfstraw]

In the words of Rudyard Kipling . . .

I keep six honest serving-men
[They taught me all I knew];
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who

Not an answer in the bunch.   Just questions.  -- If you ask yourself the right questions, the answers will come to you.

Unfortunately, 99 of 100 business beginners are seeking answers - but - before they can begin to achieve their goals they must answer ALL the questions.

Jim

[Joseph Ratliff]

Jim,

It's an honor to have you on the forum sir.

And your post is a timeless lesson.  Thank you.

In the words of Rudyard Kipling . . .

I keep six honest serving-men
[They taught me all I knew];
Their names are What and Why and When
And How and Where and Who

Not an answer in the bunch.   Just questions.  -- If you ask yourself the right questions, the answers will come to you.

Unfortunately, 99 of 100 business beginners are seeking answers - but - before they can begin to achieve their goals they must answer ALL the questions.

Jim

[bronco]

K. I. S. S. . . . .

K. . . . . KEEP
I. . . . . . IT
S. . . . . SIMPLE
S. . . . . SHORT

[abundantliving]

I've coached enough people to know that - if your "Why" isn't strong enough - you will never take action... and TAKING ACTION is the MOST important step to business success.

[Joseph Ratliff]

Holly, you're right.

Taking massive, productive action is in fact the key.

With your "why" to drive you.

[workaholicvictor]

                 for the second time i reply to let you know joseph that i go through your post everyday as it serves as an inspiration to me and strength for my daily living you are an inspiration i think ive found the real defination of freedom 
                    thanks workaholicvictor.

[Joseph Ratliff]

I am glad that it inspired you workaholicvictor!

Thank you for your kind comments. 

[Spider]

I find this insistence on taking massive action and having a powerful reason rather interesting. Although other popular gurus have said this, Anthony Robbins springs immediately to mind as a main advocate. I'm not so sure they are necessary. In some cases, yes, but not always and not always of necessity. For example, Joseph's "perfect day" may or may not require massive action. If your "perfect day" is sitting on the beach with a rum and coke, massive action doesn't seem to come into it much!

And what powerful "why" is necessary for a perfect day on the beach to be perfect?

I think we make too much of the external power of goals and accomplishments and too little of our internal strength. We control ourselves from without - we drive ourselves, push ourselves, motivate ourselves, set goals then apply discipline to make sure we do what we said we will do. Instead of just being ourselves and living the life we want to live.

I am reminded of the American tourist taking a few days in a small Caribbean fishing village watching a local fisherman pull in his boat. They got talking and the tourist realised that the fisherman was going to take his catch home and spend the rest of the day at the rumshop with his buddies.
"Why don't you go out again and catch more fish?" said the tourist, "Then you can sell the extra fish in the market, then in time buy a bigger boat and catch even more fish and expand your business."
All the time the fisherman is asking, "Why?" "Why should I do that?"
"So you can earn more money and buy a big house, and employ lots of people, them you could retire to a nice little spot in the Caribbean and spend your days on the beach!"
The local fisherman was obviously quite puzzled, "But that's what I do now!" he said!

First discover your Life Purpose. No point in spending a lifetime reaching the top of the ladder only to discover that your ladder was leaning against the wrong wall!

[Joseph Ratliff]

First discover your Life Purpose. No point in spending a lifetime reaching the top of the ladder only to discover that your ladder was leaning against the wrong wall!

Isn't this at least part of finding your why Frederick? 

It could be different for every person, as you have pointed out here.  There is no one "perfect day" that will fit every one.

How interested are you going to be in attaining whatever it is you want to attain, if you really have not found out what it is in the first place?

And...taking massive action to attain whatever you are seeking will tend to get you there faster right?  No, it doesn't have to be massive wealth that you wish to attain...but rather whatever you wish to.

Why not "get there" faster, so you can have more of your "perfect day"...whatever that is?

[Spider]

The point I'm trying to make, Joseph, is that anyone can have their perfect day now. I have had so many people say to me - when they find out how much I have travelled - "Oh. how wonderful! You are so lucky! I wish I could travel around the world and get a job in foreign places? That would be so much fun!"

Yes, it certainly is a lot of fun - and I wouldn't give that up for anything. But anyone can get a job overseas. "Oh, I wish I could but I have kids in school." What, you think they don't have schools anywhere else? "I can't quit my job! I can't just up and sell my house! I can't, I can't, I can't...!"

One's Life Purpose IS their 'why' - discover your life purpose and you will have your reason. And it is the easiest and most fundamental and therefore the most real reason of all - Because that's what I want to do! You can go back step by step asking why - Why do I want to do this? Why that? Why that? and eventually you come back to "Because it will make me feel good." No matter what reason anyone states for doing something, or wanting to do something, ask enough whys and you will eventually come back to "Because it will make me feel good."

So, what I'm saying is, don't wait to feel good in the future, feel good now.

[badassgirl1]

Jeffery,
sounds like you have a very interesting day  >:D.   I also believe in goal setting. . . long and shorterm goals.   Sometimes I try to keep track of them in my head and I can to a point but it works best I think when I actually write them down.   Sometimes my brain cells are in "overdrive. "
badassgirl1

[Joseph Ratliff]

The point I'm trying to make, Joseph, is that anyone can have their perfect day now. I have had so many people say to me - when they find out how much I have travelled - "Oh. how wonderful! You are so lucky! I wish I could travel around the world and get a job in foreign places? That would be so much fun!"

Yes, it certainly is a lot of fun - and I wouldn't give that up for anything. But anyone can get a job overseas. "Oh, I wish I could but I have kids in school." What, you think they don't have schools anywhere else? "I can't quit my job! I can't just up and sell my house! I can't, I can't, I can't...!"

One's Life Purpose IS their 'why' - discover your life purpose and you will have your reason. And it is the easiest and most fundamental and therefore the most real reason of all - Because that's what I want to do! You can go back step by step asking why - Why do I want to do this? Why that? Why that? and eventually you come back to "Because it will make me feel good." No matter what reason anyone states for doing something, or wanting to do something, ask enough whys and you will eventually come back to "Because it will make me feel good."

So, what I'm saying is, don't wait to feel good in the future, feel good now.

Absolutely, everyone should celebrate their "perfect day" as long as they establish what specifically their "why" is first.

Here's why... (sorry for the pun)

A football team doesn't know which direction their goal is at first just because they are a football team and want to, it's because they face towards their goal and direct specific plays in that direction (with a defense trying to prevent them by the way   ).  If the football team doesn't even have a playbook...the defense will succeed, and prevent them from getting to the goal.

Any person can "feel good now", so long as they understand what "good" is specifically, because you won't be able to feel good for very long if a "defense" starts to try and prevent you from having that perfect day...and you don't have a driving force to carry you through those challenges.  This is why your "why" has to be specific enough...so you know exactly what your perfect day feels like, smells like, who is involved etc...

(the defense referred to above are everyday challenges that we face in business and in life).

I do see your point though Frederick, because unfortunately many people will never do anything at all, and keep waffling and wondering "how you get to travel everywhere etc...".