Strongman Training Journal part 2

Beyond God and politics… no other conversation makes people as uncomfortable as of that about MONEY!

Last week I revealed one of my most pressing goals, which is to spend less time working and more time with my family.  Also, I have to make it clear that time spent with my family doesn’t simply mean “hanging around” or doing “fun things”… in my definition it means Teaching Values, Modeling Behavior, Cultivating Discipline and Encouraging Harmony within my “Tribe”.

Colleen and I have 3 daughters and another child on the way… so, we’ve got quite a relational dynamic as well an opportunity for personal growth and evolution for all “Tribe Members” with our 4 walls.

So, in order to fulfill my ideal of spending more time with my family, as well as exercising my position as “Spiritual Leader” in the home…  I not only need extra time to be with my loved ones, but I need time to learn and grow myself.  For I am only as good to others as I am to myself.

If you are anything like me, you’ve come to realize that TIME is our most limited and valuable resource.  Why then, do we waste so much time doing things we’d rather not do?  Why don’t we sit down and consider what we’d REALLY like to do with our time and then formulate a lifestyle to support it?

Second to the fact that most people either a) have no idea what they want, or  b) are to afraid to approach it… is that we understand that without adequate resources (MONEY) it becomes very difficult to enjoy time fulfilling our hearts desire.  Also, as ‘Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs’ illustrates, a man’s perceived safety and security must be established prior to become fully self actualized and worthy of expressing unconditional love.

In the mind of modern, industrialized men… money creates safety and security.  Although many, including myself, would argue that true security is internalized through harmony with our Creator… it is difficult to argue that “all is well” when your bank statement contains several penalties labeled “NSF” (that’s for Non Sufficient Funds, for those of you who have never seen this).

The goal of capturing more free time to pursue my “heart’s calling” is a noble one, and one that most would agree is ideal.  We ALL want more time.  And we ALL want more money, safety and security in order to make constructive use of our time.

So, how can it be done?

Simple, Spend less time working and make more money!

Sure, this sounds like a late-night infomercial that most would simply ignore as the navigate towards ‘TV Land’ for old Cosby Show reruns.  But, I am crazy (and some might say naive) enough to believe that I can do it.

Before I proceed, let me remind you of my current situation:

1. We are currently in the process of repaying over $87,000 in credit card debt.

2. We are “upside-down” on our mortgage and are about to have the banks foreclose on our home.

3. My wife drives a used mini van that we purchased on Craigslist.com after Simone (or 3rd child) was born.  Prior to this she drove the 2 older girls around in a Ford Escort that my grandmother gave us.

4. Of course, I still drive the 1988 van that my dad gave me 5 years ago.

5. Colleen and I do not spend money on new clothes, jewelry, electronics (our children watch the 26″ TV that I bought in college) although we do go on 2 date-nights per month where we spend about $100 for dinner.  I love good food

The point is that I am not, by standard definitions, rich.  I have created MANY financial challenges for our family that we are still overcoming.

Also, I have tried and failed at several business models that have cost me lots of time and resources.  But, it has been those “failures” that have given me the insight to create a model that is now working on several levels.  It is giving me more time to fulfill my God-given purposes and hearts desires (like sharing this journal with you) as well as the money to fulfill my fiscal responsibilities as a business owner, father, husband and leader of my tribe.

**A Note To Employees** – I realize that most people reading this are probably not entrepreneurs or business owners (heck, I don’t even know if I’d consider myself a REAL business owner) and may be thinking, “yea, this all sounds good to you lucky business owners who create your own schedules… but my boss will never consider letting me leave the office early!”

If you love your job and are happy with the way you spend your time, then my hat goes off to you.  But, if you are miserable and feel that your time would be better spend doing something else… then I invite you to a) re-evaluate and re-state your TRUE VALUES; and b) get moving NOW towards creating an ideal life that facilitates the execution of your values.  If this means getting a different job or (as I often suggest) begin a LEVERAGE ABLE side project that has the potential to create enough revenue so as to allow time for self-actualization… then get crackin’.

The “Restored Power” Principles For Working Less & Earning More Money:

Before I tell you about the tools I’ve been using (more like practicing) to create more money in less time, lets make a few things clear.

First, I am not in pursuit of “riches”… in fact, I hate stuff!  I tend to be a minimalist of sorts and would rather spend my life in a criminal’s jail cell than to be made the prisoner of expensive consumer items that need protection and maintenance.   More TIME for Thinking, Learning and Serving — this is my desire.

Next, it is essential to decide upon the exact amount of money you’ll need in order to feel safe and secure enough to pursue higher level activities. Any income created beyond this is to be thought of as a bonus.  I aim to resist the tendency to become overly excited with the results, and then to endlessly reset the horizon… this will surely lead to discontent and is counter productive to Peace Of Mind.

My calculations bring me to a monthly income goal (I always think in terms of monthly cash flow) that will allow me to continue to pay off our debt in the rapid fashion that we have been for the past 16 months; pay all of our living expenses; pay all of my business expenses; save a percentage and give a percentage to our church (these 2 actually come first)… and of course a portion allocated to fun

1. The 80 / 20 Rule: Like most business owners I have become addicted to work.  Also, conditioning set in by my father has created in me a paradigm of “you’ve got to work, work, work, work!” I still harbor this sentiment but aim to break it this year.

The 80 /20 rule states that “80% of all results come from 20% of the performed activities.” This is an accepted idea by most high performing individuals… I didn’t make it up.  The 80/20 Rule is also called The Pareto Principle named after the scientist who first propounded it (for those of who would like to “Google it”)

After a careful 80/20 analysis of my business activities and results, I had come to the conclusion that there are only 3 activities that really create income for me.  My objective now it to focus mainly on those things while working… to the exclusion of all, less important, activities.

The essential point here is to be completely honest with yourself by choosing to do ONLY what you know will actively bring you closer to your goal.  AND then to focus on it with super intensity!

2. Parkinson’s Law: Parkinson’s Law dictates that a task will swell in perceived importance and complexity in relation to the time allotted for its completion. Basically, if you don’t set hard deadlines you’ll have a tendency to procrastinate and as you procrastinate the goal begins to look harder and harder to accomplish.

This is how I managed to begin spending extra time at home in the morning helping Colleen get the girls off to school and am able to train for strongman 3-4 times per week, can get home early to help bathe the girls and get them to bed, spend alone-time with my wife, read, meditate and pray… while running 2 “businesses”.

Because I have boiled my crucial actives down to only 3 things and FORCE myself to focus on them alone from 9am to 1pm, 5 days per week I am able to fulfill my other obligation and heart’s desires without anxiety.

3. A Leverage able  Business Model:

The last thing that has to be considered, is that when building a model that will create income, I had to consider it’s leverage-ability… it’s capacity to run without me sitting at the wheel.  There are 2 elements that allow my model to run without constant supervision.

1. I sell information.

2. I use the internet.

In the interest of not making this post any longer than it already is, I will spare you the details of my model.  But I have placed an image of its mind map for you to see below.  (Most people are visual learners and fare well using pictures to illustrate their goals and intentions)

In following posts I am going to tell you about my Mental Training Plan, Strongman Training Plan, Family Leadership Plans, Nutrition and Lifestyle Plans, Learning Goals, Spiritual Evolution Goals and much much more!

Suggested Reading ==> The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris , although it has a hokey name the content and ideas in this book are based on time tested truths.  Tim’s approach is very pragmatic and practical.

This is one of the few books that has shifted my thinking and life paradigm in a dramatic and positive manner and I HIGHLY suggest anyone interested in the topics discussed above read it.

==> Click here to get a new or used copy of The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris <==