How To Live Your Life

It is so easy today, because of social media, to become influenced by celebrities whether they are from Hollywood or athletics.  For some reason we look up to these people and I for one cannot figure out why.

• Yes, they are rich
• Yes, they are attractive
• They overconsume alcohol
• They overconsume drugs
• They are obsessed with tattoos
• They have multiple marriages
• They have multiple children
• They believe the law does not apply to them

Is this who you really want to emulate?

What's wrong with who you are?

So, the first lesson to living a successful life is accept who you are and stop worrying about who you would like to be.

Next, forget about following the advice of your parents, your teachers, your preacher, your peers, or your friends...

So, what the hell do I do now?

Well...  use the internet to find out what you want to be and what it takes to get there.

There are lots of jobs that will provide you with a financially safe future if you just look for them and put your preconceived ideas and biases behind you.

Go to college if you want to but be smart about it.

Go to a community college your first two years.

Work while you go in order to pay for your next two years or sometimes your employer will pay.

Start out small and work up.  I talked with a restaurant owner the other day who told me he started out as bussing tables.  He worked his way up and eventually became the manager and then the owner.  He is financially well off and has no college loan debt.  His life has been happy, and he feels successful.

So...  what's wrong with that?

The second lesson to a successful life is always give 110% even when you don't feel like it.  In so doing, you will begin to look for things that need to be done, rather than being told what to do.  While you work for someone else, you are actually managing yourself not the other way around.

The third lesson is kind to people.  Do unto others what you would like them to do unto you EVEN WHEN THEY DON'T DO IT...  It is easy to get made and want revenge, but it is difficult to walk away and let it pass.  You want to control anger and not let anger control you...  regardless of the situation in which you might find yourself.

The fourth lesson is learn how to balance your life so that you can give everyone, INCLUDING YOURSELF, what they/you need.  That includes, work, family, friends, and rejuvenation of self.  You must learn to sharpen the saw...  the saw being yourself.  You also must learn to focus.  When at home, don't think about work and when at work, don't think about home.  There is a time and a place for everything...  it will take a little time to learn that.

The fifth lesson is learn to enjoy life.  See life as something that is positive rather than negative.  Tun negatives into positives.  Plan for the best but expect the worst.  In other words, have contingency plans.  The better you are at planning the better your life will be.  Don't make a plan and file it away.  Execute that plan every day and revisit the plan every week.

Don't look back - always look ahead.