“There seems to be some perverse human characteristic that likes to make easy things difficult.” 

~ Warren Buffett

We’ve all felt the following: We’re frustrated about something. A friend or spouse asks what we want. Our response goes something like this: “I don’t know what I want, but I know I don’t want this.” This simply sets us up for more anger and frustration. We continue to wallow, full of self-pity and resentment. An example – you’re angry about your job. You bitch and complain but feel stuck, so you do nothing. Simply venting and reliving the same emotions day after day, month after month, sometimes year after year. It’s your version of the movie “Groundhog Day”. 

The bottom line is nothing is going to change until you step back, calmly examine what you want to happen, and why. Frequently, the solution is not that difficult; you’ve simply not taken the effort to step back, force yourself to list your options, examine what you want and make the necessary changes. Many times we’re simply afraid to attempt something different (lazy, rigid thinking). We take the path of least resistance and continue spending a non-renewable resource (our time, our life) pursuing something we don’t want.

I went through this in my own career. Health issues in the family gave me that final necessary shove forward. I should have made changes years ago, but thank goodness I finally cleared that hurdle. Don’t waste the time I wasted. Figure out what you really want and why. The progress you can make will astonish you. Become your own version of “shock and awe”.

“You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.”  ~ Abraham Lincoln

As I’ve aged my allergies have become more troublesome. Mold and dust now kick my allergies up, whereas in my 20s, they were nonexistent. You may find yourself in the same position as well. I now use a dehumidifier to minimize mold. If I’m working and get dirt or mold in my sinuses, I simply flush it out with a Netipot as soon as possible to get immediate relief. 

One of my friends with severe allergies had a problem somewhere in his house and was frequently ill. He finally discovered they never used the basement restroom. The traps in the plumbing had dried out, allowing enough mold in the air to make him sick. An easy fix and his house no longer made him ill. 

One final word on allergies. I have wrestled with chronic mucus drainage for decades. When I eliminated wheat from my diet, my mucus problem dramatically improved. When I cheat and put some back in my diet, it appears.  If you’re wrestling with allergies and these comments help you or a family member, then it’s been worth including. This post is designed to help improve your life. Reducing chronic or nagging health issues is just another step toward making it happen. I leave this entry with a quote from Leonardo da Vinci – it’s a big part of why I wrote this entry and why I included this blog.

“I shall continue. I never tire of being useful.”  ~ Leonardo da Vinci

This entry may not be applicable or desirable for everyone, however, it is a strategy that can beef up your retirement. The concept is simply to buy a rental house then let the tenant pay it off for you. In our area, that can be done on a 10-15 year amortization. If you have plenty of money, then it’s not worth the hassle, but if an extra $100,000 at age 65 to 70 could make a big difference, maybe it’s worth considering. It’s not rocket science, just another way of thinking, and if you find yourself a little short of money at retirement, it could be the answer.

“You are not a manager of circumstances, you’re the architect of your life’s experiences.” ~ Tony Robbins

When we come home, the rule is that the shoes come off. This keeps the house cleaner, but can be a hassle when taking minor trips outside to feed the dog, bring in firewood, short errands to the store, and so on.  While visiting a friend’s home, who has the same system, I saw them using some unique footwear. Cork soles, wool covering, and very easy to slip in and out of. My friend’s previous career required him to be on his feet all day, and he even wore them to work after discovering how much better he felt after a long day when he wore those shoes. Long story short and a hundred dollars later, I now own a pair. They’re great and another small lifestyle upgrade. I got mine online at www.doddsshoe.com. The brand is Haflinger.

“Indecision is the thief of opportunity.”  ~ Jim Rohn

“Be competent to deserve a place at the table.”  ~ Charles Munger

I’m a big fan of Warren Buffet and his friend / business partner Charlie Munger. This goes beyond their investing into their problem-solving skills and philosophy of life. I’m going to coat-tail Charlie Munger for this entry. I learned this method in his book “Poor Charlie’s Almanac,” which I highly recommend. Munger is known for his intellect and his encouragement to invert your thinking when dealing with challenging problems. It’s remarkable how much clearer your thinking becomes after you make this a regular habit. 

For example, let’s say you want to have a great relationship with your spouse. Most would ask, “What must I do to accomplish this?” Instead, invert the question. “What are the most destructive things I could do to ruin the relationship?” Your answers might be physical and verbal abuse, infidelity, poor to zero communication, being a poor father to your children, being a drunk, – you get the idea. Then you simply avoid the destructive things. Many times we do not have to be brilliant to achieve success. Rather, we have to avoid doing stupid things. Inverting your problems can help you do just that. Use it and you’ll find challenges easier to understand and manage. 

“It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.” 

 ~ Rene Descartes

“You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you.”  ~ James Allen

Dressing for success has historically been one of my weak areas. Although I had a white collar career, I tended to dress down. Never sloppy, but certainly casual. One day, I decided to wear a complete suit to a public function. People that had known me for decades treated me completely different. I was exactly the same person, with the same values and IQ, but others responded to me differently. Lesson learned. 

Like it or not, fair or not, people do judge you by your appearance. Accept it and use it to your advantage. If you want to be taken more seriously, then dress up for the occasion. Much of your success in life will revolve around how people respond to you. Make the effort to improve your appearance and dress for success.
“I am not discouraged because every wrong attempt discarded is another step forward.”  ~ Thomas Edison

“It seems that every life form strives towards it – maximum potential – except humans. Why? We have freedom of choice.”  ~ Jim Rohn

Try this when you want to kick a special relationship up a notch. When Ann and I were dating, I was more interested in a serious relationship than she was. I recognized that it was time to pull out the big guns. I got the soundtrack to “Mission Impossible” and did a voice-over with my plans for a big weekend. I dropped the cassette (this has been some time ago) in the mail using her return address on it, so she had no idea who it was from. Three days later, she’s opening it at work. Needless to say, I got an A for creativity. We’ve been happily married for many years, proving it pays to be creative. Find unique and special ways to send a meaningful but fun message. It sends a number of signals, and they’re all good.

“Whatever you are, be a good one.”  ~ Abraham Lincoln

“If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it wouldn’t seem wonderful at all.”  ~ Michelangelo

We tend to frame things in our minds as a race with the beginning, the middle, and the finish line. For much of the big stuff in life, this is not so. To succeed in life, you must begin, you must race, and definitely need to recognize there is no finish line. The race simply goes on, step after step, accomplishment after accomplishment. The people on the sidelines won’t get it, but each step is more challenging and will require additional skills, intelligence, and further commitment. 

Whether it’s investing, managing your weight or health, relationships or business challenges, there simply is no finish line. For example, when you reach a health goal, can you logically conclude that no more work is needed? Of course not. The same can be said about your marriage, relationships with your children and friends. Getting a life which is always improving requires you to avoid the sidelines where scores of people become stagnant. Choose the path to continue to strive for growth and improvement. Recognizing that life is not a sprint but rather a marathon, and pacing yourself accordingly, will bring you many steps closer to getting a life.

“The joy is in the journey.”  ~ Cervantes