Don’t Give Yourself Any More Excuses!   By Ed Finnerty

You’ve heard me say, “If you want different results next year, you have to start doing different things this year”.  A modern definition of “insanity” is to continue doing what you have been doing but to expect different results.

I often hear people complain about their finances and their struggles to get out of debt.  Yet after questioning them about their habits and lifestyle, I find that they are following the same pattern year after year, with the same poor results.  I call it the “frog in the kettle” phenomenon.  We know that if you drop a frog in hot water, he’ll jump back out immediately.  But if you put that frog in lukewarm water and slowly turn up the heat, you know what happens.  Stephen Covey says that highly effective people are proactive. 

A boat that comes out of the water after years of sitting at the dock or traveling in the open water must go through the process of scraping away build-up of foreign particles and parasites that attach themselves to the hull.  If you don’t scrape them off, they increase resistance and slow down the progress of the boat in the water.  If we are not proactive, we may create a similar experience.  We may even become numb to our original values, dreams and passions.  Job loss, financial stress, and money fights with our spouse can literally stop us from moving forward with our financial goals. 

Maybe it’s time to strip the boat.  Put yourself on dry dock and commit to removing all the debris that has accumulated on the hull of your life.  Take a fresh look at where you are and where you are going.  You can uncover those old childlike dreams once again. 

To begin making positive changes, start each day by reading positive, inspiring and encouraging material.  Henry Ward Beecher said, “The first hour is the rudder of the day”. What you do in the first hour will direct what you achieve the rest of the day. 

Next, ask friends and professionals for help when you need to adjust your thinking or planning.  Many people hold on to old thinking that they are meant to solve all of life’s struggles by themselves, never asking for help or guidance.  After years of struggle, they wonder why they are still struggling.  Don’t be afraid or embarrassed to get help to go from mediocre to great. 

Finally, write down your goals and dreams and create a clear plan of action to achieve them.  Zig Ziglar says something magical happens once you write down your goals. Abraham Lincoln said, “I shall study and prepare myself so when my day will come, I will be ready”.

Don’t get caught in habits that no longer are productive or reasonable.  The best way to predict your future is to create your expectations for the future.