Rat Race Revolution :: Living Life By Design, Not By Default …

“Being broke is a temporary state…being poor is a state of mind.”

— Earl Nightingale

For those of us old enough to remember the Saturday morning Schoolhouse Rock episodes, this video will be a nostalgic turn down memory lane. For everyone else, it’s an easy-to-understand explanation of what’s going on in government right now and how it is (and will) affect us in the very near future. My goodness, do I wish I’d understood this concept better when they where passing out all of the “free credit cards & free t-shirts” freshman year of college!

“Economic armageddon”

Freelancer vs. Self-Employed vs. Independent Contractor…what’s the difference? Are you really an entrepreneur or just avoiding getting a “real job?” Battle-tested ‘treps share their stories in this insightful documentary…

Watch Shine: The Entrepreneur’s Journey

If you’ve been tuning in to my blog for awhile, you’ve noticed how I like to talk about the entrepreneur’s journey and staying motivated & encouraged along what often seems to be a lonely road. While reading a copywriting e-newsletter, I came across this interesting excerpt from six-figure copywriter, Mindy Tyson-McHorse, and thought it would be good to share here. Some really great lessons for those still on the road to financial freedom. Read on…

Admit It: You’re Already An Entrepreneur

If you’ve found yourself fretting lately about how far away your goals seem and how hard it is to get started, take a step back for a moment. Look at what you have accomplished.

Honestly, not a lot of people have the guts to do what you’re doing. For one, you’ve stepped up and said, “Hey, I’ve got what it takes!” You won’t settle for a status quo lifestyle.

Instead, you recognize there’s more to life than just “getting by” and you’ve put yourself in a position to not only enjoy but command your reality.

Plus, you’ve got all the makings of a great entrepreneur. After all, you get to:

• Do what you most enjoy
• Determine how you spend your time
• Take charge of your money
• Choose the people with whom you work
• Become a known expert
• Control your schedule
• Decide who gets access to you
• Be perceived as a visionary
• Be admired by people who feel “stuck” in their jobs
• Have the freedom to follow your passions

Entrepreneurs aren’t just born. The qualities you need to be successful can be developed through hard work and application. You can cultivate what it takes to succeed just as you can resign yourself to working for someone else the rest of your life. [end]

Which will you choose?
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Mindy is a working mom who earns six figures writing copy from home. For more details about her journey to financial freedom on her own terms, click here…

Join us in the comments to tell us about your journey and what inspires you to keep going…

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire.
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?
Be thankful when you don’t know something,
for it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.
Be thankful for your limitations,
because they give you opportunities for improvement.
Be thankful for each new challenge,
because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes.
They will teach you valuable lessons.
Be thankful when you’re tired and weary,
because it means you’ve made a difference.

It’s easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks.
Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles,
and they can become your blessings.

— Author Unknown

“Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French Fries without making them give you any of theirs.”
Chrissy – age 6

Formal education will earn you a living, self-education will make you a fortune.

- Jim Rohn

“Many of us play small  because we do not allow ourselves to dream. We trap ourselves in reality and  never dare to go beyond what we can see with our eyes. Imagination lifts us  beyond average by giving us a vision of life that surpasses what we are  experiencing currently. Dreams infuse our spirit with energy and spur us on to  greatness.”

— John C. Maxwell

“You can change your self-image and beliefs whenever you choose. We had no choice about the beliefs that were instilled in us by teachers, parents and so on — they just gave us their best — but now that we’re adults, we can choose the beliefs that will move us in the direction of our dreams.”

— John Assaraf, Having It All

How true this sentiment by John Assaraf, one of the featured speakers in the popular film, the Secret, is. The moment I read it, I had to jot it down in my notebook of ‘things to remember’ because it resonated so strongly with me. I think it is because sometimes we look for reasons to nurse our perceived shortcomings. Perhaps because it’s comforting to harbor them, perhaps because it is easier to coddle the familiar rather than risk the unknown territory of a new direction. Whatever the reason, John’s statement holds so much truth in that once we are adults, the choice is ours and ours alone. We have everything within us to be whatever we choose, and whatever we don’t have will be brought into our awareness at the appointed time as long as we continue to move forward in the direction of our desires.

So what are you moving towards?

“You think you have to figure it all out before you take a step. Instead, lean in. Send that email. Pick up the phone. Sign up for that class. Commit and do it. What matters is that you push through your feelings and start moving. Take action and lean toward what you want without regard for how it will look or turn out.”

— Mel Robbins, Success Magazine | March 2011

Truth be told, I’ve been procrastinating. And in my 30+ years of living I’ve come to learn something about myself…I tend to procrastinate when I’m nervous about the outcome. I procrastinate when I’m nervous about my abilities and whether or not I can rise to the challenge. What has usually been my compensating attribute is tenacity. Usually my persistence will outlive and outwit any bouts with procrastination and I somehow move forward to complete the task at hand, no matter how daunting it may momentarily appear to be. Luckily, I came across this quote today while reading my very first issue of Success magazine (so glad I subscribed) which reminded me that it’s not necessary to see the full path ahead before leaning in to the start of the experience. I am grateful for the reminder.

All of us have goals, dreams and aspirations that collect dust on the shelves of our lives because we fail to take the first step. We mistakenly reason that we need to have everything “all figured out” before we admit out loud that we want to achieve something great. When the truth is, we don’t have to see or know how everything will work out, we just need to trust that it will and take action with that belief in mind.

So what are you waiting for? Scratch that…it’s the wrong question really. The question is…what will you lean in to?

I was inspired to finally sit down and draft the copy for the back cover of my forthcoming book, Rat Race Revolution. (Click on the The Book tab above to get a sneak peek and tell me what you think) Not sure how this story will unfold (pun intended) but I’m excited to be on the journey.

By the way, in case you were wondering, here is the full quote that was referenced by this blog post’s title:

“Take the first step in faith. You don’t have to see the whole staircase, just take the first step.”

— Martin Luther King, Jr.