I’ve written and spoken many times how we have entered the Age of Creativity. Also I have written how people are tired of making their employers rich and they are creatively finding ways to alternative sources of income.
I have not written much about those who are sitting and wishing they could be doing something different with their life. Now that we are in the Age of Creativity opportunities are endless and for those who desperately want to change their life, there has never been a better time.
If you are determined to change your life then you must first set yourself up to succeed.
Just showing up is not the key to success and changing your life; action is. Our world is a competitive place and full of creative people who are taking action. If you don’t have all your ducks in a row then there is no sense in even thinking that you could ever change your life.
One of the biggest problems that can prevent you from changing your life is your debt. I get annoyed with people who “hate” their life, but yet they are deeply in debt. People who purchase expensive homes, new cars, or big TV’s to make themselves happy almost always fail on the happiness scale.
When you live life your life thinking that big purchases can make you happy, changing your life is not an option because you are so busy paying for your expensive items.
As I’ve said, to be successful, you must first set yourself up to be successful. Having a huge amount of debt is not a proactive approach.
Take a good look at your debt. Are you spending your money on your future or are you spending it on luxury items? Will your new car, new TV, or expensive home benefit your future? Will either of them make you money? Does most of your income go to your car, your credit cards, or your home?
Sure, real estate can improve your future in the long term. But why live an unhappy life, work a job you hate, and wait five, ten, or twenty years for your home to appreciate so you can sell it and use the money to change your life? By the time you are able to change your life, you will be too old to enjoy it!
During this Age of Creativity, we must use a creative approach to achieving wealth. Take another look at you expensive home: A less expensive home will also appreciate in value and it could improve your future. At the same time a less expensive home could leave you with extra money each month to achieve your goals.
Do you know why those temporary license plate tags dealerships put on cars are called “Happy tags?” People are happy and excited when they drive their new cars off the dealership lots. They remain happy until they get their payment book in the mail. Soon their “Happy tags” expire and they get the rude awakening about the cost of license plates. The happiness and excitement begins to fade. Life then becomes nothing but working at a job you hate to pay your monthly bills. Do you really need a new car?
A very smart person once asked me if I knew the difference between rich people and wealthy people. He said that rich people are those who own second homes, have credit card debt, take wild expensive vacations, and drive very expensive cars. Their savings account looks like a low IQ score and they live paycheck to paycheck. The bottom could fall out of their life at any minute.
Wealthy people live in modest homes, have very little or no credit card debt, drive used American cars, use the cash they have saved all year for their vacation, and have a large amount of money in their savings and retirement accounts. When these people make large investments, their investments always benefit their future.
Think about how much money you are spending on your car and your home each month. If you did not have those big bills each month, you could take that money and invest it in yourself to secure your future. Extra money could allow you to change your life.
How many times per week do you eat out or go to the movies? These types of activities drain your finances. Sure, once in a while is fine for these types of activities, but make sure you keep a close eye on how much money you are spending. Think seriously about how these types of activities benefit your future.
If you are serious about changing your life, think long and hard about how you are spending your money. Use creative thinking as you think about how you can set yourself up for success. If a less expensive home will benefit your future then get one. If a less expensive car would benefit your future then drive one. Do whatever it takes to secure your future or continue to sit around and wish you could change your life.
