Time

I find it interesting that the most successful people I know...those who accomplish and produce the most, never complain about time. That is because they have learned the principle that St. Paul wrote about nearly 2000 years ago and that is how to "Redeem your time (exchange your time for value) because the days are revolting."[i]

W. Clement Stone said, "Success is achieved and maintained by those who try, and keep trying, for there is nothing to lose by trying and a great deal to gain. So by all means TRY! And do it now!!!"

Desire, determination and discipline are what it takes to accomplish anything in life. Consider a young child and how they learn to walk, talk, ride a bike or do anything in this great big world they are dropped into at birth.

• First they have to desire to do it.

• Then they have to determine to attempt to do what they desire.

• And when they fail they have to discipline themselves to do it again until they master it.

The same holds true in all of life and therefore your financial life is not an exception to this universal certainty. You must clearly define, outline and picture what it is in life that you really desire to accomplish.

With a child this is relatively informal. Their desire to walk and talk is awakened because everybody they are surrounded by is walking and talking. For you, it is paramount that you surround yourself with people whom you want to become like. Without this critical component you will never fulfill your deepest desires. And therefore, if you don't find people to surround yourself with that enforce your desires then you must read, listen or watch people who do emulate your desires. Otherwise you will become discouraged and your determination will be curtailed.

This is one of the biggest reasons why we have regular local and web meetings... to encourage those of you who have decided you want to become your own banker because, as you know, there are not a lot of people in your daily life that are being their own banker. We want to be there for you as an encouragement helping your determination so you can accomplish your objective in life. During our web meetings you will hear the basics, over and over again, which are the foundations which your determination will use to build upon to become a successful "banker." You will also notice that the number of registrants and attendees is increasing. This is helpful to a lot of our clients who say that they like to hear what others are doing. Think of a child, isolated and alone, how long do you think it would take them to learn to walk or talk? Maybe never!

The word discipline is a negative word to many, yet without discipline nothing is accomplished in life. The word itself means "to follow" and to follow you must exercise self-control, will-power and restraint, otherwise you'll never be a good follower, but instead you'll become a wanderer! And wanderers never become successful or significant.

So discipline yourself to be a good follower...a follower who follows the desire of your own heart. Determine to become somebody other than who you are right now. You can and should because the alternative is sobering...the law of entropy. And the law of entropy emphatically states that you will move towards a lower and lower level of success than you presently occupy if you don't discipline yourself to become better.

Jesus tells the story about old wine skins bursting when new wine is poured into them. That is why it is important to place new wine into new wineskins. This unpretentious instruction is critical for you to contemplate as you think about your financial future.

• Are you satisfied with where you are financially today?

• Do you want to increase your success and significance?

• Do you want to help more people than you do right now?

If you don't want to accomplish anything new, then keep doing what you're currently doing. The laws of the universe are on your side and will make sure that you never achieve anything greater than what you've achieved today.

On the other hand, if you want to create new and better things for your life, and the lives of those you interact with, then the creator of the universe is on your side and he spoke through one of his spokesmen long ago instructing each of us on how to "Redeem your time because the days are revolting."[ii]

It really is that unpretentious. If you'd like help and encouragement let us know; that is why we are here. If you know of others who would like our help and encouragement, let them know how to connect with us. We love what we do.

by Tomas McFie

[i] Ephesians
[ii] Ibid