Scott's Thinking - Page 161 of 217

Build Generational Wealth

Posted on July 27, 2021

Have you got a money plan? Do you have a clear and precise written plan for your future or just a general idea? To build generational wealth, you will need to be specific and intentional with your plans.

The main thing holding you back in this era is your mindset. Secondly, it is your follow-on actions. Arguably you can be doing the right actions with a poor money mindset. Although, the mindset usually comes first before the motivation and actions. Regardless, it is better if they are both aligned.

Are you earning money only to pay for your current lifestyle? Or are you earning, saving and investing for now and for ‘retirement’. Ideally you are earning, saving and investing, with thoughts of your years ahead without an active income. And then ultimately, it would be great if you were preparing to have sufficient investments remaining to leave in an inheritance.

Preparing your finances is an important item on your to do list. The earlier you start, the stronger the habit will be. In addition, you are much more likely to have more money for yourself and for your heirs, the earlier you start.

Get a separate savings account set up. Place some money in it every week without fail. Learn about investing. Take it seriously. Though you can make it fun and interesting too. Begin investing for the 20, 60 and 140 year horizon.

Build generational wealth.

Action Observe Time

Finding The Best Deal

Posted on July 26, 2021

Take the first offer or shop around? People will do different things in different situations. Finding the best deal can be fun and rewarding but also time consuming and frustrating.

Are you someone that loves to find the best terms? Or if you find a price you think is reasonable, will you stop looking and go ahead and buy? Searching through all the possible options you can think of can be quite an interesting exercise. Some people thrive on it. Others do it out of current necessity. Sometimes it depends on the item, your finances, time available, or your desire to know all of the options.

Buying milk should be quite straightforward. You should easily and quickly be able to compare value based on standard sizes and fairly common prices. You may be a shopper for milk. However you may also be a grab and go kind of person for this product. Given its required nature for many things, and its relative low and stable price, some people wont even notice the price.

However, if you look at airline tickets or holidays, that may be another matter. I have spent too long reviewing some flight bookings. Mainly due to the timing options available. Though sometimes the price difference can be so great that you keep looking as you know what isn’t a great deal.

Finding the best deal is almost like a game. Spending enough time but not too much is the ideal way forward.

Action Health & Fitness Reframe your thoughts Time

Go Camping For Fun

Posted on July 25, 2021

There are lots of ways to spend your time. Camping is a great one for kids. Especially if they have a friend or two with them. Go camping for fun and you will find it.

Like everything, camping has its pros and cons. Though some of its pros are the open spaces, learning to build and maintain a fire, hanging out with friends and getting away.

Some of the challenges can be the weather, the food storage, finding things you think you packed and late nights.

Now these can also be pros depending on how they are viewed. However, you may need to see them in a different light than you are used to.

We were camping this weekend and everyone thoroughly enjoyed it. There were no tv’s or PS4’s but there were walks, pizza’s, marshmallow roasting, chats and lots of great stories, smiles and laughter.

It can be tiring too. There is all the prep, the packing of the car, the unloading, the finding of things and trying new activities. There is also the drive there and back and also around the area for food or activities.

It’s great to be a part of it, even with its challenges. You may even find yourself booking your next outing!

Go camping for fun.

Reframe your thoughts

Worrying Helps No One

Posted on July 24, 2021

Getting concerned about Covid? Perhaps tensions in the Middle East have you concerned. Worried about food shortages? Worrying helps no one so why do we bother?

Why do we read about things that we can’t or won’t impact? What is it that compels us to investigate, learn, debate and organise our thoughts for? We can become quasi experts in a field but not act on any of the information.

I used to watch a lot of horror films as a tween and early teen. I also read quite a bit about the supernatural, ghosts and such. I am not sure why I did that, though there are some theories kicking around.

However, I then stopped. No more spooky books and then no more horror movies. Life is short and I wasn’t enjoying those knowledge or entertainment moments anymore.

If I were to die tomorrow, would I have wanted to spend any of those final hours watching an unnerving movie? So if not then, why ever?

This thinking is also why I rarely read any newspaper articles and watch any news channel even less than that.

If I am not actively making an impact on some topic, why spend time worrying about the ifs and buts of it? I could fill my mind with wonderful things such as great memories, the progress being made in the world and funny jokes.

Worrying helps no one. Fill your mind with joyful thoughts.

Action Health & Fitness Time

Getting Away From It All

Posted on July 23, 2021

How do you relax? Meditation is good. Having a nap can help. Watching a movie or going for a walk can do it for some folks. Getting away from it all may be the big one though.

A complete change of scenery and environment can do wonders for the mind, body and soul.

But getting away can mean many different things. Is it just away from your home? Or your neighbourhood? Could you go to a spa 10 miles away or do you need transcontinental travel?

Are you looking for adventure? Does action and excitement keep your mind focused and away from your daily life?

Some people prefer the serenity of a monastery. Others want to do yoga on a hilltop. Still others will go on amusement rides or play blackjack all night.

It really depends what you are looking for at this time in your life.

Mostly a change is as good as a rest, as the saying goes. Diversion of the mind can be quite a useful endeavour.

Regardless of what you do though, you’re best to come back rested, rejuvenated and ready to go.

Once you’ve had a taste of what does it for you, getting away from it all will never be the same.

Gratitude Time

Gratitude Is Great

Posted on July 22, 2021

When was the last time you said you were grateful for something? Who did you say it to? Gratitude is great if you actually do it. Writing it down and speaking it out loud are two great ways to express it well.

My daughter’s bedtime routine includes reflecting on the day and discussing what we are grateful for. Usually this part is done between my wife and daughter. This time was one for me though.

She asked me what three things I was grateful for today. Being asked the question by someone else creates a different level of importance on the question. You don’t really have to think about the question if you are doing it on your own. Just thinking about the idea of gratitude is enough to get you going. But it is not the same.

It was better to have the discussion. And I couldn’t be lazy or cop out with just one or two. It made me really think about what aspects of the day made me most grateful. It was such a good experience, I might try to do that more often with her.

I do write in a gratitude journal most mornings, though it is a little different. With my daughter it is out loud rather than written. Also, reviewing the day in the evening before sleeping can certainly help with recall.

Gratitude is great.

Observe Reframe your thoughts Think About It Time

It Is July 2025

Posted on July 21, 2021

What will you be doing? How will the world be coping? What will be happening? Imagine it is July 2025 right now. Are you happy with what you see?

Rather than wonder what you will be doing in 4 years from now, try something different. You can either research what some prognosticators are saying or make your own view. Of course when considering your own situation, it is likely you will have a better idea of the potential.

Who will be in power in the G7 countries? Who will be running your country? What will we know about COVID? What stats will we have? How will different countries be living with this?

Where will you be in your career? What about your close relationships? What will your finances look like? How old will your parents be?

If you have never written this down, you may find it quite an interesting exercise. Every time I do it, I think of other options I would like to have be true. In addition, when you look at things in the long run perspective, you tend to reduce emotional decision making. You also, get a greater sense of what could be possible for you. Also, you are more able to use facts and data rather than stories and unhelpful self-talk.

It is July 2025. Describe it.

Gratitude Observe Think About It

What Do You Believe?

Posted on July 20, 2021

When reading something, have you ever thought why you enjoy it or find it uncomfortable? What do you believe? Have you ever taken stock of what matters to you in life?

I remember a baseball movie from the 80’s where the lead character rhymed off what he believed in. I couldn’t remember all the details but I was impressed by his recount. It was impressive that he had actually thought about it and was quite clear about it. There was no pause, no slight hesitation or uncertainty.

Sometimes I have started to write out a list as well. It’s something I should continue. It seems like a reasonable thing to do, especially with the big topics in your life. Writing them out gives some glaring clarity too. You can’t simply play mind games with yourself. You can’t shift in a constant, ‘if this then that’, scenario.

Some people’s beliefs change depending on who is saying it. That is unfortunate but can happen. There are plenty of videos online which demonstrate this tendency.

Give it a try later today. Set aside 10 minutes and see how many core beliefs you can write into the notes section of your phone. Put them in there so you can review them occasionally. Reflect on them and adjust them as you consider them in the future.

What do you believe?

Action Gratitude Reframe your thoughts

Smile Through The Drama

Posted on July 19, 2021

Things sometimes go sideways. And they can go categorically wrong too. Those times that things don’t go well, smile through the drama if you need too.

Maybe the dog ate your homework, hat or cake. Perhaps you didn’t get the job you wanted, grade you needed or text you were waiting for. When these things happen, it can be easy to be annoyed or upset. Though I would encourage you to find something good or funny about the situation and smile.

Even if there is nothing good about the particular situation, that you can see in the moment, think of something nice and smile.

It is incredible how our thoughts can lead our body and our body can lead our thoughts. Just the simple act of smiling can start to make you feel uplifted. By making that facial expression, it is hard to not feel a little better.

This will also improve with practice. So if the first few times you do this, you can only manage a second or two, keep trying. The longer term benefits can be quite helpful in life. Being able to move yourself out of drama and into pleasantness will come in handy many times in life.

When life writes a twist in the play, smile through the drama.

Action Goals, Results & New Thinking Time

Pick One Thing

Posted on July 18, 2021

What is it that you really want before you go? What would you like to be, do or have to celebrate and enjoy? Pick one thing and decide right now that it is your goal.

Get specific around this goal. Be so clear in what you see that you can describe it in detail. Write down the date you would like the success to come. Write down the time and the place. Note who you are with as well as the temperature and weather.

Ideally it will be something in the next 5 years. However, you can make it 10 years at the maximum. Almost anything can be achieved in that time with focus, discipline and persistence. This is especially true if you work out a plan and work on it daily. You need some key milestones to ensure you are getting the compound effect.

Try making those milestones monthly. Pick a day and a time in the month that it will be done by. Be sure to write out the specifics, even if it makes you a little nervous to do so. You will gain confidence in your ability to achieve the goal as you move closer to it on a daily basis.

Pick one thing today and work toward it daily.