Becoming the Hero of your Story
"A hero is an ordinary individual who finds the strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles."
~ Christopher Reeve
This is a Financial blog. So, I'll keep this aligned with my MESSage. Which isn't hard, because our Self worth directly impacts our Net worth. Our personal finance is a mirror of where we are in our personal development journey. Am I right? Whether we want to admit this or not, when we "get right" in life, we create our own stimulus package.
I'm not here to coddle you my friends. Your Momma is for coddling. Your close friends are for telling you you're pretty, and your partner at home is for moral support. Or, do I have that all twisted? Any person in your life could be good for coddling, moral support, and flattery I suppose. But no no... Not a money mentor. You'll get the straight up tough love from her, I can assure you. :-$
Getting back on topic... I'm here to tell the truth about my story, and NOT in a warm and fuzzy way. I'm simply sharing my story and providing the tools to MOVE you to TAKE ACTIONS that will change your life. You are the Captain of your ship. I can be one of your many navigational guides. The guide is the one with the map in hand, pointing you in different directions. The right directions, if they're a trusted guide. It's up to you to make the next move.
"Direction beats speed, in the game of life." ~ AD
I was listening to one of my favorite mentors this morning (Darren Hardy). It was about finding your Hero! There is no hero more important than the one you are capable of becoming. There is, and should always be a gap between who we are today, and who we will become. This is because we are all a work in progress. If you've "arrived" (in your own mind), please stop reading, because these are just words to all the "perfect" people.
I digress... Here are some tactical tools.
Ask yourself, "Where is the Hero in ME?"
Steps to "Become" your Hero...
Bring your Hero to the front of your mind. Make it clear. It doesn't have to be someone famous, but it could be... Such as a well known artist, writer, or a business man or woman. It doesn't have to be someone you know, but it could be... Such as your Mother, a past boss or colleague, or your Sister... Who do you know of that has qualities and the type of life you want to emulate? Write it down.
How would you describe that person... your Hero? Make a HUGE list of all the attributes they exude. Come up with at least 30.
Pick 5 - 10 of those attributes that are the most powerful when you say them out loud. Here are 5 of my "Hero's" attributes.
Trusted Thought Leader who tells the truth at all times.
Consistent at learning and mastering their craft.
Financially Free to go anywhere in the world, and give along the way.
Intentional Parent (notice I didn't say "perfect" parent. Perfection is a lie, & I don't lie).
Physically & Mentally Healthy, practicing every day to keep their mind and body 100%.
Do a Self Audit. Rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 on how you align with each of those top attributes. If you can rate yourself less than a 10 for any of those Heroic ideals, you know where to work.
BOOM! You've created your own personal development plan, now get to work. Start reading the books by those people who have already accomplished those things. Start following those thought leaders on Social Media, and get on their email lists, so they can mentor you. Put their word, actions, routines, and rituals into practice for yourself.
And then maybe, your sweet face will come to the front of someone else's mind when they think of who a Hero looks like to them.
Being an expert in the field of personal finance, does not mean I've mastered ALL the skills. It just means I'm solving problems by researching, doing, and sharing my own experiences. And sharing that of others who have had success. An Expert is: a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area. My area is budgeting, debt crushing, and cash flow creation. Paying off over six figure of debt, and growing a net worth in the process, labels me and my husband (because we ran across the finish line together) as experts in personal finance. There was no cheating either. No winning the lottery, receiving an inheritance, or any other means of financial assistance. We got intentional with our income, and STOPPED doing stupid little things every day that could rob us of our future. Sounds simple right? Ha! Not in the least. But, once the hardest part was done, it was off to the races... "What was the hardest part?", you ask. That's an easy one. "Starting" is, and always will be the hardest part of anything worth striving for.
We are the Hero's of our own story, however imperfect. Even Superhero's need help. Batman had Robin, The Green Hornet had Kato, and Wonder Woman had Wonder Girl of course.
"Seek out the people who truly have the future you want, and pay attention to what they do." -AD
Bye for now.
Love,
~ Amanda
