Have you ever had a day when you wake up wondering what on earth you are doing? Being positive, visionary and inspired all the time can be exhausting. Sometimes you just feel small, insignificant and just plain tired. I had a week like this recently. Some tough stuff happened and my resolve to live a happy, meaningful life took a back seat to a desire to pull the duvet over my head and shut it all out. Of course I couldn’t stay there for long. I’ve never been someone to hide from my problems. But it can be hard to get yourself motivated again after a downer week.
Here’s something I did for myself to give me the kick up the proverbial I really needed. I thought about my core life purpose which is “To live a wealthy, healthy, happy life whilst making a difference to as many people as I can”. And then I started thinking about the people to whose life I have already made a difference. I didn’t do this to stroke my ego but to remind myself that my life is worthy and to re-connect with my sense of pride and passion. And you know what… it worked!
My list started really for me after I attended a workshop with Robert Kiyosaki in 1991 (for those who know my story, you’ll know this was a life changing event for me). From that moment on I began to make decisions to do things that not only made me wealthy and happy, but also changed other people’s lives for the better as I went.
My list included thousands of people who attended the courses I promoted after I became Robert’s promoter in New Zealand. People who I’ve seen go on to do amazing things with their lives and in turn make a difference to thousands of people around them. It included the people I’ve employed, such as the young creative people I brought into my advertising agency and trained, who have gone on to have stellar careers in advertising and design. It included the thousand plus business people who have attended my talks, done my programmes or worked with me to turn their businesses around and grow their dreams. It included the people these people employ and add value to as they grow. It included the friends and family members I’ve helped when they’ve been down or in need. It included (of course) my children who I gave life to and then given them the security of knowing how much I love them.
I tell you this not to boast but to suggest that you too will have a long list of ways your life has made a difference. And when the low days hit (which they will, unless you are less than human) it can be a huge motivator to review the things you’ve done that you are proud of.
Then of course, life isn’t over by a long shot. My goal to make a difference to as many people as possible only gets more important to me as I get older. Now I can see the avenues clearly ahead of me by which to achieve this. I’m writing my book to get my business lessons and experiences out to as many small business owners as I can. I have my mentoring programme to promote for the same reason. I have talks to give and people to work with, hoping each time that every person I touch in some way then goes on to make a difference with their own success. I have my life experiences to share and my gifts with which to share them. I have my friends and family to love and nuture. I have my children to be a role model to and help them make a difference in their own way. I have a powerful reason to get up each day and live a happy, healthy life.
Be gone duvet cover. Be gone self doubt. Let’s all celebrate the things we’ve achieved and look forward to the achievements yet to come.