Action is Key: Transformation = Education + ACTION + Motivation
In this series, we have been looking at the principle and process of personal transformation.
The last several articles have focused on the “E” in our equation: EDUCATION
Personal transformation requires a combination of education, ACTION, and motivation.
There are a lot of “educated fools” in this world. They have knowledge coming out of their ears, yet no practical understanding of what to do with it.
Last week, I introduced the first article outlining the “A” - ACTION: the concept of Creating a Family Enterprise Zone.
We looked at the importance of observing the Passions, Potential, and Personalities (3 Ps) of your children and helping them develop accordingly.
If, as an adult, this is a new concept, then I strongly suggest that you go through the same evaluation, personally.
What Can I Do, What Can I Do?
Today, I want to begin looking at specific things we can do to implement our own family enterprise zone.
Growing up in a small little town in the South Carolina Lowcountry, I remember a man who was a midget. As a result, everyone called him Shorty.
Everyone loved Shorty. We never knew his real name, but we all knew he was ambitious.
Every weekend, he would stand near a busy area of the main street shopping district and sing a little tune to get work that went something similar to this:
“What can I do, What can I do, I’ve got a shovel, and I’ve got a rake, so what can I do, just for you”?
Then he would give a big grin and do a cartwheel or stand on his head for all the kids that would gather around him.
The Shorty Mindset
The point is that even though Shorty wasn’t that skilled, he never let it stop him from doing what he could do with what he had.
We must develop a Shorty mindset.
Our equation, T=E+A+M is not linear. Education, action, and motivation are interwoven in a continuous process.
As we learn and implement what we learn, we are motivated to do more with our new knowledge.
The Herd Mentality
One of the first things we must understand is that most people think and act with a herd mentality.
Personal transformation requires breaking away from the herd in thought and action.
Shorty was definitely not part of the herd. At best people viewed him as an anomaly.
Yet he never let that bother him to the point of giving up. He just did what he knew and was equipped to do.
Finding and following those individuals who are doing or have done what we want to do is vital to staying motivated.
The herd is overworked and overspent from constantly trying to keep up with the other herd members. Shall we call them the Joneses?
The individual lives by a different standard
Don’t “keep up with the Jones”. Be Jones.
Status is not found in the most expensive cars, the fanciest houses, the biggest TV, or lots of stuff. It is not necessary to have a degree in finance to understand that consumer debt is not good. Rudimentary budgeting and cash flow knowledge are all we need to understand where our money is going.
Contentment is key -
Spend less than we bring in.
Income increases do not have to result in lifestyle increases.
Not that I speak according to need, for I have learned to be content in whatever state I am.
I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound. In everything and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. - The Apostle Paul, Philippians 4:11-12
We all go through times of prosperity and times of need. Contentment allows us to count them as equal, knowing that circumstances almost always change.
What to do Right Now
Second, learn to build income streams that will continue beyond your working years.
Rental property
Digital products
Dividend Investing
building a newsletter or blog following
Third, create side hustles. These are for more immediate needs but could become much more when combined with income-producing assets or stand-alone businesses.
Start children off early: paper route, lawn services, etc.
As they get older, increase the # and size of opportunities.
Involve them in family businesses: retail, online, service, teaching, etc.
Learn new skills: Writing, digital marketing, photography, auto repair, small farming (chickens, garden), home repair/remodeling, book-keeping/financial management
There are hundreds of opportunities.
Examples of my personal family members’ side hustles include:
Owning rental properties (me and my wife)
Teaching music - piano/violin (wife/2 daughters),
Writing (me)
Kayak fishing tour business (son)
Paper route (me and my sons when they were younger)
Automobile restoration (son)
Small renovations (son)
Teaching fitness classes (daughter/daughter-in-law)
Age of the Internet
The internet age has revolutionized access to information which can be used to our advantage. There are many videos, books, and online classroom-style training for just about anything. Most of it is relatively inexpensive.
Discover the best path for your family, based on each member’s 3Ps.
Teach your children that 100% dependence on someone else for their livelihood is not the best course in the long run.
Above all, look to the Creator for guidance/confirmation. I’ve said this before, but it is worth repeating -
The Bible is the best manual for life ever written. It is full of spiritual, philosophical, and practical instruction.
Here’s an example:
See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:
And I have filled him with the spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship,
To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass,
And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship. - Exo 31:3-5
Isn’t that awesome? Divine help in discovering and using gifts and talents.
Just Start
It is said that Providence lives at the intersection of Preparation and Opportunity Streets.
Many people go their whole lives wondering what they are supposed to do in life when all they have to do is assess their 3 Ps (Passion, Personality, Propensity) and begin where they are.
I will write about this topic more in-depth soon.
Now that I have laid out some action steps to take in your personal transformation journey, we will take a look at the motivation factor in all this next week.
I hope this has helped stir up the possibilities in your mind.
Until next time, friends ...