Pimp Your Finances

Do what you got to do.  And say what you got to say.  Do what you go to do.  Yes, start today.  Start today.

- Smashing Pumpkins, “Window Paine”

The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now.

- David Chilton, “The Wealthy Barber”

When it comes to motivation, we’re our own worst enemies.  We come up with a good idea, then talk ourselves out of it by saying “it would never work”, or “someone else is already doing it better”, or “I don’t have the time/money”.  We set goals, then ignore them and say “I’ll just start next week”.

It’s a terrible feeling to look back, and wonder what could have been.  The first step in any journey is the hardest, but it’s amazing what we can accomplish once we start.  I recently found a few good articles on staying motivated, and wanted to share them.

11 Ways to cure someday syndrome – www.zenhabits.com

Zen Habits has a list of 11 things you can do to avoid putting off your goals

1. Be you
2. Clear out the junk
3. Know what you want
4. Make a grand plan
5. Take one step at a time
6. Ignore the rest
7. Get help
8. Don’t compare
9. Be uncomfortable
10. Celebrate the process as well as the end
11. Don’t stop at the easy point

Does Your Great Idea Die Because You’re Too Lazy to Follow Through? – www.youngmoneymogels.com

YMM reflects on the good ideas he has wasted by simply not following through.

How to achieve anything – http://thinksimplenow.com

The author uses jogging as an example, and extrapolates that to create a systematic approach that can be applied to anything in life.  A very thorough and detailed post.  My favorite quote:

Within each of us, we hold the power to change anything in our lives, and in doing so, experience more joy and fulfillment. Lasting change starts with a change in the way we think – a clear vision for our desired results, meaningful reasons why we must have them, and building momentum towards massive action to make our visions a reality.

So now that you’re feeling motivated, write down something you’ve been meaning to do, and list out the first steps to take in achieving it.  If you can do that, you’ve already gotten past the hardest part – deciding to get started.