Every day is a chance to begin again. Every morning you have a chance to start fresh.
You can start small or start BIG. Starting small is probably the way to go because you can build momentum. Better still, it’s easier to SUSTAIN momentum when you start with manageable steps which is the key to making progress.
Whatever strategy you believe in, action is where the money is made and change happens.
Why not begin something today?
One of the core “secrets” to financial success in my book The Secrets of Wealth is to Live Below Your Means. The reason I put secrets in quotes is that it’s not really a secret at this point. Every good personal finance book references the practice.
I bring it up today because the other night I bought a couch. It wasnt cheap, but it wasn’t outrageous either. My wife had wanted that particular couch for a very long time. It was in the budget, so we bought it. Done deal.
I met up with some friends and long story short, they commented that it was “Un-Fabman” of me to do so. They were of course joking around. For those of you who don’t know, my nickname is Fabman and I used to have a website called FabmanSecrets.
The point I’m trying to make with the couch is that on your journey to Financial Freedom you don’t have to watch every little penny you make or spend. You can enjoy your lattes or your nice couch if you want to. All you have to do is put your finances on autopilot and have a plan. First comes the plan and then you behave and act according to the plan.
These days I don’t think a lot about money. I just live life and follow my plan. I sleep better at night this way and I know you would too.
The choices you have made up to this point in your life have led you to where you are today. For better or worse, the decisions have helped you achieve your goals or to fall short.
In order to be successful in any endeavor, you have to start making better decisions.
It’s not rocket science – you have choices, you decide between them and you have a result.
Don’t make excuses or think you need to be lucky or you need to find some shortcuts. You decide your destiny. Period. End of story.
Just start making better choices. Learn from your mis-steps and start pushing harder when you’re on a roll. Want to speed up tue learning process? Start making more decisions.
I read Do the Work in less than 30 minutes with a glass of wine by my side. Okay, it was more like one-and-a-half, but who’s counting?
And this really isn’t a traditional type of book review, but more on this in a second. If you loved Pressfield’s The War of Art, then you’ll love this book too and you don’t need a review by me or anyone else, you’re just going to buy it…if you haven’t bought it already.
Do the Work is shorter and more to the point than The War of Art, although I was searching for a more of a sustained kick in the pants from this short book, I think it’s still powerful. Yes, there was a lull toward the end, but I still got a lot of inspiration and a shot in the arm to focus on doing GREAT WORK that has been kicking around in idea stage for too long.
Some of the key points or calls to action that I underlined:
Don’t think. Act. - Translation: Don’t overthink or over-plan, just get started. In fact, start before you’re even ready.
Research Diet - Loved this idea. I fell into the trap of doing too much research when I wrote my first book and the first batch of ebooks I wrote. “You’re allowed to read three books on your subject. No more.” The point is that often we procrastinate by doing too much research. Screw that Pressfield says. Just read enough to get a start and then START.
Another piece of advice on research: “Do research early or late. Don’t stop working. Never do research in prime working time.”
Swing for the Seats – “If you and I want to do great stuff, we can’t let ourselves work small. A home-run swing that results in a strikeout is better than a successful bunt or even a line drive single.”
Keep Working - Throughout, we’re reminded of the importance of momentum and not missing a day. If Stephen King writes each and every day, to this day, then we can do the same for our passion.
How Bad Do You Want It? “Dabbling – Interest – Intrigued but Uncertain – Passionate – Totally Committed.” This is a scale against which you answer the question of ‘how bad do you want it?’ where “IT” is whatever you’re pursuing. If you have no choice or are doing it for the love of the art, then you’re on the right track.
Just Ship It – Inspired by Seth’s motto and the importance Godin puts on “Shipping” something. “Because finishing is the critical part of any project. If we can’t finish, all our work is for nothing.” Well said and 100 percent true.
If you’re an artist, writer, creator, producer, then this book is for you. If you’re looking to make a dent in the world and do something great, then this book is for you. In fact, I think it’s worth the read for just about anyone who’s looking to rise above the everyday blandless that life sometimes throws our way.
The book is a must read at just under $10 and the Kindle version is free – which means it’s a must get, no-brainer “purchase.”
I’ve written in the past about why you should eliminate some of your TV watching from your routine. But there are actually times when you should completely unplug your internet and social media feeds and just veg out in front of the TV.
I know, I know, heresy from the guy who advocated that you completely shut everything down in order to get more rest, but hear me out on this one.
I think the mindless sit-com that makes you laugh is great “medicine” for taking the edge off of your hectic days. TV can be addictive and stop you from reaching some of your most important goals, but like everything in life, it’s good in moderation.
If you’re completely exhausted, completely shut down and go to bed. If you’re wired and your eyes are hurting, go for a walk and just think about things. If it’s cold or raining or , then pick up the phone and call a friend.
This is a simple tip, a reminder really, to say that you don’t have to be connected 24/7 to get things done, even if you’re looking to connect more with others. Connecting offline still is one of the best ways to form great relationships in life. But first things first, step away from your phone or computer and head for the couch and relax in front of the TV. I’m sure you can find something to watch.
Fabio Marciano is an accomplished author and runs the popular blog Cubicle Millionaire. He is dedicated to radically changing people's lives first through their finances and their work. He frequently writes about a variety of topics, namely getting ahead at your full-time job, doing great work, losing weight and getting in shape, creating a second income, how to plan for the future and how to be more productive (to name a few topics). 
