LIE #1 – Most rich people did not come by their wealth honestly. 

In order to have money, lots of money, you have to be a swindler, a drug dealer or some kind of criminal. Maybe I learned this from old movies like The Godfather or maybe just a narrative I chose to tell myself. I don’t actually know where it came from, but I do know it is categorically wrong!

THE TRUTH is the exact opposite. Most rich people, really rich people, come by their wealth the old fashion way. They earn it. They figure out ways to provide value to a large enough group of people that when reciprocated becomes vast sums of money. This is the law of sowing and reaping at work. No stealing. No cheating. No criminal activity. And not only that, the wealthiest people I know are hyper focused on growth, gratitude, and giving….go figure! Here’s a couple of quotes that sum the whole thing up.

Grind until you don’t have to Struggle… then keep Grinding so you can help those who are still Struggling.
– Grant Cardone

Success built at the expense of others is short lived.
– Andy Frisella

If you have a goal or a dream and you are willing to consistently work toward it, you can attain it. This is still AMERICA! THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY!

Correctable?

Success, however you want to define it, does not happen by accident. It’s a continual process of discovery, correction and change.

Discover. You have two ears and one mouth for a reason 😉, listen more than you speak. Everyone, I mean everyone has something to teach you.

Correct. New information will expose deficiency and error. Take it? Use it? Trash it?

Change. Maybe others will agree with you, maybe they won’t. Maybe they won’t even notice. No matter, you will stand before God alone.

Are you correctable?

He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Proverbs 29:1 KJV

No Fear

I have seen bumper stickers and shirts with the slogan ‘no fear’ and I’ve used it a time or two. But in reality, no fear is no good.

No fear is not the same as courage.
No fear is the brother of pride.
No fear fertilizes stupidity.
No fear hardens the heart.

There are things we should be afraid of. Start with the fear of the Lord, it is the beginning of wisdom.

Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.

Proverbs 28:14 KJV

Today

Immediate personal accountability.
In the end, the choice is yours, the actions are yours, and the results are yours.

Forgive, today.
Encourage, today.
Love, today.
Stop, today. 
Go for it, today.

Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth. 

Proverbs 27:1 KJV

Understanding

Understanding opens the door.
Understanding turns on the lights.
Understanding cleans out the cobwebs.
Understanding promotes new growth.

Understanding consumes ignorance.
Understanding destroys dogma.
Understanding exposes error.

Understanding will break you down before it builds you up.

A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself.

Proverbs 18:2 KJV

Things Happen

Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you.

Circumstances are just that…circumstances. You cannot control or predict them, but what you do with them is within your control.

Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you.

Nobody is an island, you are not alone. Get help from your close friends and family, they will keep you pointed in the right direction on tough days.

Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you.

Crack open the Bible and read the New Testament. Learn about the grace of God and the salvation of Jesus. Faith and love are cornerstones of a merry heart.

Things don’t happen to you, they happen for you.

All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

Proverbs 15:15 KJV

Repurpose

Breakthroughs often happen when we take something and use it for a different purpose. Thanks to the internet and social media this type of experimentation is happening at an accelerating pace… ever heard of “pallet furniture”? (look it up)

We have become masters at repurposing things but have you ever thought about repurposing circumstances? How about problems? Sickness? Injury? Anxiety?

I was blessed to sit down with my friend and pastor, Ken Stodola, and shoot an interview on the topic of Shamgar. One of the main points of our discussion was to “use what you have”. To put it another way, Ryan Holiday quotes actress Kate Winslet asking this question, “What can I get for free?” Instead of saying “I can’t because…” she asks “What can I do because…?”

Take a few minutes and ask yourself, “What do I have?” and “What can I get for free?”

Your circumstances are free.
Your problems are free.
Your injury is free.
Your anxiety is free.

Repurpose.
Use what you already have.

End of the Matter

Act with the end in mind.

It is the best thing you can do for your future self. Oddly enough, it’s usually the right thing to do.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 KJV

Intentions

Search me. Know my heart.
Try me. Know my thoughts.

Your heart determines your intentions.
Your thoughts determine your actions.

A right heart will produce the right actions not the other way around.

Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24 KJV

Mirror

We mirror those we hang with.
We take on their mannerisms.
We take on their speech.
We take on their actions.

Coming up short on mercy?
… consistency and determination?
… thankfulness?
… kindness or love?

Who are you spending your time with?

O give thanks unto the Lord ; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 136:1 KJV

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