Boat-Sitters & Water-Walkers

Don't most Bible stories just sound crazy! Really!

I've been mowing through books with a newly sharpened blade lately. One of them is a 171 page work that expands on a Lion Chasing warrior from the Bible named Benaiah. It's titled "In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day." by Mark Batterson and I highly recommend it!

(As some of you may have noticed, my Spiritual growth, like the garden out back of my house, has taken strong root and has now begun to sprout vibrant green shoots!)

This same book also relates a small passage about Peter and Jesus that I want to share with you today. This passage also explains why most of America is living paycheck-to-paycheck in generally poor financial health...

I am now quoting from 'In a Pit with a Lion'...

"Sink or Sit


Peter gets a bum rap. Peter is the only disciple who denied Christ three times, but he was the only one who got close enough to Jesus to get caught. Peter is the disciple who impulsively cut off Malchus' ear when the lynch mob came to arrest Jesus, but he was the only one who came to Jesus' defense. And he is the disciple who sinks in the Sea of Galilee, but he was also the only disciple who walked on water.
It's so easy to criticize Peter from the comfortable confines of the boat.
I think there are two kinds of people in the world: creators and criticizers. There are people who get out of the boat and walk on water. And there are people who sit in the boat and criticize water walkers."...

At 3 in the morning, in the middle of the sea, out of 12 disciples in the boat who saw Jesus out on the water, who they thought was a ghost - Peter got up, jumped ship and walked toward Christ. He doubted Jesus once out on the waves and the wind. He even started to sink, but then was saved by the Son of Man.

How do we relate this to money? Well metaphors and me is friends, ya know!

Why do we hear complaints that Most of the wealth in America is held by the very few? Why does it seem unfair that the smaller percentage enjoy all the money, while most of us struggle along?

Are we really prepared for this answer?

As it has been for all time: Only one out of 12 are willing to get out of the boat. Only 1 out of 12 are willing to do what the others won't do. 1 out of 12 take the chance to try the unthinkable!

There are lots of areas of life this lesson belongs to, but one for sure is on this financial blog.

Most of society has beliefs about how money works; what's important to spend our dollars on. Our majority has a group mentality that we've learned from each other, corporations, advertising and the news; about safety, stability and "stuff-itis". We even look up to the 'normal' folks around us who 'seem' to have it all... well, my friends, Most of society is broke and sitting in the boat, criticizing the water-walkers!

My point would never be that broke people are bad people, or that boat-sitters are less than water-walkers... but, for me, I know the joy that freedom from debt and taking that risk can bring you. I also know, that I'm not any more special than anyone else. Debt freedom is possible for anyone. We are ALL special and deserve the best!!

So, when you hear about the weird financial ideas of:

• Setting up a monthly budget committee meeting
•  Using an envelope with cash at the store
• Cutting back on extras and beginning to pay down your debts
• Putting serious cash into Investments for your future
• and even, Never Borrowing Money Again!

Ask yourself, if these are the types of crazy things that only someone who would jump out of a boat in the middle of lake would do...

If so... For me... I can tell you what I would do... Go For It!!


Create your fantastic financial future today. It is possible for you, and it is worth it. Ask yourself if you are one of the water-walkers, or if you are still a boat-sitter??

Since this blog has a very small unique readership...  I like to believe that We are all Water-Walkers! Let me know how your journey to financial freedom is going. I have no supernatural power, but I love you more than you know. I DO want to see you dancing on the debt-free waves with me soon!

And... to reinforce what I've alluded to already... NONE of this is possible without our Creator and Savior, so Give Thanks!!

Take Care Till Next Week!

Sincerely,

Aaron Nichols

True North Financial Fitness Coaching

aaron@truenorthffc.com

785-218-6134

http://www.truenorthffc.com/

Got a leaky Wallet? Bulging budget or none at all? Dilapidated Debt that you're sick of living with?  You are losing hard earned dollars every month! Let me show you how to spackle the cracks and firm up your financial foundation. DIY or using my professional services, either way, the best time to fix your finances is Now!

No Fish here, Just Poles and Love!

So I'm late again this week... I can't call it writers block, how about a brain explosion! :)

Really back on the rails this week with work, website volunteering and lots of time spent listening to Philosopher's Notes online...

I was Very lucky to receive a scholarship to this website in which, teacher, Brian Johnson, boils down the essence of the greatest philosophical and enlightening works of literature from the ancient to the cutting-edge. Perfect afternoon listening material to pump your spirit up!

Every PN on the website is mind-blowing, but one this week really rocked me. And, stopped me dead in my tracks...

It all started with the concept of converting from the DDT (dreaded drama triangle) to TED (the empowerment dynamic) triangle, as explained in The Power of TED, by David Emerald.

I won't go into all the detail here, but the main Boom-Shocka-Lacka to my Bird-Brain was this:

We need to avoid the mindset of a "Rescuer" and instead become a true "Coach"... WELL, why dontcha just paint my cheeks pink!!

Ya' know... divine timing is perfection...

I had to internalize this concept and really take a hard look. I know for certain that my passion and energy to spread the fundamentals of financial fitness are born from my desire to help others... Does that "help" word sometimes grow into the thought of Rescue?? Well, at times, I'm sure it has.

The problem with Rescue is that the inner perception is that others are not capable of helping themselves and therefore require someone else to step in.

Never in my mind did I use this exact vocabulary, but it's nonetheless too close to true.

Okay, so now I realize that I've been "thinkin' backwards" (as usual!) about the way to truly help people. I can now begin the process to do something about it.

A true "Coach" understands that each person has the strength and ability as Creators to design their own successes or failures. They have a full respect for the ability of those they want to help, to do it all by themselves. They can guide or encourage or be available for consult but are not soley responsible for the sinking or the swimming of the concerned party... it is up to them.

Now, this week's blog may be nothing more than a journal-entry to myself - or - maybe, a shared experience to those I share with - or - truly, you can be assured that: This Guy, is Always learning and growing and is interested in doing the best job, I am capable of doing, to help You, reach Your Goals.

So, another journey begins. To be conscious of my mindset as a Challenger not a Persecutor, a Creator not a Victim and especially a True Coach and not a Rescuer!

I love learning new things and I'm certain with every new pair of "idea glasses" that I get to look through, the visions I see are more spectacular than ever... For Me, and For You!

Sincerely,

Aaron Nichols

True North Financial Fitness Coaching

aaron@truenorthffc.com

785-218-6134http://www.truenorthffc.com/

Got a leaky Wallet? Bulging budget or none at all? Dilapidated Debt that you're sick of living with?  You are losing hard earned dollars every month! Let me show you how to spackle the cracks and firm up your financial foundation. DIY or using my professional services, either way, the best time to fix your finances is Now!

Mr. Miyagi was a Millionaire

A killer bandana and an awesome karate teacher: Daniel'son had these two things I wanted so bad as a kid.

The Karate Kid was one of my most favorite movies to catch on HBO as a very lucky 8-10 year old boy. Of course, the wise sensei Mr. Miyagi came to mind when I was recently thinking about the mindset of the wealthy.

There is a behavior, a thought pattern and a practice that can bring wealth and is imperative to keeping it long term.

"I could, but I won't."

Mr. Miyagi was the epitamy of that phrase. He had all the skills and training of a lifetime of martial arts. At his age he could have easily out-punched, out-kicked and out-smarted anyone that He Chose to battle. And he didn't do it very often.

The little man won every fight he did enter, and he only engaged physically when all other options were off the table. Especially, at the end of the first movie - he has the bad guy in his clutches, perfect chance to take him out and instead, he decides to "Honk" his nose. He Could Have Beaten him to a Pulp, but he Didn't.

We think the spending part of being rich is the sign of wealth. Truth is, it is the Not Spending part, that brings wealth.

While reading The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas Stanley, I had some realizations. I found out that the those who Really have money, in the Real world (a place we all live; Not TV land or a fairytale) are people who learned to Not Spend, even though They Could.

They worked hard and lived below-their-means for years, creating Leftovers that they put to good use. Instead of trading their leftover money for Things that drop to zero value now; they Saved, Invested and turned their money into more money, then LATER they could afford any-Thing they wanted...

It is like when Mr. Miyagi had Danny waxing-on and waxing-off, then paint-the-fence and sand-the-floor... well, that was all practice. No-fun, hard-work, practice. Then... Later... After all that, he was Very Skilled in blocking attacks and other martial arts moves that a 10 year old kid thinks are Radical, Dude!

Movie memories aside, I recently heard a first-hand account of a volunteer who was among those helping the victims of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. I had tears running down my cheeks as the man recounted how a U.S.A. helicopter full of supplies landed in a snowy region. Then people without proper clothing, who had lost their homes and friends and family members appear out of the white background. Slowly they picked through the boxes of medical aid, clothing and food. They each carefully pack the smallest amount that will sustain them and say "Thank You, Please take the rest to the next village, they need it more than we do." Again... "I could, but I won't."

Seriously folks, there is something deep to learn from this culture...

So, three takeaways from today's blog -

• Mr. Miyagi was AWESOME
• YOU can win with money by saying "I could, but I won't."
• The human spirit is capable of grace, integrity and honor even in the most devastating of circumstances.

Overall think the recent economic downturn, will prove to enlighten our culture. I hope we've learned that the last 20 years of "I can, so I will" were unwise to say the least.

Sincerely,

Aaron Nichols

True North Financial Fitness Coaching

aaron@truenorthffc.com

785-218-6134http://www.truenorthffc.com/

Got a leaky Wallet? Bulging budget or none at all? Dilapidated Debt that you're sick of living with?  You are losing hard earned dollars every month! Let me show you how to spackle the cracks and firm up your financial foundation. DIY or using my professional services, either way, the best time to fix your finances is Now!

I am NOT like Dave Ramsey

Millionaire at age 26 - Bankrupt shortly after - Now multi-many-times millionaire Dave Ramsey, is very open about his personal history.

Check out any of his material and you will find all about his rise and fall and rise. I am in complete admiration of a man who has taken his struggles and turned them into triumphs and is now changing millions of lives by teaching others the truth about money...

However...

I am NOT like Dave Ramsey.

You see he was into Dale Carnegie and Zig Ziglar at a very young age. He had the drive and the tools and will, then busted his rump to create success in his early twenties. He was always swinging for the fences from the start. In a way, it is no surprise that he was able to create success again, as he did before...

What if that is NOT your (or my) story. What if we haven't been hard-charging game-changing entreprenuers from day one? What if all this "success" stuff and talking about "wealth" is actually something new to us? Do we mentally move his whole philosophy waaay out of our personal reach. "Cause only him and his millionaire buddies actually do that stuff?"

Is it like watching the Olympics and seeing Michael Phelps win eight gold medals? We think that it is an awesome feat and we are in awe, but we never would put ourselves in his speedo, right?

Truth is, there are things to learn here from both Dave and Mike.

No, you do not have to be the very tip-top of financial gurus to have a clue about your own finances. In fact, it is probably much easier to keep track of my few dollars than Dave's many millions.

Also, I don't have to be and do every single thing that Dave does, in order to win with money. By deciding that I was worth the effort, I got serious about my finances. I made a few behavior adjustments, learned some simple techniques and found out that a whole new world of possibilities opened up to me. Finally, I was in control of my money, instead of it being in control of me... and really, really cool stuff has happened since then!

I got to be Me; And be Debt Free... just like Dave :)

Michael Phelps may always be a faster swimmer than me; I wouldn't even think of racing him... but I am sure glad I know how to swim. Thinking of that exercise as only for Olympic Athletes could be life-threatening.

We are all in the pool of finances, whether we like it or not... Some of us can doggie paddle, others have a sweet backstroke, but many are struggling to stay afloat. Learn to improve your swimming on your own, or find someone who is well trained and would love help you.

I am available for financial coaching and advice... but please, don't ask about the swimming lesson thing; it's just a metaphor :)

Aaron Nichols

True North Financial Fitness Coaching

aaron@truenorthffc.com

785-218-6134

http://www.truenorthffc.com/

Got a leaky Wallet? Bulging budget or none at all? Dilapidated Debt that you're sick of living with?  You are losing hard earned dollars every month! Let me show you how to spackle the cracks and firm up your financial foundation. DIY or using my professional services, either way, the best time to fix your finances is Now!