Make You Own Retirement
Your retirement is truly your business, but is it really enough to get you across the finish line comfortably? Perhaps not as much as you might hope. By creating a robust business, you not only pave the way for extra income but also build a retirement plan that keeps on giving, providing you with ongoing financial support well into your golden years.
Rewriting your retirement - Create a business that inspires your passion and funds your next move.
The common belief regarding the length of time it typically takes to achieve meaningful success is largely a myth. Many people think that success follows a specific set timeline, perhaps influenced by stories they’ve heard or examples they’ve seen, but the reality is that it can vary significantly based on numerous factors, including individual effort, opportunities, and personal circumstances.
The decades ago path of working diligently for 40 to 50 long years at a single job, while patiently waiting for the boss overlords to show any signs of genuine concern for the retirement package that was once promised to the ambitious flying car generation and excited visionaries, has certainly transformed considerably over the years.
Now, remote work—along with the remarkable return of the once-abandoned trades that had long been forgotten in our educational institutions—and a multitude of exciting entrepreneurial adventures now fill our conversations and humor our boundless imaginations. I genuinely and sincerely desire to see this transformation take shape in our lives too. These concepts, while not entirely new ideas, have taken on fresh significance and deeper implications in today's ever-changing world that we navigate. Remote work now carries a new, profound meaning, an evolution beginning with the haunting sounds of bullets flying in far-off foreign lands and extending to the regular daily trips to jobs outside our homes, all of which have been dramatically transformed by recent global events. Similarly, the trades—which were once integral to every school's curriculum but were subsequently neglected in favor of other subjects—are now being revitalized thanks to the introduction of newer and more advanced technologies, paving the way for an entirely new generation of skilled workers. Moreover, the realm of entrepreneurial endeavors that were previously concentrated significantly on the manufacturing sector and the noble task of building America has now shifted toward the dynamic and innovative selling of America itself. This transformation involves curating unforgettable, unique experiences for consumers that resonate deeply within our swiftly evolving society.
Evolving the society has not been an easy road and constant change mark the pains of change at regular intervals within the generational gaps. As our education levels have increased due to the college attendance push so has the needed education of our starting positions. This may sound great on the surface however it pushes younger aged persons out of the running and focuses on the older community to fill those spots. But is age the real factor? Is old age considered a drain on resources? All valid questions but not the main point.
Is old age really correlated with weakness anymore? In today's rapidly evolving world, the new retirement plans require both men and women to embrace the later years of their lives with fierce determination and unwavering confidence. With numerous advancements in healthcare, education, and lifestyle choices, we are now able to cultivate not only stronger bodies but also sharper minds, effectively challenging the traditional notions of aging that have long been accepted. As we navigate this exciting chapter of life, it’s essential to recognize that age does not define our capabilities but rather offers us new opportunities to thrive.
The 80/20 Rule, or Pareto Principle, suggests that 20% of actions yield 80% of results. Recognizing this can enhance productivity and goal achievement. Identify key areas in your life—such as projects or relationships—that deliver the most value. For instance, in your career, concentrate on the top 20% of projects that generate the highest returns. Evaluate daily activities to find which tasks bring the most satisfaction and progress. Learn to say no to less critical tasks, freeing time for what matters. Adopting the 80/20 Rule can transform your approach to responsibilities, allowing for a more fulfilling life with less effort.
Even with the new expectations and an internal passion to outsmart the conventional notions of retirement, the mindset shift is undoubtedly the real change that is currently taking place. Just recently, I had the opportunity to attend a network meeting with Work Our Network, where it was truly remarkable that not a single person brought up sales as their number one goal. Instead, the primary concerns revolved around passion and the deep desire to help others. Of course, achieving sales is essential in any business model, but what was truly fascinating is that problem-solving became the primary driving force behind the conversations. This reflects a significant evolution in how we view success and purpose in our professional lives.
Our primary purpose as we head into the future, amidst the numerous challenges brought on by recessionary struggles and the unsettling effects of inflation scare tactics, is to bolster and enhance the overall strength and resilience of entrepreneurship. Our goal is not only to help individuals and businesses survive during these trying times but also to empower them to thrive and achieve greater success in the long run.
3 Things to do NOW!
The future is not coming, it’s here.
Success is rarely a straight line; it's more like a winding road filled with twists, turns, and unexpected detours. Embrace the journey, for every setback is an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. The bumps along the way teach resilience and ignite creativity. Celebrate the small victories and the lessons learned from failures, as each step—no matter how rocky—brings you closer to your goals. Remember, the climb may be steep, but with perseverance and a positive mindset, those scenic views at the summit will make the journey all the more rewarding.
Why are those 3 main todo items so important? We were once told to work hard and the company would take care of you - that died out with Enron scandal, and other company let downs. We were once told just buy a house and that will help you retire rich when you sell it and downsize to Florida - that crashed and burned. We were once told if you get a degree in anything you will be a CEO someday and make millions - that was false.
Catching the trend?
Entrepreneurship, in my mind, is undeniably the only truly positive tool that we can embrace and effectively utilize to create a brighter and better future for ourselves and our communities. It involves relying heavily on self-imposed planning, strategic thinking, and cultivating internal fortitude to reach the financial and personal goals you are ambitiously aiming for. This significant shift from having others manage or plan your retirement to taking that essential responsibility into your own hands requires a considerable amount of self-actualization, resilience, and personal accountability. Sadly, this is a challenging path that many people tend to avoid pursuing, often out of fear, uncertainty, or even doubt about what lies ahead in the entrepreneurial journey.
But not YOU!
If you are reading this, then I’m betting you are actively on your unique path to gain the upper hand on life and seize every wonderful opportunity that comes your way. Retiring is probably only a stepping stone to yet another exciting adventure, and that’s perfectly okay. The longer we are living, the richer and more meaningful our experiences become, which gives us ample time to level up again, again, and again. Embrace the journey, because each moment is a chance to grow and explore new horizons!
The V.I.TA.L Fate Method of Stoicism and Business Life
Stoicism and business can coexist harmoniously if approached with thoughtful consideration and a good deal of introspection. By integrating stoic principles, entrepreneurs can cultivate resilience and mindfulness, leading to better decision-making and a more balanced approach to the challenges they face in the business world.
Stoic business practices, the new business model.
It’s not a new concept; the stoic mindset has been around for centuries, at least since the days of ancient Greece and Rome. A mentor at work recently shared with me some insightful practices introduced by Marcus Aurelius, the famous Roman emperor known for his significant contributions to stoic philosophy and the stoic lifestyle he led so wisely.
He also mentioned the notable author Donald J. Robertson, whose works on Stoicism and its practical applications have now made their way onto my reading list. We can definitely delve into that topic later, as I'm eager to explore his ideas further.
The main focus of our conversation was the intriguing idea of control—particularly how a professional must recognize when circumstances are beyond our control. It’s essential to understand that we must learn to manage our responses in a way that aligns with the energy we receive from external situations and challenges.
A little before information, Marcus Aurelius is remembered as one of the Five Good Emperors, marking the culmination of an era known for its just and capable rulers. After his death, his son became the catalyst for a challenging period that deviated from that legacy. However, rather than discussing the historical downfall of governance of the Roman Empire, our goal is to explore the rich practices of Stoicism and how we can effectively apply these principles in our everyday business practices.
From my understanding, there appears to be several key components of Stoicism that we should consider: Virtue, Control, Emotions, Living Fate, and Acceptance.
"Don't sweat the small stuff... unless it's your morning coffee, then maybe sweat a little, but not too much."
Besides looking at this great image of a man that ruled a good chunk of world let’s play with acronyms V.I.T.A.L. Fate, and use this as our guide in this share.
Virtue is the first and most VITAL Fate - (man, this is getting cheesy a bit, sorry about that. I couldn’t resist). How we manage our day to days requires constant decision making. With each decision we have to analize each value we have with a critical comb and subconsciously it takes a toll. The mission here is to create a few rules that must always be followed. Constantine the Great “thinking is the great enemy of man”.
Invocations and/or Emotions follows the main rules to follow V.I.T.A.L Fate - I cannot say enough about emotions and the role they play in our lives. Understanding the triggers in every situation should is a basic covenance to having a real conversation. I feel when we run out of good arguments we revert to aggression to solve the debate.
Total Control, or controlled control, is next in V.I.T.AL. Fate - Understanding that control is an illusion and everything is really influence is the game changer. Because reality is constructed immediately before the next unknown moment control is out of our understanding and physical abilities. Influence is however in our abilities.
Understand Your Purpose! Live Your Life!
Acceptance, boy this one is the roughest. There is no easy way for this to happen. Without scientific research and going on a hunch, I’m betting that acceptance is tough because of the neuro pathways that have been written during the experience, so erasing the past cannot happen, and acceptance only writes new pathways, unless you get into government brainwashing techniques.
Living a V.IT.A.L. life is the best solution for the rest of your life. No hidden secret here, wait there is one.
Live to be happy. Mind you, being happy is no easy task. Being happy is the torture beholden to us for having a an evolved brain. Evolution or the creator decided the desire for free will means to pursue conflict and excitement, that excitement which causes neuro-pathways to develop, is doomed to need excitement and drama but we don’t want it. It’s cruel really. Then happiness is within the drama and excitement, so sitting still, idle, will solve nothing and reward us with nothing. Reflecting on your happiness will be the secret to your happiness.
Was that helpful, I guess not. Stoicism and all that. Is your happiness in my control? Nope. But I hope I can influence it.
Fate is the final gut punch of stoicism, if you believe in that. Or if you believe in the invisible hand involving itself in you life that’s cool too.
The important thing is that I believe in you.
Trade Words Like Cash
Learn the RAIN Method and other fantastic tools in this book.
Lets Get Learning!
With making money on the minds of most people, knowledge is our only path to a bountiful secure future. The great thing is that we have so much information at our fingertips.
But how do we choose the right knowledge to use to your advantage?
Do you listen to the media? Do you listen to social media? Do you try YouTube? Do you park it at the library? Attend school? There is no right answer. The cool thing is that there is no wrong answer either. Knowledge is knowledge. In our business we need to have a process for knowledge gathering and use.
As this is a topic on knowledge and making money, I’d like to share a piece of knowledge that is setting some groundwork for me. In their book, Virtual Selling, by Mike Schultz, Dave Shaby, and Andy Springer (https://bookshop.org/a/93509/9781734883909) , is a prime example of learning something new, but not just for the newness of knowledge but to learn the lingo and skills for a new opportunity. Pulled from their book a common quote that all business professionals and entrepreneurs should consider when introducing new information. After all repeat business is our best friend.
“Change is not necessary, but neither is survival.” W. Edwards Deming
So, there lies the turmoil of what is next, what to act on. What to move us from survival to revival. Do you feel you have enough knowledge to support the proposed financial growth hypothesis? How do you build the sellers/buyers relationship and not look the part of the fool? The list of factors is too great to list here. From day one we trade our knowledge in our lingo, our tech talk, and our jargon. In the negative egotistical sense, you can see this as a pissing match. However, in a true knowledge quest you see this trading in shared visions of workplace pride.
When listening, each trade has its own set of jargon. For example, below are three different examples of industry lingo.
Plumbing Physical Science Business
snaking lines gun spark Return on Investment
rough ins bias flow turbine run to fail
water hammer Hobbit Hole Door Bleeding Edge
ballcock McClure Box Blue Ocean
You get the picture. Once the lingo of an industry is understood a whole new world is opened to you. Which opens new possibilities too. What possibilities are thinking up right now for your business? The authors of Virtual Selling also provide key lingo to start learning to set you on YOUR next adventure financial gain.
Virtual Selling Lingo:
Engagement threshold
Cost impact model
Armageddon pitchman
Saccharin-sweetness
Bialys (admittedly this one is a flatbread – but I had to look it up)
NOTE – this is only a small example from the book.
Once the lingo is brought into the field the authors start working through their method for success, the R.A.I.N Method, which is a foundation to shift from F2F (face to face) selling to a virtual selling environment with an included ROI model to see the impact of delivering exceptional success.
BUT that’s not all! There are more tools like the Buyer Change Blueprint, review of the impact model, and more! There is even a Star Trek mention from the old episodes if you can catch it. The point is change is hard, but it’s harder without a system and without a good vocabulary. Check out the book.
HandPrint Content