Tag Archive - freedom
dreambig

Dream Big, Act Big

Today’s post comes from a guest Maren Kate  an entrepreneur who blogs about her escapades at Escapingthe9to5.com where she chides people to dream big, act bigger and run screaming from the status quo. My kind of thinker. Enjoy.

It is a wonderful thing to dream, but it’s an even better thing to act upon those dreams. Throughout my life I’ve dreamed of a certain lifestyle, certain freedoms and the chance to do the extraordinary, but it wasn’t until after college that I realized dreams were just realities waited to be acted upon. This realization changed my life, up until about 21 I’d always assumed that you could dream but life happened to you regardless. This couldn’t be further from the truth and as I ‘wake up’ more and more from the fog of ‘the real world’ I see that your life can be as big as you dream it but your dreams can only be as big as you are willing to act upon.

This is actually reason for celebration, it means you don’t have to wake up everyday and think ‘what will life hand me today’ instead you can literally happen to life, all it takes are baby steps. The way I act upon my dreams is three fold, I’ll explain my ‘action plan’ below: Continue Reading…

link Posted: March 30, 2010 in: Self Development

You Have to Make It Happen

We’ve got a real problem in this country with people and what they believe. No I’m NOT talking politics. We’ve bread a culture that believes things should be handed to them, that they no longer have to work hard for success, but that it should be handed to them.

This is a wrong way of thinking; one that needs to change. If you want something, you’re going to have to go out and make it happen.

I’m learning this first hand. For years I talked about business and being successful. In reality I was waiting for success to land in my lap. I was hoping it would be handed to me with the least effort possible, and in turn my first couple of businesses were mediocre. I applied the least amount of effort to everything I did.

And then one day a light bulb went off.

I’ve found a lot of success already, because I’m pouring blood, sweat and tears into making it happen. I’m getting out there and hitting the pavement, shaking hands, staying up late working on projects, making phone calls, doing follow ups, going to networking events, building my following on twitter, keeping up with it on facebook, etc. I’m putting in the work, not just sitting back and hoping it will come to me. I stay up late and fry my eyes with two 24inch computer screens, doing favors, hoping for some return. I’m taking a huge risk on all of this right now. But with risk, comes great rewards. If this thing is going to happen, I’m going to make it happen.

Now, here’s the deal. We all know this principle. So why are so many of you waiting around for success to land in your lap? Equally, why are so many of you thinking that you should be handed that next big promotion without doing any work?

If you want something, you’re going to have to pursue it. You’re going to have to bleed out of your eyeballs to make it happen. You’re going to have to be relentless in some cases. You’re friends will probably think you are crazy. Forget them. Your friends are probably losers anyways. Stop dreaming pie in the sky and start making the pie. (Does that even make sense?) You’ll probably have to get outside your comfort zone for starters.

My wife wants to buy a Hummer. A freaking Hummer in this economy! And guess what, she’s going to drive a freaking Hummer because WE ARE GOING TO MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Only one way that is going to happen. Not by me sitting around hoping to get lucky, but by me getting out there and MAKING IT HAPPEN.

Stop waiting for lady luck, get up off your ass and MAKE IT HAPPEN.

Word of the wise, there are NO SHORT CUTS to SUCCESS. So avoid the MLM’s.

link Posted: March 18, 2010 in: Self Development

MLM Broke

How Multi-Level Marketing Will Leave You Broke

Updated 11/23/2011

Do you hate pumping gas? The routine feels like such a hassel to me. I have to fight to find a free pump most times, and if I do find a free pummp, then I’ve got to make sure I pull up to it with the tank on the right side. You’ve gotta get out of your car, walk around, go thru all those annoying menu’s on the pump. Or worse yet, go inside and prepay. Ugh, yuck.

So you’re probably wondering what pumping gas has to do with Multi-level Marketing. Well there I was, minding my business one fateful afternoon when young man on the other side of my pump decided to pitch his MLM to me.

“Wow, nice Audi, what kind of gas mileage does that thing get?”

“I manage to get about 21-22 city and 27 highway” I replied.

He replied unusually enthusiastic with an “AWESOME MAN!”

“Hey, can I ask what you do?”

Ahh… my favorite question! So I responded; “I hike, camp, rock climb, go kayaking, build websites, read, stuff like that.”

The puzzled expression on his face was a dead give away I had just given him a curve ball to his usual elevator pitch.

Pausing for a brief moment, he replied; “Oh wow, good deal man. I’m actually working with a business team out of Raleigh, North Carolina, helping folks develop web based businesses. We’re actually looking for some sharp folks like yourself who are looking to earn some extra income. Do you keep your options open?”

Carefully thinking over my reply, I realized this was a ploy to get me to come see some MLM plan. More than likely he was your typical IBO with Amway.

“Do I keep my options open? Well who doesn’t keep their options open! Especially if you believe that we live in the land of opportunity. But I’ve learned to carefully evaluate those opportunities and to recognize dead end opportunities without wasting my time. And I’m afraid I’m all to familiar with our pitch. So, to answer your question, I’m not open to your offer at this time.”

From the look he gave me, I knew I had just sunk his battleship.

Has this happened to you? Have you been approached by some young adult, who appears well dressed and genuinely polite?
Continue Reading…

link Posted: January 21, 2010 in: Thoughts On

The Good Life

Live a Kickass Lifestyle in 6 Easy Steps

If you are ready to start getting intentional about how you are going to live your life and actually truly live a kickass life, here is how you can do it. In 6 simple steps.

  1. BECOME PASSIONATE
    If you are really going to change your lifestyle and start LIVING, then you are going to have to become passionate. No more straddling the fence there, Buster. It is time to commit to your dream, to that vision of how you want to live.When I became passionate and put real emotion behind my dreams, I went from that guy who was always going to do something, to the guy who HAD DONE SOMETHING.

    I’m sure you have heard people say that you need to find what you are passionate about and then pursue it. That’s great for finding a way to make an income, but if you don’t have passion for very much, you won’t achieve anything beyond that. You need to become passionate about the vision of the life you want. Do you want a new red sports car? Then get passionate about it.

  2. START READING
    The lazy man of mediocrity sits in front of his TV and absorbs. There is a reason it is called the “Boob Tube”. If you want to grow and live a successful lifestyle, it is time to start reading and educating yourself. I never really liked to read, but my mentor always told me it doesn’t matter if you like to read or not, you just need to do it. Commit to read at least 30 minutes a day.But what to read? Check out my book list here for starters. Also, start seeking out websites and blogs on what you’re trying to achieve.  Not only do I read books on entrepreneurship, personal development, finances and investing, but I also read blogs on these subjects.

    But that’s not all, I read travel blogs and magazines too, because that goes back to step 1 and fuels my passion for how I want to live my life and what I want to do.

  3. STOP COMPLAINING
    Seriously, stop complaining about your boss. Stop complaining about your spouse. Stop complaining about the government and everything else you whine about. Do you know who complains? LOSERS COMPLAIN. If you make up your mind to stop complaining and only notice the positive around you, you’ll notice a huge improvement in your attitude and in the circumstances of your life.
  4. START DOING
    Doers get things done. Don’t wait for other people. Get out there and take action! Stop waiting for lady luck and make it happen yourself. It is that simple. If you want to change your life, then you are going to have to start taking action. That’s how I did it, and that’s what you need to do.Idleness will lead to nothing.
  5. GET OUTSIDE YOUR COMFORT ZONE
    If you are comfortable where you are at you will be stagnate. The only thing in nature that is stagnate is a swamp. Everything else is either growing or dying. So what are you doing? If you want to grow, you will have to get outside of your comfort zone.I learned this while rock climbing this summer, hanging onto the side of a cliff a thousand feet up, going well outside my comfort zone. Every time that my mind wanted to give up, I’d push myself and find that I was capable of more than my mind wanted to believe.  Every time that I retreated and failed to push myself, giving up, I have regretted.For example, if you are afraid of being around a large crowd of people, then you NEED to hang around a large crowd of people until you are comfortable. You grow the most when you are outside your comfort zone.
  6. START LIVING
    Quit your job if you have to. You only get one life. Why waste your life? You need to start living! Start doing some of the things you dream of doing. You don’t have to do all of them at once, and maybe some of them require you to be more well off. Start small and work your way up towards your goals.Trust me, you aren’t living while working in a cubical 60 hours a week hoping for the weekend. That is not what we were created to do. That is not a life.

So that’s it. If you want to live an awesome life start there. I’ll share more insights as time goes on.

link Posted: January 15, 2010 in: Lifestyle

My First Post!

Well, I thought to myself, it is finally time to launch a real blog. I mean, everyone seems to be jumping on board with social media and self branding. Even the President has a twitter account.  I just recently signed up for one. Call me late to the party if you will, but it’s better late than never.

A little something about me: My name is Michael Key (as you no doubt notice from the domain name).  Most people just call me Mike.  I’ve lived in Virginia Beach, VA all of my life. Luckily for me, I was able to escape the rat race a year ago and spent the last year enjoying my life, part of which was spent traveling the country, selling a business, and getting married.

So what is this site supposed to be about? Well, first let me say, I have no formal qualifications to be any kind of “guru”, “life coach”, or “teacher” who will share with you all the secrets to go from zero to a bazillionaire overnight.

But that which I lack in training, I make up for with real world experience and a desire to share that experience with others. I have, after all, managed to quit the rat race, gain control over my time and money, learn sound financial investment, and successfully run several small businesses. Now I am working on developing muses to create a passive income.

So, this site is all about one man’s journey as an entrepreneurial ninja to realize his dreams. It’s about my personal development, lifestyle design, my adventures and the ramblings on topics that have helped shape, stretch and mold me into who I am today.

I’m hoping I can help others, maybe even inspire someone who thinks that circumstances are to great to overcome. Believe me, I have overcome a lot in my life. I just want to share with others. So here I am.

So thanks for reading.

link Posted: December 21, 2009 in: Thoughts On