Watch What You Say

Last week, I wrote on subject of “creative thinking” or thinking “outside box” when it comes to solving some of life’s toughest problems. Creative problem solving however doesn’t just happen all at once. It must be fostered by establishing good thinking habits. Years ago, in his audio album The Strangest Secret, Earl Nightingale said that “we become what we think about”. In other words, if we approach world with a sour outlook, we will inevitably get same return. Much of our unhappiness can be attributed more, not by what happens but rather, how we view what happens.

Negative thinking will destroy any potential for creative solutions to our biggest challenges. Think about how many times you’ve heard those famous phrases, “That will never work” or “I could never do that”. The words we use can have a dramatic impact on our mind-set. In his book Power Talking, George Walther explains that any person can learn to shape their thinking by creating habit of using positive vocabulary. This skill, he believes can be developed one word, phrase, or sentence at a time. Think about it—what if instead of saying “I failed” we used phrase “I learned”. This helps your mind focus on lessons involved when something doesn’t work out like we would have hoped. Similarly, it might be a huge benefit for us to get into habit of using word “challenge” instead of problem.

The Difference Between “Need” and “Want”

Let’s face it: Most people spend way too much money on things they don’t really need. The more money we make, more we tend to spend. This endless cycle of materialism has led many people to confuse word “need” with word “want.” As in, “we need a big-screen TV for our new home theater.” Or, “I need a new pair of shoes to go with my new outfit.” If you want to achieve your vocational passion, where every day you jump out of bed and can’t wait to go to work, then you need to re-order your priorities. Stay away from purely material. The pursuit of material success often is root cause of burnout at midlife. In fact, a recent study at University of California at Berkeley found that people primarily motivated by love of their work grow dissatisfied as they begin to make more money. The first step to breaking free from materialism trap is to understand difference between “need” and “want.” We need food, clothing, shelter, reliable transportation, education, enrichment, and technology necessary to do our work. Also, we need occasional small indulgence to treat our children and ourselves. We do not need 500 cable TV channels, brand new luxury cars, 5,000-square-foot homes in exclusive neighborhoods, lavish ski vacations, and smart phones that do everything but think for us. There is nothing wrong with wanting these things. But understand that these things do not make us happy, in and of themselves. And, they are often links in chains that bind us to jobs we despise. Often, those who make a leap to vocational passion end up making more money over long term. But in short term, income usually declines. It may even go away for a period of time. Typically, first two years of a career change – in particular, one motivated purely by vocational passion – are financially difficult. Major lifestyle and attitude adjustments are critical to making money last while you pursue your dream. The amazing thing is that once you learn to live on less, it becomes a habit. The peace of mind that comes from relying less on materialism to define success usually leads to a greater and deeper happiness. Getting Real About Money So. Now we understand that pursuing vocational passion requires a major adjustment in our attitude toward money and material comfort. The next step is getting down to details. What does it take to transform yourself and your family from a unit that consumes as much as it earns to one that respects money and makes it last? The trick is to look at all expenses, both big and small. Leave no stone unturned. No savings is too small, and no category of spending should be free from scrutiny. Those looking to leave a job to pursue a vocational passion face two core issues: raising enough money to fund a career change, and changing spending patterns to make money last. Raising money can be a tremendous challenge, depending on your financial resources. Savings, bonds, securities, IRAs, home equity, jewelry, valuables, and family resources are all avenues for raising capital to sustain your family during this transition. Consider these options to cut down your burn rate. Some will seem dramatic. But if you have decided that your only chance at happiness is to pursue a vocational dream, small measures won’t cut it.