“Ultimately, there’s one investment that supersedes all others: Invest in yourself,” Buffett says in a recent interview with Forbes. “Nobody can take away what you’ve got in yourself, and everybody has potential they haven’t used yet.” With returns of 25%-1000% or more, investing in yourself has proven to be far and away one of the best investments you can make. Once you’ve made the investment in improving your earning potential, you can reap the dividends for a lifetime. Why is it then that so many people invest every extra penny they have in either “assets” that rapidly decrease in value like cars, or low return vehicles such as houses, stocks, bonds, or money market accounts yet fail to invest in themselves? If you can make a relatively small investment in coaching or a few courses that allow you to make significant leaps forward in your life, why would you not make that investment? Certainly investing in yourself follows the law of diminishing returns as there is a limit on how much employers or clients will be willing to pay for your services, but the ceiling is much higher than most people realize. If you can guarantee that you will earn someone more money than they pay you, there are people out there who will pay you virtually any amount. It’s like an IQ test. If I pay you $100k and you make me $200k, that’s a good deal. Millionaires understand that. Business owners understand that. The broke guy scrambling to come up with the money to pay for coffee doesn’t get it. That’s why I didn’t hesitate when I decided to invest $100 in a funnel building class the other day after reading tons of success stories, and another several hundred on software and creative material. I was trying to figure out the best way to promote our Workout Challenge which is designed to help save lives and knew I needed help. It’s one of the best courses I’ve ever taken on marketing, and it is already well on the way to paying for itself in the first two weeks, and I’m not even done. That’s not an expense, it’s an investment. It’s why people still go to college even though costs are skyrocketing. They know that the average college graduate makes nearly $30k a year more than a high school graduate. If you got through elementary math, you could figure out that 40 years times an extra $30k each year is about $1.2 million difference over an average career lifespan. That’ll pay for a lot of education. What is your budget for investing in your own growth? source https://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/2019/03/what-is-your-budget-for-investing-in.html Via https://personalgrowthchannel.tumblr.com/post/183726872284
0 Comments
I recently officially registered The Personal Growth Channel LLC as an LLC (Limited Liability Company). If any of you have been in business for very long, you know that eventually, you have to get your employee identification number (EIN), pay your taxes, and jump through all those legal hoops that most entrepreneurs don’t want to mess with or you will be limited on how far you can take the business, and it can catch up to you with significant penalties. source https://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/2019/03/forming-llc-for-your-company.html Via https://personalgrowthchannel.tumblr.com/post/183566509534 I was scrolling through my Facebook feed a little while back and hit love on Bill’s photo of his son joining him and his wife for lunch.
It is a story that is stuck on loop play in our society today. As a health coach, I knew all the statistics. Maybe Bill’s heart attack couldn’t have been prevented, but scientists estimate that one in five deaths in the US is related to being overweight. Black women are most at risk, with more than 1 in 4 deaths caused by being overweight, followed closely by white women with slightly over 1 in 5 deaths, so it’s not just a guy problem. More than 60 diseases including all of the top killers such as cancer, stroke, heart disease, mental illnesses, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes have overweight or obese listed as one of their primary risk factors. While starvation is a well-known killer, scientists now estimate that three times as many people die every year from being overweight as do from hunger. Thousands of people will wake up tomorrow and find that like Bill, their loved ones are no longer with them due to this silent killer. More people will die this year from this deadly foe than have been killed in any war since World War 2. That’s the enemy that I am trying to fight with the workout challenge, the enemy that I hope you will join me in fighting. I’ve spent the better part of the last decade fighting this in my own life and then helping clients fight this. It’s not an easy battle. For me, I woke up in my thirties to the fact that I was forty pounds overweight while going through a divorce. At first, it wasn’t about health, it was about not feeling good enough somehow, about not being happy with my body. I was battling depression even to the point of feeling suicidal, not even knowing at the time that being overweight was one of the top risk factors for many mental illnesses including depression. I’m a guy that tends to take things to the extreme, so I signed up for a Tough Mudder on a dare as inspiration…one of the most physically challenging events on the planet, a half marathon run through a muddy obstacle course designed by British Special Forces. I couldn’t jog more than 50 yards without gasping for air and feeling like I was dying and I didn’t really want to do anything, but I believed I could do it. I joined the local runner’s club and started playing indoor soccer, and enjoyed the camaraderie that comes with that. As my physical health returned, so did my mental health and my depression evaporated, and I started to feel like me again. I actually did complete the Tough Mudder, and then another two, but it was an unsustainable program. I was working out for an hour and a half every day, then running for another hour or two every day and longer on the weekends to get in that kind of shape. It was affecting my relationships, and with five kids, running a company, and a new wife I just couldn’t keep it up any longer. I hit the wall, burnt out, and almost entirely stopped working out and watching what I was eating. A year or two later after burning out, I found myself mostly back to where I started. That’s when I realized that I had to come up with a sustainable program and reached out to a local personal trainer, Jeremy Ferry. In our first meeting, I expressed that my desire for training was “to look and feel good.” I was worried because I knew that my previous routine of working out 3+ hours a day was not going to work, but something had to change. I was starting to get sick a lot more, felt my energy levels and mental state dropping, and just overall didn’t feel good anymore like I did when I was in great shape. Jeremy let me know that we could easily accomplish that goal with a routine of working out three times a week, for forty-five minutes to an hour plus eating a bit healthier. I was a little skeptical as it sounded too good to be true, but I could see the results Jeremy was getting for other clients and signed up that day. Fast forward a few years, and I’ve found a sustainable program that I have been teaching to people. It’s not a short term diet or any crazy workout routine, it is simple, sustainable habits that you can build into your life. I started the workout challenge earlier as a friendly challenge at the gym to help people stay accountable to each other, and learned that one of the most motivating factors is being part of a healthy community. When you develop friendships with people who are doing healthy things, you tend to do the same thing. When those around you are not doing healthy things, you tend to do that as well. When Bill passed away, I wanted to do something to help get this story off of infinite loop. I thought about a weight loss program, but that’s hard to see. Then it hit me that our little workout challenge could be scaled up to help teach healthy habits to the masses and that those who took the challenge could become motivating forces to help all of those around them become healthy. Just telling people to lose weight doesn’t work, you have to teach them habits they can maintain and show them what to do. I had all the research at my fingertips from years of working on this issue, and bundled it together with cookbooks, T-Shirts, and the current physical activity guidelines for Americans and started giving it away. Gradually, people have started joining the challenge, and I am hoping that it will go viral as it is designed to do so with a referral program, prizes, community aspect, and more. Maybe you’ll become that motivating force for your community. I invite you to join me as we do our best to save some lives, one workout at a time. Click here to take the challenge. -Don Smith, Founder The Personal Growth Channel source https://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/2019/03/why-i-created-workout-challenge.html Via https://personalgrowthchannel.tumblr.com/post/183481969324 Name virtually any transformational leader, and I will show you someone who uses stories to get their point across. Stories that capture our imagination are the catalyst for change, always have been, and always will be. Continue Reading » source https://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/2019/03/book-of-month-storytellers-secret-by.html Via https://personalgrowthchannel.tumblr.com/post/183319270774 The other day, I got a text from a gentleman who was interested in coaching as he had just become a manager and was struggling in his new role. I told him I’d be happy to help as I have been in management roles for nearly twenty years, and sent him my scheduling link to find a time that works to discuss his goals in more depth. source https://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/2019/03/learning-to-say-no-as-coach.html Via https://personalgrowthchannel.tumblr.com/post/183214350544 Two quick announcements for today, March 3rd 2019.
source https://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/2019/03/join-pearl-from-worth-war-and-don-smith.html Via https://personalgrowthchannel.tumblr.com/post/183190401734 Our workout challenge has been completely reworked. You’ll have the option to refer a friend, get access to our workout accountability group, and earn some prizes. There aren’t any crazy workouts, you get to pick and choose what you do, I just want to get America up and moving again after a good friend of mine passed away from a heart attack recently. source https://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/2019/02/workout-challenge-20-get-healthy-win.html Via https://personalgrowthchannel.tumblr.com/post/183122175254 My kids are spoiled and ungrateful. I should have been harder on them when they were younger. I’m too hard on my kids; maybe I should ease up a little.
source https://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/2019/02/its-impossible-to-be-perfect-but-you.html Via https://personalgrowthchannel.tumblr.com/post/183073888149 I knew from the tone in her voice that something was wrong the moment I answered the call from my wife. That conversation was a bit of an eye-opener to me. We can and should do things like working out and eating right to stay physically fit to prevent medical issues later, expanding our minds through reading and learning to increase our earning potential, performing routine maintenance on equipment we use, and being responsible with our finances to prevent being in these circumstances like these. But sometimes, you can do everything right, and things will still go wrong. I hope you’ll remember that next time you meet someone who is struggling and have a little compassion for them. If it’s you who is facing things going wrong, make sure you are tweaking your habits, reach out for help, and try this little prayer. The Serenity Prayer source https://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/2019/02/you-can-do-everything-right-yet-have.html Via https://personalgrowthchannel.tumblr.com/post/182917201834 It’s Valentine’s day, and many people would like to improve their relationships, romantic or platonic. Here are some resources to help you in this area of life.
Relationship Discussion GroupIt’s hard to beat discussing relationships with a live group. Join me for an interactive discussion on this subject. I’m happily married with five children, have served as a couple’s, men’s, and high school group pastor, and am a certified life coach. Friendships and romantic relationships are covered. Click here to register for this or one of our other discussion groups.How Do I Know When I’ve Met “The One”?Three months after I met my wife, we were married. We’ve been together for seven years now, and I couldn’t be happier with that decision. While many may consider it a reckless decision, I had actually done a ton of research into what makes for a healthy long term relationship, and this article dives into many of the factors that come into play. Click here to read this article.ScreamFree Marriage: Calming Down, Growing Up, and Getting Closer by Hal and Jenny RunkelYou may not actually be screaming at your partner, but are you a little frustrated with how things are going? Screaming takes many forms, including silence when things get rough. Maybe you have a great relationship, but want it to be even better. Written by a world-renowned expert on helping families resolve conflict and create healthy relationships, this book is the place to start to grow your marriage. Even if you are not married, you’ll learn ways of responding to others so that your relationship grows deeper and your conflicts become manageable. Click here to order through Amazon.ScreamFree Parenting: The Revolutionary Approach to Raising Your Kids by Keeping Your Cool by Hal RunkelScreamFree and Parenting don’t go together in the same sentence, do they? With 5 kids myself, I can tell you that while you will likely still pull your hair out at times, this book will make a significant impact on your family. This isn’t just about lowering your voice, it gives practical advice on how to control your own emotional reactions and respond effectively so that you and your kids will have a better relationship. Take charge of your family confidently and lead well with the wisdom captured in this book, you and your kids will be thankful you read this! Click here to order through Amazon.The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything by Stephen M. R. Covey and Stephen R. CoveyTrust, you either have it or you don’t, right? This book challenges that assumption by giving practical advice on how to rapidly build and rebuild trust. After reading this book, I realized it described exactly what I couldn’t put into words about what the people I trust did. If you have complete faith in those around you, things will happen at lightning speed, especially in business. Learn how to foster that by reading this excellent book! Click here to order through Amazon.Getting Ready for Marriage: How to Really Get to Know the Person You’re Going to Marry by Jerry Hardin and Dianne SloanHow do you know if your partner is really the right fit? My wife and I used this intensive workbook to make sure we were on the right track before we got married. You and your partner will be asked hard questions you’ve never even thought of, and be able to work through scenarios before they happen to make sure you are on the same page. Why wouldn’t you invest some time into this before committing to spending the rest of your life with someone? This book brought us much closer together and made it evident that we were making the right choice. Click here to order through Amazon.Click: The Magic of Instant Connections by Ori and Ron BrafmanYou know the feeling. You meet someone, and the two of you just instantly “Click.” How does that happen? This fascinating piece of work digs into the factors that go into this magical feeling and gives practical advice on how to give yourself the best chances of making it happen regularly. Click here to order through Amazon.How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale CarnegieFor more than 60 years this book has topped the charts. Number one for a reason, the title says it all. Business or personal relationships, this should be a required read for everyone in my opinion! Click here to order on Amazon.The Smart Stepdad or StepmomStepfamilies have a lot of additional pressures on them that regular families do not. The smart stepdad helped me a lot as I navigated combining my three children with my wife’s two children when we got married. There’s also a version for mom, The Smart Stepmom. If this is your situation, I highly recommend picking up a copy of this book. Click here to order on Amazon.I hope this helps point you in the right direction. If you want to have a conversation about your specific scenario, be sure and join our live group by clicking here! source https://www.personalgrowthchannel.com/2019/02/improve-relationships-with-this.html Via https://personalgrowthchannel.tumblr.com/post/182805745054 |