Stop Whining and Get Moving!

sitting on tracksOkay, I admit the title Stop Whining and Get Moving may be a bit harsh… but it’s time I rant for a moment… Everywhere I go, people are whining about how bad things are. I’m hearing all the tragedies, failures, and doom and gloom forecasting.

First off, I get it. The last three years have been brutal … I have my own set of stories I could share. It’s not fun to lose a home. It’s scary to lose a job or business and wonder how you’re going to make it. It’s awful to literally worry about how you’re going to provide for your family. That part I get. Completely. And, I’m not here to minimize or invalidate how serious the situation is.

I also understand how exhausting it can be under the weight of difficult circumstances. Ever wake up in the morning feeling just as tired as when you went to bed… I know.

However, what I also know is that the one thing that nobody can take from you is the way in which you look at things and whether you CHOOSE to focus on what isn’t or whether you CHOOSE to focus on what can be.

Now, I know nobody wants to hear about focusing on a positive future when you’re marinating in daily drama. Let’s face it, misery loves company. People would rather compare wounds than put it all aside for a moment and dream again. But, let me ask you … aren’t you ready to move on to a new season?

My former mentor used to tell me when coaching people: “Kick ’em when they’re down… it’ll bring the fight back out in ’em!” Now, granted he was a Vietnam Vet, Navy Seal and Olympic champion so he was a bit on the strong side but he did have a point. We all have more fight in us. We just need to tap into it and there comes a point when the help of empathy isn’t nearly as effective as a swift kick in the rear.

So, consider this your kick!

Here’s 5 Steps you can take:

1. Stop the hemorrhaging. If you’ve got a mess, clean it up. Be proactive. With your finances – Get specific on where you stand and start working whatever plan is appropriate. Even if it’s ugly at the moment, chaos and confusion on top of things always makes it worse. Get clear – get organized – and get on a plan.

2. Put your eyes back in the front of your head. Make a solid decision to start looking forward. Enough focus on how it used to be… Sure, I liked the days when our home prices kept doubling, everyone refinanced and used their house as a great big ATM machine. That was fun! Not so smart, but fun! Enough focus on the current struggles. Yes, take care of them, but STOP focusing on them! START looking ahead. DREAM again. Imagine for a moment…a future that takes your breath away.

3. Get creative. A brilliant and very wealthy mentor of mine once told me, “You never have a money problem. You only have an idea problem.” If that’s the case, then the bad news is you’ve just been stripped of all your excuses since it’s now about your creativity. However, the good news is that you no longer need to be at the mercy of circumstances. You can choose not to participate in bad economic times. How? Get creative. What are you passionate about? What are you good at? Most importantly, what problems could you solve for other people?

4. Get Moving. As I mentioned, I understand how exhausting it can be under the weight of difficult circumstances. But, it’s time to mentally get out from under there and get moving. As Will Rodgers once said, “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” It’s time to get into motion! I know you don’t feel like it. But, you don’t like feeling stuck either. So, get up, dust yourself off, and get moving! Besides, motion tends to create emotion. It will get easier as you go…

5. Connect with the living. It’s been said that, “The average man dies at age 21 and is buried at age 65.” The world has always been full of the walking dead – those who have given up on their dreams and are merely existing. Today more than ever, people have lost hope. However, I encourage you to seek out the living! Connect with other people who are moving on like you. Then, share ideas. Create a mastermind group. Joint venture. Fuel each other. Make it happen!

Well, I admit… I feel better 🙂 I needed to get that out.

If you’ve already been motivated and moving, good job. If not, now is the time for you to get back in the game!
Your future is calling.