What is the state of your finances? Good? Bad? Fine? Terrifying? Well if your answer was one of these (or something you weren't wanting to admit!), then you are in a great spot!! Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover is written for those who want to overhaul their finances and get themselves in a better financial spot than the one that they are in.
Have you bought into the lies, myths and stories sold to the public about money, spending and consuming? It's time to end the financial cycle that has us in our current positions and for us to come out on top!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Energy Bus - Rule #9 and Rule #10
Drive With Purpose
Now this particular rule just seems kind of obvious but it's still necessary to note. There are so many of us that have traveled through life going through the motions and not living on purpose. It is vitally important to not only have a purpose for the drive but to drive with that purpose as our driving force.
"Purpose is the ultimate fuel for our journey through life...when we drive with purpose we don't get tired or bored and our engines don't burn out" (page 131).
What a great thought!! When we drive with purpose -- vision and focused energy on our life's plan -- we don't get tired or bored. I know that for me this is great news because there have been plenty of seasons in my life where I've been worn out or bored with the way that my life is going. But, if we let our purpose fuel our ride then we will be constantly energized.
"Everyone's out there trying to find their purpose when all you have to do is find the bigger purpose in the here and now and your purpose will find you" (page 132).
What is Jon Gordon saying here? What I believe he is saying is that while it's smart to plan for the future (i.e., save for retirement, college, emergencies, etc.), we must live in and for the moment that we are currently experencing. We must embrace and get everything out of the moment that we are in and recognize that once we discover the passion that fuels us NOW, then the purpose for tomorrow will come. I love what Jon Gordon then says about the vision as it relates to the team.
"You have the best view and vision so you'll also need to communicate your vision and purpose with your passengers. Once you find your bigger purpose and vision then share it with your team. Once they are a part of this bigger purpose and vision they will work harder and longer for you...shared purpose keeps a team energized and together" (page 133).
Since we have a team of people riding our bus with us, we must have them not only physically on board of the bus but also mentally on board the bus to make the ride a success. So don't be afraid to share the purpose with our passengers. Jon Gordon also addresses fear:
"We all have fear but the key to success is that your trust is bigger than your fear. A little fear is good but it is weak energy. It runs out. Trust is the high octane fuel that will take your bus wherever it needs to go" (page 141).
Give into the trust of your purpose and not the fear.
Onto Rule #10:
Have Fun and Enjoy the Ride
There's not much that needs to be said about this rule!! I think that just as Jon Gordon instructed us to find the bigger purpose in the here and now, I think that at times we are too focused on what's around the corner to enjoy the moment we're in. I remember as a kid taking road trips with my grandparents. We always left in the middle of the night so that my brother and I would sleep and so that we wouldn't get caught in traffic. But, I ALWAYS stayed awake. I didn't want to miss anything. That's how we all need to be on the ride of our lives: always mentally awake, not wanting to miss anything that comes. We must be content with the ride that WE are on and not be overly concerned about the rides that others are taken either. We also must let the past be the past and remain in the present.
"Don't be someone who looks back and says I should have done this or that. Live and work like you have nothing to lose and everything to gain...don't be too stressed to feel blessed. Don't compare the success of your bus to other buses. Just enjoy your ride" (page 145).
I want to close this blog about The Energy Bus by saying that this was an EXCELLENT start to my 2011. I hope and pray that it was a great start for all of you as well. Get the controls of your bus back in your hand, make the vision clear and propel the ride of your life forward with your positive energy.
"Life is a test. Every adversity helps us grow. Negative events and people teach us what we don't want so we can focus our energy on what we do want" (page 152).
See you in February for Total Money Makeover...get ready to transform your finances!!!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The Energy Bus - Rule #8
Love Your Passengers
"Enthusiasm is important. But love is the answer. To really, really, I mean really, tap the power of your heart and lead with positive, contagious energy you must love your passengers. You've got to become a Love Magnet" (page 114).
Love Magnet!! I love this! For years I have heard 'what you focus on expands' and 'what you are you attract.' So, focus on love...be love! Make your passengers feel as if you truly care about their personal success by actually caring about their personal success.
"...your team want(s) to know that you are concerned about their future and welfare. They need to know that you love them. It can't be just about you and your job. It also has to be about them" (page 115).
Jon Gordon instructs us to not only invite passengers onto our bus but to get them fired up and excited about the success of the collective. When people know that you truly do have a vested interest in their success, they will not only work hard for themselves but they will then work hard for you. They will love you back. Just as the positive energy that you generate is contagious, so is the love. Every one has the desire to feel loved -- important, cared about and needed. That's what it means to love our passengers.
We talked about enthusiasm last time. Gordon does a fantastic job tying enthusiasm and love together:
"...when your team knows you love them and feel the love from you they will want to stay on your bus wherever it goes. So enthusiasm gets them excited about being on your bus, but love is what keeps them on the bus" (page 116).
So get them on the bus and then do what is most important to make them stay: love them.
Gordon gives us five love rules and it's through these five rules that we will find it easy to give love to those around us both personally and professionally.
Five Ways to Love Your Passengers (pages 122-124)
1. Make Time for Them. I've always said that 'what is important to you, you will always make time for.' Gordon says the same thing: "Just as you would tend to a garden, you need to cultivate your team with love."
2. Listen to Them. Having opinions, thoughts and suggestions heard and considered makes people feel significant. Having an ear to hear and a heart to receive what our passengers have to say is very important.
3. Recognize Them. Gordon says it best: "Honor them for who they are and what they do...the more you recognize them for doing things right the more they will do things right."
4. Serve Them. As the driver of your bus, it is vitally important that we realize that we are not only there to be the leader of the ride but to take care of the passengers as best as you can. "The key is to serve their growth, their future, their career, and their spirits so they enjoy work, life, and being on your bus."
5. Bring Out the Best in Them. Love does exactly this -- sees the best in a person and does what it takes to bring that very best out. This is vitally important. To be truly successful as a team, everyone must be operating as their best selves. "...the best way any leader can demonstrate their love for their team is to help each person discover their strengths and provide an opportunity for that person to utilize them."
Show your passengers the love they want, need and desire and see that team grow!!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
The Energy Bus - Rule #7
Enthusiasm Attracts More Passengers and Energizes Them During the Ride
"Emotions...they can lift you up or bring you down. We like to say that E-motion stands for energy in motion and your emotional state is all about how the energy is flowing through you" (page 95).
What an interesting rule! In a book that is about success in our personal and professional lives, I think that it's great to talk about our emotions. I believe that the word emotion has gotten a bad rep over the years as something that is negative and unnecessary in many arenas of life. However, emotions play such a large role in the majority of decisions that people make; determines the mood that we're in; often shapes the environment around us. Enthusiasm is an emotion! Emotions can fuel us in a positive way or a negative way.
"So instead of letting negative emotions take you down a dark road of negativity, sadness and despair we can take control of our emotions, charge ourselves up, and let the positive energy flow" (page 95).
So, what Jon Gordon is saying is that having our emotions in line assist in allowing positive energy in our lives? YES! If you're in a bad mood, you're not going to be fueling up your bus with positive energy or focusing on the goals that you're working towards. We can't allow our emotions to run our bus off the road. It is important to have an understanding of the power of our emotions and so that we channel them correctly every day for the benefit of ourselves and all of those that are riding the bus.
Leading With Heart
I stated in an earlier blog that all of us are in a position of authority in some capacity or another -- at work, at school, at church, in our parenting. So, reading and learning about leadership should be something that everyone does because at one point or another, leadership will be a part of our lives. Leading with enthusiasm and leading with heart is vitally important.
"The heart is your power center. It's where contagious positive leadership comes from and the more open, powerful, and positive it is the more powerful you are" (page 100).
Positive energy, emotions and enthusiasm comes from the heart. For we Christians, we've been taught that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. So, everything -- both good and bad -- comes from the heart. Wouldn't you want to make sure that everything that's kept in your power center be the correct fuel for optimal success? I know that I would!!
CEO
Jon Gordon states that we must be the CEO's of our own lives -- Chief Energy Officer. We must settle in our minds that we are going to successfully manage the energy flowing in and through us and that we will also manage the energy of our bus. CEO's of successful companies work hard to create an environment that is filled with positivity and productivity. What Gordon is instructing us to do is to adopt this same CEO mentality towards our lives.
"Chief Energy Officers live and work with enthusiasm...they tap the power of their heart by getting excited about being alive, by filling up with loads of positive energy, and by being optimistic about life and work...they charge forward with positive and powerful energy and look at challenges...as an opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed" (pages 107-108).
So...I guess the question is this...are you ready for your promotion to CEO? Then let enthusiasm take over and let it energize you and those on board your bus!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
The Energy Bus - Rule #6
And on we go...Rule #6:
Post a Sign That Says
"No Energy Vampires Allowed"
on Your Bus
Jon Gordon refers to negative individuals as Energy Vampires. Energy vampires are those individuals that always say negative things when you're talking positive; say that you can't achieve your dreams and goals when you believe that you can; bring and spread negative energy on your bus.
"I call the people who drain your energy Energy Vampires and they will suck the life out of you and your goals and vision if you let them. They will cause an engine leak, make your ride miserable or even worse slash your tires." (page 73)
We must not only be vigilant against limiting our interaction with vampires but we must also let them know that they are not welcome on our bus. As the driver of our own bus, we are the ones that set the route and the tone for the bus ride itself. This includes the passengers. There are rules when riding a school bus or riding a public bus and there must be rules when riding your bus. If you want your bus to arrive at its destination, you have to make sure that the right people are riding with you.
"You got to be strong enough to tell people that you will not allow any negativity on your bus. You go to say this is where we are going and to get there we need a positive and supportive team and whoever is negative will be kicked off the bus or left at the station." (page 74)
'Oh this is so negative!' is probably what you're thinking when you read that. It's not negative; it's truth. If you invite someone to your house and your rule is to take your shoes off at the door, you expect them to comply. Why is it different with your bus? You have a vision and a purpose in mind for the ride. So in order for that ride to go smoothly and arrive at its destination, you must be bold enough to post what is and is not acceptable as a passenger on the bus.
This next bit is something that made me sit up and say, "YES! This is IT!!!" Jon Gordon gives his Ultimate Rule of Positive Energy:
Your positive energy and vision must be greater than anyone's and everyone's negativity. Your creativity must be greater than everyone's doubt.
What Jon Gordon is saying is that we must believe so strongly and so passionately in our vision that no one can derail us. It's a must! We must use our positive energy almost as a shield against negative energy and distractions.
"Its got to be a habit. Positive energy is like a muscle. The more you use it the stronger it gets. The stronger it gets the more powerful you become." (page 78)
As stated previously in the book, we must take the time to feed the positive dog. We must take the time to build up the positive momentum in or lives by rehearsing that which is positive instead of focusing on the negative. Once we have the momentum of positivity in us, it will give us the power and ability to tell others that it's the positive way or the highway.
Two quotes before we leave this stop that I wanted to add in:
"You can't change the past. Let it go. Create the future." (page 88)
"The goal is not to be better than anyone else but rather be better than you were yesterday." (pages 91-92)
Energy vampires love to remind us of our past negativity. Don't let them bring you down. We've all walked in negativity in the past. The important thing is that we've regained control of our bus and are now focused on keeping the fuel tank filled with positive energy!
Get your signs printed and hung and have a happy journey until we meet again!!
Two quotes before we leave this stop that I wanted to add in:
"You can't change the past. Let it go. Create the future." (page 88)
"The goal is not to be better than anyone else but rather be better than you were yesterday." (pages 91-92)
Energy vampires love to remind us of our past negativity. Don't let them bring you down. We've all walked in negativity in the past. The important thing is that we've regained control of our bus and are now focused on keeping the fuel tank filled with positive energy!
Get your signs printed and hung and have a happy journey until we meet again!!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
The Energy Bus - Rule #5
HALF WAY THERE!!! Rule #5...
I personally LOVE this rule!!! I think that a lot of our energy is quite often wasted on the naysayers and the detractors. This rule encourages us to never allow that to happen. Once we have a firm grasp on the wheel, are fueled up and ready to go and have our route mapped out, we are ready to take on passengers. BE PREPARED!! There will ALWAYS be people that you invite on your bus that will either not want to go along for the ride or want to get on the bus because they think that you will fail. Jon Gordon is very concise on this: it's negativity.
It's unavoidable. There will always be negativity to encounter. What is important for us to remember is that we are in charge of our own bus and the energy that is on that bus. So while we can't avoid the negativity that's out there, we can choose to not involve ourselves in it. Negativity is a strong force! We must work daily to focus on the positive to combat the negative because negativity is draining and a silent killer.
"...this negativity not only kills productivity and companies...it also kills people. Self-doubt, fear, hopelessness, and negative energy drain you and sabotage everything you want in life and all the success you desire...the same negativity these people represent is also inside you. That's why you got to feed the positive dog..." (page 69)
What I believe that Jon Gordon is saying here is that if we allow the negative energy to overtake our positive energy, it will eventually kill everything positive that we have. Our dreams, goals and aspirations will go down the drain if we allow negative energy to take hold. What about our passengers? What do we do when we've worked hard to change the energy in our lives, invite others to join us and they decline? Simple...we keep moving. The path of our bus ride is dependent on focusing on the vision that we have for our lives, not the opinions and choices of others. We can't afford to focus on that; it's negativity. If we are sold out to the vision for our lives, then we can't allow other people's choices to detour us from reaching our destination.
"Everyone has to make their own choices and you have to make yours. And certainly don't spend your energy being upset that these people didn't get on your bus. Don't take it personal. Maybe they are meant to get on another bus. Maybe if they got on your bus they would ruin your ride." (page 71)
I'm a firm believer in the phrase "everything happens for a reason." So, to conclude this point, don't allow your positive energy to be hindered by someone not getting on your bus. The correct people will get on and the wrong ones will stay off. Invest time, energy and effort into the passengers that will help expand your positive energy and not the ones that passed up a golden opportunity for success!
"No one creates success in a vacuum and the people we surround ourselves with have a big influence on the life and success we create. If you want to be successful you have to be very careful about who is on your bus." (page 73)
Keep reading and keep your eyes on the road ahead....it's only getting better! See you at the next stop!!
Don't Waste Your Energy on
Those Who Don't Get on Your Bus
I personally LOVE this rule!!! I think that a lot of our energy is quite often wasted on the naysayers and the detractors. This rule encourages us to never allow that to happen. Once we have a firm grasp on the wheel, are fueled up and ready to go and have our route mapped out, we are ready to take on passengers. BE PREPARED!! There will ALWAYS be people that you invite on your bus that will either not want to go along for the ride or want to get on the bus because they think that you will fail. Jon Gordon is very concise on this: it's negativity.
"...there will always be negativity everywhere and in everything you do...you will always be surrounded by negative people. It's not these people so to speak. It's the negativity they represent. they are just one of many you will come across." (page 69)
It's unavoidable. There will always be negativity to encounter. What is important for us to remember is that we are in charge of our own bus and the energy that is on that bus. So while we can't avoid the negativity that's out there, we can choose to not involve ourselves in it. Negativity is a strong force! We must work daily to focus on the positive to combat the negative because negativity is draining and a silent killer.
"...this negativity not only kills productivity and companies...it also kills people. Self-doubt, fear, hopelessness, and negative energy drain you and sabotage everything you want in life and all the success you desire...the same negativity these people represent is also inside you. That's why you got to feed the positive dog..." (page 69)
What I believe that Jon Gordon is saying here is that if we allow the negative energy to overtake our positive energy, it will eventually kill everything positive that we have. Our dreams, goals and aspirations will go down the drain if we allow negative energy to take hold. What about our passengers? What do we do when we've worked hard to change the energy in our lives, invite others to join us and they decline? Simple...we keep moving. The path of our bus ride is dependent on focusing on the vision that we have for our lives, not the opinions and choices of others. We can't afford to focus on that; it's negativity. If we are sold out to the vision for our lives, then we can't allow other people's choices to detour us from reaching our destination.
"Everyone has to make their own choices and you have to make yours. And certainly don't spend your energy being upset that these people didn't get on your bus. Don't take it personal. Maybe they are meant to get on another bus. Maybe if they got on your bus they would ruin your ride." (page 71)
I'm a firm believer in the phrase "everything happens for a reason." So, to conclude this point, don't allow your positive energy to be hindered by someone not getting on your bus. The correct people will get on and the wrong ones will stay off. Invest time, energy and effort into the passengers that will help expand your positive energy and not the ones that passed up a golden opportunity for success!
"No one creates success in a vacuum and the people we surround ourselves with have a big influence on the life and success we create. If you want to be successful you have to be very careful about who is on your bus." (page 73)
Keep reading and keep your eyes on the road ahead....it's only getting better! See you at the next stop!!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
The Energy Bus - Rule #4
Rule #4 already...the bus is moving along nicely!!
Jon Gordon is now saying to us that we need to have people on our bus and they need to know what route is. Having the right people around us is vitally important to our successes in life. This is true for all aspects of our lives. Remember being in school? (I do too....!) Our success level in the classroom was largely dependent on which group of friends we were hanging out with at the time. The same is true in the "real world." There are many of us with passengers on our bus who's energy is not conducive to a successful drive. Gordon stresses the importance of choosing the right people to ride our bus and then showing them the vision for the trip. In order to do this, we must have already regained control of the wheel as the driver of our bus; realized the vision for bus ride and filled up the tank with positive energy. Once those three steps are complete, it's time to start taking on passengers!
"There's no better way to get people on your bus than telling them where you are going and asking them to get on...you must share your vision with them. You must make it clear what you expect...if you don't clearly communicate your vision of the road ahead no one will want to travel with you." (page 58)
This seems simple: let people know where you taking them before you take them there. However, there are many of us that are in charge of families or in charge of teams at work or school and we are leading with no vision. People take great confidence in following someone if they know that person has a vision of where they are going. It is vitally important that the vision for our bus' journey is clear enough to us that we could tell anyone at anytime. This clarity will make it easy to convey the vision to those potential passengers. Much like the passengers from the book, our passengers will have unique stories, varied backgrounds and qualities but all will add to the energy of the bus; not detract from it. Each person on Joy's bus believed very strongly in the Energy Bus principle and everyone that rides your bus should believe as well. Belief comes from the vision set before us!
Joy advises George to pass out tickets to invite people onto his bus as a tangible way to get his work team on board with a project. She also advises George to do the same with his wife. The reason for the tickets is so that George can see who is on board to ride the bus and who isn't based on the vision that he's explained. Who do you need to hand tickets out to in your life?
This blog is shorter than the others but much more concise: add the right passengers to your bus and add to the energy flowing around you!
(www.theenergybus.com has actual tickets that you can print out and hand out to those in your life that you want to ride your bus...hop online and happy driving!)
Invite People on Your Bus and
Share Your Vision for the Road Ahead
Jon Gordon is now saying to us that we need to have people on our bus and they need to know what route is. Having the right people around us is vitally important to our successes in life. This is true for all aspects of our lives. Remember being in school? (I do too....!) Our success level in the classroom was largely dependent on which group of friends we were hanging out with at the time. The same is true in the "real world." There are many of us with passengers on our bus who's energy is not conducive to a successful drive. Gordon stresses the importance of choosing the right people to ride our bus and then showing them the vision for the trip. In order to do this, we must have already regained control of the wheel as the driver of our bus; realized the vision for bus ride and filled up the tank with positive energy. Once those three steps are complete, it's time to start taking on passengers!
"There's no better way to get people on your bus than telling them where you are going and asking them to get on...you must share your vision with them. You must make it clear what you expect...if you don't clearly communicate your vision of the road ahead no one will want to travel with you." (page 58)
This seems simple: let people know where you taking them before you take them there. However, there are many of us that are in charge of families or in charge of teams at work or school and we are leading with no vision. People take great confidence in following someone if they know that person has a vision of where they are going. It is vitally important that the vision for our bus' journey is clear enough to us that we could tell anyone at anytime. This clarity will make it easy to convey the vision to those potential passengers. Much like the passengers from the book, our passengers will have unique stories, varied backgrounds and qualities but all will add to the energy of the bus; not detract from it. Each person on Joy's bus believed very strongly in the Energy Bus principle and everyone that rides your bus should believe as well. Belief comes from the vision set before us!
Joy advises George to pass out tickets to invite people onto his bus as a tangible way to get his work team on board with a project. She also advises George to do the same with his wife. The reason for the tickets is so that George can see who is on board to ride the bus and who isn't based on the vision that he's explained. Who do you need to hand tickets out to in your life?
This blog is shorter than the others but much more concise: add the right passengers to your bus and add to the energy flowing around you!
(www.theenergybus.com has actual tickets that you can print out and hand out to those in your life that you want to ride your bus...hop online and happy driving!)
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