1.) Minimize Distractions, Have Single Minded Focus On Your Mission.
The power that distraction holds over people in this day and age is immense. This was true even back in 2004, when I was 18. This is now exponentially true today. The power that comes with the ability to avoid distraction however, and having single-minded focus is just as powerful. Its also obviously is much more beneficial to you and whatever your mission is.
It truly would have benefited me to know this at age 18. If you are 18 years old or younger, or know someone close to you that is, have them read this article right here.
Also of course have them read this one.
If I had read these articles at age 18, I’d be in much better place right now. Not that where I am currently is bad, but it would very likely be much better if had ”known”.
As they say, hindsight is 20/20. These articles I wrote this year, at age 31. Knowing at 18, the things I now know at 31, would have made all the difference in the world.
I’ll talk a little more about minimizing distraction in some of my other points below, but that would have been a big one.
2.) Be Wise With Your Money: Use It To Make More Money, Instead Of Blowing It On Stupid Crap.
Money is abundant, but that does not mean you should waste it either. That will send the wrong message to the universe. Another good saying is: ”A fool and his money will soon to part ways”. When you blow your money on stupid crap, that’s exactly what you are: a fool.
Your money should be wisely used to make more money. Take very calculated risks and make wise investments. The best book I’ve ever read about money, and how to think about money, is this one.
Open up a separate checking account, and deem it your ”sacred account”. Put anywhere from 15% to 30% of your paycheck into this account each month. 15% should be the minimum.
Here is what I do: 15% of my money goes into my ”sacred account”, as described in Grant’s little book, and the other 15% I put into growth stock mutual funds (25% Growth, 25% Aggressive Growth, 25% Growth & Income, 25% International/Overseas).
This allocation split is Dave Ramsey’s suggestion, and has averaged him 12% growth over the last 25-30 years.
Not touching 30% of your income obviously is going to mean you’ll have to earn more money to live comfortably. So start thinking of ways you can get your income up.
You’re going to have to be out of debt before you can apply this method however, this will simply not work for you if you’re up to your eyeballs in debt, because that’s where all your money is going.
This structure assumes you have all your debt paid off, and have 3-6 months of income saved for an emergency. No debt means exactly that: NO DEBT. NO credit cards, NO student loan payments, NO car payment, and ideally not even a mortgage payment.
3.) Respect Yourself Above All Things.
There is NOTHING in this world, more important than self-respect. Without self-respect, you have nothing, and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. If you lack self respect, figuring out why needs to move straight to the top of your priority list. Figuring out why you lack respect for yourself needs to become your new life mission, until the problem has been solved.
Here’s one thing I can tell you: if you don’t respect yourself, no one else will. That my friend, you can take to bank.
4.) Work 3-4 Hours Per Day (1st Thing) Towards Your Life Mission.
There is a great book I’ve read called ”The One Thing”, by Gary Keller. In this book, Gary suggests that you spend a minimum of 3-4 hours per day on your one thing. Translation: your ”One Thing” is your life mission that I’m always talking about on this website.
As I’ve previously discussed, I read a lot of books. It’s impossible to incorporate everything you read from every book, it just doesn’t work that way, so don’t feel bad about it. What is important however, is that you take 1-2 lessons from each book you read, and incorporate them into your life.
If you’re working a job currently, and you’re unhappy, then you should be working 3-4 hours every morning towards finding a way out. You keep working and working and working until the answer comes to you, and then you’ll find your ”way out”. The answer will come, it just takes patience, discipline, and an unbreakable resolve.
The point is, a somewhat significant part of every day, needs to be spent towards advancing yourself towards your life mission. If you don’t have a life mission, even at age 18, then GET ONE.
You cannot call yourself a man without a life mission. Your mission needs to be PRIORITY # 1.
At 18 years old, you are now a man, so start acting like one.
5.) Be Aware of What You Consume (Body And Mind).
Be hyper aware of what is affecting you. I don’t just mean what you actually eat, drink, or take orally, I mean everything. From the people you surround yourself with, to the books you read, to how much television you watch, everything.
Be hyper aware of how each of these things are affecting you, at all times. Its all too easy to have years of your life go by, only to wake up one day and realize: you’ve been asleep at the wheel.
Don’t become a statistic, pull your head out of your ass and WAKE UP. Everybody and everything is having an influence on you, all the time. Just make sure you stay on top of what you have control over. Be in control of what’s influencing you, don’t let what’s influencing you control you.
6.) Be A Minimalist, And Always Stay Organized.
I’ve recently learned the power of minimalism. Not minimalism in what you expect of yourself or what you accomplish each day, but minimalism in limiting distraction and excess bullshit.
I’m going to get right to the point here:
-You should not own over about 200-250 tangible items. If you DO own over this number of items, you need to rid yourself of them, one by one. Get rid of the goddamn clutter, you don’t need it. Your time, energy, focus and attention is too valuable, to allow yourself to be concerned with excess clutter.
Simplify your life, you’ll be absolutely amazed at how refreshing it feels. Refreshing, there’s actually no better word to describe it than that.
Being organized has very similar benefits to being a minimalist. An organized mind and life will free your mind of those things that don’t matter, so you can focus your precious energy and willpower on those things that do.
You only get so much willpower from one day to the next. Willpower, is the most precious resource we have as men. Being disorganized will drain you of your willpower faster than anything. Just walking into a messy apartment, office, or house saps it right out of you. You can literally feel it.
The same can be said for a dirty car.
This is something you have control over, and you know it. Start becoming more aware of this, and take some extra steps towards ensuring this isnt a problem in your life.
For example, I don’t like to get down on my hands and knees and scub/clean, so once every 6-8 weeks I hire a cleaning lady (I’m a bachelor). Think outside the box a little if you have to.
Summary:
The point is, it would have benefited me greatly to have known all these things at age 18, or even at age 21. Heed this advice, and think of how you can apply each of these points I discussed to your own lives, whether you’re 18, or even 30. You’ll thank yourself later, believe me.
-Matt Mitchell
