Call me crazy but this year I’m on a mission to live an abundant and wealthy lifestyle. I know some of you are looking at your screens and thinking this chick has fallen off her rocker! But let me be clear and say that I’m not just talking financially. I want to be abundant and wealthy spiritually, emotionally, mentally, in my health, my family life, and professionally.
I’m just fed up with my current situation. As a matter of fact, I’m past fed up. To see just how comfortable I had gotten with living a mediocre life of these last few years has me both disappointed and borderline ashamed. I’ve been looking back at some stuff and I had big plans for my life but threw them out the window because of stumbling blocks. Well, last year was my wake up call.
I’m determined to not make this year a repeat. Here are 5 key practices that I’m adopting for moving forward in 2014:
5 Key Practices to Living Abundantly
1) Decide to Live Abundantly
I’m letting go of this “I can’t” mentality. Joel Osteen postesd on Facebook the other day “God is not limited by our circumstances, by how you were raised, by what you don’t have. Start believing big. Have an abundance mentality.” With that said I’m setting target working towards earning $30k every 30 days. It’s ambitious yes, but if you aim low, you reap low. It’s as if you haven’t totally changed your mindset. Having big dreams, adjusting our mindset to believing that we can achieve those dreams and then actually putting in the work to make those dreams come true is what separates those who achieve success and those who just stay content with getting by. I don’t want to be someone who aspires to obtain a higher level of success but is too afraid to admit out loud and even more afraid to work to achieve it.
2) Get Motivated
My desire to provide a better life overall (financially, emotionally, educationally, and spiritually) for my family, give back to the community and church like I want to, continuing to better my relationship with God and having a successful career and getting The YUMMommy Project off the ground are my main motivations right now. My son is in speech therapy right and while it’s going ok, he could be making a lot more progress if we could afford to try out some of the other alternative therapies we available here.
Moo’s will start school for certain this August and I want her in a school that is safe, will expose her nontraditional learning techniques, doesn’t have overcrowded classrooms, has great teachers who not only love what they do but who are held accountable and are monitored as well as lots of opportunities for parents to be involved. Also, want my husband to be able to spend less time working and more time doing things with us.
3) Surround Yourself With Abundant/Wealthy/Successful People
Listen, I know when I mentioned earlier that I wanted to make $30k every 30 days, some of you probably rolled your eyes or thought “she’s not being realistic.” And that’s why I have to surround myself with people who have proven that it is realistic. Let me tell you, Pat Flynn raked in $55k last month mostly off of blogging, affiliate marketing and eBook sales. And this past July he raked in $116k! He went from unemployed and making $7k his first month of unemployment to making $200k during his first year of working for himself.
Imagine what would have happened if he had listened to the naysayers. I’m on the hunt for my mentor. That person (or people) who’s willing to take me under their wing, push me when I feel like giving up and continue to help me keep my mind open to an abundant way of thinking.
4) Work For It
“Mama need a house. Baby need some shoes.” I have put on my Ace Hood hat and I’m hustling hard. Just like faith without action is dead, having a dream to live abundantly and no work ethic or hustle is pointless too. I’m getting my face and my brands out there. In 2012, I was featured in a national magazine and I dropped the ball on the spinning that into some other major opportunities like I should have. No more ball dropping this year.
Mary Mary sings it best in my theme song Go Get It, “You were made to live a good life and that’s what I believe. So hit the floor say a prayer, start working; you got to do something. It’s alright to crawl before you walk. It’s alright to walk before you run. But if you wanna get what you never got, gotta do something that you never done.”
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADGnIi9KrLQ]
5)Invest Don’t Spend
I’m finding ways to invest in myself and brands that will give me a return. For example, I’m getting to start a business class the week after next on Coursera. I’ve purchased books to help me brush up on my marketing skills. Did I ever mentioned I passed my marketing class in college with a perfect score?! Yea, I’m brushing the dust off that knowledge. I’m investing time get a Kickstarter page going.
I also, I’m looking to invest in others by sharing what I’m learning and what I know. No need in hogging knowledge. I’m all about each one, teach one. I love giving back. It’s just part of who I am. When I give to others it pays me back in happiness, joy and a feeling of self-pride because I did the right thing.
I’ll also be investing in new business cards, stationary, etc. If I want to businesses and other brands to take me seriously when I’m pitching them or sending them letters, a plain old letter template is ok, but something with my logo and printed on quality paper will stand out more.
The gospel song says “Our God is an awesome God. He reigns…” And that is true. I refuse to be one of those “O ye of little faith” types. John 10:10 says “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”
So go ahead, tell me I’m nuts and that my goals are too high, but at the end of day I feel more focused and driven than I’ve been in my life! It might not happen overnight, but I feel like I’ve been through so many rainy seasons that the sunshine is just over the horizon. And I’m beyond ready!
What is one of your biggest dream or mission that scares you the most to admit aloud? And what is holding you back from achieving that dream? Is lack of faith, fear of being mocked or fear of failure?
Mimi
January 8, 2014 at 12:30 PMI agree 100% with number 1. If you don't see it and want it, it certainly won't happen.
My greatest dream right now is to open a boutique. I don't have a clear vision yet of where it will be and what I will sell but I see it and that is the biggest part. I have the faith I think the only thing holding me back right now is resources. Despite the present lack of resources I am still researching and looking for outlets to make this dream a reality.
Kita
January 8, 2014 at 1:55 PMGirl go get your blessing. I am in class also I just finished taking a branding class for my business now I am going to take an extra class in photoshop so I can learn even more because I want Focus Dezigns to be bigger and better. Invest in yourself and stick to it.
Candace Howe
January 8, 2014 at 6:11 PMI AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS POST!!! You have NO idea! I'm sitting in the break room about to straight shout! Lol I completely believe in your goals and vision, walk in it. I had a similar convo this morning about not making comfort make you comfortable with being average and I've been motivated to get my ideas/plans off the ground. Thank you so much for this! Praying with you
PhotoStory Collections
January 8, 2014 at 6:11 PMI AM SO GRATEFUL FOR THIS POST!!! You have NO idea! I'm sitting in the break room about to straight shout! Lol I completely believe in your goals and vision, walk in it. I had a similar convo this morning about not making comfort make you comfortable with being average and I've been motivated to get my ideas/plans off the ground. Thank you so much for this! Praying with you
K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy
January 8, 2014 at 11:07 PMI think you definitely have the faith because you're putting in the research and you have the vision. You're taking the steps to needed to prepare yourself for your boutique to become a reality. So, just keep working and working towards your grand opening!
K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy
January 8, 2014 at 11:19 PMKudos to you for going the extra step to better yourself for your business. We really have to stay on top of keeping up to date on all the new techniques and practices because everything changes so quickly. And if you want to stay in the game, you have to be in the know how so that you can adjust. Here's to a very successful year for Focus Dezigns!
K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy
January 8, 2014 at 11:26 PMYou're so very welcome! I'm glad that you have been motivated to get your idea and plans off the ground. I think we all have the ability to be extraordinary and above average. We just have to make up our minds to put in the work needed to build up to that point and to not settle for less. Praying with you as well! Thanks.
Rose's Daughter
January 9, 2014 at 12:16 AMyou are not nuts! Thoughts are things and if these are your goals, GO FOR IT!
LaShawn Wiltz
January 9, 2014 at 12:16 AMyou are not nuts! Thoughts are things and if these are your goals, GO FOR IT!
Julie Maloney
January 9, 2014 at 12:50 AMBe patient, be patient. I started blogging about six years ago and slowly started making money and only last year did it turn into a 60K a year business for me. Stay positive and have patience and you'll see great things happen!
Unknown
January 9, 2014 at 12:50 AMBe patient, be patient. I started blogging about six years ago and slowly started making money and only last year did it turn into a 60K a year business for me. Stay positive and have patience and you'll see great things happen!
Christina Heggins
January 9, 2014 at 1:23 AMLove it! We have to always live in expectancy…… of great things! This is awesome!
Unknown
January 9, 2014 at 1:23 AMLove it! We have to always live in expectancy…… of great things! This is awesome!
K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy
January 9, 2014 at 7:46 AMThanks! I'm definitely going forward it.
K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy
January 9, 2014 at 7:47 AMI'm definitely being patient, but at the same type I'm being proactive. I'm putting my plan into action. Like I said it's not an overnight thing, but I'm going to push myself as hard as I can and need to.
K. Elizabeth @ YUMMommy
January 9, 2014 at 7:48 AMExactly! What you live in expectancy of and claim for your life and work for is what you will get. So, I'm expecting and putting in the work to reap great benefits!
Dani @ OKDani.com
January 9, 2014 at 12:55 PMYou have totally inspired me to up my monthly goal numbers. Reading your blog I feel like we are exactly the same and completely different all at once. We deserve to live lives of abundance in all areas. I'm rooting for you….and when you hit that 30k month….lemme borrow some! LOL
Natasha Bernard
January 17, 2014 at 2:24 AMClaim it….it's yours!!!!
Unknown
January 17, 2014 at 2:24 AMClaim it….it's yours!!!!