LATEST POSTS
Saying NO list
I’m trying to get better about saying “No” to things… Specifically, things that distract me from my goals, make my plate too full, or waste my time. So, I made a “Saying NO to list”. Every time I say No to something, I add it to my list! I’m trying to get to 100 things Read more about Saying NO list[…]
Worrier or Warrior?
Worrier: Someone who gives way to uneasiness, anxiety, allowing their mind to dwell on difficult troubles. WARRIOR: A brave and experienced fighter who combats their tasks and is remembered by many. (also a cool looking yoga pose 🙂) Which one are you today? A worrier or a WARRIOR!? Have a good one, Joel
Happy Monday! Back to “reality”.
I always found it tough returning to work after a long weekend. Most people do. But something changed a few years back… I started watching unhappy people, and noting the things they do. Then, I tried to do the complete opposite. Instead of complaining about Mondays, I embraced them. Instead of talking about the things Read more about Happy Monday! Back to “reality”.[…]
Better dreams to dream
“Many people dream of money, because they have no other dreams to dream”. I’ll admit, I used to dream about money quite a bit. I had big hopes, and saw dollar signs when I closed my eyes. But things changed when I… started spending more time outside. Traveling, camping, surfing, riding my bike. Read more about Better dreams to dream[…]
Treasure your growing pains
Next time you feel restless, unsatisfied, or generally feel behind in life… recall this quote below. Pain is part of the process. It’s evidence that you’re actually doing something! Have a wicked day today. Embrace the pain! – Joel
Skills + Will
“Champions aren’t born, they are built” But, what are they built with? If any regular person out there wants to be a champion, how do they do it? Champion = Skill + Will Skills are obtained by hard work, hard work, and then more hard work. Will is having an unwavering desire to succeed. There is no stopping, Read more about Skills + Will[…]
Today or never
“TODAY or NEVER, That’s my motto.” – Mary Poppins You know that thing you’ve been putting off…? It’s time to get started. Today. Happy Monday! *Photo by Edu Lauton
3 questions, 3 things, and 3 days off!
Good morning and happy Friday! Today my wife and I are taking off to go camping at a remote beach park up in the central coast. ⛺️🏝 We’ll be out of reception and offline for the next 3 days! Here are some questions to ponder today, and throughout weekend: 1) What are 3 valuable things Read more about 3 questions, 3 things, and 3 days off![…]
Be like Peter Pan… Think happy thoughts!
Happiness is contagious. Not just from people –> people. Happiness is contagious within your own brain and thought patterns. It starts with 1 tiny little positive thought. That happy thought births another. Then those thoughts multiply over and over. And if you allow it, the happiness continues to grow and grow until you see the Read more about Be like Peter Pan… Think happy thoughts![…]
Resentment and grudges – let them go!
“holding a grudge is literally like locking yourself in prison for a crime you think someone else committed, and doing it before you’ve even investigated to know if a crime actually took place or not” – Amy Anderson Today: Don’t jump to conclusions about other people Communicate your feelings Let go of any grudges or Read more about Resentment and grudges – let them go![…]
Taking no risks… is risky!
Taking risks is what helps us grow. No risks = no growth. No growth means being unprepared for new challenges. Being unprepared means you will fail the competition. Failing the competition means you miss out on the prize. The prize might be something you really want. Like a free lifetime Read more about Taking no risks… is risky![…]
Every choice you make… is actually 2 choices
Every choice you make today is actually 2 choices. the choice to be happy, is also the choice not to be grumpy the choice to save money, is also the choice not to spend choosing to watch TV means choosing not to do anything else during that 1-2 hour block of the day If Read more about Every choice you make… is actually 2 choices[…]
Work / Life “Balance” – Merge and Shift your Mindset
I’ve always found it hard to maintain a “work/life balance”. For most of my life, I thought that work and life had to be separated. Each one was allowed specific time, and you needed to spread the time evenly doing one or the other. Too much of work, or life, would throw the balance off. Read more about Work / Life “Balance” – Merge and Shift your Mindset[…]
Trade time for __________?
Today, you are making a deal with yourself… You will exchange 1 x Day of your life, and in return you will get _______. What is _______? It can be whatever you want it to be. You get to decide. Are you excited about _______? Looking back, will you be proud of trading today Read more about Trade time for __________?[…]
Saying No to Book Recommendations
I get about 10 book recommendations a week. You probably do too. Friends at work recommend reading this book, others encourage you to read that book, etc. Many of us have an overwhelming to-read list that grows faster than the pace we can actually read. (and some titles you can’t even remember why they’re on Read more about Saying No to Book Recommendations[…]
A few quick reminders for today…
If you are on this email list: – You are a hard worker – You have great teammates and friends – You continually learn and get better – You help others – You don’t give up – You’re fun to be around – You have skills that are unique – People follow you, because like Read more about A few quick reminders for today…[…]
Weebles wobble – but they don’t fall down!
The Weebles have a slogan… “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down.” It’s a cool reminder for us humans too… Today, random stuff will come at you, knock you over, push you sideways, you’ll make mistakes, and you might even get hurt. But you won’t stay down. Life is about always getting back up, Read more about Weebles wobble – but they don’t fall down![…]
Cut the crap
Yesterday I read a cool article about productivity. It started with this line: “Being more productive is usually about what you do less of, not more of.” Thats refreshing! Sounds like we don’t need to learn 100 new awesome skill sets or build up superhuman habits in order to better our day… Instead, Read more about Cut the crap[…]
Your Monday Survival Track Record
Monday’s can be tough. But let me remind you that you’ve survived 100% of the Mondays you have lived so far in life. That’s a great track record! And today will be no different. It might be hard. It might be uncomfortable… But you will get through it. You always do. Make it a great Read more about Your Monday Survival Track Record[…]
Rest is part of the equation
Stress + Rest = Growth “Studies show that both the body and the brain respond to stress by becoming stronger — so long as the period of stress is followed by adequate rest and recovery“ This morning I woke up thinking about work. Stuff I need to do, catch up on, people I need to Read more about Rest is part of the equation[…]
Health = Wealth. Just 1% of your day.
1% of today is only ~15 minutes. Can you spare 15 minutes today to improve your fitness, health, and happiness? Here’s a few quick workout ideas if you’re up for the challenge: – Try this 10 minute abs video – Run or speed walk walk a couple miles – Do 100 pushups (10 sets of Read more about Health = Wealth. Just 1% of your day.[…]
Where there’s a will, there’s a wave
On Wednesday I went surfing, I was out there with about 50 other people. But, out of those 50 dudes, only 5-10 were actually catching all the waves. The other 40 guys were all missing out. Why?… They were either sitting in the wrong spot, too lazy to paddle for waves, too scared they were Read more about Where there’s a will, there’s a wave[…]
Today’s Affirmations. Tell these to yourself.
Read these out loud to yourself… “Today will be a great day” “I am in charge of how I feel, and I choose to be happy” “No matter what the world throws at me today, I will figure it out. I’ve handled everything this far in life, and each day I’m getting Read more about Today’s Affirmations. Tell these to yourself.[…]
Winners never quit, and quitters never win!
Winners never quit. and Quitters never win. You just gotta keep trying and pushing and shoveling and focusing and toughing it out until the job gets done. Might not be easy, but it’s always worth it. PS. If you never quit *and* you never win, maybe you’re doing it wrong. Change something! Have a good Read more about Winners never quit, and quitters never win![…]
Sticks and stones
Yesterday I received a hate email. 😞 It was the first email I opened when I woke up. A horrible start to the day. At first I was sad. But after a few minutes, I got to thinking… I only have 1440 minutes to live today. The more minutes I spend dwelling on this negative Read more about Sticks and stones[…]
half effort = half results
100% effort = 100% results 75% effort = 75% results 50% effort = 50% results etc. etc. So let me ask you this…. What results are you hoping to achieve today? How good do you want today to be?… OK, now what effort is needed to get those results? 100%? Me too. 🙂 Have a Read more about half effort = half results[…]
An infinite supply of love and happiness
Every one of us has an infinite supply of love and happiness. It’s like an energy source- it never runs out. And because it never runs out, you don’t ever have to hold back or be stingy when expressing your love and happiness. You can use as much as you want, as often as you Read more about An infinite supply of love and happiness[…]
A few more funny volunteering stories!
It’s been 10 months since I started volunteering with Meals on Wheels (just 1 shift per week). My job is to deliver meals to people who can’t source food for themselves. Some clients are sick or disabled, but most of them are just extremely old. It’s not a glamorous job, but I make the most Read more about A few more funny volunteering stories![…]
Priority vs. Priorities
Did you know… 100 years ago, there was no plural for the word “Priority”? Priority means the 1 most important thing. But over time, humans got really busy. We started multi-tasking. We came up with new words and now “Priorities” exists. Priorities just means ‘important stuff’. It’s a diluted version of the original word. I Read more about Priority vs. Priorities[…]
Surround yourself with encouraging people!
Good morning! Happy happy Thursday! Check out this email I got in response to the Why Not post from last week… It’s from Angie Kaschube. 👇👇 When someone tells me I can’t do something, I take it as a challenge! I once had a doctor basically tell me (with different words) that I was too Read more about Surround yourself with encouraging people![…]
Feeling stressed?
Feeling a little overwhelmed this week? Me too. Here’s a few quick reminders: – You have the ability to solve any problem that’s in front of you. – You are smart, make good decisions, and have an open mindset. – Your friends and your work team have your back 100% – Mistakes are what make Read more about Feeling stressed?[…]
Being happy on purpose!
“Happiness is an option. And misery is an option. These are both choices that you can apply to the same day’s events. Which option do you choose?” – Todd Tressider – Today, start out with a smile. It’s a great day to be alive! – Next, think up a nice comment to give your Read more about Being happy on purpose![…]
“Fresh Start” Theory
Happy June 1st! Ever heard of the “fresh start” theory? Basically it’s a theory that people take more action towards their goals if they start them on a landmark date. Like the start of a week, the 1st of the month, or New Years resolutions. Landmark dates (even though they’re just as special as any Read more about “Fresh Start” Theory[…]
Negative –> Positive
I’ll be honest guys… It’s taking me a while to get into a positive mindset this morning. I made the mistake of staying up late last night, reading the news on my cell phone for hours, filling my mind with horrible stories and scary images. There is a lot of unrest in the country, and Read more about Negative –> Positive[…]
VIP Tickets!
“Don’t be afraid to sit in the front row at your life“ Today, you are the rockstar. And the audience. Don’t disappoint yourself by putting on a lame show… Instead, pack your day with as much exciting stuff as possible. Play your heart out. Include all your greatest hits. Surprise and impress yourself! You never Read more about VIP Tickets![…]
Shedding your old skin…
Happy Friday, y’all! Today I want to share a pretty cool story from my friend, Terri. I’ve known Terri for ~7 years, and she’s one of the most authentic and bubbly people I’ve ever met. Her story is about the sacrifices she made when starting her gratitude journey. It’s an awesome message. Enjoy! ********* Read more about Shedding your old skin…[…]
Why not?
“No. You can’t do that.” As a child, you hear this saying a lot. Adults tell you what you can and can’t do. And, rightfully so. My parents told me NO a lot and stopped me from making some really bad decisions as a kid! But now that I’m a self sufficient adult I’m Read more about Why not?[…]
How do you eat an elephant?
This time 5 years ago, I was in a pretty stressful situation… My wife and I got married, we bought our first out of state rental property, and I closed the largest sale I had ever made in my career at that point. This all happened within a 90 day period. 3 elephant sized projects. Read more about How do you eat an elephant?[…]
Making Problems Fun to Solve!
“When you realize life would be empty and boring without problems, you begin to accept them and you can even have fun with them. When you enjoy facing problems instead of resisting them, you take care of them when they’re easy before they turn into an overwhelming mountain.“ – Elizabeth Hallowell Today, I’m making Read more about Making Problems Fun to Solve![…]
It’s Memorial Day
Today is Memorial Day in the USA. It’s a holiday where we honor and remember those who lost their lives serving and protecting this free country we live in. I’m extremely grateful to live where I live and to have what I have in life. I’ll be participating in a few minutes of silence today, Read more about It’s Memorial Day[…]
My Gratitude Journey – Guest post by Grateful Kae!
My buddy Grateful Kae has a crazy busy life! But she still finds time every day to write down the things she’s grateful for! Here’s her backstory… My Gratitude Journey It was a regular weekday evening, sometime in early winter several years ago. Let’s say mid-December. I was muddling through the usual after-school chaos with Read more about My Gratitude Journey – Guest post by Grateful Kae![…]
Equanimity – mental calmness
e·qua·nim·i·ty (noun) mental calmness, composure, and evenness of temper, especially in a difficult situation. “today, nothing can disturb my equanimity” PS. Thank you all for your comments and support from yesterday’s email. I truly appreciate all your thoughts. One of my favorite replies I received yesterday was… “I am not writing to offer an opinion on Read more about Equanimity – mental calmness[…]
Hold me accountable…
Help me out… In September last year, I sent out this message, which was a public declaration of one of my goals… To get my California Real Estate License. The reason I committed to this goal publicly, was so everyone could hold me accountable, and encourage me if I fall behind or think about quitting. Well, today is the Read more about Hold me accountable…[…]
Pain is temporary – you’ll get through it
“Pain is temporary. It may last minutes, an hour, a day, or even a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place.” I got this quote from a Lance Armstrong book. (Yes, I know he’s a cheater and lied to the world about taking performance drugs… He’s probably Read more about Pain is temporary – you’ll get through it[…]
My pile of good things…
“So, what if, instead of thinking about solving your whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.” – Rainbow Rowell I stumbled across this quote about 6 months ago and loved it immediately. That day I created a gmail folder Read more about My pile of good things…[…]
“Mirroring” builds rapport and trust
Want to build trust quickly with someone you just met? Try this technique I just read about called mirroring. Basically you imitate (or mirror) the other person’s body language, expressions, and the way they talk. It shows the other person that you are alike, and it’s a subconscious sign of bonding. Try this when you Read more about “Mirroring” builds rapport and trust[…]
I Am Determined – Hafiz
“One regret, dear world, That I am determined not to have When I am lying on my deathbed Is that I did not kiss you enough.” – Hafiz Now get out there and kiss the world today! – Joel 😀 Delicious beers my friend gave me to try!
Tomorrow’s memories
“Create moments today, that you want to remember tomorrow” I’m feeling lazy this morning… I could quite easily sit on the couch and watch TV all day. But if I did that, come tomorrow, I would have dull memories. I’m capable of creating so much more in my life. So today, I’m going to: Spend Read more about Tomorrow’s memories[…]
Think 2-8-90
A reader of this group, Eric Bennett, shot me this note last week. I like it because reading it makes me realize how clueless I am (in a good way 😁)! Check it out… Think 2-8-90 There’s 2% of what you know you know, 8% of what you know you don’t know and 90% Read more about Think 2-8-90[…]
Eating Humble Pie
I was so excited to go surfing yesterday… I woke up super early, took out my favorite board, went to my favorite surf spot, and jumped in the water eager to catch some big waves! And here’s what happened… I sucked! As soon as I started paddling, I realized how out of shape I was. Read more about Eating Humble Pie[…]
5am Emails – Housekeeping and Thank You!
Good morning, nerds! If you’re new to this email list… Welcome! Thanks for joining, and I hope you get some value from my short, pithy morning notes. I started these 5am daily emails with no particular goal in mind… Just wanted to spread some simple positivity with my coworkers each morning. It’s been 3 years Read more about 5am Emails – Housekeeping and Thank You![…]
3 Ugly Outfits – Dress Wisely!
Blame. Shame. Complain. These are 3 of the ugliest outfits you can wear in life. If you catch yourself wearing one of these, quickly strip off your clothes as fast as you can! (metaphorically, of course 🙂) Dress yourself with these instead: Praise. Pride. Peace. Praise people and build others up, even when they do Read more about 3 Ugly Outfits – Dress Wisely![…]
Someone broke into my car…
Grrrr. Someone broke into my car this weekend. They also hit several of my neighbor’s cars up and down the street. Not much was stolen. The thief just ruffled through the compartments and left a big mess… At first I was a little annoyed. It’s disheartening when crime happens on my street. But my mood Read more about Someone broke into my car…[…]
I got it from my Mama!
My Mum is the best. She had 4 kids in her early 20’s – something most young people these days wouldn’t dare attempt. I asked my Mum how she handled it all back then… I mean, some of my friends today complain about having 2 kids.. How did she manage 4 x little terrors Read more about I got it from my Mama![…]
Screen detox
It’s been a busy week! And I’ve been staring at my phone screen way too much… So this weekend calls for a screen detox: – No phone or computer during meals. Instead, I’ll eat with others and enjoy their company irl. – Do Not Disturb mode kills all notifications and interruptions so I Read more about Screen detox[…]
A bully’s perspective…
Today on the blog, a quick story from my buddy Kurtis: When I was in 6th grade, I thought I was hot shit. I was one of the “cool kids” and there were 3 guys who were our nemeses, the “skater kids”. The skater kids would always be mean to us. Acting like they were Read more about A bully’s perspective…[…]
Problem Solving 101
“A problem well put, is already half solved. – John Dewey” The clearer you state your problem, the clearer the solution. Here’s a cool trick: State your problem as a sentence. Change that sentence into a question. Restate the question 5-10 different ways. Question the questions I know, it sounds confusing! You might Read more about Problem Solving 101[…]
Poco a-poco (little by little)
Today I’m giving another public presentation. It’s not my favorite thing to do, but I’m getting better at it- little by little. As I do more of these, I’m learning that: 1) You don’t have to be an expert to help others. Simple tips and advice goes a long way. 2) The audience is on Read more about Poco a-poco (little by little)[…]
Bad news, good news.
Bad news: A lot can change in a year Good news: A lot can change in a year We’ve all been thrown big unexpected changes this year. These changes were out of our control. Some of it is “bad”. But, we’re all capable of designing some changes of our own this year too. These Read more about Bad news, good news.[…]
May the 4th be with you!
Morning everybody! Exciting news to announce today… I’ve been asked to join a team at Soapbox Financial Network, a division of the Motley Fool! These guys are a bunch of personal finance nerds who are creating content to help people better their financial situation and live happier lives. Specifically for me, I’m going to be Read more about May the 4th be with you![…]
Neighborhood rock drama
Do you guys remember the rocks I painted a few weeks back? Well, the kids next door helped me sprinkle them around the neighborhood. We placed rocks in front of people’s driveways, under trees, and along the footpath. It was supposed to spread joy. It was supposed to cheer people up! BUT… The opposite happened. Read more about Neighborhood rock drama[…]
Tomato trades and paying it forward…
Last month, one of our friends gave us about 30 tomato plants. He had hundreds growing in his backyard and needed to give some away. As compensation, we gave him 1 pound of mung beans and some home-made beer. A fair trade, we all thought. 30 tomato plants is too many for us, so we Read more about Tomato trades and paying it forward…[…]
Don’t celebrate too early – Take Two!
Happy Friday y’all! Today’s note is from a long time reader on this list, Rebecca. Rebecca replies to a lot of my morning emails and I love how thoughtful and positive she is. Last week I asked her to whip up a note for me to snd out, and here it is!… Don’t start Read more about Don’t celebrate too early – Take Two![…]
Lose the Ego
Last week, I overheard 2 people arguing. From what I could tell, nobody was particularly right or wrong. Each person was just trying to push their ‘correct’ point of view down the other person’s throat. The disagreement lasted way too long and everybody lost in the end. I hate to admit it but Read more about Lose the Ego[…]
Routine; It’s Lethal.
If you think adventure is dangerous, try routine. It’s lethal!” – Paulo Coelho Getting up at 5am every day is working well for me. The pros still outweigh the cons and I have 2-3 hours of morning freedom. But, sometimes I notice myself slipping into unproductive morning routines. – Rushing straight to the Read more about Routine; It’s Lethal.[…]
Tuesday = Choose-day
Apparently we make 35,000 choices every day… That’s a a lot! Some are conscious decisions, most are subconscious. Many people believe we can’t control our subconscious thoughts or choices. But I beg to differ. Subconscious thoughts can be controlled, and heavily influenced, by our conscious ones. When you choose to be happy, choose a positive Read more about Tuesday = Choose-day[…]
Dishing Out Compliments
“Hey Steve, nice haircut! Have a great day, you handsome man.” “Sally… I gotta say, the way you handled that customer complaint was amazing to watch. You are great at what you do and I’m learning a lot from you. Thanks!” “Hey TJ, last week you said xxx to me. I’ve been thinking about it more over the Read more about Dishing Out Compliments[…]
Turn your brain off – It’s Sunday!
You have enough. You do enough. You are enough. Time to RELAX. It’s Sunday. Some of the remote beaches in California are starting to open back up! Cooper is getting excited to get out and dig some holes!
Fun times in Quarantine!
A few fun updates from Joel’s house… – Yesterday, while wearing my face mask, I thought it’d be a good idea to clean the front of it with an alcohol wipe. Turned out to be a horrible idea. I nearly fainted. Lessons learned – don’t put chemicals right near the breathing hole. – Read more about Fun times in Quarantine![…]
Don’t celebrate too early!
A few weeks ago my wife came to me with some exciting news… She was getting a pay raise at work! She heard all about it on a conference call… “Due to teachers having to work from home, the school is giving everyone a $70 per day pay increase!” Woohoo! We opened a nice bottle of wine Read more about Don’t celebrate too early![…]
Rent Collection & Updates During Quarantine
When I published my last fourplex post, I had no idea how many of my tenants would or could pay rent for the month of April. Now that I have all the figures, I wanted to share a quick update. First, you might be wondering why it took so long to get rent income information. Read more about Rent Collection & Updates During Quarantine[…]
People like YOU
Being perfect at everything will please more people, right? Nope… Perfectionism has many downsides: – it makes life difficult for people around you – makes you want to avoid certain activities (if you think you’re not good at it, you don’t even try it) – it’s exhausting – brings stress and anxiety – not Read more about People like YOU[…]
The Unknown Monk
“When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world. I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation. When I found I couldn’t change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn’t change the town and as an older man, I Read more about The Unknown Monk[…]
Problem Approach…
”The problem is not the problem; the problem is your attitude about the problem” – Captain Jack Sparrow If you try and solve a problem with an angry or closed mindset, you’re adding difficulty to an already hard situation. But if you step back, remove any arrogance, get another perspective, appreciate the difficulty, Read more about Problem Approach…[…]
101 Random Things I’m Grateful For!
Over the past few months I’ve been pulling out my phone and jotting down the little things that I’m grateful for in life. Random events throughout the day, surprising moments in nature, or when I’m reminded of how blessed I am! Below is my list of things I’m grateful for. There’s a 101 listed Read more about 101 Random Things I’m Grateful For![…]
Invest… in Rest
For me, rest isn’t something that just happens. I have to plan to shut off my brain (and sometimes my phone) and break my usual thought routines. Today’s plan: – I’m replacing Facebook with a real book. – Instead of reading the news, I’ll chat with real people and ask about their news. – I’ll be taking a nap on Read more about Invest… in Rest[…]
My favorite old lady
Yesterday while volunteering I visited my favorite old lady. I see her every Friday. But she has a fading memory and always forgets me. Here’s how our conversation goes each week… *knock on her door* OL: Hello? Me: Hi, it’s Joel from Meals on Wheels! OL: Ok please come inside. Me: I can’t come in, Read more about My favorite old lady[…]
If you don’t have anything nice to say – Try these instead!
If you don’t have anything nice to say… Don’t say it. Write it in an email to yourself. File it for a few days then go back later and decide whether you still want to say it. Go for a long run and sweat out your frustrations. Force yourself to come up with something Read more about If you don’t have anything nice to say – Try these instead![…]
10 x Nice things to cheer up your neighbors (and yourself)!
A few people emailed me this week saying they were struggling to stay motivated, positive and happy. You are not alone. We all have our moments. One of the quickest ways to get happiness is to *give* happiness. So here’s a few ideas you can do for your friends and neighbors to cheer them (and yourself) Read more about 10 x Nice things to cheer up your neighbors (and yourself)![…]
What weakens you, strengthens you.
What weakens you, strengthens you. Imagine if life was always easy… From the moment you were born you got everything handed to you, you never got picked on as a kid, never given chores or hard work, everything was paid for, never had stressful choices to make, etc. If things were always easy, you’d wake Read more about What weakens you, strengthens you.[…]
Living an Extraordinary Life
Living an extraordinary life has nothing to do with comparing yourself to how ordinary people live. It’s about comparing yourself to yourself. Every day I try to: – Progress a little on goals – Learn some new stuff – Share or give things – Be a better version of myself than yesterday When Read more about Living an Extraordinary Life[…]
Monday Schmonday
Mondays can be as good, or as bad, as you want them to be. Here are 6 x short Monday messages from previous years you might like. Each one is as true today, as on the Monday mornings when I wrote them! 10/28/19 – Wishing vs. working 9/30/19 – Self-motivation Monday? 9/16/19 – Read more about Monday Schmonday[…]
Choose your words…
“The words you speak become the house you live in” – Hafiz Today, speak kind and caring words. Uplift, encourage and support the people around you. Share cheerful and bright stories. People need it now more than ever. Happy Easter everyone. Have an egg-cellet day. – Joel
It’s good news week!
3 x quick good news stories… 1) Happy anniversary to this daily email! I started writing daily 5am emails on March 31, 2017 – so we just crossed 3 years! Wow. Thank you everyone for your encouragement and participation in this. I love you all. 2) I just signed a contract to write articles Read more about It’s good news week![…]
Presentation about writing
Earlier this week I delivered an online presentation. I usually shy away from public speaking. It’s scary and nerve wracking, and involves a lot of preparation and practice… But I committed to doing this one anyway, because I believe: Doing hard and scary things in life builds a stronger and more resilient person. After the Read more about Presentation about writing[…]
Give more = Get more
Give more = Get more. It’s pretty simple… It’s not just money, this works the same with time. Time spent on others is time well spent. Enjoy your day! Give as much as you can. – Joel
Unstoppable Attitude
“Don’t forget that the economy cannot stop your work ethic. It cannot stop your drive. It cannot stop your quest for self-education, self-improvement, and personal growth.” – Brandon Turner – What book are you reading today? – What exercises are you doing? – How are you staying positive? – How are you staying creative? Read more about Unstoppable Attitude[…]
Best advice ever…
The best advice I’ve ever received is: “No one else knows what they’re doing either.” – Ricky Gervais Today: Go with your gut. Wing it. Try your hardest and figure stuff out along the way. It’s ok, you’re not the only one 🙂 – Joel Photo by Frame Harirak
Count your blessings!
Seriously, count them. Write a few down, then email them to yourself. Repeat this weekly. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Can’t think of any? Start with these: – You are healthy – You have a roof over your head – You have friends and family that care about you – You are smart and Read more about Count your blessings![…]
Strong people need support too
“The downside of being perceived as a “strong” person is that people often overlook that your needs are also as strong as everyone else’s. What I’m finding out is that folks often assume that strong people don’t need any support. Which leaves you all alone” I got this note from a good friend yesterday. Read more about Strong people need support too[…]
Genius? or Idiot?
I’ve been having strange and vivid dreams the past few weeks. Have you? Some of my dreams are completely whacky, apocalyptic stuff. But others are pure genius! Like solving a problem, coming up with awesome blog topics or millionaire business ideas. A few nights ago I wanted to capture some of these genius ideas… So Read more about Genius? or Idiot?[…]
Happy Friday(s)
Studies show that happiness goes up ~10% on Fridays. Why is that? Because people are looking forward to the weekend. Their mindset is changed and they’re thinking about all the things they can do, vs. things they can’t do. Little do people realize, every day can feel like a Friday. Everyone has what they Read more about Happy Friday(s)[…]
4 x Fourplexes – Emergency Funds and Recession Planning
Every real estate investor has their own risk tolerance, and as such, plans for emergencies differently. I like to think I’ve got a pretty good emergency plan, but honestly, it’s never been truly put to the test. When I started buying investment real estate ~6 years ago, I tried to adapt a conservative mindset and Read more about 4 x Fourplexes – Emergency Funds and Recession Planning[…]
When the going gets tough
You know that feeling of trying and trying and trying and not getting anywhere?… And then you try try try even more and things still don’t work out? Well, that’s the exact point that separates the true heroes from the quitters. That’s the point where you get to decide how interesting your life is going Read more about When the going gets tough[…]
The Uncomfortable Zone
Recently I was thinking about making a change. I was talking about this change with someone as if my choices were clear… either: a) make the change, or b) keep the status quo. But my friend reminded me that if I choose b (not to make the change), that some things are still going to Read more about The Uncomfortable Zone[…]
Your unique strengths
“The superheroes you have in your mind (idols, icons, titans, billionaires, etc.) are nearly all walking flaws who’ve maximized 1 or 2 strengths.” – Tim Ferriss Humans are imperfect creatures. You don’t “succeed” because you have no weaknesses… You succeed because you find your unique strengths and focus on developing habits around them. Keep Read more about Your unique strengths[…]
Your “prison” ain’t that bad
I have 2 pen-pals, both are serving time in prison. Real prison. (I started writing inmates last year after listening to the podcast Ear Hustle, and I found my pen pals at WriteAPrisoner.com.) One of my pals, James, is 24 years old and has been incarcerated since he was 15. Despite spending his entire adult life behind bars (and he Read more about Your “prison” ain’t that bad[…]
Slow down. Pull over. Refuel.
Happy Sunday! Sundays are a great day for reflection. Even 10 minutes of focussed reflection will work wonders on the quality of your day, and your life. “My friend, saying that you don’t have time to improve your thoughts and your life is like saying that you don’t have time to stop for gas because Read more about Slow down. Pull over. Refuel.[…]
When life gives you 🍋🍋🍋
“In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to.” – Dave Hollis I’ve traded emails with many of you the past few weeks. And regardless of how bad the situation around us is, everyone is remaining positive and optimistic! – People Read more about When life gives you 🍋🍋🍋[…]
Layers: Like an Onion
When I go outside, I wear a face mask and gloves. It looks scary, but it’s just an outer layer. Under the face mask I actually have a huge smile! I’m a happy guy, even in tough times. But behind the smile, if I’m being honest, is a scared little boy who’s concerned about the Read more about Layers: Like an Onion[…]