RISE EARLY. RETIRE EARLY.

Just an average guy, living an above-average life!

Your Mind is a Suggestion Engine 🧐

“Consider every thought you have as a suggestion, not an order.” — James Clear Right now my mind is suggesting that I feel tired. It’s suggesting that I’m up too early. It’s suggesting that I should go back to bed and maybe this 5am thing isn’t fun anymore. Maybe I should give up… But when Read more about Your Mind is a Suggestion Engine 🧐[…]

Bring the “weekend you” to work today…

Here’s a little secret to having a good Monday… You see, most people think they have to change who they are at work. Monday feels like when the “weekend you” needs to morph back into the rigid “weekday you”. But the secret to having a good Monday —> is to never stop being the weekend Read more about Bring the “weekend you” to work today…[…]

List of active and passive leisure activities

Active Leisure vs. Passive Leisure

Active leisure: Often recreational and social in nature, it involves using physical or mental energy. (Like exercise, hobbies, or doing something with friends) Passive leisure: Activities that involve using little or no physical or mental activity. Like zoning out watching tv, scrolling social media or drinking beer while sunbathing. Everybody spends their downtime differently… And Read more about Active Leisure vs. Passive Leisure[…]

stars don't shine they burn

Stars don’t shine. They burn.

This was my favorite line from the movie Encanto… Stars don’t shine. They burn. When I first heard it I was like, “aaah, what the heck does that mean?” Then I started thinking… Most people look at stars and see perfect, beautiful, unreachable diamonds that twinkle in the sky. But in reality, stars are raging Read more about Stars don’t shine. They burn.[…]

Surround yourself with positive people

I have a challenge for you this coming month… Think of someone really positive, upbeat, and happy that you don’t regularly speak with. (Or, find someone new in your extended network that you think is cool and motivating). Reach out to them. A short text, DM, or email saying hello and something uplifting. (Eg. Hey Read more about Surround yourself with positive people[…]

Fun Feedback from you awesome peeps!

I love getting replies from you guys. Here are some cool ones from the past couple weeks… ***** In response to the GivingCard Stories email, Murph replied: “To my sweet Joel💕… I can’t believe you posted that today… 💕That’s me…💕 Your favorite kindergarten teacher Murph… 💕Love you always and forever” Whoa! Small world! Nice to Read more about Fun Feedback from you awesome peeps![…]

Parable of the Ducks — YOU have wings!!

There is a town where only ducks live. Every Sunday the ducks waddle out of their houses and waddle down Main Street to their church. They waddle into the sanctuary and squat in their proper pews. The duck choir waddles in and takes its place, then the duck minister waddles forward and opens the duck Read more about Parable of the Ducks — YOU have wings!![…]

“Happiness is love. Full stop.”

Ever heard of the “Grant Study“? It’s one of the longest running studies ever done on human development… It started in the 1940’s when researchers at Harvard Medical School followed 268 college graduates, and studied them for next 75 years! They met with these people regularly through life and measured a bunch of psychological, anthropological, Read more about “Happiness is love. Full stop.”[…]

Bad news and good news…

Hello and happy Friday!!! Sorry I’ve been MIA the past couple days… got some bad news — I tested positive for covid on Wednesday so I’ve been sleeping in and resting a lot. But the good news is: my symptoms are light, my fridge is full, I work from home, my neighbors/friends/family are all supportive, Read more about Bad news and good news…[…]

Your niceness, stretching 2x as far…

Got this email yesterday from my brother… “I was recently reading this article about how during Covid people have been going ape-shit at front-line workers. Long story short, people are insanely rude in public these days. Sad. But the silver lining is, now it’s even easier to totally make someone’s day. Customer service workers report Read more about Your niceness, stretching 2x as far…[…]

You’ll be ready –> when you are ready

There’s a lot of pressure these days to do things NOW, achieve things ASAP, to 10X your goals, retire “early”, refashion yourself overnight, etc. Well today’s message is the opposite. Sometimes you’re ready, whenever you are ready. It’s OK to grow at your own pace. And grow you will. When you are ready. It’s only Read more about You’ll be ready –> when you are ready[…]

Doing your best — varies day to day

Came across this awesome graphic yesterday… courtesy of @lizandmollie It got me thinking about how progress comes and goes in waves. Sometimes progress is fast. Sometimes it’s slow. Sometimes it’s backwards 🙁 But, there are always more good days than bad ones, more forward days than backwards days, and more satisfaction than regrets. Progress is Read more about Doing your best — varies day to day[…]

This year, light 1000 candles 🕯

Did you know that… One single candle 🔥  can light 1000 other candles, without shortening its own life? Well, it’s the same with sharing happiness… One single happy person 😁  can light up the lives of 1000 other people, without decreasing their own happiness supply. So this is my challenge for you in 2022: Share Read more about This year, light 1000 candles 🕯[…]

Another “outrageously generous” story…

Mornin’ mornin’!! Remember my “outrageously generous” friend, Steve? Well he just sent me another cool story I wanted to share with you guys… “After our family church zoom call I got to thinking about how Mary and Joseph probably felt not being able to find shelter. So I called up a few extended stay motels Read more about Another “outrageously generous” story…[…]

Book Recommendations: For You, From You!

Happy Friday y’all! I received about a billion book recommendations yesterday! And after a lot of cutting and pasting and linking, here they all are in one big list! (It’s more like ~50, not a billion 😊) These links are all Amazon links, but if you are interested in reading any books I definitely recommend Read more about Book Recommendations: For You, From You![…]

A frugal and effective happiness trick…

Mornin’ happy people! Today I’m sharing a snippet from a post over at The Frugal Girl. (h/t to J.Money for sharing with me!) 👇👇👇 “Another tip that’s both frugal and effective in boosting happiness: a decade ago I started a project where I took two empty jars, and put “good moments” in one jar, and Read more about A frugal and effective happiness trick…[…]

Today = a worldwide celebration of generosity 👐

Happy #GivingTuesday!! Now that Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Turkey Thursday and Sexytime Sunday are all over 😉… it’s time to get back to what the holiday season is *truly* all about!… GIVING and HELPING others! “#GivingTuesday is an opportunity for people around the world to come together through generosity in all its forms by sharing Read more about Today = a worldwide celebration of generosity 👐[…]

Proud to be an “imposter”.

Imposter syndrome… It happens everywhere, at every level of life. Trying something new?… Imposter syndrome. Leveling up or getting a promotion?… Imposter syndrome. Networking, making new friends, visiting new place’s?… Imposter syndrome. Everyone feels it. So…. Instead of feeling weird, running from it, or letting it hold me back, from this day forward, I’m going Read more about Proud to be an “imposter”.[…]

Happiness is a direction, not a place.

Most people wander around life, trying to find “happiness”. They think it’s a thing, a place, a person, a promotion… they travel far and wide to find it. But the truth is, happiness is already inside them. It’s a direction, not a place. To unlock happiness you just gotta be present, and pay attention to Read more about Happiness is a direction, not a place.[…]

Happy Spanksgiving! 🍁

Woohoo! Happy Thanksgiving everybody! This is my 13th year celebrating Thanksgiving in the USA. Growing up in Australia, we didn’t have Thanksgiving and there’s actually no holiday like it down there. When I moved to the US, it quickly became my favorite holiday! Everyone sitting around, family and friends, sharing delicious food, giving thanks for Read more about Happy Spanksgiving! 🍁[…]

Proof that more money doesn’t equal more daily happiness

I got some kind of big news last week… We had one of our rental properties appraised, and it’s risen in value by a whopping $46,000 since this time last year! Holy moly!!! I’m $46k richer!! Now, let me explain all the ways this will affect my daily life and happiness… Do you know how Read more about Proof that more money doesn’t equal more daily happiness[…]

Set a date –> Make a change

This is one of my favorite stories… A buddy of mine, Kevin, was a successful lawyer years ago. Although his career was going well, he was miserable and stressed at his job. So, one day he set a calendar appointment exactly 1 year into the future labelled “Quit my job”. Throughout that year he experimented, Read more about Set a date –> Make a change[…]

Happiness is pretty simple

Happy Friday, beautiful souls! Just a quick reminder for today… Happiness is not about having everything you want in life. It’s about wanting everything you already have. 🏡 🍔 🚗 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 ❤️ ☀️ = 😀 Wishing you a great day out there, appreciating your awesome stuff in life. Cheers! – Joel **Update: A reader sent Read more about Happiness is pretty simple[…]

Ask Me Anything – Round 3 (Blogging and Writing Stuff)

Good morning! Here are the questions I got about writing and blogging, along with answers. For anyone out there that still has questions or wants to dig a lil deeper into something, I’m always open to chat and help wherever I can. Hit me up! ****** From Drew M:   I’d love to know if you Read more about Ask Me Anything – Round 3 (Blogging and Writing Stuff)[…]

I wrote 1/30th of a book!

I usually don’t use this email list for self-promotion… but today I’m making an exception! I’m just really excited because I contributed to a fun new money book that is being released later this month… Wooohoo 🥳 It’s called: Money Mastermind About 30 money experts came together to write a book (I contributed 1 chapter Read more about I wrote 1/30th of a book![…]

Reminder: 100 days until Valentines Day 2022

Happy Friday, beautiful souls! This is your annual reminder that starting tomorrow (Saturday Nov 6th) it’ll be exactly 100 days until Valentine’s Day 2022! So if you want to try making the most romantic (and FREE) Valentine’s Day gift of 100 love letters, tomorrow is the day to start. About ~15 people did it last Read more about Reminder: 100 days until Valentines Day 2022[…]

A thin veil between this world –> and the next.

Happy Sunday! And happy Halloween! 💀 Today begins Día de los Muertos, a beautiful celebration of life and death. When you’re out tonight trick-or-treating and going to parties, take a quick moment to remember your lost loved ones. One day someone will be remembering you the way you are remembering them.   “There is no Read more about A thin veil between this world –> and the next.[…]

Ramming speed!

Today, I’m activating “Ramming Speed!” I’ll be attacking my to-do list head on, bashing through obstacles and challenges. Problem at work? Ramming speed! Angry client? Ramming speed! Bad traffic on the freeway? Ramming speed! (on second thoughts, maybe no ramming while driving is better) Wishing you all a STRONG day ahead. You are an unstoppable Read more about Ramming speed![…]

How do you cheer yourself up?

A few weeks back I asked you guys “How do you cheer yourself up, snap out of a bad mood, and switch from negative to positive thinking?”… 7 brave soles responded, and here are the replies below! (and right at the very bottom, I’m adding a link to my personal massive list I’ve been building Read more about How do you cheer yourself up?[…]

Friday Celebrations 🎉🥳🍾🙌

3 things I’m celebrating this week: First off, my wife finished her first grad school class and got a score of… 100%!!! Yep, she’s awesome like that. 🏆 One of our real estate partnerships paid a huge dividend this month! Thank you bonkers real estate market! 🤑 Lastly, I found a new jacket. It was Read more about Friday Celebrations 🎉🥳🍾🙌[…]

Please excuse the bad language 🤭

unfuckwithable un·fuck·with·a·ble (adjective) When you are truly at peace and in touch with yourself, and nothing anyone says or does bothers you, and no negativity or drama can touch you. “Today, I’m feeling great and nobody will deter me from accomplishing my goals. I’m unfuckwithable.” ***** Sorry for the bad language!… But what a powerful Read more about Please excuse the bad language 🤭[…]