dreams — JeffDrummer.com

How To End Up On The News?

March 7, 2013 by Jeff Jones 3 Comments

Watching the news show a segment about someone robbing a bank, taking a hostage or shooting up a school reminds us there is power in our choices. Moments before the crime was committed, they were just another person living life like the rest of us, then they made a choice that affected their life and the lives of countless others. They did something big that would change the course of time forever.

We have that same power to influence the world, but in a positive way of course, without robbing a bank. The only difference is it’s harder because it takes time and discipline. If being featured on a newscast was your goal, you could take two different routes.

You could-

1. Rob a bank and hold a hostage

2. Start a movement to bring about positive change in the world and influence others to do the same.

I want to choose the second option, of course, but how? How do I change my own life much less the lives of those around me? The good news is that finding the answer to that question is easy, but actually implementing the answer is hard.

___________________________________________

This is what I believe are the steps to achieving change in my own life so I can ultimately change the world around me-

Identify what is wrong in your own life (this shouldn’t be too hard. My list is rearing it’s ugly head around every corner. However, there are several things that want to hide.)
Start chipping away at those things (for me, a biggie is being judgmental. So, I need to cut it out at the root. Quit pointing out what is wrong with everyone else.)
Start with a mission in mind. (you can’t just say, “I want to influence others”, or “I want to make the world a better place”. You MUST have a goal to work towards.) Ex. Wanting to bring about awareness in the area of human trafficking and reduce it’s hold on society. THAT is a goal you can work towards.
Follow examples of others. Look to others who have and are achieving greatness and change in life and begin to “do what they do”. Chances are they are doing things “on purpose”.

Question: Do you have a goal? Do you have a mission? What change do you want to bring about in life?
You may not want to necessarily be on the evening news, but the effects of your influence can be endless and impact the lives of countless others.

Filed Under: Ambition, attitude, dreams, passion Tagged With: dreams, goals, sacrifice

Is Time Travel Possible?

February 21, 2013 by Jeff Jones 5 Comments

Time Machine What if you could travel back in time? What if you could go back to one day in the past and relive any 24 hour period taking all of the knowledge you currently possess?

Imagine for a moment that day is today. What if 20 years from now you were able to travel back in time and come back to today. How would you want to spend your day? Buying up stock in a company based on future performance is off limits!

Would you treat your spouse differently? Would you love on your kids more? Or would you spend your free time watching another episode of (fill in the blank)?

We so easily forget the value of today and the effect it will have on tomorrow. Think of the savvy investor who sacrificed $100 per month for 40 years and now is reaping the benefits. Think of the spendthrift who squandered away every dime and now has nothing to show for it.

What about the parent who gave their heart and soul to the company only to gain a watch but lost their family in the process? It is so easy to judge them at the end of their life because it’s easy to reflect on the past, but what about predicting the future and preventing the heartache that is bound to come?

Imagine writing a letter and being able to send it to yourself twenty years earlier. What would it contain?

Practice it using 100 words or less. Below is mine:

Jeff-
Spend more time in God’s word, for it is never changing. Spend more time with your family and less time watching t.v.. Cancel cable, NOW! Read more non-fiction. Take more pictures. Start saving more and eat out less. Pray more, write more, keep journaling and memorize more scripture. Give up soda, eat less pizza, work out more and don’t sleep so much. Don’t get a serious girlfriend until after college. Spend more time with your granny. Set goals every year. Write it down = get it done. Care less about what others think. You will thank me, I promise.

Jeff

________________________________________________

We can implement these changes today. NOW is the time to start, not tomorrow or next week. Don’t waste another day, but begin living the life you want to have. What’s stopping you?

Don’t wait another 20 years.

Question: what would your letter to yourself be? Share it below. 100 words or less.

Filed Under: Ambition, attitude, dreams, focus, passion Tagged With: dreams, sacrifice

Are You in Line For a Mid-Life Crisis?

February 15, 2013 by Jeff Jones 5 Comments

We’ve all seen it. The mid-forties man who trades in his family for a new woman, new children, new car, new wardrobe and a new conscience. Usually she’s a giant step down in character from his current wife, but he’s too blind to see it in spite of the obvious signs. He’s bored at work, feeling like his contributions don’t matter. He looks in the mirror one day and asks the question, “Is this all there is to life?” and decides to do something drastic, something different, something that is for him.

Why does this happen? People ask, “What was he thinking?” Everyone can see the destruction going on except him. He’s tired of living the same boring existence day to day and not having anything to show for it that he feels amounts to anything of significance. When looking at his life so far, he sees a life lived for others and he realizes his time is slipping away. When he checks the calendar, he’s reminded that he’s spent over half of his life doing the same thing with little to show for it. So, he makes a change, leaving a trail of destruction in his path.

Sound familiar? Know anyone who has done that? Chances are you do. This scene is all too familiar. Countless families are torn apart because of a lack of significance. You may ask, “What does significance have to do with it?” I believe it has everything to do with it. The problem isn’t the decisions he made, in spite of his lack of wisdom, the problem is his method of measurement. He was measuring his life with a broken ruler. Instead of placing value on things that matter, he valued the things that are fleeting. Spending 5 minutes flipping channels will tell you what the majority of this world values in life. Look where it’s gotten them.

Do you feel significant? Is your current life going to be one that you can feel proud of? If not, you may want to replace your ruler. Below are a few ideas to help you realign your thoughts with a different definition.

If you are married, you are called to be a servant. (according to society, it’s all about getting what we want) Remember the words of the great Zig Ziglar: “You can have everything you want in life, if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” This applies to all relationships.

If you are a parent, you are called to physically be there. Don’t forget, you are an instant leader. You have a built in audience ready to follow where you lead. Are you taking advantage of that or casting it to the side?

If you want to leave a legacy and be significant, be faithful in the little things. Think of the funerals you’ve attended where someone shared the memories of one who died. They usually speak of the common things in their life. “He was such a good man, he was so kind, or he was always there for me, etc…is more commonly shared than, “He was such a great business man, etc…”

How many people do you know who want to be someone other than who they are? How many people do you know who would love to have someone else’s life? Why? Because they often don’t feel like their life matters. Remember, Every little thing you do matters. Every single decision. Regardless of whether you think so or not, it does. You have the power to influence those around you whether you are tucked away in a cubicle for 8 hours a day or stuck in the suburbs with a wife, 2.5 kids and a 30 yr mortgage with a boring Ford.

Stop focusing on things that don’t matter. Open your eyes to those seemingly mundane, boring things in life and know that life is what you make it. You can’t trade in one set of problems for new ones because they will all become the same. It’s all about perspective.

Are you significant? Yes you are, whether you feel like it or not. Don’t throw it all away. You will spend a lifetime trying to fix the past.

Question: Do you have any words of wisdom for someone struggling with feeling significant?

Filed Under: attitude, careers, dreams, focus Tagged With: careers, dreams, sacrifice

How to Stay Married

February 11, 2013 by Jeff Jones 12 Comments

A few of my “dates” from my past

When I was in elementary school I had a “girlfriend” who I loooooved so much. We went on a date to a movie, with my parents of course, exchanged Christmas presents and felt like we had found “the one”. When I was in middle school I had a few girlfriends as well. We were “going together”. I went to dances and went on “parent accompanied” dates from time to time. What were my parents thinking? When high school came I kicked it up a notch and started going on “solo” dates. I went to numerous dances and thought for sure I had found “the” one I would spend the rest of my life with. In some ways it was the same feeling I had in elementary school, but I didn’t know what real love was because I hadn’t experienced real sacrifice. (The picture on the left is a collection of photos from my 8th grade dance thru my freshman year of college).

Fast forward to today. I’ve been married for almost 12 years. I am “in love” and I know it. Not by my feelings alone but by my actions. When I was in school I thought I knew what real love was but I didn’t have a clue. Everything I knew was about how being in a relationship made me feel. It had very little to do with the other person. Sad to say, but most of my relationships were based on me. I was selfish to say the least.

After being married for more than a decade I have come to understand a little of what marriage is supposed to be. Sacrifice. That’s right, that big 9 letter curse word. It’s not about you, but the other person. After creating an acronym earlier this year, I realize it not only had a lot to do with goals in my personal life but also could be applied to marriage and the other relationships I have. W.I.S.E.™ stands for “What I Sacrifice Everyday” and it helps me remember that a growing relationship requires sacrifice. The goal for marriage is closeness and intimacy, ultimately becoming more like Christ in how we treat each other. I become one step closer to my goal when I remember to sacrifice my selfishness for the sake of the other person.

The other day I discovered a website that would measure the likelihood of my marriage lasting. Regardless of how crazy it was, I had to give it a try. You can try it at www.lovecalculator.com. You simply enter you and your spouse’s first name and it will tell you whether or not your marriage will make it. Of course it’s only a joke, but I realized in getting my % that so many in life are so far away from the truth of what makes a marriage work.

Addison, Stephanie and Hannah Jones

Why do so many give up on making marriage work? Why do they feel a sense of entitlement in regard to their feelings and what they feel they deserve in life? They don’t realize that marriage is a daily sacrifice in response to the call of God on their lives as husbands and wives to deny their own selfish desires. That is a constant struggle that will never be fully conquered, but only gets better with time.

To answer the question of, “How to stay married?” I think the answer is simple, yet profound.

Realize the definition of love in not based solely on a feeling. It is based on a commitment. You must be committed to being committed, and then commit some more.
Realize that marriage is not about you. There are many times when you will get what you want out of marriage, but the benefits of marriage are far greater than merely being happy. Focus on the person you and your spouse are becoming as a result of the ups and downs of the relationship.

Remember, we are on a journey. focus on who you are becoming and not who you have been. If you need to re-commit to serving your spouse, do it today. Don’t make a big deal out of it, just do the next thing. Whether it’s taking the trash out, doing the dishes or listening to them tell about their day, just do the next thing that you know you should do. Do it as unto the Lord. Be faithful in the little things and He will bless you in much.

Question: What is one marriage tip you could offer to another couple? Something you may have learned the hard way or just over time, whether it’s 2 years or 50 years of marriage.

Filed Under: Ambition, dreams, passion Tagged With: marriage, relationships, sacrifice

What I Learned From Going to Jail

February 3, 2013 by Jeff Jones 13 Comments

If you have never been, I can promise you it’s not a vacation. Recently I visited a friend who ended up in jail by doing what he knew was wrong, yet he weighed the consequences and chose to take the chance. He made a bad choice and is now paying for it. The thing that struck me the most while visiting was the sense of being out of place. This was my mindset: I don’t belong here, but, more importantly, he felt the same way. He felt that he didn’t belong there either. I discussed this feeling with him and we both agreed that he didn’t belong here because jail was for other people.

How do you become one of those other people. In most cases, it doesn’t sneak up on you. Becoming a person in jail is usually not a matter of one choice. It’s a matter of multiple choices that, when added up, equal to something you never imagined. This sums up life in a paragraph. We become someone 5, 10, or 20 years down the road who we set out to become, whether we realize it or not. If you make bad decisions on a daily basis, you will eventually become one of those other people. If you make good decisions on a daily basis, you will become someone else. Someone who is more in line with who you wanted to become.

I was on a jury a few years ago and ended up convicting a young man to prison for 20 years. I, along with the other jurors had no idea of his previous convictions, so we were shocked when we found out the length of his sentence. We later found out we were deciding the fate of someone who had two previous convictions and had a history of making bad decisions. The sad part is he was also a very talented basketball player who just threw away his shot at the NBA. It was tragic and I remember crying on my way to the car after we were released from our duty.

You may not be on the path of going to jail, but you are on a path. That is the important part to remember. The young man I visited would have never dreamed he would end up in a place like this when he was younger, yet there he sat. We often have the same discovery in our own life when it pertains to where we find ourselves. We are where we are because of a series of decisions, good or bad.

When you are on a ship out to sea, you set out on a straight course. You have to make corrections along the way as a response to distractions. Distractions are inevitable and come when you least expect them. You have to be prepared for them by keeping your ultimate destination in view.

Here are a few things to keep you on course in life:

Remember what is at stake. You don’t get to hit the rewind button. Although we can start over, we can never get back our most valuable asset: Time.
Be on the lookout for haters. In some cases, even friends and family will not be there to support you in your journey. Be prepared to go it alone from time to time. Only you can know what’s in your heart and where you’re headed.
Remember to enjoy the journey, but be sure and have a destination in mind. Keep in mind, if you aim at nothing you will hit it ever time.

Question: Have you ever ended up where you hadn’t planned on going? I once made a series of wrong turns in NYC and was in full panic mode within 5 minutes! I would love to read your comments below.

Filed Under: attitude, dreams, focus, passion Tagged With: dreams, goals

My Interview with Andy Andrews

February 2, 2013 by Jeff Jones Leave a Comment

It was an honor to be the guest on my mentor’s podcast this week. Andy Andrews is a 3 time New York Times best selling author who is, in my opinion the best public speaker alive today. He has served as a huge inspiration for me and my family over the last few years. He, along with author Dan Miller were powerful inspirations in my life in regard to my decision to leave as the drummer for Big Daddy Weave. Click here or the picture to listen to us talk about making the big leap to full time speaker from full time drummer. Listen as Andy shares about the difference in deciding to do something vs. actually doing it.

Below are the notes taken from Andy’s website:

On today’s podcast, professional drummer Jeff Jones, formerly of the band Big Daddy Weave, joins Andy and A.T. to talk about transitioning your life and career.

After reading The Traveler’s Gift and listening to the podcast, Jeff decided it was time to transition from being a drummer to becoming a speaker.

He had been the drummer for Big Daddy Weave, touring all over the country and the world, for 13 years.
He had been gone about 140 days per year for his family’s entire life.

Jeff came up with the acronym WISE, which has become the crux of his message.

It stands for What I Sacrifice Every Day.
The acronym embodies the choices you make in order to achieve the results you want in your life.
When he was a kid and decided he wanted to play drums for a living, he began making sacrifices every single day in order to achieve that dream.

Andy’s Storms of Perfection series also inspired Jeff to create a custom pair of drumsticks for camouflage company Mossy Oak.

The series inspired him to take action.
It taught him that almost every successful person started out overcoming adversity.
You don’t have to be “special” to be successful.
All you have to do is seek wisdom and take action.

To get a FREE eBook from Jeff, go to JeffDrummer.com, enter your email address, and he’ll send it to you!

Were you encouraged or helped by this podcast? Be sure to share this episode with a friend!

Questions for Listeners

Have you ever made a major career or life change? We’d love to hear your story!

o Phone: 1-800-726-ANDY

o E-Mail: InTheLoop@AndyAndrews.com

o Facebook.com/AndyAndrews

o Twitter.com/AndyAndrews

Filed Under: Ambition, attitude, Big daddy weave, careers, dreams, entrepreneurship, passion Tagged With: big daddy weave, careers, entrepreneurial ideas, sacrifice

What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

January 24, 2013 by Jeff Jones 8 Comments

Are you still asking yourself that question? Well, do you know the answer? I am 39 and I think I finally figured it out. It took me long enough! What about you? Do you still long for the days as a child when you would sit and dream about becoming something great? Someone “important”? Someone who made a difference in the lives of others? The answer came to me when I discovered what was different about being a child. As a child I knew what I was good at based on one thing and one thing only: It was fun.

When you were 7, what made you want to be a fireman, singer, dancer, or an artist? It was fun, right? As an adult, what made you want to be “responsible?” One word: Money. You were told it actually cost money to eat and have shelter, so you needed to do something more “responsible” with your life.

The fact is, we can’t all be firemen, dancers or artist. If that were the case, we would not have cars to ride around in and wouldn’t have cups to drink out of, and certainly wouldn’t have clothes to wear. I’m not suggesting we forsake responsibility for raw passion. I am, however, suggesting we begin to look at what brings us joy in life. How would the world benefit from you if you were able to share your best with it?

I love to talk. I mean, I really love to talk. Everyone who has been around me for any length of time knows I can talk about anything and do it with great passion. Regardless of the subject matter, I feel compelled to give my input. I woke up one day and realized I could be the greatest blessing to those around me if I did what I was created to do: Talk. Imagine that. As a child I was chastised and told to be quiet, and now I am doing it as a career.

My 5 year old will most likely be an entertainer based on her current activity. She is a constant source of entertainment and thrives on attention. She can bring a smile to anyone’s face in a matter of seconds with no regard to their previous mood. I pray I never teach her how to be “responsible” and forsake her gift. Is it possible she could grow up to be the next Lucille Ball or Reba McIntyre or Joan Rivers? Yes, but what are the chances if her passion is traded for being responsible?

I don’t deny the need for being responsible in life. After all, money doesn’t grow on trees, but I would hate to have her grow up, live a life of being “responsible” and look back at age 60 and long for the days of yesterday when she was doing what she was best at: entertaining.

____________________________________________________

How can we do a reality check in life to see where we stack up? Below are a few things to think about:

If money were no object, what would you do with your time?
What brings you the most joy in life?
What could you do all day long and not feel tired or drained “mentally”?
When you were a kid, what did you want to do? Are you still waiting for that to happen?

Don’t give up your day job just yet. That is not what I am suggesting. I only want you to look at your life and realize one thing: This is it! This is the only shot you get. There will not be any do-overs. Are you like me? Do you want to look back when you are 60 and feel like you added value to those around you by doing what you were created to do? I sure do. I want to give my all and do what only I can do.

Question: Are you doing what you were created to do, or do you feel like that gift has been covered up by other things that have gotten in the way? Share your answer in the comment section below. I would love to hear your answer.

____________________________________________________

Filed Under: Ambition, attitude, careers, dreams, job, passion Tagged With: dreams, entrepreneurial ideas, job

My New Adventure!

January 22, 2013 by Jeff Jones 80 Comments

Africa It’s been a great experience after 13 years as the drummer and member of Big Daddy Weave. I’ve played in over 1500 concerts in 49 states in the U.S. (all but Hawaii), been to Africa, Amsterdam, Canada, Ecuador, Mexico and The Bahamas. I’ve seen countless lives touched by God through the music I’ve been a part of making and I’ve seen my life changed as well. What more could I ask for in life? I’ve lived the life of my dreams. God has truly blessed me beyond my wildest dreams and I am thankful to you all for helping make it a reality. I’ve written about some of these experiences in my new ebook that I want to give you for Free. Click below to get your copy.

Ever since I was 10 years old I’ve wanted to do this and now I can say with a thankful spirit I have. For that I am grateful and I do not take it for granted. As a little boy starting middle school band I always knew one day God would use me beyond anything I was capable.

I was later told by a church member who I did not know, that God would use me to touch the nations on the drums. Little did I know that 13 years later our songs would be played in countries all over the world and God would use those songs to reach into the hearts of listeners to bring about hope, change, forgiveness and salvation. If I died today I could say I have lived a full life doing what I was created to do, for that I am thankful beyond words and will forever cherish the memories and the people I have met.

After 13 years with Big Daddy Weave, I have decided to leap into a new adventure that will take me places I’ve never been and introduce me to people I have yet to meet. After struggling with knowing when the right time would be, I have decided that time is now. My last official show with the band was Sunday night, January 20^th, 2013. That was one of the hardest concerts I have ever played for many reasons. Playing the songs we’ve played night after night for the last time was somewhat emotional looking into the eyes of my fellow band members knowing this would be the last time we share a stage together. I do, however, know I am doing what I must do to continue being obedient to what God has called me to do.

Many people I meet never really know what their calling is. Often they mention something they are good at, but that’s not the right answer. I could say my calling is to play drums because I am (pretty good) at it. But, that would not be correct. I know my calling is to be a teacher and an encourager. I can stay true to my calling by doing many things. Up until now, that has been playing the drums in Big Daddy Weave. God has used me to teach others and encourage others from behind the drums as well as in conversations before and after concerts. Beginning in January, I will transition into a new role where I get to speak into the lives of others from the stage as a speaker. You may ask, “Are you going to be a motivational speaker?” Yes and no. I will be speaking to help motivate others, but I want to focus on so much more. I will be sharing with groups around the country what I have learned about trusting God and making choices in obedience to Him that enable you to be who God created you to be. I will also be sharing about my journey with the band and how God allowed me to fulfill the dream that was in my heart almost 30 years ago.

I created an acronym that all of my talks are focused on. -W.I.S.E.- It stands for What I Sacrifice Everyday. This is the tool I use daily to help me realize it’s about sacrificing daily the temporary things of this life for the things that matter. For example, when I was 10, I knew I wanted to be a professional musician. I knew I had to make sacrifices along the way if I wanted that to come true. While speaking to others I will challenge them to do the same in their lives in order to have the life they want and become the person they know God is calling them to be. The person God created them to be. The W.I.S.E. concept is rooted in Romans 12:1 where Paul calls us to make sacrifices.

So often we find ourselves doing average things, with average people, living average lives and never doing the things we dream about and know we are capable of doing. Ultimately it is a choice we have and often we simply decide not to do it. I want to help empower others to make W.I.S.E. choices by sacrificing daily the things that will keep them from being all they can be. I feel God has used the last 13 years to prepare me for this next chapter in my life.

I am excited about being a mentor to someone I can share my experiences with and be mentored by someone I aspire to as well. I can’t wait to spend Saturdays playing with my girls around the house and taking naps on the sofa on Sunday afternoons after church. These are some of the things I’ve missed over the last 13 years and am now ready to embrace completely. I will miss the gentle roar of the diesel engine of our tour bus, Big Blue, but I will enjoy sleeping in a stationary bed as well.

Some people may not understand how I could leave something God is so clearing blessing. Seeing what has happened as a result of the song “Redeemed” has been beyond words. Hearing testimonies from people all over the world about how God has used that song is beyond anything I could have ever imagined as a middle-schooler with a dream in my heart and a pair of drumsticks in my hand. However, I have learned something as of late that I have reminded myself of when explaining my choice to others. Sometimes the enemy of the best is the good. As for me and my family, being in the band is a very, very good thing, but it is no longer the best thing for us. The very best thing is for us now is to step out in faith and pursue public speaking and all that God has in store.

If you have not been to a Big Daddy Weave concert, I challenge you to go. I have been witness to some amazing things while out on the road and know God is doing a mighty work. Come prepared for more than simply a concert. Come prepared to worship the almighty God!

I still have some dates available on my calendar for the spring and am looking forward to standing before students and other groups while sharing the message of “Living W.I.S.E.” and how they can be who God created them to be. If you know of a group that would be interested in having me share with them, please contact me here. I would love to serve your group any way I can. Below is a sneak peek of me sharing with a group of students and Here is a link where you can read some testimonies from others who have had me recently share with their group.

Mike Huckabee is my newest client

I will also continue growing my custom drumstick business at www.CustomStix.com. We have some very exciting news for 2013 that include the world’s first officially licensed Mossy Oak camo brand drumsticks. We will also be introducing a new bracelet to go with our custom baseball bats, drumstick pens and other items. Will I still play the drums? I’m glad you asked. YES! If you bring me in to speak with your group I will be happy to start my talk off with a short drum solo or play with your local worship band. I still love to play and will never leave the drums behind.

Thank you all for being so supportive over the years and for praying for my family while I was on the road. Your words of encouragement have meant the world to me and I am forever grateful. I would love to share my new ebook with you as a gift of appreciation. You can get it by clicking below.

Here is a bonus: Leave a comment below telling about your favorite Big Daddy Weave song and you will automatically be entered to WIN the drumsticks I played my last show with. Random drawing will be Friday at noon.

Big Daddy Weave drumsticks I would love to stay in touch with you all, so please subscribe to my email updates where I write on all things related to living a life of passion. From dating your spouse to growing in your walk with God, I write about things that matter in a life lived for eternity. You can also connect with me below on Facebook and Twitter:

Filed Under: Big daddy weave, dreams, passion Tagged With: big daddy weave

Put Yourself to the Test

January 14, 2013 by Jeff Jones 2 Comments

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to get up in the morning when you are going to Disney World? What about the morning of your 10 year anniversary when you have to be at the airport at the crack of dawn on your way to a resort in Hawaii? What about the morning of your big job interview? All of these have one thing in common: value.

It’s amazing the wheel-power we posses to do things we don’t really want to do when we recognize the value in doing it. Why is it easy to get up when going to Disney World? That answer is obvious. You know the day will be filled with magical bliss and memories that will last a lifetime. Job interview? That meeting could change the course of your future unlike almost any other event in your life. We somehow find the strength to get up and make those choices when it affects us in a positive way. So why do we have so much trouble getting up and making the decisions to do the other things in life that matter to us but don’t have the same instant impact as going on vacation, etc…? Example: Getting up at 5am to have a daily devotion or hitting the treadmill for the dreaded 30 minute cardio workout. It’s called entitlement and we all struggle with it. Not in the traditional sense of the word, but in a hidden, more palatable and socially acceptable sense.

We work hard and deserve a break, right? The other night I was on the sofa and should have been wearing a sign that said, “I am tired, lazy and don’t care, so let me watch t.v. and leave me alone”. Not to say we should never take a break, but we often lose sight of what is at stake when we make daily decisions to do the things we do. We are stuck in the “here and now” and forget about the impact our decisions will have on the future. If you knew by getting up an extra hour in the morning you would have a guarantee of adding an extra $5,000 per month to your income, you could easily make that choice. If you knew by hitting the treadmill 3 times per week you were guaranteed to live an additional 15 years, the choice would be easy to make. Why? because of the word “guarantee”.

We all know in life there are few guarantees, so we ignore that option and trade in the “potential” benefit of making the hard choices and instead, settle for the known. I believe the only way we will ever achieve what we want in life is by believing enough in what we are doing to assume it is guaranteed to happen and bring about the results we are looking for. When I get up in the morning I ALWAYS believe it will be the best day I have ever had. Period! Having that mindset allows me to follow my dreams and do the things I know I was created to do. If I believe anything other than that, I am destined to fail and doomed before the day begins.

It is easy to make decisions based on fear. It is also easy to make decisions based on pain. Ex. The doctor tells you, “If you don’t exercise, you will be dead by Friday. Done. Easy decision, right? You will make it happen regardless of the cost. The problem is we ignore the seriousness of our decisions because all we see is the “here and now”. We’ve got to come to grips with the effects of our choices on our future and realize the future is determined by the “here and now”.

Let’s weigh our choices with a new scale this year. Don’t let what has always been determine what will be in the future.

Question:

What is the biggest struggle you face daily? (mine is wanting to sleep too much)

Would you like to get updates delivered to your inbox? Sign up below:

Filed Under: Ambition, attitude, dreams, exercise Tagged With: dreams, job, sacrifice

How to Have the Year You’ve Always Wanted

December 31, 2012 by Jeff Jones 10 Comments

goals What do you want to accomplish in 2013? If you are like most people, you have a lot of items on your to-do-list. My list is massive. For most of us, it includes things related to more money, better use of time, better health, better relationships and a better spiritual life.

Those ambitions are natural. We are all aware of the potential we have in life to be an overall “better” person living an overall “better” life, all while having an overall “better” impact on others. But what does “better” look like? I believe it represents a feeling we long for. That feeling for me can be described like this: Lying in bed at night exhausted knowing I made wise decisions in every area of life, encouraged others, took great care of the things placed in my trust, used my time wisely, had a positive attitude, and enjoyed it while I was doing it.

Most of us will never achieve what we long for. We realize the power to change lies within us yet we continue doing what we have always done in hopes of getting different results. Why does this happen? First of all, if it were easy, everybody would have the life they want, but it’s not. It is very hard to make decisions that go against the norm. Making the right choices when your flesh is screaming to do what’s comfortable is never easy. That’s why most people continue in doing what is comfortable and common. That’s where we get the term “average”. Most people around you live an average life, never achieving their dreams.

Do you want to be average? I don’t. I want to be extraordinary! I want to have an extraordinary life with an extraordinary marriage, raise extraordinary kids all while having an extraordinary influence on those around me. I believe the secret to having an extraordinary life is summed up in one word. WISE.

Back in the spring I created an acronym that simplifies how you can have an extraordinary life. It stands for “What I Sacrifice Everyday”. Everything we want in life comes down to making a choice. If you want to achieve something in life, you have to sacrifice the things that are keeping you from doing it. Want to get up early in the morning? Go to bed early. Want to go to bed early? Turn off the t.v.. Want to turn off the t.v.? Set a timer for 1 hour, limit yourself to one show, etc… It boils down to sacrifice. We could all sit on the sofa for 3 hours per night and watch t.v., eat junk food and stay up until 1am, but doing that doesn’t line up with living an extraordinary life.

The challenge for 2013 -Download this form here

3 column photo The secret to achieving an extraordinary life is understanding motivation. My greatest struggle, partly due to traveling for a living, is going to bed too late. This results in me getting up later than I want, resulting in me getting less done than I want, causing me to have average results throughout my day. I really struggle with this. I feel as if I am “giving up” on life when I go to bed. Like a boxer going down for the count, I fight going to bed every second, longing for more time awake. However, if I were offered $1,000,000 in 12 months to get up at 5am everyday for the next year, I can assure you I would have no problem getting up at 5am. It would be an adjustment but I would do it with little thought of doing otherwise. Why? Because I understand the motivation. $1,000,000 would dramatically change my life. I could make a long list of the ways my family would benefit. In fact, making the decision to do it would be a no brainer.

What about exercise? If you were given the same deal: Exercise 3 times per week for a year and the $1,000,000 is yours. Lose that extra 50 lbs by years end and the $1,000,000 is yours. Quit drinking soda, compulsive shopping, gossiping, looking at pornography, etc… Whatever it may be, if offered $1,000,000 to refrain, you could do it. This proves you can do just about anything you want if you have the right motivation. The problem with that scenario is no one is going to offer you $1,000,000. You have to learn to replace the $1,000,000 with the right motivation.

If I go to bed early, I won’t get $1,000,000 but I will be able to get up early, have a consistent devotion time, exercise, eat breakfast on a regular basis, and get a lot more done than on days I go to bed late. Ultimately, that is worth more than $1,000,000 but so often we never visualize the results of our sacrifice, making it almost impossible to achieve our goals. You have to remember it is about making daily sacrifices in order to achieve your dreams. One day at a time. One choice at a time. One sacrifice at a time. It’s about “What I Sacrifice Everyday”.

What do you need to sacrifice everyday in order to have the life you want? This year, I have several goals I have set. They are more like lifestyle changes.

In 2013 a few of my goals are to:

Get up at 5am on weekdays
Exercise 3 mornings per week
Have a devotion time every morning
Go to bed by 10:30pm on weeknights
Write a blog post 2 times per week

All of my goals have one thing in common, they all allow me to help more people. I can’t operate on an empty tank and neither can you. Extraordinary people do extraordinary things.

What are you going to do this year that is extraordinary? Leave a comment below and share it.

Want a W.I.S.E. bracelet like the one I wear? You can get one by clicking here.

Would you like to get updates delivered to your inbox? Sign up below: