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Beware of thinking too small. Small thinking leads to small actions, which in turn leads to small results. The problem with this is that you trick your mind because taking action feels good, even though the results stemming from those actions are minimal.

For example, you might clip coupons. I’m not saying that there’s anything wrong with clipping coupons. You can definitely save money by doing this and there are a lot of people who know how to do this in a way that is so efficient that they hardly pay anything for groceries! But, if you’re not one of those select few, don’t allow yourself to be tricked into thinking you really moved the needle by saving a few dollars. There is a hidden dark side of the coupon clipping equation that you may not be considering…did you buy products that you normally wouldn’t have just because it was a good deal? Or, because you’re so happy you saved “x” dollars, did you splurge in other areas of life (negating the savings you worked so hard for)?

Another way to think of this would be, “how could my time have been spent better for the same or greater results?” If you’re an hourly employee, could you have worked an extra couple of hours? You probably would earn more with overtime pay than you saved by clipping coupons. Could you sell something that you never use (and gain the benefit of decluttering your house at the same time)? Could you call your cable company to reduce your monthly bill in a substantial way or change your cell phone plan? Those are one-time actions that could save considerably each month!

Don’t spend an inordinate amount of time on things that don’t move the needle. Think of the 80/20 rule (Pareto’s Principle)…80% of the results come from 20% of your actions. If it’s not taking much time for you, or if it’s something that you really enjoy doing, then go for it. Every little bit counts. But if it’s taking up your weekend (finding coupons, clipping them, driving to ten different stores for the best deals, etc.) AND you feel drained by doing it, then stop. Focus on doing less, but gaining more. Focus on BIG thoughts and BIG action steps to get BIG results. Eliminate what’s not necessary, automate what you can, delegate what needs to be done (but not necessarily by you), and then you will have more time to take action on the most important aspects of your life.

We fear an uncertain future.

We fear what what is new and unfamiliar.

We fear what we don’t know or understand.

Why do we fear these things? Because they are potential threats to our livelihoods.

How do we overcome these fears? By facing them head-on.

If you don’t understand something, read as much as you can about it. If you’re not familiar with it, ask someone who has experience encountering what you’re facing. The future is always uncertain, but it’s coming no matter what you do. The best way to make the future events best fit your desires are to take what you feel are the best actions possible with the information that you currently have on hand. If/when the information available to you changes, do not be afraid to change your opinions and actions with it.

The “self-help” industry sometimes has a negative connotation associated with it. But why? Sure, if it is “scammy” I can see why people scoff at it. But for legitimate self-hep books, why would anyone criticize you for trying to improve your life? If you tell someone you’re reading Harry Potter, Jack Reacher, or Dune, do they care? No. But if you mention reading about business, leadership, or self-improvement? They often criticize. They wonder why you would do such a thing. Why should it matter to them what you read (or if you read at all)? It shouldn’t. If they try to put you down for trying to improve your own situation it is a reflection on them, not on you.

Continue reading. Continue striving. Be sure to include fiction and nonfiction books alike in your reading list. When I first started reading for pleasure, it was all fiction or narrative form. Then I swung completely to the opposite end of the spectrum to read as much as I could about business, leadership, and real estate. But just like anything in life, there should be a little more balance. Studies show that reading fiction can help you become more empathetic, because you are getting in the mind of different characters and feeling what they feel. Not everyone thinks like you and it’s good to rediscover that. But don’t only consume the “empty calories” of a good fiction book. I view fiction novels like ice cream. It’s a treat, not the main course. You need to get the bulk of your “nutrition” from books that make you think and help you grow.

People will work hard for you if they feel you respect and appreciate them. I know, it’s not a profound statement, but I feel that it often gets overlooked in today’s environment.

If you disrespect someone, apologize. Don’t let your ego make a bad situation worse by not apologizing. Just like Dale Carnegie says in How to Win Friends and Influence People, “If you are wrong, admit it quickly and emphatically.” This is easy to see for most people, and while some may have a difficult time admitting when they’re wrong, they at least understand that they should apologize.

But what if you’re not disrespectful to anyone? Does that guarantee that you’ll have loyalty from your co-workers or employees? The answer to this question is, no. In addition to being respecting, they also need to feel appreciated.

If someone you’re working with is trying hard and working smart towards achieving their goals, thank them. Take time to celebrate little wins. Do this privately AND publicly, but make sure that it feels genuine. Be specific with your praise and avoid giving out generic commendations. You don’t have to set a schedule (i.e., every Thursday at 9 a.m. I’ll tell John he did well on something). Instead, try to be aware of what they are stressing out about. Have they been working really hard on a project and just completed it? Did they close a particularly difficult sale?

They may just be doing their job, but regular encouragement can reinvigorate them. Charles Schwab once said, “The way to develop the best that is in a person is by appreciation and encouragement.” I’ve found this statement to be true in many areas of life, not just work. Do you ever remember being a kid and having a parent, coach, or teacher say that you did something well? All you wanted to do after that was keep up the good work. You worked harder, because now that’s who you’ve become. You’re the kid who is good at ______.

We all crave to be appreciated – by our significant others, friends, co-workers, and bosses. If you truly want to bring out the best in someone, always treat them with respect and regularly let them know you appreciate them. If they can “feel the love,” they will stay with you for a long, long time.

I recently read a quote from Charles Lamb, an English essayist and poet, which stated, “My motto is: Contented with little, yet wishing for more.” I have not seen a quote that sums up my attitude towards life as closely as that.

I believe that we should all be grateful for what we have, no matter how much that happens to be. If you’re able to read this, that means you have a smart phone, laptop, iPad, or other device. You have an internet connection. And even though, to you, it may seem like you’re struggling financially, according to Investopedia, if you make $32,400 per year you are in the top 1% of income earners in the entire world. Just living in the United States, flawed as it may be, is such a blessing and I would not want to call any other place my home. I love and am grateful for my family, my friends, and the fact that I get to workout and push myself mentally and physically each day. I love my church, even though it has been a while since we’ve been able to gather together. I love going for hikes in nature and exploring. There is much to be grateful for, and with my family’s minimalist lifestyle, we don’t require a lot to be happy. We are content with little.

That being said, I’m hungry. I’m not talking about being physically hungry (although I do have an appetite). I’m talking about being intellectually hungry. I’m always searching for more – looking for opportunities to improve myself daily. I keep busy as I read, write, work on my website, work to become a successful real estate agent (I officially became licensed yesterday!), to be a good landlord to my tenants, to become a notary public (that’s next on my To Do list), the list goes on and on. I cram all of this in while still trying to spend as much quality time with my family and talk with my friends regularly. I wish for more so I can provide the best life possible for my family.

All of this is to say that we need to be grateful for what we have, but still ambitious so that we are still able to progress in life. I don’t want to be doing the same thing over and over, reliving each day as if I’m Phil (played by Bill Murray) in Groundhog Day. No, instead I want to be a dreamer – I want to have hopes and dreams. And then I want to put together an action plan to make those dreams become reality. If I succeed, great. But if I don’t, at least I will know that I gave it a shot. I’ll be content, then I’ll probably be on to the next project, wishing for more…