Author Archives: Steven

Live a Rich Life Without a lot of Money

24 May 2012

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One of the most common questions I’m asked is:

It’s very difficult, if not impossible, financially for some people to do what you do. How do you do it?

Since I began writing Hundred Goals, I’ve tried to encourage people to live minimally, and within their means. Despite the subtle financial advice I offer, people still seem confused, and sometimes even offended, that I’m able to live the way that I do. I’ve actually been accused of being a drug dealer. For some reason, I just can’t seem to convince people that, financially, they can do exactly the same things I’m doing.

I’m not rich.

The truth is, I live on less than $20,000 a year. But despite my limited budget, I still manage to do a lot of amazing things. I’ve backpacked around Europe, learned how to surf in Hawaii, toured the White House, and watched the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland. It’s not because I’m rich that I’m able to do these things. I’m able to do these things because I’ve taken the necessary steps to live within my financial means.

If you’re finding it financially challenging to live the life of your dreams, here’s my advice to you:

Eliminate all of your debt, and avoid incurring any new debt. If you’re always paying debts from your past, it’s impossible to live in the moment. Pay off your debts, and avoid any new debt. Live within your means.

Avoid buying shit you don’t need. Only spend money on things of value. The rest is just bullshit. Don’t waste your money.

Don’t pay attention to other people. What other people have, or where they go for vacation isn’t important. Know what you value, and stay focused on the goals that you’ve set for yourself. Don’t be distracted by other people.

You can’t have everything you want. You can have anything you want in life, but you can’t have everything. Whatever you want, you can have it. But having it will probably mean giving up something else. Sacrifice the things you don’t value so that you can have the things you do.

Make life a priority. If you want something, you can’t just expect it to happen. You have to make it happen.  Don’t sit around thinking about all of the things you want to do with your life. Do them! Stop thinking, and start doing.

It’s really that simple…but also easier said than done.

It takes a lot of dedication and determination to get out of debt. It’s a battle that must be fought EVERY.DAMN.DAY. And it isn’t easy to ignore what other people have, or what they’re doing. But instead of feeling jealous of them, be happy for them. Focus on your goals, and your dreams. Stop thinking about the life you’ll have someday, and start living the life you want today!

And stop buying stupid shit you don’t need. Seriously. Stop.

Get Fit Without a Gym Membership

21 May 2012

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Many people want to get fit, be healthy, and lose weight.

But there’s a difference between wanting something, and being committed to something. If you want to get fit, be healthy, or lose weight, you have to be dedicated. You can’t expect results overnight, and you can’t expect change if you’re only exercising once in a while. When you first start exercising, you’re probably going to hate it. It’s going to hurt. Your body will ache.

The toughest lift of all is your ass off the couch.

You aren’t going to drop two pant sizes in one day. You won’t lose fifty pounds in a month. It takes time to see results, and that can be discouraging. It’s a struggle to stay motivated when you’re working your ass off, and nothing seems to happen. Be patient, and just keep going. It will be worth it!!!

Here’s an exercise routine to get you started right now:

30 Jumping Jacks
5 Pushups
25 High Knees
7 Burpees
10 Crunches
7 Squats
5 Pushups
10 Crunches
5 Pushups
7 Squats
30 Jumping Jacks
1 Minute Wall Sit
5 Pushups
25 High Knees

Repeat twice!

As you’re working through a set, do your best not to rest until you’ve finished. Only take a minute or two between sets for a drink of water. Exercise is supposed to make your heart pound. You’re supposed to sweat. And by the end, if you’re not gasping for air, you’re not working hard enough!

All you’ll need is a little ambition, and twenty minutes a day (the intensity of your workout is more important than the duration.) And if you want a little extra motivation to stay focused, follow Hundred Goals’ on Pinterest.

But getting fit doesn’t stop once the workout is over!

Drinking water is the single most important component in losing fat and staying fit. Water is a natural appetite suppressant, and it also helps your body metabolize fat. An active person needs more than eight glasses of water per day to function optimally. Try to drink 80 to 100 ounces of water each day.

It’s important to take time off so your body can recover. This doesn’t mean lounging on the couch eating a bag of potato chips. Go for a short jog, or a bike ride. Maybe try rock climbing or go for a hike at a state park. Rest days aren’t an excuse to be lazy. You should still be active, just in a more relaxed way. Take one or two days off each week.

Do you love BBQ ribs? Me too. And that’s alright…once in a while. Give yourself one meal a week to satisfy any food cravings you might have, or as a reward for working so hard this week. The rest of the time, keep your diet as clean as possible. Don’t undo all of your hard work at the dinner table. If you aren’t sure what to cook, I highly recommend Tosca Reno’s Eat Clean Cookbook.

Be sure to get plenty of sleep. Research suggests that inadequate sleep increases your risk of obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure. You need at least eight hours a night.

You now know everything you need to know in order to get fit, be healthy, and lose weight. Exercise daily, drink lots of water, give in to your cravings (in moderation), give your body adequate rest (but stay active), and get a good night’s sleep.

No more excuses!

Failure is the Key to Success

17 May 2012

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“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” ~ Michael Jordan

There’s nothing worse than working your ass off only to fail.

But it’s okay to fail.  Failure is just the first step towards success. Our failures give us an opportunity to reflect on why things didn’t happen as we’d hoped. We should embrace our mistakes in order to learn from them. Most of all, we should continue taking risks, even if we might fail.

Some of the most respected people in history have failed miserably, only to persevere and become wildly successful. Here are but a few examples:

Publishers rejected Stephen King’s first book thirty times. Frustrated, King decided to give up, throwing the book in the trash. His wife took it out, encouraging him to submit it again. Today, King has hundreds of published books, and is one of the best-selling authors of all time.

Walt Disney was fired because, according to his editor, he lacked imagination and had no good ideas. After starting a number of failed businesses, he eventually found the recipe for success. Today, Disney brings in billions of dollars from merchandise sales, movies and theme parks around the world.

Albert Einstein didn’t speak until he was four, and didn’t read until he was seven, leading his teachers and parents to believe he was mentally handicapped. In 1921,  he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics “for his services to Theoretical Physics, and especially for his discovery of the law of the photoelectric effect.”

Vincent Van Gogh only sold one painting (to a friend for a very small amount of money) while he was alive. Even though he was never a success during his lifetime, he kept painting. Today, his paintings are worth millions.

After a single performance, the manager of the Grand Ole Opry told Elvis Presley, “You ain’t goin’ nowhere, son. You ought to go back to drivin’ a truck.” He went on to become one of the best-selling artists of all time, and is still a household name today.

Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” As an inventor, Edison made a thousand unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail a thousand times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail a thousand times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”

This post was inspired by 100 Words On: Why It Pays to Never Give Up by Len Penzo