Archives for July 2015

30 day challenge to gain focus and energy

July 31, 2015 by Johan

What do you want to accomplish right now?

What actions do you need to take to achieve your goal?

Are you willing to commit to the goals?

30 day challenge: Write 2000 words, take 3 pictures for my blog ~~and approach 5 girls every day.~~ No time for that.

If you really want to get good at something it’s simple. Not easy, but simple.

Just do this one thing that you have to work on, every day.

Spend xx minutes on it every day and given time you will have success.

Whatever you want to achieve, habit and time is always the most important to have massive success.

Myself I want to be a writer, so I write every day.

These last couples of days I’ve written every day. Maybe 600-1600 words a day and reading the rest of my time. Doing some errands around town approaching some girls and had an instant coffee date.
something that that struck me yesterday when I was out for a walk, was how my mind is focused and ready for action. I could easily start talking with everyone. A regular day off work, if I haven’t done much I might feel sluggish and would take effort to go out and go do x. I would be more inside my own head.

With the habit of creating and producing I was feeling great, and still do.

And it came to me now just as I was about to shower and thinking whether I would start with a warm shower and end with cold, or go full cold immediately. It was an easy choice as I put it to full blast on cold. And then my thought suddenly came back to me, how all these small habits off getting outside of your comfort zone adds up and makes you think in whole new different ways.

Just one second ago if I would have take the easy way and went with a warm shower, would I be writing this for you now? Maybe, certainly not with these thoughts I have now.

The more you produce and work, the more energy you get.

How could that be?

When you create you are active.

When you consume you are passive.

What do I mean by consume?

Nintendo 64 with games and procrastination.

To consume is using or watching others work. Like TV shows, magazines, video games and porn. It puts your mind to autopilot and makes at least me sluggish if I spend to much time on it.

Your sexual energy is your key to success, and you drain it if you bust a nut every time you watch porn.

How much is to much time? Depending on the subject I start to drop off after 45 minutes and lose my focus. And at that point it gets harder to break out of. Keep in mind: Depending of how busy you are, that 45 minutes could be your only free time to work on your goal today.

By consuming 45 minutes on a busy day, you are standing still. For every day you are standing still, the harder you have to work to get started again.

When you are creating and active it tends to have a snowball effect.

Example: Your biggest hurdle is getting of your couch and doing the dishes. It’s really not that great doing the dishes. But you know it will feel good when you’ve done it.

Action: You get up from the couch and do the dishes. Great! It wasn’t that hard, really quite simple and now your in such a good mood that you will take out the trash when you’ve just finished the dishes and that project that is due? You will start it immediately!

If you would have stayed in your couch for another 30 minutes, 1 hour, 2 hours and suddenly its time to brush your teeth and go to bed. You would probably feel bad that you still haven’t done the dishes and know how you will feel tomorrow as you get home from work and need to prepare dinner in a messy kitchen and your project that is due is not done. But you did it.

The simple act of starting your first task was quite hard at first, but quite simple once you started. And now you are doing a second and third task with a cheerful attitude.

What can you create?

You know what you want to create. You just fear to take the leap if you haven’t started yet.

If you really don’t know yet. Look at your lifestyle.

Are you living your dream?

If you don’t have a direction for your life and lifestyle, it’s hard to set a 30 day challenge because you need a vision for your life. Just doing x “because” gives you less reason to complete it. Begin first imagine your dream life.

Comment below or write in a journal what your goals are for this 30 day challenge.

Its important that you write your goals down.

Make a drawing in your journal or on the cover with your goals. Really think of your goals, what are they? Now imagine how you can take that goal and make it into a small image you draw or type out. Hold this image before you and see your goal and what steps you are taking to reach it. Draw it every day to remind yourself of your goal.

Now do your habit for 30 days.

Example: Got an guitar hanging on the wall that you want to learn how to play, or get better at?

Why do you want to play the guitar? Maybe it’s a special song you want to learn or play with your friends. Write down why.

Now write down how you will learn it and break it down in to small steps.

Action: Get up, take it down and practice your first task on your list for 5 minutes. After your 5 minutes are up, continue if you want to.

Change is gradual

Decide on a 30 day challenge.

Take small steps

Start with 5 minutes every day

This feels good and you probably continue past your 5 minutes

Now you start to build momentum by doing this task every day and add some time every day.

The simple habit of practice at least 5 minutes every day builds over time.

Once you’ve reached a tipping point of small habits every day, now it’s hard for you to not do this habit. It’s become a part of your life.

Resist the urge of instant gratification and work on your desire.

If you lose your self on your 30 day challenge, go 30 more days.

Success won’t come over night, but these small habits build up and one day you will wake up and be successful.

Tell me what is your 30 day challenge?

Learn how to be calm at all times with your breathing

July 29, 2015 by Johan

Flock of birds in flight

Have you ever felt things spinning out of control? That chaos when you can’t control what’s happening.

There is a simple technique to control your heartbeat at a steady pace and to keep calm at all times.

It’s being present in the moment. Its about letting go of your worry of tomorrow or the next hour. Worry of your past. Even happiness to come and happiness in the past. There is only one moment to live, and that is now. Most of us obsess over all kinds of things, and with it comes anxiety or stress. When we could just as easily be at ease and cheerful. Below are some simple techniques to use if you want to gain back the controls of your thoughts.

Being present is focusing only on this breath you breathe out in, and only on this breath you breathe out now, while listening to your body and your surroundings.

Thinking only on your single breath entering your body, and your single breath leaving your body.

This breath is light and deep, fills your lungs completely while activating your diaphragm making your stomach fill as you breathe. And as you breathe, you smile.

After awhile this breathing is almost soundless and you continue to make it deep.

If something comes to your mind, just acknowledge it and go back to focus on your breathing.

If something happy comes to your mind, just acknowledge it and go back to focus on your breathing.

If something sad comes to your mind, just acknowledge it and go back to focus on your breathing.

With this breath I still my body and breathe in

With this breath I still my body and breathe out

If it feels heavy to breath like this, stop and relax, while you go back to your regular breathing and keep your focus on listening to your breath. Don’t over strain yourself. Just like lifting you start easy.

Now practice this for 5 minutes while remembering that “with this breath I still my body and breathe in”, “With this breath I still my body and breathe out”.

Turn off your screen and sit straight. If you are in a chair, sit up straight without resting your back on it.

Close your eyes, smile and do this for 5 minutes and be present only listening to your breath.

If some thoughts come to you just acknowledge that “I just thought ____” and go back to your breathing.

Old pines in a park

How do you feel now? What changed a couple of breaths ago?

Now there are some simple techniques like the one a above and several others to use every day.

If you feel stressed out and need a break remember, “I feel calm and peaceful, calm and peaceful” as you breathe in, “I feel calm and peaceful, calm and peaceful” as you breathe out.

Whenever you need a break remember to smile and take a calm deep breath “I feel calm and peaceful, calm and peaceful” as you breathe in and “I feel calm and peaceful, calm and peaceful” as you breathe out. Go about your task in a calm cheerful way and remember your breathing.

If you need to lift your spirits and gain more energy, remember to smile and take deep calming breaths when you think “I feel strong and happy, strong and happy” as you breathe in, and “I feel strong and happy, strong and happy” as you breathe out.

Try it out, and remember to do it often. And when you forgot what you just were doing, that’s fine. Just remember to smile while taking a calm breath as you breath in, and a calm breath as you breathe out.

How to make money doing what you love and know why you work!

July 28, 2015 by Johan

City by night

Have you ever stopped and taken a moment to think “Why do you work?”. Probably.

But have you gone further then “well I have bills to pay, family to feed, and a car to fuel.”?

I used to work because I had to.

I had no plan with my job except work more, work hard and see where it will take me. My friends and family told me “keep working hard and you will be successful!”. My boss said “great work today!” and every day. Talked about the future and learning new tasks with new responsibilities, but it kept getting put off. Until I realized that I had done it all wrong.

I didn’t work for myself, I worked for others.

Now I work, because I want to!

I’m still at the same job, and have taken up another.

How is it possible that I want to work now and what changed?

Because I’ve realized what work can do for you, if you give it your all. Now I’m eager to work even though at times a 12 hour shift might be a bit much, I still put out 100% energy and focus. Whenever I feel it slip, I take a calming breath and remind myself that I’ve lost focus. That I’m thinking of the future (“I want out and do something else”) and that’s fine. I Just take a deep calm breath and come back to this present moment. And it’s suddenly already better. I feel more calm, more focused and at ease. What changed a breath ago?

Lying down under tree tops being present

I was thinking of the past or the future.

Think back last time you were really stressed, what was your reason for stress?
Was it because you haven’t taken the necessary steps towards your problem or desire?
Have you tried to fix it and haven’t had enough persistence to see your gains yet?

Once you know why you are stressed, make a plan and build a habit to resolve it. Keep doing it. Now you don’t have to worry about your stress, because given enough time you will resolve it and it will disappear.

And then you can be in the moment and solely focus on this single task you are doing right now. Feel that razor sharp focus to only think of this one task you want to complete and the joy it brings. You will increase your capacity to work more calmly, get more things done and feel more at peace with yourself.

How do you make money doing what you love?

You position yourself to earn money doing what you love.

Some have come a long way to position them self for that transition and can do it easily. While others need a bit more work to do. Don’t feel discouraged, feel joy and gratitude! Because now you are on your path to achieve your desire.

How do you position yourself for success?

Work calmly at your job
Save at least 10%
Go to the gym three times a week
Take care of your family
Work after hours on your desire

Make a business plan and don’t worry on making money from day one. Given enough time as you produce great work and content, it will be rewarded. Make some money along the way. Sell some of your work on craigs list or to friends. Find others like minded people and see what they are doing to make money. The money you’ve saved up, will help you when you are about to transition from part time to full time working with your desire.

For example I know that by the habit of saving at least 10% of my income for future business plans or investing, given time it will become a substantial amount of money. If you manage to save $150 dollars a month, in six months you have $900 dollars! That could be one months buffer to work full time on your desire. Or if you have managed to get some money along the way, maybe three months or more to cover living expenses and food.

and once you regularly save 10%, you will magically find other ways to cut spending or create more earnings. It gets easier to increase that to 20%, then 25% and then perhaps 30% or more!

Your mindset shifts and see all kinds of solutions to what was at first a huge deal, but now it’s simple.

Two years ago I was seriously considering going into consumer debt to buy a new laptop. I wanted that instant gratification without having to work for it. In the end I told myself “No, I will buy it when I can afford it.” This month I save an equal amount I previously couldn’t afford two years ago and earlier this year I bought my laptop in cash. -Johan

Hit the gym three times a week!

It will help you focus on your family, desire and job. You will build a stronger mind and body. By putting your body under stress by lifting heavy weights it releases many chemicals and hormones in your body.

Your mind improves: With better focus, calmer attitude, being able to handle stress easier, more assertive, gain more confidence and become happier.

Your body gets stronger: You get better posture, develop better body control, better balance, build muscle, increase your testosterone and increase your sex appeal.

Beware at first it might be really fun! And then become tedious with little gains to show for your hard work. Just persist and keep working because what you perceive now as your reality is false. You are working on skills that take a lot of time to develop. And to make a living on your desire you often have to learn multiple skills at once that you never thought about before. It’s though, but it’s worth it! Because once your starting to put all the small things together, new habits and different skills you’ve learned, you’ll start to see huge results and massive success over a short period of time.

And when you have gotten this far you start to look over the trees and see the whole forest. You are now apart of a small minority of people that live an awesome life and about to make a living on your desire.

You will reach it given enough time.

How bad do you want success in life?

July 27, 2015 by Johan

I want you, me and everyone else to have massive success in life!

How bad you want success in life?

I don’t know…

How bad do I want success in life?

REALLY REALLY BAD!

It’s on my mind every day, every hour and every second of my life.

Some reasons others give to live an average life.

“I don’t want to work so much”, “I could never do that”, “I’m so tired after work, I’m just going home to sleep”, “This weekend? I’m just going to take it easy.”

What are some steps you can take to achieve success?

Live on less then you earn.

I’ve been hunting for a new apartment for some time now. Because to reach massive success you first need to minimize spending and focus solely on your task. Now I live lavishly on 484ft² with a full kitchen and pay a high rent because of it. Looks like I’ll be able to trade my apartment soon to a smaller one and live comfortably on 204ft² to cut my rent in half!

I’ve set a fixed amount of income to withdraw from my bank account to my index fund investing and didn’t receive full pay this month. So now I’m short on money for food and leisure. I would rather sell my belongings and use some short term debt, instead of cutting down my goal of financial independence. Got a call just now, writing this post for a sale tomorrow. Now I’ve got $100 dollar for food this month.

That’s how bad I want it.

Getting rid of unused stuff that I haven’t touched in months that only clutter my mind and distract my focus. Stop hanging out with friends that haven’t woken up yet to their true desire to achieve something great in their life. Live simple is the best way to achieve happiness and your desire. Things are just distractions. Something that is truly hard is sit still for 15 minutes without anything else occupying your mind and being at peace with yourself.

Taking 15 minute break from instant gratification entertainment and focus on being in the moment is such an odd concept and terrifying at times that we have become so reliant to be entertained every moment. And during that time you will soon begin to hear your gut feeling grumbling and what it’s telling you to do. Don’t listen to the doubt that your mind conjures, listen to that gut feeling and act on it. Believe in yourself that you are successful, and it is only matter of time before you’ve overreached your goal by a long shot.

How bad you want success in life?

what do you desire to achieve in life?

July 27, 2015 by Johan

Maybe it’s multiple incomes, money in the bank, travel around the world, a fast car, surfing waves in the ocean, beautiful girlfriends or more time playing with your dog!

A lot of directions on a narrow path

If you don’t know what you truly desire yet, turn off any distractions like your phone and computer. Clear a space on your floor and set a timer for fifteen minutes to sit down in a relaxed position while taking a couple of deep breaths and settle down to observe your thoughts as they come. Whenever you get a thought, observe it and think “I just thought ____”, return and listen to your deep, calm breathing.

If it’s a positive or negative thought doesn’t matter, just acknowledge it and come back to focus on your breathing and how your lungs are being filled with air.
Its important that you follow through with these fifteen minutes and once you’ve found your desire, act on it immediately!

Whenever you are bored, feel like watching tv, porn or play video games. Resist the urge!
Instead make it a habit to take three deep breaths and give it your full attention and ask yourself “what do I really desire to achieve? The thing I’m about to do is procrastination and will lead me of the path to achieving my desire.
You might not get immediate results so make it a habit to sit down for fifteen minutes everyday when you know you have the time for it (or make time). When you have found your desire (probably several):

Work at it furiously to achieve it!

What do you desire?

And what habit will you create to make it happen?

Obsession on life instead of video games

July 24, 2015 by Johan

I don’t know about you, but I obsess a lot.

When I find a interest, I research everything about it and do it until I’ve mastered it. That’s a good quality if you actually use it to further your life. And it can easily lead you astray like it did for me.

A typical day a couple of years ago. Before work I would wake up next to my girlfriend, start my computer and play as much as I could before I had to leave for work. At work I would plan how to build my character, where to level up and what weapons I would use and watch the hours drag by, until I could get home and play my game.

The games took so much focus from my life that I neglected my work, health and relationships.

Its great to find a peaceful place and think for yourself alteast once a week

I woke up from this after our relationship ended on mutual terms and I had time to reflect and time to think on my own.

I remember when I sold Dark Souls 2 last year. I had stopped playing it, but came back to it once in a while to level up a new character. The thing is I’ve already done most of the challenges and if I took up a new one, I knew I would complete it given enough time and effort.

One day I had enough, packed my Xbox and games, went to a game shop to sell it whatever I could get for it. The price wasn’t important. As I handed the Xbox and games to the guy working the store, I didn’t feel much. He wanted me to get a bonus card, but told him I wouldn’t use it. As I left the store I got this immense feeling of a weight lifted from my chest and great relief.

By selling my Xbox it left me no choice but to do something else with my time. Before I had to say NO. Now there is nothing to struggle.

Now I wake up and play with my girlfriend, brew us both a cup of coffee before I leave for work. At work I’m doing my best, while making plans for how I could advance in my career, do my second job better and building this blog for you guys!

If you want to live a successful life, limit or eliminate your gaming habits.

It’s hard at first, but nothing worthwhile is easy.

Are you ready to stop playing videogames to achieve your desires?

Have you already done it and what did you do with that free time?