Get-Out-O'-Debt.com

Archive for the ‘Rants’ Category

This post is a guest post by Matt Gartland. Matt, a good friend of mine, spends his life pushing people to live boldly and shatter low expectations. He’s launching his blog today – including his inspiring mission to chronicle “10,000 Random Acts of Greatness“ – to worldwide fanfare. He’s so amazing, he even created a welcome page *just* for Man Vs. Debt readers!

New Year’s day… January 1st… A moment of magic.

You’ve felt this magic before. It lights you up like your still ornamented Christmas tree. The emotions, in fact, may feel like Christmas morning. These are positive emotions to be sure – for hopes, dreams, and enchantments are very necessary turn-keys in the engine of your potential.

They leave you alive with ideas for new year conquests of improved health, strengthened relationships, world travel, and countless other adventures.

Alas, this magic can (and often does) backfire with deflating consequences.

This “dark magic” is the empty contact-high that many befall from the flip of the calendar. Lofty new lifestyle designs are drawn with no infrastructure to support them. Why then are we shocked and horrified when our goals and dreams crumble to ash?

We shouldn’t be. The truth was obvious from the beginning…

…we suck at forging New Year’s resolutions.

So let’s stop the sucking.

The antidote to this dark magic, though simple, is not easy magic.

This bold potion requires equal parts deep introspection and inside-out thinking with a dash of craziness mixed in.

If you’re not a brave witch or wizard then you may wish to abandon this brew right now. But if you’re bent on making 2011 a year of transformation and remembrance, then I suggest you settle in for some wicked, non-Ministry-approved lessons in the defense against the dark arts!

Wands at the ready!

The Fallacy of January 1 and The Art of (Un)resolutions

The fabled January 1 mystique is dark magic for a deceptively simple reason – it’s a lie!

There is no earthly reason why you should wait for the clock to strike midnight on January 1st before crafting resolutions to improve your wellbeing. Those that do wait for 1/1 forfeit 364 days (8,736 hours; 524,160 minutes) of life-changing potential. Does that sound like a smart choice to you?

Sure, these other days may be spent engaged in last year’s resolutions. And if such resolutions were architected thoughtfully, then this assumption might be true. But it’s a risky assumption to make. Why? Because by-and-large we’ve become a consumeristic society addicted to the fallacy of over-night successes and the allure of instant gratifications. That’s a deadly spell that will curse any resolution, well-intentioned or not, quickly bringing it to its knees.

In truth, the best day to begin fresh life change is today! Such is the art of (un)resolutions.

(Un)resolutions are exactly what you think they are – the antithesis of conventional resolutions…

• Resolutions are New Year’s day centric – (un)resolutions are everyday centric

• Resolutions are driven by external rewards – (un)resolutions are inspired by intrinsic motivations

• Resolutions focus on “what” – (un)resolutions concentrate on “why”

• Resolutions are rooted in “quick-win” hype – (un)resolutions are baked in long-term effectiveness

Here’s your choice: 1) Subsist in our age of distraction by lumbering through the year with shallow resolutions that ultimately fail. Or, 2) stop sucking at resolutions and start creating lifestyle goals in the art of (un)resolutions.

Good choice! Now it’s time to delve deep into the charms of (un)resolutions!

Motivations: Intrinsic vs Extrinsic

What motivates you most to do your best work and achieve your goals?

It’s a tricky question. Many, including most conventional behavioral scientists, will answer “rewards and punishments.” That’s the safe answer of course. This belief in rewards and punishments is what Daniel Pink calls “Motivation 2.0″. According to Pink, it goes something like this…

“The Motivation 2.0 operating system has endured for a very long time. Indeed, it is so deeply embedded in our lives that most of us scarcely recognize that it exists. For as long as any of us can remember, we’ve configured our organizations and constructed our lives our its bedrock assumption: The way to improve performance, increase productivity, and encourage excellence is to reward the good and punish the bad.”

Here’s the funny part. Motivation 2.0 is the popular answer by far. It’s also wrong.

A focus on rewards and punishments is a belief in the extrinsic. This is precisely the formula most apply when crafting conventional New Year’s resolutions – e.g. if I lose 10 pounds I’ll reward myself with a new clothes shopping spree. But as Pink masterfully illustrates in DRIVE: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, these extrinsic factors actually decrease one’s motivation for the goal at-hand…

“Rewards can perform a weird sort of behavioral alchemy: They can transform an interesting task into a drudge. They can turn play into work.”

In sum, Motivation 2.0 is outdated, unstable, and unreliable at best. So, if you desire to attain your New Year’s (un)resolutions, then you must upgrade to Motivation 3.0 – your third (inner) drive programmed in the language of intrinsic motivations…

“Human beings have an innate inner drive to be autonomous, self-determined, and connected to one another. And when that drive is liberated, people achieve more and live richer lives.” – Pink, DRIVE

I’m a classic case-study of this extrinsic vs intrinsic paradox.

I was bewitched by the dark arts of Motivation 2.0 in my earlier years. I searched far-and-wide for (and spent a pretty penny on) physique-boosting wonder products. The lust that drove this mindless quest was the greater social acclaim and attraction (extrinsic rewards) that would elevate my self-esteem.

The result? My external health did improve (though not thanks to the snake-oil crap). And my internal health rooted (including IBS challenges, medical complications and mental health).

A paradox indeed!

I escaped my self-inflicted darkness via a commitment to internal health and happiness (intrinsic motivators). This (un)resolution took time – seven years in fact because I dug my ditch so deep. But I prevailed. And I have Motivation 3.0 to thank for it. The bonus? I’ve never been in better physical or mental health in all my life

The Moral: when creating your (un)resolutions, build them upon the interests and challenges that ignite a ranging inferno of passion within.

It’s about the satisfaction you gain from the creative task itself. Specifically, target pursuits that foster autonomy, mastery, and purpose – which are the three key ingredients in your intrinsic motivation potion.

Alas, proper motivation alone is insufficient for attaining the (un)resolution results you want. In fact, you must bypass wants completely and tunnel into whys.

Why vs What: The Golden Circle of Success

Simon Sinek has discovered life’s secret to success. And he’s telling…

Sinek’s breakthrough, which he calls “probably the world’s simplest idea”, converges human brain biology with behavioral science. The result is the Golden Circle.

The Golden Circle works like this…

The what, how, and why circles map precisely with the very different layers of the human mind. The outer layer is responsible for our rational thought and language. The inner layers are responsible for our emotional intelligence and decision making.

Conventional thought, action, and conversation flow from the outside-in…from what, to how, to why. In other words, from the easiest and most obvious (whats) to the most nebulous (whys). Unfortunately, this is unoriginal, uninspiring, and unremarkably average because it emphasizes features, widgets, and data.

Now flip the formula.

When you think, act, and communicate from the inside-out…from why, to how, to what…you’re conveying beliefs and establishing shared values. This is unconventional, highly memorable, and incredibly inspiring. Why? Because if fosters trust and loyalty at a deeply-seeded emotional level.

Said differently, this approach talks to the parts of the brain that drive human behavior.

Such stroking of your emotional mind is paramount to creating meaningful (un)resolutions that have a chance for success.

Mainstream New Year’s resolutions are all about the wants – e.g. I want to get fit, I want to get out of debt, I want to travel the world. These examples are quite pathetic. Marginally better ones are more specific – e.g. I want to lose 10 pounds, I want to eliminate all my credit card debt, I want to visit Amsterdam. But such goals are still fatally flawed because they don’t convey any emotional catalyst.

The magic happens when you begin to weave in emotions – or as Sinek would say, “what you believe.”

I tried this experiment last year with my family. I love my family. And by-and-large they’re astute enough to make their own meaningful developments. But I had begun to sense a rut of non-adventure over recent years. So I posed this challenge, “pursue zen in 2010″.

It was cute. It was memorable. And it worked!

Note that my challenge wasn’t specific at all. But it was entirely emotionally-driven…to attain more moments of zen. My family members were left to themselves to devise their own specific (un)resolutions. But they all had to support this “why.” If an idea didn’t somehow lead to this outcome then it was nixed.

Mind you, not every (un)resolution was achieved. And some family members faired better than others. Such is life. But the challenge got them out of their rut. Meaningful zen-like progress was made. And their lives are the better for it.

Want to explore the world of why deeper? Then please watch Simon Sinek’s provocative TED Talk (below). It’s worth every minute!

The Moral: the what of your (un)resolutions are important, but not nearly as vital as why you want them.

The smart witch or wizard will include both in their (un)resolution brews. Just be mindful of your actions. After all, as Simon says, “What you do simply serves as the proof of what you believe.”

Alas again, because your not-sucky (un)resolutions are still missing an important ingredient. And you do desire to achieve world domination, right?!

Effectiveness vs Efficiency: The Path to World Domination

Chris Guillebeau needs no introduction around these parts But if you do fancy a refresher about this lovable non-conformist, I suggest you glance at The Essential Power of Like-Minded People, The Art of Non-Conformity Book, and How NOT to Suck at Blogging.

Moving on…

Chris believes that efficiency is overrated. He’s one who’d know because traveling to every country in the world (all 192 of them) is no picnic. From “fun” airline logistics, passport snafus, travel visa mishaps, political unrest, the occasional Guillebeau mistake (blasphemy I know!), and other lovely details – international travel of the most epic proportions can be a royal b*tch.

In fact, as Chris exclaims…

“Visiting every country in the world is getting difficult. I’ve almost completely ran out of ‘easy’ countries. These days I spend as much time arranging visas as I do planning the actual trip. It takes time, energy, and money: even with my best travel hacking strategies, I expect the overall cost to increase in the final two years of the project.”

And keep in mind that visiting every country in the world isn’t his only endeavor. He’s founded a booming lifestyle business, publishes new articles on his blog like clockwork, is a newly crowned published author, leads an animated small army that numbers in the tens of thousands, and is married. Crikey is right!

So why does he do it? Because he loves the effect, which is to say, the adventure!

As Chris puts it…

“Don’t worry about trying to live the most efficient life or become the most optimal human. Instead, embrace life as a meaningful adventure. Pursue adventure and passion instead of efficiency.”

Your New Year’s (un)resolutions should have the same orientation.

Sure, a whole bushel of little, easy goals that are quickly accomplished may give your ego a contact-high. But really, where’s the fun in that?

Moreover, if you aspire to make impressive improvements in your life – whether it be health, relationship, career, or travel related – then these little ego trips won’t carry you to where you want to go. They just don’t generate enough momentum.

Don’t be wasteful of your resources. That’s not the point.

Splashes of efficiency here and there are fine. Plus, efficiency is well-tailored for linear, non-creative tasks that have a pesky knack of needing done. But for those larger-than-life (un)resolutions that are audacious pursuits of big dreams, opt for the effective road.

I’ve decided to plunge into the deep-end of lifestyle effectiveness with my own legacy project – Random Acts of Greatness. My crusade is to chronicle 10,000 Random Acts of Greatness in 5 years from people like you.

A Random Act of Greatness is any little, magical moment that leaves a positive and everlasting imprint upon the lives of others.

I’d be grateful if you’d share a little story to help the cause!

My quest won’t be easy. I have no guarantee for success whatsoever. And you’d better believe that it won’t be efficient. But it’s a mighty adventure that I’m glad to embark on. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll achieve my own flavor of world domination along the way!

The Moral: be effective without being wasteful. Simplify down to the endeavors that matter most to you. Odds are these should be audacious pursuits that captivate your imagination and unleash the best you. Such ventures won’t be efficient. But they’ll be crazy fun!

The Whole is Greater Than the Sum of its Parts

“Meaningful achievement depends on lifting one’s sights and pushing towards the horizon.” – Daniel Pink, DRIVE

Your magic brew of (un)resolutions is now complete. And if you haven’t guessed already, the whole of your potion is greater and more rewarding than the sum of the contributing parts. Let’s review why…

Motivation is essential to achieving any worthwhile endeavor. Intrinsic motivation is the purest and most stimulating form. But it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. This “third drive” fuses with all manner of your character, including your courage to be effective in pursuit of “why” goals.

Indeed, motivation is interlaced with effectiveness and the notion of why. For one thing, you have little hope of achieving mastery (a core element of Motivation 3.0) of any task or talent without a concentrated focus on why you desire such mastery.

But that’s not all. With this focus intact, you still require the gritty effort time and time again to become effective.

Daniel Pink applies the metaphor of a three-legged stool to the trinity of components within your inner, third drive. So it is with this trinity of (un)resolution ingredients – motivation, why, and effectiveness. Short or weak in any leg and your stool will stumble and likely fall.

Don’t stumble. Don’t be weak. And don’t suck. You no longer have any excuse not to.

Now go forth and do great things!

Matt Gartland is an anti-hero avenging injustices of creativity. His legacy project is to chronicle 10,000 Random Acts of Greatness in 5 years. And he shares bold ideas for confidently living above low expectations on his Modern Audacity blog. Learn more about Matt’s audacious pursuits to spark change!

*****

On Saturday, we finished cleaning out our one-bedroom apartment and passed the keys back into our landlord. We walked across the street and spent the evening and night in our new home – on wheels – in a family member’s driveway.

Yesterday, we pushed off from that driveway and started the first leg of what will surely be a new, big adventure.

I’ve spent the last week trying to put together a huge “IT’S A NEW YEAR – WHOO-HOO!” post. I’ve sorted out December’s income (I made more in December than the rest of the year) and completed my year end income/expenses (which I’ll also share).

I’ve brainstormed what I did well and not so well in 2010 – which goals I hit and which I left shattered on the floor. I’ve projected passionate benchmarks which will guide 2011.

Here’s the thing – I’ve been working so hard on this summary/post, that I’ve been stressing myself out at the beginning of a new, life-changing experience.

Last night, I stayed up for a few hours after a day full of fun with several people here in Ohio (I’ll recount more in the first official travel update). I was feverishly working to get the post ready for today.

Suddenly, I realized something even more important than big resolutions or year-end recaps.

I realized that spending another minute stressing on this one project would likely cause me to miss being in dozens of moments with family and friends.

It wasn’t worth it.

I went to bed.

The mammoth post will come – probably tomorrow – maybe Wednesday. It’s information that’s important and that I want to share – just not at the cost of not soaking in the start of this experience.

There are million things on my to do list. We are making our way to Baltimore to potentially have this baby wrapped in a design. I’m finalizing things with a potential sponsor for the trip. I’m still learning how to use the RV and how to find an external propane station on the road (this is really hard).

But all of that can wait.

Scroll up and look at the picture at the top of this post.

Milligan could care less about wrapping the RV – lining up a sponsor – or putting out a kick-ass end-of-year post.

“This is fun.”

“I wonder where we are going.”

“This apple tastes delicious.”

If I had to guess, those would be her top three thoughts/priorities.

I think we can all learn something from that – I know I can. No matter how ambitious your goals are – and no matter what elaborate plans I share with you tomorrow (or the next day) – let’s all make one resolution that’ll matter in 2011.

Let’s all not forget to live in the moment.

No goal of mine is worth losing that this year.

I’m honored to have you guys along for the journey…

Xoxoxo,

-Baker

photo by the amazing Courtney Baker

In the next two weeks, many of us will be reflecting both privately and publicly on the year past and the year to come.

We may share stories with family and friends over the holiday. We may look back at the succeses and failure of 2010. We may set resolutions or goals for 2011. I’ll be doing my own version of this next week on the blog.

However you partake in this process, I want to push you to do the following two steps:

1. Make a list of everything in the last year that has made you cry tears of joy.
2. Take actionable steps to center your life around the items on this list in 2011.

That’s it.

For me, this is seeing creative, passionate people who really deserve a break – get it and then some.

I tear up almost every time I watch Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Sure, not everything is perfect in that show – I’ve heard many complaints from people about particular show elements. I don’t focus on those few imperfections. Instead, I simply watch with watery eyes in complete awe.

In another example, I tear up nearly every time I see a passionate entrepreneur who has poured their heart in sole into a project – finally get the recognition or success they’ve deserve. I’ve witnessed this in a couple different forms in the past year, but it always generates the same internal response in me.

Not only am I o.k. admitting this – Courtney and I are going to make 2011 the year we start making tangible shifts to center our lives around these things.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of tears of joy.

Need more inspiration?

Make another list of times in 2010 you laughed so hard you were in physical pain.

Make a third list of events in 2010 that made you so excited you couldn’t sleep.

Look at all three lists… is there any overlap?

Do that.

Do it for the rest of your life.

Wake up, people.

Seriously… we are embarrassing ourselves.

This isn’t what Christmas is about.

I know this isn’t a new change, but we’ve fully shifted the focus from quality time with family, friends, and God – into mindless exchanging gift cards so that we can avoid guilt.

Worse than mindless exchanging of money is the complete free fall into consumerist shopping. Have you been to the local mall in the last few weeks? If you find yourself in the belly of the beast this season, take a few minutes to just sit and observe people.

It’s mind numbing how mass-programmed we are at this point in the year.

Christmas has the power to turn normal, every day people into this:

Seriously? Is this what our annual Christmas traditions have spiraled into?

Listen to the celebratory roar of the crowd as the first break into the metal doors in the first clip… it’s like a siege scene from a fantasy movie. I can’t even believe this is real.

And let’s all not forget the 2008 fatality of the Wal-Mart employee… death by human stampede:

Wal-Mart fights $7,000 fine in Black Friday death [USA Today]

Sure, the above video compilation and story are examples of some of the more extreme cases in recent years. But on a smaller scale, this madness influences us all.

Over the past couple of decades, consumerism has been elevated to an art form. Christmas has become a well-calculated, well-executed, income-generating masterpiece.

Rather than looking forward to intimate time with family, friends, and religion (gasp, I know – I’ve cussed twice now)… we sit around and wait for Oprah’s annual consumerfest:

Watch this above video carefully. Study the reactions of the audience members as they are given shoes, cameras, sweaters, jewelry, shampoo, candles, and 3D televisions.

People are crying, make-up is smearing, and facial expressions are frozen in shock. Every time I watch another audience reaction, I want to vomit.

I know that’s extreme… I don’t *want* to be so judgmental about other people’s values. Deep down, I feel that as long as people aren’t hurting others – they should be able to live with whatever value structure they want.

But I can’t help to think… “any value structure they want… except this madness.”

Also, I fully realize that Oprah has done more positive humanitarian work than I will ever do in my lifetime. It won’t even be close – she does a lot to give back (not to audience members, but to girls in real need across the world).

Frankly, I wish if they wanted to show hyped-up, hysterical reactions - they’d show more of the good work Oprah is doing. Show the girls in Africa crying and celebrating their safe education. I know they have those shows, too – but it’s just so sad this is the one everyone waits for every year.

Despite, half the audience screaming “Oh my God… Oh my God…” – this still isn’t what Christmas is about.

How to Save Christmas…

I have no idea how to fix everything – nor do I want to dictate how people should live their lives.

I’m willing to honesty share my thoughts – even if they are more judgmental than I wished – in hopes that it challenges you to think outside the box. But I’m not going to propose a 10-step plan to save Christmas.

The plan on what to do is on you.

Courtney and I have decided to severely limit the gifts we buy this year. We won’t be buying for each other (instead we are making huge life changes – trust me – we are spending enough on those “gifts”).

We’ve bought a few small traditional “gifts” for younger family members, but decided that we would make small donations on behalf of any adults in our life. We’ll be browsing to attempt to find charities and non-profits that reflect the values of each family member and rather than buy them golf balls or a candle, we’ll make a small donation.

We are lucky that none of our family really cares about the “stuff”. The donations will be a valued gesture and by customizing each one, we show that we took time to think about and appreciate the personality of each family member.

I’m not saying our method this year is better or worse than any other. We are still affected by the consumerism, too. We are still spending money – we are still giving a few traditional gifts, as well.

We aren’t immune or above this issue – we are simply searching for our own answer to it.  :-)

What other bloggers are saying…

Fortunately, many of my blogging friends – especially in the minimalism niche – have also chimed in their thoughts on the season. Here’s what my friends Leo, Joshua, Everett, and Dave have to say:

Zen Habits: The Case Against Buying Christmas Presents

Leo goes into great depth (much more than I will here) into the reason why not to buy gifts. Not only that, but he answers some common questions and objections – and provides a list of alternatives. Leo calls this post a “rant” – it may be – but it’s one of my favorite posts of his in a long time!

Becoming Minimalist: 35 Gifts Your Children Will Never Forget

So many of us can’t imagine not buying presents for our kids. But as Joshua points out, very few – if any – of my most passionate childhood memories are of Christmas presents. In fact, even my childhood memories of Christmas, don’t include specific presents. I’m a sucker for list posts and this one is awesome!

Far Beyond the Stars: 1 Simple Strategy to Save $2,000 and Make Everyone Love You Forever

You think my tone is a little strong at times? Go check out what Everett thinks about this topic. Never one to pull punches, Everett wrote an aggressive, but important piece when it comes to challenging the status quo for many people.

Dave Bruno: The 100 Thing Challenge

Lately, I’ve also been following the new blog and Twitter stream of Dave Bruno. Dave was the first person I ever saw online consciously tracking his possessions – and was the sole inspiration for me to do the same here when we started traveling. Dave’s recent insights have been stellar and I can’t wait for his soon-to-be-released book The 100 Thing Challenge.

None of these gentlemen can tell you how to celebrate Christmas either, but they’ve all help shape our approach this year.

How would your life be different if you spent $0.00 on Christmas this year?

Two weeks ago, I asked a simple question on Twitter and Facebook that got over 50 responses:

I’d like to take that conversation from those platforms and gather your responses and insight here. I realize that most people have already spent some money on Christmas – and I’ve already stated that we our in this group, as well.

But I’d still like to know your honest response…

But first, some final perspective into this issue by my friend Eddie Vedder (not really my friend yet, but one day…)

Society, you’re a crazy breed…

Oh, it’s a mystery to me
We have a greed with which we have agreed
And you think you have to want more than you need
Until you have it all you won’t be free

Society, you’re a crazy breed
Hope you’re not lonely without me…

When you want more than you have
You think you need…
And when you think more than you want
Your thoughts begin to bleed
I think I need to find a bigger place
Because when you have more than you think
You need more space

Society, you’re a crazy breed
Hope you’re not lonely without me…
Society, crazy indeed
Hope you’re not lonely without me…

There’s those thinking, more-or-less, less is more
But if less is more, how you keeping score?
Means for every point you make, your level drops
Kinda like you’re starting from the top
You can’t do that…

Society, you’re a crazy breed
Hope you’re not lonely without me…
Society, crazy indeed
Hope you’re not lonely without me…

It’s your turn…

You’ve heard from me, Leo, Joshua, Everett, Dave, and Eddie…

What’s your opinion?

How would your life be different if you spent $0.00 on gifts this season?

How can we save Christmas?

Hey, everyone!

In case you are new, the first post of every month I take time out to share a transparent glimpse into my business here at Man Vs. Debt.

I share my full income and expenses (along with sales) and talk about issue around what I’m working on. Last week, I talked about learning to leap. This week, I wanted to talk about hitting the ground running (and being a hypocrite).

First, hitting the ground running…

Last month, I talked about how consulting and speaking was a blossoming passion of mine. It’s something that felt right and made logical sense – but I was scared.

I was scared what people would think. I was scared what you would think.

But last month – in that update post – I decided to take two huge leaps. I decided that I was going to move forward with consulting (basically make public what I was already doing for businesses) and I was going to fully commit to a side project called Only72.com.

I’m glad I took the leap.

This past weekend I soft-launched (read: sneakily put up) my consulting page here on the site. Without mentioning it, I’ve already received several emails from potential future clients I had never met before.

And, here’s the thing – I’m no longer scared. My fear has been replaced by confidence. I enjoy consulting and I’m pretty darn good at it.

Actually, I’m really good at it.

Actually, I’m freakin’…. just kidding.

How can you build confidence?  Serious question for you.

It took me way too long. What can you do that’ll start building it – right now?

Moving on…

I talk about personal finance. I encourage people to spend less than they make. I even try to do that myself at times.

I also talk about not buying physical crap. About rejecting consumerism, if you will.

So am I a hypocrite for making a living off a business that sells products?

Or as @ChrisGuillebeau may say:

Interesting point, especially on the heals of my own complaining about Black Friday on Twitter – and then coordinating a massive Cyber Monday sale myself.

Note: For those interested, the Only 72 launch went unbelievably well. No really, hard to believe it happened. I’ll share the income and statistics in depth in my “end of the year” update – it should be interesting to see reactions. Short version: 1900+ copies sold, over $30k to Charity: Water, several dozen affiliates made thousands of dollars, and Karol and I made a (decent amount) after expenses.

It’s year another example of taking a leap when you know something feels right…

Back to Chris Guillebeau and hypocrites…

I’m not sure how to answer Chris’ question. I absolutely abhor Black Friday craziness and stampedes and fights over barbie dolls (happened in neighboring town). I’m going to rant about all of this – and share the thoughts of others on the issue – on Monday in fact.

But do I have any right to abhor that? Isn’t that the same type of buzz I shoot for when I launch a new product or offer a new service?

Yes and no…

Consciously, I will sit here and tell you:

• It’s different because I’m not selling something physical – that adds to clutter.
• It’s different because I’m selling something that’ll let people make money off their old junk.
• It’s different because I’m selling something that’ll help their finances – not hurt it.
• It’s different because people are paying me to help them improve their income streams.
• It’s different because I only tell people not to spend on stuff that doesn’t add value.

But aren’t I just playing a semantics game?  Aren’t these just excuses?

Couldn’t anyone – including Matel – make these same (or similar) claims?

When do we actually cross the line between hero and hypocrite?

Not sure. The internet makes this really blurry at best.

I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately.

On that note….

November’s income/expenses…

Net from UYF Sales:  $239.14

• Total Guides Sold (Nov):  19
• Income (less Paypal fees):  $307.14
• Affiliate Payments:  -$68.00

Net from SYC Sales:  $1460.98

• Total Guides Sold (all versions):  39
• Income (less Paypal fees):  $1754.36
• Affiliate Payments:  -$293.38

Additional Income:  $3897.09

• 3-Day Minimalist Sale:  $2440.80
• Freelance Writing:  $1003.64
• Unconventional Guides:  $156.57
• Thesis:  $95.37
• Fire Starter Sessions:  $90.00
• Amazon:  $61.24
• AMfB:  $49.47

Direct Expenses:  -$719.80

• Design work:  -$410
• Aweber:  -$49.00
• Transcription: -$39.96
• GoDaddy:  -$19.89
• E-junkie:  -$10.00
• DropBox:  -$9.99
• VodBurner:  -$9.95

Net (Income – Expenses):  $4877.41

Over the last 9 months of monetization, this brings average to: ~$2350/month

Note:  If you have any questions about the list above, leave them in the comments below and I’ll do my best to clarify them.  :-)

*****

December and beyond…

December is going to be about planning for me. I won’t be doing any major promotions or launches. I’ll be resting for the most part.

Courtney and I are aggressively plotting and planning the next phase of our life – and I’ve been putting off helping with that for too long now.

If we are going to be hitting the road in early January…

Wait did I just say that?

Um…

Well, let’s put it this way. I have a post planned for the 13th with all the juicy details. It takes a lot of planning and coordination – and I want to ensure we get everything lined up before I make any big announcements or changes!  :-)

Until next time…

Xoxoxo,

-Baker

image by JB London