No matter where my life takes me, I know I’ll always remember one vivid point in my life that changed everything. It happened one night back in October 2010.

I think many of us want to find that one moment that feels like a pivotal turning point in our lives. A moment when we leave our past behind, and get busy living. We stop making excuses and ready to do what it takes to have the life we want.

We wait for that moment to come. It’s frustrating because we have no idea when it will come. We hope it comes sooner than later though.

The truth is we are waiting for a moment that may never happen.

What if you could create that moment instead of waiting for it?

You can do that through the power of writing. Writing can help you if you’ve got a lot of emotional baggage, have a lot of pain and anger, or feel stuck in life. It’s benefits have been scientifically proven.

It’s not only about writing, but more specifically writing letters.

It has turned my life around as it has for the four stories I share today.

Let’s jump in the Delorean, hit 88 mph, and go back in time first.

“I hate my life.”

Why did life turn out like this? I definitely didn’t expect this after graduating college.

I had a nice house filled with whatever I wanted, drove a BMW M3, and took long paid vacations every year. What was so bad about my life?

What I hated so much was my job.

I worked at my mom’s Japanese restaurant. The type of restaurant with teppanyaki tables and chefs cook in front of you. It’s a fun dining experience. We also served some of the best sushi. I’m biased of course, but lots of regular customers have said the same.

I started working there soon after I graduated college in 2000 since I had no idea what I wanted to do. I thought I’d work to earn some money and have something to do. My parents have owned restaurants before I even started kindergarten. So I’ve been around the business all of my life.

I didn’t mind it growing up, but I never thought it was going to be a career for me.

Most people thought life was great for me. From the outside, it looked like it. They assumed I would take over the business one day.

In my mind I thought no way. I hated my job. I would dream of natural disasters, or getting into an accident just so I didn’t have to work. Minus seeing regular customers who I’ve become friends with, I didn’t like anything about the business.

The life of a restaurant manager (my position) is tough. The money is good and can afford nice things, but it’s not worth what I had to deal with and the hours.

For example, when families are excited about Christmas Day, I didn’t look forward to it. Why? Because I had to work since that is one of THE busiest nights of the year. I don’t understand why so many people go out to eat that night. Sometimes I had to put on my best fake smile, and other times i didn’t even bother to hide my frustration.

I had good days and bad days at work. Most days, I’d dread going to work. During work, I’d be so pissed off. After work was the only time I was happy cause I got to go home.

For so long, I couldn’t figure out what other job I could do. I didn’t want to work in the restaurant any longer, but I had a mortgage that I couldn’t stop paying. Plus it’s family so it was harder to quit. I spent a lot of time researching other job opportunities. I kept waiting for that turning point in my life. I wanted to wake up and become a different person with a different life. I wanted to DO something with my life.

I spent five long years feeling like this.

The Power of Words

One night in October 2010, I drove home from another shitty night at work. It was so busy. I already didn’t like my job, so when it was busy it was 100x worse. I was physically, mentally, and emotionally drained. I just stared at the road, one hand on the wheel, and the other hand holding my head up wondering how life could have gotten like this.

Where was the younger version of myself that was going to do great things in life?

Nights like this were way too common. What was it going to take for me to get some urgency in life? I needed to stop wasting more years of my life!

I just couldn’t find the motivation to do something about it.

You know how some people have a near death experience that makes them appreciate the second chance for life? They stop sleepwalking through life and start living life to its fullest. I wanted my own near death experience without actually having a near death experience.

Something about that night was different. I wish I could explain why. I’ve made that drive hundreds of times. I usually come home and do the same routine. I’d take a shower, go to my office, turn on the computer, turn on the TV and spend hours trying to forget about reality until I was tired enough to go to sleep.

That night when I got home I went to my computer first, opened up a blank document on my computer, and started typing. I wrote what came to my mind. I didn’t edit. I just let the words flow.

Despite hating my life, there was a part of me that knew I could do more in life.

Here is exactly what I wrote:

This is it. This is when I start to make changes to the life I want. It starts now. Stop wasting time. It’s been more than five years since you’ve wanted to find a new career. You need to start doing it today. Today. Tomorrow and everyday until you reach your desired lifestyle. Life is too short to be unhappy when working. Start working hard everyday to find your passion and reach your goals. Focus, focus, focus. Open your mind and allow it to attract great ideas and answers to your questions.

I printed two copies. One I put on my bathroom mirror and one on the wall right behind my computer. I knew I couldn’t miss seeing them everyday.

This was a wake up call for me. I still had my crappy job, but writing that letter changed my attitude about life. The life I wanted to create and the person I wanted to become wasn’t just a burning desire in my mind anymore. By writing it down, and seeing it every day, it became something I must do. The letter reminded me of that night and how I felt driving home. I didn’t want to feel like that anymore.

It was my near death experience without actually having to experience it. I decided from that day forward no more of the same old shit. What I wasn’t doing wasn’t working, so if I wanted to change, I had to change what I was doing. I needed to because I don’t know how much longer of that kind of life I could have handled.

No more waiting around for a miracle. I took life into my own hands.

Continue Reading…

Let’s go!

Today is an exciting day!

Not only did I just arrive in Hong Kong for a week, but it’s also the day where I announce the opening of Get Busy Living in 30 Days!

Join now if you want to make 2013 your best year yet

How did this start?

I get a lot of emails with people telling me about their problems and looking for some advice. Some are short, but some pour their hearts out. Many of the situations I can relate to because I used to feel like that.

I reply to as many emails as possible, but I know just one email isn’t going to make a huge impact. It might motivate them to take action, or shed some light on something they didn’t realize, but one or two replies isn’t enough to make a huge dent in their beliefs.

I wanted to do more, but how?

Get Busy Living in 30 Days

So after wanting to do more to help, I decided it was time for to put together a plan of action that goes into more detail on how I finally got unstuck in life.

It covers two years of learning and doing. I’ve found what works for me and now see the truth about what it takes to be happy and successful (in that order which I cover in the course).

It’s called Get Busy Living in 30 Days and it’s a course that’ll help if you’re feeling stuck in life, or you just want to achieve more than you have so far.

It’s going to help reprogram your mind so you’ll be more motivated to create positive change and do what’s necessary to achieve your goals.

What this course also is about is cutting away all the fat and unnecessary advice and focuses on what really matters. What can you focus on that’ll give you the most result?

What do you need to learn first? You need to learn how to walk before you can run. I don’t want you to run a marathon yet. We’re going to be taking easy jogs around the track.

This course is the foundation for everything else you will do in life. Without a strong foundation, you’re not going to be able to build your dream life. You can only build an average one that will crumble after one minor setback.

I’ve taken the best stuff I’ve learned and used the past two years to turn my life around and put it in this course.

How will this course be delivered?

The course will be delivered by email. Once you join, you’ll get one lesson a day for 30 days straight to your inbox. The emails will show you behind the scenes of truly what it takes to be more and do more in life.

They’ll inspire you and give that kick in the butt you desperately need.

Some lessons will have action steps or a worksheet for you to do. It’s an important part of the process.

I chose email because I asked YOU! I did a survey last year to my subscriber list on whether to deliver it an email a day or put it all in an ebook. The majority said one email a day and that was my preference as well.

With one email a day, it breaks down all the information one day at a time.

There will also be a premium package where at the end of the course you will get all the emails and worksheets in a beautifully designed PDF ebook. You can go back and review everything in one place.

Some of the topics I’ll cover in the course

• Why boring, unsexy, unnoticeable steps will always create massive results.
• How to release those chains holding you back in life.
• Why you really feel stuck in life and how to get out of it.
• How to reboot your mind to get it work more optimally.
• Why you must find happiness before you can find success.
• How to properly set goals that’ll empower you.
• Why you might need to change your friends if you want to succeed.
• Why a morning routine can be the best thing you do all day.
• How to achieve more in three months than some do in a year.
• And much more!

Limited Time Only

The course is open now for registration, but will only be available a limited time until Saturday, March 2nd at 11:59 AM EST. (Registration is closed. Will reopen in the near future).

I want to spend my focus with the first group of students going through their first 30 days and getting their feedback. That’s why I’m limiting registration.

I’ll re-open the course in the future, but not sure when yet.

I’d love to help make this year your best your year.

If you’re ready to finally do something with your life and become the person you’ve always wanted to be, I’m ready to help you.

All the risk is on me

I do have a 60 day money back guarantee.

No questions asked. Just send me an email saying you want a refund.

All I ask is that you go through the course, do the worksheets, apply what I’ve taught you. In 60 days after you’ve joined (30 day course + 30 days afterwards), if your life is the same and you haven’t improved, I’ll give you your money back. I don’t want your money if I haven’t helped you.

How’s that for a guarantee?

Disclaimer

I wondered if I should add this because it might scare people off, but that’s my goal, so I’m gonna be upfront and honest.

Before you decide, I have one warning. Change is hard.

Years of bad habits and bad thinking is hard to change. Being successful in your life is hard. The process is tedious, tough, and sometimes even boring. Becoming the person you want to become with the life you want is slow and challenging.

Don’t get me wrong. After going through this course and following these steps, you’ll see immediate results.

But if you don’t like to roll up your sleeves and put in the work, be disciplined and committed to changing your life, you’re welcome to turn the TV back on, have the same boring routine and bad habits, and keep hoping your life will change.

I want to be upfront about this because I don’t want you to waste your time if you believe this course is like finding a genie bottle with three magical wishes.

Let’s get started!

Go to the Get Busy Living in 30 website to learn more and join the course.

I look forward to helping you become the person you want to be and do more this year!

photo credit: Xavier Donat

This is a letter for that person who feels stuck in life and feels hopeless. That person who doesn’t know if life will get better. That person who’s been trying to make a change for so long, but hasn’t been able to.

If that’s you, you’re not alone and I’m writing this to you.

To my friend,

I know things have been tough lately. Every day feels the same and you want to scream from the top of your lungs because it sucks. Every day you feel like you’re on a downward spiral. You just hope that your life starts to change real soon. Thoughts of suicide have crossed your mind because then you wouldn’t feel like this anymore, but just know there is much more to life than you have now.

It does get better if you want it to.

I was once you. I searched for what was the one thing I was supposed to do with my life. I was looking for a career not just a job. I thought by the time I graduated college I was supposed to know. When I turned 30 I still had no idea and wondered what was the heck wrong with me. I felt like if I knew what I wanted to do with my life everything would be better. Everything else would fall into place. I’d get married, have a nice house, have kids, and live happily ever after. Once I discovered what IT was, that’s what I’d be doing for the rest of my life. That’s how life goes, right?

I’ve learned that life doesn’t have to be about finding that one thing you’re meant to do and then do it forever. Some people do find that one thing and dedicate their whole lives because they love it. I’ve realized that isn’t for me at this moment. I am done searching for it too.

To me life is about exploring everything out there. It’s trying different things and putting more attention on certain ones. There’s so much out there that it’d be a shame to not have more than one interest. Is what I’m doing now what I’ll be doing forever? No, but I’ve found something that I enjoy at this moment. I know new opportunities will present itself and my need for a new challenge will come along. Who knows what I’ll be doing five years from now, but for now, I like what I do and have stopped searching for the meaning of life.

If you don’t know what you want to do with your life, it’s okay! The answer doesn’t come to you at a specific time. Some find it when they’re a child. Others discover it after they’ve had three children. Some go through ten different jobs before finding one that is right for them. It doesn’t matter if you’re 21, 41 or anywhere in between. It’s never too late to start going for what you want. Even if someone is 41, they’re still pretty young. The average life expectancy for an American is 78.5 years. At 41, you’ve only lived 52% of your life. That’s it. You still have 48% of your life left to do what makes you truly happy. That’s still a lot of time.

However a better life isn’t going to be found watching television, keeping up with Honey Boo-Boo or the Kardashians, mindlessly surfing the internet, or checking Facebook every five minutes. It’s not found sitting on the couch after work every night or drinking your sorrows away every weekend with your buddies. Your life won’t improve if you constantly feel sorry for yourself or rely on others to make it better for you.

Nor is a better life going to happen instantly. We’re used to wanting everything quicker. We want to reach our destination as fast as possible. We want our internet speeds to be lightening quick. We want our food fast. This obsession with speeds translates to the results we want. Marketers know that so they blast us with headlines like “Make money quick!” or “Lose weight fast and easy!”

Your life isn’t going to change by clicking your heels together. I had always hoped it would be that easy! I wanted it to be like the movies. My rise from the lowest point in my life to the top would be in under 2 hours and I’d get the girl at the end. There is no quick fix in the real world. I hate to break it to you, but you’re not going to lose all the weight you want in two weeks and keep it off forever. You’re not going to forever eliminate years of bad habits in a month. You’re not going to have $100,000 in a year if your bank account only has $100 now. You’re not going to build an online business making $1,000 a week working only four hours with no skills and no money to start.

Continue Reading…