This week I read about the anniversary of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.
It was built on 24 May 1883 and took 14 years to build.
Building your own financial security is like a bridge between your current and future self.
It, too, can take years to build, but done well, can also be magnificent.
Here’s what else I read.
On investing, I enjoyed this blog on building wealth and losing weight.
Often, people think to get better results, you need to put in more work – feel more stressed, more pressed for time.
Not true.
Doing nothing is doing something.
This applies to both money and health. More in the article.
Like it or not, everyone has a relationship with money.
My friend Andrew Hallam, was recently interviewed on The Most Hated F Word podcast.
In this episode he talks about his life, relationship with money and why knowing too much in investing might actually be harmful for your wealth.
He also shares insights into how people can manage their spending in order to increase their quality of life.
Your relationship with money starts when you’re young.
This piece talks about how our childhood experiences shape our later attitudes.
After all, money = emotion.
And the scripts we acquire as children massively impact our thoughts in later life.
In contrast, this article talks about “death cleaning” (not as morbid as it sounds).
It’s a concept popularised by the book The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter.
The article inspires you to think about what you want to be to the people you love.
And, what you want to leave behind for them.
It’s all part of living a purpose-driven life which, as Stephen Covey says in his book, 7 Habits of Highly Successful People, is about “beginning with the end in mind”.
This episode on The Jordan Harbinger show talks about how we can transform overthinking — something many struggle with — from a super problem into a superpower.
If you want to tap into the surprising power of overthinking and give your dreams more time and creativity, tune in.
I loved this bit: “If you can worry, you can wonder. If you can doubt, you can dominate. If you can spin, you can soar”.
In response to one of my recent posts, a reader asked how I manage to run a business, be a father of 3 and cycle to and from work for 2 hours every day.
The truth is, it’s hard and I certainly don’t always get things right.
Coming from a military background, I feel fortunate ‘discipline’ was engrained in us a core behaviour.
What skills, attitudes and behaviours do you put to work in your life?
I found this post relatable as it talks about discipline equalling freedom.
If you have the routine to consistently do difficult things, you’ll inevitably have the freedom to sail unharmed through a storm.
You apply the discipline of saving to enjoy the freedom of retirement.
You apply the discipline of stretching to enjoy the freedom from injury.
You apply the discipline of writing to enjoy the freedom of clear thought.
Nothing worthwhile ever came easy and this reminds me of something my coach Mick Todd often says;
Marriage is hard. Divorce is hard. Choose you hard
Obesity is hard. Being fit is hard. Choose your hard.
Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard.
Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard.
Life will never be easy. It will always be hard.
But we can choose our hard. Pick wisely.
If it challenges you, pushes you, stretches your limits… Keep at it!
Have a great weekend.
A question for you:
How do you respond to challenges in your life? Do you put them off or tackle them head on?
This week's meditations
"Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.
A small habit—when repeated consistently—grows into something significant."
- James Clear
"The scariest moment is always just before you start."
- Stephen King
If you liked this post, please share it using the social buttons at the top, or just forward them this blog.
Have a great weekend and enjoy the ‘light’ reading!
Discipline equals freedom by Joseph Wells
The Jordan Harbinger Show's episode with Jon Acuff - The surprising solution to overthinking
Why I did my own death cleaning at 39 by Emily McDermott
Anthony Isola's blog on A Teachable Moment
Monevator's article on the origins of our money mindsets
The Most Hated F Word's podcast with Andrew Hallam
