Yesterday morning, I had the distinct privilege of hosting a call with Stan Bower.  It was so good that I felt it must be shared with our blog readers so I’ve included a link to replay for you here.  I cannot stress how impactful and inspiring the call was and I cannot encourage you enough to take some time and listen to the replay.

During our conversation, Stan gave the most impressive explanation of what it means to be a Lifeonaire that I’ve ever heard.   He started off by asking the question, “What are you giving your life to?” and then digging in deeper as to what this means and how it relates to the very core of who you are, not only right this minute, but for eternity.  I know that may seem pretty deep but I promise once you listen to the call, it will all makes sense!

If becoming a true Lifeonaire is your goal, this call is a can’t miss!  Go listen now!

Blessings,

Shaun

As I coach various people through the Lifeonaire process, it’s not uncommon for me to hear them say they wish they would have been higher on their parents’ priority list when they were younger, rather than, say, farther down the list in fifth, sixth, (or even tenth) place!   A lot of people seem to be hurried or ignored through childhood, then as they grow up they simply become more tolerated rather than truly understood.  Finally, as they enter the “real world” on their own, they’re expected to know how to be a man or woman without ever having been taught what that means–what it really means.

Perhaps those of you that have children have felt much the same about your own kids at some point.   All too often, it’s easy to say, “I’m never going to be like my mother and father.  I’m going to do things MUCH differently.”  Yet somehow many people end up doing the exact same things:  putting their own children on the back burner in exchange for a better job, a better business, more hobbies, etc…

The reality is that, as parents, we already have the most important job in the world.  Our children will grow up learning from role models, which will teach them how to become significant in this world.  Those role models can either be you, or someone else that chooses to spend time with your kids.  Your children will learn, one way or the other, how to become significant to you or to someone else.  Wouldn’t you rather they choose you?

While most people are busy searching for significance through their careers, the types of cars they drive, the houses they live in, and/or the clothes they wear, I’ve found very little in my life that even comes close to the significance that I experience when I simply spend time with my son.  I can make more of a difference in that little boy’s life than I can doing just about anything else in this world.   I think the most important thing you can give your children boils down to just two things: time and touch.

When I reflect on my childhood, some of my best memories are of times when my parents were simply there for me.  I remember my dad teaching me how to shoot hoops, ride a bike, balance a checkbook, drive a stick shift, open the door for a girl, say thank you, the list goes on and on.   Those times mean more to me than he could ever imagine.  To him, that was probably just another day.  To me, every one of those moments are ingrained in my memory and helped to shape me as a man.  And whether or not my dad knew it, I learned a lot of lessons not because he literally taught me those things but simply by how he lived his own life.  It would be one thing for him to tell me that I should open the door for a lady.  But it’s a completely different lesson to see him do it time and time again.

Listen to your children this week.  Put your arms around them.  Hug them.  Tell them how much they mean to you and how important they are.  Don’t just assume they know; they need to hear it from you.  Take the time to tell them.

Then, next time you’re tempted to get involved in some new energy-draining, time-consuming project, ask yourself, “Is this really the best use of my time?  Do I REALLY want to pursue this or is it just the ‘idea of the week’?”  Ultimately, you’re really asking  “Does this new idea or project REALLY fit into my vision?”   If your answer is “no” (or even “I’m not sure.”), it’s probably a good time to evaluate how this new thing will fit into your life.   If your answer is “yes”, realize that some current project will be compromised.  After all, there are only 24 hours in a day!  And, all too often, our families take the back seat.  Even though this may not seem like such a big deal at the moment, in the long run it’s our kids that will suffer most.

Time and touch: two simple things that will change your kids’ lives.  Think about that this week as you make decisions and live life to its absolute fullest!  This way, your children will live life to the fullest as well.   And, if by some chance, you’re still not convinced, check out Proverbs 22:6.  The wisest man who ever lived (Solomon) thought time with our kids was pretty important too!

Blessings,

Shaun

A friend recently forwarded this to me and it’s definitely worth passing along.

When Disney World in Orlando opened many years ago, the widow of the great entrepreneur stood with one of the engineers of the expansive entertainment center, gazing at its magnificence and beauty.

The engineer turned toward Mrs. Walt Disney and remarked, ‘Boy, I wish Walt could have seen this!’

Without taking her eyes off the sprawling play land, she replied, ‘He did. That’s why it’s here’.”

The point: Don’t lose focus of the vision. Know the roll you play in reaching it. And empower others to make sure the vision is reached.

Take a moment right now to read over your vision and “see” what you’re working toward.  Then go out and make it happen TODAY!

Blessings,
Shaun

I don’t know what may be going on in your life today but I hope that the letter below will encourage you in your quest to become a Lifeonaire. I recently received this incredible e-mail from one of our coaching students and, with his permission, I am sharing it with you in the hopes that you will be inspired and motivated to follow through on your visions and ultimately make a difference as a Lifeonaire!

Dear Steve and Shaun,

I’d like to share something that happened to me this week.  Thursday I was having a pretty rough day mentally…even with all the successes I’ve had lately, like most people do, I was battling self-doubt.  On this particular day, I needed to write a $10K earnest money deposit check and had been chasing my private lender for three days to get the funds.  His lack of response had me wondering if he was bailing on me, and needless to say, it was only adding to my self-doubt and stress.

A small aside here:  a couple of nights earlier during my meditation/prayer time, I had done some self-vision casting.  I had been thinking specifically about one of my vision objectives:  donating $100k a year to children’s cancer research.

Fast forward to my stressful Thursday.  I was struggling with self-doubt, and as I drove to the bank I seriously contemplated just giving up.  By the time I reached the bank, I had pretty much decided to abandon the deal, which is exactly the way the “old Mike” probably would have reacted.

Even so, against my feelings and better judgment, I went into the bank still hoping to get my certified check.  As I entered the building I saw just one customer, a lady with her little boy, who obviously had cancer and was undergoing chemo treatments.  He looked right at me and gave me a little smile.  And that was all it took.  At that moment, I felt God telling me “Mike, you’re doing good work.”   It would be impossible for me to tell you how moving this was.  Even typing it now brings tears to my eyes.  I am so thankful for my life and the people God has placed in my path.  Thank you.

A Lifeonaire coaching student

Perhaps you could have written the above letter.  Maybe you are also struggling with finances, self-doubt, or a host of other things.  But, in the midst of the trials, are you also keeping your eyes open for these “God moments”?  Are you outward-focused enough to realize when God is putting people in your path to encourage you and give you a reason to move forward?

I know from follow-up conversation with the above student that his private lender did indeed come through.  But if he hadn’t been stressed out that day and gone to the bank to seek out the funds, he wouldn’t have seen the little boy with cancer.  God used that little boy to remind this student WHY the stress and struggles were worth it.  God used that little boy to let this student know that he was moving in the right direction with his vision and that, in spite of setbacks, God was going to honor his commitment to his vision and enable him to follow through on his desire to donate money to cancer research and in turn, change—and potentially save—many lives.  God used that little boy to remind this student that real estate investing, even with all its highs and lows, isn’t the point.  Real estate investing is just the means to an end.  The ability and privilege to deeply touch others is what keeps him moving toward his Lifeonaire vision.

I don’t know for sure exactly what you may be facing today, but I do know that we are all facing something.  Many days we feel like giving up, abandoning our visions, throwing in the towel, and leaving this Lifeonaire thing behind.  I want to encourage you, on those days, to cling to God’s vision for your life even more tenaciously.  Don’t focus on the trials; focus on the life you want to have and the change you want to make as a result of “living life abundantly”.  Giving up may seem like the easy way out but I can assure you, that God’s greatest blessings await you and those you will touch–and all of it will be more than worth the wait!

Blessings,
Shaun