As I was scanning the web for inspiration today, I came across an article about two financial advisers who revealed a startling statistic: 70% of lottery winners are broke within a few years of winning. 70%! My mind wandered to the stories of the athletes that made millions and went broke. Millions of dollars gone in quite literally the blink of an eye. Why? Because planning for the rewards of success is the last thing on people’s minds.
While it IS very important to lay out how you will achieveyour personal greatness, it is also essential to know how you willmaintain this wonderful new lifestyle. Unfortunately, many people fail to consider that there is life AFTER the initial honeymoon period, and this lack of preparation will lead invariably to their eventual demise.
I have been planning and building the “Huh?!” brand for quite a while. I even went back to school to finish my business degree in order better understand the complexities of my new “Huh?!” endeavor (I really recommend college as an excellent resource for refining ideas and meeting knowledgeable mentors). As a result, I was able to do much of the research and refining of my project in a pretty creative and nurturing environment.
During the course of my schooling, my professors (seasoned business people in their own right) peppered me with questions: “Will you manufacture or will you outsource? Will you use American companies or will you import your materials?” I was forced to consider many variables.
One of the professors finally asked, “Have you thought about how your life will change when you become successful, and how you will sustain that new level of existence?” That last question brought a sobering thought home to me: most people are more focused with the CHASE to get to the new level, not with the actual BEING on the new level.
Consider a band of bank robbers. They plan how they will enter the bank. They consider what they will steal, and how long they will be in the bank. They consider their getaway. They also consider that they will live out their lives inconspicuously so that they don’t get caught. You must also develop a plan that includes the before, during, and after. Thieves who suddenly go out and buy expensive cars, “make it rain” at the club, and flash big money at the ladies… will find themselves broke and in jail before the sweat dries on the dancer’s garter.
I bring this up because Huh?! Blog had a very important meeting today (I’ll reveal more on Twitter and Facebook as events unfold). As the exciting possible scenarios were discussed, I considered in my head what will happen as we navigate these new waters. I considered how much more I’ll be working, and the possible strain my new responsibilities would put on me.
I imagined how my life would change, and a slow smile spread across my face. I know that a great new phase of life is right around the corner for us, and I know that we won’t be coming back to this particular situation again. We’ll be alright, though. We’ve got a plan. Please make sure you have one as well.
“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” Jim Rohn (Entrepreneur and Speaker)
Even a [wise man] comes to grief by giving instruction to a foolish disciple, by maintaining a wicked wife, and by excessive familiarity with miserable [people]. Chanakya (Writer & Politician)
“The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail.” Napoleon Hill (Author, Think and Grow Rich)
“Self-disciplined begins with the mastery of your thoughts. If you don’t control what you think, you can’t control what you do. Simply, self-discipline enables you to think first and act afterward.” Napoleon Hill (Author, Think and Grow Rich)
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