BEING A BALANCED S.O.B.

I know that you have heard gobs about balance wheels where you look at your life and all the components in it.  Normally there are six to eight different areas positioned on the wheel—financial, career, family, education, leisure, community, spiritual and health.  These areas have probably changed for you over the years, but the important thing is to decide what they are for you right now.

I want you to sit down and really think about where you want to be a year from now.  It may not be easy, but it will get you started.  Once you come up with it, divide it into quarters, then into months, then weeks and finally days.  Next you need to write down in your daily to-do’s, whatever it takes to make this happen.  You’ll be surprised that once you become focused, it all falls into place.

Spend as much time as necessary deciding what areas you want to concentrate on.  Start by listing the things you think about, wish for, envy, always wanted to do and post them wherever you go.  The more you think about things, the more vivid they will appear.  Travel may seem like fun until you do it.  Working with artists may seem intriguing until it happens on a daily basis. 

Only you can decide how you want those areas divided up.  How much time do you want to spend on each area?  25%, 50%, 10% in one, 35% in another?  Then follow your plan.  It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks—it’s what works for you.

If your idea makes sense to you, go ahead and do it.  It may have to be tweaked and nudged a little, but the forward momentum will produce results for you which will lead to other better “happenings.”  Never let anyone control you or your thoughts.  Others can have an impact or influence, but you are in charge of your own life.  And if you’re really an S.O.B., you will find a way and not accept any excuses.

What is it you have to do every single day?  There has to be a semblance of order to your life.  How much time do you really have to do the things you’ve listed?  Are there only four of the eight areas above that are important to you?  Which is the absolutely most important priority?   

For example, my exercise and fitness is extremely precious to me so that takes over as priority #1 unless there is a speaking engagement, family emergency, or an airplane to catch.  It sets my mood for the day, allows me to fight off illness and accomplish even more in the day.  Therefore it takes up a major portion on my personal wheel.

When deciding how you want to do things, ask yourself if it’s going to be important five years from now.  And be sure you laugh every day by yourself or with someone else.  Fun gives you energy so be excited about who you are and what you’re doing.