In life, the enormity of your success or the depths of your failure rely entirely on the consequences you establish for yourself.
If you set your life up in a way where consequences, both good and bad, are at the forefront of everything you do, you will be much more likely achieve your goals than if you don’t.
Think about the time you worked the hardest in your life. A time when you spent hours and hours working on something, and never thought twice about quitting or doing something else. That was also the time when you had the most at stake wasn’t it?
During my last term of college I had one class that I really struggled in, but if I didn’t pass it, then I couldn’t graduate on time. That means, my trip to Europe would be canceled, I may or may not have been able to start work at my new job, and I would have had the shame of knowing I failed at such a pivotal moment of my life. I studied harder than I ever have before. By the time I was done I knew international finance upside down and backwards. The first eight weeks of the term though, I slacked off. I didn’t recognize or establish consequences. It wasn’t until it was almost too late, that I realized how much was actually at stake.
A on test= B- in class. Now if only I had worked that hard the other 8 weeks.
Consequences are everything.
To relate this to my recent life, the last few weeks have seen me working the hardest I have since that week in 2007. It hit me recently, that between then and now I never ensured that there were consequences for my actions that would motivate me to work. I could work my ass off at my last job, or work very little, and it didn’t matter because everything would remain the same. I wouldn’t get a raise, and I probably wouldn’t be fired. Status quo is killer.
Does your future look like this?
What happens if I do that now? Now its either I make this lifestyle work or I go broke and have to get a real job. Thats terrifying to me. I look at the path I was on a year ago. That path would have killed me. If for no other reason than boredom and the concept of being stagnant for years on end. There were no consequences for either personal or professional goals. Whether I achieved what I was doing or not was pretty irrelevant, because little would change.
I’ve been talking a lot with friends lately about this idea of consequence. It is slightly disheartening to know it’s THAT which motivates me. I should have some innate drive in me that forces me to want to succeed in all that I do – all of the time. But no, its when the consequences are greatest and I have no choice but to succeed. Thats when I kick into a higher gear. And I don’t think I’m the only one who functions like this.
So often we reflect on the past and say I wish I had done this, or imagine where I’d be if I started then. That needs to stop NOW.. The past is gone, and what you have is right now to start instilling consequences in your life and making a change.
Imagine if for the next 30 days you did everything you’ve been putting off. You work 40 hours a week on your personal project (whatever that is), you spend an hour and a half at the gym everyday, and you work hard to strengthen the relationships with those closest to you.
Imagine how good you would feel in 30 days. No more excuses about the past, you start now – but with consequences. Let’s say you’re goal is to launch the website for a new product you’ve been developing. Set a date. For every day past the date that your website isn’t live, you have to give your best friend or spouse $10. You tell them this to ensure accountability.
Maybe money isn’t an issue for you. How about your dignity? For everyday you don’t get it done you let someone post an incriminating photo of you on Twitter. Perhaps just announcing it to the public on your blog or Facebook page is enough to make you follow through. Whatever it is, ensure that there are adequate consequences to to get things done.
These ideas are aribitrary, the point is only you know what is going to drive you to action. If you don’t start ensuring there are adequate consequences to motivate you, you never will.
Where do you want to be in one year? If you don’t make it, are there consequences?
Today is an important day in the evolution of the site, as I introduce the Location 180 mailing list. There are going to be a lot of changes over the coming months and I wanted to have a way to keep the most loyal readers informed with sneak peeks, bonus content and requests for help from time to time.
Speaking of bonus content, if you sign up for the mailing list today you will receive access to a FREE podcast called “How to Craft a Remote Work Arrangement.” This is a sneak peek into one module of my new product launching on June 15th. It is a 45 minute of discussion with Dan from the Tropical MBA about how he successfully started working remotely, as well as some of the pitfalls to watch out for when creating an agreement of your own.
SIGN UP FOR THE LOCATION 180 MAILING LIST NOW! (Hint: See Sidebar)
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Hi Sean!
You are right.
It seems to be the same for me. When there are no real consequences and live is comfortable, you tend to get lazy.
On the other hand, when you are under pressure and have to make something work, you can get done a lot. Even in a small amount of time.
After travelling SE Asia for some more months, I am going to step up and make this location-independent internet income work. =)
David
@David I know the more time crunched I am the more I accomplish. Enjoy the traveling, you are off to a good start with your blog!
@Mars Don’t get me wrong, I am a half glass full kind of person to a fault. Just look at almost every other post I’ve written. However, one thing I have realized recently is that you can be a little more realistic and look at things from a different point of view while still keeping a positive attitude. The whole purpose of this blog is still to promote growth and well being, sometimes you just have to do that in different ways. I like the idea of replacing the idea of failure with pure focus
I wish I could always do that haha.
@Blake Couldn’t agree more, as long as you can live with and feel good about the outcomes of the decisions you make and the actions you take (or don’t) then it doesn’t matter how you get there.
@Nate Thanks man, I appreciate it. The mailing list is a big step for me, and I am trying to figure out the way to best utilize it! I think good things are on the horizon though
@Diggy I think there are at least a handful of other people in our niche that are in the exact same boat. The honeymoon phase is over for a lot of people and now its either go big or go home haha. Good luck and let me know if I can help out in anyway!
@Tony You are right on all accounts. I wish that the people who have come to visit me could actually spend a longer period of time here so they can see Thailand for what it really is – something very few tourists are able to do. That said I’ve still only been here about 4 months, and I have a long ways to go. As for the term location independent, it is totally a bullshit term, yet one that more than a few people have made livings off of. I think you are right though, a lot of people latch on to that term and concept and think its going to change their life. They even use it as an excuse. “Well I cant leave me job for a year, so I will start making changes then.” THAT is what is bullshit. If you want change, do it. Now. Simple as that, no blog post or book is going to tell you everything you need to know to make your life what you want it to be.
@Nick Yeah I think I got a little sidetracked somewhere along the way haha.
@Eugene That is how I often look at things. What is the alternative to doing this? Well, there are a lot of alternatives, but the most likely (read: easiest) is something I will work 100 hours a week to avoid. Hopefully in those 100 hours a week good things happen. Thanks for the comment, I also really enjoyed that post by Chris as well.
@Wilson We can’t do anything about the past. All that matters is how we prepare for the future, and it sounds like you are on the right track!
@Dan Thanks for the comment, I really think taking 30 days to focus on improvement in all aspects of your life can be extremely beneficial if taken seriously. Let me know how it works for you.
@Brett Yeah if i know I will go broke due to my inaction, then there is much more motivation to get things done!
@Elisa Oh wait, sorry, that was the message I was trying to get across. Location Independence IS all rainbows and unicorns. HA…
@Lou Agreed, everyone reacts to the fear differently. However, I think there are common things that everyone can do to help overcome that fear. I’ve written about this concept a lot, and will be releasing it in my first product here in a couple months.
@Flot You bring up an excellent point here. I am young. I’ve lived a very fortunate life and haven’t been through any of the traumatic experiences that you mention. However, one thing that I think remains true no matter what happens to you in life is attitude. Things are what you make of them. You can take a bad event and as awful as it is, if you can keep a positive attitude rather than having it drag you down indefinitely, you will be better off for it. However, that kind of attitude is a lifestyle and something that can’t be achieved overnight. Sure this could still be coming from my young and perhaps naive standpoint, but I really believe its true. Also on the subject of work, yes I work a lot out here. However, I enjoy it. I don’t generally view it as such, because of what it is enabling me to do. I enjoy my experience here immensely, and try not to let the work get in the way too much. I recognize how many people would kill to be in my situation – I don’t take that for granted, I just want to make the most out of the opportunity. Thank you for the comment!
@Larry Excellent way to look at it! I think it is so easy to get to a point of laziness, and fall DEEP into that trap that it takes a real wake up call to make something happen. Thats the route I am trying to go with the blog. That 1) there is probably something you’ve been wanting to do but have been too lazy or afraid to take action on and 2) You can do it, it just takes work.
@Robert It was only a matter of time, I am just making sure I take the time to DO IT RIGHT. Bummed about your VC contest, but hopefully we will see you out here soon one way or another.
@Karen Can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the support – from the beginning
@Ross Well said ” A little sense of urgency can go a long way!” Was it my incentive that you didn’t get? If thats the case shoot me an email, I want to make sure it works, because I had a few problems in the first 2 hours after the launch. Hope all is well with you.
That sounds pretty reasonable, especially if you think about consequences that could “ruin” your life.
But I’m also all about thinking positive, and I rather concentrate my will power 150 % on what I want, not EVER wasting a thought on something else. I don’t want even the slightest possibility of failure grow in my mind, and that’s why I replace with pure focus.
There is a great quote from the Californication TV series > “There’s no right or wrong, just the consequences of your actions.”
I think it sums up your message nicely. It isn’t wrong to put things off… but at the end of the day you are left to deal with the consequences of lost time.
I feel you on this. When things are going well for me I become a real lazy ass. I could lose my job in mid-June, and a couple of weeks ago it really hit me. Since then I’ve been working harder than I ever have. I don’t think I’ll create a full time income in the coming month or so, but it’s worth giving it my best effort anyway.
I signed up for the mailing list. REALLY looking forward to seeing what you have in store with the new product.
Have a great day, man!
Hey Sean!
Very cool post man. I really enjoyed it because I can relate to it. The last 3 months I’ve been doing the same as you, working my ass off. Either I make it work or I will have to find some sort of job.
I’ve just locked myself up at home during the week and all I do is work, with the exception of heading out to go to they gym.
We’re in this together buddy, let’s make it big
Cheers
Diggy
Come one Sean, I got an A in International Finance son. You should have studied with me those other 8 weeks.
-Nick
Hey Sean…
This reminded me of one of Chris Guillebeau’s recent posts about your backup plan being your plan, and how the recurring theme he saw amongst entrepreneurs were variations of “I just had to make it work”, and how refusing your backup plan (aka going back to a regular job) was a key them for many successful entrepreneurs.
In my recent trip to Thailand I knew I had to get as much done as I could and take advantage of the time there, and worked harder than I ever had before.
Even when the appeal of a lifestyle business is strong, its the ALTERNATIVE that you DON’T want that can motivate and drive you the most to get things done.
I know it did for me.
Great post!
Excellent I really liked this post, because it is so true. And I am now suffering some consequences for my past actions. The good thing is that back then I was ignorant to these things and I didn’t think that life worked that way, but now that I am older and I believe a bit wiser I can make better choices.
Great post. I’ve also heard this concept called “getting leverage on yourself” in other things I’ve read with the same tone. I’m going to definately do your 30 day idea. Also, you shoud check out the book Switch, which introduces great ways other than consequences to get leverage on yourself.
Hey Sean!
The money idea is excellent. It’s a great motivator to stay true to yourself (and your word) – and make yourself generate the consequences that you want from your actions.
We always want to shoot for the consequences that WE want to happen and retain control. Not that we have to become outcome dependent – we want to let the chips fall where they may – but we want to try our best, all the time.
Everyone suffers from fear of failure, but not everyone reacts to it in the same way. Fear can be a great motivator or it can drain you of all motivation. The choice is up to the individual feeling the fear.
Most “normal” people allow the fear to paralyze them. Rather than act in a way that will drive them through the fear, they instead act in a way that allows them to avoid the fear. Unfortunately for them, they also avoid success.
The “abnormal” people on the other hand face the fear. They confront it. They recognize it for what it is. This allows them to achieve their desired outcome by busting through the fear. To them, the consequence of giving up is much worse than the consequence of facing their fear and moving forward.
Sean:
I like what you are doing. That said . . . . .You sound very young. There is nothing wrong with that. I think that life has not yet kicked you in the crotch. I am not talking about getting a “B” or canceled trips to Europe either. I bet you have never had a lover die, fought in a war, or been diagnosed with a life threatening illness. Your writing implies you think you are the master of your fate to a greater extent than you, or anyone, really is. You need to relax. The people in my life who always came up plans for how to improve this and that in their lives based on hours or steps or whatever, were the ones who never really seemed to get their s**t together before or after their steps. Your young, stop worrying about how much work you do. You want to be a millionaire? I bet there are a million millionaires that would trade their millions to be 20 something, single and living in Bangkok.
Hey Sean, Good post. I believe they call this the carrot and the stick principle of life. Think about a donkey. If you dangle the carrot (positive reinforcement = reward) in front of it, you may get forward motion. However, if you slap it on the ass with a stick (consequence of inaction or being lazy), it will definitely run. So, I guess this analogy applies to all of us.
I think once we’re comfortable on a certain level(The basics of Maslow’s hierarchy), we get lazy and the carrot doesn’t work so well anymore. Time for the stick and an ass kicking.
Finally! I’m afraid that’s all I have to say haha. I’ve loved reading about your journey so far, but now you’ve really peaked my interest…looking forward to how consequence is going to build your freedom income. I hope to offer help, learn something and continue freeing myself along the way.
Sean, you’re doing big things! Very exciting, and excellent addition for the mailing list. Looking forward to what’s to come.
Absolute truth my man. It sounds like something you hear from parents, “Consider the consequences young man!” Still, a little sense of urgency can go a long way.
I’m interested in this newsletter w/ sign-up incentive concept and how its working for you. I noticed tropical MBA does the same thing. I never got my incentive.
Keep killing it man, looking forward to hearing more.
This post is freaking awesome and so true!! I’m on my last term of college and I too have been slacking in the classroom. I’m maintaining my 3.0 GPA but knowing its my last term I’ve decided to start planning my projects and ventures I want to launch. After graduation its go time! However, I noticed some of my slacking put me on the borderline. I’ve noticed I been kicking it into high gear for finals and I’m ready to kick some a$^. Anyway its amazing how consequences can give you some major motivation.
P.S. I’ll make sure to check out the bonus podcast.
I was going to say that I strongly disagree with this perspective, but then I read Lou’s post. So I might allow that fear can be a great motivator, but the essence of my problem with this attitude is that I don’t want my life to be ruled by fear. So there must be a better way.
“To be ready to fail is to be prepared for success.” Jose Bergavin
That is the quote on the back of my insurance license. I stare at it everyday. When I’m pouring over spreadsheets or writing executive summaries. When I’m meeting with potential new agents or reviewing schedules with my admin. When I’m tipped back in my wheelie office chair staring at my Ansel Adams mountain photo playing the “anywhere but here” game.
Reading your posts and seeing everything you are doing is SUCH a kick in the ass to face the consequences but not fear them. That’s what I get out of this post. It’s just what I needed tonight.
You may very well go broke in a year, and have nothing financial wise to show fore in a year.
BUT, you will have freaking incredible experiences and have made new friends which is priceless.
“Imagine if for the next 30 days you did everything you’ve been putting off. You work 40 hours a week on your personal project (whatever that is), you spend an hour and a half at the gym everyday, and you work hard to strengthen the relationships with those closest to you.”
That was my original dream, funny how hard it is to make it happen when you have total freedom. If Bangkok wasn’t unstable, I’d have an apartment there and get to it or at least make a concerted effort.
I know that this totally off topic, but kids remember that working out at gym one and half our each day is totally unnecessary. 40 minutes every second day is just fine, if you do it right. And of course it would be wise to do it longer than the mentioned 30 days…
Sean, reaching 200 lbs at bench press (from your bucket list) is closer than you think. I am sure that a sporty guy as I think you are could reach it in few months, if exercising in the right way.
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