Such an occasion has just presented itself.

My partner and I are currently in the Dominican Republic travelling in a quaint coastal town called Las Terrenes. A week ago we took a motorcycle trip to get to know the local scene a bit better. We found our way to Agua Sabrosa, a small neglected village off the main road. We wanted to see what the local school looked like and what we found was nothing short of utter poverty.

I’ll let the photos speak for themselves (See below) but here’s a little summary:

1. There is only one teacher for more than 100 kids.

2. The teacher is a local girl herself who earns less the $30 a month. Yes, a month…

3. The curriculum never changes. Every year the kids learn the same thing over and over again.

4. There is one broken table, no chairs, and no books.

5. Everyone fits into a window-less shack smaller than the size of a one-car garage.

6. The floor is dirt, though muddy when it rains.

7. There is no electricity and the only light they have filters in through the cracks in the roof and walls.

I can go on but I hope these few examples are sufficient. Here are a few photos I took while visiting:

We want to make a difference in the short time we’re here. The local church agreed to contribute a small space for the kids and we thought we can help them by creating a little library-area to enrich their lives. Nothing fancy but a place with resources for learning and tools to open their minds. Something that will give these unfortunate kids some hope for the future.

From my previous experience with building a house in Peru, I learned that a small contribution, combined with dozens of others, can make a huge difference in the lives of others.

If you feel like being a part of this little outreach, you can do so via the donate button on Help Third World, a site I built specifically for that purpose, or simply drop me an email via the contact form.

It’s important to note that 100% of your donation will go directly to the project, not a penny less.

I also would be grateful if you can share this with others via facebook, twitter or email.

Thanks in advance! Here’s the donation link again –> Help Third World

Helping in the Dominican Republic is a post from: Live Out The Dream

You and I are programmed.

We have been programmed from early age to acquire more possessions and never be satisfied with what we have.

We were told we need to buy new cloths every season, a new car every few years and the latest gadget each time it’s announced.

We were conditioned to trade our freedom for a 30-year mortgage, so we can fill our 4 walls to their maximum capacity with stuff we don’t really need; another candle holder, another piece of furniture, another cute little bowl.

And when the space runs out, we go and rent more storage. The Self Storage industry is now an estimated 20 billion dollar business, and that’s in the U.S. alone. In fact, North Americans have more than twice the amount of space than a few decades ago, despite the fact that the size of their families has decreased in that time.

We have far more freedom than any people in the history of mankind, yet we choose to trade it back for more stuff.

What we do not have though is more happiness.

Do you enjoy running around like a mouse on a wheel, always in a hurry to get things done, trying to cram more and more in just so you can pay off your bills?

Does that luxury item you can barely afford give you real fulfillment?

If this all sounds a bit depressing to you, don’t fret. After all, we did not have much choice. We were conditioned from an early age to be consumers in a well-functioning system built for profit.

I want to use this space to offer a new paradigm, one that I have been embracing for the last three years; a paradigm that advocates for a more healthy and sustainable lifestyle.

I call it “Minimalist Living”.

What is Minimalist living?

First, let me address what it is not.

Minimalist living is not about being frugal or living on a shoestring budget. I own quality products, I travel the world, I spend when it matters.

Being minimalist is not about denying pleasure or depriving yourself of all the things you want.

It does not mean we have to give up the comforts of the 21st century. Consumerism, after all, is not the devil.

Minimalist living is rather a balancing act.

It’s about being fully aware of all the options we have, yet choosing only those which give us the most benefits and eliminating those that don’t.

It’s about stripping away the unnecessary and getting rid of things we don’t really need, so we can free our time and resources for that which gives us true joy.

It’s about living without an obsession with material goods or an obsession with newness.

It’s about quality, not quantity.

Minimalist living can mean something different to each person. For some, it may be giving away unwanted clothes and cleaning things up, and for others it may be living in a bare-essentials cabin surrounded by nature.

Whatever it means to you, being minimalist is something that is worth getting excited about.

Less stuff, less debt and less clutter mean more freedom, more joy and more room for what’s important.

A story of two lives

Perhaps my first awareness of the concept of Minimalism came after watching the movie American Beauty.

There were some scenes in that movie that stayed with me for a long time (My favorite by far is the “It’s just a couch” scene. Search for it in YouTube)

In many ways, American Beauty represents our Western society’s addiction to consumption in its futile attempt to regain more happiness.

The reality is that racking up debt to acquire more stuff has never been a reliable source of lasting happiness for anyone.

For many years I was craving simplicity and a life of less consumption but it only really happened three years ago, just before I left for my round-the-world trip.

I literally purged 95% of my possessions. I never really realized how much crap I owned until I moved.

Suddenly, my new life was more than the sum total of what I owned; it was rich with freedom and possibilities.

Everything I owned I could carry on my back. I had no return date, flight ticket home and no job lined up.

I thrived.

And it happened not only because of my trip but also because of my newly adopted minimalist lifestyle; a lifestyle with no cluttered schedule, no ongoing expenses and no giant TV.

Simplifying your Life Right Now

Obviously you don’t have to go on a round-the-world trip to enjoy the benefits of minimalist living.

Start by realizing you already have enough. Then start simplifying.

Choose a room in your home and asses each and every single object. Ask yourself – “Do I truly NEED this object?”, “Do I use it on REGUALR basis?”

If the answer is “No”, then pass it along to someone who could put it to better use by selling it, donating it or giving it away. If you can’t even give it away, instead of storing it, simply recycle or dump it.

Remember, less is more in this case.

Here are some specific item groups you want to focus on in your simplifying process:

1. Books – When I was young I had a dream of having floor-to-ceiling bookcases with all the books I’ve read. I’ve rationalized that I may need to go back to these books for future research. In reality, I’ve never gone back to any of my old books and they just collected dust on the shelf, so just before my RTW trip, I gave away 90% of my books to friends, complete strangers and the local library. These days, I own all my books in a digital form and mainly use Kindle or my laptop to read. It’s worked great for me.

2. Music – In this digital age, there’s no better time to get rid off your entire CD collection by converting them into high quality audio files. There are plenty of free software programs that will do the job.

3. Clothing – This might be a challenging one, especially for many women among us, but we’re all guilty of hoarding clothes that we no longer wear. Key questions to ask here: “Does this piece of clothing fit me?”, “When’s the last time I wore it?”, “Do I own too many similar items?”. In my case, I pared my wardrobe down drastically keeping only the most versatile and classic styles. It continues to work perfectly in my minimalist lifestyle.

4. Paper – There is no real reason to keep paper beside a few original documents that have legal signatures on them, such as Birth Certificates and Identification Cards. Everything else can be scanned and stored electronically. Say goodbye to all those overflowing paper folders and cluttered files.

5. Electronics – Multifunctional is the word here. Instead of keeping up with single-purpose devices, concentrate on multi-purpose items such as smart phone or a laptop. With my laptop, I am able to listen to music, watch videos, read eBooks, call on Skype, work on my business, browse the internet, store my documents, and even watch television online when a show particularly appeals to me. As a result, I have not owned a TV for eight years. No complaints!

Final Words

Despite what the media would like you to believe, you will not die if you don’t own the latest, greatest, soon-to-be-obsolete version of everything.

We are conditioned by a well-functioning marketing system to chase sugar high after sugar high without thinking of the true price we pay for them. Frivolous spending leads to excess consumption, debt, information overload and less free time.

In a world of endless shopping options, buying more stuff is easy, too easy. More often than not we do it in search of more “happiness”, but the truth is that it only brings temporary joy in our lives. We’re merely filling a “hole” rather than looking at what the true void may be.

What you need instead is to make a commitment to simplify your life right now.

- Cut back your possessions to what is absolutely needed. It will free you for the more important things in life.

- Buy and own quality stuff that you’ll love for years. Not in momentary events.

- Choose to spend money on experiences over possessions. Their memories last longer.

Minimalist Living is a rewarding path to a more meaningful life; a life with less attachment, more clarity, and more freedom.

Take the road less traveled and give it a shot. You’ll not regret it.

Living a Minimalist Lifestyle is a post from: Live Out The Dream

Imagine waking up every morning knowing that you are completely free to choose what you want to do and how you want to do it.

Imagine being able to spend time with your loved ones, your friends, your family, whenever you need to.

Imagine being able to go anywhere you want and contribute to the world in whatever way you choose.

Close your eyes and really think about it for a minute.

Did you hear a little voice in your head whispering: “That will never happen“?

If you did, I encourage you to reexamine your way of thinking as your beliefs eventually create your reality.

The Choices We Have

The greatest freedom we have in life is the power of choice – to either be the victim of circumstances, or to grab the bull by the horns and actually try things out for ourselves.

Trading time for money has become so common in our society that it seems the only way to live our lives. We have been conditioned to believe that this is the most lucrative way to earn a living, while in reality, the majority of us are indebted to a financial system that is fraudulent to its core.

Millions of people in the “developed world” are now debt slaves, both individually and as citizens, to a system that has been designed to put us in debt and keep us there.

The system may or may not change in the future, but your relationship with it can change now.

The choice is yours. You don’t have to follow the crowd and you don’t have to live your life the way other people expect you.

If the last sentence resonates with you, I invite you to read on.

Your Journey to Freedom

For many years I believed that work is something that has to be done, something that must be endured in order to make a living.

I still remember my first day in that tiny cubicle, spending hours in front of a monitor, being extremely dissatisfied with the life society expected me to lead.

It was a limited reality. My job determined where I lived, how much money I earned, and what kind of lifestyle I had.

I knew I needed to do something else, to create my own circumstances. So I took the plunge and committed myself to nothing but freedom.

Fast forward to today and multiple streams of passive income I’ve created allow me and my partner a life of complete liberty.

Ever since then, people have constantly asked me how they can make money online, whether it is to supplement their current income or to replace it completely.

The answer of course is not that straightforward. It requires passion, focus, extensive knowledge of the subject matter and perhaps more than anything, a firm commitment and self sacrifice.

For many people that might be too time-consuming, difficult or scary, but for others the journey to freedom is exciting. I advised those people every once in a while, showing way through, sharing ideas face to face and via email.

I came to realize during this time that my passion to help others is not enough. It calls upon a central knowledge base of passive income experts and other inspired people who are totally committed to their freedom and who are willing to fight for it.

I thought of how I could fill this gap and that is how my new project, Passively Free, was born.

Passively Free

In the world I imagine, people are not stuck in fear of losing their job or in fear of what their boss would say. Instead, they work on projects they truly believe in and want to contribute to society in a significant way. A paycheck at the end of the month is not the focus but a natural outcome of their passionate contribution.

What about you? What is your first thought when you wake up on Monday?
Do you dread the morning commute to work?
Does the thought of another day at work make you want to hurl?

If you are not passionate about your work or curious about the concept of financial freedom, visit PassivelyFree.com.

My goal is to share experiences of successful entrepreneurs from all regions of the world, and by doing so, motivate as many people as possible to find freedom and fulfillment in what they do.

What this website will not do is promise people riches beyond their wildest dreams and a pie in the sky without them having to lift a finger. The road to financial freedom is a journey, an ongoing process that takes time, hard work, and sacrifice.

The truth is that you don’t need to be a millionaire to achieve freedom. For most people a few hundred dollars each month, earned passively, can make a world of difference.

If any of the above sparks your passion, I invite you to commit yourself to a new journey for regaining back your personal independence.

Final Words

The main message I want to leave you with today is this: don’t give up on freedom.

Financial Freedom is not about quitting your job and doing nothing. It’s about using your new freedom to create a life you are so passionate and excited about that you can’t wait to wake up in the morning.

I truly believe that work should not be something you have to endure around the clock, but something you enjoy and want to do.

You should be able to create a business or have a job that fulfills the life you want, not the other way around. Your job should not determine your life.

Rather than planning to retire from work, do work that is so rich and fulfilling that you will never want to retire from it…

Why retire from something you love anyway?

Live Your Dreams!
Tal

P.S. If you got anything out of this post, I hope you’ll share it with others. The world is a better place when people have more freedom, more choices, and passionately contribute to society without worrying if they get paid or not.

Your Journey to Freedom is a post from: Live Out The Dream

Have you ever set a big goal for yourself but ended up feeling unmotivated and stuck as time went by?

My hand is up. It happened to me in the past and I’ve seen it happen to many others too.

When we set a big goal, we’re often too quick to pursue it, not considering the already overloaded schedule we routinely have, the sacrifices we might have to make, and the elements that already work well in our lives.

Often, we just need to pause for a while, re-affirm our commitment, adjust our routines and lay some groundwork to carry us forward into our journey.

I’m currently at this stage and I felt compelled to share my thoughts and findings here.

Identifying Your Options

Deciding on a yearly goal is not always easy, especially when there are several directions to go in, that all feel important.

I usually brainstorm on paper and force myself to generate a certain number of ideas. If I’m stuck, I use a few questions to get me thinking. I find myself a quiet place with minimal distractions and each time I get an idea, I jot it down.

This usually works without fail.

Here are some questions that helped me to get started (More questions can be found within my free eBook, “Design Your Dream Year“):

    - What are the biggest, most exciting dreams I want to manifest into my life?
    - What is my ultimate destination? What is the vision I have for my life?
    - What am I passionate about? What am I most excited in life?
    - If anything was possible, what is the first change I would start to make?
    - What area of my life can be upgraded and would make the biggest difference?
    - For my life to be perfect, what would have to change?
    - What do I really, really want…?

Evaluating Your Options

My second step, which is often the hardest one to make, is evaluating which option may provide the most optimal path for the year. Some people use a long drawn-out analysis process to make a decision, but I find it too tedious. I prefer to rely on my gut instinct and trust my intuition to guide me.

What I usually do, is simply think about which one of the items on my list would radically transform my life and give me the most benefits. I then write down the deepest reasons I can fathom why I want to bring this into reality.

If I don’t feel aligned with that reason, I keep revisiting until I feel a strong emotional resonance with it.

After going through this process this year, I decided that my primary goal would be to grow and diversify my financial wealth. A few people might mistakenly identify wealth with money but my intentions are far different from just making more money.

Clarifying Your Goal

Clarifying your yearly goal is fundamental to maintain motivation and to make sure your goal has enough emotional appeal to strike your inner desire.

It makes it easier to know when you’ve reached your goal and when it’s time to stop. Without clear goals, you can wander aimlessly and most likely end up losing interest or becoming distracted.

By “clarifying your goal” I mean asking yourself a few basic questions about your new direction. Such as:

    - What exactly do you want to accomplish?
    - What are the biggest rewards from pursing your goal?
    - What is at stake if you don’t achieve it?
    - Would working toward your goal bring you satisfaction?
    - How important is it for you to achieve your goal?

You’ve probably heard the acronym “SMART goal” before. (SMART goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time based). I usually use this approach when I set smaller goals later in the process, but I find it too rigid and uninspiring at this point.

I find that this method puts the concept of goal setting and dream attainment in a linear framework that works only on the left side of the brain.

As an alternative, I clarify my chosen goal by being specific about what the goal means to me and by considering the major rewards along the journey. When goals are both extremely significant and rewarding, they create a greater impact on our minds and provide a long lasting source of energy.

A more “Right Brain” tool that can be effectively used for identifying rewards (and obstacles) is drawing a consequence map diagram. You start with your goal as a center node and draw it in the middle. You then brainstorm different kinds of consequences and draw them in subsequent nodes. That’s pretty much it.

I personally find Consequence Mapping extremely useful for big decisions that contain a lot of uncertainty.

Below is an example of a consequence map for my decision to participate in an Ironman triathlon race.

The result of this year’s consequence mapping is to focus on creation and diversification of wealth in 2012.

A diversified and sustainable source of wealth means more options, which ultimately lead to greater freedom and independence. The ability to fly across the world whenever I want, visit the people I love, go on exciting adventures, help people in third world countries and hire assistance when I need it, has a strong appeal to both me and my partner.

My focus in the next 12 months will be to build and grow assets. To be more specific, I intend to further my financial and entrepreneurial skills, contribute more value within my business, experiment with new financial instruments, and strengthen new and existing business relationships.

If you’re also considering a financial goal this year, I highly encourage you to think beyond money and strive to build assets instead. Money is only an idea, a number on a computer screen, something that can lose its value over night.

A better focus would be on assets such as your skills, knowledge base, start-up business, and investments.

Laying the groundwork

Once you’ve made a decision on which goal to pursue, your first instinct may be to tackle your goal right away.
This can work well with smaller and lower risk goals, but large goals by their very nature, often need some more groundwork.

    - How much time or resources you have available for your goal?
    - Would you need to acquire new skills or knowledge?
    - How would you find motivation and discipline when you most need it?
    - Do you have the right people or support group around you to succeed?

This year I allocated a whole month to laying the groundwork needed for my goal.

I went on an information diet to amp up my productivity and focus. I unsubscribed from all my daily emails, Facebook groups and mailing lists (I now only follow those who contribute directly to my journey), and I gave up on some freelance work to free up even more time.

On the technical side, I acquired a second dedicated server for the sites with the highest traffic to allow further growth. I redesigned and restructured vital sites and eliminated those that were not geared for growth.

Perhaps most importantly, I improved the operational side of the business by empowering a few freelancers who work on routine projects for me.

To “sharpen my saw” in the goal attainment arena, I flew to Las Vegas and participated in a 3 days workshop by Steve Pavlina. Beside some new skills and techniques I acquired, the workshop was an excellent opportunity to meet new people and refresh my energy.

At Pavlina’s workshop I also made plans for forming Mastermind groups with people who share the exact same purpose. As a group, we’ll share ideas, best practices and action plans on a regular basis. The group will hold me accountable to my specific monthly projects.

Whatever groundwork you need to make, whether it’s within yourself or with others, I highly recommend you take the time and do the work.

Planning Your Goal

While working in the corporate world I’ve noticed how frequently top managers focus on the immediate task in front of them, rather than plan ahead. They mistakenly regarded being busy as being effective.

My belief is that your commitment to your goal is represented in your planning. More specifically, it is represented in your well-intentioned schedule and your newly planned action steps.

The most effective way I know to tackle a big goal is to break it down into more manageable steps. Smaller projects are less scary and when you see that you are taking small steps forward, you will tend to stay motivated.

Setting intermediate goals will also help you mark your progress along the trail. Achieving these benchmark goals means you’ll have frequent victories and build your momentum with each one you complete.

A goal to start making money online, for example, can be broken into several sub goals such as building a blog, create an information product, increase your following, build an affiliate network, etc.

Each sub goal can be broken down further into action steps. Building a new blog, for example, can be divided into a number of action steps such as structuring your initial content, creating screen layouts, building a sitemap, register a Feedburner account, etc.

One important thing that I also recommend in my ebook is to try focusing on one project at a time. Most goal methods do not work because we try to change everything all at once. It’s indeed tempting, but in my experience that translates into mediocre outcomes. When you try to take on many goals at once, you simply spread your energy and focus thin.

So, with that in mind, I decided to focus my energy on creating and promoting a quality information product in an area of high demand and a topic for which I have relative expertise.

I will dedicate the next month for this project. Future wealth creation projects will vary and include topics such as building and marketing an iPhone App or experimenting with FX market investments. For now, the focus is on the online arena.

Supporting Your Goal

One step that is almost always ignored and yet has a tremendous impact on whether or not you’ll achieve your goal, is forming supporting habits.

You can harness your willpower each time you start a task, but if you do it too often, you’ll eventually burn out and revert back to the same behavioral patterns.

Not surprisingly, it has been reported that 95 percent of people who try to lose weight on a diet regain it. Self control is a limited resource and needs to be treated as such.

This is where habits come in.

Habits help us to continue working on our goals even when we are not motivated. They allow us to transition through our day on autopilot and conserve our limited energy.

By harnessing the more primitive part of the brain in which habits are formed, you’ll have the opportunity to make lasting changes.

This year, in order to decide what supporting habits I want to adopt, I reviewed past goals and examined what worked well. In addition, I also examined missed goals and figured what habits didn’t work quite right for me.

Based on my findings I decided to commit to five habits, and in addition I decided that I will abide by them for the next 365 days straight.

    1. 365 days of running – At least 2KM a day, (I’m on day 30, so far so good)
    2. Non stop outsource – When completed work is received, new work will be immediately outsourced.
    3. Wealth creation work on daily basis – At least 1 hour a day.
    4. Daily personal development & wealth creation education – Audio, Video or Text.
    5. One motivational thought a day – Published when internet access is available.

I’ve started the last habit on the list a bit late (I’m on day 17), but in order to make it more fun and to reenergize my creative juices on regular basis, I decided to commit myself for 1000 days.

If you’re interested in forming habits this year, take a look at the last step in my e-book, and decide what works best for you.

For better or for worse, we are creatures of habits. Take advantage of it.

Taking action

None of the information in this post really matters without you taking action. In future, I might share some thoughts about ways to take action but in the mean time I encourage you to:

    1. Choose a goal that you aim to achieve within 30 days.
    2. Determine how you will know that you’ve achieved your goal.
    3. Brainstorm what resources you’ll need to achieve it.

Feel free to share your action plan with me to build accountability. You can post to the comment section of this Blog post or simply contact me directly. I read and answer to every enquiry coming my way.

Final words

We often expect too much too soon and then get discouraged when results don’t come right away. Commitment does not mean rushing toward your goal, but rather, taking ample time to figure out a plan, build supporting rituals and lay the groundwork that is so needed in order to achieve your goal.

Live out the dream
Tal

Setting Yearly Goals is a post from: Live Out The Dream

Both my partner and I feel an incredible sense of gratitude for the past year, A year full of travel and adventure.

After years of independent traveling, 2011 was a year of sharing the experience with a partner. Since the beginning of our trip this January, we traveled together for roughly 10 months, that’s around 300 days within the sight, sound, (and smell) of each other.

We circled Australia and went to Asia, Europe and America. Kyle studied Ayurveda in India, while I trained Muay Thai kickboxing in Thailand. We splurged in Singapore with old friends, surfed Sri Lanka with new ones, and romantically celebrated the tastes of Italy with each other. More than anything, we cherished unforgettable moments with family in Israel and now in the States.

One of the best aspects of traveling with a partner is the ability to create memories and share experiences together. It is also a great way to bond and bring the relationship even closer. The below video is dedicated to my partner, Kyle, who has supported me throughout this year and all other aspects of our life together.

2011 was also a year of becoming a slightly better writer. It was my main intention last year and I feel that it was achieved. Blog posts such as “Sensual Living” and “Finding Flow” are more fully developed and better capture the interest of the reader.

I have not written as many posts as I had originally hoped, but instead managed to use some extra willpower and write my first e-book, “Design Your Dream Year”, which I published a few weeks ago.

Writing is still a slow process for me but I’ve made peace with that and hope for more improvements as I continue to write in the coming year.

Which brings me to 2012.

As in previous years, I use the holiday season to choose a primary focus for the upcoming year. This practice allows me to immerse myself within the chosen area of focus and spur more growth as a result of it.

I pondered long and hard and decided that my 2012 primary focus would be a financial one. To be more specific, my intention is to grow and diversify our financial wealth.

There are two main reasons for this. First, our future dream of creating a home and starting a family, while maintaining our financial freedom, require a substantial infusion of new resources. Second, the impact of the financial and economic crisis cannot be under-estimated or ignored.

Since the recent meltdown of the global financial system, central banks around the world continue to print trillions out of thin air, leaving the system in an extremely fragile state.

Economic busts and booms have been around for centuries. Most people, who take very little interest in learning about the complexity of the financial system, suffer when the economy tanks, while others benefit from it no matter if the economy goes up or down.

If you use money like everyone else on this planet, I encourage you to take interest in understanding what money is and how its manipulated by the system. Your quality of life is literally dependent on it.

I will be following the format described in “Design Your Dream Year” eBook to achieve my big goal for 2012 and will keep you posted on further discoveries on the financial realm.

So, with this in mind, I wish you the best in your own quest.

Live out the dream!

Tal

2011…2012 is a post from: Live Out The Dream

New Year’s Eve. Once again you’re about to make your annual set of New Year’s resolutions. You haven’t achieved last year’s but “what the heck” you say to yourself as you’re about to commit to another set of resolutions in the name of tradition.

If this sounds familiar to you, you are not alone. Most people think about their goals and dreams too casually, eventually forgetting about them before the end of January.

You see, one of the reasons New Year’s resolutions fall through is that most people don’t take the time to make a winning game plan for achieving their dreams. In fact, people spend more time planning their birthday party than designing their future.

In order to achieve big goals, we need more than wishful thinking and sincere commitment to make it happen. We need a solid and proven process that will support us along the way.

After years of experimentation with different types of goal setting processes, I’ve come up with a simple 4 step system which enabled me to achieve all my major dreams in the last decade or so.

Using this system, I obtained financial freedom from excessive debt in less than a year, I completed an Ironman Triathlon and kicked my smoking habit in 6 months. I built a house for a family in need with no building experience and no funds, and I travelled around the world without the need to ever go back looking for a job. Needless to say, I am a big believer in this process.

Originally, I was going to share it as a blog post, but instead, and due to its length, I decided to put everything into a free eBook that shares the title of this post.

To get instant access and download “Design Your Dream Year” for free, enter your email address in the box below and you’ll be emailed download instructions. I will also provide you with other valuable content from time to time.

Some of benefits you can expect from using my 4 step process include:

- Identify and pursue your biggest, most audacious dream.
- Break a long-term goal up into manageable pieces with benchmarks.
- Focus your energies where you can achieve the most.
- Create a plan that’s simple, yet ensures results.
- Adopt supportive habits that actually stick.
- Measure your progress along the way, week-by-week.

Most importantly, you’ll learn a system for achievement that you will use for the rest of your life.

So, If you are truly serious about making your dreams come true this year, take action and download the eBook.

Yours,
Tal

P.S. If you’re already subscribed to this site, simply enter your email address again and you’ll be immediately directed to the ebook download page. (Don’t worry, you won’t be subscribed twice.)

“My blog is inspired by Tal Gur and his Free E-book “DESIGN YOUR DREAM YEAR” which I read on 1st Jan. I owe this man for he brought me back on track. I had kinda given up on my ability to stick to goals.” Krupali

Design Your Dream Year is a post from: Live Out The Dream

Money. We all use it. We all care about it. We all think about it.

The lack of money in our life can spark a range of emotions, from fear to frustration, to worry. We worry whether we have enough of it, or whether we spend too much of it. When the job market is poor, for example, or when the stock market crashes, we often get mad and blame the economy, or the government, or both.

What we hardly ever do about money, however, is ask ourselves where it comes from and who controls it.

Most people, if they consider it at all, think that money is created by the government; a myth, one of many, that will be addressed in this post.

For something so prominent in our life, like money, it is important that we don’t blindly follow our beliefs, but instead study and understand them.

Only 3 years ago, the whole financial system nearly collapsed. A previous colleague of mine lost half of his retirement savings during the height of the global financial crisis. He was a decent, hard-working man who, like many others, believed that hoarding money in a pension savings account will secure his financial future.

While the financial system seems to have stabilized since then, don’t be fooled. It is still on the verge of collapse and a second global financial crisis is likely to happen.

If you care about your financial future at all and want to dispel many of the myths around money, read on.

A Myth called Money

It would seem only natural that money is created by governments, but in reality, and contrary to the widespread assumption, money is created by banks.

In the United States for example, The Federal Reserve, which has the sole power to print the US Dollar, is privately owned bank with private shareholders who run it purely for private profit. Put differently, The Federal Reserve is not federal (nor does it hold reserves). In fact, it is as federal as Federal Express.

The story is not much different elsewhere in the world. The English, German, nor the French government owns any stock in the central bank of its country. Same as in the US, they are all privately held corporations.

Now, I know reading about central banks can bore you into a coma, but you really should give it a try. When you begin to understand how it all works, it will change your beliefs about money forever.

So here we go.

The illusion of paper money

The first point to note is that money is simply an idea. We live in an era where all paper currencies have no redemption or metallic value.

That has not always been the case. Up until 1971, paper currencies were backed by a percentage of their country’s gold reserve, but that has changed with Nixon’s decision to abandon the gold standard.

This historic decision meant that banks could now print money from thin air without the worry of having to back it with gold. And without any backing, the real value of your paper money is nothing but its purchasing power; something which can be dramatically changed in a short span of time.

Now, when a government needs money, it has to borrow it from their central banks, with interest of course. So, the government issues a bond, which is merely a promise to pay in the future, and gives it to the central bank. The bank, in return, creates the money from thin air and puts it into circulation.

In other words, all money is created out of debt. This means that if all outstanding debt was to be repaid today, there would not be even one dollar in circulation.

Where’s the problem, you ask?

The problem and the inevitable consequence of all of this is bankruptcy.

Let me explain.

As interest is charged on all loans made by the central bank and as the money needed to pay back this interest does not exist in the money supply outright, the system creates an infinite debt growth.

To put it simply, if all debt was to be repaid today, not only would there not be even one dollar left in circulation, we would also stay with huge amount of debt that is literally impossible to pay, for the money to pay it back does not exist.

The other inevitable consequence of all of this is inflation.

In order to cover the interest charges and keep the system going, an everlasting increase of the money supply is needed. And when new money gets put into circulation, thus diluting the existing base of money, the general level of prices rises.

So, what’s the big deal?

The more debt is created, the more expensive life becomes, the more people are ready to do anything for a job, and hence they become cheaper commodities for corporations.

If you’re anything like the 99% of us on this planet exchanging freedom for money, you can identify with the above. It seems that everyone these days has debt of some sort.

Students in the US, for example, have to put themselves into a hole of debt in order to get their diploma. On average, medical students graduate with a debt load of more than US$100,000. No wonder health care costs in the US have skyrocketed and that Around 50 million people lack health insurance.

In fact, our entire society embraced debt, whether it is through overpriced home mortgages or credit card purchases, as a way to maintain our overspent lifestyle.

OK, But my personal situation is different, you say

Some of you who read this might be out of the debt cycle and even hold a large savings account, but unfortunately, you are still on the same boat. Nowadays, not only the average “Joe” is in mounds of debt, but also his country.

The economy of the US, for instance, long the world’s dominant creditor, now the world’s biggest debtor, is fighting a losing battle against trade imbalances that are growing daily. The current US national debt is a staggering US$15 trillion and if you include unfunded liabilities such as Social Security, pension funds and Medicare, the real national debt exceeds US$50 trillion.

In Europe the picture is not different. Countries like Greece, Portugal and most recently, Italy are having major financial troubles and facing the virtual sell-off of their country.

But the government says the economy is fine.

The ones we entrust to solve the problem, are the very same individuals who assured us the economy was OK in 2007, when the US real estate bubble burst and triggered a global credit crunch.

Perhaps it might be better to simply admit that most politicians just want to secure their re-election and therefore go with the easy fix of printing money instead of the painful choice of raising taxes.

In fact, and as there is no limit to the amount of money that central banks can create, governments around the world continue to inject massive amounts of money – in other words, taking further debt – to rescue their collapsing economies.

A natural question arises as to who is going to fund this extra loan.

You guessed it right – You, the devoted consumer and taxpayer.

This is done quite silently and over time via inflation. Since the amount of money in circulation increases, the money you earn or save looses part of its value. You can simply think of it as another form of tax.

And as governments have interest in having this hyperinflation underreported ( to avoid public spotlight and due to the fact that most government programs are indexed to inflation), what you get is an engineered CPI (The official “consumer price index” that measures inflation) in order to represent a percentage that the public can find acceptable.

In the US, the Federal Reserve took an even bolder step to hide inflation data, by ceasing to publish the total numbers of the aggregate money supply (M3) since 2006.

You start to get the picture. If you rely on the government for your financial future, then you make a choice to accept the risk of potential monetary collapse and a lowered standard of living.

OK, OK, I get it. What can I do then?

The first essential step is to be aware that money is simply an idea backed by the collective faith of all us. As Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, once wrote: “All money is a matter of belief.” We’ve been conditioned from early age to think of money as the ultimate form of value but in itself, money does not hold very much of it. It only assumes its value during an actual exchange, something that is continuously re-evaluated in global markets.

It is time to stop pursuing money for its own sake and give up on working in environments where the singular goal is monetary gain. I had this mindset for years and it didn’t serve me very well.

I was 22 when I decided to study computer science for my Bachelor’s Degree. I did not make this choice because of my passion to the subject but mainly due to the fact that, at the time, computer science graduates earned the highest salaries in the market. In other words, I pursued money as an objective. I did it for the sake of money and nothing else.

I did complete my degree, but 3 years of dispassionate and monotonous study made me realize that I am following the wrong path in life. After exchanging my freedom for a steady pay check as a Software Project manager for a year and feeling unhappiness in every cell of my body I was finally convinced. It was time to make a dramatic shift.

So, what is the ultimate answer to finacnial security?

Instead of chasing money, strive to pursue wealth.

Although the two words are sometimes used interchangeably, they are different in meaning. Wealth is anything of real intrinsic value. It doesn’t have to be only physical instruments that hold monetary value like gold and land but also intangible assets such as skills, experiences, ideas, knowledge, wisdom, creativity, health and relationships. In fact, most of what I refer to as wealth is not reflected in the statistics by which economists normally evaluate performance.

The truth is, someone with very little money can be extremely wealthy. By holding a few of the intangible assets I described above, even a man who “loses it all” can flourish in his self made environment. In such a scenario, true friends will come to help and new ideas will permeate through naturally.

If you on the other hand, rely on your saving account to get you through rough times, you owe yourself the risk of high inflation and perhaps hyperinflation. It has happened many times throughout history in almost every nation around the globe, including countries like Argentina, Brazil, China, Germany, Israel, Russia, Zimbabwe, and even twice in the US. You might well recall the expression “not worth a continental” which was the currency used before the introduction of dollar. History has a funny way of repeating itself.

I am not by any stretch a savvy investor, and I won’t go in length here about specific investment vehicles, but I strongly encourage you to explore building real assets portfolios. Assets that grow in value over time and, as a result, can produce long-term financial security. In my case, for example, It’s an online business asset that provided me ongoing financial freedom, enjoyment, satisfaction and in addition allows me to make a living while traveling around the world.

More than anything, I am a firm believer that the most valuable investment you can make is an investing in yourself – your human capital. It’s the stock of experience, knowledge, and skills you built throughout the years. It’s the personal connections and relationships you’ve developed. And perhaps most importantly, it’s the strength of personality and character – your internal qualities – that will give you the ability to generate income in any economy and any circumstance.

Final words

Countries, like people, have to live within their means or face the consequences of being indebted to a fraudulent economic system. We have been conditioned into supporting and maintaining this system for years. The government wants us to go back to the malls and use our credit for excessive consumption, but buying more stuff we don’t really need, with money we don’t really have was what got us into this predicament in the first place.

We’ve consumed so much yet we are devoid of what we really need. Now is the time to replace our current paradigm of money and, above all, instead invest in what truly matters.

To your Wealth,

Tal Gur

P.S If you find this valuable please share with anyone you know.

Understanding Money is a post from: Live Out The Dream

So what is it about surfing that causes such passionate devotion to it? The answer is obvious one would say – water, sun, beach, lifestyle. What’s not to like?
The truth, however, is that it’s hard to verbalize the spectrum of sensations that arise once you’re on the board catching a wave.

There is some kind of magical feeling when the power of the ocean lifts the board up. A fresh ocean breeze mixed with salt water hits the face and you start feeling weightless as you accelerate down. Then, a meditative silence fills the space and there is only the moment you are in. For a short period it feels as you become one with something bigger than yourself and all your mind want to scream is something like: “I AM ALIVE”…

Here you go, I try to verbalize it again, but I better stop now. Riding a wave contains such a unique essence which is impossible to define. “Only a surfer knows the feeling”, is a famous saying amongst surfers, and they are right – until you’ve tried it yourself you’ll never get the full emotional impact.

Perhaps my personal journey can offer a brief glimpse into the exciting world of surfing.

Becoming a Surfer – The Beginning

My fascination with surfing started, not surprisingly, when I moved to Australia. With their gorgeous coastline, consisting of thousands of surf beaches, Australians treat surfing like a religion. From a very early age surfing is ingrained in their blood and veins.

I shared an apartment with a surfer for more than two years. His room – and later our living room – looked like a mini surfing museum. Large framed surfing photos hanging on the wall, Surf boards leaning on the furniture, colorful surf shorts were constantly scattered throughout the apartment.

Surfing was all around me, and not only in my own personal living space. The topic of surfing naturally crept into conversations when I went out, and I soon found myself invited to join surfing adventures during the weekends.

I accepted most invites and tried surfing from time to time but never really got the hang of it. I fell off the board again and again. And again. Until I became so exhausted that I quickly convinced myself that surfing is just not for everyone.

Although surfing didn’t really stick with me, I couldn’t ignore it. The infectious passion of my surfer friends has sunk deep into my heart; the whole surfing thing felt appealing to me, even the part of waking up at dawn and swimming in extremely cold water.

One thing I knew for sure, this challenge could never get boring. I promised myself to try surfing again the next chance I got.

Floripa, Brazil (Jan, 2010) – 2nd attempt.

It was raining for 5 days straight and I was tired of it. The only reason I got to Floripa in southern Brazil was to enjoy the warmth of the sun and maybe restart my surfing expedition in one of the most famous surfing beaches in the world. Unfortunately the weather gods decided differently for me.

On the 6th day I decided to ignore the weather conditions and hit the beach in the pouring rain. Drinking caipirinhas every evening apparently was just not good enough for me.

I borrowed a surfing board from my hostel and got into the water alone. Big mistake. The current was too strong, the board was too short and there was no one around. The next thing I know, I found myself being carried along by the current rather than heading confidently forward. I was not amused and quickly got out of the water.

The next day was no different. The weather was rainy and windy but since it was my last day in Floripa, I decided to gather my willpower and try again. This time I had the company of a surfing instructor who was kind enough to look after me.

As with the other times, I lost control of the board and time and time again into the white foam. However, something was different this time. Not only did I have the desire to try again but I was also determined to push through the tough conditions. I knew that under the right circumstance I’d be able to rise to the challenge.

Mancora, Peru (April, 2010) – 3rd Attempt

I arrived to Mancora on the South Pacific coast of Peru with one goal in mind: to surf every day for at least a week. This time I did my homework and chose a beginner’s beach with moderate waves and warm weather.

My partner and I rented a room located a stone’s throw from the beach. The setup was perfect; a great left hand point break, literally right outside our window.

I had no excuses. I quickly jumped into a surfing routine, using a long foamy board and the help of a young local surfer. It was almost too easy. I was able to stand and take short waves on regular basis from day one. Needles to say, I was super excited.

My excitement quickly evaporated the next day when I switched my foam board to a regular long board. Catching waves seemed to get harder and less consistent. I knew then that it would be a longer journey than I had imagined.

Despite the difficulties, I stuck with my new board and gradually honed my new surfing skills. Reminiscent of my previous attempts in Australia and Brazil, I fell numerous times, but I didn’t care. I savored every minute and by the end of the week, I managed to be more consistent on the board.

I felt I was ready for bigger waves.

Mal Pais, Costa Rica (May, 2010) – 4th Attempt

Well, I definitely was not ready for the waves I experienced in the west coast of Costa Rica. Big fierce waves with a steep and fast drop were waiting for me. The swell was so strong that it dragged me out of the water each time I tried to get in. For the first time since I started my surfing journey I was scared.

I admitted defeat and waited for my next opportunity to come.

Byron Bay, Australia (Feb, 2011) -5th Attempt

My next opportunity was not long in coming. Kyle and I decided to circle Australia and also to stop for a couple of weeks in Byron Bay, the spiritual home of Australian surfing.

I made up my mind to take my surfing skills up a notch and purchased my first two surfboards. They were noticeably shorter than the ones I was used to, but I convinced myself that I’ll be able to handle them.

It was not an easy task. Short surfboards are less stable and require a higher degree of technique and perfect body control. I was able to catch some short waves but I was lacking consistency. More than anything, I could feel my enjoyment level from surfing was ebbing away.

In the end, my surfing did not step up a notch, certainly not enough to be able to call myself a surfer. I knew that my surfing mission was not over.

Arugam bay, Sri Lanka (June, 2011) – 6th attempt

During our Australian trip, a large number of travelers recommended Sri Lanka as a potential country to visit. With close to 1000 miles of coast, Sri Lanka is an ideal place for surfing, so I picked Arugam Bay on the remote east coast, one of the world’s 10 best surf points, as my next surfing destination.

The beginning of my journey was not smooth, so to say. I learned that the main break point in Arugam Bay is breaking over an old coral reef, which can be extremely dangerous. The next thing I discovered is that the water was packed with surfers fighting for a spot. Finally, the waves were quite big and too powerful for me.

After a few days of unenjoyable surfing I, once again, almost admitted defeat.

“How can I enjoy this?” I asked myself one day as I left the beach to my room. A plan started to emerge in the back of my mind that evening.

The next day, I paid a Tuk Tuk driver to take me to a more accommodating surfing spot. I hired the best surfer I could find, a young professional surfer with years of surfing experience, and set my surfing time to 4:00am when there was not even one surfer in sight. The sun was also not in sight..

It worked. In less than 48 hours I was able to catch and ride long waves consistently all the way to the shore. After 2 weeks of smooth surfing and the feeling of meditative bliss on the board I knew I had achieved my long-sought after dream.

Live your biggest dreams and never give up!

Becoming a Surfer is a post from: Live Out The Dream

I’ve been training on a daily basis for four weeks in Thailand, but this was my first encounter with something close to a real fight. I knew fighting was going to be tough but I’ve never thought it was going to be that tough.

Setting my sights on Muay Thai

It all began a few months ago when I was looking for a new physical challenge after completing a triathlon in Melbourne. We were on our way to Israel so I thought stopping in Thailand would be nice.

Since I was a little kid I always wanted to have a boxing experience. My mom would often find me throwing punches in front of the mirror, and she likely laughed inside at the apparent futility of my efforts to beat my own reflection.

Although Muay Thai also involves kicking, I decided to throw myself into the experience anyway and registered to a four week training camp in Phuket, the largest island in Thailand.

Many of my friends raised an eyebrow when they heard my plans. “You’re a peaceful man”, “This sport is too aggressive”, they said and they were all right. If I’d ever had plans to engage in a real Muay Thai fight, they ended in the first week. We went to see some authentic Thai kickboxing at one of the stadiums on the other side of the island and literally left in shock.

You see, Muay Thai is a bit more aggressive than most other forms of Martial Arts, in the sense that it allows knee and elbow strikes, as well as holding of the head. When I saw an elbow smashing into one of the fighter’s face sending him into the ground unconscious, my first reaction was to step into the ring and help the poor kid. Yes, he was a kid, probably only 16, and the crowd was cheering with their beer bottles, while he was lying on the floor, not moving.

So yes, I guess I am a peaceful man and yes, I find the sport a little bit too brutal for my taste, but there’s more to Muay Thai than simply fighting.

Why Muay Thai

Muay Thai is sometimes termed “the science of eight limbs” because it makes use of punches, kicks, knees and elbows strikes, as opposed to two limbs in Western boxing and four limbs in other sport-oriented martial arts.

The result: A well proportioned physique development with stronger and more defined muscles. Five minutes of Muay Thai training is more demanding on the body than other forms simply because more body parts and muscles are at work.

If you’re after some weight loss or want to speed up your body’s metabolism, Muay Thai can be extremely effective. I met a few westerners who lost substantial amounts of weight in a relatively short space of time, and in my experience, the body tones up very quickly from continually engaging the core muscles.

On a physical level, the training builds cardiovascular stamina and significantly increases fitness, speed, and power. On a mental level, Muay Thai allows mind and body to sync up. You have to instantly react to your opponent’s attacks, which promotes focus and concentration. On other levels, the sport is an effective form of self defense, a useful skill for anyone and especially for long term travelers like me. Whilst training you get to experience full-contact fighting on a regular basis.

Lastly, training in a camp requires a degree of self discipline and commitment. I quickly found that I became a lot more determined to train harder each time simply because I was in a motivating and fun environment.

So with so many benefits it wasn’t that hard to stick around for four weeks.

The training experience

The amount of training varied from person to person, but generally it consisted of three to four hours a day, six days a week. Those who were registered for a fight trained six hours a day in three separate sessions, whereas most of us completed only two sessions, one in the morning and one in the late afternoon.

The day started around 7 am with a moderate 5K run. Then there was the morning session which included technique, boxing, sparring, kicking pads and some stretching at the end. At 3 pm we were back in the gym for the second two hour session of Muay Thai training, which required some willpower due to the extreme heat and humidity of the island.

I tried to alternate my runs every other day to allow my leg muscles recover from the physical impact. I also missed some sessions voluntarily due to complete body tightness. On one typical session you can expect to do dozens of sit-ups, push-ups, kicks, punches, blocks, and to work on a punch bag, so tightness is part of the story.

Besides technique and Muay Thai drills, training included free style fighting with complete freedom to move around the ring. In many ways it is like chess game, trying to guess the opponent attacking strategy with every move you take. If you go for an upper kick with your right leg for example, your opponent can try to trip your left leg in return.

My least favorite practice was something called the “Clinch”. You wrap your hands around another person’s neck for leverage and then use your knee to strike him. Needless to say, my neck and shoulders got sore on regular basis.

But not only the upper body is at risk of soreness. As you strike your opponent in the lower area of his body, it is not unlikely for his sensitive areas to be hit. It happened to my opponent. Not a nice scene to watch!

I know it all sounds very tough but in reality everyone had fun and there was always laughter around. Plus, a nice and relaxing Thai massage at the end always made it worth while!

Last Words

Overall spending four weeks of training in Thailand was a fun experience which I would recommend to anyone who’s into intense fitness. I obviously liked the body conditioning and what it did to my fitness levels, but more than that, I loved the mental focus aspect.

It’s hard to describe the surreal feeling of being totally focused on the present moment while you’re in the ring. It’s like nothing else exists except you and the person in front of you. Everything seems to slow down and your thoughts melt away. You can even hear your own breathing as you’re about to take your next move.

So instead of pumping weights or running on the treadmill next time you hit the gym, consider taking a martial art class. Who knows you might even like it.

Live your dreams

Muay Thai experience is a post from: Live Out The Dream

Does this scenario sound familiar to you?
Do you ever have those weeks where you just wonder where all the hours have gone?
Do you sometimes get frustrated about not being able to focus on your most important tasks?

If so, this post is for you.
If you’d like to achieve more in life and increase your overall energy while getting work done, read on.

Becoming Productive

During my recent Financial Freedom Journey I have built a simple routine system that allowed me to have productive days on regular basis. The system includes only three separate sets of routines: one set in the morning, one during my workday, and one in the evening just before sleep.

I’ve measured and scored every component of my productivity, and since incorporating it into my life I was able to double my work output. More importantly, I was able to prioritize my most important tasks, and have fun while doing so. No annoying headaches, no crazy stress, smooth sailing all the way.

So without further delay, here are my rituals.

1. The Morning Rituals

I used to love checking emails and Facebook first thing in the morning. For years I would turn my laptop on, still bleary-eyed from the night’s sleep, check my emails in one window, read Facebook updates in a second, run some Google queries in a third, and all that while checking the latest NBA basketball results.
I would then make myself a coffee and a quick bite to eat, usually a sugary cereal, and go back to the laptop screen, holding my coffee mug in one hand and the cereal bowl in the other. I didn’t even taste my food.

I’m sure you can find a bit of yourself in the above description. We all have our usual morning routines and some of them seem harmless, but if your goal is to become more productive then you have to pay close attention to your morning rituals.

How you start your day becomes the template for a day well lived. It is the key to a productive and fulfilling day that sets the context and direction for what follows. You may have to use some willpower here to change your morning habits, especially if they’ve been around for long time, but this is where you want to start.

Morning Ritual #1 – Water, Water, Water.

As soon as I wake up I drink 2-3 glasses of water on an empty stomach. I don’t need a medical degree to know that water is the basis of life and is tightly linked to the flow of oxygen and nutrients through the body. Our muscles are 75% water; our lungs are 90% water; our blood is 85% water; our brain is around 80% water; even our bones have some degree of water in them.

Since much of our body is made up of water, the absence of water intake during the long hours of sleep leaves our body under-hydrated. By drinking water on an empty stomach we ensure that fluids are easily absorbed and that blood circulation is enhanced. It will not only refresh your body but also will help remove the toxins released during the night. As water circulates through the body, it flushes toxins and waste from organs, muscle tissues and cells.

I often add freshly squeezed lemon juice to aid in the detox effect and to give my water a more refreshing taste. Lemon makes the body more alkaline and helps to flush out the toxins that naturally build up in the body overnight.

It is interesting to know that drinking a liter of water immediately after waking up is an ancient and popular therapy in Eastern countries such as Japan, China, and India. It is popularly called the “Water Cure” and you can Google it. Some of the claimed health benefits are relief from stress, weight loss, better digestion, glowing skin and most importantly, feeling fresh and energetic throughout the day.

But don’t take anyone’s word for it. Broaden your knowledge and try it yourself for the next month. I’m sure you’ll be impressed by what a difference a simple change like drinking more water in the morning can make to your daily productivity and overall energy.

P.S coffee is not water

Morning Ritual #2 – Moving your body

Moving your body in the morning is a key ingredient for having more energy throughout the day. I’m not talking about getting on some exercise torture machine and sweating until you’re out of breath, but simply about a relaxed and intentional use of your body. This can be as little as a few stretches or a short walk outside.

Movement of the body is not only desirable but also necessary. Unlike the bloodstream, waste fluid (lymph fluid) does not have its own pump, but it does need to circulate. That’s our job. As we move around, the lymph fluid is moved and the metabolic garbage container gets emptied.

This is vital especially in the morning. During sleep the body’s circulation is slowed down and carbon dioxide and lactic acid accumulate. Moving your body helps clearing that, which in turn helps to increase your mobility and boost your energy. It also moves your blood, gets you more oxygen, opens your joints up, and improves your immune system and natural healing. It is perhaps the time to acknowledge that our body was simply made to move and be physically active.

My short exercise routine which is only 5 minutes long, involves some stretching, some push-ups, a small amount of aerobics to get my heart rate up, and a few deep breaths at the end. By the time I’m finished I feel clear, I’ve gotten centered and I’m ready to take on my day.

You can build your own routine. It doesn’t have to be long and it doesn’t need to be outside. I might create a short video with some pointers, but there are plenty of other sites that can help you with that. So start off with some body movements and stoke your fire for the day ahead.

Morning Ritual #3 – Eating a healthy meal.

It is said that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you have ever wondered why, a clue can be obtained from the name itself. Breakfast is exactly that, breaking the fast that began the previous night. As you know, the body continues to burn energy while you are asleep so proper refueling in the morning is essential.

When you wake up your body is essentially coming off of a 7-10 hours fast, and because you haven’t eaten all night, by morning your muscle protein is being broken down (catabolism) and converted into fuel. Eating too late or skipping breakfast can cause the body to go into ‘starvation’ mode and this can cause you to over eat at the next meal.

The best way to halt this early morning muscle-tissue breakdown is to take protein and some fast-digesting carbs within 30 minutes of waking up. The same is true after a workout. You basically want a healthy meal that can quickly get in your stomach and to your muscles.

I make myself a quick shake in the morning, made with 1 scoop of whey protein, enriched soy milk, a bit of water and some ice cubes. If there’s a blender around I add blueberries, which are one of the healthiest fruits around. They have high healing properties with anti oxidants that help to prevent cancers. They also have a low glycemic index so the sugar from blueberries goes into your blood in a slow, sustained manner.

Numerous studies have shown that eating breakfast early helps to improve both physical and mental performance, but as any other advice in this post, the best way is to try it yourself. I recommend that through trial and error if necessary, you find a first meal that really works for you.
There’s a lot more to be tried in this area, such as adding healthy oils and other nutrient rich foods, so keep researching.

2. The Workday Rituals

Before you get into creating workday rituals, I recommend you plan out your own morning rituals and start them tomorrow.

Plan all the specifics of your new rituals and how you’re going to make sure that they happen. You might have to put a note on the refrigerator. You might have to put a glass of water out on your sink. You might want to put your running shoes at your bedroom door. Whatever you have to do to set it up, do it. Plan the whole ritual out and the timing of it.

Start tomorrow and don’t deviate.

Now to the actual work…

Workday Ritual #1 – Making a list

A morning list is probably one of the most important tools for improving productivity, yet it is frequently ignored. Without it, it’s difficult to organize and prioritize the day which may result in missed deadlines and a failure to meet commitments.

Moreover, the unsettling feeling of possibly missing something simply depletes our energy. It takes only a few minutes to make a list. It helps to organize the scattered morning thoughts and stay focused on the most important tasks. It is also one of the best ways to not forget anything and keep track of what needs to be done.

The end result: an improved feeling of being in control rather than merely being reactive.

The simplest way of making lists is to use a pen and paper. It fits a variety of environments and can be easily carried wherever you go. A more common choice these days however is to use a computer application such as Word, Excel, Outlook, or any other software that allows lists creation.

I use both methods. When I’m away from my laptop I use a pen and paper, and when I’m near it I transfer my lists to Outlook. That way I have a central location for registering all my tasks.

Now, the list you create should only include tasks you want to complete by the end of the day. It’s a “Today’s Tasks List”and you want to be very selective about what goes onto it. If you include too many tasks, you’ll get stressed. If you include too few you’ll be too relaxed. I only include a few important daily tasks that I constantly review throughout the day and whatever I get to do beyond these is simply a bonus.

All other tasks for the week should go into a separate second list (I call it a “Weekly Task List”) which only needs to be reviewed once in the morning. You can then easily transfer tasks from one list to the other.

I also keep a third list (I call it a “Someday Task List”) which I review only once a week. It includes low priority tasks and projects I might want to undertake in the future that certainly do not need my full attention. Having such a list helps to alleviate the burden of remembering possible activities and allows you to put the focus on what’s on your plate this week.

It’s important to mention that the method in itself is less important. The key here is a daily list creation. You can use your mobile, your laptop, or a small notepad. You can have one list, two lists or multiple lists. Experiment, and choose whatever you find convenient.

Workday Ritual #2 – Putting first things first

Have a look at your list and ask yourself: if you focused on three things today, just three things, which ones would give you the most leverage at the end of the day? What tasks or activities would give you the most in return?

Make a note of them on your list and whatever happens during the day make sure you focus on these three things first. Everything else is secondary.

Now take a moment and close your eyes.

If you were doing this exercise over a month, or a year, or five years, what would your life look like? What would be the end result?
Make a clear picture of it in your mind.

If getting yourself healthier is a goal, then modify accordingly. Set aside a decent chunk of time to exercise before you do anything else. If your aim is a published book, then the first thing you want to do after your morning ritual is to write, and to do so every day.

The goal with putting first things first is to prioritize in a way that is aimed at long-term goals, at the expense of tasks that appear to be urgent (such as responding to a seemingly urgent email). Working on low priority items just because you are used to doing so, or just because they are in front of you, leads to wasted time and further stress down the road.

More than that, when you complete high priority tasks early, you have a sense of being ahead. This can improve your work attitude and add even more motivation for future work.

If you could master this one ritual in your life, I can promise that the feeling of wasteful days would be a distant memory.

Workday Ritual #3 – Focusing on just one thing at a time

How long can you focus on one task at a time before you get distracted? Five minutes? Ten?
How long can you work on your computer for example, before you compulsively check your Facebook or emails?

We live in a multitasking culture, where a busy and hurried lifestyle has become a regular way of life. Most of us juggle between tasks and allow background noise to continuously interrupt us. Emails pouring in, mobile phones ringing, people cutting in. We don’t give ourselves the time for deeper, longer focus.

Multitasking offers the illusion of getting more work done faster, when in actuality the opposite is true. Every time you switch tasks there is an extra fetching time that can add up to substantial amounts. In fact numerous studies show that juggling between activities hurts performance and that multitaskers do significantly worse than the non-multitaskers. It has also been shown that constant multitasking takes a toll on our cognitive abilities, in particular our memory.

Instead, consider the benefits of long term sustained focus. You become immersed in the task you are faced with, build momentum, minimize distractions and have the luxury of letting go of all other thoughts about the day.

Your objective here is simply to expand your focus and get to the point where you can work on one thing for a good chunk of time.

To do so, allocate the time on your schedule and measure your focus chunks (You can use a timer that has a digital countdown function). Then turn off your cell phone, your email, and anything else that might distract you, and work on the one thing proactively for ninety minutes.

Why ninety minutes? Read through to the next point.

Workday Ritual #4 – Working in Cycles

Our body operates in cycles in which our energy flows up and down. You may be familiar with the Ultradian cycle in relation to the human body sleeping pattern, but there are many other cycles as well, which naturally flicker every ninety minutes between high and low energy.

Everything from the beating of your heart to the speed of your breathing, to your sleeping pattern works in cycles, some of the other Ultradian cycles of the body are thermoregulation, hormonal release, urination, bowel activity, and appetite.

The basic idea here is that every ninety minutes you need to take a rest break. If you don’t, you’re setting yourself up for Ultradian Stress Syndrome which involves tiredness, irritability and loss of mental focus. If you ignore the body’s natural need of a break for longer, it can accumulate and lead to sickness.

As Winston Churchill, who used to nap in the middle of the day during times of war, put so eloquently: “Nature had not intended mankind to work from 8 in the morning until midnight without the refreshment of blessed oblivion which, even if it only lasts 20 minutes, is sufficient to renew all the vital forces.”

So align your body with your natural energy cycles and take a fifteen to twenty minute break every ninety minutes. Get up, stretch, walk around and clear your mind to boost your productivity.

Also, try having a small nutritious meal every two cycles (Around three hours) like clockwork. I’ve experimented with it quite a lot and I personally found that eating smaller meals (not snacking) more frequently throughout the day works a lot better than having a few big meals. It stabilizes blood sugar and nutrient oxidization levels, makes the body more efficient at burning food and also prevents long stretches of starvation.

More importantly, your body will be in its optimal energy state while working on your tasks with no feeling of heaviness or fatigue. Try it!

Workday Ritual #5 – Dealing with Emails

No one likes it when things mount up in their email inbox, however the reality is most people’s inboxes are cluttered and constantly overflowing with tasks and requests. If you’re one of those people and want to increase your productivity around emails, you’ll be interested in reading this section.

A few years ago I read David Allen’s book Getting Things Done “Getting Things Done” (highly recommended) which totally changed my approach to dealing with emails. Since then I’ve taught the main concepts of his system to dozens of people who then decided to adopt it into their daily life.

The main idea is to “operate from zero base”with your emails, meaning that your goal is to clear your inbox completely on regular basis. By keeping your inbox under control, you are better able to handle surprises of emails you overlooked or forgot.

To do so you need to be clear about the next physical action of each and every email. There are four options (often referred as 4D system)

1. Do – if it is likely to take you less than two minutes. For example a quick email response.
2. Delete – If it does not involve you, or does not demand you do anything.
3. Delegate – if someone else can, (or needs to) take the action. You want to track it as well, and an easy way to do that is to bcc yourself when you send the e-mail. You’ll get a copy immediately back into your inbox which can be filed in a special email folder called “Follow up”.
4. Defer – if the email’s task is going to take you longer than two minutes to execute, then you want to store it in another folder called “To Do”.

The last thing you want to do is to disable the automatic email download (if it exists) and only check emails in preset time slots when you take a break.
That’s it.

This extremely easy to use system will allow you to defer tasks strategically, knowing that they are stored somewhere safe for future operation. By doing so you’ll be able to focus on what’s important rather than what’s urgent.

Plus, it’s always nice to have an empty inbox at the start of the day. Enjoy it.

3. The Night-Time Rituals

Becoming productive is not only about work. Renewal and recovery play an important role in productivity enhancement and I would say that they are as important as the actual work.

Nighttime Rituals are mainly about giving your body and mind a break from work so that they can renew themselves. They’re also a good time to review your day and note the progress you’ve made.

Here are my top recommendations:

Night-Time Ritual #1 – Track your day

If you’re not measuring progress then you’ll never know where to most effectively focus your energy. Tracking results is very common in physical training but less popular in other areas of life.

I tried it myself in various journeys and measuring progress works like a charm. It’s a great way not only to track your work and overall productivity, but also to motivate you to stick with it each and every day.

I use a simple Excel spreadsheet. Every night I review my daily list and give points to the goals or habits I accomplished on that day. I then add the points which give me a way to compare my daily and weekly productivity.

If you have a permanent internet connection and prefer an online application for daily task tracking, you can use joesgoals.com which is free, or for a more sophisticated version you might want to try goalsontrack.com.

Another level of tracking that may help is to analyze your computer time with software such as rescuetime.com, or simply by looking at your history files.

Like any other method, they only work if you use them, so try it out and see if they can be integrated into your current working habits.

Night-Time Ritual #2 – Just before you go to Sleep

If you’re like me before I started practicing productivity, then you probably use your computer or watch TV within the hour before bed.

My main addiction was around emails. I used to habitually check emails last thing before bed to make sure I didn’t miss anything, but it came with a cost. I continually got sidetracked and ended staying up much later than I planned, and to add that I lay my head to sleep with an overactive mind.

Researchers have found that checking mobile phones or laptop computers shuts down the brain’s natural preparations for sleep. It disrupts body rhythms and suppresses the release of the hormone melatonin, which promotes sleep. It has been stated that “checking email up to an hour before bed has the same effect on sleep as drinking two espressos”.

Instead consider an “electronic curfew”before you go to sleep. Dim your lamps and feed your mind with a good book. Reading is a not only a good source of knowledge, but also a great way to shifts gears and get relaxed.

Other good habits before bed might involve drinking herbal teas, taking a warm shower or practicing meditation. Whatever new habit you adopt, just don’t let technology invade your bedroom.

Night-Time Ritual #3 – Sleep Cycles and Renewal

Sometimes in our drive to become successful we become addicted to work. We don’t allow our mind and bodies to rest and restore. Working in 90 minutes cycles can help but if you want to become even more effective you should start paying attention to your sleep patterns.

Sleep is by far the most important renewal factor. It heals and rejuvenates the body, reduces stress, fortifies the immune system, regenerates brain function and increases memory retention. Without it, the ability to learn and retain information is weakened and if chronic sleep deprivation becomes a way of life, it usually leads to an array of illnesses.

In order to maximize the benefits of sleep it is important to understand and practice sleep cycles.

Our body sleeps in multiple cycles throughout the night. A complete sleep cycle is about ninety minutes long and most people go through five sleep cycles during an eight hour sleep period. Each sleep cycle has multiple almost-awake moments (REM stage) when you are naturally closest to waking, and these are the best times to be woken up.

If you wake up in the middle of a sleep cycle (deep sleep stage) because you use an alarm, then you will probably feel very tired and groggy no matter how long you were asleep. Your body simply wants to complete the cycle it was in.

So in order to wake up refreshed, set an alarm based on a sleep cycles calculation. Simply adjust the time you want to wake up until you find the best rising time. For example after six, seven and a half, or nine hours. Otherwise and if possible do not use an alarm, and let your body wake up naturally.

I find that when I sleep only four cycles (six hours), I feel more rejuvenated the next day than if I sleep for nine or ten hours without allowing myself to complete the last sleep cycle.

Try it yourself!

Final Words

Productivity is leverage. Whatever you want in life, whatever dreams you have, if you can improve your productivity then you will get better results. If you can do this long term, day after day, your positive results will be compounded.

I know that not everything I’ve shared here is going to resonate with you. That is fine and you can put those things away from your mind. But something I’ve said makes sense, I encourage you to try it out.

So take what you’ve read and ask yourself how you can apply it in your life. Write down one action that you’re going to take as a result of going through this post, one action step that you’re going to start tomorrow.
Or even today.

Live Your Dreams!

* Big thank you to David Allen, Eben Pagan, Tony Schwartz, and numerous others who inspired me to write this and more importantly, to become productive.

Becoming Productive is a post from: Live Out The Dream