The One Secret To Accomplishing Anything & the Laws of Simplicity
Be sure to subscribe in iTunes and leave a review in the iTunes store! It helps others find the show! Thank you!

Feedback:

We got some terrific voicemail feedback from John Bukenas from  LetsReverseObesity.com. John's podcast Let's Reverse Obesity is fantastic! John is doing great things chronicling his weight loss and is helping so many others along the way.

Thanks, John, for listening, subscribing, and taking the time to send us some feedback.


We also got a very, very nice comment here on Episode 004 from Marshall Ponzi. Thank you Marshall for your kind words and you’re so right...it IS amazing what we can do without. And, I think we’d agree that doing without all the extra allows us to truly appreciate what we do have all the more.

Marshall also has a terrific podcast over at InboundInFocus.com that gives great inbound marketing tips for business owners. If you’re a business owner you’d be well served to check out Marshalls podcast, Inbound In Focus, as well.



Main Topics:  
Vanessa's Topic: The One Secret To Accomplishing Anything
 "I'm often asked what my secret is to being organized and how I get my clients to become more organized."
The single most important component to becoming organized is commitment.

So why is commitment to change so difficult?
1. It’s not a priority....at least not yet.
2. Change is hard...even when you know it’s good for you.
3. It takes a lot of work...and that can be daunting and discouraging.
4. Unfortunately, often times people have to reach some sort of “breaking point.”

Vanessa highlights some of her efforts to change:
Finances

$24K in debt

Electricity and phone cut off
Creditors hounding her for payments.



Fitness

40 lbs heavier than her current weight

Combined, the struggles led to:

Low self esteem
Depression
Low energy

Keys to her commitment to change:

Stopped playing the victim
Committed to a lifestyle change vs “quick fix”

Results?

Paid off debt in 2 years
 Rebuilt credit score
Kept the weight off
Better level of fitness than in high school (20 years ago! Wow! She’s OLD!)

Vanessa’s Truths:

Truly believes “If I can do it, so can you!”
One key is to be realistic about the change you want to make...and understand that it’s a process...not a quick fix.
Be patient, systematic and strategic...otherwise you might do something you’ll regret or resent.
One positive example is a blog she subscribes to, “Becoming Minimalist” by Joshua Becker.  I like the word...Becoming...because it implies that it’s a process.

So, here are some points to ponder if you are thinking about making a change in your life:
1. Change your mindset...it’s a lifestyle change not a quick fix. Just like my progress with weight loss and fitness.
2. Change doesn’t happen overnight.
3. Realize that you may get discouraged at the task ahead.  But don’t sell yourself short.  You can do it! Again, think of it as a process and break it down into bite-sized chunks. (organize one space at a time...pay off one bill at a time...try one eating lifestyle or fitness plan at a time)
4. Realize that you may “fall of the wagon” and that maintaining your lifestyle may be difficult.  Pick yourself back up, and hop back on the wagon!
5. Once you get in the groove, you’re probably going to get addicted! Ask Dan...I can be a real grouch if I've missed a few workouts and if my house gets too cluttered.  That's because I've gotten addicted to the results and love how they make me feel.  Feeling comfortable in my clothing and in my home are incredibly elating.  You'll feel the same once you get in the groove. These are healthy addictions in my opinion.
6. You'll start to build confidence!  And reduce stress.  You won’t have those negative thoughts lingering around in your mind.  Instead you’ll be thinking about taking the next step...decreasing your debt further....