Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify, simplify! … Simplicity of life and elevation of purpose…..I say let your affairs be as one, two, three and to a hundred or a thousand… We are happy in proportion to the things we can do without.- Henry David Thoreau

I wanted to change the world. But I have found that the only thing one can be sure of changing is oneself. - Aldous Huxley

Going along with my “looking back” from the Trainer tells all posts part I and part II, I’m also going to go with another important aspect of my life that has brought me much happiness, choosing a path of living simple. Now does that mean I live in a straw hut and forage for nuts and berries all day? Ummmm…..No. What is means is that I now find appreciation in many things I used to take for granted, I don’t walk around thinking I am missing things in my life. That doesn’t mean that I do not have goals or ambitions, it just means my daily happiness is not centered around it. So here’s some of the top life lessons I learned from the last 5-6 years as I focused on a path of simplicity…..in no particular order:

• When I had my last few corporate jobs I made alot of money, had a brand new car, ate out alot, bought the typical man “toys”, and at the end of the day….didn’t have much left in the bank and felt like I was trading my life energy away for nothing. I hated going to work….I couldn’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. Was I supposed to keep working long days just to retire and start living at 65? I was selling stuff I didn’t even really care about. Something inside of me was yelling to get out…..
• I am just as happy driving around my used Camry with 150k miles then when I had the new company car(s). Now my self worth and image is not tied to my car and it is freeing. Even when I make my first million (note I say “when” as saying it will happen…will make it come true right?), I look forward to still driving around a used car….although I might rent a sports car to drive around a track a few times!
• Having only 1 or 2 pictures out causes me to actually focus on them once in a while and remember when they were taken. Having tons of picture frames laying around everywhere takes away from focusing on them…as they start to become clutter. You can rotate them out once a month if you like, but keeping them simple gave them more meaning.
• Cutting down on all mail (junk, bills, magazine subscriptions, etc) means it is not stressful to go to the mailbox anymore. I get all bills via online, I pay them all at the same time once a month, I go relax at the library or the book store and just skim magazines, and I don’t have a stack of letters waiting for me to get to them (as that just weighs in the subconscious).
• I no longer go to a gym for a workout and that mentality allows me to workout anywhere and not have any excuses of “I don’t have time” or “I don’t have access to a gym”. I think more people need to get this mentality of exercise can happen no matter where they are…you don’t need a building with 4 walls and 4000sqft of machines to be able to go run, do pushups, lunges or just walk on the beach. Considering also the most important piece of fitness equipment is a FORK (as most results come from what you put in your body).
• I no longer use my cell phone that much (and keep it on silent so I am not running around everytime it rings) and that makes the calls I do take and conversations I do have more important to me. It also allows me to focus on whatever I am wanting to do at that moment without distraction (whether it be work, exercise, or just sitting around doing “nothing”).
• I’ve come to realize the most important thing people need to learn how to do is to do “nothing”. Now…stay with me here. Are we talking about being lazy? No….in fact what some people define lazy as is not my definition. Being able to just sit and do nothing allows my mind and body to relax….and then it’s amazing what kind of inspiration or visions can happen. Looking around I see the biggest industry is in “distractions”….such as sports, TV, music, movies, gossip magazines, etc. Most people are so caught up in other things and other people’s lives/dramas that they never truely learn who they are. Don’t get me wrong, I can enjoy a good movie, TV show, sports game (I am from Boston originally….go Red Sox!)…but I am not attached to or defined by it. When the game is over….I move on in life…I don’t get swept up in offseason drama that has seem to take over the industry. I don’t care what famous people are doing….as they are just human, no superpowers in my book. But more importantly…I need to know who I am, listen to my inner voice…and then I won’t need distractions to keep me occupied as I will already have my vision in life and plenty to do. So go try and do “nothing”…it may be the hardest and most rewarding thing you ever do.
• I can say “No” to people and other commitments all day long. If it’s not something I really want to do…or really have time for, then I will say “No”. I am not afraid of hurting people’s feelings….they will get over it. If I spent my life caring about other people’s opinions all day long then I would get nothing done for myself! Spend time on what is important to your life and inner voice/vision….ignore the rest.
• When I used to travel in the past I would go to big destinations, resorts, etc and just be like every other tourist….yet I always came back tired and not refreshed. Now if I travel I would rather go off the beaten path, non tourist destination, smaller towns, and just away from anything that has tourists all over the place…as I want to relax and more importantly be relaxed.
• I stopped wearing a watch long ago….and I am no longer a slave to it. While I do have appointments and so forth…it was freeing knowing that I didn’t need to be eating at noon….start work at 8am…..etc. While many will still need to play by the corporate rules, try and take a weekend off….plan nothing…and have all day to enjoy it.
• Email, computer, etc….a key business tool and a big potential distraction. I now limit the amount of time I use it so really focus on what needs to be done. It’s been shown that people sitting at work for 8 hours with their email box open and internet explorer on will get less done than those that just check their email 1-2x a day and deal with the issues they have…and delete the unimportant emails. So limit your exposure, get to what needs to be done and you won’t have time for other distractions….as the internet is a large place we can all get lost on and waste alot of time. Have a goal of an empty inbox every night, take care of it or just file it away/delete it. Start new everyday and don’t let your inbox pile up to 100s of emails that you “may” need. 80/20….focus on what matters. You can enjoy websites and other online communication tools…just limit how much exposure you have to use them so you can use your time wisely.
• My wallet is a license, insurance card, ATM card and cash….with a money clip. That’s it. No more credit cards carrying around. I pay cash for everything. I could care less about my credit score….unlike what everything around me is saying. Go buy a used car with cash, you will get the best value. Anyone with any credit score can buy a house one way or another. Once you get past the self imposed fear that the industry is putting on you, why do you really need to care? Plus walking around with cash only really gives the full meaning of spending especially when talking about impulse buys…as stores will always try to get you to buy things on emotion (that is how sales works, gets you excited and then wanting something)…as that’s their business. Make it hurt to spend money and then maybe you will actually think about how you spend it. I budget each week….take out a certain amount of cash and then that’s all I have to spend….so I better plan wisely. Just leaving the credit cards at home is the way to start.
• I used to have 4-5 suits…plenty of dress shirts and pants…10 pairs of shoes for every occasion (that I hardly wore) with so many colored and designer socks that it took me an hour to match them all up on laundry day….etc…..now I have simplified…one suit, couple plain colored shirts, all the same black or white socks (minus some biking socks), couple plain colored dress pants, few shorts, few shirts, pair of sandals, pair of sneakers, one set of dress shoes, etc. Plus no real fancy outfits that can’t be combined with eachother, plain colors only and ones that can be matched (black, white, and gray are the easiest colors). Small wardrobe, easy for me….and no one ever says “Hey I saw that outfit on you before…” as most people probably don’t care or don’t even notice.
• I’d rather focus on the one or two hobbies I enjoy (and do well)….than 20 I will just get burned out on and never get anything from. I used to play in all sports leagues…you name it…softball, flag football, roller hockey, ice hockey, kickball, etc. Now I do 2 things…ice hockey and mountain bike….and I enjoy them every time. More is less in my book when it comes to hobbies and activities. As I truly enjoy everytime I go do them…and I don’t feel like I am running around just trying to keep busy and distracted. (see “do nothing” above) Find what you get the most enjoyment out of…and just focus on those small things. Don’t worry about the rest as you will get more in return from what you truly enjoy. Do what you love to do and do it well I always say. The world needs less “Jack of all Trades” and more “Masters of Specific Ones”…as that is where all the great works of literature, art, inventions and other things come from.
• Find your 80/20 in business. Find where 80% of your profits/sales/results come from…..as that is usually 20% of your business’ products, customers, focus. Dump the other 80% that yeild little to nothing…and use that time to let your mind relax, be creative and better focus on the 20% that yield the most. I had this opinion early in my corporate career….as I never chased around the little sales…and just focused on the big clients…and that landed me top sales for the company and an account that to this day they still make over $200million off (although I get no commission checks from it!). I had less stress and made 3x more than the sales people chasing every nickel and dime sale. This is the secret for those that want make it big…..and keep their sanity in the process.
• Everything is used once it leaves the store/lot…..yet it also drops in value by at least 30% (sometimes 60-70% if you try and resell it). Why do we need new? I only buy used (Hey, it’s new to me!) furniture, cars, and even things like Jeans (somethings I will obviously buy new like underwear and shirts). This doesn’t mean you can’t go and buy a nice new top of the line $100 shirt you will enjoy wearing over and over again….but with a simple wardrobe I probably do that once a year.
• Networking is the key to all business and other things that you can make happen. It’s easier to get things done with people you know than to try and cold call all day long. Make a habit of talking to anyone, as we are all on the same basic level (we are all human and we all want to be happy). I don’t get star struck by anyone…so I can talk to a friend as easily as I could a movie star…because I don’t put them on a pedestal. Also some of the most successful business people I know are just as down to earth as you or me….and probably would gladly help out anyone if they could. This doesn’t mean you have to keep a rolladex and everyone on speed dial….as that is not simplifying life, just smile and talk to people…you never know where the conversation may lead. Expect nothing from them, focus on how you could help them out and don’t treat them any more special than you would want to be treated yourself. It’s amazing what can come out of meetings like that and people will always remember those that helped them (and want to repay in kind somehow)….not those that just wanted something from them. The universe has a way of putting people in front of you during certain times….so keep a lookout for anyone around you, as the guy sitting across from you in a t-shirt and shorts could be a multi-million dollar private investor looking for the next great business idea….you just never know.
• Do a monthly plan…..see where all your money is going. It’s easier to control your spending than it is to make more money. Would you rather have fancy things and be stressed out making $100k a year….or would you rather have nice things (but not extravagant) and be happy with more free time at $35k a year? The choice is yours of course….but at the end of the day I would bet the person making $35k still saves more money in the bank….as he doesn’t need to spend it all to make himself “feel” happy.
• Simplicity is just making the choice to be happy with what you have now. Doesn’t mean you can’t have ambitions or want a race car….it just means your happiness is not based on achieving those goals. We all came into the world with nothing and that is what we will leave with. None of us ever own money, we just keep passing it around…as people pass it to us…and we pass it to someone else. Stop giving ownership to it….you don’t own it and that mindset is where all stress comes from…in fact your bank probably has more control of it than you do! Money is a tool, use it wisely….but don’t base your happiness on needing that tool, as you need things like food and shelter…and money can “get” those for you…but money is not what you need. Find true happiness in simple things, people, activities and then your emotional state will never be dictated by what you do or do not have. You can live in a big mansion or a small ranch…..you could have a million $ in the bank or $10….it’s your choice….just be able to be equally happy with either scenario…..and the world is yours to enjoy every day!

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