So you’ve decide you’re getting your money together, improving your credit and getting your finances on track! You are SICK of being “broke, busted and disgusted”! What now?

You pick up extra shifts, work a second job! Try to increase your income and decrease your expenses.

But…..3 months later and you still need money at the end of the month. Let me tell you something… when you get in the boxing ring with Benjamin “the money game” Loot, you’d better know you’re getting in the ring with a knockout King.

Let me give you a few tips for the fight.

1. Tracking finances after you’ve spent them is an amazing way to see how you can spend more wisely. Setting a budget however will help guide you in wise spending because you see where the money NEEDS to go vs just where you WANTED it to go! These must be done in conjunction with one another.

2. You will get frustrated! Oh yes! Money is touchy and can easily reach our emotions. Especially when the budget tells you to rent a red box movie and grab a box of Orville Redenbacher instead of hanging out with the crowd of people that believe they have “money to waste”!

Facing how much debt you have, money conversations with your spouse and trying to figure out how to pay some things off is mentally draining but incredibly rewarding.

3. That being said, make a full commitment that you are going to change where you are financially, fully understanding that you will make mistakes along the way. Be patient with yourself understanding that reaching financial wellness is a process!

4. Celebrate every single win! Take a breather and reflect on each one. Then get started on the next win!

You got this!!

Aquila T Carmon

One of the keys to success is successful planning and strategic goal setting. Jim Rohn, an American writer and successful entrepreneur, would teach people aspiring to succeed to plan your day, week, month and year.

This can be a challenge in our super busy lives but it truly is one of the challenges that gives us a leg up and positions us to reach our goals.

Why is that? Have you ever met an marksman that became an expert at firing his weapon without a target to aim at? Of Course not. Hitting the mark in everyday life is no different!

We have to work to become “Short Distance Champions” before we can ever achieve the Long distance goals. If you meet daily goals you can meet the weekly goals that align with those daily goals.

Today set your goals for the day and the week. Take the time this week to identify your goals for the month, then set them in three month increments until you’ve set them for the year.

A great thing to remember is that missed goals still stretched you to make progress especially if you have focused on Championing those short distance goals.

As always, Don’t you lose hope!

Aquila T Carmon

+

So for the first time in years I completely cleaned out all five of my emails! It’s amazing what you find when you clean up all the clutter and boy did I find something good!!

A story my brother emailed to me six years ago about a little old lady who was still driving at the age of 80! It is hilarious and profound at the same time. The story speaks to the power of perception. The way your mind comprehends a situation, opinion or problem could determine what fuels, motivates and encourages you.

This little lady had the right perception. Take a peak!!

*Grandma’s Letter

*She is eighty-eight years old and still drives her own car.

*She writes: *

*Dear Granddaughter, *

*The other day I went up to our local Christian book store and saw a

Honk if you love Jesus bumper sticker. I was feeling particularly sassy

that day because I had just come from a thrilling choir performance, followed by a thunderous prayer meeting. *

*So, I bought the sticker and put it on my bumper. *

*Boy, am I glad I did, what an uplifting experience that followed. *

*I was stopped at a red light at a busy intersection, just lost in

thought about the Lord and how good he is, and I didn’t notice that the light had changed. *

*It is a good thing someone else loves Jesus because if he hadn’t honked, I’d never have noticed. *

*I found that lots of people love Jesus! *

*While I was sitting there, the guy behind started honking like crazy, and then he leaned out of his window and screamed, *

*’For the love of God! ‘ *

*’Go! Go! Go! Jesus Christ, GO!’ *

*What an exuberant cheerleader he was for Jesus! *

*Everyone started honking! *

*I just leaned out my window and started waving and smiling at all those loving people. *

*I even honked my horn a few times to share in the love! *

*There must have been a man from Florida back there because I heard him yelling something about a sunny beach. *

*I saw another guy waving in a funny way with only his middle finger stuck up in the air. *

*I asked my young teenage grandson in the back seat what that meant. *

*He said it was probably a Hawaiian good luck sign or something .. *

*Well, I have never met anyone from Hawaii , so I leaned out the window and gave him the good luck sign right back. *

*My grandson burst out laughing. *

*Why even he was enjoying this religious experience!! *

*A couple of the people were so caught up in the joy of the moment that they got out of their cars and started walking towards me. *

*I bet they wanted to pray or ask what church I attended, but this is when I noticed the light had changed. *

*So, I waved at all my brothers and sisters grinning, and drove on through the intersection.

*I noticed that I was the only car that got through the intersection before the light changed again and felt kind of sad that I had to leave them after all the love we had shared. *

*So I slowed the car down, leaned out the window and gave them all the

Hawaiian good luck sign one last time as I drove away. *

*Praise the Lord for such wonderful folks!!

* Will write again soon, *

* Love, Grandma *

I love it!! And I love this Grandma!!

Aquila T Carmon

I read this article this morning that read:

“The most effective leaders are those who develop processes to help their organization reach and stay on top. Habitual systems help people run at their peak without overexerting mental energy when moving into uncharted territories. However, without systems in place, people tend to fall back into their default setting, which can include bad habits. To be an effective leader, it’s important to acknowledge bad habits and replace them with healthier, long-lasting habits, creating a new default setting.”

I find this to be true in my household, my business, my workplace and church organization. Developing systems that work and are tailored for your specific goals can be tedious, even frustrating. On top of that, the processes may require developing new habits to practice. This same thing can be true for new relationships, marriage or bringing home the first kid from the delivery room. Systems can keep you on track and on pace. Systems can reduce stress and increase the effectiveness of your activity.

I encourage you to take some time to evaluate the processes you have in place or even areas where you may need to implement and develop new processes and work to be the most productive in all you do.

Aquila T Carmon