Do something!

People don’t believe me when I tell them life is very simple. Live. Go out and do something. Enjoy it. Live it. But you have to DO SOMETHING to enjoy it. There are so many people that wander through life going through the motions, faking life. Pretending that they are taking action by running around the action.

itunes_img_640pxWhen I do any sort of work on or around the computer, I like to listen to to audio books or podcasts. Lately, I have been choosing the latter due to the vast variety of topics. I decided to give Dave Ramsey’s podcast a whirl. Dave Ramsey is a finance guy. I have read one of his books and wasn’t a big fan of it. But I thought maybe his podcasts would be different. They weren’t. His methods are extremely basic, he talks down to everyone, and he praises himself a bit to much for my liking. But that is just me – I highly encourage you to check him out and decide for yourself. He actually has a decent method, but doesn’t resonate with me at this point in my life. I know his stuff has worked for many people, just not me.

But I am not here to knock on Mr. Ramsey. I am here to knock on people that call into the Dave Ramsey podcast (or shows like it). More specifically, the people who call into a show in a lazy attempt to appear like they are doing something with their life to give them a self satisfaction to give the appearance of a good life. I understand this statement is general, and doesn’t apply to everyone who calls into the show. And you can argue with me if you want, but keep reading and let me prove my point first.

I just finished 50 cents book The 50th Law (AMAZING! Write up here). In that book he had a quote that says:

We live in a culture that offers you all kinds of crutches: experts to turn to, drugs to cure any psychological unease, mild pleasures to help pass or kill time, jobs to keep you just above water. It is hard to resist. But once you give in, it is like a prison you enter that you cannot ever leave.

People no longer want to work hard and think for themselves. Most want to be guided and told what to do. This will take the accountability off of themselves. If something goes wrong, they can blame someone else. That expert wasn’t right – that drug didn’t work – it is the fault of my boss. They allow others to control their life rather than controling on their own and actually standing up and saying “NO – THIS IS HOW I WANT TO LIVE MY LIFE”. Life is just easier if other people tell you want to do, so you don’t have to worry about how your life turns out, right? You can be miserable and mad at the world and life and it isn’t your fault. It is someone else’s fault. That is why your life sucks, right?

Case in point: While I was sitting through a few calls, one lady called in with all sorts of issues. She just went on and on and on. She had credit card debt, upside on her mortgage, husband laid off, she was on disablity, blah blah blah.  Dave finally asked “why did you call” and she replied “I need to know what to do”.

DO SOMETHING!

do somethingI don’t recall what Ramsey’s answer, probably something about she should enroll in his course online because it is the best, but his answer should have been “YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING, anything!“. Calling into a radio show does absolutely zero for your financial situation. Sure, DR may have given some sort of advice and planning to move forward. Education is always good. But are these financial experts really going to make you change your situation? Are they really going to give you some insight that you don’t know? At the end of the day, it comes to habits. Your habits. More specially in this case, it is the financial habits of the caller. And calling the Dave Ramsey show is easy for someone to give her a plan that she will never follow. But she called in so that is enough to make it appear she is trying, right? Ya – let’s see how well just calling does. She needs to change her core habits. This takes ACTION. Dave Ramsey isn’t going to do it for you. He isn’t going to make some sudden change in your life. Sure – he may say the right words that resonates with you to take the action, but the action will be solely your responsibility, which means you will need to become accountable for your own actions and ultimately your own life.

This is the same case with every single aspect of people’s lives. We are always hunting for the easy fix – the way out – the person who will tell us we can lose 20 lbs a week by eating McDonald’s french fries. The person who will tell us that we can make a bazzillion dollars in our underwear. The pill that will make us fit and healthy. The potion that will make my life exactly what I want it to be so I don’t have to worry about anything – it is all done for me.

There exist such a thing – it is called Hard Work. Want out of your current finacial situation? Work hard. Want to lose weight? Work hard. Want the life you dream about? Work hard. Take action. Take responsibility. Go out and make your life exactly what you want.

If you want to be somebody, you have to be somebody.

You make your life. Go make it. Sitting there calling a show whining about your problems is no different that someone suing McDonalds that they are fat. It doesn’t do ANYTHING except put the blame and onus on someone else. Playing the blame game will never get you closer to where you want to be. It is simply an excuse to hide under a mediocre life and be ok with it. Don’t settle for mediocre. You are so much better than that.

Rant Over.

Wake up – do work – live the life.