I haven’t written in months. Here’s what’s been going on.
I changed my methodology on how I’m living my life. I’m focusing on being instead of doing. This doesn’t mean I’m not doing anything. I’m doing more now than ever. However, I’m not focused on the doing but focusing on who I’m being when I do. I’ll write a post on INFP blog later this week about this train of thought.
So since May, this is what I’ve done that’s improved my life:
1. Sold one of our rentals. Improvement because it increased monthly cash flow by +$150/month.
2. Refinance our current home. Improvement because it increased cash flow by +$200/month.
3. Volunteered for a new project at my day job and was sent to San Francisco for 2 weeks paid by the company. Improvement because I made myself move value at work. Also, 2 weeks in San Fran was nice.
4. Made a $1200 freelancing apart from my day job. Improvement because I used the money to pay off credit card debt.
5. Kept my weight at 150lbs. So I didn’t gain back any of the weight I lost in May. Improvement because I closer to my goal of 140lbs.
6. Read E-myth Revisited, Good To Great, Outliers, The Tipping Point and Blink via books on tape during my commute to work. Improvement because those books changed the way I’m approaching personal development.
There’s more small stuff. Basically, I’m in a constant process of simplification by just getting rid of stuff that I don’t really need or outgrown. I also updated my wardrobe and started dressing up again after 8 years. I bought 40 pieces of clothing at a thrift store for less than $150. I found a great pair of Italian dress shoes with heels and soles in perfect condition for $9. I spent 30 minutes with on them with shoe polish and they shine. I rearranged the living room. We’ve been in this house for 3 years and sometimes you have to change the environment up to get yourself to look at things in a different way.
Today’s Actions Towards My Goals
Got more info about buying an apartment building – My wife and I met with a friend to get more information on the apartment building he’s selling. It’s scary when I think how much debt that mortgage is going to be. But we’re not at that point yet. I’m still running numbers. We have to talk to various banks to see if we even qualify. We have to talk to our property manager to see if he’s interested in managing a multi-family property. It’s a bit daunting since all we’ve ever owned were single family homes.
Doing this improves my life because it’s gets my family moving closer to financial freedom.
Doing Small Things
I called Verizon and upgraded my wife from 250 texts/month to 500. It will cost us an extra $5/month. This improves my life because my wife kept going over 250 messages and it was costing us $6/month in overages.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I came across your blog randomly after I was researching on some “help” after I was released from my job of 4 years. I knew that I would eventually have to move on and really just remained in that placement because I was comfortable. But I want change, my disinterest in the direction led to poor performance. So to be let go was something i subconsciously was awaiting for so that I could get an excuse to move on to something else. But now that I am here, I am questioning what i can do. What am i capable of? What are my qualifications? A friend of mine suggested I get into mortgage loans specializing in debt consolidation. It allows me to control my income, because there is no cap as to how much i can make. But i am actually dealing with fear right now. One of the 5 stages listed in your other blog. In actuality, Im floating from 4and5…lol I know what I am suppose to do, but my fear is holding me back. So now I have applied for employment insurance and am awaiting a response. While working on other work opportunities, when clearly I have one lined up for me already. I also have another friend who would be able to hook me up with a job in the banks. I use to work fulltime as a receptionist at a fitness facility and health and wellness center. I unfortunately didnt find it stimulating enough. Or maybe it was the facility and environment i worked in. So i could get another job within the industry because im familiar with it and the world isnt fully foreign. I want to experience something different and the financial reward from the center won’t help me in my situation right now. Eventually, I want to become a psychotherapist and am working on enrolling into a program september. It’s been a week, and all i have done so far is finish my letter to the office of admissions to the university and waiting for 2 referral letters to send in my documents. Also I sent in my application but havent received my ROE yet. So Im currently playing the waiting game. I feel like getting out there and doing something, right now. Some advice from a fellow INFP would work wonders right now:) Thank you so much, and much love to you…<3
Amanda
[Reply]
Corin Reply:
December 8th, 2010 at 12:36 am
I’ll be writing about this in detail on my INFP blog later this month but I’m in the same boat where I’m not sure what I should be doing. It took me awhile to find the right approach but this is what I’m doing.
1. I’m trying to find my hedgehog concept. Your hedgehog concept must have all three of the following ingredients.
- It’s something your passionate about
- It’s something you can be good at (ie have the ability and opportunity to put in 10,000 hours into)
- It’s something that drives your happiness engine
Finding your hedgehog concept can take years so in the mean time you have to “be the right person”
Being the right person entails
1. Listing all the roles (friend, parent, employee, artist, etc) that you currently have
2. Each day you have to find a way to be better in one role you currently have
3. Get out of the roles you don’t want anymore
4. Don’t take on new roles until you figure out your hedgehog concept
[Reply]
Amanda Reply:
January 5th, 2011 at 3:12 pm
Hey Corin!
THANK YOU!!
Thank you so much for replying. The hedgehog concept huh? I know what I am passionate about and it’s in the areas of humanities. At the moment I’ve landed a part time job working as an assistant to a psychologist. It’s very exciting to be working alongside someone who has knowledge in the functions of the human mind. I have the opportunity to get an insider’s scoop on how the work life is. Pretty cool. I feel significantly better since my last post. I appeared to be a headless chicken on rampage. I am happier which is what matters, but we’re INFPs so lets see how long this lasts for HAHA…Anyways, I was considering education, as I have mentioned earlier, undergraduates in social work. BUT (yes there had to be a but) I am also interested in Humanities and Philosophy. There is no direct career related to these areas of studies but upon researching articles, I found that the percentage of employers seeking humanities grads are on the rise. So do I study for the mere joy and interest in the subject or study specifics like social work and pave a direct path with options limited?
[Reply]