05 Jan The January Lifebook Challenge: Your BIG BUT!

Our January Lifebook challenge was inspired by our dear friend, Sean Stephenson, who wrote a great book called “Get Off Your But!” (you can order it below). All Lifebook Members who join the challenge will receive a free gift – and the Challenge winner will receive the grand prize!

We all have our BIG BUTS. And we’ve gotten really good at using them as a cushion for not taking action on things we KNOW we should be doing.

“I was going to start my diet last week, BUT…”
“I realize I missed my deadline, BUT…”
“I know I said I’d call, BUT…”
“I really want to quit my job and start my own business, BUT…”

BUT WHAT?

I don’t have time. It’s too hard. I’m too old. I’m too young. I don’t have enough money. I’m not smart enough. I’m a middle child. I’m too tired. I already tried that. I’ll do it tomorrow. I’ll do it next week. I’ll do it next month. I’ll do it someday…

We’re SURROUNDED by BIG BUTS!

Our BIG BUTS get in the way of our success. They sabotage our happiness. They KILL our productivity. They keep us from achieving what we’re truly capable of achieving. Our BIG BUTS are the main reason we’re not living richer, more fulfilling lives!

And let’s face it, BIG BUTS are really SCARY to look at…

PROCRASTINATION is a BIG BUT.
FEAR is a BIG BUT.
LACK OF DISCIPLINE is a BIG BUT.
LAZINESS is a BIG BUT.
INSECURITY is a BIG BUT.
IRRESPONSIBILITY is a BIG BUT.

These are not cool character traits! Which, my friends, is why it can be really hard to admit that you even have a BIG BUT in the first place…

BUT… 🙂

If we’re concerned with living the best life we’re capable of living…
If we’re dedicated to our own happiness…
If we’re committed to living the Lifebook Lifestyle…

Then we need to take a look in the mirror and ask ourselves, “What is my BIG BUT? And how can I get it out of the way of my happiness?”

So, speaking for myself… When I look at the goals I DIDN’T accomplish last year, they seem to be the EASY ones…

For instance, I set a goal at the beginning of the year to call or write my sisters and my dad once a week. Now, this is not the most difficult goal I’ve ever set for myself. It requires no study, rehearsal, budgeting, testing, training or sophisticated equipment. Pick up the %*@!$%!#! phone, for God’s sake!

And yet, I didn’t get it done…

WHY? What stopped me? I really WANTED to stay in better contact with my loved ones… It was IMPORTANT to me… I was PLANNING to do it…

BUT what?

But, I simply didn’t take the time…

It’s not that I didn’t HAVE the time. I managed to brush my teeth every morning. I got all my workouts in. I got all my business goals accomplished. Most weeks I even spent some good quality time with Bart and Lisa Simpson…

I simply didn’t TAKE the time to do what I said I was going to do. I didn’t make it a high enough priority. There were more pressing issues. I procrastinated. I got sidetracked. I lost track of time. Blah, blah, blah.

The bottom line is my BIG BUT got in the way.

HERE’S MY COMMITMENT FOR JANUARY:

This month, I will LOSE my BIG BUTT!

• I resolve to TAKE THE TIME to call or write my dad and my sisters ONCE A WEEK. No BUTS about it!
• I resolve to TAKE THE TIME to drink my green drinks EVERY SINGLE DAY. No BUTS about it!
• I resolve to TAKE THE TIME to play with my kids an hour a day. No BUTS about it!
• I resolve to TAKE THE TIME for myself on Sundays to completely RELAX with NO WORK (and that includes email). No BUTS about it!

Wow!!! That feels so much better! 🙂

If you’d like to join the January Lifebook Challenge, simply take a look in the mirror and ask yourself, what is my BIG BUT? What’s the excuse I use most often for not doing the things I really SHOULD be doing? And be honest with yourself!

Then, resolve to make January an EXCUSE FREE month! Resolve to follow through to our commitments. Resolve to get your BIG BUT out of the way of your success!

So, who’s IN???

RULES TO PARTICIPATE:

1. Declare your commitment to this challenge by posting a comment below. (make sure we have your email addy so we can send you your free gift)

2. Report your progress REGULARLY on this blog throughout January.

3. Give a FINAL REPORT on your results at the end of the month, preferably with 3rd party verification.

And by the way, if you’d like to learn more from the expert on getting off your BUT,  Lifebook Member Sean Stephenson has inspired us on this subject for many years! To buy a copy of Sean’s book, click here. To visit Sean’s website, click here.