Happy 2nd birthday to my Remy McDonough and Happy St. Patrick’s Day to all!! Live Beyond Awesome my friends! Jen McDonough
6 Feb
Wanna write a book? Dan Miller’s incred
Wanna write a book? Dan Miller’s incredible Write to the Bank is scheduled on 3/8 in TN – WELL worth EVERY dime and EVERY minute.
2 Feb
Shaved Legs Didn’t Make the Cut – Prioritization is a Key to Success
Without trying to sound cocky, I get asked regularly how do I get so many things done/accomplished. My first and foremost key to
success is my GREAT and AWESOME family!
Some other keys that lead to my success on getting things done are GOALS and the practice of continuously prioritizing and reprioritizing things in my life as life seems to happen to us all.
To give a recent prioritization example, I will give you one that happened just tonight. Small sounding, but one I hope will make you smile.
For those that read Living Beyond Awesome, you may have remembered me mentioning my quirky group of bike riders. My one to two hour bike rides with them each week are a source of positive energy deposits for me to stay energized throughout the week.
I was excited as tonight was my night for biking indoors (spinning) with the crew. I am a bit embarrassed to admit, but I forgot to shave my legs this morning before rushing off to work (in the winter, it only gets done one time a week compared to daily in the summer so it is vital that the winter days not be missed!). I had a small 45-minute window of opportunity to bike with my gang tonight since we had a few things going afterwards. I very much wanted to stop at the store to pick up some razors before going, but knew it would eat up at least 25 minutes of my precious 45 minutes of time.
The dilemma was now in front of me. Should I risk missing out on having one of my weekly emotional and physical tank refills or just say what the heck?
My quirky bike group notices any new piece of gadget, speck of dirt, or riding gear one can possibly have, however, when it comes to looking at one personally, they are not quite as perceptive. I “hid” my Ironman tattoo for about 8 months before one of them noticed finally. Didn’t they ever wonder why I walked backwards each night when returning my bike? Didn’t they notice that I seemed to ride in back of the pack more after Ironman? Truthfully, the thought of having them find out about tattoo was worse that was worse my mom finding out.
I decided to take the risk that they would be their usual selves and not notice.
What was the outcome?
I had a GREAT time with my group with the 45 minutes we had together and even though I didn’t like having my smooth legs for spinning, it turned out just fine. Turns out the hair on my legs didn’t slow me down one bit!
So, when you are trying to get things done, remember we can’t always do everything. Priorities needs to be set and then reorganized as we go in life. Sometimes just winging it rather than missing out on things is worth it.
Thanks for reading and God bless.
Live Beyond Awesome!
Jen
Motivational Storyteller, Author, and Debt Elimination Coach
Remember to sign up at our new blog address of www.fieldofdebt.com
6 Jan
Moving Blog to New Website – PLEASE come follow us at www.fieldofdebt.com
Hi Gang,
We recently had a major revamp of our Field of Debt website that we are excited about! We would be thrilled if you could come along and join our blog over at our new address as this address will soon be closing.
Unfortunately there is no “invite” button, otherwise I would be delighted to send you one.
Hopeful you will remain with us on our journey and sign up with us at our new updated blog website which is not right on our website.
God bless and thanks for following.
Live Beyond Awesome!
Jen
www.fieldofdebt.com
www.livingbeyondawesome.com
31 Dec
LOFTY Goal set for becoming Debt Free by this time next year
Sitting here today talking with Bob about next year, we made a goal of shooting to be done with our 2nd mortgage by this day next year. We did a great blog for those looking to do their own goals that has some great resources (Goal Resource Blog) – check it out.
Image via Wikipedia
Wow, even with paying off all our non house debt (to date over $125,000 in a little over 2 1/2 years and paid cash for over $25,000 of medical related expenses), this seems like a totally huge goal to attain!
What did we do to start? Well…I am sitting here working on our 2nd book in my PJ’s on New Years Eve and hanging out with our four kids. Bob put on his Dominos hat and is heading out to deliver pizzas for the night.
Even if we don’t hit it by new years eve next year, at least we will get farther with having stated it and written it on down and posted on our fridge to see each day.
What are your goals for 2012?
Live Beyond Awesome!
Jen
Author of Living Beyond Awesome (Amazon Top 100 books for Transformation – Living Beyond Awesome)
Related articles
- 2012 Earley Goals (ourearleylife.wordpress.com)
- 12 goals for 2012 (backtoherroots.com)
- Entreleadership Goals with Dan Miller - Dave Ramsey’s Entreleadership podcast with Dan Miller
31 Dec
Goals are your launchpad to the stars!
Image via Wikipedia
I love the start of a new year. So often times people take on a fresh glow of anticipation and hope for better things in life with the start of each new year. Almost like having Spring in the middle of winter. Things seem fresh and full of life about the possibilities that lay ahead.
I recently listed to Dan Miller’s podcast about the power that goal setting has had on his life both personally and professionally. If you haven’t had a chance to listen in on this particular podcast (Dan Miller podcast on goals), it is definitely worth listening to. I also enjoyed his discussion on Dave Ramsey’s Entreleadership podcast (Ramsey Entreleadership podcast with Miller). Like Dan, one of our hopes we have is that our readers of our blog as well as our latest book of Living Beyond Awesome (Living Beyond Awesome book) will gain the inspiration to write down their goals in order to achieve great things in life.
I enjoyed Dan’s perspective on goals…even if he doesn’t hit them every time that is okay. By having written goals, we are still 99% ahead of those that don’t as we are sure to go farther in life by having targets to shoot for. The analogy of setting a goal to finish a marathon is a perfect example. If one sets a time goal to finish in,but is a little off…who cares, they still completed their marathon and are better off than those that never took those first steps to start.
If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to write your goals down, just do it! (see Dan’s website for a free download of a goal setting template that is great to use at 48days Resources). Your time invested will definitely be well spent as you will hit new heights in your lives by writing your goals down. Use your written goal to launch you to the stars!
Live Beyond Awesome in 2012!
Jen
Related articles
- Goal Setting and Accomplishment In 2012. (theunemploymentdojo.wordpress.com)
- How to Set Goals for the New Year (fletcher-prince.com)
- 12 goals for 2012 (backtoherroots.com)
- EntreLeadership Podcast With Dan Miller (chrislocurto.com)
24 Dec
Giving is hard!
Image via Wikipedia
My 10 year old son Robbie
was chit chatting on the way home from Christmas services last night. Out of our four kids, he is my most analytical child. Quite frankly, he makes me the most mad, but also makes me laugh the hardest at times.
He was talking about how excited he was about Christmas. My kids know the true meaning of Christmas, however, they still like the gift part of it too.
He said something that struck a cord…”Mom, it is really fun to give, but it is fun to get stuff too. You know that saying it is better to give than receive…it is true, but when you actually do it, it can be hard. It is one of those things that sounds easy, but when it comes to actually doing it, it it CAN be harder than it sounds.”
He’s right. It is fun to give, but when it comes down to it, it can be difficult at times. Throughout our journey, we have been blessed to know how awesome it can be to start to become intentional givers versus just giving what is left. We really do enjoy giving, but sometimes, I still hold fast to being hesitant to give my time, talents, and resources. Easy to say that it is great to give, however, like Robbie mentioned, it can be hard to do when it comes down to it.
When I do break through that selfish part of my heart, it always makes me a better person and feels like we are living beyond awesome. There is still a lot of room for growth, but I look forward to how God will use our resources to shape us into the people he wants us to be.
God has giving us ALL abilities, talents and resources…are you generous with sharing yours?
Merry Christmas to you and your families.
Live Beyond Awesome.
Jen
www.fieldofdebt.com
www.livingbeyondawesome.com
Related articles
- Merry Christmas World! (lovefromhell.wordpress.com)
- The true meaning of Christmas (kenyanvoice.wordpress.com)
- Merry Christmas!!! (zazuatzazzle.wordpress.com)
18 Dec
Having “More Than Enough” = Contentment
It amazes me how selfish I can be at times with “my” money.
We were at church service last night where I had the privilege to attend with our oldest daughter who is 12. As of last September she
moved up from the kids programming to attend service with us. She is really enjoying it.
She had brought some of her spending money along as they had went out and about their their grandma before service. When it came time for the offering, I saw her with a crisp $10 bill in her hand. Quite honestly, I wasn’t sure why she had it out so I asked her. She looked at me with a “surprised what do you think look” and said in a whisper it was for the offering. Do you know what my first honest knee jerk reaction was? Instead of being happy, proud, etc. I thought ”Oh, but that is $10 out of your own money and don’t you want to save it?”
I didn’t say anything, but raised my eyebrows instead. “Mom,” she whispered, “I have more than enough money saved up at home. If I give this, then I will still have $140 leftover.” I asked her if she was sure she wanted to. ” I want to give this.” she replied back affirmatively. When the offering basket came around, she tossed in her $10 bill with a smile, leaned over and said “Mom, there are two checks in there, isn’t that nice that people give?”
It hit me then how selfish I can be.
My immediate reaction was closed fist “hang on to what you got so you can get more” attitude whereas Maggie saw her money really for what it was suppose to be for…furthering God’s Kingdom by giving. It was humbling to see how much I still need to learn in this category.
She was right…she DID have “enough” – her feeling of being content with what she had made me marvel at how simple it really is. It certainly did make me smile afterwards as I thought, you know what, “we have more than enough too.”
Thanks for reading and God bless.
Live Beyond Awesome.
Jen
www.fieldofdebt.com
www.livingbeyondawesome.com (Living Beyond Awesome book released on Amazon and through our website)
A great book to read on this subject is Dave Ramsey’s book More Than Enough:
http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=fieldofdebt-20&o=1&p=8&l=as1&asins=0142000477&ref=tf_til&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr
Related articles
- Finances can be like cobwebs (fieldofdebt.wordpress.com)
- Book Review : Why Church Matters (stevenruff.wordpress.com)
- The Eleventh Day of Conflict, er, I mean Christmas: 11 Great Expectations (samantha-a-wright.com)
- A Broken Gift Isn’t on Anyone’s Holiday Wish List! (outofoffice.fedex.mediacdt.com)
- Are you filling a void through spending money? (fabulousandmoneysavvy.com)
10 Dec
Wishing We Did Things Differently in Life
Sometimes do you ever wonder what it would be like if you did things differently in life?
I think we all have had that thought at one time or another.
With our finances, it is something that has crossed our minds once or twice these past 3 years. What if we would have done this or that where would be today?
This past week our 12-year-old daughter brought her spending money to school to buy from the book fair (each of our kids has a spending, charity, and savings envelope that they divide their earned money into). She ran into our younger 10-year-old brother at lunch and found out he had a negative balance on his lunch account (this was totally my fault for not getting our budgeted money in the account at the beginning of the month).
Do you know what she did? She pulled out a $20 bill and asked the lunchroom staff to please put it to his account. Then she inquired about her other brother’s account as well just in case money was needed for him too.
When she told us later that night what she did, we were a bit stunned. This wasn’t money that was just laying around…it was her EARNED spending money that she used. When we went to pay her back, she waved her hand no and said, “that is okay mom, I got his lunch money, I don’t need the money back.” She sincerely meant it. We of course paid her back, but the experience made our hearts swell.
So if you are in one of those times in your life wishing you had done something differently, keep this in mind:
God can take our mistakes and turn them into something good when we are willing to take ACTION to change.
In our case, even though we were irresponsible with our resources (really His resources) by mismanaging our money (really His money) when we were younger, God let us see firsthand through His grace and mercy that it is not too late to change. He can take something that is painful in our lives and let it be used for good. Pretty amazing.
God bless and thanks for reading.
Jen
www.livingbeyondawesome.com
www.fieldofdebt.com
Related articles
- Money Matters (whatisfortytwo.wordpress.com)
- Finances can be like cobwebs (fieldofdebt.wordpress.com)
- How does this budget thing work if I don’t get paid until the middle or end of the month? (fieldofdebt.wordpress.com)
- Money-saving challenge: How small cutbacks make a big difference (blogs.confused.com)
- The Difference Between Faith and Wishing (averageus.com)
