My mind is set!

I'm going to be doing it... September... love knows no bounds and my love is waiting for me!

Now that I'm decided, I feel a certain empowerment. I'm becoming less hindered by negative or non action. Now that I know what I want, I can feel myself leaning in the direction(s) it takes to get there.

Alot of you know what plans I'm talking about, some of you don't... but for reasons of my own, I won't be divulging further details in blogs or facebook at the moment... but soon enough, everyone will know what I'm doing... just protecting certain interests!

But I'm excited... the chance at practically a new life is something that most people can't, or maybe won't, consider for themselves. A few years ago, I thought my life was decided and that it wasn't going to do much else... kinda boring really! Now, life has NOTHING but possibilities and adventures waiting for me! No longer will I be that guy who envies other people's exciting lives, but I'll have my own life that OTHERS will envy! And I'll have the woman of my dreams on my arm!!!

Thanks for all the support and love. I know it will be a challenge to live out my dream, but hey, if it was easy, would it be as worth it??? Probably not!

Here I come baby!!!

I highly recommend this Personal Finance Book

I want to recommend a book I've recently read that has helped me out considerably to better understand, and more importantly, take control of my personal finances and investments.

The book is called "I will teach you to be rich" by Ramit Senthi. Now, before you let the title of the book trick you into thinking this is some get rich quick scheme, you can throw that out right now. Ramit's personal definition of "rich" is varied and not based on literal money in the bank. You're "rich" when you have money for the things you want in life and money for your future, not by how many zero's are in your bank account.

If I ask you these series of questions, and you answer no or I don't know to most or all of them (or if yes is the bad answer, haha), then I am speaking directly to YOU when I say read Ramit's book and finally come to understand your finances and how you can take control!

Do you know the details of your checking\savings\credit cards?
- Are you paying yearly fee's on your checking account?
- Do you know the interest rate on your savings account?
- Are you paying yearly fee's on your credit cards?
- Do you know the APR on your credit cards?

Are you saving or investing your money?
- Do you know what a 401K account or a Roth IRA account is? If yes, are you investing into one?
- Do you think that "investing" means buying stocks? Do you think you can't invest?
- Do you know how to automate your accounts to invest in a "set it and forget it" fashion?

Do you know where your money is going?
- Are your high interest credit cards being paid reguarily?
- Do you keep a budget or do you know when all your bills are due?
- Do you know how to cut costs and save without having to be that guy that never buys Starbucks again or never goes out with friends?

And the most important question of all... are you actually doing something about your finances? Or are you like most of the rest of us and, rather than do at least something, you're not doing anything at all, or at least very, very little.

I can answer all of those questions about myself and my finances and feel very good about my answers. Since reading Ramit's book, I've had the APR on my two credit cards reduced (from 14% to 12.5% on one and from 12% to 5% on the other... and I made only one phone call to each credit card to get my APR reduced!), I've setup a high interest online savings account. I've started a RothIRA account and rolled my old 401K account (that is not receiving any more investment dollars) into it and will soon roll my other 401K account into that as well. I've cut costs in my daily life, but yet I have more money than ever. Ramit's book has taught me what I needed to know about personal finance... the different parts, the descriptions, the "how-to's", and the goods and the bads. I've learned, most importantly, that you don't need alot of money to save for your future and you don't need to bust your balls maintaining it. Save for what you want and cut out the rest!

I started reading Ramit's blogs on his website (same name as the book) and I was instantly interested because of his directness, his good advice, and the fact that Ramit talks like someone I feel I might know personally and about things that directly relate to my life. He doesn't talk or sound like some boring, stuffy old finance guy, and he knows what's happening in our, younger, daily lives. So when I saw his book was coming out, I pretty much knew I had to get it and finally get some understanding of what's happening to my finances... or I might say what was NOT happening to them.

If you're sinking in debt... if you're trying to invest for your retirement... if you're planning to save money for a wedding\downpayment for a house\vacations... then Ramits book "I will teach you to be rich" is the PRIMER for your financial future. This is the book for all of us who just want to know more about our money and how to make it work for us!

Big things on the horizon

I feel life changing for the better. I can see ahead and I see great things. I can't wait to move forward and start to see these goals actually come to life.

Some of you out there know what I'm talking about. I have a big change coming up, and it's actually closer to due date at this point than ever before! The details are looming ahead and can feel a little daunting, but hey, if it was easy, it wouldn't be exciting right!

That's it for now, just wanted to write to keep in the flow... maybe I'll do something more later!

Friday's Positive Self Talk

I wake up today with my mind clear and free of yesterday's troubles. Today is a new day, one where I will achieve what I need to get done.

Today is a good day. I am clear of mind, I am energized, I only think positive, healthy thoughts.

What was an obstacle for me yesterday and the days before is no longer a problem for me. Today, and each day going forward, I make sure I conquer the goals of the day before and that I leave all those problems behind.

Today there is no challenge I can't face or problem I can't beat. Today I am productive, I will get things done, and I will have a good day.

Today I face the dragon and I slay him. I fight the battle on my terms and I will win.

They took the wind out of my sails!

This is going to be one of the very few complainer blogs I'll write, but dammit, I've been frustrated for days now and I'm having the damnedest time trying to get over it!

I know I'm smart and that I do good work. I also know that I have PLENTY of flaws and that I'm far from the perfect worker. But I do feel that I give more than enough back and that I should feel wanted. But I don't right now.

Whatever the reasons or excuses, I'm not wanted and that's hard to swallow. I am my own self confidence and my own positive attitude, but right now, I'm having a hard time bringing that to bear. No, I'm not feeling down on myself, but I'm also not feeling like Mr. Confident either.

I'll get the positive feelings back, I'll get that ball rolling downhill again, but right now, the ball is giant and heavy and won't fucking move! I'm going to have to put some back into it and MAKE that fucker GO!!!!

So, to any and all who doubt me, who don't think I'm good enough... FUCK YOU. I'm not smart enough, funny enough, hard working enough, good looking enough... FUCK YOU. Don't want to take the chance on me, don't think I have what it takes.....

FUCK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Maintaing my composure

Today was a pretty frustrating day, but I think I managed to keep myself under control and not let my emotions take over. I wanted to be mad today... I was (still am somewhat) frustrated about my situation and left questioning myself, which definitely could have led to self doubt and excuses, but I feel that I stopped the negativity from taking control.

It is frustrating that I've been denied the opportunity to move ahead, career wise, on two different occasions, and both within a year's time. I'm can't help but question my skills and my work effort. But honestly, if I didn't question myself, and if I didn't try to examine the situation deeper, how am I going to find the area's I need to improve in?

All I can do right now is to try harder than ever. I admit that I'm kind of angry, which is something I don't like to be, but in a weird way, it's a positive anger, one that will help fuel my desire for more.

I'm SO ready to move on. I just need to get that opportunity. I can DO THIS!

Tuesday Frustrations

You know, it's really tough on the ego and self esteem when you find out that you won't be promoted. It's just as tough when you find out it's because they don't think you can handle it, or when it's disguised as "we want someone more qualified". Basically, you're not good enough.

I'm extremely frustrated, I admit it. But I'm fighting inside to not let this problem\frustration become a roadblock, or more to the point, an excuse.

"Obstacles are for winners" - as quoted by my mom, as it was quoted to her from a good man, Mr. Pinney. There is no wall I can't climb, no problem I can't face, no obstacle I can't conquer. A weak man will see the challenge and wilt. I will face this challenge and I WILL WIN.

I plan to show anyone who matters that I can do all I said I can and that I'm as good as I said I was. If anyone thinks I'm going to try less or be all butt-hurt, then you have me figured all wrong. I will prove that I am as capable as anyone else, if not better.

Michael Jackson Trivia

Monday morning thoughts

Understanding your past is a key ingredient to being sane in the present.

We all have our pasts. We all have good times and bad. For some of us, the bad times feel like they weigh more heavily than the good times. Reversed for those lucky others.

I've watched and listened to many people, just like we all have. Friends, family, strangers. We watch and we learn, and hopefully, we apply what we learn to ourselves. What I've come to observe about the more positive people in my life is that they have that focus on what's good for them, especially right now. They have great mindsets and they never dwell on their past... at least not for the rest of us to see.

I'm trying more and more each day to stay a positive person and continue living for new and better experiences. I have had my issues and demons in the past, but what I think I've done real well is to look at those issues, analyze them, come to the best possible conclusions about it, and most importantly, mentally "save" it and then "close" it and "file" it away (yes, I'm a computer!). Bad stuff happens, no doubt, and I'm lucky enough that nothing so terrible ever happened to me, but I still choose not to dwell on it, and I think that makes me feel better about myself right now. I don't focus on the negative, I don't dwell on things that I can't change, and I don't try to re-live my past (to be honest though, I still do all of that, just not like I used to, I'm not perfect, every day I still have to try!).

My personal zen opinion is that you can't move forward with your life until you let go of the past. Forget? no. Comes to terms with? yes! Accepting your demons, taking your experiences and learning from them, and then moving forward with these newly learned tools, life can't help but get a little easier, and then maybe it'll be easier to get that positive mindset into motion!

Your own best friend or your own worst enemy

As I get older, I've come to realize that most important person in the success of my own life is... ta dah! Me! I hold all the keys, all the power and control, to get things done... or to not.

I've come to learn that no one else in the world, including my family, work, and friends, has any control over what happens in my life. To claim they do is an excuse to myself. I chose my job and my career and, though I don't choose my co-workers or manager, I control how I interact with them and the rest of the job. If I tell myself "it sucks, they suck, work sucks", then I'm just deluding myself to the reality that all those things control me and not the other way around. I obviously didn't choose my family :) but I do have the control over how I feel around them and how to interact with them. Friends too... what they say and what they do does not control my world, but instead, how I choose to interact with my friends does.

I think the point I'm trying to make is that my life is my own and I take full responsibility for it. My emotional state, my financial state, my place in society, all of these things are in my power to change and control. Positive self-talk keeps me uplifted and positive and programs my mind to stay organized... which in turn makes me become better in control of my finances and my personal goals... which in turn places better value on my position in society. None of these things were controlled for me (well, to a mild degree there is outside control... government, medical probs, ect), and none were decided for me, so the outcome is my own.

To take on that responsibility makes me feel like a better person and improves on who I am. I enjoy the feeling that at the end of the day, good or bad, the choices I made were my own, they were positive, and hopefully, they benefited me and progressed me further in life. I'm glad to be me and I get better at it everyday!

My blogs posted on Facebook... and you can too!

So today I created a fan page on Facebook, customized for the express purpose of posting my Blogs onto my Facebook page!

So, I created a Fan page for myself and setup the link to import my blogs from mikescrill.blogger.com. Now, whenever I post up a new blog, it'll appear automatically in my notes section and will post on my page!

So, all of you out there, you can become a "fan" and read my blogs... I mean, if you care :-)

Here is the link on how I set this up, for the rest of you out there who might want to be blog nuts!
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-promote-your-blog-using-facebook-pages/

You do need to have a blog to post though. I signed up here at blogger.com, Google's free blog pages, so if you don't have a blog but want one, sign up here. Free and easy!

OK, that's it for now... thanks everyone!

No anger in my life

I choose to live my life without anger. I choose a life that is peaceful and calm and not negatively influenced by anger.

I do not get angry. Anger only leads to hurt and pain for myself, my friends, and my loved ones. Anger helps no one and only serves to make situations worse

I do not let anger cloud my judgment or determine my actions. I do not allow anger to influence events in my life or those around me. I choose to release my emotions in positive, calming fashions and never allow anger to direct my emotions.

I never get angry. Situations that would provoke my anger are either avoided, analyzed, or met head on and confronted. I do not get angry over situations that I cannot control. I do not get angry over the past because I know that to live in the past, especially to relive past hurts and bad memories, only gives strength to my anger and I refuse to allow that.

I choose a life of peace and love. I choose to live my life with the best possible feelings and thoughts inside myself. I choose to avoid anger and the people who choose to exhibit constant anger in themselves. I choose happiness over anger, this day and every day after.