Your Year End Review

Today is a good day to look in the rear view mirror and review the highs and lows of the last twelve months.  If you're not planning on making any changes or adjustments, you can pretty much expect the same results in the new year ahead.  Pay careful attention to the past goals you set and your success rate.  Search for patterns in the failed attempts.  Don't beat yourself up over the losses.  Consider them as the necessary learning experiences necessary to change things up in the next twelve months.

I'm playing games with my goals to help me remain engaged over the next 36 months which happens to be the amount of time I calculated to retire our mortgage early.  The first reward level happens at the end of January.  In order to make the budget work and create available money for mortgage reduction, my wife and I pledged to make our first month wine and chocolate free.  These are our two favorite splurges.  The reward is adding these items to our shopping list should we reach our target for the two added principal payments in January.  Should we come up short, the penalty involves another month of no wine and no chocolate.  The combination of rewards and penalties is like a carrot and stick approach to keep us on track.

I'm cheering for you to give yourself an honest review of these last twelve months and to use that feedback to make improvements next year.  Feel free to join me tomorrow and I'll share more about the games I'm playing to help me stay focused on my commitment to my goals.  These tips can help you in any area of your life.  Have a great day.

It's All About Serenity

I played my last tennis match of the year yesterday and it pretty much mirrored how I spent the last twelve months of my life.  My doubles partner and I were facing two of the toughest fighters on our team and they took command early by clobbering us 6-0 in the first set.  It was reminiscent of my two months home recovering from a serious auto accident on February 5.  We didn't let our slow start hurt us and we set up a plan to counter our opponents nearly flawless play.  Chip and charge became our mantra and we came back to take the next two sets 6-4, 6-3.  Although the match was only a practice match, it gave me the confidence I need going into our final men's 40+ league match on Saturday.  A win will give us first place for the season, the opportunity to play for a state title, and move on to the regional playoffs in the summer.

There are some pretty good lessons to be learned during times of trial.  I thought about all the people on my prayer list when I looked in the bathroom mirror during a break after the second set.  Some are facing much larger battles with cancer as their opponent.  Another teammate succumbed to stage IV pancreatic cancer this year and is no longer with us.  That's why I wear a pink bandana on the courts.  It's to remind me to keep fighting and keep praying in all circumstances.  Serenity.  It's a secret weapon that can keep you going when your bones are broken and your neck is in a brace.  It's the prayer you have when everything else appears out of your control.

A new year is about to begin.  For me, it's the beginning of a three year quest to finally take down the debt monster who has been nagging me for most of my adult life.  The strategy is a variation of the "chip and charge" we used to turn things around yesterday on the tennis courts.  I'm going with "chip, charge and pay right away" which means we're chipping away at any unnecessary expenses we really can live without while paying our credit card immediately after any purchases clear pending.  We're dedicating a preset amount out of every paycheck to contribute to additional principal payments over the next thirty-six months.  There will be times when obstacles appear.  That's part of the process.  I know one thing for sure – I'm keeping Serenity as my doubles partner during this match and we're going to  chip, charge and pay right away until this match is over.  This is not a resolution.  This is a way of life.  Make Serenity your partner and take her with you everywhere you go.  Have a great day.

Debt Reduction Tool Box

Ask any professional what it takes to achieve success and he or she will tell you it's all about having the right tools for the job.  The same is true with debt reduction.  Here are a few tools I'm using to reach financial independence:

• Tape measure.  Use this to measure the size of every debt in your household.  Write the measurements down from smallest to largest and use this as a checklist to prioritize which debt to pay off first.
• Hammer.  Use this daily.  Pound the smallest debt first until it's "nailed" and then move on, one nail at a time.
• Leveler.  Use this tool to make sure your money going out each month never exceeds the money coming in. The bubble will move in the right direction as long as you keep paying down on your principal and avoid increasing your debt.
• Floor plan.  You want to review your floor plan for your dream house daily to help you see an accurate picture of what you're building.  Anyone can build a house of cards but you're creating something special.  Every vehicle in your garage will be free of expensive auto loans.  You will live in a smart home meaning you're mortgage free.

Make sure you have all the tools you need to accomplish debt reduction.  The longer you wait to get started, the more expensive the job will be.  Debt reduction is serious business.  Teach your children to use these tools so they can be their own carpenter when they are on their own.  Have a great day.

Visualization Technique for Debt Reduction

Imagine your life free of monthly debt obligations.  No more credit card payments.  No more auto loans.  Your mortgage is paid in full.  Can you see it?  The details matter.  Close your eyes and see a vivid picture of how your life appears.  Do you like what you see?  This is your reward for making the daily sacrifices necessary to get to your dream life.  Every time you see an obstacle, close your eyes and go back to that picture of your future self living a life of financial independence.

Most people never really take the opportunity to visualize the kind of life I'm writing about today.  They've been taught that monthly car payments are a way of life.  As soon as they make their final payment, they turn around and buy another car on credit.  The same thing happens with credit cards.  The buy now pay later approach is so addicting. By taking the time to visualize a life without any debt, you're giving your brain an opportunity to get creative about how to accomplish this.  The necessary adjustments don't seem as painful when you know why you're making them.

I'm in the final days of my preparations for a mountain top experience.  I've been on this mountain before.  Unfortunately, I hit an icy patch and slid all the down the mountain and ended up in the valley of death at a negative altitude.  Now it's time to leave base camp and go for the summit.  The journey will take 36 months.  My wife is climbing with me.  We will plant the financial independence flag at the peak when make our last mortgage payment.  I've already seen the view in my mind and I'm ready.  How about you?  Are you ready to close your eyes and imagine what your life can be like when you achieve financial independence?  Have a great day.

Take the First Step Today

It's all about the small steps.  Don't worry about the other 999 miles ahead.  Concentrate on one thing – your first step.  I predict a traffic jam on January 1.  That's when everyone else gets out of bed, dreams big about how they're going to conquer all those resolutions, and crowds the roads for the next two to three weeks.  Yep.  21 steps and they're done.  Why not beat the crowds and take your first step today?  I already know I won't see the benefits of my debt reduction plans until I complete the last step in my 1,000 day journey.  My wife is my accountability partner and she promises to stay on the road with me.  I believe every step matters.  Every day matters.  There are no short cuts.

Take your first step today.  Resolve to get through the traffic jam on January 1.  Stay on the road even if you feel like you're the only one on the journey.  Don't give up.  You can do this.  Have a great day.

Debt Relief Ahead

You were not created to be a slave to debt.  Remember who you are – a child of God.  If your debt burdens are weighing you down, you are not alone.  Maybe you feel like you were walking on thin ice and suddenly you plunged into the frigid waters.  The ones who drown are the ones who panic.  Check this guy out doing a demo of how you escape a fall through the ice, then I'll show you how this relates to debt relief...

It really doesn't matter how you fell in to the debt trap.  What matters is your ability to escape.  Just breathe.  Look around at your surroundings and clear your head.  Decide you want to live.  Every step you take will help you get out of trouble.  Recognize there's one thing you must freeze – your spending.  Spending money you don't have is like walking on thin ice.  Every dollar you borrow makes the risk greater.  Every dollar you pay down against your debt is like a paddle kick on your escape route.

I'm dedicating the next three years of my life to the paddle kick.  My mortgage company is really going to miss me.  I've been under water so many times I think I may have ice in my veins.  It's time to thaw out.  Stay with me if you're serious about debt relief.  We can do this together.  Debt relief is ahead.  Have a great day.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.  May the Spirit of Christmas bring you comfort and joy as we celebrate the birth of our Messiah, Jesus Christ.  This is the day the Lord has made.  It's the day the world waited for in ancient times.  It's the day  Heaven smiled upon a family far from home with no place to stay but a manger.

Our daughter suggested we listen to a group she likes for some amazing Christmas music.  Check out the YouTube video below by Pentatonix.  It's a great way to get in the Christmas spirit.  Have a great day.

Old Testament Meets New Testament

Here's a Bible trivia question for you...  

Who was the last Old Testament prophet?

Here are some clues.  

• His dad was a priest in the Jewish temple
• He never minced words
• He wasn't allowed to drink wine or hard liquor
• He ate grasshoppers and wild honey
• The first time the two crossed paths, Jesus and the prophet were both still in the wombs
• He lost his head by the king's order

Got the answer?

John the Baptist was the last prophet of the Old Testament.  His job was to prepare the way for Jesus.  If John were still with us today, he would be out there somewhere in the desert shouting, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, make straight the way for the Lord."  His prophecy goes beyond Christmas when we celebrate our Savior's birth.  It's also about the day when Jesus returns.  You can read all about it in the New Testament.  Have a great day.

Good Tidings of Great Joy Ahead

The real Christmas story happened far away from all the retail stores and the crowds of last minute holiday shoppers.  An angel appeared to a small group of scared shepherds and told them, "fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people." – Luke 2:10

Online shopping may have reduced anxieties for some.  Others find stress relief from avoiding the malls this time of year.  What about those who are dealing with the loss of a loved one?  What about the sick who are fighting cancer and other diseases?  Where's their joy?  Maybe we all need to listen to that angel.  The message is as true today as it was 2,000 years ago.  What is there to fear when Jesus is with us?  Remember this... the good tidings of great joy shall be for ALL people.  This includes you and me.  We're on the list.  Great joy is ahead.  Have a great day.

Set Yourself Up for Success

Are you a sprinter or a marathoner?  The key is to get to the finish line every time you set a new goal.  Many will be lining up on January 1 with a list of new goals and resolutions.  I believe worthwhile goals need the stamina of a marathoner to be achieved.  That one week sprint during the first week may look great but it can be really demoralizing if you give up early and walk away.

I'm working on three main areas of my life – debt reduction, healthy eating and exercise.  Sprinting doesn't help in the long run.  I like to give myself checklists to help me stay on course.  Grocery lists keep me from deviating on my food program.  I make sure there are set days on my calendar for exercise.  There is a budget in place to prevent me from overspending while I chip away at my mortgage with monthly additional payments over required minimums.  The month of December has been a "practice month" to help me get some muscle tone for a good start in the new year.  As far as debt reduction goes, this is a 1,000 day marathon.  Sprinting won't work.  I'm setting myself up for success by visualizing an ultra marathon and I'm not leaving the course until the last step.  Are you with me?  Use the last nine days of the year to prepare for your next adventure.  Have a great day.

Our Days are on the Upswing

Today may be the shortest day of the year as we celebrate the Winter Solstice, however, I consider it a momentum builder. The next calendar flip is just ten days away.  Those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere are now on the upswing gaining just over two minutes of sunshine each day for the next six months.

If you're uncertain about how momentum can change your life, just follow the sun.  Two minutes of extra light per day may not seem like much but six months from today many of us will see the sun for an extra six hours a day.  Those living in northern Alaska will have over 80 days of uninterrupted sunlight.

I would like to add one more ingredient to your recipe for success in the new year.  Consistency.  When you mix consistency with momentum you get something the world around you will envoy – results.  For example, if you make one small change today at breakfast, lunch or dinner and lose two ounces and repeat for the next ten days, you will lose over one pound.  Keep releasing two ounces a day for the entire year and you will be 45 pounds lighter by the next Winter Solstice.  How's that for an upswing?  Have a great day.

Your Creditors Don't Want You to Play the Long Game

Every choice you make can be broken down into two categories – the short game and the long game.  Most people choose the short game because it involves little or no pain today even though they agree the long game is the smarter choice.  When it comes to managing your money, the short game is much more fun because you get to spend money you really don't have and eat out compliments of those credit cards you're carrying.  Who wants to play the long game these days?  Your creditors would like you to stop reading now.  I'm going to share why I'm playing the long game and I'm cheering for you to join me so you can change while you still have time.  The longer you put this off, the more addicting the short game becomes.

I believe the long game is more of an attitude.  It's the way you categorize every decision you make from the time you wake up until the time you go to bed.  It comes down to pay now or pay later.  Short gamers pay a high price when those credit card charges include interest rates that are making banks rich.  Long gamers defer, defer, defer until they have cash in the bank to make a purchase.  Every short gamer I know chooses the 30 year mortgage so they can have more disposable dollars now.  They don't understand how much extra this costs them.  The longer the terms, the more banks put in their pocket due to their increased risk.  That's why short gamers end up with less at retirement.

Maybe you're asking yourself, "where's the fun in the long game?"  My answer is another question... "where's the fun when you have no money and you have to keep working while your long gamer friends are all out on the golf course every day enjoying their retirement years?"  Get busy on your long game now.  Have a great day.

How to Find Your Path

Your clues are all around you.  Look around.  What do you see?  Who are the people you're drawn to?  Ignoring what you're naturally drawn to is like canceling a date with destiny before she has a chance to reveal to you this picture of what's on your trail ahead.  This trail leads you to that place where all your dreams come true.

I'm coming up on the one year anniversary of the day when I lost control of my vehicle and slid into an oncoming vehicle on a bad weather day.  The accident made speaking and breathing almost impossible.  I thought maybe this was the end of my trail.  Our daughter was outside the vehicle picking up her belongings that flew out of the car while it spun backwards into a ditch on the side of the road.  I was completely helpless.  My left lung was making gurgling noises.  The driver's door was pushed into my ribs and I couldn't move.  She was exactly one week shy of approaching a new height on her trail and I knew if anything happened to me she might cancel her date with destiny.  I mustered enough strength to make a request.  "Promise me you'll go to training," I said while she stared back nervously.  Then I flashed her my Vulcan hand gesture symbolizing live and prosper and told her, "climb higher."  She didn't have time to answer.  The ambulance arrived and I was gone in a flash.

Much to my surprise, I was released from the hospital 24 hours after the accident and returned home.  Our daughter kissed me good-bye before the week was over and honored my request to climb higher.  What a thrill it was to see her earn her wings two months later.

My request today is that you seek out the clues all around you that will help you find your own trail and then pursue your dreams with everything you have.  Never give up.  Never stop climbing.  Your dream life awaits.  Have a great day.

He's Coming

Besides the gifts, the music and all the parties, there are two things to consider this Christmas season.  Believers know Christmas is about celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus.  Yet, even the believers sometimes overlook the second part of the Christmas season that has to do with the time when Jesus returns.  This is the best time of year to think about our Savior coming back again for all of us.  

The next time you read your Bible, pretend you're on a treasure hunt.  Dig deep and search for stories about Jesus coming into the world.  When you find the baby Jesus, keep digging for the deeper meaning.  It's all there – the beginning and the end, all in the same stories.  When the adult Jesus returns again, this will complete what started with his birth 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem.  The first time he appeared to a select few.  Next time the whole world will see him.  Are you ready?  Have a great day.

Why I'm Banned from the Golf Course

Look no further than the photo for the real reason why I'm banned from the golf course.  As you can see, I'm rather conflicted.  The only person I know who creates more havoc than me on the golf course is that hockey player from Happy Gilmore who took up golf to save his grandma's house from repossession.  I suppose we have a lot in common – we're both happy and we both hate creditors.  We also like to play games.  It's no wonder my followers choose anonymity.

My exit from this golf course wasn't pretty.  I guess they didn't understand my sense of humor and sent security after us.  Umbro had a run-in with one of them upstairs in the lodge where he was hiding.  I snapped the photo below on our way out the door.  Time to run.  It's family day today.  Have a great day.

Bogey, Birdie, Eagle, Par and Mulligan

If you're serious about debt reduction, it's important to know the rules of the game and key definitions.  Par is the predetermined number of strokes an experienced golfer is expected to use to complete a hole.  A bogey is one shot over par.  One shot under par is called a birdie.  Two shots under par is an eagle.  A mulligan is used when you hit the ball the way I do and it disappears in the dense overgrowth.  Mulligans aren't always allowed on the golf course.  The first time I read the sign displayed over the receptionist's desk that read, NO MULLIGANS ALLOWED, I walked out and decided to play tennis.  Tennis courts have high fences which are helpful.   I'm better suited for tennis because I don't have to spend all day in the dense overgrowth searching for my lost balls.

I'm applying the rules of golf to a debt reduction game I'm developing for those handicapped with excessive debt.  You can take as many mulligans (they're called do overs) as you want when you play the game.   First, you predetermine how many additional principal dollars you want to pay each month.  If you come up short, mark that hole as a bogey and write down the amount you're short on your scorecard.  If you contribute more than expected, give yourself an eagle or birdie and write the plus amount on your scorecard.   Play the game as often as necessary until you win by declaring financial freedom on your last hole.  Have a great day.

How I'm Keeping Score in the Debt Reduction Game

It can get really scary when there's a Mulligan writing the rules of the game.  Just ask my neighbors I grew up with.    It gets even scarier when I combine my love of marketing with book writing, puzzle solving and debt reduction.  It's all fun and games.  Solving problems is what we Mulligans have been doing for generations.  When I was growing up, I heard stories about my granddad, a Midwest family physician who put skis on his airplane so he could make house calls in the Winter.  I don't need to make house calls to help others when cyberspace is free and without boundaries.  Yes, it's all coming together now and I'm sharing the early drafts here on this blog, aka my own not-so-private sand box where I play games every morning before sunrise.

Traditional golf is played over 18 holes.  I'm adding another 18 in my debt reduction game because I believe everyone can use a mulligan when it comes to winning the financial freedom game.  The 36 hole virtual golf course is divided into three parts – the front nine, the middle 18 and the back nine.  Par is the amount each player decides to pay in additional principal payments every month.  The debt reduction game can be played over and over until the player wins financial independence.  My hope is to make par over the next 36 months and then send my mortgage banker home in December, 2021.  A little birdie told me there may be a next generation Mulligan with a pilot's license I can hire to fly my last creditor out of town on a one-way ticket.  I don't know if skis are FAA approved but I have a feeling a photo like that would go viral.  I'll see you on the course.  Have a great day.

It's Almost Time to Tee it Up

If you hear anyone yelling, "four," in early January, it's probable me.  I'm really not going anywhere near a real golf course.  It's all virtual reality stuff.  My opponent is larger than life and he's been beating me up ever since I got my first credit card and began forking over part of my pay to third party heisters.  My opponent has some dirty tricks up his sleeve, like littering my inbox with unsolicited offers to leave the golf course and charge away with 0% interest for 12 months.  This time I'm not caving.  I'm swinging away at debt reduction, one hole at a time, one month at a time, for 36 months until I'm debt free.  The prize money of $5,000 may not seem like much but the plan is to walk away with the winnings in my pocket instead of those scoundrels who owned me for most of my adult life.  This is the last time I'm playing games.  I hope this inspires others give debt reduction a try.  It's all about paying more now so you can break free and have more time for fun, like playing golf or tennis.  Stay tuned for updates.  Have a great day.

Stealing Second Base

Home runs are simple.  You swing for the fences and you're done.  Too bad life isn't as simple as hitting home runs, especially when you face formidable opponents.  Consistent base hits are what win games.  Life is a game played on the streets, like the minor leagues were few spectators are cheering you on.  It's easy to get complacent.  There you are on first base.  You feel good about how you got there.  It's comfortable but it's not where you belong.  Home plate is where the rewards are awaiting for those willing to maximize their talents and push themselves to the limit of their abilities.

If home plate seems impossible from your point of view today, forget about it.  Take your foot off first base and take one or two steps forward towards your next short term goal.  Focus all your attention on stealing second.  When you get the opportunity, run.  You can do this.  Have a great day.

Follow the Heart or the Brain?

Conflict is what lives inside the heart and brain of every writer.  Sometimes, there's this internal battle between the heart and the brain over which direction to proceed.  When the noises get too loud, others in the world around you can overhear your struggles, adding intensity to the internal debate.  My voices fight for control over who will be heard in my stories.  Muffling the voices or hiding them only prolongs the inevitable when they finally explode like a volcano and spew ashes into the hemisphere for the whole world to see.

Score a victory for my heart today.  Although the brain refuses to acquiesce, the story is moving forward.  I must fight through the interference from within and let the words flow.  There will be more conflict ahead.  Pardon me if those voices get too loud.  I'm following my heart even if those zig zag patterns are making my head spin.  One day at a time.  One day at a time.  Have a great day.

Lightning Strike Inspired Me Today

We all have our moments.  We feel stuck in the sand trap and no matter what we do or how hard we try, we can't get out.  Then it happens.  Lightning strikes.  A shot of energy shoots into our brain and suddenly we see the light.  There's a reason why my book updates have been sparse.  Every since I dumped most of my chapters in the trash I was lost in space.  It's how the parents felt in Home Alone when they realized they left a child behind when they flew to Europe for Christmas.  They panicked.  Well, I didn't lose a child but I certainly lost a great deal of time trying to find my way home to my stalled out book project.

I really don't know how other writers do it, but I do know one thing about my current writing project.  I'm not writing it, I'm living it.  I'm in my wheelhouse when I'm sharing personal stories.  There are times when my life seems stranger than fiction.  The good news is the storm clouds are gone and the sun is shining.  It's time to get busy.  Have a great day.

Plant a Dream Seed Today

Dreams are like seeds.  Plant them, water them and nourish them and you will be well rewarded with a bumper crop.  I'm a big believer in dreaming big.  Over time I've refined my farming techniques to increase yields.  There are times when nightmares invade my field like unwanted weeds.  Perhaps these weeds are my own negative thoughts about what's ahead.  The nightmares show up in times of doubt, uncertainty or when the dream is barely sprouting.  Stay with your dreams and do whatever it takes to protect them until harvest time.  Have a great day.

Let's Make a Deal

Monty Hall was best known for his TV game show, Let's Make a Deal.  His fans dressed up and in hilarious costumes hoping he would notice them and invite them to play.  In the real world, all of us are playing games with our mortgage companies.  The banks always win because they get guaranteed money and we lose because we're giving them our hard earned bucks for up to 30 years.  Your mortgage "game" doesn't end until you make that final payment.  The same is true with credit card financing and auto loans.  You don't have to look behind door #1, 2 or 3 to find out how bad your losses are.  I'm going to show you right now so you can decide for yourself when you want to stop clowning around with your creditors.

Remember this – the longer you play the game, the more money you lose.  For example, if you owe $100,000 on your mortgage and choose door #1, a 30 year plan with 5% interest, you pay the banks almost double  what you borrow at $93,000 in interest payments.

Door #2 is a $100,000 mortgage with the same interest rate for 15 years.  You cut your interest payments by over $50,000 when you go with door #2.

Door #3 is the same as #2 but your deal is now for ten years.  Drum roll, please.  You saved approximately $66,000 by choosing this option over door #1.  Congratulations.  By the way, the banks will usually lower your interest rate when you decide to reduce the number of years you want to play games with them.

There's a reason many people stay in the game even though they know they are getting humiliated by their banks.  They feel trapped because of what they owe in car payments and credit card payments.  The best way I know out of this mess is to get some debt discipline.  I focused on one debt at a time until it was paid off before moving on.  The debt game will be over in 3 years when the mortgage is retired.  The banks will get $5,000 of my money as opposed to the majority of Americans who foolishly opt for door #1 and $88,000 for the rights to clown around with their bank.  What door will you choose?  Have a great day.

Jesus, Take the Wheel

There's no doubt in my mind Jesus is real.  Zero.  I'm the first to admit to you and all the world I was blind and now I see.  Jesus gave me this vision.  My journey began with a prayer for wisdom sometime during my teenage years when I felt like my world was falling apart.  I thought I had things figured out and my life was pretty much on cruise control.  I was 90% all in for Jesus.  The truth is I held on to the other 10% in the area of finances because most of the stories I read about Jesus and money didn't really fit my point-of-view.  Why was Jesus always letting go of the money?  This bothered me.

Looking in the rear view mirror, my life was 90% amazing and 10% challenging.  The challenging part had to do with my poor money management skills.  I caved when the last recession hit and I lost all my marbles.  It was time for Jesus to take the wheel.  No more calling for a part-time Uber driver in times of crisis.  I needed Jesus to be in charge 100% of the time.  When I finally let go of the money, it was really more about letting go of all the liabilities I accrued because my pesos were devalued all the way to zero.  Letting go felt good.   I moved over to the passenger seat and watched Jesus wipe out every liability,  one by one, until they vaporized into thin air.  There's only one obstacle to go – the mortgage.  Jesus has the wheel. His foot is on the accelerator and he's driving well over the speed limit.   I hear Jesus whispering in his calm, reassuring voice, "let go."  My seat belt is buckled and my eyes are wide open.  This is a joy ride I want to savor all the way to Heaven.  Jesus knows the way, the truth and the life and he will share it with anyone who asks.  Have a great day.

Winning Food Habits for the New Year

Are you planning your next shopping trip soon?  I recommend you give your food purchases some serious consideration before you go to the grocery store if you want to hit the ground running in the new year.  The easiest way to win is to make sure you don't have any processed foods in the house.  Your list should be heavy on fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.  Use these next three weeks to deplete all the foods that you will no longer be purchasing.  Make your produce section your favorite place to visit when you're shopping.

If you can get one new habit right next year, focus on the grocery list.  Be disciplined when you shop and don't cheat.  I'm concentrating on eating at home because that's my safe zone for my food and my budget.  One or two new habits are all you need to win at healthy eating.  Healthy eating is your foundation for optimum health.  Go for it.  Have a great day.

Show Me the Points

My ways are a bit unorthodox.  Maybe that's why they separated the Kindergarten class into two groups and I was placed in the morning session for kids who needed extra help finding their way.  My sisters are helping my mother clean out things she accumulated over a lifetime of raising six kids and it's too bad my Kindergarten report card wasn't tossed sooner.  It's still haunting me.  He could do better, my teacher wrote.  If you want her real name, ask one of the pm kids.  I remember her as Mrs. Caboose.  Before this story turns into a train wreck, let me get back on track and share a little bit about bonus points.  It's my way of doing better with our family budget.  Dave Ramsey, the financial guru people pay big bucks to follow, would not agree with me.  He's old school.  I'm a rebel.

Bonus points are rewards you earn from doing things in a manner different from the way your parents or teachers taught you.  I'm using these points to have fun while I'm retiring my mortgage early.  I earned over 1,000 in bonus points (free money) in the last 24 months by turning my credit card into a debit card.  The banks haven't heard of this one.  Simply use a credit card that pays rewards and make a payment from your checking account as soon as it clears pending in order to avoid interest.  Make sure the funds are in your checking account first before you charge.  This idea is only the tip of the iceberg.  Stay tuned for more stories about bonus points.  I'll be sharing more here during my debt reduction adventures.  Have a great day.

Here's Your Mulligan for Debt Reduction

Need a mulligan on your debt reduction plan?  Maybe your challenge is a lack of a plan to obtain financial freedom.  Or, perhaps you make plans every year to get started and then fall short because you return to your old ways.  I'm offering you a mulligan.  I'm doing this for myself and any others who are serious about financial freedom.  I have 58 years of mulligans and most of the time I've either been in the sand traps or under water.  Some may say I have no credibility to help others regarding this topic but I disagree.  My time falling down is where I learned how to get back up on my feet again.  If you care to join me, follow this blog and let's do this together.

I'm dedicating the next three years of my life to paying off my mortgage early so I can live a life free of debt.  I'll be sharing the journey here on this blog.  I already know there will be challenges ahead.  In fact, some surprises already hit me and I'm only in the parking lot next to the golf course.  I need 36 months on the course to hit my goal.  Join me if you would like to improve your game.  Have a great day.

Full House Ahead

With the exception of our youngest son's pet Chihuahua we're taking care of while he attends school out of state, our nest is empty.  It's about to be full again.  This Christmas all of our adult children are returning home.  One of our greatest joys as parents is seeing them spread their wings and soar like eagles.  I remember the looks on their faces while they waited patiently at the top of the stairs for mom and dad to see if Santa visited.  Now mom and dad are at the ones waiting for them to return home.

My prayer for you today is that you have peace.  I know what it's like when someone is missing from the nest or they have a broken wing.  Family time is good for the soul.  Have a great day.

Set Daily Quotas to Reach Goals

I really enjoy breaking things down into bite-size pieces I can swallow.  This is a great way to turn a fuzzy dream into something precise.  The key is to stick to daily quotas.  Give yourself a deadline for every goal you have and then count the number of days remaining until you reach your desired target.  Now you have a daily workload.  Keep your focus on what you need to accomplish on today's wordlist.  Don't worry about anything else.  Have a great day.

Mens 40 Playoff Hopes Alive After Dramatic Win

I've witnessed some amazing victories over the years.  Photo finishes.  Last second Hail Mary passes to the end zone in overtime.  Yesterday's epic win on the indoor tennis courts ranks at the top of my list.  Four out of five league matches were decided in super tie breakers.  I came up short in my doubles match after losing the first set in a tiebreaker by two points.  We fought off four match points to tie the second set at 6-6.  The second tiebreaker was decided by two points when the ball bounced our way.  Our opponents made a couple of Hail Mary plays of their own in the 10 point super tiebreaker to claim victory.   Our teams were tied 2-2 when our team captain and his partner faced off against their strongest players in the lag match.  2 and 1/2 hours later we held our breaths watching the last super tie breaker of the day.  Our side had everything to lose since we were defeated 3-2 by the same team earlier in the season.  A loss meant we were out of the race to determine a state champion.  Our opponents took an early 8-4 lead in the super tie breaker and were only two points shy of sealing their first place standing when our teammates dug in for the comeback.  Our guys won four points in a row to even the score.  My teammates seemed unfazed when their opponents reached match point at 9-8.  My teammates fought back to win the next three points in a row and claim victory in overtime.  Final team score:  3-2.  What a win.  We get to do this one more time in January when we see these players again in the final match of the regular season.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share my life with you on this blog.  I don't write much about my tennis experiences because I don't want to bore those of you who don't follow the sport.  If Charles Dickens were to pen a story about my tennis life, I have a feeling he would break the chapters into three parts – Christmas past, present and future.  In my past, I see my dad on the sidelines waiting for my high school match to end so he can show off  his left-handed backhand slice on our concrete tennis courts with steel nets.  I see my cousin on the other side of the net hitting white tennis balls with surgical precision while our aunt Helen is cheering wildly.  Christmas present is summarized in the first paragraph above.  And Christmas future...let's just say Christmas future is in God's hands.  God willing, I'm hoping my body is strong enough to play in the Mens 90 national championships with another Mulligan.  Even though he may be two months and five days younger than me, we will both be age eligible for this division on January 1, 2050.  Enjoy your Christmas season and remember it's a present made possible by our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Have a great day.

808 Vision Becomes Real

It started with a dream.  One of my business partners and I shared about vacations and travel plans during a break many years ago.  I told him my favorite place to vacation is Maui which happens to have an 808 area code.  Then it hit me.  Why not set a goal to work 80 days and then take 8 days off to travel?  808 became a vision.  The dream stayed with me when I packed my bags and relocated to the Midwest with my family.  I felt like I won the lottery when a family member accepted a position at a major airlines offering travel perks for the parents.  Even though I'm still shy of the number of weeks needed at my day job to achieve 808, I found a way to use unpaid leave to fill the gap and take four weeks off next year.  Today I did it.  I arranged the fourth week of vacation for 2019 and  reserved a prepaid place in Big Sky country.   All of my vacations are possible using free standby travel, credit card rewards and hotel points accumulated from day job adventures.

Most people overlook the ingredient necessary to bring a dream to life – faith.  I'm a believer.  The one I follow moves mountains, heals broken bones and gives rest to the weary.  I believe Jesus gave me the 808 vision long ago and I held on to to that dream even though I let go of everything else.  In fact, letting go is what made the dream possible.  It's time to sign off and head to the indoor courts for a league match.  Have a great day and don't forget to dream big.

An Important Reason Why You Need to Achieve Your Goals

Zig Ziglar said it best, "what you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals."

The other night I was playing doubles with an extremely competitive group.  My opponent struck the ball so hard at me that I fell backwards while returning a volley at the net.  I managed to raise my racquet while squatting down on my derriere.  He charged like an angry bull on a mission to conquer the matador in the arena.  My raised racquet was not a sign of surrender and my opponent knew it.  He did the right thing by pouncing on me with a second bullet to my body while I was still down.  I popped a volley cross court between the two men and it floated to the baseline like a pop fly.  I jumped back on my feet and closed the net while my opponent chased the ball and somehow kept the point alive.  We didn't win the point but it didn't matter.  What was important to me was knowing who I have become – a fighter who has a passion for winning against all odds.

The one I follow fell three times before he achieved his final objective.  He taught me you always get back up after every fall.  This is a good lesson for all of us.  Have a great day.

Winning Habits

Habits are a two-sided coin.  Heads, you win.  Tails, you lose.  If your life is the way you want it to be, congratulations.  You found a way to win consistently, just like Vince Lombardi.  Today's story is for those who are stuck on the tails side of the coin.  You're only a coin toss away from turning your life around.

I was watching a TV show with my wife the other night and one of the characters was in a counseling session about a problem.  His psychiatrist answered him by saying, "it's a jump ball."  My take on the answer is the problem can go either way, like a coin toss.  In my opinion, there's a way to land on heads with some good planning, a great attitude and a willingness to be consistent.  Go after that jump ball and whatever you do, don't let your opponent get the upper hand.  Practice daily.  Work on your moves.  Don't freak out when you think theres' a shark in the water while you're doing your training laps.  There's a 50% chance it's only a porpoise.  Keep swimming.  Have a great day.

Fun, Games and Debt Reduction

I have my game face on.  This is what I do when I'm up against a fierce competitor.  It's all about a winning attitude.  My secret weapon is visualization.  It's like taking a sneak peek into the future and seeing that finish line along with all the rewards that come with it.

What name to you give your opponent when you're fighting someone or something you can't see in front of you?  That's what debt reduction is – an opponent without a face.  I picture my challenger as a mountain I must climb, a marathon I must win and most recently, a 36-hole golf course I must conquer before sunset on the last day of the year three years, one month and two days from today.  Yes, a golf course.  Why?  Because most people want to be on the golf course.  That's where the fun is.  Debt reduction can be fun if you know how to play the game and you choose to make it fun.

I'm sharing my strategy for the first twelve holes on my imaginary golf course and my opponent is ABC Mortgage.  We're going mano y mano.  I've been buying his cigars and supporting his luxurious lifestyle ever since I bought my first property in my 20's.  When these 36 holes are done, so is Mr. ABC Mortgage.  He's going down.  I designed my game around my strengths and they have nothing to do with my golf swing as entertaining as my form may be to my readers.  The third hole comes with two weeks in Maui, already prepaid to keep me focused on par.  The 5th hole comes with a stay in Phoenix, mostly prepaid with the exception of a rental car.  The 7rh hole includes one week prepaid in Aruba.  If I make par in the first nine holes, I'm giving myself and my wife a bonus one week vacation to be used on the 10th or 11th hole.  By the way, I'll be eating and living like a caveman when I'm not golfing.  That's the price necessary to beat Mr. ABC Mortgage.  Have a great day.

Introducing Cico, Mimo and Siso

They aren't real people.  Cico (pronounced See Koe), Mimo (pronounced Me Moe) and Siso (pronounced See So) are your guides for monitoring your food, finances and spiritual self.  All three function like the gas tank in your car, truck or SUV.   The bottom line is that when Cico is in harmony, meaning calories in = calories out, you're weight is constant.  If you eat more, you need to exercise more unless you don't care about weight gain.  When you fill your tank with premium gas your body burns fuel more efficiently.  I find I can eat as much as I want when all my food choices come from fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.

We have a mimo machine at my day job for taking money in and checking money out.  The machine works great as long as our people don't ever request more money than what mimo has in her belly.  Your household runs smoothly when Mimo has funds.  She becomes high maintenance when you ignore your balance and you hit the red zone.  Auto loans and credit card interest may work when you run out of gas but you risk an opportunity to have a fun retirement.  Avoid withdrawing more money than what you have in your possession.

Siso is perhaps the least known member of the three featured today.  Like Mother Nature, you can't see her.  Siso is spirit in and spirit out.  I rely heavily on Siso to keep my attitude right.  Siso works best when invited in to your heart.  Once inside, the magic happens.  Siso is capable of multiplying on an exponential level.  I like to think of Siso as a fuel additive for my soul.  Siso also has a way of working things out when I'm in conflict with other areas of my life like the times when Cico and Mimo are tempting me to stray from my predetermined worthwhile goals.  If you want harmony in your life, go on a date with Siso and then seek a long term relationship with her.  Have a great day.

All Things Broken

I passed a significant test yesterday and it felt great.  It was my first blizzard since the accident.  My wife wanted me to stay home and cuddle in front of the fireplace.  There were others at my day job who called it a day before they got out of bed.  As tempting as my wife's offer was, I knew to the core of my being I needed to face my biggest fear – driving in challenging conditions.  It was time to get back on the horse.

My siblings were the ones who got all the broken bones in our childhood years.  My clean streak ended when I slid in front of an oncoming vehicle and got smacked in the ribs earlier this year.  My body was a mess.  The only thing unbroken was my spirit.  It seemed odd to me that the doctors would send me home 24 hours after breaking 7 bones but I trusted their judgment and went home to recover.  I was back at my day job and back on the tennis courts after two months on the sidelines.

Speaking of broken things, there's one more thing I'm breaking – bad habits.  They don't really die.  They get upgraded.  The best example I can offer from my own life experiences has to do with spending.  My old bad habit consisted of charging first and paying later.  I paid unnecessary taxes on this habit in the form of interest payments to my credit card companies.  The new habit is simple – earn the money first before charging and pay the bill as soon as it clears pending.  I pretend my credit card is a debit card and this prevents interest charges.  Those annual rebate checks from my credit card company are my favorite rewards for upgrading my behavior patterns.  It feels like moving from coach to first class.

Are there any skeletons in your closet that could use some broken bones?  Analyze your bad habits and give them a good karate chop.  Today is a good day to upgrade your bad habits.  Have a great day.

White Christmas Arrived Early Today

The forecast is for 6 to 8 inches of snow today.  It's already coming down in heavy clumps.  Yikes!  The good news is the Christmas music is already playing in our home.  Yes, the Spirit of Christmas is upon us.  I'm bundling up for our walk to church.  It will be more like dashing through the snow with these winds blowing.  Today will be an excellent opportunity to test my anxiety training should the roads remain open for my day job.  Yesterday our back yard looked like a golf course.  Today we have a scenic view of the North Pole.  There's something peculiar about this storm due to the light snow flakes and the high winds.  It's as if the snow is popping like popcorn in a popper.  I'm ready to seize the day.  Have a great day.

Thank God for Wilson

Yes, I have a family.  No, they don't give me permission to post photos on my blog or anywhere else on social media.  There are certain rare exceptions.  Hence, I have a travel buddy who is my stand in during my adventures.  Greg, our hospitality man at Hilton, agreed to be photographed as we were departing for home.  He granted permission when I told him I'm a writer and I use these pictures for my travel stories.  I can't say enough good things about Hilton.  They understand hospitality.  I'll share more about them in future blog messages.

Wilson and my family are all home safe after a fabulous Thanksgiving.  It's time to get to my day job.  Have a great day.

My Most Creative Thanksgiving

When Jesus left the other 99 in search of the one who was lost, it wasn't to upset the group he left behind.  They were safe and secure.  There was plenty of home cooked food to share.  The one who was separated needed some TLC.  My wife and I did the same thing when we got the call about our loved one who was feeling homesick during the Holiday season.  What a blessing it turned out to be.

It's time to return to the fold today.  We're thankful for the opportunity to share Thanksgiving with our daughter and her friends.  The hotel provided a complimentary feast for her group.  We shared an apple pie given to us by our realtor.  She jumped through so many hoops to get us our home nearly seven years ago when she appeared as a shepherd in search of a lost sheep.  I think she sensed my Guardian angel watching over me when I told her, "I have no money, no job and no credit."  God bless the people who work miracles to give shelter to the lost sheep.  Have a great day.

Happy Thanksgiving

Does anything in the picture above catch your eye?  For me, it's mesmerizing.  Yes, yes – I'm thankful for my health, home, family, friends and food.  There's something else in the picture you may have overlooked at first glance.  It's YOU.  Thank you for visiting daily, for being a part of all my pumpkins and for inspiring me to appreciate all the blessings in my life.  Like the blind man who summed it up when he met Jesus, I have this to say... "I was blind but now I see."  Thank you for opening my eyes to what's important.  Happy Thanksgiving.  Have a great day.

All Life is an Experiment

What are you waiting for?  The day you were born is the day the experiment started.  There aren't any expiration dates.  As long as you're willing to try new ideas, the experiment continues.  There was a time in your life when you needed to rely on others for everything.  One day you woke up and tried crawling.  A whole new world opened up.  Your perspective expanded exponentially when you stood up and took your first step.  Those stumbles never stopped you from advancing.  Everything you tried was an experiment.  Don't stop now.

I'm discovering there's one common ingredient in our lives we can live without if we really want to test the limits or our experiment – fear.  Fear cripples.  When fear is your roommate, you look around and only see what's missing.  Opportunity is on the other side of the locked door.  The experiment ceases.  I prefer to close my eyes and count my blessings.  I have everything I need to make this experiment an opportunity of a lifetime.  How?  I'm going to blend, chop, grind, mix and frappe all the ingredients I have and run, jump, climb and fly over every obstacle in front of me until my last breath.  The smile on my face at the end of my life will tell others there was a successful outcome at the conclusion of the experiment.  How about you?  How many experiments are you ready to try today?  Have a great day.

Day 7 of 7

It's day 7 of 7 at my day job today.  The stars are in alignment for three days of family fun starting tomorrow.  Since one of our loved ones has a job that requires working on major Holidays, we decided to find creative ways to spend time together.  When she can't come to the party, we bring the party to her.  Let's just say we're expanding our horizons.

I would like to thank one of my favorite blog readers for reaching out to me yesterday in support of my golfing challenges, aka debt reduction for beginners.  The reality is most of us don't realize we're confined in debt prison. High interest rates and penalties for late or missed payments may as well be a life sentence.  My escape is as well thought out as Andy's from the Shawshank Redemption.  Our youngest son remarked I was cooler than Morgan Freeman, Andy's sidekick who was rewarded with enough cash after his release to live comfortably in his retirement years.  Even though the comment about my coolness was made while he was coming out of anesthesia, I appreciate his kind words and aspire to be free once my escape plan is hatched.

The key to any good plan is to make it so vivid and detailed that you can't get lost.  After all, debt prison is like a confusing labyrinth and the creditors design it to keep their customers walled in for life.  Andy made chess pieces in prison.  I'm creating a massive 36 hole golf course and the last hole is where my treasure chest is buried with my mortgage document inside.  There are two par threes in May and November this first year and the other ten holes are par twos.  The idea is to make par 36 times over 36 months.  Par is the additional money necessary to pay down the principle.  Why a golf course?  Because debt reduction can be fun if you're willing to visualize a successful outcome.  Have a great day.

Winning Habits

We didn't get the team win yesterday.  I told my doubles partner I believe practicing once a week isn't enough for me against these savvy senior players, many retired, who play regularly during the week.  That's what winning habits do for you, they set you up for victory in every area of your life.  While my tennis game may be less that what I desire right now, I've been working hard to put the rest of my life on a series of daily routines that appear to be worthwhile.

It's not necessary to re-invent yourself all at once.  I believe small changes work better than total makeovers, especially when you commit 100% to making a new habit stick and stay with it until it becomes permanent before moving on.

If you're like me, a new habit may appear like a golf ball.  In the early stages, that golf ball is all over the place, rarely landing in the green when you hit it, especially if your last name happens to be Mulligan.  I already know my golf ball will be in the sand trap when I begin making the necessary additional monthly payments needed to pay off our mortgage in 36 months.  My "sand traps" are unexpected repairs, temptations to eat out, property taxes twice a year, and income taxes.  Am I going to give up when the golf ball drifts?  Hell no.  This habit is a 36 hole golf course and I'm not leaving until that last putt is sunk and I achieve financial independence.  I can work on my tennis game later in the Spring when playing outdoors is free.

What price are you willing to pay to develop winning habits?  I recommend you find three friends and ask them to join you on your journey.  Help each other to reach your goals.  I'll see you on the course.  Have a great day.

Indoor Fun Today

It's time to hit the courts for some indoor fun in the Men's 55+ division this morning before heading off to my day job.  Although we're currently in last place in a four team division where we face off twice against each opponent, the matches have been close and we have a chance to climb out of the cellar with a team win.  I'm eagerly awaiting two players to join our team when they become age eligible on Jan 1.  In football terms, today's match is the end of the second quarter.  If we can stay close until the fresh legs come in late in the 4th quarter, I believe we can surprise our opponents and advance to the playoffs.  I wish I could borrow Phil Rivers, the quarterback of the Chargers, for one of his half-time pep talks.  My family never counted him out during the months of November and December when he thrilled fans with his never die spirit.  All I can say is, win or lose, it's going to be a fun day today.  Have a great day.

My Shortest Short Story

It's three minutes before departure for my day job.  It was a morning of trouble shooting and all the fixes are done but I'm short on time and it's snowing.  What a great opportunity to continue my anxiety training.  See you tomorrow.  Have a great day.

What Can You Achieve in the Final 45 Days of the Year?

There's no waiting in line at the gym today.  Why not get in shape before the rest of the world jumps in?  Set your goals now and achieve them before this year comes to a conclusion 45 days from today.  Forget those diet crazes.  Fine tune your body now by eating like your caveman ancestors and get results before the calendar flips.

My plan is to have no new resolutions in 2019.  The plan will already be in place.  It's amazing what you can achieve in 45 days if you get busy and get focused.  I challenge you to skip processed foods for the remainder of the year and eat mostly fruits, veggies, nuts, beans and seeds.  You can cheat 10% of the time if you need to.  Measure your results daily and see what happens.  Have a great day.

Stretch Your Budget With Rewards

The next three years of my life are going to be interesting.  The outside observer may argue there's no room for fun and games with such an airtight budget.  It's all about rewards.  The biggest payoff is the mortgage payoff at the end of this 36 month experience.  The smaller rewards are already factored in and accounted for.  For example, I'm making sure our 30th wedding anniversary is celebrated on the same island where it all started with a proposal on a secluded beach in Maui.  We'll be back and it won't break the bank even though we're booked for two weeks early next year.  The hotel is prepaid.  We're flying standby and we're using our credit card reward certificate to cover the rental for our convertible which comes with a free upgrade.  It also helps that my day job has a location across the street from the airport so we can get our food at mainland prices.  Snorkeling and walks on the beach are free.  The look on her face when I tell her she looks as beautiful as she did thirty years ago will be absolutely priceless.

Dave Ramsey tells his followers, "live like no one else so you can live like no one else."  I already am.  I may be one of the few from his tribe who actually use a credit card but I do believe it can assist with debt payoff when used with proper discipline and I make sure to keep my balance at zero in order to avoid paying interest.  A splurge like Maui doesn't have to break the bank when you use rewards to help offset the costs.  Have fun with your budget.  It will help you stay on track.  Have a great day.

With God All Things Are Possible

Consider all the challenges ahead of you.  Are you facing these alone?  I've been there, done that.  Teams are much better, especially when Jesus is the captain.  Even when the ship is sinking and everyone else jumps overboard because the cause appears hopeless, you will not drown as long as Jesus is in the boat.  Remain calm.  Breathe.  Take good notes.  Someday you may want to publish all the good that Jesus is doing in your life so that others may have hope.  Have a great day.

Got Plans for Friday?

Mark your calendar.  Three days from today, on Friday, November 16, you can begin something that may forever change your life.  This is the time of year most people blow it.  They eat foods they shouldn't eat, cut corners on exercise, and make a bunch of resolutions they don't keep just to cover up the guilt they have from another year of failed expectations.  Does this sound familiar?  Give yourself three days to think about an idea I have for you.  It will require 45 days of changing your daily routine.  The payoff is that you can kiss all those resolutions good-bye because you won't have to feel guilty about your life.  Stay with me for one more paragraph and let's do this.

Take a look at your calendar for the remainder of this year.  If there are any end-of-year parties, mark "2 glasses of wine" on each entry.  Take a look at your scheduled shopping trips.  When you go, take this list with you and stick to it – fruits, veggies, nuts, beans, seeds, wine.  If your food items have labels on the packaging, don't put them in your cart.  When you wake up every morning, step on the scale and record your weight.  Then, exercise for five minutes.  Set the timer.  Don't cheat.  Walking counts.  Drink water.  Two glasses of wine per day are okay but no more than that.  Your goal is to avoid all processed foods for 45 days.  Follow these suggestions for 45 days beginning this Friday and see what happens.  On New Years Eve, you can say, "Happy New Year."  You can also say, "Happy Old Year."  Have a great day.  Don't forget to mark your calendar for Friday.