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Walking the TightRope to Success

June 16, 2012 By 2 Comments

What would have been your initial response if someone told you that walking on a tightrope across Niagara Falls was done?

The feet of a tightrope walker.

The feet of a tightrope walker. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

IMPOSSIBLE, it can’t be done would have been some of our knee jerk reactions to such a crazy statement (I don’t know about you, but sometimes walking on the sidewalk in the rain is hard enough for me).

Yet this morning, headlines around the world tell us that  Nik Wallenda  has  accomplished the impossible by walking over raging waters of Niagara Falls on a tightrope.

Today, people are facing their own impossible Niagara Falls types of struggles in their finances, career, parenting, and/or physical fitness lives.

How can you change your life when impossible challenges come your way? What are some of the secrets of successful people?

In studying successful people and in my books Living Beyond Awesome & Living Beyond Rich , I share three secrets to success that will transform the impossible into possible for those Niagara Falls types of situations we all face:

1. Become intentional with forming your desired destiny by using written goals.

2. Intentionally surround yourself with “I believe in you” type of positive sources such as friends, colleagues, podcasts, coaches, and/or books (and for goodness sakes, keep out the naysayers).

3. Take intentional steps to change your own attitudes, actions, and beliefs versus waiting on the world to take the steps for you.

Nik Wallenda's tightrope walk over Niagara Fal...

Nik Wallenda's tightrope walk over Niagara Falls is one for the history books (Photo credit: Peggy2012CREATIVELENZ)

My question to you is what types of IMPOSSIBLE Niagara Falls situations are you going to cross in order to Live a Life of Awesomeness? Can you share some of your own secrets of success that have transformed you from ordinary to extraordinary?

For more on this topic, jump over to listen to our latest interview with Rob Coburn from Total Fusion Ministries (follow Rob on Twitter at @missioncoach).

Live Beyond Awesome!

Jen McDonough

Motivational Storyteller, Live Beyond Awesome – follow me on Twitter at: @livebeyondrich

Author, Living Beyond Awesome  & soon to be Living Beyond Rich (Due out in Summer 2012) – Look for us through Amazon or through our website.

www.fieldofdebt.com – Please consider subscribing to our blog.

Attention Event Planners: Looking for a motivational storyteller?  Please contact me as I would LOVE to serve your needs.

 

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Stuck in the Muck or Shooting for the Stars of Success?

June 2, 2012 By 10 Comments

How many times do we feel “cheated” in life when some unexpected event causes our lives to be interrupted or even turned upside down.

English: Pleiades Star Cluster

English: Pleiades Star Cluster (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As a parent, I have heard our kids complain MANY times throughout the years, “..but it isn’t FAIR.” If you are like most parents, what do we usually tell our kids?  I bet you are already are hearing your own parents’ voice as you silently answer that question, “No it is not fair, but life isn’t fair.” 

How many times have you wanted to stomp your foot and say that same complaint (but it isn’t fair)  to your parents, spouse, and/or boss? How many times have you silently wanted to scream that out loud to anyone who might be within ear shot?

When our world was rocked to the core just three short years go, we wanted to blame something or someone for our “lot in life.” Why did our son have to get saddled a chronic lifetime disease (type 1 diabetes)? Why is it that our family now has these extra financial burdens to carry?  This is so unfair, why is this happening to us?

Why? Why? Why? Why?

In sharing our success story with people around the globe, we have been blessed to encounter people that have amazing stories of success as well. How do these successful people seem to take what is the worst of times in their lives and turn them into the best of times? Why do people who have similar situations continue to remain in the muck they were in when their crisis touched their lives?

In studying successful people and having become successful in many areas of my own life, I find the key ingredients to taking one’s worst days and making it their best days to be the following:

1. Successful people take action. As I like to say, they “MOVE IT!” 

2. They have an attitude of gratitude.  Successful people claim, they don’t blame.

3. Successful people get out of their comfort zone. When we intentionally put ourselves outside our comfort zone in order to learn and grow is when we  transform into the people we want to be and are meant to be.

Our book, Living Beyond Rich, which is due out on Amazon next month centers on this very topic.

My question to you is…are you a claimer or are you a blamer?  Are you choosing to be your own advocate for success or are you waiting on someone else to do it for you? Are you intentionally choosing to stay stuck in the “muck” or are you choosing to shoot for the stars of success?

My hope is that you are choosing to intentionally take steps to becoming successful in all areas of your life. For some great resources on how to become successful, please visit our website for free resources.

Live Beyond Awesome!

Jen McDonough

Motivational Storyteller, Live Beyond Awesome

Author, Living Beyond Awesome  & soon to be Living Beyond Rich (Due out June 2012) – Look for us through Amazon or through our website:

www.fieldofdebt.com – Please consider subscribing to our blog.

Attention Event Planners: Looking for a motivational storyteller?  Please contact me as I would LOVE to serve your needs.

 

 

 

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Recipe for Making Successful AWESOME Life Come True

February 23, 2012 By 13 Comments

I posted my “obituary blog” last week about keeping the end in mind and working backwards in order to live an awesome life.

English: The face of a black windup alarm clock

Image via Wikipedia

It has truly been interesting thinking about that blog as I took that same concept and applied it to what I want my every day schedule to look like in the future compared to what it looks like today. Wow, that was an eye opener!

This was almost harder than writing one’s obituary!

I was honest and started with what time the alarm clock was going off to when I was heading to bed. I wrote out what my day currently looks like versus what my ideal day will look like in the future. Hmmm…my first gut reaction was, “Do I really need to sleep…there are ONLY 168 hours a week and time seems to be slipping away faster and faster, lets go!” Yes, sleep is needed I grudgingly concluded!

While I still am making tweaks to what my days will look like, it felt good start to become intentional about where my path will lead in my daily day to day schedule. By writing my own future schedule, it will set boundaries that will guide me to live a more purposeful life where I am using my time, talents, and skills to the fullest.

It felt empowering to put the things that are important to me in the forefront of my schedule (God, family, and serving) and work my life around what I wanted my world to look like versus just going with the flow and seeing what life brings.

When the tweaks are done, I will put it into action by loading my calendar with my future life in order to start living the life I was meant to live.

Are you living the intentional day to day life you were meant to live? It not, I challenge you to write your future out to help in living an abundant and darn awesome life.

Live Beyond Awesome & Live With Intention.

Jen

Motivational Storyteller, Live Beyond Awesome

Author, Living Beyond Awesome (Living Beyond Rich Due out Spring 2012) – Look for us through Amazon or through our website:

www.fieldofdebt.com – Please consider subscribing to our blog.

ATTENTION  Event Planners:  Please consider me when planning your next event as my motivational storytelling will give hope, encouragement, and INSPIRATION to your audiences. 

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Jen McDonough’s Obituary – Keeping the End In Mind to a AWESOME Life!

February 17, 2012 By 15 Comments
Didn't We Almost Have It All

Image via Wikipedia

With the recently death of Whitney Houston, I found myself being caught up in a media segment about her life. My kids curiously asked me why this held my attention because normally our TV is only used for video games, movies and occasional sporting events.

My answer back was that I wanted a great obituary when I died and was learning from watching. They were a little confused at this statement. Rather than immediately explain, we watched 5 minutes of the media’s version of Whitney Houston’s life and details of her tragic young death as a family. Afterwards we had a lively and great discussion that centered on the importance of living a life we are proud of even during those times when we make mistakes throughout our journeys in life.

The conversation got me thinking about how I wanted my own obituary to sound. Would I let someone else write the end of my life that could include facts such as places of work, where I was born, where I died, dates, etc.  Geez … the thought has me yawning  just thinking about having a boring obituary – in addition, what a shame it would be to let someone else write out my life!

With that being said, I decided to become intentional about living and write my obituary ahead of time.Sounds strange to some, but why not?

Having the end in mind only helps us map out to where we want to go with our other goals in life right? Why not start with the final end in mind and work backwards.

So, here is a stab at what I would like for my obituary:

Jen McDonough lived an awesome life! She relished in her role as a daughter of God, mom, wife, daughter sister, mentor, advisor, and friend. She lived EACH day with intention, passion, purpose,  joy, happiness, and love. Her family and friends meant the world to her and she knew how very blessed she was each and every day – you could read it in her eyes and smile. She constantly dived out of her comfort zone in order to strive to be the person she became. In doing so, she set a great example for others to stretch beyond their own self perceived limits to live life beyond awesome.  She was deeply loved and loved deeply. In lieu of flowers, please spread a little joy to someone who needs it today.

What does your obituary look like? Are you letting the world decide how it should read or are you taking charge to write it the way you want it lived?

Live Beyond Awesome & Live With Intention.

Jen

Motivational Storyteller, Live Beyond Awesome

Author, Living Beyond Awesome (Living Beyond Rich Due out Spring 2012) – Look for us through Amazon or through our website:

www.fieldofdebt.com – Please consider subscribing to our blog.

ATTENTION  Event Planners:  I would love to help with your next speaking event to give hope, encouragement, and INSPIRATION to your audience.

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Wanna Write a Book? Be a Lottery Winner and Learn How

February 9, 2012 By 13 Comments

I am a published author! WHOO HOOOO!!!

Had you asked me if I would become a published author 7 months ago, I would have assumed you were mistakenly talking to the wrong Jen McDonough.

Dan Miller is someone I am very proud to call my mentor. As with our money and time, I am very intentional about who I choose for my mentors. In utilizing mentors in our lives, our family has gotten to do some incredibly awesome things as there is always room to grow.

Dan is not only a mentor to me, but also to tens of thousands of others through his bestselling books, podcasts, seminars, newsletters, forums, and websites.

Since having our book hit in Amazon’s Top 100 for Transformational books within the first two weeks of being released, I have been asked by MANY people how to get a book published, how to go about writing a book, etc. Without a doubt, I recomme

nd they join Dan’s 48days Community right away. Once you join and start participating, you will see why.

If you want to get a real jump start on writing a book – consider getting over to Dan’s Write to the Bank Seminar (the next one is 3/8/12 and 8/2/12  in Franklin TN). Many of you probably know by now that I am a very frugal person. It was a HUGE decision for my family to invest the time and money into attending this event last Setpember. I tell you truthfully and honestly that it was worth EVERY penny and EVERY minute. The conference is purposely held in a intimate setting where one has the opportunity to be a part of the event. Like many, I was star struck when I got to meet Dan. By the time the conference was done, I went from being star struck to feeling like I had made a life long friend. That is just how Dan and his family is. Warm, personable, and generous.

Getting to attend is like winning the lottery. 81% of people today want to write a book. If this is you, quit wanting and start doing!

Many blessings and thanks for reading.

Live Beyond Awesome!

Jen McDonough

Motivational Storyteller

Author, Living Beyond Awesome

Debt Elimination Coach

Mom to 4 incredible kids, wife to 1 awesome husband

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LOFTY Goal set for becoming Debt Free by this time next year

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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.

Seattle New Years Eve 2011Image 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)

Field of Debt

Living Beyond Awesome

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Goals are your launchpad to the stars!

January 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment

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

www.livingbeyondawesome.com

www.fieldofdebt.com

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