[GordonJ]

Day one.

About an hour a day, some days a bit more.

Optimal: 3 20 minute periods, Morn, Aft. Evening before bed.

A notebook, pen or pencil. All you need, timer if you want to stay on a time schedule.

DAY ONE. What is a SUPER NEW LIFE look like? In order to start defining it, you have to take pause and do an inventory, first 20 minute period.

And this is for you, don't share or tell anyone, you don't need ANY input in the early stages, even then, best to keep your SUPER NEW LIFE to yourself, until it starts to manifest.

Five areas. On page one of your new notebook (back to school specials everywhere, pick one up for a quarter or certainly less than a buck).

FINANCIAL. Start here. What was your income for last year? Right it down and brief description of the HOW.

Example: 60k a year salary; bookkeeper at WalThoms. 6 years on the job.

Then, SUPER NEW LIFE = 75k a year, after a year.

Now you have some idea of where you are at and where MAYBE you want to go.

RELATIONSHIPS. Write about your relationships.

Example: Married. Adult children having work and family issues. House getting full with relatives and kids moving back in. Too much drama, too much care for the house.

SUPER NEW LIFE= Maybe sell house, downsize, use profits to help kids get established, move to warm weather.

Now with RELATIONSHIPS, you'll find you probably have a lot of them, family, friends, work, church or worship, community, clubs, etc.

This is an overview exercise, it isn't time to delve deep into issues, you are creating a sort of a map of where you are NOW. TODAY.

HEALTH. What is yours, and what do you hope for in the future?

FUN. What do you do now, what hobbies would you do if you had more time and money to do them.

Write quickly, the above shouldn't take you more than 15 minutes, don't overthink the exercise.

Step one is WHERE ARE YOU AT TODAY?


Step two is where are you GOING. (DEFINE SUPER NEW LIFE)

Then in the second 20 minute session in the aft (preferably), focus on WHERE DO YOU WANT TO GO.

Define what A SUPER NEW LIFE would look like. Using the above, in the example used, a guy wants to increase his income from 60k to 75k, which is a substantial jump. What will the Xtra 15 be used for, how does it fit in with the SUPER NEW LIFE.

Do it with RELATIONSHIPS, and hobbies, and whatever else you can think of. Again, just write things down.

Step three. THINK about what you've written. Spend about 20 minutes before you go to bed, and think about what you've written. In a different color ink, add additional thoughts to either of the above sessions. Edit, delete, add or just look at it. SEE your life start to take shape in front of you from an outside view.

This might help as part of the exercise.

Look at what you've written down. Then,

"I see a 56 year old man, with a decent job, a house, kids with problems, who likes to play golf, goes bowling, doesn't do much with his wife, she's doing some of her own things.

I see a guy who doesn't hate his job, but sure could use a boost in income. His life NOW, today, isn't terrible, doesn't stink, and is ok, but could be better, and the SUPER VERSION of this guy's life would be..."

And now spend a few minutes imagining whatever you want, in reality, there isn't any 56 year old guy who is going to play in the NBA, but is certainly capable of doubling his income in the next couple of years.

DAY ONE of a SUPER NEW LIFE is over, have a good night's sleep.

Any questions?

Gordon