Eliminate all unnecessary expenses. That is the solemn decree for the entrepreneur starting a business with virtually no start up capital ( so- most of us, yeah?)
Thou shall not purchase garments from establishments lacking a sign that reads "Goodwill".
Thou shall not see Adam Sandler movies in theaters.
Thou shall not fly. Not even Spirit. Instead thou shalt take the Greyhound bus.
Thou shall not pinch a penny from thine a$$ that is not directly inserted into thy business.
Saving funds to invest in your business is imperative.
But there's one area in your life that you shouldn't cheap out on, and that is your health. As it turns out, It'll actually put more money in your pocket.
A Maruchan instant ramen noodle lunch costs 30 cents at Target.
( If you're going to eat them, I highly recommend spicy chicken. But don't).
I ate a truly revolting amount of these things during college. When choosing between a 30 cent cup of cancer and a more expensive plate of lean proteins and veggies, your decision to fork over a couple more bucks might be influenced by fears of life shortening consequences.
"What if it turns out that this delicious salty treat is making my body rot internally?" Gee, I don't want to die before I'm 40!" What's the point of being rich if I'm buried in the ground?!?"
An excellent point.
However, when I was eating this garbage, I couldn't force myself to care about the long term.
So for those of us who have trouble giving a shit about say, 10-15 years from now, let me share some immediate benefits with you.
Ones that will effect your business today.
We all know that food is fuel. Yeah, a calorie is a calorie. However, we don't process all of them at the same rate. Your body turns the vast majority of what you eat into glucose- which is responsible for providing your brain the energy it needs to stay alert.
When you shovel pasta, white bread, soda and cereal into your pie hole, you can expect a quick glucose release. You get an energy boost, but you also get a slump that lasts for much longer.
A slump in physical energy. A slump in mental creativity. A dismantling of the weapons every entrepreneur needs to wield when battling it out in a war for the market's attention.
avoid these processed foods like the plague. They tend to contain large amounts of salt, sugar and fat- and might just convince your brain that drop shipping unbranded Ali-Express items is going to make you a millionaire.
In contrast, unprocessed foods promote sustained energy release over a longer period of time, since they have a lower glycemic index rating than processed foods. Baked or grilled chicken is your friend, McGriddles are not.
Ok. ok. I know. Nutrition, nutrition. Health, health. Cheeseburger= orgasm, vegetable = sadness.
What the hell does any of this have to do with a $7.55 cup of ramen freakin' noodles?
Well, the national minimum wage is $7.25 per hour in the United States.
What if that 30 cent cup of delicious, and nutritionally bankrupt ramen costs you a mere hour of productive working time?
Just an hour.
Cost of ramen ( 30 cents) + opportunity cost of lost work hour ( $7.25) = $7.55.
The real question becomes, what do you value your time at? I can tell you that I value my time way higher than $7.25 an hour. But even if I got paid minimum wage, It would STILL be a dumb investment. Why? Because I can make a healthy meal for less than $7.55. Holla at ya boy Trader Joe.
Even at 30 cents a cup, you're still the one getting stiffed.
Your nutritional choices could very well determine your life. Who will you choose to be?

Sources:
The amazing connection between food and productivity – A Life of Productivity ( above photos are the property of Chris Bailey).
What You Eat Affects Your Productivity
Thou shall not purchase garments from establishments lacking a sign that reads "Goodwill".
Thou shall not see Adam Sandler movies in theaters.
Thou shall not fly. Not even Spirit. Instead thou shalt take the Greyhound bus.
Thou shall not pinch a penny from thine a$$ that is not directly inserted into thy business.
Saving funds to invest in your business is imperative.
But there's one area in your life that you shouldn't cheap out on, and that is your health. As it turns out, It'll actually put more money in your pocket.
A Maruchan instant ramen noodle lunch costs 30 cents at Target.
( If you're going to eat them, I highly recommend spicy chicken. But don't).
I ate a truly revolting amount of these things during college. When choosing between a 30 cent cup of cancer and a more expensive plate of lean proteins and veggies, your decision to fork over a couple more bucks might be influenced by fears of life shortening consequences.
"What if it turns out that this delicious salty treat is making my body rot internally?" Gee, I don't want to die before I'm 40!" What's the point of being rich if I'm buried in the ground?!?"
An excellent point.
However, when I was eating this garbage, I couldn't force myself to care about the long term.
So for those of us who have trouble giving a shit about say, 10-15 years from now, let me share some immediate benefits with you.
Ones that will effect your business today.
We all know that food is fuel. Yeah, a calorie is a calorie. However, we don't process all of them at the same rate. Your body turns the vast majority of what you eat into glucose- which is responsible for providing your brain the energy it needs to stay alert.
When you shovel pasta, white bread, soda and cereal into your pie hole, you can expect a quick glucose release. You get an energy boost, but you also get a slump that lasts for much longer.
A slump in physical energy. A slump in mental creativity. A dismantling of the weapons every entrepreneur needs to wield when battling it out in a war for the market's attention.
avoid these processed foods like the plague. They tend to contain large amounts of salt, sugar and fat- and might just convince your brain that drop shipping unbranded Ali-Express items is going to make you a millionaire.
In contrast, unprocessed foods promote sustained energy release over a longer period of time, since they have a lower glycemic index rating than processed foods. Baked or grilled chicken is your friend, McGriddles are not.
Ok. ok. I know. Nutrition, nutrition. Health, health. Cheeseburger= orgasm, vegetable = sadness.
What the hell does any of this have to do with a $7.55 cup of ramen freakin' noodles?
Well, the national minimum wage is $7.25 per hour in the United States.
What if that 30 cent cup of delicious, and nutritionally bankrupt ramen costs you a mere hour of productive working time?
Just an hour.
Cost of ramen ( 30 cents) + opportunity cost of lost work hour ( $7.25) = $7.55.
The real question becomes, what do you value your time at? I can tell you that I value my time way higher than $7.25 an hour. But even if I got paid minimum wage, It would STILL be a dumb investment. Why? Because I can make a healthy meal for less than $7.55. Holla at ya boy Trader Joe.
Even at 30 cents a cup, you're still the one getting stiffed.
Your nutritional choices could very well determine your life. Who will you choose to be?


Sources:
The amazing connection between food and productivity – A Life of Productivity ( above photos are the property of Chris Bailey).
What You Eat Affects Your Productivity
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