Does It Hurt Bad Enough?

[AllenCrawley]

A traveling salesmen was passing thru a small country town and stopped at a mom and pop convenient store to pick up snacks and a drink. The place was an old building with old wooden floors and owned by a man well into his later years.

As the salesman shopped he noticed a bloodhound laying in the corner. Every once in a while the dog would let out a soft howling moan. The salesman came to the register to pay. As the store owner and the man made small talk the bloodhound let out another painful moan. This prompted the salesman to ask, "What is wrong with your dog? Is he okay? He seems to be in some kind of pain."

The old store keeper said, "Oh, there be a nail that sticks up out the floor board over there and he just happens to be layin' on it".

"Well he's surely in some pain. Why don't he just get up and find another place to lay down?"

The store owner thought for a second and said, "Well... I reckon it just don't hurt that bad."



For many, many years I was that bloodhound.

I'd whine, moan, groan and complain about my situation... my lot in life.

One day I realized I had the power to do something about it. I guess I always had some understanding of this but never a revelation of it until February, 2013.

No, I never took NLP classes or studied Tony Robbins material (not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that). I just had an epiphany, a 'sudden and striking realization' that I've settled and everything that I've moaned about was a result of past decisions and I had the power to change it.

I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I couldn't take the pain of laying on that nail any longer.

I got up and moved.

I surrounded myself with world class people.

Changed my mindset. Changed my lifestyle. Changed my diet. Changed my friendships. Changed my geographic location.

And me and my family's world has drastically changed forever for the better. Physically, Financially, Relationally and Spiritually.

A few days ago we celebrated our 1 year anniversary of moving to Arizona. Hands down the best decision we have ever made. There is no going back to that 'nail in the floor'.

TL;DR

I'll close with a question...

Is the dissatisfaction of your current 'lot in life' painful enough to do something drastic enough to bring about a change?

Life doesn't get better by chance. It gets better by change.

Take care my friends.

Allen

 

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[AllenCrawley]

Sometimes the change can be a relatively simple change...

Cancel the cable subscription.
Sell the xbox.
Sell your TV.
Get up 3 hours earlier.
Go for a walk every day.

Sometimes the change has to be more drastic...

Move out of your parents home.
Quit your job.
End a relationship.
Move to another state.
Drop out of college.

I don't know what it is that will catapult you out of the situation you're in to a whole new life. It's not for me to tell you. It's for you to figure out... and then do it.

 

[Vigilante]

A traveling salesmen was passing thru a small country town and stopped at a mom and pop convenient store to pick up snacks and a drink. The place was an old building with old wooden floors and owned by a man well into his later years.

As the salesman shopped he noticed a bloodhound laying in the corner. Every once in a while the dog would let out a soft howling moan. The salesman came to the register to pay. As the store owner and the man made small talk the bloodhound let out another painful moan. This prompted the salesman to ask, "What is wrong with your dog? Is he okay? He seems to be in some kind of pain."

The old store keeper said, "Oh, there be a nail that sticks up out the floor board over there and he just happens to be layin' on it".

"Well he's surely in some pain. Why don't he just get up and find another place to lay down?"

The store owner thought for a second and said, "Well... I reckon it just don't hurt that bad."



For many, many years I was that bloodhound.

I'd whine, moan, groan and complain about my situation... my lot in life.

One day I realized I had the power to do something about it. I guess I always had some understanding of this but never a revelation of it until February, 2013.

No, I never took NLP classes or studied Tony Robbins material (not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that). I just had an epiphany, a 'sudden and striking realization' that I've settled and everything that I've moaned about was a result of past decisions and I had the power to change it.

I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I couldn't take the pain of laying on that nail any longer.

I got up and moved.

I surrounded myself with world class people.

Changed my mindset. Changed my lifestyle. Changed my diet. Changed my friendships. Changed my geographic location.

And me and my family's world has drastically changed forever for the better. Physically, Financially, Relationally and Spiritually.

A few days ago we celebrated our 1 year anniversary of moving to Arizona. Hands down the best decision we have ever made. There is no going back to that 'nail in the floor'.

TL;DR

I'll close with a question...

Is your dissatisfaction of your current 'lot in life' painful enough to do something drastic enough to bring about a change?

Life doesn't get better by chance. It gets better by change.

Take care my friends.

Allen

I remember the day you packed as much as you could fit in the trailer and headed south.

I haven't been worried about you since that day.

Even though I know it wasn't easy, and even though we both know that life won't be smooth from the day the trailer doors close forward,

what I do know is

having the guts to swing for the fences means

that some day

the ball will go over the fence.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Ha, I remember talking to you at B&P as the seed become entrenched in the soil. Your eyes had a particular glow and yearning to them. At that point, I knew you'd be out here eventually. So cool to hear it has reaped dividends and that you are happy with the decision.

Happiness is success.

 

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[AllenCrawley]

Aside from the fact that you left somewhere that is uninhabitable for 6 months out of the year, and moved somewhere that is also uninhabitable 6 months out of the year...

LOL, I'll take the heat and sunshine over the gray skies, cold, ice and snow... any day.

This does bring up a point or a question.

Where would you thrive?

Some people would thrive being around all their loved ones. Others would thrive being as far away from family as possible.

Some would thrive where there are 4 distinct seasons every year. Others where the sun shines warm 320+ days a year.

I never thought the geographic location I lived would have such a dramatic effect on my attitude and productivity but it certainly does.

 

[rogen]

Everytime I wonder about something, I open fastlane forum and.. BAM there's topic about EXACT thing I was thinking of.

I don't know man. I can't afford to waste another year, I know it, but sometimes I just loose all hope, there are days when I'm super motivated, and days when I'm just like "meh, don't bother doing anything today" and I plunge into deep abyss of negative thoughts.

It's so hard to get up and get going, or atleast I make it so by thinking "I'm not good enough"

 

[SteveO]

This story is fantastic. It brings up a question and some other thoughts for me though. What is it that really drives and motivates us?

I was happy in my life. The job was great and comfortable. I had a house down by the beach in San Diego. I enjoyed running and softball on the corporate teams and was able to travel to play. Most of the costs for these events were paid for by the company. I started at the bottom rung (assembling parts from midnight to morning) and was advancing through the management and technical chain.

There was no pain for me.

One of the guys that worked for me was making more money from apartments than from his job. I looked at that as a challenge. I quit my job 2 years later and never looked back.

@AllenCrawley has a completely different story. I see both angles here on the forum where people are relatively set in their lives and those that are starting from a point of pain. I wonder which group would tend to be more successful.

This post is exceptionally motivating to the people that are starting from a point of pain. Motivation clearly comes from more than one place though.

 

[AllenCrawley]

We were half-joking that everyone has a breaking point and will eventually take the necessary steps toward what they desire given enough time.

But how much time? How much does one need to suffer before they decide to change? 20 minutes? 8 months? 100 years? Most won't make it long enough to find out...Unless they lengthen our lifespans that is...

And why is the "trigger" so esoteric? So illusive? Why didn't the birth of my son do it? Why didn't a family so severely in need drive me to greatness? Why not all the books? The forum? The videos?

Yes, the trigger could be a seemingly small thing for one and must be a dramatic situation for another. I was 42 years old when I had that moment of clarity. My trigger was B&P and meeting a bunch of people that were not settling and going out there in big ways and making things happen. That one weekend I was surrounded by more greatness than at any other given time in my life. It was an eye opener and the catalyst that set my life, our lives, on a whole new trajectory.

Seeds were planted throughout my life. Most of which laid dormant. I thoroughly enjoyed watching and reading the greats like Zig Ziglar, Les Brown and Jim Rohn. My first exposure was to Zig Ziglar in the 9th grade in 1985. We were assigned to read "See You At The Top" in a business introduction class I took. Over the years I read countless books and watched countless videos. All seeds that finally started taking root about 3 years (about the time I read TMF ). Attending B&P was like fertilizing those seeds with MiracleGro.

 

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[Vigilante]

 

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[pickeringmt]

Man, posts like these are the like that single ray of sunlight that makes it all the way through the trees to that tiny patch of dirt in the undergrowth.

When you are that little sprout it makes all the difference

 

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[AlterJoule]

I'm glad you wrote that. It's funny because Autumn and I were just talking about it last week.

We were half-joking that everyone has a breaking point and will eventually take the necessary steps toward what they desire given enough time.

But how much time? How much does one need to suffer before they decide to change? 20 minutes? 8 months? 100 years? Most won't make it long enough to find out...Unless they lengthen our lifespans that is...

And why is the "trigger" so esoteric? So illusive? Why didn't the birth of my son do it? Why didn't a family so severely in need drive me to greatness? Why not all the books? The forum? The videos?

Honest truth. I ran a red light on accident. No one was hurt. I didn't get caught. Everything was fine. But it made me realize my mortality. And that was it.

Have I made it yet? No, but I'm close. Making some money here and there. And I've realized that all this business stuff is pretty easy. It's no more difficult than anything else I've done . It's learning how to start that gets tricky.

 

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[Nicoknowsbest]

Life doesn't get better by chance. It gets better by change.

Change can only be forced by continuous action. By YOU taking continuous action yourself. Only YOU can make the decision to end your dissatisfaction, to stop doing what doesn't make you happy. Only YOU can bring change to your life. Not your mum, not your dad and not your friends. Many people come to this forum and expect to be changed by the legends on here. But let me tell you something: they cannot change you - they can hint you into the right direction and assist you. But the one that has to change by accepting their wisdom, understanding their lessons and translating all that into continuous action, is - YOU.

Once I realized this, my mindset shifted completely. There is no relying on others anymore, there is no waiting for something to happen, there is no sentence that starts with "someday", there is no thought that contains "may/might" anymore.

If you want something, go out and get it. Do whatever it takes.

@AllenCrawley - thanks for sharing this story and congrats on changing your life to the better!

 

[marklov]

I still struggle with negative thoughts but I used to swim in them , I live in a third world country and I guess you can figure that my daily routine would be to curse my circumstances with the occasional "If only" thrown in.. If only I lived in the US , if only I had the money , if only the opportunity would present itself.

At one point I even gave up and that fire was coming to a dim hell it probably was barely smoldering anyways ,I was ready to just give in and go the path of least resistance , considered even selling dope.

It wasn't the book TMF (I had already read many of these types of books) but the forum and people here that impacted me the most , over the few months I realized that change is possible but it will only come from within and though a change of identity.

For me it's easier said than done , undoing years of habits and ingrained ways of thinking is proving the hardest part to overcome but now I know it's not some fabled dream and I do have a chance to earn my keep.

Thank you for the awesome post

 

[AllenCrawley]

Perhaps more of us should move to sunny Arizona.

More and more fastlaners have moved here but if you haven't visited here before I certainly would suggest visiting first. It's not for everyone. I thought I was going to struggle thru the heat of the summer but it was no where near as bad as I was expecting. Others will experience it and question their sanity for living here. We just happen to enjoy the heat. This time of year, however, is absolutely amazing. We're back out hiking and enjoying our surrounding. Below is a pic from a recent hike to Superstition Mountain. One of the most enjoyable hikes we've gone on to date.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

Marked GOLD.

 

[MJ DeMarco]

and moved somewhere that is also uninhabitable 6 months out of the year...

That's a myth. It's only 3 months, and within those 3 months, it's only uninhabitable while the sun is shining. So the real net in-habitation is about 45 days. And this year, we were spared such brutality.

 

[smithsta]

This is a top quality post and I completely agree.

When I went to a business event a few weeks back one key note speakers words stood out to me. He used the following sentence at the end of his speech and repeated it 3 times...

'if the pain of where you're at is not great enough, you will not change'

It led me to think where was the turning point for me that made me realise i wanted change.

Thinking back now, I feel like there were two turning points for me.

The first turning point - I remember back in 2008 when I was 19, turning 20, I didn't have a care in the world. I'm a naturally laid back guy as it is so nothing really phases me. (My girlfriend often tells me I don't show emotion and I'm known as 'the assassin' to some guys in work, haha.)

I didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. I worked part time in a retail store and I had just failed a year in university because I didn't put any effort into passing my exams.

I worked the evening shift in the store and I often ran the 'office supplies' department on my own, giving me a lot of thinking time. I remember one evening thinking how I didn't want to be in that store all my life and what could I do to get out.

It wasn't long till I looked into starting an online business. It just so happened that a few weeks later I realised I hadn't taken any of my holidays, but my boss wouldn't allow me to take them. I wasn't pleased.

I found out the only way I could get the holidays or the cash equivalent would be by quitting. It was an easy decision and I left with the idea of using the money to purchase clothing and sell through an eBay store. I sold most of the stock, one Disney tee in particular was a big hit in Russia! Unfortunately I was an idiot, I spent the profits. Lost motivation, ended up going to college. Still had an interest for business on & off, but didn't commit to anything.

Second turning point - Last June I made the trip to the US for the first time for a holiday in Orlando. I loved it! Just a small area of the US (albeit the tourist part) but it was incredible. Really enjoyed the warm weather too.

I remember the feeling of devastation upon returning home and mentally telling myself that one day I will buy a villa in Florida.

The desire for change started me back on the business journey. I got a Kindle and worked my way through business books and eventually stumbled upon the millionaire fastlane , which is how I am here now

Haha, that's my story! Bit off topic. Stay motivated!

 

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[pickeringmt]

Man, I really thought I was here already - but the last week has been absolute hell.

But, I'll tell you another thing - I have never felt so completely awake.

Awake to the fact that the life I built for almost 30 years ended up being a cage.

I've had this knot in my stomach. This awareness induced nausea.

I don't care what I have to do, what it takes, what I have to give up, sacrifice, or leave behind.

I can't spend another day watching my life going nowhere.

 

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[Guest3722A]

I agree with all of this. And yeah, it does hurt enough. I had an accident that created sleep issues, psych issues, financial issues, Physical issues. Big deal. That stuff ain't gonna stop me, and neither is anyone else.

 

[KingLionel17]

A traveling salesmen was passing thru a small country town and stopped at a mom and pop convenient store to pick up snacks and a drink. The place was an old building with old wooden floors and owned by a man well into his later years.

As the salesman shopped he noticed a bloodhound laying in the corner. Every once in a while the dog would let out a soft howling moan. The salesman came to the register to pay. As the store owner and the man made small talk the bloodhound let out another painful moan. This prompted the salesman to ask, "What is wrong with your dog? Is he okay? He seems to be in some kind of pain."

The old store keeper said, "Oh, there be a nail that sticks up out the floor board over there and he just happens to be layin' on it".

"Well he's surely in some pain. Why don't he just get up and find another place to lay down?"

The store owner thought for a second and said, "Well... I reckon it just don't hurt that bad."



For many, many years I was that bloodhound.

I'd whine, moan, groan and complain about my situation... my lot in life.

One day I realized I had the power to do something about it. I guess I always had some understanding of this but never a revelation of it until February, 2013.

No, I never took NLP classes or studied Tony Robbins material (not that there's necessarily anything wrong with that). I just had an epiphany, a 'sudden and striking realization' that I've settled and everything that I've moaned about was a result of past decisions and I had the power to change it.

I was sick and tired of being sick and tired.

I couldn't take the pain of laying on that nail any longer.

I got up and moved.

I surrounded myself with world class people.

Changed my mindset. Changed my lifestyle. Changed my diet. Changed my friendships. Changed my geographic location.

And me and my family's world has drastically changed forever for the better. Physically, Financially, Relationally and Spiritually.

A few days ago we celebrated our 1 year anniversary of moving to Arizona. Hands down the best decision we have ever made. There is no going back to that 'nail in the floor'.

TL;DR

I'll close with a question...

Is the dissatisfaction of your current 'lot in life' painful enough to do something drastic enough to bring about a change?

Life doesn't get better by chance. It gets better by change.

Take care my friends.

Allen

Allen I couldn't agree with you more, for months I was so motivated by TMF and this forum, I joined and a few months later and made a post in the "I just read TMF " section, then I went ghost and haven't posted anything until now.

I hit a breaking point working for CarMax in Columbus, Ohio that I wasn't getting anywhere besides getting the free training and experience in sales, the people I was around all the time didn't have the net worth I wanted to have, Ohio was always cloudy and dreadful majority of the year.

I hated it, I didn't have the motivation to do anything anymore then one day driving back from work when the sun was going down but still shining a few rays hit my skin and the sun looked so beautiful and felt so warm and made something just click in my head. I have always wanted to escape Ohio being I was born in the south and wasn't originally from there anyway I just didn't know where.

So I researched the top places I believed were the most beautiful in the U.S with sunshine and warmer than Ohio. I was down to Florida, Arizona, and California. Based on what people said and my own experience about living in Florida, and California, as well as any natural disasters, economic state, etc. I came to the conclusion that Arizona had the least probability of natural disasters, rarely ever has any hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes etc. Receives the most sunshine out of the year in the U.S, lower cost of living compared to Cali, and Florida..

I decided its time to make a change. So on July 19th, 2014 I took a cross country trip with my significant other whom I have been with for a while(which btw if you haven't taken a drive across country, its the most SPECTACULAR thing I have ever done) and took four days to get down to good olé Tempe, AZ. I can tell you that over these past few months of being here, I have never been more happier, met more people, and done so many outdoor things in my life. Its truly beautiful here and was not as bad as everyone made it seem in the summer.

I now have more energy, more desire to get up and get things done and truly appreciate life and go after my dreams. Its also VERY hard to not be motivated while you're here when there is always high net worth/high profile people driving around in their, Ferraris, GTR's, and lambos at what seems like every two seconds in Tempe and Scottsdale.. I truly believe this is where I was meant to be. The only thing left now is to put up or shut up...

@MJ DeMarco I truly thank you for creating this forum, had it not been here I don't think I would have the constant motivation I needed to get out there an do something in my life. For that I am forever grateful

 

[AllenCrawley]

When this forum first began, there were emoticons that represented pancakes being flipped and beer mugs clanging. Those two were selected in humorous fashion to represent the rag-tag group that met up in Scottsdale to discuss our businesses and ideas.

Many preferred MJ's mother's definition of "Bra and Panties".

 

[Vigilante]

Too bad we don't have a mark for LIFE CHANGING.

Well stated, Allen.

 

[Tobore]

Great post Allen. You just charged a nerve in me. After reading TMF for the second time in last week I've realized that our choices makes our lives.

This post just reignited me, I've decided to be on the fastlane and I fully understand what it takes to find a need, execute, create value etc. but I still need that change that will fully set me on the right path for life.

Still staying with my parents and the comfort is killing me. Sometimes in life one needs to go into the unknown. I need that control, I need that self drive that leaves you with just one option: Execute your plans or Die on the slowlane, I think that is one of the factors that makes one "SelfMade".

Thanks again, Allen for this great post

 

[Green Destiny]

Interesting thread. Not sure how I missed this one?

The story about the dog is interesting and it reminds of the famous anecdote about the boiled frog that was more applicable to my situation. I think no matter how bad things get, that if they happen gradually, you hardly notice them and you get used to them. I think we need a jolt that wakes us up from living unconsciously through our lives. If we don't get that jolt it doesn't mater how bad things get, we'll just carry on with the same job, relationship, friendships, environment etc until we die.

Glad things worked out so well for you.

 

[Eugen]

I LOVE this community.

I'm going to quote James Baldwin. I think you guys are going to like this:

People pay for what they do, and still more for what they have allowed themselves to become. And they pay for it very simply; by the lives they lead.

 

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[Vigilante]

Aside from the fact that you left somewhere that is uninhabitable for 6 months out of the year, and moved somewhere that is also uninhabitable 6 months out of the year...

 

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[Iwokeup]

Great thread!

I reached my breaking point this spring and made the move towards a risker, but infinitely more rewarding path myself. Scared the bejeezus out of myself and my family, but I wouldn't go back now if you paid me double.

Go get 'em, Allen

 

[AllenCrawley]

Hello, I've been assiduously googling every abbreviation I don't understand and writing them down. B & P has google stumped. Is it a sexual practice (it's there, I kid you not)? Does anyone know? Thanks in advance, Greg

B&P stands for "Beer and Pancakes". It was what our unofficial annual forum meetup in Scottsdale was called. It's now an officially sanctioned annual meetup name "The Fastlane Summit".

 

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[SteveO]

Many preferred MJ's mother's definition of "Bra and Panties".

Haha. I'm sure by now that most people have heard the long running joke from the early B&P's. Andres was asked by one of the women how to properly pronounce his name. He responded with the phrase "take off your clothes". She looked at him in shock. He then said "Undress" is how you pronounce it.

 

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[FeaRxUnLeAsHeD]

Such a good thread with many good ruminating stories.

I feel there are many moments in life where you have to ask your self 'does it hurt bad enough' to make a change.. since we are CONSTANTLY evolving..

My biggest shift was when I turned 18 and graduated high school - I ditched the loser friends.. and with that, I stopped lying, stealing, committing arson, and vandalizing. I realized if I kept that up from 18 onward, I would undoubtedly get arrested. I sold my xbox, my warcraft account, and my TV. Sitting on that nail became painful to the point of drastic change - new friends, new school (community college), new business (lawn care), new mentors (life and business coaches).

I'm coming up on another shift... up at 4:30AM and back to the drawing board, because I'm tired of building someone else's dreams and not waking up early enough for mine.