Visiting My 2014 Goals - Where Does The Time Go?

I pulled the following from a post earlier this year - wow, where did the year go?!

2014 Goals:

1) Workout and a basic yoga, four times a week.  (Ultimately, I'd like to be performing the full P90X workout again.)

2) Spend quality time with my wife in the evenings and on the weekends.  (Snuggling on the couch and watching a movie counts.  Both of us watching separate shows, ones that are just filling our time and we're not gaining a benefit from, do not count.)  I need to find a way to measure this one...

3) Add six paying clients to PPF.  (Baby steps...but forward motion.)

4) Take a Spanish course and have a basic proficiency in the language.  I've always wanted to learn Spanish, but I haven't been able to get into Rosetta Stone.  We're planning a vacation this year to a location where Spanish would be very useful.

This is a great example of how life takes control and you forget about (or just don't complete) your personal goals.

Updates on the four goals:

1) WORKOUT - I had some great tries on this goal but as of today, I'm doing none.  The year included a full-body band workout, a basic morning yoga streak, 10 burpees a day for 100 days (turned into 140 days), and ended with a three-week stint of P90X.  Only the burpees lasted any significant period of time, though I was feeling much better when I started P90X after coming off of the burpee challenge. Hopefully I can get a few more weeks of exercise before the year ends!

2) QUALITY TIME WITH MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE - I still haven't figured out how to measure this goal. I think we both like spending all of our free time with each other, but we also like our own online t.v. shows and interests (I cannot put down books!). Lately we've been spending a lot of time cooking together for our Whole30 challenge, which I think counts!

3) SIX PAYING CLIENTS - I am still having a hard time charging clients. I haven't put as much time into the business as I would like - I need to be networking and promoting my services - though I really enjoy helping others with their finances. I did add ONE paying client though! So (very small) baby steps...

4) SPANISH - We took a community college Spanish course earlier this year and had a lot of fun! Though we haven't opened the books since... We need to get on this one, as we've booked a trip to Cuba in February! This was the trip we wanted to take in 2014 (and originally learn Spanish for) but February should be a much better time to visit. I'm not sure if we have time for another course, but with our books, basic understanding, and Rosetta Stone, we should have some skills to practice with in Cuba.

I'm disappointed but also energized after revisiting my 2014 goals! There is still some time left to feel accomplished!

How are you doing on your 2014 goals?

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

So Much Fun, So Little Time...Before The Rain Starts!

The summer has been full for us...and it's been amazing!

Some updates:

The last few weekends have been no exception to our adventurous summer!

• We hit Seattle for a concert, an amazing hotel, and a picture tour through Pike Place.
• We headed back to Wyoming for a wedding, driving from midnight to 4 a.m. to make it.
• We camped in Mt. Hood National Forest - no bears and possibly the last for the summer (boo!) but lots of sun and cool river water.

(More details to come on all of these!)

On the challenges and exercise, I'm still doing my burbees - I'm now at 129 days!

And not to be left out, we've pulled out our passports and we're gearing up for our week in Iceland.  We cannot wait, with or without a volcano eruption!

I hope everyone's summer has been as breathtaking, exciting, and daring!

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Mini Goal - 100 Days, 10 Burpees a Day - COMPLETE!

I made it! 100 days, 10 burpees a day!

Mini goal complete!

This week ended my mini challenge of completing 10 burpees a day, for 100 days!

This sounds easy - it's only 10 burpees - but it's not! Not only is completing 10 burpees in a row surprisingly tough, the more difficult part is sticking with it for 100 days!

Admittedly, I wasn't able to complete all 100 days in a row without missing a couple of days (not on purpose!). But I made up for those days, sometimes doing 20 burpees a day!

As I became more accustomed to the movement, and became a little stronger, I added a clap push-up within the burpee.  I tried to finish the goal with double-clap push-ups, but I wasn't able to complete all 10 burpees without stopping.

On the last day of my challenge, my wife recorded me completing 10 of the single clap push-up burpees in a row - yay!

Benefits

I'm definitely stronger due to the challenge.  It's definitely not a full workout or enough gym time, but it is something.

I know I can complete 100 day challenges.  This is the longest workout related challenge I've ever completed (I couldn't even finish P90X, even after making it over 60 days!).

I have a new, healthy evening routine.

What's Next?

I'm at the point where completing my burpees everyday is natural - and now it only takes about 40 seconds! - so I'm considering extending this mini goal to 200 DAYS IN A ROW!

We're discussing another challenge, possible one that can become part of our daily/weekly habit. Having a goal that becomes part of life (like the burpees have) is an interesting goal.

I believe focusing (again) on some of my time wasters would be good.  I'd like to build better habits around actions that suck up my time.  Possibly limiting streaming television shows or my time on social media platforms. (I still have a lot of time wasters!)

For now...

I completed my mini goal of 100 days, 10 burpees a day!!

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Weekend Hike - Paradise Found! Cedar Flats, Oregon

Yes, we found paradise...at least one version...and it's at Cedar Flats, Oregon!
 

River along the Cedar Flats Trail. #nofilter

The Adventure

After numerous hikes and planned backpacking trips we found the right trail - I left at least one trip out of my posts because it was getting a bit embarrassing. (I like to look at the attempts as lessons rather than fails...even if it's just to make myself feel better! Fail/lesson one, fail/lesson two.)

I'm not sure if it is on purpose (now that I know how to get to Cedar Flats, I'm not sure I want to give this jewel away, too), but all of the instructions and maps that we used to find Cedar Flats are either misinformation or out-of-date.

Finally, with a day pack, flashlights and our water filter (in case it took us all day), bear spray (after three years of camping and hiking around Mt. Hood, my wife and a friend recently saw our first bear in the area!), and a mentality of we were going to make it this time or quit (and we hate to quit - obviously, since we tried five times to find this place) we set off last Saturday on our final attempt.

We knew where the Cedar Flats trail started - according to the maps - because we found it the prior weekend (the untold story of 8.5 miles with full backpacks and full intentions of sleeping at Cedar Flats).  And covering the Kopetski Trail portion was becoming routine... But it's still shocking to me that the trail is covered up with tree logs and brush, hidden from us during the previous trips!  (We walked by it dozens of times in our prior searches.)

Making our way past the blockage (the trail opens up again after awhile), we headed straight for the river crossing.  Here is where we stopped the last trip.

Oh, we forded the river the last time, no problem there.  We were prepared for the crossing, as this is mentioned in the directions we had (though we were not prepared for a dropped shoe, making the trip back a little unpleasant and sloshy), and we easily crossed again this time. But...right after the river, the trail disappears!

Tree logs, branches, brush - covered so much that you have to go off-trail and dig your way through the underbrush.  I forgot to mention that this is also on the side of a hill, with one side going straight down to the river!

This time, we were going around, regardless of the cuts, falls, and bugs...

Turns out...we didn't have to go far!

We made our plan and took the dog off of her leash and collar, to make sure she didn't get caught in the brush. To our surprise, she ran straight up the left side of the hill!  (We were surprised by the next sentence...not the fact that she went running off - bad dog!) About 40 feet up, she stopped and turned around, looking at us like "here's the trail, what's next?"

There was another trail! She had found another trail!

Another trail that eventually met up with the trail we were on (we studied this afterwards). This wasn't even on the right side of the river! According to the maps we had...

Obviously maintained, this had to be the new trail to Cedar Flats - we had taken the hard way!  (This point was discussed on our hike out - we took the 'new' trail to the entrance to explore, yes, we like to try new paths!  Turns out our original side is probably easier and shorter, but definitely rougher then the 'new' trail.)

I recommend either path (or both!), there is one on both sides of the Opal Pool bridge. (P.S. At the time of our find, a bridge to Jawbone Flats was out and it was recommended to use the Kopetski Trail - an easier hike would be to use the Jawbone Flats trail to Opal Pool.)

Regardless of how (or what we should have done), we made it to Cedar Flats!

Cedar Flats!

Huge trees!  Beautiful, crystal clear water!  Waterfalls and pools to swim in! And even a couple of nudists soaking up the sunshine!

After some exploring, we found what looked like a great waterfall to wade under and off-trailed it down the side of a hill. (I wouldn't recommend this to everyone.)

The perfect location for a lazy afternoon!

Our waterfall! #nofilter

Turns out there was a pretty deep pool directly under the waterfall.  After some talking-up (the water was freezing!) we both (plus dog) plunged into the pool and scrambled out several times.

With the blue skies and sunshine, we warmed up immediately...all while savoring Mother Earth!

This was definitely worth the multiple attempts and was forever captured by our gorgeous camera-woman...even with covering over 11 miles in one day.

With every adventure we came closer and closer to our goal, but no success! We were tempted to give up, but we prevailed!

Hopefully we can apply this thought to other areas of our lives too!

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Unexploited Finances: Who Are You Blaming?

Where do you start your new financial and life journey? With yourself!

Truly, there is no secret. 

You and you alone are accountable for your actions – both your failures and your successes. Once you come to terms with this, you can begin the long process into exploiting life!

This is difficult. It requires a lot of extra effort.

Coasting through life is easy, living life is not! As you’ve probably heard numerous times – if it was easy, then everybody would be doing it!

BUT know this…

You CAN do it!

There is nothing holding you back that you can’t overcome!

If you need help, encouragement, an accountability partner, then find it!

But how does this fit your finances?

Because I’m sure you’ve used every excuse in the book as to why your finances are running your life and you’re not LIVING your ideal lifestyle! 

“My job doesn't pay me enough money.”

“I need the new phone to stay in contact with friends.”

“I need new clothes and a car for my job.”

“They’re just lucky they can afford a vacation, having kids doesn't allow me to do this.” 

Stop blaming others! Start blaming yourself!

Take the first step and take ownership of your life and of your financial decisions.

Once you recognize that YOU are the problem, then you can go about making changes.

Because you CAN change yourself!

Everything is a choice.

I have these words posted on both my work and personal computers. It's a reminder that I've made my current choices and I can make all of my future choices.  These choices include my work, my travel, my finances, and my life!

You too have the choice.  The choice to living your ideal lifestyle, the choice of controlling your finances!

Start now, make the choice!  Stop blaming others!

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Unexploited Finances: Step Four, Exploit Your Life

Below is part four of a four step series on how to go about Exploiting Your Finances, Exploiting Your Life! (See Step One, Priorities, Step Two, Current Finances, Step Three, Exploit Your Finances.)

And the fun continues with Step Four!

Short and sweet = IF you exploit your finances, THEN you'll reach your priorities AND you'll already be exploiting your life!

If you're able to follow this process...if you're able to get a real understanding of how your finances impact your life, and you can take control of your finances...you'll be exploiting your life before you know it!

Exploit Your Life

You'll feel like you have life figured out!

You'll wonder why you didn't do this earlier!

You'll be:

• Taking weekend trips...every weekend!
• Finding financial freedom!
• Finding time! Yes, time! That unstoppable moving ecstasy!
• Retiring early!
• Taking a gap year! Or a few!
• Not stressing about life! Rather, you'll be living life!

By confronting your finances head-on, with your priorities and a plan leading the way, you can take back your life! Make your own path on your own journey!

Priorities Change

Will your path change along the way? Yes, they will! But this isn't bad, life happens. When you change your path, revisit your priorities, revisit your finances, exploit your finances, and continue on!

With this plan, you'll no longer have to stress about money. You'll no longer have to worry about what the future might bring. You'll be financially prepared for anything!

Priorities also change after you've met your prior ones.  Don't stop! Revisit what is important to you (Step One), decide how you can achieve it, and prioritize!

Best Time to Act...NOW!

If you've just been reading and not acting...start now! Go find a quiet place and determine your priorities!

Start exploiting your finances, exploiting your life!

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Spanish Classes - Be Embarrassed, Have Fun!

My wife and I recently completed ten weeks of Spanish courses!

Learning Spanish has been a goal of ours for a number of years. It was even listed as one of my 2014 New Year's Resolutions!

For all my wanting to learn a second language, somehow not taking any action didn't help!  Go figure! Years later, I still didn't know how to say even the most basic phrases!

We purchased Rosetta Stone awhile ago, but I couldn't seriously commit any time to it.  (Plus, when practicing, it seemed like the same word kept changing...at the time I had no idea about conjugating verbs!!)

Well, after ten weeks...I still don't know much. (Ha!)

But I know a lot more than I did!

Having a native speaker teaching the course, a textbook, and homework really helped!

The course was through Portland Community College (PCC). We found a meeting location near our apartment and a time that fit our schedule.

We can now have some basic conversations and I at least understand why the words keep changing (but mean the same thing - dang the verbs are hard!)

I do think I was behind everyone else in class, but I didn't care!  I was learning and having fun! A little embarrassment here and there comes with learning new things.

This was definitely just the beginning.  We plan to study by ourselves over the summer (maybe we can find others in Portland that want to practice) and take another course in the Fall.  There's so much to learn!

Maybe by the time we take our first Latin American trip, we'll be able to have a fuller experience by understanding more of the culture through communication.

Have you studied a second (or third) language? What worked best?

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Unexploited Finances: Step Three, Exploit Your Finances

Below is part three of a four step series on how to go about Exploiting Your Finances, Exploiting Your Life! (See Step One, Priorities and Step Two, Current Finances.) (UPDATE: Find Part 4 here.)

Now the fun starts!

Now you get to BLAME your priorities and exploit your finances!

Exploit Your Income

Cutting your expenses is still the default solution for finding money for your goals, but it doesn't have to be the only solution.  How about your income?!

This may be the time for you to ask about that raise at work. Go in with your accomplishments, what you bring, and why you deserve a raise!

No opportunity for a raise...have you looked at the job market lately? You should always keep your eyes open! If you're not watching for it, your ideal job may pass you by. You may have also boosted your current skills since your last job search. (Don't forget to update your LinkedIn profile.) Go ahead, take a look. Blame it on your priorities!

If time is on your side, just not the income, there is also the possibility of a part-time job or a side business. There are lots of opportunities to make more money, it's just a matter of having a reason! Priorities = Reason.

Adding income is a great tool for exploiting your finances because this money hasn't already been allocated. Fresh money! You can just shovel it into your goals!

Exploit Your Expenses

Okay, now it's time to look at those bills.

After your cash flow statement work in Step Two, Current Finances, you have a starting point for your current budget. So how does it look?

Does it look pretty slim?

Do you already cook your meals at home and cut out the cable bill years ago?

Write down your priorities. With this list next to you, go through your expenses - one by one. What's more important?

Is the daily lunch more important then getting your time back?

Is the cable bill more important then your gap year? (You watch all of your shows on Netflix and Hulu anyways.)

What's left?

You may not be able to cut expenses out if they're all reoccurring debt payments or rent payments (student loan, car loan, credit card debt, rent, etc). If this is the case, look at whether you really need these items. Take a BIG step back. We're making drastic changes here, we're exploiting!

Do you really need two cars? Can you move to a lower rent apartment?

These are painful decisions. But that's where we exploit our finances! Blame your priorities! Is your priority to be debt free? Well...selling the car can not only reduce your current debt, but also remove a monthly payment! You don't have to go car free, get a used car. One that fits your new goals!

(After my last car and paying off all of my debt, I promised myself that I'll never take another loan out on a car!)

If friends start giving you a hard time about your 'used' car, say "I could have a new car if I wanted, but I have this goal to be debt free"...(priority blamed!).

The 'extra' monthly money can go towards the student debt, paying it off early! And so on, and so on. Amazing!

Make sure you don't cut everything out though. Exploiting life means that you enjoy every single day. If having that morning latte is about the best thing that's ever happened to you on a Monday morning, then keep it!

Keep items that make you happy, remove items that are just filler!

Blame Game

Have fun with the 'blame'. Make it a game!

What can I change and blame on my priorities?

Your family and friends will understand and soon everyone will be trying to help you meet your goals!

Using your priorities as scapegoats can have positive side effects - one of which is a conversation starter.

When you decline the next lunch out and blame your priority, coworkers and friends will ask you about it. You can share why being debt free, gaining your time back, and/or traveling the world is important to you. They may even be inspired and start working on their own priorities!

Daily Life

As mentioned in Step One, Priorities, talk about your priorities regularly! Don't be shy. This will help set it in your daily routine! This will help keep you focused! This will help you apply your priorities to all of your financial decisions!

You may still feel uncomfortable talking about finances with strangers. Money is still a taboo discussion in society today, but do it anyways! Showing that you're comfortable with your money is an example of you managing your finances! Those individuals who are uncomfortable talking about money are usually managed by their finances. (I'm not saying discuss your huge salary, no one will want to talk to you...ever. I am saying discuss your financial goals and how you plan to meet them!)

Blame, blame, blame! Use your priorities to exploit your finances!

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Unexploited Finances: What?! Hillary & Bill Clinton Were Broke When They Left The White House?

Hillary Clinton recently stated the Clinton's were broke when they left the White House...is this the financial example we want in our leaders?

Politics aside, there are two ways to look at this:

Bad Example For Americans

The Clinton's were terrible with their money!

They received a salary of $200,000+ a year and ended up broke with massive debts!

Where did their money go? Did they have a budget? Are they encouraging Americans to spend beyond their means?

This is a blatant example of the financial mess that Americans find themselves in.  Overspending on luxuries.  Not focusing on their current and future goals or retirement.  The mentality that if we have the money lets spend it. Or possibly, let's put it on the credit card, because we'll earn enough to pay it off. But hey, we deserve it!

The public looks up to our leaders and celebrities.  We try to mirror them.  We care about what they wear (there are always articles on what the First Lady is wearing), how they travel (we cannot all travel on the Air Force One), and how they rub shoulders with big-wigs (not all of us can afford black-tie events).

When our President and Senators overspend, they're setting terrible examples!

Good Example For Americans

A story of triumph!

Starting in the hole - with massive debt and broke - the Clinton's were able to amass a fortune, estimated to be $80 million, since leaving the White House!

We've all made terrible financial decisions.  Who are we to judge others when they make these decisions?  Let's instead cheer them on their subsequently wise decisions! Find ways to get out of debt! Find ways to make a larger income!

These are the examples that we should show our children.  Look Timmy, the Clinton's were broke and now they're worth $80 million, and this is how they did it.

You can overcome bad financial habits!

(I would ask if the Clinton's have a budget, research their major purchases, and are really financially independent.)

You Decide

Which way do you look at this?  Are they bad examples of financial decisions and consumer excess?  Or are they good examples for overcoming financial obstacles to become wealthy?

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Unexploited Finances: Step Two, Current Finances

Below is part two of a four step series on how to go about Exploiting Your Finances, Exploiting Your Life! (See Step One, Priorities.) (UPDATE: Find Part 3 here, Part 4 here.)

Have you ever taken a good hard look at your current finances?

Some of you may do this regularly, but I’m sure a lot of you are still tracking your finances in your head!

You know you have the mortgage to pay, you know you have to eat every day, you know you have the car loan and the insurance payments. But do you really know where you stand at this minute, this day, this month! You probably are not financially aware!

Just being aware of your finances can have a significant impact on you!

Let’s say that you have never looked at your personal balance sheet – Do you know that you have more debt than you do assets? What does this mean to you? Do you care?

Maybe you’ve never made a personal cash flow statement – Do you know that you spend more money than you bring in? What does this mean to you? Do you care?

Well…if you want to exploit your finances to exploit your life, then you DO care!

You should care a lot if you want to meet your life priorities!!

The most difficult part of this exercise is being okay with the outcome. At this point, it doesn’t matter if you’re in the red or spending more then you’re making. It’s OKAY! We just want to know what’s going on. Simply bringing self (financial) awareness!

(There are several useful web based tools for this process.  We currently use Mint.com.)

Balance Sheet

 

The balance sheet is merely your net worth.

A basic list of all your assets and all your liabilities – with your net worth being the difference.

Assets may include your home value, car values, savings and checking accounts, and retirement accounts.

Liabilities may include your home loan, car loan, student loan, credit card balances, appliance loans, and loans from your retirement accounts.

It’s okay if your net worth is negative! We’re simply trying to capture the data and come to terms with it. We have to be aware and reflect, before we can conquer!

If you have a negative net worth, you are not alone! My wife and I had a negative net worth of over $50,000 when we finally recognized our financial issues. We had over $70,000 of debt!! We had a car loan, we each had student loans, we had credit card debt , and we had a personal loan from family. We even put our new washer and dryer on a credit card!

This debt was way more than the value of our simple list of assets (a small IRA and our car). But we knew our priorities were worth the realization – we came, we saw, we paid it off!

Cash Flow Statement

 

The cash flow statement is a reflection of how much money you spend compared to what you earn.

A cash flow statement is similar to a budget, but it’s not the same! This is a snapshot of where you stand on any given month, we’re strictly tracking your spending. A budget is setting spending goals and is where you want to be in the near future!!

List your income from your job (or possibly multiple jobs) and list all of your expenses.

Food, rent or mortgage, utilities, clothes, drinks, gifts, entertainment…the list of expenses is unending!

Again, we’re not focusing on whether you’re spending more than you’re making. It’s OKAY! We’re focused on becoming aware of our money.

I’ve been in the red. I’ve spent more than I made. I was living the American life – playing credit card games. I became aware!

We’ll work on ‘fixes’ in the next step.

Do you have your cash flow statement? How does it look? As good as you expected?

Awareness

 

If you’re doing well financially, then you’ve probably cruised right through this step. You’re feeling good and ready to start exploiting your life!

If you’ve never taken a good, hard look at your finances before, then you’re nauseous right now! You’re in shock!

Maybe you knew it was bad, but not this bad!

Welcome to awareness! Doesn’t it feel great?!

I know.  My wife and I came to the same realization once we started this process.  Using Mint.com, we uploaded all of our accounts and began tracking our monthly expenses. Then...we went completely numb inside – that tingly, out-of-body experience when you know something is wrong..

We couldn’t believe that two grown, responsible adults, with great jobs, could be having so many financial problems. We weren’t doing anything different from everyone else! Why did our net worth look like this?!

Answer: Everyone we knew had the same financial problems, but when everyone is doing the same thing, it’s not called a “problem”, it’s called “normal”. Normal!

After the initial awareness paralysis wore off, we slowly built up our resolve – this was never, EVER going to happen again. We reviewed our priorities – that’s how we wanted to live! So we reversed course, and went down our new path!

If you get discouraged in anyway during this process, revisit Step One, Priorities. Continue to review your priorities until they’re meaningful enough to outweigh any discouragement!

Are you aware?

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Unexploited Finances: Step One, Priorities

Below is part one of a four step series on how to go about Exploiting Your Finances, Exploiting Your Life! (UPDATE: Find Part 2 here, Part 3 here, Part 4 here.)

The key to exploiting your finances, and subsequently exploiting your life, is setting your LIFE PRIORITIES.

Your life priorities will drive everything!

You’ll use them to motivate you through the difficult times. You’ll use them to shape your future. You’ll use them as your excuse for changing your financial habits – yes, excuses…you’ll have something to blame!

Life Priorities

There’s no set list of life priorities that you have to choice from. You get to choose ANYTHING!

You can use priorities such as buying a new car, buying a new house, or taking a vacation.

Or you can choose priorities that may seem unrealistic – such as taking six vacations a year, saving for a gap year, paying off all of your debt!

(The more outlandish the priority, the more you may be motivated!)

My wife and I had a goal to pay off ALL of our debt (over $70,000) in two years. Without setting our priorities, there is no way (no way!) that we could have paid of our debt so fast. This was a crazy idea for us - we didn't know anyone else that was debt free!

Priorities motivate you to act.

Your priorities may motivate you to act, but this has to be something you really, really want!

A weak priority will fail you when you need it most. A weak priority will allow you to bend the rules, allow you to make an excuse, allow you to cheat!

Pick something that you’re passionate about! Something that you’ll want to tell the world you did! You’ll be so proud of accomplishing this goal that everything else will seem insignificant!

(Don’t worry, once complete, you’ll find even greater priorities…because you’ll know you can do it!)

How to set your priorities?

Picking your priority should take some soul searching.

Spend some time picturing your ideal life. This is where you want your finances to take you.

Where do you live? Who and what are you surrounded by? What type of profession do you have?

Again, nothing is unrealistic at this point!

Trust me, I had no idea that I could be debt free – honestly, who doesn't have a car payment or student loans anymore – but here I am! I had no idea that I could take six vacations this year, and have all of them paid off before I returned home!

If you're married, or have a significant other, you'll definitely want to work with them on shared priorities.  You may each have some individual goals, but shared priorities will help you both support one another and see amazing results!

Now, pick your top one or two priorities.

Do they have the strength to overrule any objections that you come up with?

Can they withstand your internal temptations?

How badly do you want this?

Wow! If you made it through those questions, sounds like one amazing priority at this point!

What does this have to do with finances?

After selecting your life priorities, think about how your finances can help make this a reality.

Being debt free has an obvious correlation to your finances, but how about gaining more 'time'.

Why do you not have the time now? Answer: I work too many hours. Why do you work so many hours? Answer: I need to pay my bills. What bills do you have to pay? Answer: Home, utilities, debt, and food.

Might removing your debt (or lowering your other bills), remove your need for the current job, thereby giving you an opportunity to find a job where you can work less hours, and give you time to be with your family? Answer: Yes!!!!

If you go through this exercise, you’ll find that money is the major obstacle for us to reach our priorities – which is obviously why we’re talking about exploiting your finances!

Include others.

The more family and friends that you tell your priorities to, the more they will become real.

Yes, your family and friends may not believe it at first, but don’t worry, this is normal! We’re being different here, going down our own path!

Don't just tell them about your plans, tell them your successes and failures!

Not enough people talk about their priorities and their finances – keeping this hidden does nothing to help accomplish your goals!! Tell the world!

Write the priorities down somewhere in your home. Put reminders up – you’ll need the motivation!

I have a sticky note on my work computer with a countdown to our gap year. Every time I need a boost, I update the number of days left – this works wonders!

It’s hard, but doable!

Priorities are determined.

Have your priorities? Good!

This is the most important step in the process!

These priorities will drive you through the rest of the process.  Get ready to Exploit Your Finances, Exploit Your Life!

Now, let’s move on to the next step…

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

What is Unexploited Finances?

ABOUT UNEXPLOITED FINANCES

Unexploited Finances is written for those individuals looking for another path...

Another path for your finances!

One where YOU are in control of your FUTURE...NOT your FINANCES!

One where YOU are in control of your LIFE...NOT your FINANCES!

Can you spend the rest of your life at a desk, living pay check to pay check, putting some money in retirement, buying a new car every few years, paying a 30-year mortgage, AND still be happy? Yes!

But there's also another path...

This new path is not without some extra effort on your part.

You'll have to work hard! You'll have to understand your money! You'll have to know your priorities!

BUT...

If you commit, then you'll be able to do amazing things with your life!

Be financially independent!
Be debt free!
Go on multiple vacations a year!
Take a Gap Year!
Work for yourself!
Pick and choose whether you'll let your next job hire you!
Save for an unconventional retirement!

All of this, using traditional tools but with a non-traditional mindset!

ANOTHER PATH

My wife and I are currently in the middle of our 'another path'.

We've paid off approximately $70,000 of debt in the past 3 years (student loans, car loan, personal loan, and credit card debt), while still exploiting life!

At the same time as paying off our debt, we took a two week trip to Thailand, took a week backpacking trip through the Grand Canyon, took a two week trip to Morocco, and weekend trips around the U.S.

All while still...

Working conventional jobs, saving for retirement, funding educational funds for family, and planning for our next adventures!

We weren't always following our own financial path, we were once stuck on the 'normal' route.

We purchased trivial items on credit, we planned traditional career paths, and we took our annual vacation.

As a financial designer, I know this makes sense for a lot of people. It works! It's easy!

But it wasn't working for us. We were unhappy, we needed a change.

So we made a change!

We TOOK CONTROL of our finances! And therefore, TOOK CONTROL of our lives!

We designed the life that we wanted, we made our finances work for us, and we're living the plan!

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

UPDATE: The basics of Unexploited Finance...Step 1, Step 2, Step 3, and Step 4.

This Skinny Guy's Exercise Goals - Another Challenge

I'm on a mission for health!

Eating better is a good start, but I need to add some muscle...

In my thirties, I'm a little disappointed that I've never made this happen before now!

My Challenge.

My wife and I challenged each other to some physical goals.

The winners get some great prizes, and the loser (if there is one) has to be the driver while we're in Iceland. (An upcoming trip! Yay!)

I want to win!

My Stats.

Below are my current measurements (as of April 20th):

Chest - 36.5"
Belly - 34.5"
Arm - 13.75"
Mid-thigh - 19.5"

Below is what my goal is by September 1st!

Chest - 39.5"
Belly - an 8 pack
Arm - 15.25"
Mid-thigh - 21"

My Thoughts.

I have no idea what is realistic when it comes to exercise. How much can a guy naturally add in size? Is this goal achievable?

Regardless, this is what I'm striving for.

My Plan.

I'm going to start out light, as I'm in terrible shape right now.

For the first couple of weeks, I plan to perform a full body band workout. I'd also better add in some abs - as this goal is going to be tough!!

Depending on how I feel, and the amount of time I can find, I'm going to start P90X (again). Three days a week, then gradually adding in more. I do not think I can reach this goal without some serious commitment!

I have also adjusted my diet slightly.  I've added a few calories (trying to use a calorie app for tracking), lots of protein, and plenty of water!

This is all on top of our backpacking regime (training for a summer backpacking trip). The weekend hikes will not stop!

For fun, we're also in the middle of a 100 day burpee challenge. Ten burpees a day for 100 days! Any extra workouts are good!

I have about 108 days to see where I land...any suggestions?

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Mini Goal - 100 Days, 10 Burpees a Day

New challenge accepted.

After friends read about an individual who completed 10 push-ups a day for 100 days, we decided we needed a similar challenge.  But of course we changed it up a little...

Our challenge: 100 days, 10 burpees a day!

An interesting mini goal, considering I don't think any of us really knew what a burpee was before accepting the new routine. But after some research and a video, we were ready to go!

We are all in different physical shape, so we've left completing the burpees to the imagination.  We have burpees where the push-ups are separate from the rest of the exercise, we have double push-ups, and (hopefully starting this week) we'll have push-ups with a clap!

Adding some of the variation and fun in the burpee style may not be completely acceptable by CrossFit aficionados, but it's probably the only way I'll make it through the full 100 days!!

Just completed day 23, only 77 days to go!

Any new mini goals in your life?

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn

Can I Reset My 2014 Resolutions?

The New Year resolutions I made only weeks ago have been put on the back burner.

My motivation dwindled as January rolled on.

Can I start again?

Wrong train of thought...

I will start again!!

I'm going to challenge myself to start acting on my wants!!

Life is about choices...your choices, my choices.  Time for me to decide what I want.

One month of 2014 is nearly gone...and I don't have much to show for it.

Time to hit restart on my new year!  Only eleven months left!!

2014 Goals:

1) Workout and a basic yoga, four times a week.  (Ultimately, I'd like to be performing the full P90X workout again.)

2) Spend quality time with my wife in the evenings and on the weekends.  (Snuggling on the couch and watching a movie counts.  Both of us watching separate shows, ones that are just filling our time and we're not gaining a benefit from, do not count.)  I need to find a way to measure this one...

3) Add six paying clients to PPF.  (Baby steps...but forward motion.)

4) Take a Spanish course and have a basic proficiency in the language.  I've always wanted to learn Spanish, but I haven't been able to get into Rosetta Stone.  We're planning a vacation this year to a location where Spanish would be very useful.

How are your New Year's resolutions going?  Still committed?

Yours in exploiting life!

Quinn

2014 New Year's Resolution - Budget? No? How About a WAM(D)?

I gave my tenth speech out of my Toastmaster's manual today and I felt really good!

I enjoyed the material and had a lot of fun presenting.

I received some positive feedback, which is always a bonus.

I had so much fun...that I decided to share it here!

(Maybe in the future I can record the presentation - it works even better with my quirky voice inflections and planned pauses.)

Yours in exploiting life!
Quinn 

P.S. I pronounce WAM(D) so that it rhymes with Sam and spam.

Here it is...

WAM(D)

It’s another new year, but are you sticking with the same old resolutions?

Get healthy, eat better, travel more.

How about trying something new?  How about kicking the year off with a good, solid financial foundation?

In 2014, I want to challenge everyone to start a monthly WAM(D).

You know, capital “W”, capital “A”, capital “M”, silent capital “D”.

You might know it as “Where’s All My Dough?”...or possibly as a “budget”.

The word “budget” has become a four letter word.  It’s associated with punishing yourself and constricting your spending.  That’s not what I think it is, so I decided to call it a WAM(D).

I’m going to share a little about building your WAM(D), the benefits of a WAM(D), and a financial success story which used a WAM(D).

So what is a WAM(D)?

A WAM(D) (Where’s All My Dough) is a look at all the income and expenses you have in a month.  This includes wages, side income, mortgages and rent, telephone bills, food, travel.  Anything that comes in and goes out of your bank account.

How many of you here already have a detailed monthly WAM(D)?

How many of you review your WAM(D) at least monthly?

According to a recent Gallup poll, just 32% of Americans have a monthly budget (or WAM(D)).  

But what does that mean?  Well, according to the same Gallup poll, just 30% of Americans have a financial plan for savings and retirement goals.  Summary - if you don’t start tracking your money, how can you plan with it?  You can’t!

You’re probably thinking, “I don’t want to do that.  It’ll take way too long.  I make enough money to pay my bills and that’s enough.”  Those are fair, but unfortunate thoughts.  This line of thinking is what the other 68% of Americans are thinking.  Soon they’ll be thinking, I’m planning to retire and I don’t have enough money!  Where’d all my dough go?!

Yes, this can be a daunting task, at least initially.  Preparing your first WAM(D) may take a few hours and multiple reviews a month.  Possibly even a fight with your spouse.  But once it’s established, it should only take you 15-30 minutes a month to review and tweek.

How to go about building your WAM(D)?

Some people like a lot of details.  I know one couple who keeps their WAM(D) on an Excel spreadsheet.  They have 60 lines of detail, breaking out every type of expense.  They like to know exactly what categories they’re spending money on, so they can set limits accordingly.

Some people like simple.  My wife and I fall into this category.  We don’t like a lot of limits, we don’t want to stress about the pennies, but we do want to know how much we’re spending.  We use Mint.com to track our transactions.  Our monthly costs (rent, phone, internet) are categorized, our financial priorities are categorized (retirement, travel, savings), and then we leave a lump sum for everything else.  The lump sum is food, entertainment, coffee, treats, bar tabs, dry cleaners, dog baths.  We take this amount out in cash, weekly.  This reduces the transactions that we have to track in our budget.  We don’t need to know the details for this money, but when it runs out, we’re done spending for the week.  Pull out the leftovers…

Those of you with WAM(D)s already, do you like details or simple?

What type of tools do you use for your WAM(D)?

What’s the benefit of a WAM(D)?

The benefit is a strong financial foundation.

How much can you afford to spend on your next vacation?  How much can you afford to put into retirement?  Can you afford a new car?  Why is your credit card balance always increasing?  Can you pay off your student loans early?  How are you going to pay for that coffee?

Having a WAM(D) can answer all of these questions.

With a WAM(D), you’re at least educated on your spending.  Whether you take additional actions is your next choice.

I’d like to take these last few minutes to share a story with you, a story about exploiting life.

It began a couple of years ago with a beautiful woman and a devilishly handsome man.

My wife and I were living the proverbial paycheck to paycheck life.

We were playing the credit card game, transferring balances from credit card to credit card.  We were making the minimum monthly payments to our car loan and our student loans.  We didn’t worry about buying groceries, eating out, or taking a few trips here and there - that’s what credit cards are for, right?!

We were making all of our payments and meeting our obligations, but we always felt broke.

We were having a lot of fun.  But we stressed about our finances.  We were constantly stressed out about our financials.

At one point, we were over $70,000 in debt!!

You might be thinking, “Wow, how typical.  The average American life.  No one can afford to live without taking on debt.”

But the most amazing part - at least to me looking back - was that we were earning over $70,000 a year!!  We had no excuse!

Where’s all my dough?!

Two years later?  Here we are.

We’re debt free.  Completely debt free.  Over $70,000 of debt paid off!

Even better?  We took our first international trip during this time - a dream of ours for years - and paid it off!  We even took a second international trip!

We added to our savings accounts.  We added to our retirement accounts.  

We felt comfortable enough to take financial risks by seeking new jobs, which brought in additional income.

We funded a side business.

Even though our rent went up, our weekend activities actually increased during this time.

We didn’t sacrifice any of our fun, we just knew how much we were spending on the fun!

We were exploiting life!

All of this because we finally we broke down and decided to confront our demons head on.

We made our WAM(D).

It all starts with this one simple question.

Where’s All My Dough?

WAM(D)!!