I certainly have problems that I’d like to avoid.  Problems are hurtful, distracting and agitating.  Why wouldn’t I want to get as far away from them as possible?

That feeling you get when a big crisis pops up is sickening.  It can feel like you went bungee jumping without a rope.

That’s why I recently set out to find the most used strategies for running away from problems.  I wanted to uncover some things I could try.  Fortunately, it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be to find popular tactics.  It seems that I’m not alone in wanting to avoid problems.

From my research, I found there are literally millions of people already using these techniques.  You might even be one of them.  However, I still thought it might be a value to share with you what I’ve learned.  I hope I don’t bore you with this stuff.  Maybe there is a new strategy here that you can use for better results than what you are experiencing now.

5 Ways to Run Away from All Your Problems

If you want to ditch all your problems, then it does appear that you have a lot of company.  As I said before, tons of people have gone before us paving the way.  I found this to be great news and very reassuring because we can learn from their experience.

Here are five common strategies I found to run away from our problems:

1.  Bury Your Head in the Sand

Probably one of the most common and promising strategies used to avoid problems is just to ignore them.  We have an amazing ability to blind ourselves to the issues in our lives.  If we don’t see and acknowledge the problems, then they simply don’t exist.  It is almost a miracle at how effective this technique can be.

Of course, as with all strategies, this one does have a potential gotcha.  Through some painstaking research and expert analysis, I have uncovered one pretty disturbing drawback of this approach that I think must have been hidden for years because so many have missed it.

It seems that those that utilize this approach later experience a day of reckoning.  As I said, this is a pretty disturbing concept.  What seems to happen is that all the ignored problems pile up and then one day, WHAM!  They smack you right between the eyes with a crisis so huge that it is impossible to ignore despite even the best efforts of those very experienced with the strategy.

I found this discovery to be quite upsetting.  At first, it seemed this was almost a perfect solution because it could be applied to practically any problem, but this day of reckoning thing really threw me for a loop so I decided to consider some other alternatives.

2.  Get a Divorce

It is common knowledge and widely accepted that most problems originate with other people.  We certainly aren’t the source of our own problems.  That’s just ridiculous! 

The closer a person is to you, the more leverage they have to create trouble for you.  Therefore, it only stands to reason that your spouse is a big source of problems in your life.  A divorce seems like a fast way to lighten up one’s life.  After all, they aren’t called the old ball and chain for nothin’. 

Again, this is a very popular strategy.  Some researchers think that more than half of all marriages end in divorce so a lot of people have embraced divorce as something that works in avoiding problems.  On the surface divorce looks like a fine way to quickly discard troublesome issues.

However, I’ve heard reports of divorce creating problems too.  Apparently, it is not completely the panacea of good times its cracked up to be.  There are rumors that It is loaded with financial issues and that it creates tons of complicated emotional problems especially when children are involved.  Please don’t go spreading this information around.  I don’t want my informants to know that I’m telling everyone their insider information.

It is really hard to believe that another very promising strategy for avoiding problems turns out to be saddled with cockleburs.  Fortunately, there are still more schemes tactics to consider.

3.  Live on Credit

I’ve said before that “life takes money”, but unfortunately money problems are plentiful.  In addition, they are stressful, difficult and persistent.  The good news is that there are plenty of banks with piles of money more than willing to help.  They are constantly offering tons of great deals on credit cards.   Heck, they even want to pay you to get one of the their cards.  How great of a deal is that?

Credit cards are taken just about everywhere nowadays.  You can basically live on credit!  This can really ease the burden in a financial pinch.  Have you been laid off from work?  No problem!  Just whip out your trusty old credit card and presto, your money problems are solved.  Whatever the situation, having a credit card in your pocket seems to ease the burden. 

I was sure that no one could possibly spoil this strategy for avoiding problems.  It seems so perfect, but then I ran across this article saying credit cards suck.  Oh, please say it isn’t so!  After I read about interest rate hikes, late fees and cancellations, I decided to do a little more research and found the truth about credit cards.  It is truly a sad day!

It is depressing to find out that three really promising strategies for avoiding problems seem so full of pitfalls.  I’m starting to wonder if there is any hope.

4.  Lose All Hope

Speaking of hope, I’m beginning to think, “Why even try?”  Life’s problems seem totally overwhelming and unavoidable at this point.  I might as well just give up.  Everyone is out to get me anyway.  My boss, my spouse, even my kids have it in for me.  There just doesn’t seem to be any solutions to these problems.  Everywhere I turn I only see more trouble heading my way.  It has always been this way for me.  I guess I’m just cursed.

I’ve tried, I really have, but it just never works out.  I can’t even avoid my problems.  I don’t know why I think I can ever possibly get ahead and loose from them.  I take one step forward and two steps back no matter how hard I try or what I do.  Overall, I just don’t have the energy to deal with it anymore.

I’m going to go with the flow.  I’m tired of fighting it.  I’ll let the cards fall where they may.  I’ll just run my life on autopilot.  That promotion I was wanting is out of my reach anyway and even if I got it, I probably wouldn’t like the job.  I’m sure it is just full of a lot of new problems I couldn’t avoid anyway.  The finances are a little tight, but if it gets too bad I’ll just declare bankruptcy.  What the heck!

I know I should want more for myself and my family, but it isn’t worth the hassle.  They probably wouldn’t appreciate it anyway.  Why go to all the trouble?  I think if I just ignore it all, then it won’t bother me so much.  This seems like the best approach.  Of course, I’ll never get that life I always wanted, but I guess that’s just the hand I’ve been dealt.  Oh well!

5.  Sabotage Yourself

I began this project really expecting to find ways to avoid all my problems, but it has been a seriously depressing journey.  I’m not sure how exactly I got here, but my life really sucks now.  The pain caused by all the problems that I can’t seem to avoid is overwhelming.

On top of that, I had a really big problem pop up again just this week that I wish I could have avoided.  I went to have a few drinks to enjoy life a little and to try to get my mind off my problems, but when I left the bar later than I intended, some idiot stopped short in front of me and I rear-ended him.  Of course, the cop was a butt-head about the whole thing and wrote me a ticket for driving while intoxicated.  I can’t believe he was so stupid about such a small deal.

Of course, the cop wasn’t the only one that blew this whole thing out of proportion.  When I got home, my wife had a hissy-fit over it.  She was so out-of-control telling me how irresponsible I’d been that I left and spent the night in a motel.  I think she’s overreacting to an accident.  She’s being totally unreasonable and might even use this to rationalize giving up on us.  What a night full of crazy problems!

The next morning wasn’t much better.  The alarm clock in the crummy motel didn’t go off and I overslept.  My boss called me into his office when he saw me coming in an hour late.  I tried to explain the situation and that it wasn’t my fault, but he lost his mind before I could finish.  He said that this was the last straw.  He fired me while going on and on ad nauseam about my poor attitude and performance.  It was quite a show really seeing his total lack of self-control.

I’ve had some time to reflect on this and I’ve decided good riddance to all of them.  I didn’t need them anyway.  The problems they caused me were ruining my life.  I’m going back to the bar to try to relax and forget about my troubles for awhile.  It seems to be the only place where people understand me.

Running Away from Problems Isn’t Smart (or Effective)

I so wished that I would have thought of this article in time for April Fool’s Day.  It really is foolish to think that we can run away from our problems.  The only way to a better life is to fully and completely accept personal responsibility for all our outcomes.  As an adult, we are responsible for the quality of our lives.  We can’t blame anyone else for our troubles and we can’t simply run away from them.

“You have to take the position that you have always had the power to make it different, to get it right, to produce the desire result.  For whatever reason – ignorance, lack of awareness, fear, needing to be right, the need to feel safe – you chose not to exercise that power.  Who knows why?  It doesn’t matter.  The past is the past.  All that matters now is that from this point forward you choose – that’s right, it’s a choice – you choose to act as if you are 100% responsible for everything that does or doesn’t happen to you.”
~ Jack Canfield, The Success Principles

I’ll admit that life can be hard.  It can hand us a crummy mess from time-to-time, but the only way we can effectively fight back is to face life head on.  We have to stop running from our problems and start doing something about them.

What are you going to do today to produce a better life?

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Many of us have dreams we would like to pursue.  The question is will we ever do anything to make our dreams a reality?

John C. Maxwell in Put Your Dream to the Test: 10 Questions that Will Help You See It and Seize It helps us evaluate whether we are ready to successfully launch a pursuit of our dream.  This is truly the best book I have ever read on this subject.

Maxwell doesn’t just pump you up with a bunch of motivational enthusiasm.  He asks tough questions that will really help you judge just how likely you are to achieve your dream.  This is the kind of stuff a true mentor should be asking us to see if we are being realistic or just engaged in wishful thinking.

We all have dreams we want to one day realize

Everyone has a dream.  We all have a vision of what we want in the future.  Your dream may involve one or more of the following:

• Opening your own business
• Becoming a actor or actress
• Writing a book
• Traveling around the world
• Becoming a recording artist
• Retiring to the lake or beach
• Raising a successful family
• Getting married
• Accumulating a fortune
• Winning an Olympic Medal

Your dream may be bigger or smaller than those listed above.  It doesn’t matter.  The bottom line is that it won’t happen until you decide to make it so, but before you do I highly recommend considering Maxwell’s questions to give yourself a reality check.

1.  Is my dream really my dream?

Sometimes our so-called dreams are visions planted in our heads by others like our parents or spouses.  You are only going to accomplish your dream if you take full ownership of it.  Dreams don’t come easy and if it isn’t 100% yours, then you’ll likely give up before you see it through.  Is your dream really yours?

2.  Do I clearly see my dream?

You must have a clear and vivid picture of exactly where you’re going before you depart.  You are likely going to need to inspire others to help you along the way to achieve your dream.  This is only possible if you know exactly where you are headed.  A clear vision will help you stay on track and motivate others to join you in your quest.

3.  Am I depending on factors within my control to achieve my dream?

Luck is not what makes dreams come true.  Sorry to burst that bubble!  It takes a lot of hard work, determination and perseverance to see a dream through to fruition.  Dreams are all about aiming high, but they also must have a dose of reality.  Dreams need to be anchored in our areas of greatest strength and talent.  For example, if you can’t sing, then there is no way you are going to win American Idol.  Some of us just don’t have a singing voice and there is nothing we can do to change that.  Is your dream rooted in reality?

4.  Does my dream compel me to follow it?

Are you so passionate about your dream that you have no choice but to pursue it?  There are usually a lot of potholes and detours on the way to achieving a dream.  Passion is the fuel that drives you forward and keeps you going even when times are tough.  Would you pursue your dream even if no money, fame or admiration were involved?  Are you being lured by the fantasy of success or is this truly what you’ve always wanted?

5.  Do I have a strategy to reach my dream?

You must have a well thought out plan to reach your dream.  It must be definite and clear.  A dream without a strategy is just wishful thinking.  It has no legs.  It isn’t going anywhere.  The more complete your plan is for achieving your dream, the more likely it is that you will get there.  What is your strategy for reaching your dream?

6.  Have I included the people I need to realize my dream?

Dreams are big and therefore cannot be pursued alone.  It always takes other people to help a person reach their dream.  Do you have the right people on your team?  You need people that inspire you, challenge you and complement your skills to help you make your dream a reality.  You’ve got to be able to transfer the vision of your dream to others and successfully recruit them to get you where you want to go.  Do you have a dream team?

7.  Am I willing to pay the price for my dream?

Every dream has a cost.  There is a price you must be willing to pay.  There are many sacrifices along the path to achieving a dream.  Have you counted up these costs and considered them?  Is your dream worth the cost?  This is a valid question.  A dream might take too much time away from your family to pursue.  It might involve too much financial risk.  It might cost you your privacy.  The cost will likely be more than you think.  Are you willing to pay the price?

8.  Am I moving closer to my dream?

It often takes years to achieve a dream.  Dreams are realized by taking at least one step every day toward their fulfillment.  What have you done lately to move toward your dream?  Have you given up?  Do you have the grit necessary to achieve your dream?  Look at what might be holding you back and be sure you have the tenacity it will take to conquer your dream.  Are you closer to your dream today than yesterday?

9.  Does working toward my dream bring satisfaction?

Maxwell points out that a great dream is about more than just the destination, it is about the journey.  You should find fulfillment in pursuing your dream, not frustration.  Working toward your dream should energize you, not drain you.  You have to love the journey to reach the dream.  Does pursuing your dream bring you satisfaction or zap your strength?

10.  Does my dream benefit others?

A dream has to have significance to be worth it in the long run.  At first, it might be all about you, but over time a dream that doesn’t benefit others will lose steam and die.  When your dream has significance it takes on a life of its own.  Others will buy into your dream if they see its benefits.  How does your dream benefit others?

Put your dream to the test to see if it holds up to scrutiny

How did you answer the 10 questions?  Maxwell says that if you can’t answer yes to most, if not all, of them, then you might need to re-evaluate your dream.

I highly recommend reading Put Your Dream to the Test to explore the viability of your dream further.  Maxwell provides a lot of great guidance in the book to help you accurately answer his 10 questions. 

I especially appreciate his down-to-earth, practical approach to this subject.  So often, when authors talk about dreams, they fill you with the old “if you can dream it, you can achieve it” mentality, but Maxwell doesn’t do that.  He provides real-world guidance that I believe is valuable to anyone wanting to pursue a dream.  Read the book!

What is your dream and how’d you do on the questions?  Leave me a comment and let me know!

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Popular strategies for achieving financial freedom

It seems that people have different ideas in mind for funding their retirement.  Let’s take a look at a few that appear popular.

1.  Live it up now and hope to get lucky later

In America, this one seems very prevalent.  I have heard it expressed as, “Why should I scrimp and save while I’m young?  I’d rather live it up while I can still enjoy it.”  Spending even well beyond one’s means is very typical.

Of course, life expectancy continues to grow higher and higher.  The average life expectancy reached a record high of 78.1 years in 2006.  Who is going to take care of these folks in their old age if they don’t prepare?

I guess this group hopes to hit a financial gold mine one day.  They must hope to get lucky by winning the lottery, collecting a large inheritance, or receiving some other large windfall.  What other hope do they have?

2.  Get rich quick with a brilliant business or investment

Many entrepreneurs and investors jump from one thing to the next in a heated pursuit of the next popular idea.  They keep hoping to strike it rich in one brilliant move.  If the money doesn’t come shortly, then they ditch it and move on.

The problem with this strategy is that so much money goes to waste.  There is always a start-up cost or initial investment involved.  However, because this group rarely sticks it out, they generally lose their money.

When I was growing up, my stepdad was one such person.  He was constantly starting a new business hoping to ramp it up and sell it for a fortune.  Obviously, there are people that have made money this way, but I think the failures far outweigh the success stories.

3.  It is impossible so I’m not going to try

It seems some people have given up before they’ve even tried.  They believe it is impossible to create margin enough in their lives to save a dime.  They feel trapped and want to blame everyone else for their failings.

I know it is very difficult to make ends meet for some families today.  However, I also believe those that are stubborn and persistent can get ahead.  It definitely takes time and a lot of work, but for me, I’d rather face the difficulty now so I can retire with some financial security.

I’m not the type to just give up so I have a hard time understanding this mentality.  I’ve seen it and I’ve got people pretty close to me that have adopted this way of thinking, but I still don’t get it.

4.  Slow and steady savings over the long-term

This last group embraces a modest lifestyle, gradually builds their income, lives below their means, invests a regular amount each month, and stays the course for many years.  The ebb and flow of the markets, economy, political environment, and popular opinion rarely effect them greatly.  They are not quick to change their plans.

Some feel like these people make too many sacrifices all their lives.  They think this group is boring and never enjoys anything really nice.  It is said, they are always living for tomorrow instead of today.

In my experience, these are the only people that ever really win financially.  They are the only ones that accumulate any wealth and hang on to to it.  They are the ones you see traveling abroad or driving across the country in a big RV once they are retired.  This is the strategy I’ve chosen and that I continue to promote.

Which strategy are you pursuing right now?

Achieving financial freedom at any age takes discipline and planning.  It takes a commitment.  Which of the strategies above most closely matches what you are doing today with your money?  Do you have a plan?  Are you following it? 

Retirement will be here before you know it.  It is amazing how fast time flies.  It takes years to accumulate enough money to retire comfortably.  It is time to start working earnestly so you can cross the finish line to financial freedom!

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