You may think obsessions can be a very annoying waste of time depending on what you’re obsessing about. You are right, not all obsessions are fun but they can be, if you have control over them. You need to make sure that they don’t mess up your life or harm other people in the process.
Discovering Your Obsession Can Lead to Your Greatness ~ Leo Babauta
I noted my take on how to be rich, I talked about creating value first which then you can trade to earn serious money. This is not a simple thing to do though, or else, many among us would have become rich already. A positive obsession about creating a value is perhaps the only way to create a substantial value.
You must be working all the time towards creating that value. If you are not working you need to think about creating value, you got to be thinking about becoming financially free, you got to be thinking about becoming debt free. You got to be thinking about becoming rich.
Only obsession can give you the passion, the power and the drive towards your goal, the one you are aspiring for. Talk about any successful person in any field, they all were obsessed about what they were doing.
Let’s talk about 5 of the obsessions you can develop now to become better off financially.
1. Be obsessed with earning more
I am not going to list things or ways to make more money here. I do it on this blog often. I only ask you to obsess over earning more. If you obsess on this goal you’ll find your own way to earn more.
Be the best employee at work, get the fattest salary increment, and secure your job for few a more years. Get the heftier bonus next year. If that’s not that something you can do, I understand. there must have been factors for you believing so, still there are other ways to increase your income.
If your job doesn’t interest you, find a more interesting indulgence that can be used for money earning purposes. Use your free time, do whatever keeps you occupied and satisfied. Do whatever you need for earning money obsessively.
Warning: Don’t become so obsessed that life will pass you by and you will be behind. Take a break, recharge and move on. Don’t hurt others and whatever you do, obey the law and your purest conscience.
2. Be obsessed with cutting expenses
If the tap is open, no matter how much water you pour to the tank, it will get empty. Close the tap. Open it only when you need it. Often we don’t realize the value of little changes that we spent every day on something or other. At the end of the life, if we add them up, we will repent till we die.
If you are in debt, this should be your first obsession. Debt repayment eats into your earnings like a termite via interest charges. You realize this when it’s too late. Cut back and repay. Don’t let a billionaire somewhere make a few more billions off of your earnings.
Only obsession can let you find alternate ways to enjoy life when you start cutting your expenses. An obsession should find newer avenues to save; an obsession would find cheaper alternatives. Information is everywhere; you need the will to succeed.
Warning: Don’t obsess over cutting expenses so much that you get ridiculed in the society you live in. Make self-reward and fun a part of your lifestyle. Make your family a part of your obsession. Get their buy-in.
3. Be obsessed with balance of investment
Don’t obsess with investment alone, which can lead to taking unnecessary risks. Rather, obsess with a balance. Again, there are plenty of resources available for free or for a small fee around you that can assist you deciding on a balance you need. Only a balanced portfolio of investment can push your savings forward.
Chances of derailment will be always there. A balance can only reduce the chance of its happening with you. Only obsession can make you work towards learning alternate investment routes and options.
Warning: Don’t obsess over a particular type of investment. Don’t go all stocks or all bonds or all whatever. Keeping a balanced portfolio is as important as the other two obsessions above. A wrong decision can ruin your years of hard work.
4. Be obsessed with your health
Live better, be better. Be healthier than yesterday. Don’t neglect little problems. That lump on your body might not be an insect bite. That small mouth ulcer can be something serious.
Don’t compromise on health care needs. Only an obsession can take you to gym every day. Obsess towards healthy eating. Only a resolution powered by an obsession can help you fight smoking urges. Obsess to live well and make it better for your loved ones to take care of you when you are old.
Obsess over the health of your family or else an illness can ruin your financial freedom.
Warning: Your body can only withstand that much. Don’t stretch beyond limit. Experience unhealthy stuff occasionally; This can let you know about the pitfalls about such behavior. Don’t go overboard with gym and spend valuable family time there.
5. Be obsessed with your family
Whom to earn for otherwise? The power and the ego is falsity, if there’s no one to share it with. Your family lend you unconditional love and support; you obsess over taking care of them. be a caring husband and a caring father. More over, obsess to become a great care giver for your family.
Along with other obsessions, obsession for family is a must, or otherwise we would cease to remain human beings; We would become machines. Love makes us cry, love makes us laugh. Love makes us live our lives. Obsess over loving your family and protecting them forever.
Warning: Don’t obsess partially, love each of your children equally (for example). Don’t let the obsession become a jealousy. Don’t let this obsession become hatred towards others.
Now, let that sink in for a moment…
Did you get all that? If not, go back and read it again and then get going obsessing on the things. The more you obsess, the more money you will make.
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I like this post 🙂
I want to point out though that “getting ridiculed in the society you live in” doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re cutting expenses too much. It can also mean that people in society have no perspective about what some smart things to do are. (“Oh my gosh, your car has 80,000 miles on it! When are you going to get a new one?!” — when your car is perfectly fine and running great.)
Leaving aside the car example, isn’t social aspect important for your overall well being? To me, we shouldn’t completely ignore the society we live in.
Another good way to look at it, obsessions doesn’t have to be a bad thing 😀
Thats what precisely I said
That is way too many things to be obsessive about. How long can you keep it up? Would you get obsession burnout?
Don’t get overwhelmed, thats why the warnings are for. If you want bad enough you got to be obsessed enough.
Great post! I’m working on these now.
Great to know, good luck
Obsession is a negative word! Focused, concentrate, goal oriented, or determined may be better. An obsession dominates one’s thoughts to the point that nothing else matters. I think all 5 of the areas you mentioned matters and deserves consideration in balance.
Shakespeare said, what’s in a name. It doesn’t matter what you call it. As long as you put your 100% on all of them. Thanks for comment Larry
I think number 5 is very important and number 1 can get in the way of that! Balance is always key :).
You got that forest! If you see, #1 has a reference to #5 as well.
Yup I should have said that, I like the warnings you included, very important 🙂
thank you!
I think these are some great “obsessions.” I’ve been reading a lot about obsessions lately. I like how you gave warnings with each point. The old saying goes “too much of a good thing…” yada, yada, yada. Anyway, I think you can channel this energy into dramatically improving your finances. While people may take different paths, it’s the “focus” that’s what is ultimately important.
Obsessions have a tendency to drag you towards extreme , so I thought of giving warnings.
I like your spin on the word obsession. Passion and drive are important keys to success. Well said.
Thanks Miss T, appreciate your comment.
I’m obsessed with balance and happiness. Making more money is a NEVER ENDING quest that gets tiring after a certain amount.
Once you make $100,000, you want $250,000, then $500,000, then $1 million then forever.
Be happy at $500,000!
You mean stop at some place. It depends on what you want and what gives you more joy. If you are satisfied with $200,000 stop there or else earning more would be of no use.
Actually you can be happy at $50,000. It all depends on your personal choice. You want to obsess and not be happy… or you want to be happy and find that balance between what makes you happy. Somehow how much money makes me happy was never a question for me.
I like to think of is as exercising and not so much obsession. For example, on my way home from work I’ve made it a habit to spend the time trying to think of services that could be monetized.
For example, could I make money driving someone home on my way home from work?
Shaun thats a perfect example of obsession! Either you are doing it or thinking about it, that’s obsession.