Advice for Troubled Times

This was not the type of question that I was expecting on Facebook this week. But you have to give the kid credit for opening up and having the courage to post it.

I hope it helped him, and that it might even help you, no matter what your situation.

Q: Craig, I’m going to walk into a meeting with my boss today where I may lose my job. I started my own business recently, but there is no income yet. I have a wife and a new puppy, and enough savings to last a month. What would you do in this situation? – Lukas

Answer: Lukas – I lost a job once. I immediately contacted everyone I knew and let them know. It was through the power of my network that I was able to get back on my feet again.

Since you attended the Underground seminar I spoke at back in March, you have a decent network, so let people know if it actually happens…you know good people, and good people want to help other good people like you.

And if the worst does happen, remember this does not change who you are, what you believe in, and what you stand for.

That was the biggest mistake I made, putting too much of my personal identity into my job. It affected the way I thought others viewed me, even though it didn’t change anything in their eyes.

Be a realist, but an optimistic realist. Don’t get down.

You’re young, you’re smart, and you’re full of energy…and despite what the media says, there is a LOT of opportunity out there in the world and in America for folks of your age,
especially good kids like you that are willing to show up on time and do a hard day’s work.

Stay strong, and communicate openly with your wife about whatever happens…even if the worst doesn’t happen, it’s  worth having an open conversation with her about what you would have done IF it did happen.

And don’t worry about the dog, they will always, always, always love you. I know everything will turn out alright for you.

*****
So that’s what I said to the kid.

Haven’t heard back from him, but I know everything will turn out fine in the end.

We all have tough times once in a while. All of us.

For me, I had a terrible day last Thursday. Everything went wrong. But at the end of the day, as I read through my daily documents, I came across a quote from my best Armenian friend, Bedros Keuilian.

The quote was short and simple, but it reminded me to be grateful for all the little things, and I realized that we/I all have it better than the Kings and Queens of even just 100 years ago.

Life is much easier than most of us make it out to be.  So stay positive, be grateful, and take advantage of all the opportunities and gifts we have been given.

Life is more positive today than it is negative. Of course, you can choose to look at it the other way, but that won’t  get you very far at all.

It’s also on tough days when I remind myself of the 12 rules I’ve set for my life.

Specifically, Rule #7 that states:

“I am guided by these two phrases:

a) ‘Nothing matters.’ – By this, I mean that arguing on the internet changes nothing…I can only work towards the major, massive goals that I have set for my life…that I have a vision of helping others, and there is no time to let petty arguments stand in the way.

and

b) ‘It will all be over soon.’ – This servers me in both good times and in bad.

In hard times, such as bad days, troubled times, or intense physical effort or discomfort, I know that it will all be over soon. A small amount of suffering now will be forgotten later when I will enjoy the rewards of my work.

And in good times, I will remember that life is short, and I must make things count now, and no matter how good things are going I must never let myself become soft and lazy, because I have too much to accomplish in such a short time.”

Sounds weird, I know.

Especially this: “It will all be over soon.”

But look at it this way…

The tough times WILL end.

For example, if you are going through divorce, one day you will love again. If you are going through bankruptcy, one day – soon – you will have control of your financial future again. If you get fired, you’ll quickly find another way to add value to the world.

You will. Trust me, you.

So never give up. Never give in. Never quit.

If you stumble, get back up. What happened yesterday no longer matters.

Today’s another day, so get back on track on move closer to your dreams and goals. You can do it.

If you need a place to start, please watch this video

How to Create Your Dream & Get What You Want in Life

I believe in you,

Craig Ballantyne

“Live life fully while you’re here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You’re going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don’t try to be perfect; just be an excellent example of being human.” – Anthony Robbins