Made you look.

Aren’t titles great?

I am not shy about sharing my goals, keeping YOU, the reader up on my progress, and inviting others to join me in my journey.

In the beginning, this bugged people. I lost Facebook friends. I was told I was “spamming” (via my personal Facebook page), that I was overly, and perhaps unhealthily focused on my new Beachbody gig. I was hidden, unfriended, and avoided.

I chalk this up to two things:

1. Social Media Flu: I did not know how to use Social Media as an effective tool, and vomited my new goals on the dang thing at a rate that would cause the NOW me to look back on the THEN me and hide the posts also. My flu was not contagious. I was simply quarantined. By many.

2. Disbelief in one’s ability to do what I was tackling. The only reason I believe this statement is true, is not because I have a high opinion of myself, but because a few of those folks who avoided me, or communicated admiration (only to disappear) have since come around and are now on the journey WITH me. We tend to project our disbelief in ourselves on others. I can’t tell you how many people have said, “I’ve been watching you for two years,” and “I read your posts everyday and have said nothing up until now.”

I talk/write about what matters to me. About what changes me. About what fuels me. When I don’t want to eat that piece of pie, or stay out super late, or binge at a church potluck, it’s not because I see myself as better, or someone else as less than. It’s not because I desire to live a non-social life. It’s not even because I don’t like pie.

It’s because I’ve worked too hard to change some nasty habits. And, as a result, I feel victorious, grounded, grateful, focused, and able to stand up to obstacles and hurdles that come my way, rather than laying beside them, curling into a ball, and giving them the power to block my path.

As for The Early To Rise Experience: Learn To Rise Early in 30 Days (Early To Rise Series)? I share IT everyday as a means of accountability to myself. Would I love to see you adopt this habit of rising early? Sure. But, make no mistake, my writing about it is primarily for me – so that I stick to the plan.

I’m already in a bit of a panic about Day 31 . . . for using this book as a writing prompt has been an amazing help to me in organizing my thoughts.

Also, when I share Andy’s book, I have every intention of helping him, and his family, see the rewards of his service to us in this area.

I’m a marketer. Of my stuff, and of stuff I consider worthy.

This book is one of them. I simply do NOT want to lose out on what these early mornings have yielded me. I have found a wealth of time, quiet, and creative inspiration in the early morning hours, and am driven by the fact that I don’t want to miss that “extra” time every day.

So when I invite you to a Beachbody Challenge, or to rise early, or to be a better version of yourself, it’s not because I am so driven that I can not live a life without a goal in front of me. I’m not addicted to goals. I simply do not desire to return to my old self. My former ways. The defeated self. The paralyzed self. The numb self. The one who wandered aimlessly. It would be an easy slip.

And if sharing this with you, keeps me on task, AND serves as nudge for you – even if that nudge takes two years to reach fruition, then my job is done here.

Share your goals. Don’t worry if people think they are ridiculous. Surround yourself with people who will support you in them, and then take the daily, and often small steps, that it takes to make those big goals a reality.

Some tend talk out of both sides of their mouths: both admiring someone for their effort and then turning and suggesting they chill out a bit . . .

Those of us who are focused on our goals, do so because we are excited about them. And, I for one, have lived the other way, with a lack of belief in myself. So, forgive me if it sounds vain, but I’m sticking with the current plan. For it gives me the freedom TO chill out . . .

Hopefully one doesn’t question my intentions in all of this, or if you do, I’m sorry that the trust factor is so low. I trust that Andy has my best interest at heart, even though his project has helped his family financially. I, with Beachbody, have your best interest at heart, even though I am also profiting from helping you find/stay on track.

Doctor’s profit from those heart surgeries.

Teachers profit (well, barely – don’t get me started) from pouring their lives into our children.

Restaurant owners may be enthusiastic about food, but they aren’t handing it out for free.

An investment is just that. Of time, effort, and yes, even money.

I share as a service.

Both to myself, and you.

I do hope you can see that.