Small Habits Compound

If you looked at my life the day before I started paying off my debt and 1 year into paying off my debt…

You might have thought my life was getting worse.

Before I decided to pay off my debt, I drove a 2016 Honda Civic (the year was 2016). 1 year later, I drove a Dodge Caravan with 125k miles.

Before I decided to pay off my debt, I had a 1-bedroom apartment in downtown Austin. 1 year later, I had 5 roommates and was living in the burbs.

Before I decided to pay off my debt, I was always doing something on the weekends. 1 year later, I was working every weekend.

On the surface, my life was getting worse.

And if you ever were to ask someone who got sober what the first year was like, a lot of them would say the same.

You remove the partying, numbing your emotions, etc and life feels a little empty at first.

You remove the reckless spending, and guess what, your life might feel a little empty at first.

But here’s the good news: it gets better.

In fact, my goal here is to talk to you about how my life slowly got better the more I stuck it out and focused on improving my life.

What was I changing?

In 2016, I was making $40k at a job I hated. Sound familiar?

I had no savings. In fact, I remember talking to my friend about assets and I proudly said well I have my car! To only find out that I owed more than it was worth…

And as I mentioned, I had $100k in debt ($96k if we’re being specific).

I would spend my weekends going out and drinking, sleeping through the morning, and eating garbage. A real winner, I was.

But I had no other choice, I needed to make more money so I could afford to pay my bills.

So my weekend habits changed. I started working instead of drinking. And I started eating healthier because I had the energy to actually cook.

And since I wasn’t partying, I would be rested when I showed up to work, so go figure, I got better at my job.

• I was spending less

• Making more

• Feeling better

All because I shifted some of my habits. A year later, my life didn’t vastly improve, but I got some small wins.

1. I was able to trade my car for a van that was now paid off

2. I got promoted and now was making $50k with the ability to make more (sales/commissions)

3. I finally had $1,200 saved up in case something happened.

A year later, I was even able to pay off my debt after closing the largest deal of my life.

I started working out on Saturday mornings, and meeting people who actually saw potential in me. People who wanted to share the things that made them successful.

In 2019 I made over $100k for the first time in my life.

I moved in with my now wife. Single guys, this will really start to compound your life!

In 2020 we bought our first home…

In 2021 I maxed out my 401k and IRA for the first time.

I’m not going to go through every habit but my point is all of the things that you see me do today all started because of the small changes I made back in 2016.

I never would have thought at the time they’d lead me here.

And that’s how life will work for you.

So What Can You Do Today?

The truth is, you probably know deep down what you need to do.

Going back to my original example, consider what an addict has to go through if they want to get sober.

They don’t say ok, I’m going to give up drinking. And then hang out with their friends who drink, at bars where people drink.

They have to go through major life changes.

What is your bar?

Who are your drinking buddies?

If you’re not catching on, this is me challenging you to reflect on the things in your life that prevent you from saving more money and making more money.

What did you do today that is going to result in you advancing your career?

What do you do on weekends to improve your life?

How do you treat your body? A burnt-out mind is on auto-pilot looking to survive, not to make strides.

Start by getting your mind right:

• Get some rest (that means get off your phone)

• Go for a walk (without the phone)

• Get sober-minded

Review your spending:

Log in to your bank and print off your last two months’ statements. Yes, print them off. Printing them off will make you take it seriously. Go figure out a way to do it.

Highlight the waste. The things that don’t bring you closer to your dreams.

Get your money up:

That could mean getting a side hustle going. That could mean getting job certifications. Signing up for more responsibility at work. Changing careers!

It also means reading books, listening to podcasts and watching YT videos that help you better understand career mobility, personal finance, and more.

Treat money-making like getting in shape. Learn how to exercise and then do the exercises consistently.

If success was simple and fast everyone would be successful. Be the person that is patient.

Dan