3 Things 2-22

02/22/2021

Although MAS is a financial services company, not everything published herein will be about numbers or investing. But no matter the topic, we hope for three things: 1) That you find the time you spend engaged worthwhile. 2) That you’ll reach out to us for help in any of our areas of expertise if something we discuss creates an urging in you to do so. 3) That you’ll share this with somebody new each time you read it.

Thing One

Two Circles

I recently watched a video of a motivational speaker talking to a large crowd. At the point where he started to drive home his message, he was standing by a large easel with a blank sheet of white paper. With the black sharpie he had in his hand, he drew two large circles in a way that caused the right edge of one circle to overlap with the left edge of the other circle, creating a common space between the two. Next, he shaded in the common space and turned to address the audience:

“This has been said in many ways by people much smarter than me, but I like basic pictures. The circle on the left represents the things in your life that matter and the circle on the right represents the things in your life that you can control. These two circles are not necessarily drawn to scale, but you get the idea. For the sake of your own sanity and inner peace, as well as those people in your life who are in the things-that-matter circle, put all your focus here, at the intersection. Oh, and for those of you who put people in the circle on the right, you’re in the wrong seminar and country.” (Note: There was laughter and applause directed at the obvious humor of that last line but I think he also masterfully addressed a key point in a funny way.) And I think it's also kind of funny that the circles approach seems likely to help, no matter the topic:

Does having a beautiful lawn matter to you? Draw the circles and work the intersection.

Does being physically healthier matter to you? Draw the circles and work the intersection.

Does having better financial health matter to you? You get the idea.

Oh, and keep in mind that you can always get help working on the intersections if you want. Help is in the circle on the right.

Thing Two

Mark Twain's 9 Tips For Living A Good Life (with a couple of clarifications where it might be needed

1. Approve of yourself.

2. Your limitations may just be in your mind.

3. Lighten up and have some fun.

4. Let go of anger.

5. Release yourself from entitlement.

(Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.)

5. If you're taking a different path, prepare for reactions. ...

(A person with a new idea is a crank until the idea succeeds.)

6. Keep your focus steadily on what you want.

7. Don't focus so much on making yourself feel good.

(The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.)

9. Do what you want to do.

Thing Three

Just A Thought

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. " - Ralph Waldo Emerson