Things I Want In Life

What I was reminded of last night while attending Vision Quest, a speaking presentation by Ron Reynolds, at the Hilton Hotel in Bellevue, Washington is something I have heard many times and even practiced at brief periods of my life. Like others Reynolds explained the seemingly magical benefits of writing down goals.

Reynolds is the Vice-President in charge of Distributor Development for AdvoCare. He’s an author and creator of the DebtBuster System.  He used to work with motivational speaker Jim Rohn

Jim-rohn-PASSES-AWAY

The Late Jim Rohn

as President of Jim Rohn Productions. On several occasions last night he quoted from one of my favorite authors, Richard Bach.

Cover of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"

Jonathan Livingston Seagull

He quoted from Bach’s most famous book, Jonathan Livingston Seagull. And he quoted from my favorite Bach book, Illusions, The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. He said, “You are never given a dream without also being given the power to make it come true”. I’ve written goals before, with success. Perhaps you have to. I’m saddened by my foolishness, procrastination, and inability to focus and do something I know from experience and from education works. Writing down goals, and doing it regularly is perhaps the single most important self-improvement tool anyone can do. Just ask yourself, who’s more likely to be a success or overcome obstacles…a person with a written list of passionate goals, or a person just getting through life day-to-day? Isn’t the answer obvious?

So, following Reynolds advice and countless others I’ve finally made my “Things I Want in Life” list. I thought it would be too personal to share here as I do so many of my other thoughts. But after writing it I don’t feel it’s anything to be ashamed of; and making it public may make me more accountable and make the list that much more powerful. Don’t you think?

Here it is:

1. A house on a lake or river where I can regularly go fishing. 

This has been a dream of mine for years. Now it’s no longer a dream it’s a goal. Soon it will be a reality.

2. Freedom from debt.

Debt is suffocating. And it’s suffocating me and my family and my business too much right now.

3. Financial freedom.

This may seem to be simultaneous with #2; but it’s not. I’ve seldom had debt problems in my life. I’ve even less seldom had financial freedom. Though, it’s true, #2 will HELP achieve #3.

4. The respect of my children.

I hope I already have this. But at times I’m not sure. Two of my kids are adults. I want to be sure.

5. Respect of my wife.

See above.

6. To live until at least 80 years of age.

This may seem like a low target. But my family history suggests that it’s a rather lofty goal.

7. A home in a sunny place. 

Goal #1 is most important. And if we can get it in a sunny place Goal #7 is fulfilled. But then again, I’d settle for two homes.

8. A self-sustaining company.

My company Total Broadcasting Service as well as our Plan-B income, AdvoCare are both capable of achieving this goal for me. First one to the finish line wins. 🙂

9. Clothes that fit.

I’ve lost 35 pounds with the great help of AdvoCare, but our debt problems make buying new clothes impossible right now. So this is actually a pretty important and immediate goal.

10. An inheritance for my kids.

My Dad left me and my brother nothing, because he had nothing. My Mom will do likewise. I won’t do this to my kids.

11. A red 1965ish Ford Mustang Convertible.

What good is it to have financial freedom, Goal #3, if I can’t enjoy it with the occasional toy.

12. Lots of friends.

I am grateful for all my friends. I want more.

13. Time, money and ability to vacation with friends all over the world.

I’ve never travelled much. I want to do so.

14. Seahawk, Mariner, and Sonics season tickets.

Currently we have Seahawk tickets.

15. A vacation home in Wenatchee. 

Burch Mountain above Wenatchee, Washington

Burch Mountain above Wenatchee

I love Wenatchee. My wife…not so much. So a permanent home there seems unlikely. So I’ll settle for a vacation home there instead.

16. Ability, time and money to help family and friends any time any where. And their confidence that I will help them. 

I feel that I am currently hamstrung in any efforts to benefit people I love. And that hurts.

17. A college education for all my kids, fully paid for by me.

I didn’t get this when I was young. Ever since I have wanted to provide it for my kids. We began to do so with my oldest. She then dropped out and that was that. We have one more left to go. Fortunately she repeatedly talks of going to college and I don’t want to let her down.

18. Be a leader.

Hopefully I am. But I can do better.

19. To write and publish a book that will be read by others for years.

As evidenced by this blog I enjoy writing. I hope I’m good. I hope I get better.

20. A fishing boat.

21. My wife’s happiness, always.

22. A complete genealogical account of my families history.  

23. A historic memorabilia collection.

24. A safe, secure retirement.

25. A savings account. 

26. Ability to always find positive words in any situation.

27. A new pool table and time and ability to use it, preferably with friends.

28. Laser eye surgery.

29. Shoulder surgery.

30. To establish a truly worthwhile charity to address literacy. 

The list isn’t in any particular order of priority. I want it all, so there seems no need to have any order of priority. It is complete. I thought hard about adding to it. But, there is little else that comes to mind, or that I would write here.

Some of the list is superficial. Some of it is more “spiritual”, in a sense. But having finally written it down, I’m filled with confidence that everything on the list is bounding my direction at this very moment. So I’ll stop writing and get busy achieving.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

Call for Video Production Services: 425-687-0100

Call for Video Production Services: 425-687-0100

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March 19, 2013
Categories: Business, Uncategorized, Washington State, Weight Loss . Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: 1 Comment

Work Ethic- What it’s done for Me.

“Let us rather run the risk of wearing out than rusting out.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

President of the United States Theodore Roosev...

Theodore Roosevelt

Work ethic, persistence, and a tremendous fear of failure has driven me my entire life to whatever level of success I’ve ever been able to achieve. I wonder how many people still understand that they too are where they are, wherever they are, due almost entirely to their work ethic and persistence.

“If people knew how hard I had to work to gain my mastery, it would not seem so wonderful at all.” ~ Michelangelo

I don’t believe my work ethic is that much more than many people. In fact, whatever it is compared to others is completely unimportant to me. On the other hand I believe my persistence can be something others can learn from. I can be quite stubborn.

“Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” ~ Abraham Lincoln

Cropped portion of Abraham Lincoln Photograph,...

Abraham Lincoln

I began my radio career making $600 per month, working 6 days per week in as tiny a radio market as you can imagine in Raymond, WA. Over seven years I moved up and through five different radio stations, constantly increasing my income, until I was on the verge of working in a major market, Seattle. Working in Everett, WA at the now defunct KWYZ Radio 123 taught me I was on the right track. I was a kid amongst radio luminaries. Every on-air person at the station had considerable work experience in Seattle, and other major markets. I was the exception. I had to put in long hours just to keep up, and not look like I didn’t belong. While still not even making $20,000 per year, I was happy.

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” ~ Will Rogers


KWYZ went bankrupt in 1991. Radio 123’s business failure led me into a new career; sales. My wife was 8 months pregnant with our second child and I felt I couldn’t afford to stay on unemployment waiting for the next on-air gig to open that I may or may not land. I often feel our current recession has been made much worse by an unwillingness of many unemployed Americans to change careers like I did, because they were willing to take unemployment for 99 weeks. Starting over again, at the bottom of the barrel ended up leading me to higher income and higher living standards than before.

“I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’” ~ Muhammad Ali

English: Bust portrait of Muhammad Ali, World ...

Muhammad Ali

I made only $22,000 my first year in sales. But I made $30k in year two, $40k in year 3, $50,ooo in year 5 and more every year until year thirteen when I left someone else’s employ and started Total Broadcasting Service. Had I not persisted those first two years when my income was not high, the other higher income may never have come. And my beloved self-employment may never have materialized.

The difference between try and triumph is a little umph.  ~Author Unknown

Total Broadcasting Service made more revenue each of its first four years until the nationwide recession nearly sunk us in 2009. Since 2009 we’ve put together consecutive years of improved sales and nearly halfway through 2012 are on pace for our best year.

And in having taken that detour into sales for 13 years I was led back to the microphone. My voice is now heard regularly all over the country in the radio spots I write and produce, and the narrative I voice in the Total Broadcasting marketing videos we produce. My voice and my written words are now seen and heard by 10s of thousands, possibly 100s of thousands of people each week; far more than how many were aware of me before the necessary detour 20 years ago.

Like many Americans these days, we have struggled the past few years and built up too much credit card debt early in the recession which makes getting healthier and stronger more difficult. I am personally sick and tired of the struggle the past 3-4 years has been. But, not so sick and tired that I can’t persist.

When should YOU quit you may ask yourself in times of despair? Someone once wrote:

“Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.” ~ Richard Bach

For me, and maybe for you too, it’s taking too long. But we’ll get there. We’ll persist and work our way through it, happily.

Thanks for visiting. Comments are welcome.

June 4, 2012
Categories: Business . Tags: , , , , , , , , , . Author: Michael Schuett . Comments: Comments Off on Work Ethic- What it’s done for Me.

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