Live it Full

Why do we let doubt stop us from pursuing our dreams?


This is a reference to “Doubting Thomas”, the disciple who famously refused to believe that Jesus had been resurrected until he had seen him with his own eyes. The story of Doubting Thomas is used as a parable about faith, and how true faith should not be predicated on a need for tangible evidence.


I am the Man, Thomas, I am the Man
Look at these nail scars here in my hands

They drove me up the hill, Thomas, I am the Man
They made me carry the cross, Thomas, I am the Man

I am the Man, Thomas, I am the Man
Look at these nail scars here in my hands

They crown my head with thorns, Thomas, I am the Man
They nailed me to the cross, Thomas, I am the Man

They pierced me in the side, Thomas, I am the Man
I died on the cross, Thomas, I am the Man

They buried me in the tomb, Thomas, I am the Man
In three days I rose, Thomas, I am the Man

Kaitlin and I reviewed these 21 Rules of Money last year on Episode 18.

Richard decided to make a 2022 edition and address some of our current financial concerns and plans for the future following these rules.

The 21 Rules of Money

1: 70/20/10 - Live on 70% of your income, invest 20% and give away 10%. 

2: If you can’t buy something with cash, don’t buy it with credit (other than car or real estate). 

3: Have six months of living expenses in cash but no more than that. 

4: Don’t waste money.

5: Don’t spend money based on emotion. 

6: When investing your money, do your due diligence, then do it again. 

7: Think four generations in the future before you spend or invest your money. Will it benefit my children’s children? 

8: Never carry a credit card balance unless it’s at 0%. 

9: Never have all your money in one account. (Read Profit First if you haven’t) 

10: Never have all your money in one investment (unless it’s your first deal).

11: Never spend more than you can truly afford. You have to know what you can afford. 

12: Don’t spend money solely to impress others, the Joneses are broke, you just don't know it. 

13: Make sure the reward always outweighs the risk. 

14: Treat your money as if you worked hard for it, even if you didn’t. 

15: Never work for the same dollar twice.

16: Manage and adapt your budget monthly.

17: Know your numbers (this is most people’s biggest issue) 

18: If it sounds too good to be true it is, trust me. 

19: Inform yourself of how taxes work and pay accordingly, get a good CPA. 

20: Never rely on just one source of income, the average millionaire has seven. 

21: Spend your time earning money until you can spend your money earning time.

When you learn to sit at the table with your Judas, you'll understand the love of Christ. 

Be able to discern your Judas from your Peter. 
Peter had a bad day, Judas had a bad heart. 
Peter, you restore. Judas, you release. 
You have got to know who to restore and who to release. 

Ralph Waldo Emerson said; 

“Sow a thought and you reap an action; sow an act and you reap a habit; sow a habit and you reap a character; sow a character and you reap a destiny.” 

Do you struggle with consistency? 

You always will, until you learn how to create habits that serve you.

You must be intentional until the habits that serve you are second nature, they are your character. 

To quote Uhtred; "Destiny is all."

www.liveitfull.com

What are your business core values? 

What about your personal ones?

Are they different?

Are they intertwined?

As Christians, we are called to have core values of Faith, Hope, and Love.

I'm going to reconsider my core values that aren't different from my personal thoughts to my businesses.

As always my core values for Live it Full are to live each of these to the best of my abilities in faith, family, finance, and fitness.

liveitfull.com

I hear people say that kids have changed. 

I was thinking about it tonight. Is that true? 

We are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers. I can't blame them. I couldn't do it. 

Why though? 

Must be because kids have changed. 

We are seeing a lower number of kids playing youth sports. 

Why? 

Must be because kids have changed. 

They are just getting lazier, right?

We are seeing lower test scores across the board. 

Why? 

Must be because kids have changed.

I could keep going but you get my point. 

Have kids changed? 

Probably. Maybe not even probably, they have. 

The real question isn't have they changed but why? 

Why in one generation have we seen such alarming trends?

Kids will rise up to the expectations they are given at home. 

Bottom line. 

Yes kids have changed, but only because their parents allowed it. 

They allow the disrespect. 

They allow laziness. 

They allow mediocre results. 

They allow half assed efforts and say it's good enough. 

They allow YouTube to kill the time that sports and sitting down for dinner as a family once filled. 

They allow mindless videos be watched instead of books being read. 

I thought about this tonight as I watched a group of girls bust their tails at basketball practice. 

Half of whom came straight from softball practice. 

They all had to have been exhausted because nearly everyone of them jump roped in Lubbock last night. 

Yet they were there putting in the work. 

Hustling until the last minute. 

They all make good grades. They are respectful and kind to their peers and teachers. They all lift each other up. 

Why? 

Would they do it on their own? 

Maybe. 

I think most would at some level. 

Not the level they do though. 

I think the difference is that it is the expectation from their parents. 

It starts at home. Bottom line.

If we want to see change in our schools, our communities, and our nation, it starts at home. 

We can't blame teachers. 

We can't blame coaches. 

We can only blame ourselves when our children do not thrive. 

They will rise to the expectations you set. 

We are their examples. 

I saw some tired moms and dads tonight set an example for their kids. They were spent but showed up anyways. 

Kids have changed but only because parents have let them. 

I may be biased but I think it's a pretty special group of girls. I've been blessed to coach all of them in multiple sports the last 5-6 years.


www.liveitfull.com

2-18-22 

Richard sat down and was a guest on the top rated podcast "Chronicles of a Modern Beast" hosted by his good friend Pedro Meneses. 

From Pedro's Podcast;


"From rock bottom and $500 to my name, I moved to the US, left everything behind seeking answers to turning my life around, becoming an entrepreneur, and thriving in business. This show will take you from good to great, from fearful to fierce, from average to the most elite version of yourself, by helping you develop mental toughness and teach you how to win! I interview world-class entrepreneurs who will share their stories to help you get a clear vision, operate at the highest level, and build an empire. I’m Pedro Meneses. This is my journey towards greatness, and I want to take you with me!"

LIsten to Pedro and Richard talk bout how to Live it Full

For more information you can find Pedro's podcast here:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/chronicles-of-a-modern-beast/id1506279899

As always you can find more information on Richard and Kaitlin on their website. 

www. Liveitfull.com

“The greatest fear in the world is the opinion of others, and the moment you are unafraid of the crowd, you are no longer a sheep, you become a lion. A great roar arises in your heart, the roar of freedom.” - Osho 

When I was younger I thought others had to lose for me to win. 

I had a weird dichotomy, I believed in abundance but that it was in scarce supply. 

I've learned that what I thought was a abundant mindset actually was quagmired in scarcity. 

It seems silly now but I believed there wasn't enough for us all and I was going to get mine. 

I've learned there is more than enough for everyone that seeks more. 

You don't have to lose for me to win and vice versa. Even if we have the exact same business, we aren't competitors, there is plenty for us all. 

The problem with worrying about your competitors failure is you becomes so focused on that you miss success in your life. 

I don't want you to lose, I want us both to win. 

I'm not in competition with anyone, but myself. 

I'm my only competition. My ego, my selfishness, my pride, those are the things I'm competing against. 

I saw such a fundamental shift in my life when I wanted others to win as much as myself. 

I cheer for my circle, I clap the loudest for them. If your circle doesn't clap the loudest for you, it's time to find a new circle.

I want to win, but not at any cost. 

I will win, but not at any cost. 

I want to build an empire, but not at any cost.

I will build an empire, but not at any cost. 

Not anymore, at least.

As a young man, I would have sacrificed any and everything. 

The end always justified the means. 

I read “The Prince” and thought Machiavelli was writing literally but with wisdom, I’ve learned, maybe it was satire.

My health.

My relationships.

My faith. 

All that mattered was winning. I could put anything aside to achieve my goals. 

I believed it was an admirable trait, I looked down on others not willing to sacrifice the same. 

The truth is, I really didn’t have anything that mattered in my life. 

It’s easy to convince yourself it is a sacrifice but is it really when you don't have anything to lose? 

Nope. It only gains meaning, it is only a sacrifice when you truly have something to lose. 

Today I was honored to baptize my eldest, in the same baptismal I was baptized in as a child. 

In the last decade since she was born, Kaitlin and I have built so much.  We have grown so much. 

We now have so much to lose. This drives me more than when I had nothing to lose. 

It scares most people, it stops them from taking risks. 

For now, the sacrifices mean something. They are real, they hurt a little more. 

I will win but not at the cost of my faith, my family, or my health. 

I will build an empire, with my family by my side and honor our Lord at the same time. 

You can have everything you want in life. You can have financial success, a faith life, and a family by your side.  

The secret is, it’s harder than you can ever imagine. 

It’s harder than the sacrifices I made when I had nothing to lose. 

It takes planning, being intentional, and working harder than you ever thought possible.

You have to work as hard at being a good father, husband, and son as you do in business. 

You have to strive to be the best disciple you can be. You have to prioritize your life.

None have to suffer for the other if you decide you are willing to make it happen.

You have to become the most elite version of yourself though. 

I will win. I will build an empire. 

I just will not have to sacrifice the most important things to me, I will do it with and for them. 

I will Live it Full.

www.liveitfull.com