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A Choice

February 2, 2012 in Dreams with 1 Comment

I meet so many people who are believing something that is completely false and untrue.

They believe that their financial situation determines their dreams.

They will dispute this, of course, but their ACTIONS (which speak way louder than words) indicate otherwise.  I tend to look past the rhetoric to see a real indication of belief.

I’ve found that I have been susceptible to this as well!  We are so good at self-deception.

For example, here are some situations I have seen a person say that they:

  • Really want to be debt-free, but they continue to spend money without a budget!
  • Really want to be debt-free, yet they pull the plastic out to charge items not in the budget!
  • Want to improve their marriage, but they refuse to work with their spouse to plan their finances.
  • Believe they can take a dream trip, but no money is saved for the trip.
  • Want to start a business, but have never started the first step toward it because the challenge is so intimidating and daunting.

I’ve determined that I am going to pursue every dream given me.  I will surely fail at some of them, but the successes are so very worth it!

You have a choice – TODAY – to write down your dreams or to never write them down.

You have a choice – TODAY – to write down dreams regardless of the cost or to write down only the dreams you know you can afford.

You have a choice – TODAY – which will you choose?

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5 Years

September 22, 2011 in Dreams with 1 Comment

It was 5 years ago TODAY that I gave up on my dream to become a Fortune 500 CEO, and moved back to join the staff of the church that my bride and I had the unbelievable opportunity to help start – NewSpring Church – in Anderson, SC.  I am so grateful for the opportunity that my great friend and pastor, Perry Noble, gave me to pursue a dream of helping people accomplish far more than they ever thought possible with their personal finances.

It is ASTOUNDING what God has allowed me to be a part of in just five years.  Here are just a few.

  • Wrote I Was Broke. Now I’m Not.
  • Produced the I Was Broke. Now I’m Not. Group Study and subsequently the Group Study DVD Lessons
  • Wrote What Everyone Should Know About Money Before They Enter The Real World
  • Wrote Funded And Free
  • Wrote 1,475 blog posts
  • Wrote 200 Sunday newspaper articles
  • Delivered more than 150 Financial Learning Experiences
  • Trained nearly 1,000 financial coaches
  • Was mentioned in Money Magazine – the world’s largest personal finance magazine
  • Purchased Injoy Stewardship Solutions
  • Got to meet and interview one of my heroes – Dave Ramsey
  • Published a book for two new authors with our fledgling publishing company – NIN Publishing
  • Upgraded JosephSangl.com and added IWasBrokeNowImNot.com
  • Able to provide all of our tools for absolutely free
  • Developed a new APP for Apple and Android mobile devices
  • Team has grown to a total of four people who make IWBNIN – without them, this effort would be incremental instead of exponential
  • In 2008, someone gave me and Jenn a free Tahoe – seriously!

I write all of this not to boast in what I have done, but what the Lord has allowed me to be a part of.

I’m often asked why I’m so excited and passionate about what I do.  After reading this list, perhaps you might understand a little more about WHY I am so FIRED UP all of the time!  I’m a witness to the power of God moving greatly upon my behalf!

I really believed that great things could happen when I surrendered to this call 5 years ago, but I thought it would take 30 years.  It has me wondering what will happen over the next 5 years!

GET FIRED UP!

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If I Had A Million Dollars

August 5, 2011 in Dreams with 11 Comments

“What would you do if you had a million dollars?”

It’s a great question for anyone to ask themselves – because if you apply the tools and principles taught in I Was Broke. Now I’m Not., you will have a million dollars one day!

Today, I would love for you to share with us all: “What YOU would do if you had a million dollars.” – SERIOUSLY – I want to hear from you!

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Mark And Shawna’s Story

May 20, 2011 in Dreams, Hope with 1 Comment

Many of you know that Mark Asbell is a huge part of this crusade to help others accomplish far more than they ever thought possible with their personal finances. He has been a tremendous help in growing this crusade at NewSpring Church and taking this message to the nation.

What you may not know is Mark and Shawna’s financial story.   If you want to GET FIRED UP and BE ENCOURAGED – take 3 minutes to watch their story:

If you can’t view the video, click HERE.

If your financial story were put into a 3-minute video, what would you say?

“And there will be a party.”   I’m going to that party!!!!

By the way, Mark writes a blog about money and relationships.   You can read that HERE.

GET FIRED UP!!!

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Dreaming Big Dreams

May 12, 2011 in Dreams with 2 Comments

When was the last time that you sat back and dreamed about this question: “What would happen if I …?”

I’m not talking about “What would happen if I went to the store now versus three hours from now?”

I’m talking about asking BIG QUESTIONS like:

I wonder what would happen if I …

  • got serious about KILLING MY DEBT?
  • got off the couch and put my jogging shoes on?
  • went to college and got the degree I’ve always had a passion for?
  • asked her to marry me?
  • asked a business leader to mentor me?
  • started that business I’ve always dreamed of?
  • took a chance on myself?

Here are some big questions I’m asking myself:

I wonder what would happen if I …

  • hired more team members to further reach this nation with this crusade?
  • wrote two books each year?
  • asked everyone associated with this crusade to make a commitment to focus on teaching one person in their life how to win with money?
  • gave away even more resources for free?
  • took this crusade to other nations?
  • took this crusade to the radio and to TV?
  • took this crusade to the nation’s capitol and helped this NATION become debt-free?

Those are some of the BIG QUESTIONS I am asking myself.

I would love to hear some of the BIG QUESTIONS you are asking yourself!

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NO Equals YES

April 28, 2011 in Dreams with 1 Comment

It is hard to be told the word, “No!”   Just observe your children when you utter this word to them!

As hard as it is to be told, “No!”, it is even harder to say this word to ourselves.   After all, don’t we know what is best for us?

Let me tell in on a big secret:

NO actually means YES

When you tell yourself NO right now, you enable yourself to say YES to something more important in the future.

Examples

  • Saying NO to another video game purchase allows you to say YES to funding their college fund
  • Saying NO to a new car now allows you to say YES to funding your retirement account
  • Saying NO to a little vacation now allows you to say YES to funding a dream vacation later
  • Saying NO to a kitchen upgrade allows you to say YES to giving money to a worthy cause
  • Saying NO to debt now allows you to say YES to pursuing a dream job even though it pays less right now

See?   NO equals YES!

Have you ever said NO (even when it was hard to do so) and it allowed you to say YES later to something more important?   Share your story in the comments!

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Top 5 Reasons I Love Taking Paid-For-In-Advance Vacations

April 25, 2011 in Dreams, Saving with 2 Comments

You may have wondered why there was silence on the blog for most of the past week.   It was because I was able to kidnap my bride away from our two beautiful children and do something we have never done before – go on a cruise through the beautiful Caribbean!

As we boarded the 991-foot long Caribbean Princess bound out of San Juan, Puerto Rico for St. Thomas, Tortola, Antigua, Barbados, and St. Lucia, I was overwhelmed at how blessed I really am!   I can not believe that I am so blessed that I am able to take such a tremendous vacation – and to do it without debt.

I just want to share a picture (click on the picture to get a better view) and a few things that I love about taking “paid-for-in-advance” vacations.

Antigua

Top 5 Reasons I love taking “paid-for-in-advance” vacations:

  1. No debt follows me home
  2. Able to totally enjoy the trip – knowing we saved for it!
  3. Total relaxation knowing that we funded a dream – and lived the dream!
  4. Able to negotiate a better deal because we had to plan early to save for this trip!
  5. My bride is happy!

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10 Questions: You Have Got To WANT IT!

March 23, 2011 in Dreams with 0 Comments

Whether you are playing basketball, chopping firewood, or working on your finances, you must WANT IT in order to maximize your return on effort.

If you casually dribble the basketball up the court, you will soon find yourself without the ball and watching the opposing player put it in their basket.   To score, you must WANT IT and GO FOR IT.

If you kinda sorta swing the axe, it will bounce off the wood and possibly even hit you.   You must swing the axe with much energy and focus in order to split the log.   You must WANT IT and GO FOR IT.

There is no reason to believe it will be any different with your finances.   If you casually kinda sorta attempt to win with your money, chances are high that you will receive mediocre results.   In order to win with your money, it requires FOCUS and INTENTIONAL EFFORT.

Here are some questions to ask yourself to see if you are FOCUSED and WANT to win with your money:

  1. When was the last time you read a book on personal finances?
  2. When was the last time you read a blog or article about personal finances?
  3. Do you know how much money is in your retirement account?
  4. Do you know the rate of return you are receiving on your investments?
  5. If you received an extra $30,000 right now, do you know what you would do with it?
  6. Was the answer to Question 5 spend it all? or retire debt? or invest it? or start a business?
  7. If you are married, does your spouse know everything about the financial situation and do you discuss major financial decisions PRIOR to making them?
  8. Is there anyone in your life who has won with their own money?   When was the last time you asked them for advice?
  9. Do you live and operate on a balanced INCOME – OUTGO = EXACTLY ZERO budget?
  10. Are you saving for Emergencies, Known Upcoming Non-Monthly Expenses, and your Dreams?

I recommend you print this page out and grade yourself from 1 to 10 on each one.   For the ones you score low on, I recommend you answer the following question:

“What is one thing I can do TODAY that would allow me to make a difference with this question TOMORROW?”

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Are You Willing To INVEST In It?

February 3, 2011 in Dreams with 3 Comments

All people have dreams.   Most people have big dreams.   Yet, I see an incredible similarity among the vast majority of people – they are unwilling to invest in their dream.

Have you seen this happen in your life?

  • They want to start a business, but they want someone else to give them the start-up money.
  • They want to go to college, but only if someone will give them a scholarship.
  • They will take that job they are passionate about, but only if they can do so without any risk, no pay-cut, and guarantees.
  • The want to retire, but are unwilling to save and invest money in their retirement accounts.

I firmly believe that if you TRULY believe in your dream, you will be WILLING to invest YOUR money into it.

Readers:   What is your dream?   Are you investing in it?   Please share with me!

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Element Church Video: It’s Why I Do What I Do

November 2, 2010 in Dreams with 1 Comment

I am FIRED UP about this video from Element Church in Cheyenee, Wyoming (Pastor Jeff Maness)!

It is a story of life-change, and it is EXACTLY why we are on this crusade to help people accomplish far more than they ever thought possible with their personal finances!


Financial Freedom from Element Church on Vimeo.

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Reverse Bucket List: What I’m Never Doing Again

September 9, 2010 in Dreams, Finance with 0 Comments

Recently, many of you shared some of the items you have placed on your “Bucket List” – HERE.   Today, I want to talk about some “Reverse Bucket List” items – things I am NEVER doing again.

I was introduced to this concept by my mother when she announced to me that she was never going to a roller coaster park again.   She said, “That is on my reverse bucket list.   I’m never doing that again.”

It made me stop and think about this from a financial sense.   What are some things I am NEVER going to do again?

Here’s the start of my “Reverse Bucket List” …

I’m never going to:

  • Have non-house debt again (working feverishly to eliminate the house debt as well!)
  • Finance a car again
  • Finance anything with 90 days “same as cash” again – it is NOT the same as cash
  • Buy something and say, “My tax refund is coming, and I will pay for it then.”
  • Operate a single month without a written spending plan for that month’s money
  • Miss a single month investing for my two kiddos college and retirement
  • Operate without at least $2,500 in my emergency fund
  • Buy anything that costs more than $200 without first talking to Jenn about it

What are some items on your “Reverse Bucket List”?     Share some of your thoughts below!

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Bucket List: What Do You Want To Do?

September 7, 2010 in Dreams, Finance with 1 Comment

In the movie, The Bucket List, one of the two individuals diagnosed with a terminal illness writes down his “bucket list” – the things he wanted to do before he “kicked the bucket.”

Call me crazy, but I believe that writing down one’s bucket list AFTER being diagnosed with a terminal illness is usually bad timing.   Of course, if you have a terminal illness and have not yet written down your bucket list, it is never too late!

So today, I am challenging you to write down your bucket list.   If you already have one, pull it out and update it.

Perhaps you would share some of your bucket list with all of the readers below. Once you have submitted your ideas, you can see everyone’s submissions by clicking the link provided that states “See previous responses” – Maybe you can get some more ideas to add to your list!.

By the way: We ALL have a terminal illness – it is called “being a human”.   The last I checked, the mortality rate was 100%.   So let’s get FIRED UP and LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST while we can!

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Keeping Promises

July 31, 2009 in Budgeting, Dreams, Kids & Money, Saving with 4 Comments

My daughter regularly makes ridiculous requests.  She will ask, "Dad, can we buy five rabbits?"  The answer, of course, is an immediate, "NO!"

However, there are some requests that she has made that are less ridiculous.  For example, she has wanted a treehouse for quite some time.  I promised her for her birthday (back in November) that I would build her one.

I told her that not only would I build her one, I said that it would be AWESOME and that we could camp out in it if she wanted.  She thought that this was the best idea she has ever heard.

In December, there was no tree house yet.  Not even a sign of it.  I told her that I would get started in January.

I did.  I put posts in the ground and put the floor on it.  Then it sat for awhile.

I won't bore you with all of the details, but it was finally completed last week.  We now have a treehouse that is over seven feet in the air, has three windows, a door, electrical power run to it (via extension cord), a fan in the window, and a front porch.  In all it is nearly 100 sq ft of awesome space that she and her friends are having a great time with.

And last Saturday night, I made good on the camping out promise.  It was so awesome that we camped out there again on Monday night – this time with one of her friends.  We got to experience an awesome lightning show and torrential rain this time.

The treehouse cost us money, time, effort, and some serious frustration, but the end result is worth it!

It feels great to have kept a promise.

Have you made some promises that are yet to be fulfilled?  Will those promises cost money?  Are you actively saving money for them?

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Wagon Bruises

May 22, 2008 in Dreams, Hope with 4 Comments

Have you ever started something new that you really wanted to stay committed to?

Diets, budgets, exercise, prayer, earlier bedtime, more time with spouse/children.

We start off so great.  We can't be stopped.  In the gym by 5AM.  No chocolate for a month.  Asleep at 10PM.  Prayed every day for a week.

THEN life happens.  Our favorite show is on with a one-hour special.  The ice cream truck came by.  The snooze button was found.  We get busy, life happens, and we fall off of the wagon. 

I regularly counsel folks who have fallen off of the wagon with their finances.  They are so crestfallen.  So sorrowful.  So frustrated.  Maybe even depressed.

"What should we do?" they ask.

Get back on the wagon!

Put together a new spending plan.  Recalculate the debt freedom date.  Figure out what caused you to fall off of the wagon in the first place and seek ways to prevent it from happening again.

I know that YOU CAN DO THIS!  I was able to do it.  You can too!  Anyone who has read I Was Broke. Now I'm Not. knows that I include a line at the end of each chapter that says "I believe in you!" You CAN do this.

Here are some common reasons for wagon bruises (develop when one falls off of the wagon).

  • No emergency fund. This is the number one cause of wagon bruises.  If there is no protection from "life happens" events, one will be highly susceptible to wagon bruising.
  • Not saving for KNOWN, upcoming expenses.  We know that Christmas is coming.  That property taxes will come due.  We know that the car WILL break down and that the tires will need replaced.  Whether one saves for these expenses or not, the KNOWN, upcoming expense will still occur.
  • Spouses not on the same page.  If both spouses are not on the same page financially, it can really lead to some severe wagon bruising.
  • Bad case of "I-Want-This-Now-Itis".  If one can not say "NO!" when tempted to blow the spending plan, it will cause a financial mess.
  • Lack of accountability.  This really affects single folks a lot.  There is no one to say, "Maybe you should reconsider that decision."  It is really easy to overspend when there is no accountability.

Have you ever fell off of the wagon?  Share how bad the wagon bruises were and what you did to get back on the wagon.

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2007 – Reflections On An Incredible Year

December 31, 2007 in Dreams with 6 Comments

What a year 2007 was!  It was my first full year on this crusade to help people win with their money, and I still can't believe what I have seen.

Here are some facts:

All of that – IN JUST ONE YEAR!!!

I am so blessed and humbled to be a part of this great crusade.  I am overwhelmed by the blessings I have in my life.

Thanks be to God for making my life's work imminently clear!  I LOVE what I get to do!  I am truly living my dream!

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