Introduction
1 - Master Potential
2 - Master Goals
3 - Master Time
4 - Master Money & Work
5 - Master Small Business
6 - Master Real Estate
7 - Master Health
8 - Master Mind
9 - Master Relationships
10 - Master Life
Conclusion

Lesson Ten - Master Life

Operational Guidelines

Life is to be lived.
Always learning, reading is everything.
Don't feel guilty. Spoil yourself.
Drink good wine, eat great food, travel.
Go to plays and concerts and museums and parks.
Throw lots of parties.
Sometimes, just be spontaneous.
Believe in God. Heaven will be even better.

   Your journey to success is a happy one. You are secure, confident and relaxed. You have made a conscious choice to enjoy your family, work, friends and your free time. You realize that success is not to be lived at some distant date. It is to be lived now. You choose to be productive, generous and happy now. Life is too short to be unhappy.

   You are committed to living every day of your life with gusto. You have chosen to make your life a wonderful adventure. Living well is your reward. You are a Renaissance person who finds beauty all the time and everywhere. You are reborn. The power to succeed is enlivening. You have this power. You realize that most of the best things in life are well within your budget. Your kind and generous nature will bring you an abundance of human warmth. People will like you. They will smile when they see you. You will have friends and family with whom you can share your success. You will eat right, exercise and put your head on the pillow each night with a clear conscience. Leave something for yourself. This is not being selfish. This is being successful.

   Look to your Action Principles^® for guidance. Plan to have a good time. Laugh. Tell jokes. Put variety and zest in your life. Set goals. Research. You think about what you really want and then you get it! A billionaire can't buy the good will that you possess and foster. A billionaire can't buy the happy life that you have decided to live. You appreciate all that you already have. Each day goes and will never return again. Don't wish away your life. Live it. You will feel much better doing things, being a person of action.

   Fill your life with those things that make you happiest. Do you like quiet reflection? Go on retreat. Do you like baseball? Go to games. Do you like opera? Go to performances or listen to the Metropolitan Opera every Saturday afternoon on public radio. Do you love to grow cooking herbs? Go to your garden. Do you like rock climbing? Go to the mountains. Go to the movies. Take dancing lessons. Buy yourself a book or a new sweater. Take a bubble bath. Put on a CD. Have a glass of wine. You should have favorite authors, actors, singers, restaurants, designers, vacation spots, foods, walking trails, wines, television channels and sports. If not, start finding them.

Life is to be lived

   Successful living starts with your decision to do your best and not worry about the rest. Only when you are happy yourself will you be in the proper frame of mind to help others.

   This is not a rehearsal. This is your one life. If you've been a saver and investor, the time comes when you should be freeing up some of that cash. Remember that the reason you made investments was not just to be rich but to lead a rich lifestyle. Take some of your profits and enjoy them. Unless you have a handicapped child to provide for, leaving a large estate for others to spend when you're gone doesn't make much sense. There is nothing sadder than a rich miser who only lives to count his money. Can you make an anonymous gift to the poor?

   Work hard, sacrifice, save, invest and it all leads to enjoyment. Perhaps you've started thinking about the choices you've been making in your life with an eye toward simplicity. Can you get by with one less car or a used car? Can you move to a less expensive neighborhood? Is last year's coat or last year's hat still wearable? Are you willing to work a little extra overtime? Will you bag your lunch on four days to splurge on the fifth day? You don't necessarily have to make a high income to enjoy a high quality life. Rich is a state of mind.

   Free time for enjoyment. Look forward to being happy. Anticipation can be a wonderful feeling. Program enjoyment time into all of your schedules. Take a couple of nights off and a full day off each week. Take a full weekend off each month and go on a mini-vacation. Take a week off every three or four months and take a real vacation. Again, it won't happen unless you plan for it to happen and then you must jealously guard your plan.

Spoil Yourself

   Make a point of spoiling yourself on a regular basis. There should be some activities and gifts just for you. Next, there should be activities that you share just with your spouse. Then, there should be family activities. Then, the next circle goes to friends and church groups and clubs, etc.

   As you reach your financial goals, can you cut back your time at work? Can you work a four-day week or work part-time? If you enjoy your work, maybe you'll want to stay with working part-time and playing part-time. Maybe you want to work your hardest until you can retire and then train for the senior pro golf tour. Perhaps, you want to retire or work part-time and spend the rest of your time writing music. You decide. Go fishing. Paint a watercolor. Make a quilt. Teach C.C.D. Sing in the chorus. Watch pro wrestling. Live your life doing a lot of things that you enjoy doing and you will find that work and being nice to others is much easier. You are happy.

   Think of the Action Principles^® as your magic wand.

   You can buy a sports car. You can dine in the best restaurants. You can tour the Holy Land and visit Notre Dame. You can hear the world's greatest singers. You can stay in the best hotels. You can buy an antique dining room set. When it comes to your happiness, everything doesn't have to be discount and cut rate.

   If you really want a brand new luxury sports car, you save and buy it. If this is something that you really want, this isn't an unreasonable or frivolous goal. It is what you want and what you want is important. You can't afford everything all the time but you can probably afford this single luxury. Even if the car costs a year's pay, it is your money and it is what you've decided to get as a result of your hard work. You can join car clubs associated with the vehicle and go to rallies. You can read books and articles. You can find websites and newsgroups. Probably, in your research, you'll come across a used car at a great price. Maybe you'll decide to restore a car. It doesn't even have to be a great investment. Everything doesn't have to be a great investment. It can just be what you want. Find out what your heaven will be like, enjoy yourself.

   The foolish move would be to buy an expensive car or clothes or jewelry or anything for status. The law of opposites strikes again. Snobbery creates the reverse effect one intends. Buy for yourself and not for others. Most people are focused on themselves and not on your scarf or your shoes. You work too hard to waste your money. Be sure that you really want what you think you want. Remember, on the day you die, everything you own will belong to someone else. Of course, you will be in heaven so this wont matter.

Get up and go

How about taking a trip to Europe? You don't have to wait until you're in your sixties or seventies. You can go now. If you are willing to travel during the off season, you may pay a half or even a third of the full peak summer price. Don't worry. Westminster Abbey, Lourdes and Amsterdam canals are there all year round. The people will be smiling in Dublin. The food will be great in Paris. With planning, many can afford this type of trip. Consider house swaps and staying in bed and breakfasts or youth hostels. Read your diocesan newspaper because many churches and local civic groups organize affordable tours. Can you travel to Mexico or the Caribbean during the summer and save a bundle? Yes, you can. Most hotels offer weekend travel packages that may include food, transportation and entertainment. Get going.

The Internet

   This is the 21st century. You can't be a success without a computer. If you have to work to get one, do that. It won't take you long. You need your own computer and not the library's or a friend's or the kid's. You need high speed broadband access.

   The Internet is not only a wonderful business and research tool but it is also a great tool for life enrichment. All major newspapers are now on-line and offer extensive entertainment and cultural listings. Anything you ever wanted to know about any movie, play, music, museum, sport, hobby or concert is all only a click away on Google.

   Stick with Success.org and learn how to live a full life of purpose, passion, prosperity and peace.

Personal Pampering

   You can get into excellent physical condition just doing sit-ups and push-ups in your room at home, but you should investigate the health clubs in your area. See people in great shape and be inspired to improve. Maybe you'll make some friends and maybe you'll do some networking. There will be many cross-training opportunities to help you stay motivated. You'll be able to work out by yourself or take classes from step-aerobics to bicycle spinning to cardio-kickboxing. There will be staff, to ask questions on fitness and nutrition. There will be personal trainers. If you are just beginning an exercise program, personal trainers can be a good idea. They will be there to help you plan a practical exercise routine. They will show you how to exercise correctly. And, most importantly, they will be there waiting for you so you will have to be there. After your workout, relax in the whirlpool or steam or sauna. If you like, get a massage. Joining a health club will prove very cost effective for you since you will use it so often. As you sit in the hot tub give a moment of thanks to all those members who join and then don't come. They are the ones subsidizing your regular visits. Remember the list of life sports. Choose one and stick with it.

   Go outside and smell the roses. Get out into the fresh air. Walk, hike, camp, swim, bike, climb and garden. Some of the best things in life are free or inexpensive. Take a book to the park. Feed the pigeons. Look at the trees, flowers and stars. If you haven't seen the magnificence of a sunrise or sunset recently, do that. Would your children or grandchildren like to join you? How about bringing the dog? Take a deep breath, exhale slowly and feel the exhilaration of being successful. Your journey is a beautiful one.

   Take good care of your body. If your personal hygiene is suspect, no one is going to be thinking about how successful you are. Dress well. Smile. Stand up straight and put confidence in your posture. You are now beautiful. You are now handsome. The confidence you feel inside will shine on the outside.

   You can afford to pamper yourself. If you want to have your hair cut, dyed, straightened or curled every few weeks, do that. Do whatever makes you feel good. What type of clothing do you look best wearing? What types of glasses flatter your face? What colors suit your skin tone? Ask the experts. Ask your friends. Look in magazines and on the Internet. Be proud to look your best. If you have to work an extra hour or two to pamper yourself, do that. Go have a manicure or an herbal facial or wear a freshly laundry starched shirt every day. Do anything that makes you feel special. You are special. You work hard. You are worth it.

   Be sure that you use what you buy. Maybe you can't have or don't want a closet full of expensive suits and shoes but you can afford one or two of the best. Buy the best. Choose a few personal luxuries and enjoy them. Take good care of shoes and apparel and they will serve you well for a long time. If you choose, you can afford one or two pure silk ties or scarves. If you choose, you can afford a high quality perfume or cologne. If you are going to buy one winter coat that you will wear almost every day, invest in a nice one. Do you need three or four winter coats? No, you don't. But, if you love fashion and it really makes you happy and you are willing to sacrifice other things for it, then, go for it. Life enrichment is what you say it is. You are an original. Act like one. If you like wild ties or red sports cars or fancy fingernails or singing in the shower, go for it. A little eccentricity is interesting and appealing. The operative word is "little."

   Enjoy your days. Don't watch television while you're eating dinner. Instead, say grace. Light a candle. Open a bottle of wine. Play some from MP3 player. Speak of pleasant things that happened during the day and events and plan family outings and vacations. Your family and friends are a blessing. Be with them whenever and as often as you can.

Community Resources

Be sure to patronize the cultural activities in your own community. Every ticket to every worthwhile event doesn't have to cost a day's pay. Are there plays and concerts and film festivals sponsored by the schools, colleges, churches, libraries and private groups in your community? Are there lots of local sporting events? Of course. Join in. Pack a picnic lunch. Bring the family. Thank the people in charge and the performers. Support culture and sports with your ticket purchases and your letters to the editor. Be a part of your community. What can you do to make where you live a better place? What can you organize? How about making a difference by running for office?

A fail proof way to enrich your life is by helping others. You can't go wrong doing right. Here is a small example. Pick a nursing home on your way home. Stop for twenty minutes with a bucket of candy for the residents and staff. Yes, the candy may cost you $20 or $30 a week. You can afford this. Yes, many will wonder how and why you do this. You say little. Others talk. You act. Do you do it for the many friends you'll make? Do you do it for all the "thank yous" you'll receive? You really do it because it will make you feel so good. You do it because it needs to be done and no one else is doing it. You can do this. You do this because of the Golden Rule. You do this because you wouldn't want to be eighty or ninety years old and forgotten by everyone except a few who are paid minimum wage to be with you. You do the hard things. Now, you set the example.

Adult Education

   It would be difficult to envision a fully enriched life lived in isolation. Being mindful is the opposite of being mindless. To fully appreciate life you must be conscious of current events. Think about how national and international events may impact your personal life or business for better or worse. You should be in the habit of reading a daily newspaper and watching the nightly news. You should be aware of the offerings on public television and commercially produced documentaries and news specials. You should find one or more like-minded people with whom you can intelligently discuss the issues of the day. If you belong to a health club, you can do your aerobic work and watch the news, read a paper, or listen to a motivational podcast.

   Most communities and colleges sponsor adult education programs suited to a wide range of interests. These courses are usually offered during convenient evening hours for you to learn from and enjoy. Local experts seeking to share a joy in a subject often teach these courses.

   Every day, more eCourses are offered by the world's great university taught by the world's greatest minds. The information is there. Avail yourself.

Reading is everything

   You can't be a smart person without reading. Read for current events. Read for business. Read for enjoyment. For one person that means reading more non-fiction and for others it means best sellers, classics, mysteries, science fiction or romance. Just read. Let your children see you reading. Challenge yourself.

   Most used books can be bought online for a few dollars.

   If you read one book a month on a specific subject, in four years you will be a world authority on that subject - not well read, not well informed but an authority. A-B-A-B - Always Bring A Book. If you get stuck in a line, take out your book. If you have to wait for any appointment, take out your book. Rather than getting upset, learn something.

   Digitization is making reading less expensive. Buy an eBook.

   The world is such a wonderful place. If you want to learn how to cook, sail, garden, golf, draw, act, sing or write, there are plenty of people who are ready, willing and able to teach you. Almost everywhere there are in-person adult education opportunities at schools and colleges. Almost everything that you ever wanted to learn about anything can be found on the Internet or in books and magazines. Almost any hobby or sport that you can conceive will have an association, club or group already in place.

   When you are relaxing and enjoying your life, when you are content that you have done your best, you are mastering success.

Create Your Personal Space

"This is so great - I'm home." Make your home your personal oasis. Surround yourself with whatever makes you happy. Get comfortable. If you love candles and incense, burn away. Fill your space with flowers, art prints, photographs and good music. One person will love log cabins and another oriental rugs. Live in the city or the suburbs or the country. It doesn't matter. One person's hand-me-down junk is another man's antiques. The important thing is that you think about making your environment comfortable for you. You don't just end up with things; you choose the furniture and accessories and wall coverings that you like. Maybe, in one house, all you can call your own is a small room, even a corner of basement. In another situation, the whole house or apartment or condo may be yours to decorate. At estate sales and auctions, you may be able to find excellent quality furnishings at reasonable prices.

Is there anything that you can do with your car or office? If you have confidence making these decisions, make them. If not, hire an interior decorator or ask a friend whose style you admire for help.

Throw Parties

You enjoy your own company during your quiet times. You should also enjoy sharing time with family and friends. Today, too many people lead lives that are too disorganized or they are too cheap or they have been abused too often in the past to throw a party, even a dinner party. If you are truly with friends, you should be able to lay back a little and enjoy your own party. Organize picnics. Have a backyard barbecue. The menu doesn't have to be perfect. The wine selection doesn't have to be just right. If the idea of a party creates anxiety, you are throwing the wrong kind of party or inviting the wrong people. Also, as a host or hostess, you have every right to stipulate when the party begins and when the party ends. If you cannot say, "It's 10:00 and the party's over," don't have parties.

Be Spontaneous

You do have to plan for your happiness to happen. However, a little spontaneity will add zing to your life. Loosen up. Every once in a while bring home flowers for no good reason. Take everyone to dinner without making elaborate plans. Give the office an afternoon off and bring everyone to the movies. Call a meeting at the beach. Rent a convertible for the weekend. Promote dress down Fridays. Take the kids for miniature golf and an ice cream. Grab a mental health day just for yourself.

Go Hardcore

   This is it. This is your one life. Plan to have a good time. Your life will be full of variety and zest. Set goals. Research. Think about what you really want and then get it! Fill your life with those things that make you happiest.

   Successful living starts with your decision to do your best and not worry about the rest. The best road to helping others is to be happy yourself. Free time for enjoyment. It won't happen unless you plan for it to happen so make enjoyment part of your plan.

   If you really want something, save your money and buy it. What you want is important. If you are careful in your spending most of the time you can afford to buy those expensive things that you want most. Make your home your personal oasis. Surround yourself with whatever makes you happy. Everything doesn't have to be a great investment. Just make sure that those things you buy are what you really want most and not some status symbols you've been talked into getting.

   Many great things may not even be that expensive. If you want to travel you can find ways to travel at a reasonable price. There are plays and concerts and film festivals for little or no cost available in many areas.

   Reading is the key. If you read one book a month on a specific subject, in four years you will be an authority on that subject. A-B-A-B - Always Bring A Book. If you have to wait for any appointment, take out your book. Rather than getting upset, learn something.

   Don't lose your spontaneity. You don't have to plan everything. If you want to do something go for it. Success means enjoying what you have earned.