My Take on Being Single

A reoccurring topic among my friends and family is the constant reminder that I am single, because apparently I didn't know… However, this isn't a blog to rant about the people always reminding me, but more so, due to always being told why I shouldn't be single or why it is good to be single, I thought I might as well stop and basically walk through my current thinking of being single.

These days, it’s typical for people to seek out relationships as their number one priority because they believe this is what life is all about. If you are devoting all of your time to seeking a partner, chances are, you are ignoring all of the other amazing things life has to offer. However, with this said; finding your life long partner and getting married, starting a family and growing old together is one of these amazing things life has to offer.

Over the years I have learnt to value my independence. You see finding someone that you are going to spend the rest of your life with isn't as simple as picking an apple from a tree. It takes time. Many people out of the fear of being alone, social pressure or even financial stability will settle with someone – even someone that isn't right for them. I have decided to look past this hype; and within doing so I have learnt to be myself, to love myself (still learning) and to love all the people I surround myself with.

So what do I do with all this free time you ask…? Well firstly I don’t have that much free time but let me explain.

My Career Path

Being young, eager and willing to learn, I am ready to put in some hard work in my young years to make my later years more enjoyable. Being single enables me to focus on my career and preparing me for the years to come. Does this mean more hours than play… usually, does it mean some more dollars… yes, but what it does do for sure is grow me, create a secure foundation for my future as well as for my future family. How do I do this? I currently work 2 jobs, one full time and the other part time and I also have my own start up business, which just earns a little cash on the side.

My Friends

I have found that happiness is derived from surrounding yourself with people you love and who love you in return. These are the people I share my experiences with, whether it be my best mates, work mates and my family. These people are my support circle, the ones which I can be proud of and the ones who are proud of me.

Getting Into Shape

One thing I've recently taken on is getting myself into shape. Sometimes I can’t understand how I even let myself get so unhealthy… however, I managed to jump the gun and get back on track. Having lost 20kg’s now within a year, this not only makes me look better healthier, but also has made me feel better and boosted my confidence in so many ways. Now I do something active at least 6 days a week, which helps me feel alive and pumped for each day ahead. As I have progressed I have become more and more motivated and I will continue to keep shaping my body to what it deserves.

Making Myself a Better Person

While getting myself into shape has been a priority, this has also kick-started my own drive into making myself a better person all-round and I try to do this daily. With this in mind, it has meant not only trying to cut out bad habits, but also cutting out people. I am trying to enhance my living and how I live and sometimes in order to do that - things need to change. I try to make sure I am living a life where I am growing and improving daily. This means gathering the strength and courage to do something different, to push a little harder and get outside my comfort zone.

Not Accepting the Bare Minimum

It is my life and I want the best that I can have. Shouldn't we all? I can’t expect to achieve more in life if I am willing to accept the bare minimum. I have set standards in my life which I abide by and live by, these are what define my ability to grow and to go the extra mile. As blunt as it may be, this could be a very reason of why I am still single. Simply because I want the best for me, I want to marry someone who will be my life partner, someone who I am going to spend the rest of my days growing with, loving and of course starting a family with. For a hint of what this best for me looks like… let me give some points: 

· A God-fearing Woman

· A Great sense of humour

· Someone who knows what she wants

· Has self-worth

· Values fitness

· A woman that doesn't go out (not always out on the scene), but still can show out

· Isn't annoying (nag, unappreciative , etc)

· Unafraid of being submissive

Increasing My Financial Intelligence

There is nothing worse than being broke and living pay check to pay check. Over the last couple of years I have increased my financial awareness, I have learnt ways to optimize my savings and I have even earned more money in the past couple of years then my entirety beforehand. Right now as I am single I have the perfect opportunity to save, to invest and to grow my financial self wisely. This isn't a time to spend it on pointless things. I have spent hours teaching and training myself on how to budget and actually budget. I have also started investing in shares and currently preparing myself to enter real estate as well.

Summary

So I guess in summary… Being single is a phase in my life. The time will come when being single is a faded memory, and this could change in the blink of an eye. But until that time, I shall continue to work on myself, physically, mentally, financially and work to build a foundation for my future. 

Don’t agree? Don’t like what I have said here? You do agree or you do like what I have said here? Regardless, if you have a comment that you would like to make, please let me know. You can comment below, or simply drop an email: contact.clfurlong@gmail.com

Minimalistic Year (2013) Review

To summarise 2013 in a minimalistic approach this is what you need to know.

• Graduated (The Ceremony) - Bachelor of Information Technology Scholarship Program
• Worked over 1767.5 hours which is equivalent to 74 days straight or roughly 221 days.
• I started my Career in August. This is what I do
• Started my own business with a mate: http://sockify.com.au/
• Volunteered more than 450 hours
• Increased my Net Wealth by 72%
• I spent the first 6 months of the year fishing, relaxing, socialising, working part-time and resting
• I entered the share market (ETF). The BWP Trust Fund was my choice.
• Was Single and still am.
• Read the The 4-Hour Workweek which is about escaping 9-5, living anywhere, and joining the new rich
• Joined Audible which is an e-book subscription service. You can get your free Gold Membership trial here! Choose from over 100,000 titles for your eBook reader. (iPhone, iPad, Kindle, Android Device or whatever) If your extra keen you can get your first 3 months at Audible for only $7.49/month! here. 
• I travelled to Tasmania. I flew over in the morning to Hobart. Purchased a vehicle, then drove to the Spirit of Tasmania, and cruised it back to Melbourne over night all within 24hours.
• Since August 2013 I have been on a Sugar Free diet, accept for Fruit and Honey. This also means I don't have dairy milk and usually have Almond milk.
• I lost 17.6kg. Never felt so good before. Here's to the rest!
• I also travelled to Eden for 10days or so with the best mate. Just a FYI.
• I BECAME AN UNCLE!!! WOO!

And yea... that was my year in a nutshell.. If I forgot anything Ill add it later!

Thinking Outside The Box

When it comes to thinking outside the box, we get so worked up in trying to be unique, out there and so focused on creating something which has never been thought of before. What if thinking outside the box, wasn't actually thinking outside the borders of the box but was actually thinking inside.

Let me explain.

Lets’ be honest… in this day in age there isn't a lot of things that haven’t been thought of. Usually the new innovative things are through the evolution of technology and what it can enable. But let’s take a step back. What if the new was actually the old? What if we take what is inside the box and put all options on the table. This isn't about trying to add new things to the box but more so, taking a look and applying these things inside the box in a whole new way. It’s all about perspective.

The problem really is; locking down exactly what is in the box and then having the patience to really have a look at what the box contains from the many possible perspectives. How we apply with what we have, will always come in shapes and sizes. Like combinations, one person could apply what’s in the box this way, compared to another doing it that way.

So if we apply this back to our own abilities, skills, passions and talents. What do you have in your box? What are you good at? What can do you do that others can’t. But more so what can you do differently that others are doing normally? How can you take all your skills, apply it to the norm and make the difference? I think this is what will make you to really be ‘outside the box’. It is just a matter of identifying what you can do and applying it.

Some great books that can help you lock down your strengths, your passions and skills are below:

·      Business Model You: A One-Page Method For Reinventing Your Career 

·  Making Ideas Happen: Overcoming the Obstacles Between Vision and Reality 

·      Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion 

·      StrengthsFinder 2.0

The 7 Must Read Books!

The 7 Must Read Books! 

1.    Rich Dad Poor Dad -  Defines "Wealth"

2.   Rich Dad's CASHFLOW Quadrant - Shows you the value of passive income and cash flow.

3.   The 4-Hour Workweek - All about creating and testing an excellent source of how to live like a millionaire .. without being one. Great for anyone with an online business, or planning to start one.

4.    The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It - Beating the myths about owning your own business and helps get the ball running.

5.    Strengths Finder 2.0 - Need to find your path in life? Career? This is the best book to help you do so...

6.    Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion Learn ho to act and leverage your passion into the big world of social media!

7.      Making Ideas Happen - Helps organize and re focus!

These books are the 7 to read. If you don't believe me check out http://solopreneurhour.com/ and he will tell you how it is!

Today's thoughts and recollections:

• Love is an action and it will find us all. However, how can we love another if you don't even love ourselves? 
• I have always had a dream to make a difference in the world... But before I can put confidence in the world I need to be confident myself.
• Tomorrow you will be happy you started today... but you have to start today otherwise tomorrow will never come..
• Your future is created by what you do today... not by tomorrow.
• I am realizing more and more that in order to be rich... this comes through how much you invest into yourself. 
• We are all on a timeline. No one is better or worse. Some of us are just further on down the line... Some are still getting on it. 

A Small Self Evaluation....

Recently I made a questionnaire as part of a self-evaluation. In doing so I and opened these up publicly to the people in my life for a chance to get some anonymous feedback from my peers.  As scary as this experiment seemed, the results were actually better than I expected. The quantity wasn't as I had wished, but the quality was rich. Overall I only received 30 responses. 3 of which were negative, rude or totally irrelevant. The remaining 27 were positive. I have taken the results received and categorized the common ones to make it easier to review.

Feel free to have a look at the results below and if you are interested you can still submit to the questionnaire here.

What do you think Chris is naturally good at?
1. Awesome
2. Drums
3. Leading
4. Communicating
5. Computers
6. Friendship
7. IT
8. Organised
9. Success
10. Cheerful

When you think of Chris what do you remember?
1. Smile
2. Memories
3. Family
4. Church
5. Fun
6. Random
7. Drums
8. Entrepreneur
9. Fishing
10. Food

3 Words that sum up Chris?
1. Kind
2. Loyal
3. Positive
4. Committed
5. Dedicated
6. Happy
7. Inspiring
8. Sentimental
9. Single
10. Smart

What is Chris’s occupation?
1. Computers
2. IT
3. Analyst/Consultant
4. XYZ Company
5. Battery Shop
6. Don’t Know
7. Encouraging
8. Entrepreneur
9. Random

Question: What do you truly want to accomplish in life?

I want to innovate, be innovative and promote success through all that I do and to the people around me. I wish to spread happiness and express life through my actions. I plan to create opportunity through my visions, dreams and inspire those around me to aspire further in their own lives. 

Your turn? #challenge