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Keeping up with the Joneses

Guest post by: Jim Stovall

Article Overview: As you may know, when I am not pursuing my passion of speaking, writing books, and developing these columns each week, I am in the television business. It is important for you to understand how the media and big business views you. You, by virtue of the fact that you are breathing, are lovingly known as "a consumer." Consumers, in the minds of media and big business, exist for the sole and singular purpose of buying goods and services. Whether you buy the appropriate goods and services is not nearly as important-in their minds-as how much and how often you buy.

Keeping up with the Joneses

As you may know, when I am not pursuing my passion of speaking, writing books, and developing these columns each week, I am in the television business. It is important for you to understand how the media and big business views you. You, by virtue of the fact that you are breathing, are lovingly known as "a consumer." Consumers, in the minds of media and big business, exist for the sole and singular purpose of buying goods and services. Whether you buy the appropriate goods and services is not nearly as important-in their minds-as how much and how often you buy.

For example, in the television business, programming or the show you watch is nothing more than a vehicle designed to keep you tuned in to the next commercial. Your newspaper is filled with ads, and your mailbox is stuffed with notices from companies clamoring for you to buy their trinkets.

Please understand that there is-in and of itself-nothing wrong with working hard to acquire goods and services that you want. This is the American way. It is, indeed, what makes our economy and world go 'round. But don't be confused with the things you really want out of this life and the things that big business and the media tell you that you want. We are bombarded with messages that tell us if we can only drive the right car or wear the right brand of jeans or drink the right beverage, we will have, indeed, arrived.

If you are not happy now, there is no specific thing that you are going to purchase that will make you happy. Don't confuse "having" with "being". The media would tell you that having goods and services is the ultimate in this life. The reality is, having comes from doing; and doing comes from being. Resolve to be the kind of person you want to be who will then do the kinds of things that you wish to do in this life that can result in your having the things that you really want.

Focus on the being, not the having and you will find happiness as well as all of the consumer goods and services your heart might desire. Make sure the things you pursue are those things you really want, not your attempt to keep up with the mythical Joneses.

Today's the day!

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Article Tags: expectations, Jim Stovall, passion, purpose



Related Forum Posts
Re: How to Stay Motivated - Thanks for posting this, Matthew. Keeping the motivation strong is something I've really been struggling with. Donna, I think I was just not pushing as hard as I need to and getting maintenance instead of progress.
Keeping up wtith the (super rich) Joneses - [quote:2g9to79m]What's a guy gonna do with 4 mansions??? [/quote:2g9to79m] I think the super rich are like everyone else. They want to keep up with the Joneses. A friend buys a house on an island somewhere, well....they've just got to buy a house there too. Someone they don't like buys a house on an island, well, [i:2g9to79m]they've [/i:2g9to79m]got to buy an island! I don't think there's a lot of accountability in the super rich world. How many times have you read of a CEO leaving a company that he drove into the ground - taking away millions of dollars with him as his Golden Parachute - only to pop up a few months later as the CEO of [i:2g9to79m]another [/i:2g9to79m]company.
Re: Tactics for Blog Traffic - Keeping up with your blog with a new post at least once a week should be atop every blogger's to-do list. The Google "Freshness" approach rewards new, original content.
Re: Need suggestions on domain name registration. - Keeping a hyphen in domain is not bad and it does not affect on seo.You will get lots of sites with hyphen in domain that are ranking higher in google.The main factor is you must have the unique contents.
Re: What to do at the first roadblock? - GT said, I think seeing that the glass (i.e. market or opportunity) is only half full is a good mindset to have rather than looking at the sheer number of competitors. I would have to agree. I think this is a great thing to think about in almost any situation, whether home or business. As I mentioned, attitude is 95% of the battle. Keeping it positive is the only way to get the things you really want in life. Helping others helps, too. See the quote in my signature.


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