“Okay, so you quit your teaching job of 17 years to make millions in real estate. How soon will the money come pouring in? When will the results begin?” a fellow teacher mockingly asked me this when I told him that this was my last day in class. He believed I was making a big mistake, and he wanted to make his point clear.
“Results arrive at once,” I countered. “The moment I decided to leave the teaching profession to make my fortune in real estate, I killed off all other options, and I experienced an incredible internal reaction to the decision.”
Of course, a million dollars didn’t just fall into my lap. But by sticking to my decision, the mental picture of money coming to me grew clearer and clearer. It was like looking into a foggy mirror after taking a shower – as the fog clears I could see exactly who I am. I was no longer a schoolteacher, on tenure, simply working for a living. I was a dynamic entrepreneur on his way to starting a multi-million dollar business.
The moment I decided to take the leap from security to exciting adventure, I began gaining greater self-understanding. I wasn’t completely sure what was happening, but there was a definite change coming over me. I immediately began to understand that I always wanted to be a risk-taker, but never dared to try.
I noticed changes occurring in my personality. Some were small at first, for example, I was not at all upset by the mocking remark of my fellow teacher. Before I made the firm decision to quit teaching and follow my dreams, this remark would have set me on edge.
Here’s a bigger change: I didn’t feel awkward about sharing my dream of starting my own million-dollar business. Prior to quitting my teaching job, it would have been impossible for me to say this without nervously laughing.
Most important of all, I felt as if I could finally be FINAL about something. I would do whatever it took to meet people in the real estate profession who had made millions so I could learn from them. I actually noticed improvements on how I handled myself as I began making phone calls to make new contacts. My ability to meet new people became smoother.
As I look back, the takeaways here are about firm decisions and a unified mind – all the parts of my mind had to agree on my aspiration to make a million dollars in five years. I once read that a unified mind is like a flowing river; nothing can stop it from fulfilling on your decisions. That’s exactly how I felt—I was in flow, unstoppable!
You can make firm decisions and unify all the parts of your mind, and see to it that your vision comes true. You’ve done it. Please tell us about any mountains you’ve flowed around with a unified mind as your power source, and a firm decision as your internal GPS!
Thank you, and blessings
What is WOW? Waterballons Out the Window! This week Rob shares a rollicking WOE to WOW story from his youth. Listen to this weeks WROAR radio show: “Follow the Rules of Life.”
Look inside! Download a free chapter of A Second Chance at Success here.
“Best Comment of the Week.” This weeks best comments come from Pat Mcain and Rus. Thank you for your heartfelt sharing. See their comments here. Illustrations by nick
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Hi Rob, I loved loved this one. what perfect timming. As you know I have to move home for a little while. But I’ve TOTALLY come to terms with that. The economy sucks and I have to get real about getting to NYC to start my career. Why am I wasting my time piddling around when I could be saving some money and getting focused. On the surface it feels like a step back, but I know DEEP down this is just a stepping stone! An inconsequential step back so I can take a giant leap forward! I’m just following the rules of life like you said in the radio show. The rules say I’m just wasting time deluding myself. If I can get grounded, get hyper focused I’ll be sticking my tongue out at all the HATERS who want to see me FAIL. It’s tought. BUt hey, I’m just being realistic and doing WHATEVER it TAKES. That is what I have to remember whenever I start having those awful feelings of failure. I’m going to listen to this one over and over again. I will answer you blog question in 60 days when I have everything else figured out!
Thanks for all you do here!
Hi Kara. I have a special fondness for your kind of spirit. When you let in the truth of who you really are – you let in the power of God. Are you not ‘God in a bod’ pretending you’re not? Are we all not doing that? Thank you fro being ‘so you’. Blessings
I may not always comment, but I’m always listening, Rob. Three years I’ve been plugging along with the magazine. Haven’t made a dime. Of course, haven’t asked for one yet, either!
As I trim fat from my life in preparation for Penny’s arrival, I find my outlook beginning to clear. When you think about it, GPS really just tells you where you ARE relative where you want to be. Knowing where you want to be, but not knowing how to get there means it’s time figure out exactly where you are.
Whenever there is any doubt, there is no doubt. That’s the first thing they teach you.
Hi Brian. Deep inside you there is such beautiful energy. Can you feel it? You must get above the mind, to enter the kingdom of heavenly living. It isn’t always easy, is it. I know it isn’t. You know it isn’t. We have a lot in common – our common pains of growth and development. Blessings
I can definitely feel it. It’s right there. Like a stargate or something.
I’m standing right in front of it. All I have to do is reach out and touch it, but those last straggling doubts (and sloth/procrastination) are like a rope tying my hands to my sides.
Press on regardless.
Love this one, Rob!! It’s making me really think about my own priorities, and if certain things are holding me back…
Hi lance. If you are human, then certain things are holding you back, until they aren’t. The beautiful world that you seek to enjoy comes with pure knowing – something you’re seeking; something I’m seeking. It’s right there, isn’t it. Blessings
Hi Rob. Love these punchy stories. I wish I had that clarity with the direction of my life. I cant ever recall being that focused on what I wanted. For me life kind of just happened and one thing led to the next on a kind of ho-hum path. No real big breakthroughs. I guess its just not my style. I’m certainly improving steadily. Maybe there are two kinds of people. Those who go for the big change and those who keep plugging along. I’m a plugger. I’m moving in the right direction with my focus on family. I have made a firm decision in my mind and I must say it feels really good. I feel in control of my life and can clearly see the results on a day to day basis in the smallest of ways.
Hi Roger. You are a plugger. You are a creator. You are a marvelously made being. When you have your authentic ‘marvelously made self’ in your life, what else do you need? Nothing! Keep seeking. Blessings.
Hi Robert. Loved the waterballon storie. Reminds me of my misspent youth! It’s a simple but profound lesson. You can’t jump off a building and flap your arms enough to fly away, no matter how much positve thinking you do. The Law of gravity doesn’t care about our insane minds. I see these people all the time who just don’t get how life works. Hey, if you don’t want to be a fatso, stop eating so much and get some exercise. I’ve made peace with the rules of life. I stick my tongue out on joylessness. There is no time to waste feeling uptight and nervous. I come across so many people I just want to shake up and say relax, put your feet up and have a beer for chris’sakes.
Hi Salty. There is no time to waste being uptight. Thank you for reminding me. I get uptight sometimes. Want no power from the world. Want no power from the gods in the heavens. Want only the power that lies deep within you (Rob), and you waste no more time getting uptight. You are a wise man. Blessings
Hi Rob, Security is so boring, isn’t it!?
I’m a natural adventurer and entrepreneur but haven’t been out there in a while. Perhaps thats whats missing. I think I’ve been so focused on finding some stability and safety after the loss of my husband that I have neglected that part of me. I do feel its time to get out there on the skinny branches of life once again. Travel is great, but it has become status-quo for me. I think I need a “mind” adventure that opens up more of my creative side. Much to think about with this story.
Hi Carol Anne. Life is not supposed to be boring. Skinny branches are exciting. You learn how to handle skinny branches by climbing out there on them – something you do a lot. I love what you teach me. Thank you
Hi Rob,
Excellent post my friend as usual. Yep, it is all about having a unified mind. This requires great focus and concentration on what we want to accomplish. When we have a unified mind in regards to our goals and aspirations, we are unstoppable. Based on my experience, whenever I have accomplished great goals in my life, I had great focus with strong confidence that I’m going to achieve it. I had to get out of my comfort zone and be an adventurer. When we are mentally relaxed, things tend to fall into place. Thanks for sharing my friend
Hi Dia. You learn about God by learning about the devil. You learn about the devil by learning about God. Which shall it be for thee? To enter the kingdom of great riches, you must give up all wishes to better yourself. There is nothing to make better about yourself only the truth to be found abut yourself – you are not the devil; you are god in a bod. This is your task, is it not? Thank you.
Hi Rob. That was great. Sometimes I grow so tired and lonely that I don’t know what to do with myself. One of my greatest regrets is that I never really formed any harmonious relationships with people. I was always so focused on career and moving up the ladder that I feel like I’ve simply missed out on having fun. It’s a strange thing. I feel like my mind, and my intentions are totally focused…… But at the same time I feel like I’m distracting myself from myself and all the things that I really want out of life. I mean, what’s anything really worth if I don’t enjoy the process? If I don’t enjoy who I am or if I don’t enjoy myself! What I’m trying to say, I think, is that if I had to do it all over again… If I had water balloons to throw out the window… I would throw them. And I would throw them again and again and again and take my chances. I don’t know what happened to me. The older I get the less chances I am willing to take. I think it should be just the opposite. When I was young I was dumb and stupid. Now I just want to sit home and be safe and not worry about dying. To me that’s just crazy. The laws of life dictate that we will all die. That’s the only thing that we can count on. I want to stick my tongue out at dying. I did it in the 80′s when I was hoovering Coke like a maniac. Now, I want to get out there and forge some relationships with people that will be enduring. I think that life is too short to worry about living long!
. When I sit on my deathbed I don’t want to be thinking that I should’ve had just a little bit more fun.
one of my rules is “it’s not too late”. When are you free to throw some water balloons?
Hi Richard. Sometimes I get tired and lonely, too. Everyone does. If they say they don’t, they are lying to themselves. Dedicate time every day to entering the kingdom of heavenly thoughts (thoughts that uplift you). This is the most important thing you can do. It is what I do, and then I get tired and lonely less often. Thank you
I released the fear…it’s that simple. Somebody called me and said “I’m a victim of hurricane Irene” and in my head I said “next”. Used to be I would jump in to be the savior. Now I avoid those who claim to be victims (they usually are). I recognize them easily and they are favorites of drama addicts like me. I put together a bunch of rules, not unlike Rob’s one liners, that I read when I’m not sure what to do and I usually find the answer I need. I’m not about perfect anymore and I’m not nearly as worried about being the best. I still want to do my best, but for me, and what you think of me is none of my business. You don’t need the whole story but the money is coming now that I am open to it…in thousands…and I’m just getting started. I think it’s not really about the money but more about finally getting how things work. Do I want to be right or do I want to win? I’m a winner…thanks for noticing.
Hi sylvia. Sometimes I try to release the fear and I cannot. And then I know a hoax is being played on me by me. The relief I really want is relief from myself when I unconsciously work myself into a fearful state. If understanding is conquest – how many times must I understand this to achieve lasting victory over fear? That answer, my friend, is within me. Blessings
Hey brother man. My mind is fit as fiddle and focused as laser beam these days. I feel ya with this story. There is nothing finer than truly feeling that FINAL feeling you talk about here. It’s like I know my values and principles and am unwavering about how I want to experience life. There is so much love to spread and joy to have. I think back to the days when I was living in a fog and escaping from life, and its like that was a totally different person that I just don’t know anymore. I really feel now that I exist not for myself, but for others I wake up feeling like a million bucks everyday. If I can keep waking up feeling like a million there is no reason to actually have a million bucks! I’m on a true path of loving kindness. By focusing on others and trying my best to selfless, I keep the focus off my own selfish-ego-driven wants and needs. When I am in that zone I feel free.
Hi Rus. When you feel like a million, you don’t need a million. I like that. We are tied to our future with a chain of thoughts. What future unfolds when my thoughts are million dollar thoughts? A million dollar future. Thank you for reminding me. Blessings
Wonderful rob. When you are doing something you love or feels just right about what you are doing it all works out.
Life is about being adventurest. Roger says he is a plugger and that is fine as long as he is happy being a plugger. (Not a lot of fun, maybe.)
But what life comes down to like you say is getting uncomfortable and doing what your heart and soul says to do.
Life is wonderful when we make the journey an adventure. then life is like a fresh stream that keeps moving and adding fresh water as it moves over the rocks, rather than a puddle of water that turns stale, because there is no movement.
Thanks rob for another great post.
Blessings to you always,
Debbie
Hi Debbie. I am going to take you deeper. There are two kinds of people in the world; those who are working hard at doing better and want to do better, and those who are confused and lost and want to be more confused and more lost. You and I are a couple of the first kind of people (working hard at doing better and wanting to do better). We are always inspirationally dissatisfied – that is what makes the human race different from the rat race. Blessings
Hi Rob, that’s interesting, my experience with leaving a conventional career path was similar to yours — right after I left the big law firm I used to work at, it seemed like every day that I was talking to someone who was questioning my decision. But today, no one I know second-guesses what I did, and they are much more appreciative of the value of what I’m doing.
Hi Chris. I have found that people like or dislike being in my company to the degree that I like or dislike being in my company. leaving teaching helped me to better like being in my company. More and more people now like being in my company. It sounds like that is what happened to you when you left your law practice. Had you given that any thought? Blessings
Hi Rob. Do you ever have the feeling that you just don’t know who you are anymore? Since I’ve retired I’m all over the map. The values that I once held near and dear no longer hold any water. I used to feel good because I put in a hard days work. Now I wake up and have nothing that I really feel like I need to do. I miss the days when my mind was unified and final about what I needed to do and get done. Life was easy when I was working like a dog.
It’s just plain hard for us babyboomers to take the same chances again. If I fail at a new endeavor… so what?! I have a nest egg, a bit of F-U money and a great family. There is something about youth that made me audacious. I have to learn to get over that. It’s almost like my next great adventure and risk is just figure out who I really, truly am beneath the vain show of personality and status. Adventures are very different for old dogs like myself. My adventure is totally internal. I have to learn to upset the image of how others percieve me. I have a large social circle that would think I was off my rocker if I really could do what I want with my life,
Hi Georgie. sometimes I feel like I am all over the map. Sometimes I feel like there is no map because I am just soaring. I find that i am soaring when I am seeking something other than what my ego-self is demanding. T’is quite a game we play with ourselves, isn’t it Georgie. Blessings
So many gems in this post, Rob! The idea of a unified mind, the determination to do and accomplish, learning from those who had already reached the goal you were aiming at, the no-turning-back commitment, the effort and learn-as-you-go determination to acquire the necessary skills. Thanks for sharing the insight you garnered from direct experience doing what you loved to do, Rob.
Thank you, Ken. you summarized the pragmatic parts nicely. A Soaring eagle has nothing to say to cawing crows. They speak to other eagles. You’re a soaring eagle, aren’t you, Ken.
Hi Rob. The Radio show got me thinking. With art, Its kind of like when they say that “you have to know rules before you can break them.” Thats what all the great ones do. There are musicians who are so fundamentally sound and expert at their instrument, that they learn how to push the boundaries of their art form. There is a big difference between listening to Jimi Hendrix and some teenager doing his best Jimi Hendrix impression. One sounds like a sonic art form and the other sounds like distorted noise. Well its the same thing with life. If it were my dream to become a millionaire I would be obsessed with investing and watching every penny that comes in and out so forth. That seems boring to me so I’m not going to fool myself into thinking thats what I want my life to be about. No, I’ve decided I am an artists first and foremost and there is very little time and energy for anything else. I love practicing, rehearsing, and creating new songs. I’ve followed all the rules of proper musicianship and that is what allows me to take creative leaps. Hey, they may not always work out… creative leaps are leaps of faith and sometimes (most of the time) it’s junk. But knowing the rules keeps me grounded and keeps me attuned to hearing when I am on to something good.
Hi john. Yes, creative leaps are leaps of faith. Let it be a rightly comforting thought that your creative nature knows everything it needs to know to create incredible music through you. Thank you
Hi Rob. This is a cool story. I’ve been toying with the idea of branching out with a little start-up company. I’ve got the know how and some smart people who are interested but I have yet to really commit to diving in. After reading this I can tell I’m hesitating because I have no idea how long it will take or even IF “the money will come pouring in.” I mean, it’s hard to take that plunge when I’m making good money and am quite secure in my position and place. I imagine you must have had your own doubts. I just can’t imagine totally severing the cord and going for it. Maybe times are a little different, but I think I would be a little delusional to just quit my job and go for broke.
hi Alan. Should you quit your job and go for broke? When you really understand that you have nothing to lose, you will finally have a life that you cannot lose. Then you will know the answer to that question. Blessings
Hi Rob, Short but sweet this week
Funny, I went on a job interview last week for the insurance gig I used to do, and it felt dead in there. Or, I thought I might die if I had to go back to that. I had a brief war with the pathetic but useful salary, and then I realized I was not 100% behind any ONE thing I was doing, because I was doing too many things. Some, like family business obligations, may be necessary, but you know what I could be putting my whole heart into the rest of the time? My blog and services. Some doors are shut behind us for a reason, it turns out. Thanks for the reinforcement!
Hi Julie. Up to now you have written your life story, and perhaps there are some chapters you’d like to omit. Unfortunately you cannot omit the chapters, but like an author – you can change the direction of the future parts of the story … which is what you are doing, aren’t you. I like your awareness. thank you.
YoOOO YO YO! What up Robobob? Yo, that my question everyday… when is are all these benjamins gonna be rollin in?!! This self help stuff is straight up self-shatting if you aint serious about taking risks. Thats why so many pickle heads never stop talkn and just sit where they at. Yo, check, EVERYone of my BOYZ has a million-and-one great ideas but they never do shiz about it. It sounds good at the bar when we BSin and they get all mad serious a bout doin this and that.. BUT… the next day they sleep till noon and wait til sundown so they get themselves another Tanqueray and tonic. I know there are only 24 hours in the day and if you serious about making the BENJI’s then you got to wake yo ass up and do the morning work, and do the day shiz and then when you get home you jus got to burn that candle until you start making shiz happen. ThaTS MY new theory. I call it the CHIP, CHIP, Chip away methond to success. I just keep goin after it everyday in anyway I can. Not a day goes by where I aint doin somethin thats gonna progress my 5-year plan to millions. YEAH — 5 years. Pickleheads think they can do it with one big CHIA-PET idea. YOU and ME both know it takes CHIP CHIP CHIP away at that SHIZ.!! The world is so saturated with BIG ideas the one that is gonna come out on top in the end is the one that JUST KEEEPS HAMMMERIN!!!!! In the old days makn a million was like moldn clay. You just had to be in the right place at the right time. IN todays “every MOFO thinks-hes-a-genius-WORLD… the world is made of MARBLE… and MOFOS that CHIP that SHIZ away day by day come out with a MICHELANGELOOOOOOO!!!!!! AHAHAHA Yo HEs my favorite ITI my fam got roots that go back to the same VILLAGE… For real.
There is no doubt, Magic that you chip, chip, chip away at the shiz. With a long day of chip, chip, chipping, there is no doubt that the dark forces will have no choice but to leave you. You’re funny. thank you
Whoa… security to exciting adventure describes the last 6 months for me!
My decision to break free, go through with the divorce and be on my own has been the hugest decision I have ever taken on. I can tell you it was scary as hell. I had to give up ALL of my security. Socially and finically. Is the price worth it? I have to be honest and say it is a resounding … Maybe! 
There are days I get so overwhelmed with the details of life that I get almost comatose and can’t get anything done. Then there are days when I wake up and have so much freedom that I feel overjoyed. There is a definite Ying/yang with my new status. I have to keep on believing that the freedom is worth the feelings of insecurity. I don’t feel unstoppable, more like I have to keep moving or I know I will fall back. I’m trying to unify my mind everyday. Thanks for the inspiration and wisdom to keep going.
Hi Joan. Being overwhelmed with the circumstances of life … hmmm. Little by little, step by step – see what happens if you let go of your feeling of overwhelment. Blessings
It is true what you said about making the firm intent. When I go back and forth even after making a decision, I find that progress becomes slower. I believe it is when the Universe gets mixed signals and does not know how best to respond. So it seems as if the money is not happening fast enough and so on. However, as soon as we make the decision to go forth and not go back on our original intent, miracles can sometimes happen.
Hi Evelyn. I am curious. Have you ever questioned how you live your life from hour to hour? You are an intelligent person. this is clear. however, I feel that something deeper inside of you still needs to be looked at. If self-understanding is conquest, how much farther to you have to go to achieve victory? I’m not there yet. Are you? Blessings
In response to your questions, I am not sure if the journey to look into myself will ever end. So I am not exactly hoping for a “destination”.
However, I have been experiencing a stronger need for inner healing work this period, thus I have been dedicating the last 2 months more intensively to doing meditation and others. Since I have been allocating a lot more time for self-healing, this means less time to work on and run my business. But I have been okay with this. I believe that I will be supported even whilst I respond to the intuitive call to focus on the self during this period.
I enjoyed reading this one today and I guess in this past month of being “grounded” in healing from my recent surgery I am realizing that I am in joy about being at home and reading everything I want to read…
I have been thinking about all the 38 years or 44 years of risk taking and persevering in my chosen career field as one of the first women in the Master’s of Divinity Program – getting myself ordained and being name called and never sent out to a church…so I just kept creating ministries at the new alternative college campus, working my way into teaching ethics and about HIV (relationships)….helping students create a Food Cooperative, Safeplace (Domestic Violence Center) and getting Planned Parenthood to join up with a community health clinic to help so many folks and veterans….
I did itinerant counseling by the piece and raised 3 daughters (Home schooling and 200 hours a year volunteering in schools) and seeing my special needs child as a whole person – I am still paying off $261K in her surgery and educational bills….but now she is a college graduate and has a management job with a National company….other 2 kids are doing what they love and are competent neat people
I got tired, I want some security especially some health and financial security.
I have spent hours a day cooking GF foods for 35 years, gardening, researching organics, grinding grains….and promoting new thinking
I am tired…I love being at home…I thought my blogs would produce income…and I have taken numerous marketing classes and how tos…
One psychic told me to just trust….but being this tired and the bank account so low and my partner needs to work until he is 72 to pay off the medical bills….
I have a lot of debt for my risky business…I do not want to leave that to my children. And 2 of my children are paying my phone bill now and for my new phone; last year I gave them all a wish certificate and a letter for Christmas – and cooked yummy food…
But I certainly do like sitting and healing and reading all the books I can find….I do have a sense of contentment.
Hi Patricia. I really appreciate your honesty. You have done incredible things with your life, and yet it seems like the bright future you hoped would unfold always showed up a little differently. A truly spiritual teacher, which you are, finds it easier to live spiritual truths than to explain it to lower minds. Don’t try to do with the mind what can only be done with the spirit. Yes, it seems that if you truly trust and surrender, then miracles will unfold for you. I know these words feel empty but you must rise above words if you are to let go of self-reliance and allow heavenly-reliance to work its magic through you. Blessings.
Hi Rob. I did it again. One of the things I don’t like about myself is when I give my word and I back out at the last minute. An old friend of mine went out of his way to invite me to a housewarming party and I told him I would be there with bells on. I said all the right things. I let him know how happy I was for him and his wife on fulfilling on his goal of having a new home… blah blah blah etc etc. When it came time to show up at his party I just couldnt get myself to do it. I came up with a million reasons why I didnt really need to go. I always seem to make these kind of “firm decisions” but my record of actually coming through is dismal. I think I’ve created a bad habit where my “firm decisions” become meaningless because I never follow up. I cant seem to break that pattern. I can hardly remember the last time I unified my mind and just put up and shut up. I wish I could just be candid and forthright with people instead of getting all worked up excited about saying the right things in the name of vanity or ego or whatever you call it. I’ve come to realize that when I am angry, I am really angry at myself for being so full of BS all the time. The power of anonymity on the blog makes it easy to share here…. I suspect there are more out there like me that just need to man-up every once in a while and get out of their own heads. These days my internal GPS is giving me all kinds of conflicting coordinates. I can’t hardly trust myself and my own word. The worst part is I distance myself from people that actually like me, true friends who just want to connect on some level but for whatever reason I come up with excuses to distance myself from them. I want to be like that elephant from Dr. Seuess “I meant what I said and I said what I meant. An elephant’s faithful one-hundred percent!”
Hi Josh. I love your candor. So many of us experience what you have explained, but refuse to admit it. Thank you for that. To overcome the devil you must meet him, and not deny that you are under his influence, that you are completely lost at times. Then you have the power to say to the devil, “I am not going to accept your nature as being my nature any longer.” Simply saying this helps you understand that you do not have to rely on the advice of the devil any longer. The devil is the false you. There is something else – the authentic YOU! It’s a trip, isn’t it, Josh. Blessings