Rice Paddies

I just finished Outliers by Malcolm Graham.
I read two of his books back to back.

Talking to Strangers was wildly fascinating. Outliers (This book) took what is believed mystical magic and debunked it to repetition and culture.

One quote he gave clung to me indefinitely.
" No one who can rise before dawn fails to make his family rich."

The chaper begins with this quote and it's talking about the mentality of the Rice Farmers in China.
Gladwell's premise is that human success isn't isolated or extraordinary. He proves that it is quite calculated and cultural.

This quote turned on all the lights in my 7 chakaras. People (including me) always complain about time.
The facts are that we are all given 24 in a day. The reality is that we don't prioritize our time for optimal outcomes.
We sleep.
We scroll screens.
We eat.
Possibly we work. On rare occassion, we do extra cirruculars that improve our lives. The simple truth is that people want success without sacrifices. 
In reality, those sacrifices often deliver our prayers and dreams. They create the success.

At the pinnacle of my lending career, I was driven by a fear of poverty and running toward the hope of financial security.
I woke up every morning at 5am to run.
I had an accountability group of real estate investors. I was leading a women's networking group. I worked until 1am about three nights a week.

When I look back on it, I am amazing at the stamina I had. I was at an optimal weight, ate a clean diet, and felt like the energizer bunny.
I was driven.

The last 7 years, life has been much simpler. I operate at a slower pace. Rest is paramount. We are high on the hog. I'm still involved, but my involvement and engagement is strategic and purposed for pleasure and social impact. 

This year I've answered a new calling.
In order for me to leap into my future, I am required to dust off the disciplines of ny past and braid them into the strategies of my present.
THERE IS NO OTHER WAY, I HAVE TO WAKE UP EARLIER.
Researchers say that the moments after you awake, your brain is still in theta. It's the rare moments you absorb subconsciously but are conscious. If it's important, I 
work on it in the morning.
Presently I'm comfortable but free falling into a growth trend which is uncomfortable, as it is met with upward trending turbulence. It's a shift in my belief system. It's the shift from what is possible to believe I will do the impossible.
There is no success without sacrifice. Much like the Rice paddy farmers, they utilize every bit of space and off season time to generate profits for their family.
So the question I'm asking myself is how bad do I want abundance, overflow, and miracles? Most importantly, what am I willing to sacrifice for it?
Today, it's sleep so that a future tomorrow rest is my only priority.

What sacrifices are you making for your highest self? What one thing can you do today that will make you extraordinary? 

#lifeofbliss #outliers #ricepaddies #successbysacrifice 





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