People complain about why they don’t make more money or why they’re not in better shape or why they don’t have a better relationship with their kids yet they sit, hour after hour, on the couch in front of the television. I have one suggestion for them – Get Off The Couch! Ten years from now that episode of “Survivor” that you just couldn’t miss will be a distant memory but that business you started, part-time, at night or that book you read or that time you spent with your children could be paying real dividends.

Some people want to feel as if they have no control over their own lives. They feel they won’t succeed no matter what they do. So what they do is nothing. They don’t try anything. They would rather play the role of victim and feel sorry for themselves. In the words of Lee Iacocca, “So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don't sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we've satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late.” The point is, try something. You feel empowered just by taking action. You’re no longer a victim but you’re taking control of your own life.

Get out and walk, take a class, play with your kids. Do anything as long as you’re doing something. If you want more money, go for it. Start a small business, sell something on Ebay, sell a service. If you want to get in better shape, great! Take a walk, climb the stairs rather than taking the elevator, park as far from the store as you can rather than taking the closest parking spot. Start small but keep working at it. If you want a better relationship with your kids, turn off the TV. Talk to one another. Ask them about their day, help with their homework, go for a bike ride together. The key to any progress is to take action. Don’t just sit there.

The saddest thing I can imagine is facing the end of your life and saying to yourself “If only I…..”. You fill in the blank. Don’t put yourself in that position. Put down the remote control and take charge of your life. Television will always have reruns but you have no such luxury in life. Resolve to make your life all it can be. Get Off The Couch…..and live your life.

John Wagner
http://www.moneycentralusa.com