A few days ago I was driving home from my session with Cheryl and as I was driving, an image came to my mind–clearer than any other image I have had before:
There is a highway, much like a parkway, thruway, or any other major highway; however, it is surrounded by trees with no exits, and it is definitely a busy day–the highway is jam-packed with both fancy and run-down cars. Despite the amount of cars on the highway, the speed is a steady 65 m.p.h and they are all going in the same direction. With no exits in sight, it would seem that there was no way off the mainstream highway; however, as the flow of traffic keeps moving, there comes a fork–only one exit, it’s the only exit on the highway and it’s labeled with a big “2″–Exit 2. Half of the mainstream figures said, “I’m going to stay and go with the flow because if I’m following, then I couldn’t possibly go wrong. Besides, getting off at an unfamiliar street would make the drive harder–especially since I won’t know where I’m going.” On the other hand, there were a few cars with drivers that decided, “I’m tired of going in the same direction as everyone else, I want something better, and want to get off at the only exit available; no matter how hard it may be.” To make the picture even clearer, imagine this jam-packed highway with bumper-to-bumper traffic traveling at 65 mph, and every 5-10 minutes, one or two cars get off at the exit–most of these cars run-down, rusted, and unappealing; however, there is about one nice car getting off as well.
The contrast is huge isn’t it? You can see the mainstream highway jam-packed with cars unwilling to make a change, but 2% of that traffic decides to get off and take a different route–possibly a harder, more challenging route, but they make the choice to do something that could change their lives forever. After I saw this image in my head, I told my best friend about it and he told me, “you have to write an article about this…” Do any of you have any idea what the numbers “98″ and “2″ represent? In case you don’t, let me clarify it for you: As Dani Johnson said; 98% percent of the population is either dead or dead broke by the age of 65, but 2% percent of that population is not in financial bondage or emotional and mental bondage, but completely freed from their limitations–with no financial strain, meaning in their lives, and more happiness then anyone could ever imagine. 98 and 2 is a huge contrast isn’t it? Why do you think the statistics are so drastic? The answer is simple: 98% of the population goes with the flow–follows what everyone else is doing whether it is helping them or causing them to fall to the bottom of the 98% population instead of making things happen in accordance to their dreams and desires.
98% of the population believes that their dreams are too big and will never happen–they could never have financial freedom, could never become that doctor, lawyer, or whatever else it is that they dream to be–maybe a home business owner? Whatever it is, 98 percenters do not believe that they could make their dreams happen. They have a bunch of excuses as to WHY something can’t happen. “I can’t go to school, I’m not smart enough…” “I could never get a job like that, I never went to school…” “I can’t have a house like that, I don’t have enough money..” “I can’t afford to take my children on trips because my job sucks…” 98 percent of the population believes that they are limited by the restrictions placed upon them by society; however, they fail to see the limitations that they place upon themselves. They blame all of their problems on the economy, yet do nothing to change their current situation. Is sitting on the couch watching the news helping you to make your dreams come true? Is it helping you to become financially free? (No, and as I’ve said before, get off the couch, turn off the T.V. and make your dreams come true!) What is the number one GOAL of a 98%’er? To make enough MONEY so that they can RETIRE. Retirement? Really? That is all life is meant for? To retire? REALLY? I don’t think so.
I realize that not all of the 98% population is broke; however, they are rich and unhappy–why is this? Probably because they went with what was socially acceptable, instead of taking a wise road that was in accordance with their dreams and desires. (This would technically be a whole new article on it’s own so I’m going to leave it alone for now–but wanted to point out that I am aware that not all 98%’ers are broke).
98% of the population has a negative, “I can’t make anything of my life because ______________” (You fill in the blanks with your own EXCUSES or REASONS) attitude that limits whether or not they even try! A lot of people would stand up and say, “I have tried, it didn’t work…” Well, that sentence shows me that eventually you just gave up, and giving up does what? NOTHING. You aren’t supposed to give up and it’s NOT supposed to be easy. Stop looking for the easy way out, and start appreciating the challenges that are in your way–they are there to teach you something, but 98 percent of the population misses that lesson. 98% of the population is judgmental, opinionated, and egotistical. Lets throw some philosophical logic at you, “what you see in others is a reflection of yourself…” Do you honestly think that by judging someone who has money or even someone is living on the streets is going to bring YOU anything good? Do you honestly think that your negative opinions are worth anything? Reevaluate yourself, and open your eyes.
Now, lets take a look at the 2 percenters. Their way of life is much different. Two percent of the population started to appreciate their surroundings, the people in their lives, and everything that comes their way whether it was good or bad–they don’t judge other people’s situations and keep their opinions to themselves (if they even have any), because they know that judging others and having negative opinions aren’t doing anything to push them forward in their lives. Two percent of the population is financially, emotionally, and mentally free; or one or the other, sometimes you can’t be financially free until you are emotionally and mentally free because the limitations we put on ourselves either mentally or emotionally are the REAL roadblocks in our way; and sometimes, being financially free does not mean that you are mentally and emotionally free–whichever one comes first, does not matter–but 2% of the population has figured out that a combination of both is what makes happiness, success, and meaningful lives; in addition, they stopped equating their SUCESS with the AMOUNT of money of they have.
2% of the population stopped being greedy and figured out that it’s not about what you can do for YOURSELF but about what you can do for OTHERS. Two percent of the population stopped going with the flow, stopped caring about the judgments and opinions that were placed upon them, but still managed to love and have compassion for those who placed the limitations and opinions on them. Two percenters are TEACHABLE and are not egotistical–they have removed their ego and faced the reality that they have A LOT more to learn. Two percent of the population shows gratitude and appreciates EVERYTHING in their life–they don’t take advantage of people, and are constantly looking and seeking knowledge. If something goes wrong in their life, they don’t sit and dwell on it like a 98%’er would do, but they immediately start seeking solutions.
They surround themselves around people that have what they want–they learn from people who are where they want to be, they TURNED OFF the T.V., Got off the couch, and made things happen in their lives! Two percent of the population says things like: “I can do this…” “I am smart enough for this…” “I will find a way…” “I won’t give up…” “I have what it takes to be what it is that I want to be….” “My dreams are too big to be drowned out by the judgments and opinions of others…” If their IS something standing their way, they FIND a way to GET it! They don’t make excuses for their situation and take responsbility for where they are at. Nothing is too big or small for them, and they KNOW this. Two percenters have also figured out that their mindset is everything. Positive trumps negative any day and that if they put positive into the world, they will get positive back. The biggest and most impressive thing about two percenters is that they don’t give up!
Two percent of the population knows that nothing is secure–not RETIREMENT, 401k’s, jobs, or anything else; therefore, they are making something of their lives that no one can take away.. Someone can take away your job, retirement plan, and 401k, but they cannot take away the skills and knowledge that you invest in yourself, so why settle? Why settle for a mediocre job–when you can do something better with your life?
Let’s go back to my image for a second, as you can see, the cars that kept going straight on highway 98 ARE the 98%’ers and the people who got off at Exit 2, are the 2%’ers. But, why did I make it a point to say there were rusted and fancy cars? Well, most of those who ended up on the 2% side of the spectrum, have started out as RUSTED, old, broken down cars that never once gave up and was so tired of the 98% way of living that they got off the mainstream highway as fast as they could and made something of themselves. The road for the 2%’ers may look a bit more bumpy, possibly a little harder, but anything that’s WORTH it, is not meant to be EASY. Now, lets go a little farther down both of those roads–to the end (metaphorically speaking)… The rusted cars that got off at Exit 2, by the end of their journey, are beautiful, fancy, polished cars; however, the ones that kept going down highway 98, by the end of their journey, were rusted, broken down, and had endless problems!
(If this article makes a spirit of offense rise in you, then obviously, you are living by your ego, and it needs to be ripped off. If you are offended, you are not teachable, and before you can get off at Exit 2, you have to be teachable).
Which highway are you going down? Which one would you rather be on? I know my answer.
(A huge thanks to God, Micheal (Last name omitted for privacy), and Dani Johnson).
If you want to learn more on how to become a 2 percenter go to: http://www.danijohnson.com
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