Those of you that read the first blog in this series and did your homework are now armed with a purpose, a goal, and your Diamond Life motivation! Now that you know what you want, you have to determine what you are willing to sacrifice to get it. As we all know nothing in this life is free and anything worth having is worth working for. Your Diamond Life will require you to give something of yourself...daily.
Decide what you are willing to do/sacrifice to get what you want.
I'll continue using myself as an example here. Initially, I decided some time after I graduated from college that I wanted to enjoy the finer things in life. I was an adult and on my own with the world at my fingertips. I was gainfully employed, living in New Orleans (far away from home) and had access to most things I desired, but I quickly realized it was expensive and I needed to be able to take care of far less glamourous adult responsibilities in my life too. At that point, I amended my goal to this: I want to enjoy the finer things in life, for FREE or at little cost. That small addendum saved me soooo much money and really encouraged me to get creative and to start thinking outside of the box.
My original goal was going to cost me lots of money plus my time since I had to work to earn the money. I was clear on what I wanted - CHANEL, DIOR, YSL, GUCCI but after a few mini shopping sprees I knew I wasn't willing to sacrifice my hard earned money so easily. My revised goal, however, allowed my to keep more of my money while still getting what I wanted in my Diamond Life.
What did it cost me? TIME. It's more valuable to me than money but they really go hand in hand. I had to learn something new while working a full time job, dating, etc. and it took me months to really lay a decent foundation. There were times when I went out and got every FREE item available to me and other times I lived off of what I had. The extent of my sacrifices along the way changed as other goals and life events became a priority but my desire never changed.
DiamondLife Tip: If you lay a strong foundation for your dreams you should be able to step away, as needed, without things falling apart. IE: You earned a degree in a field you love but you're working in a non-related industry.
One of the first ways I discovered to get all types of freebies, not just the premium brand products, was to sign up for newsletters. The sacrifice was, having to read those newsletters and submit requests daily to ensure a steady stream of goodies. I could easily do this for months but when something else in my life became a priority I could walk away from submitting requests because the foundation was laid with the newsletter subscription. If I ever wanted to return my inbox would still be filled with opportunities for more free stuff.
What are you willing to give to get what you want? Your Diamond Life may require money, time or new connections and like me, you might discover you may need to make adjustments along the way. It happens, it's ok. When you want to quit remember why you started in the first place!
What sacrifices have you made this year to move closer to your Diamond Life? Share your experiences below!