People, especially those high-achieving go-getters, make the mistake of thinking that with a little education and know-how, they can make quick changes to their money management methods and suddenly everything starts flowing smoothly. I have rarely found that to be the case. I've been budgeting for 6 years, and we still have hiccups. We've learned how to create a solid foundation and roll with the changes, but that doesn't mean everything is easy-peasy.

You cannot walk into this thing without a long-term commitment. You've got to decide that, no matter how long it takes and how frustrating it gets, you're going to figure this out. You want things to change in your life? Then be willing to work to make that happen. Your money affects everything. Fix the money management, and everything else becomes easier. And within money management, budgeting is the foundation on which all of the other things rest.

So don't give up when it gets hard. Get some help. Get a coach. Your investment will be well worth it. Not only will you get your money in check, which will save you thousands of dollars in months, but you'll find a sense of joy and freedom in your life that will affect your overall well-being.

Don't let weeks, months, and even years go by without making an intentional decision. You just let life happen to you, and you wonder why things don't change. When you don't make a decision, you're training yourself to continue that pattern in future situations.

Don't get stuck in paralysis. Make the decision. Take action. Even if it turns out to be the wrong decision, you made it with intentionality and you'll be able to adjust and do things differently in the future. You'll learn not just from the experience, but about yourself and the decisions you make. Give a clear yes or no.

We all want clarity on what we're supposed to do in life. While prayer is the most important and powerful way to gain this clarity, we can also utilize tools to help us in the journey. In this second part, I connect concepts from Ken Coleman's Career Assessment with a framework from Marshawn Evans Daniels' book, Believe Bigger. We talk about talent, passion, mission, gifts...and the journey to put all these together and create a life of influence.