Be the Master of Your Own Domain
Pay attention to your own goals, not those of some celebrity you’ll never meet.
I was at the supermarket yesterday buying (in case you’re really interested) an onion and some chicken. Yes, I DO live an exciting life, thank you. Ahead of me in the quick check-out lane was a woman who didn’t catch my interest at first. But have you ever gazed at what people are buying? My items are usually pretty funny. If I’m buying corn flakes, milk and bread, guess what time of day it might be? Yeah….
This woman caught my attention to the point that I thought, “I’ve gotta write about that.”
She was buying a few groceries, none memorable, BUT what was memorable was the stack of grocery store checkout aisle rags the guy was ringing up. This lady wasn’t buying just one, she was buying one of each.
Us Weekly, People, National Enquirer, Star, and all the others. I saw everyone from Prince William to Dolly Pardon (who apparently is dying, according to the uber-reliable grocery magazine). All told, she must have had a stack of eight magazines.
I’m proud to say that I have no clue what these sell for, but let’s pretend it’s $4. Eight magazines times $4 each equals $32 wasted reading half truths about people you’ll never meet and (in my opinion) really shouldn’t care about.
If she were buying one of these magazines, I might write it off as inspiration or even just fun….but eight? Eight? I don’t have that kind of time.
The Key to Success
It’s true. You are what you think about. As a guy who’s struggled with this for years, I’ve learned the hard way. There are times when I don’t want to think about my work….it’s just not that exciting. Guess what happens in my career during those periods? Absolutely nothing. When I surround myself with people who run, work hard, and are successful? When I read about good business? That’s when the magic happens. That’s when luck seems to go my way.
Don’t waste your life reading about someone else’s success.
Instead, how about this: many of my blogger friends wrote a new book called The A to Z of Saving Money. A different blogger peels off a subject beginning with each letter. You’ll get 26 points of view, all of them feeding your brain positive money management advice.
And to celebrate, I’ve joined their giveaway to win $250 in cold, hard cash.
Enjoy:
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Thanks for taking part in the giveaway
Glen @ Monster Piggy Bank recently posted..The A-Z of Saving Money Book Launch
Thos mags have always baffled me. Why people are so interested in teh lifes of the rich and often times stupid is completely beyond me. If folks look at them as role models of some kind then I can’t even dredge up enough sympathy to feel sorry for them.
Jose recently posted..When Death Do You Part – Is Your Family Prepared?
I agree. My spouse said, “You’re not judging her, are you, Joe?” I’m trying hard not to…but eight magazines about irrelevant shit? Ugh….
You know I love giveaways! Definitely would like to win this one.
DC @ Young Adult Money recently posted..Does Your Job’s Pay and Compensation align with Performance and Output?
I love the spin you put on this to promote the book! Very cool. I also can’t help but check out what other people are buying at the grocery store. I must admit this is where I get the most “judgey” about what people are buying. I know, terrible.
Budget and the Beach recently posted..So you want to save money?
I think I have a difference of opinion. Reading about others people success can be motivating. I don’t think is going to come in the form of tabloid magazines but isn’t that essentially what we mostly blog about on the regular basis?
People write about stuff so the rest of us don’t have to go through the same mistakes as others. It’s good to take their success story with a grain of salt because it wont work the same for everyone but just to give you a general idea of something to do or not to do.
Ryan @ Planwise recently posted..The End of the World As We Know It
Wow. I’ve bought a trash magazine every once in a while if there’s a celeb I love on the front or I feel like I need some beauty tips. (I’m talking Redbook or something…not National Enquirer.) That happens about once every two years. There’s not too many positive celebs out there. But I think you’re spot on or a little low with the price. She might as well subscribe. It would be cheaper. But I also agree that obsessing yourself with the celebrity gossip is a waste of time. Positive, real-life influences are so much more powerful.
femmefrugality recently posted..The A-Z of Saving Money: A Giveaway
Great story and great insight. Thanks for this!
We are always open, Tony, and just handing out the advice hot n ready! Thanks for reading for the insight!
Funny, I always pay attention to what the people in front of me are buying. Are they buying a lot of junk? Are they wasting a lot of money? (IMHO, of course). Assessing what makes people tick is fascinating to me. As far as the rag mags, sometimes I just don’t wonder if reading about the screwed up lives of celebrities makes regular people think they don’t have it so bad. Just a guess.
Laurie @thefrugalfarmer recently posted..A Great New Book and a Giveaway to Boot!
I will admit that I have never understood the fascination with celebrities. Maybe people want to live vicariously through them. I certainly wouldn’t mind having a slightly more exciting life, surrounded by luxury goods and hot women. But for some reason I don’t feel any need to live this life through someone else. Especially someone I’ve never even met.
My Financial Independence Journey recently posted..Microsoft (MSFT) Dividend Stock Analysis
I’m notorious for staring at what other people are buying in their carts or on the grocery belt. I also listen to how much they pay for it as well and analyze how or what I would have done differently. If that keeps my mind away from the crap they sell at the cash to people who get bored waiting then I’ll do it. I’ve seen so many people load up on magazines, gum, chocolate bars, you name it and paying premium price for it. You are right instead of focusing on hollywood success we should keep the focus on our own lives. Funny how some devote more time to others then themselves.
Canadianbudgetbinder recently posted..The A-Z Of Saving Money E-Book-A to Zero Excuses!
I hope she’s a gossip columnist, or doing some sort of weird social experiment to see if fellow shoppers will ask her about the magazine obsession. I’m definitely a cart watcher. I’m curious what other people buy and even more curious how much it costs.
KK @ Student Debt Survivor recently posted..The A-Z of Saving Money: $250 Giveaway!
I always feel a little slimy when I look at what people are buying…but it doesn’t stop me. I always have the horrible thought, “You’re buying THAT?”
I try not to judge – who knows, she could be a teacher searching for counter examples of effective writing techniques to show her students! =) At least, that’s what I’m choosing to believe.
Mrs. Pop @ Planting Our Pennies recently posted..A-Z of Saving Money EBook And A Giveaway
I hope so, too!
Great points here. I’m always befuddled by how these celeb’s live, and usually, how they waste their money. During my stint in the financial services business, I tried getting a loan done for an NFL star who was making $11M/year but somehow also had bad credit, didn’t pay his cellphone bill on time, and only had about $250K in the bank. How does anyone who makes $11M/year only have $250K in the bank?!? I use cases like that which I’ve experienced as life lessons and always strive to stick to the family budget I’ve created.
Again, great points here. We shouldn’t follow anything the celeb’s do…well very little.
Thanks!
Joe in Michigan
Hey, I used to be “Joe in Michigan” too!
Isn’t that disgusting (about the NFL star). I’m always surprised when someone with that much money STILL can’t manage their finances, but I shouldn’t be.
I am a horribly judgmental shopper, especially if I get behind the person who buys milk and juice with their WIC in one transaction and 8 trash mags with their cash in another transaction, but don’t get me started. That being said, we get People at our office, and I am the first one to take a look and see what the stars are up to. Not sure why it fascinates me, but I would never pay for a magazine at the store. Thanks for promoting our book. Do you think we could get Star do do a feature on it?
Kim@Eyesonthedollar recently posted..March Madness: How Much it Costs to Follow Your Team in the NCAA Tournament
Your Star feature would say, “Woman Saved From Aliens by Book Writers!” Best seller.
I truly feel sorry for that women! I have to think that every time she reads those magazines and looks at the beautiful air brushed photos, she laments about everything that she is not. Seems sad, I hate that for her!
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