New Year's Transformations - Stay on Track

We've all been there. Fed up with the current state, visualizing the new you, maybe even takng a few baby steps. A new body, cleaner desk, healthier habits, more savings, etc. The first two weeks or so you are chugging along just fine and you wonder why you didn't do it earlier. Then, a hurdle or distraction appears. Usually, it's a relatively small one - visitor from out of town, unexpected repair, business trip, family obligation - you get the picture. But it is enough to disrupt your flow or discipline and before you know it, you've lost your steam and your resolution is goes off the rails.

The odd thing is we all already have plenty of experience with successes and failures in this area. But what distinguishes between them? The other day I came across a helpful formula for change that offers an insightful perspective.

On one side of the equation is a) dissastisfaction with the current state, b) visualization of the desired state, and c) first steps toward the goal. On the other side is d) the resistance or pain involved with making the change. Meaningful and sustained change happens when a) x b) x c) continue to be greater than d). The thing is, most people focus on the change/goal side and not the pain side.

When we better prepare for the inevitable resistance or pain, we have a greater chance for success. Prepare means having plans to counter the resistance, which is often predictable. So if lack of time to practice may become a problem, block off and commit to x minutes a week or have a contingency plan for busy days. Or if you know you have a vacation coming up that will disrupt your exercise schedule, adjust for this by staying at a place with a free gym. If stress will trigger a setback, how can you plan to defuse the stress through healthier alternatives?

Finally, you already have the best tool for this - your experiences. Think about how you have dealt with making changes in the past. What works? What doesn't? What has derailed you in the past? How did you overcome obstacles to succeed? Taking some time to reflect on the past will give you great fuel for your current endeavors.

Check out the link to the Forbes article and happy transformations for 2015, EZPZ style!

Every Cent Counts, In Large Amounts

I hardly make it into the city these days, so not sure why I find these articles on saving money on NYC transportation so compelling.

Long story short, don't use the default amount on the MTA machines or you will be left with change. Instead, choose "Other" and input one of the following
($11.90, $19.05, $30.95) to end up with a zero balance.

EZPZ!

See Gawker article for more details.

Sleep Hero on a Budget

It struck me around Cyber Monday of 2014 that one of the unsung heroes of online shopping are the shipping companies. They have taken logistics to an almost magical level. Would Amazon be the same without FedEx / UPS? In the days before streaming, Netflix relied heavily on its partnership with the US Postal Service to deliver DVD's and now they are financing award winning shows like "House of Cards."

I personally saw this in action the other day when I ordered a bed from the online mattress company Casper. They include free 3-5 day shipping. And if you live in Manhattan they deliver it in 1-2 days via bicycle messenger.

Their business model avoids reliance on retail spaces and distributors and instead operates mainly from its website and referrals. This allows them to offer a comparable product for a much lower price.

To see how this works, click on my referral link.

The idea is I can send this link to a friend or family member so they will save $50 and I receive the same amount. Not bad for less than a day's work.

Now you might be wondering, how can I possibly buy a bed without trying it first? The nice thing is, you get to try it for 100 days and if you decide you don't like it, they will pick it up for free, give a full refund and dispose of or donate it. They cannot resell them. And the best part is, you don't need to keep the box.

Which reminds me, the packaging is worth mentioning. The bed is a foam and latex hybrid and they suck the air out of it and wrap it tightly in plastic before putting it into a surprisingly compact box. We just cut the plastic wrap and it unfolded to its normal size. My wife loves the new bed so I'm a hero on a budget and what makes it even sweeter is I didn't have to step inside a single store.

EZPZ, rest easy!