Blog | Ty and Venessa Crandell

Mindsets That Can Hinder You From Leaving A Good Legacy

September 15, 2019 Ty and Venessa Crandell Legacy

Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best – Robert Baden-Powell

Life is a gift too precious to waste. Thus, we expect everyone to enjoy life to the fullest. In our own little way, we all strive to gain experiences, explore opportunities, and achieve success. However, if you truly wish to make your life worthwhile, It is important to be aware of the responsibility to leave a good legacy. But how do you start your journey of leaving a good legacy? You can do this by making an effort to create a positive impact with every project you work on, every place you go to, and in every person you encounter. It also means choosing to avoid negative attitudes and bad habits. The following are three mindsets that will make it impossible for you to leave a wonderful legacy:

Refusing to hone talent and pursue excellence.

A good legacy should inspire people: something you cannot do if you refuse to believe in your own capabilities. Each of us has a talent to share and it is our duty to hone it. Aside from simply pursuing your craft or passion, you also refuse to settle for mediocrity by taking steps to continually improve in what you do. This makes it possible for you to produce outstanding work or accomplish exemplary tasks. Your adherence to excellence will likely empower people and encourage them to do the same. Both your work and your attitude will lead to lasting legacy you can be proud of.

Refusing to act with kindness.

It may not seem apparent but your behavior affects the people around you. Your words and actions can make or break someone’s day. Thus, if your goal is to lead someone in the right direction, you may want to always consider kindness. Practice empathy, patience, and understanding in the way you react to things and interact with others.The decision to be kind can be a bit challenging at times but when you come to think of it, resorting to rude actions and gestures rarely solve anything. On the contrary, choosing kindness can help you make a positive and lasting difference to others.

Refusing to share.

Legacy is sharing, so it involves being generous with your time, talent, and resources. If you can paint, sing, or cook, you may want to seek various ways on how you can use your skills to help society. Instead of stubbornly holding on to too much stuff, consider donating your extra resources to groups that need it. You can also spend valuable time as volunteers to support causes that you believe in. To successfully create a good legacy, practice generosity and throw selfishness out the window.

Leaving a legacy may sound like a big task but is nevertheless something that is worth all the effort. After all, our time in this world may be limited, but the legacy you will leave behind can last for generations to come. Moreover, it is clearly a way of giving back to the world, an action that will likewise give a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

7 Tips To Make Your Early Retirement Goal A Reality

July 15, 2019 Ty and Venessa Crandell Freedom

Retirement is supposed to be a phase to reap the fruits of your labor. In many ways, carefree retirement is an attractive concept. Since financial freedom is an important factor in happy retirement, many think that you can only attain it after many years of backbreaking and arduous work. Thus, a vision of gray-haired individuals in their 50’s or 60’s blissfully spending their days pursuing the things they love is a common impression people have about retirement.

Just recently though, a growing movement named Financial Independence Retire Early (FIRE) is challenging this typical concept of retirement. This lifestyle trend breaks the notion that retirement is only something that people in their golden years can enjoy. Although FIRE has its own share of criticisms, no one would probably say no to the privilege to do whatever you please without work responsibilities to think of even at a young age. After all, there is no rule setting a certain age for retirement. Check out the suggestions below that will help you attain financial independence and enjoy the benefits of retirement earlier in life:

Visualize your goals.

Every dream starts with a vision. It will be difficult to hit a target if you do not know where the target is in the first place. Therefore, if your wish is to retire early, the first thing you need to do is to lay out the things that you want to happen in your mind. At what age do you wish to sign off your work for good? Where and how do you want to spend it? It concerns your future so feel free to design a clear yet realistic vision of your retirement years. Visualizing your own perfect retirement in your mind will keep motivate and inspire you to take steps towards your goals.

Make concrete plans.

A vision without accompanying action is likely to stay a vision. You need to develop tactics in every goal you pursue especially if it is something as ambitious as early retirement. What are the steps you will take to achieve your goals? You may need to list a step-by-step plan to easily keep track of your goals. It will be great if your concrete plans also involve a specific time frame so you can realistically gauge how long it will take to turn your dream into reality.

Save more.

Several factors make up a blissful retirement but one of the most important is financial freedom. You need a steady flow of income so you can afford to live comfortably after retirement. To do this, you need to be serious and aggressive about saving money. You can start by increasing the portion of your income that goes to savings. As long as you do not deprive yourself of basic needs, saving as much as 75% of your salary is an option you can consider.

Work more.

You can easily save more if you earn more. So use your extra time wisely by finding ways to earn extra income.If you are creative and resourceful, you can discover a lot of ways to earn additional income. Do make sure that the side jobs you accept will not jeopardize your health or cause problems in your full-time job.

Reduce expenses.

To enjoy the rewards of early retirement, you may need to be willing to make some sacrifices. To make it possible to save more, be ready to cut your expenses as well. This might involve living below your means and depriving yourself of some luxuries. Focus on your end goals so you do not get tempted to splurge. You can make this goal less difficult by adopting smart money-saving strategies. In the process, you may even learn to appreciate the beauty of living with less.

Invest wisely.

We all have to deal with rising inflation so it is best to maximize your hard-earned money by investing it where it can yield the greatest interest. You have several options such as starting a business, buying a property, or investing on stocks. These ventures can provide passive income that can be a great source of livelihood when you retire. Do remember that every investment has an accompanying risk so be very careful before making a decision. You need to study and understand the terms of investments as well as weigh the pros and cons. Consulting with a mentor can also help you make a wise choice.

Settle your debts.

It would be hard to look forward to days of fun and leisure if debts and its accumulating interest are constantly lurking at the back of your mind. Make it a goal to breeze through retirement by settling your debts early on. You can research for ways on how you can settle existing debts with a lower interest rate. If you can, it may be wiser if you choose not to accrue debts in the first place.

In case you are thinking of a worthy goal to pursue, early retirement might not be such a bad idea. However, the road to a happy retirement is not something you can expect to receive on a silver platter. You need to be determined and committed to achieve your goals. Things may not be easy but with a few conscious efforts to do things differently, it is certainly a possibility.

4 Role Models that Every Child Needs

May 15, 2019 Ty and Venessa Crandell Family, Legacy

A popular African proverb states, “It takes a village to raise a child.” Many parents have a story or two to verify the truth of this adage. Child rearing is a team sport. We rely on our support systems to help us meet the needs of our children. Amongst the collective of special people who contribute to our kids’ upbringing, are role models of all kinds. It’s human nature to seek out people we admire and want to emulate. One day your children will begin to search for role models of their own. When they do, make sure to surround them positive influences who you trust. Here are four role models that every child needs.

Famous Role Models

Fame is attractive. It’s no wonder many of us daydream of our chance to be amongst the stars. Though celebrity is rare, it’s natural to fawn over the power, talent and riches of the selected few. Because celebrities hold great influence on culture, entertainment and the latest trends, it’s important to guide your child toward positive celebrity role models instead of those we’d rather our children not imitate. Expose your children to people who are impactful, inspirational and bettering the community. Point them toward people who use their position for good. Children should have celebrity role models who set the bar high and encourage them to strive for greatness.

Family Role Models

Children also benefit from role models within the family. Immediate family, distant relatives and even longtime friends who’ve earned the distinction, can serve as role models. Unlike other types of relationships, with family your child is able to build a unique bond that comes with familiarity built over years. There is a different comfort and trust level, which gives your child the opportunity to engage in a way they can’t with others. Instead of only having the opportunity to admire from afar, your child will have the chance to frequently interact with their role model in a genuine manner. Because of this, family role models are the perfect bridge between children and their parents.

Peer Role Models

Peers have the power to affect the way one thinks, their self esteem and their daily choices, making them one the greatest influences in a child’s life. When you’re young, your reputation and others’ opinion of you can hold great weight. Peers’ ability to easily elevate or lower the social standing of the people around them heightens their importance in the eyes of your child. Consequently, children sometimes fall victim to the trap of negative influence. The best way to stay on the right path is to surround children with peers who motivate them to make beneficial choices. Your child needs friends who won’t embarrass or abandon them for doing the right thing. They need friends who they can look up to. They need friends who help them be the kind of child you raised them to be. The ideal peer role model reinforces the lessons you’ve instilled in your child instead of tempting them to do otherwise.

Teacher Role Models

Because your child already has you and several other influential adults around, a teacher role model may seem redundant. However, teachers garner a different type of respect. To earn the title of teacher, one must be a trained expert on a topic. Because the time spent in teacher-student relationships is strictly devoted to the selfless act of passing on knowledge, children tend to hold their teachers’ advice in very high regard. Consequently, students sometimes put more weight into their teachers’ opinion. This is especially true when it comes to academic or career advice. Teachers also make wonderful role models because they often communicate with parents and can reiterate messages that need to be restated.

Great role models can serve as a second line of defense when it comes to raising, encouraging and protecting your children. You will always be the first and most important example for your kids, but you can’t (and shouldn’t have to) shoulder that weight alone. Successful children grow by collecting valuable lessons from multiple sources and experiences. Positive role models can provide the extra boost of support parents need to raise happy, well-rounded young adults.

How to Establish a Legacy

March 15, 2019 Ty and Venessa Crandell Legacy

“The great use of life is to spend it for something that will outlast it.”
-William James

The word legacy is defined as a gift that is passed down from one generation to another. Tangible legacies can be proprietary; property, companies and finances. Legacies can also be more abstract. The way you live your life, inspire others or think about concepts similarly qualify as gifts that can be passed from generation to generation. Both concrete and philosophical legacies greatly impact the lives of those we leave behind. So, how should you go about building such a precious heirloom? Here are five tips to establish a lasting legacy.

Focus on Your Passion
Your legacy should represent you. It should paint a story of who you are, what you value and your daily pursuit to achieve it. The best way to identify what your legacy should be centered around is to refer to your passion in life. What motivates you? What gives your life meaning? What do you feel you were put on earth to do? Wherever your deepest passion is, place your focus there.
Don’t Wait
When it comes to solidifying your legacy, there is no age minimum. Most people think of their legacy as a late in life, retiree accomplishment that is only earned after decades of hard work. And even though it is true that legacies are typically associated with endings (whether it be in career or life), every ending has a beginning. When you start is up to you, so why wait?
Be Consistent
After identifying your passion and initiating your pursuit, it’s time to get to work. Whether you are aware of it or not, you are authoring your legacy every single day. How profound your result is depends on the effort you invest. Be intentional about regularly planning and executing your next step toward greatness. Every step in the right direction strengthens the legacy you’ll leave.
Study Worthy Models
Need guidance on how to go about your life’s work? Consider the following. Whose legacy do you admire? Who fuels your passion? Whose work motivates you to do more? Seek out those people. Research their stories, study their steps and use them as your blueprint. Adapt their outlines and make them fit your own. Originality is important, but there’s nothing wrong with finding sources of inspiration.
Destroy Interference
Now that you’ve locked in on your mission, begun executing your plan and sought guidance, the last step is to stay the course. If your legacy is proprietary, be sure to tightly manage your savings, property or business to guarantee its continued growth and success. If your legacy is conceptual, make sure to live a life that matches the legacy you’ve chosen. Lastly, avoid any drama or controversy that could potentially tarnish or overshadow your end goal.

Maya Angelou famously said, “If you’re going to live, leave a legacy. Make a mark on the world that can’t be erased.” Through habitual dedication and discipline, you can perfect the gift that will represent who you are and what you stand for. And with these five tips, you can write your own story and leave a legacy to be proud of.

Four Science-Proven Tactics To Save Money With Ease

January 15, 2019 Ty and Venessa Crandell Freedom

For the majority, money is an essential resource that you need to work hard for. With that in mind, you surely would not want to waste the fruits of your labor with careless spending. Proper cash management is essential to securing your future. Aside from the material benefits that money can provide, researchers from Texas Tech University proved in a study that increasing savings or assets significantly contributes to one’s life satisfaction or happiness. In spite of this, saving money is easier said than done. The temptation to splurge and spend follows you wherever you go. With the money-saving strategies presented below, you can watch your finances grow in no time.

Prioritize savings.

If you wait until you are done paying bills and buying necessities before setting aside money to save, you may end up with zero left over to store. You can avoid this mistake by using the “pay yourself first” tactic. Prioritize growing your savings by deducting the money for saving right after receiving your salary. This is easier to do today as banks and companies often team up to offer an automatic savings option. An experimental study revealed automatic payroll deductions is a highly effective way to increase savings may convince you to try this method.

Hide your credit cards.

Credit cards can provide a convenient way to shop, but cashless transactions make it easier for you to overspend. To spare yourself the trouble of high credit card bills and charges, get into the habit of paying in cash. Cash may be your last option when your credit card is available, so you may want to leave your plastic at home. If you are not carrying your cards around, you can think twice before purchasing an item or only use it during times when it is really necessary. This claim is proven by Dun & Bradstreet, a consulting company with a study showing that people tend to spend up to 18% more when using credit cards. Just think of how much you can save by paying with physical vs. plastic money.

Procrastinate on spending.

Procrastination is a bad habit that kills productivity. Surprisingly, the practice of choosing to do things later can be a great tactic to help you save for the rainy days. You can do this by opting not to immediately buy items that you want. Instead, give yourself a day or two to think about whether you really want to purchase that item. Chances are, your desire to purchase something might have dwindle. If you are lucky, those items might already be on sale when you do come back to finally buy it. This strategy is proven to work, according to a research from Paris Dauphine University, saying that by delaying purchases you can kick the habit of impulse purchases and save your precious dollars.

Visualize the future.

If you really want something and you have the cash for it, stopping yourself from buying it can be extremely difficult. To avoid overspending on unnecessary items, try imagining the negative consequences of giving in to your wants. Think about the rewards that you will reap by sticking to your resolve to save money. If you spend without regard about its effects on your future financial status, saving money is much harder. This theory is proven by a study from the Journal of Consumer Research. In order to grow your savings with ease, it will help to visualize the positive and negative effects of your spending habits.

Money management takes hard work and discipline. It may be hard to save up cash to ensure a comfortable future but it will surely be worth it. If you do not want money to be a major concern someday, you have to exert real effort to build up your savings. If you save religiously and invest wisely, you can soon enjoy financial freedom.

Want To Excel At Work But Afraid Of A Burnout? Try These Life Hacks!

November 15, 2018 Ty and Venessa Crandell Mentorship

The goal of delivering excellent work performance is a definitely not a one-time deal. It is a day-to-day task that you should deliver impressive job or service regardless of the circumstances. The huge pressure of this responsibility can be terribly stressful which may lead to exhaustion or burnout.

Sadly, poor work-life balance often puts the most motivated and talented people at risk for a breakdown. It is a must for everyone to take steps to avoid burnout because it can kill enthusiasm, decrease productivity, and prevent success. The good news is that with a few simple hacks, you can effortlessly excel at work and keep burnout at bay:

Listen To Your Body

Sometimes, common sense is all you need to survive in this world. If your body is already screaming with undeniable aches and pains, it means you need to give it a rest. Many highly-ambitious individuals would try to rise above expectations and do as much work as possible to the point of stretching their stamina to the limits. Do not forget that without enough rest and proper nutrients, your physical and mental faculties cannot function at its best as well.

Focus On Quality Rather Than Quantity

Overachievers may be tempted to work on several projects at once with the belief that they can accomplish a lot this way. However, multitaskers may find it hard to claim expertise in a specific area because it limits the time and attention they can devote to each task. Aside from that, they greatly increase the possibility of experiencing fatigue. On the other hand, if you solely dedicate your best efforts to a single project at a time, you get a chance to master a specific skill and considerably lessen the workload. This theory proposed by author and professor, Morten Hansen, in his book, “Great at Work: How Top Performers Do Less, Work Better, and Achieve More” is a must-try if you want to sustain your interests and satisfaction in your work.

Adopt Good Habits For Better Time-Management

Your day will be twice as hard without routines and habits that can guide you along the way. Useful habits such as planning your day, making to-do lists, and waking up early will go a long way to make your day as smooth and stress-free as possible. This also emphasized the need for discipline as you set out to deliver top-notch performance for every task at hand.

Insert Quick Breaks In Your Routine

You may equate a highly-productive day to longer working hours and fewer break times. Apparently, this concept is the culprit for many work-related health issues and may even result in poor job performance in the long run. To avoid this, you may want to try a time-management strategy called the Pomodoro Technique which was developed by entrepreneur Francesco Cirillo. In this method, you reward yourself with 5-10 minutes of break after working uninterruptedly on a task for 25 minutes. This technique lowers the chance of a burnout and also claims to effectively combat procrastination, increase productivity, and enhance focus.

Do Not Hesitate To Say No

If you say yes to every request or invitation, you may find yourself laden with more assignments than you can handle. This is unlikely to happen if you have a realistic perception of the number of tasks that you can take. So wisely assess your situation to know if you can still squeeze in a favor to your schedule or will it already cost you precious time.

As a conclusion, it pays to always be on the lookout for mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion as you challenge yourself to achieve great things and exceed expectations. You owe it to yourself to aim for a healthy work-life balance because your own well-being and happiness should always be your first priority.

Tips On Raising Nice & Caring Kids: Instill These Essential Values

September 15, 2018 Ty and Venessa Crandell Family, Legacy

Parents have a special privilege to be the greatest influencers in the early years of their child’s life. So as a responsible parent, one of your goals is probably to raise a kind and caring kid. Aside from doing society a big favor, it would be a huge accomplishment to see your children grow up to be compassionate and caring adults.

Yet as they say, it takes a village to raise a child. As they grow, your little one will most likely be exposed to various ideas, elements, and individuals that can positively or negatively create a huge impact on them. If you are not vigilant, you may one day discover that your child has become a stranger and that it is too late for any remedy. The following suggestions will help ensure that you are raising your kids well.

Teach Your Children To Be Courteous

One of the best indicators of a poorly-raised child is rudeness so teaching simple polite gestures such as saying please, excuse me, and thank you is a must. Aside from that, good manners are beneficial in all aspects of life so it is best to instill this value as early as possible. Remember that polite children grow up to be gracious adults.

Teach Them The Power of Kindness

You surely do not want to raise bullies with little or no regard to the feelings of others. So encourage your kids to do small acts of kindness every day. Tell them that the simple effort of lending a helping hand to a needy friend or saying a word of encouragement to a grieving person has the power to turn someone one’s life for the better.

Teach Them The Value Of Patience

Try your best not to rant whenever you have to line up and try not to scream when your child is being unruly. It is definitely a big challenge but displaying self-control will teach the youngsters the value of patience. Teaching them patience will help your children to manage their emotions and stay calm in stressful situations.

Encourage Them To Share

Your kid will grow up to be a generous fellow if you as parents will provide them opportunities to share what they have, no matter how small it is. It can be as simple as giving them extra food in their lunch bag so they have something to share with their classmates. You can also get your children involved in charitable activities. The thought that their small act will be of good help to others will boost your kid’s confidence as well.

Show Them Ways To Be Grateful

If you fail to teach your kids the value of gratitude, they may grow up to be whiners and complainers. Teaching your kids to be thankful for the things they have in life will help you raise happy and positive individuals. You can try simple activities like keeping a daily gratitude journal together so they can be aware of the blessings they receive.

The task of parenthood may be overwhelming and you probably sometimes worry that you are screwing things up for your kids. Yet amidst the millions of parenting tips and suggestion you will come across along the way, the formula for raising good kids boils down to one thing and that is by leading through example. Kids learn more by watching you and will likely pick up most of your gestures and habits.

Therefore, the most effective way to teach values to your children is by practicing the values yourself. The best thing about it is that as you teach your kids to be better a person, you end up improving yourself as well.

Three Vital Reasons To Aim For Financial Freedom

July 15, 2018 Ty and Venessa Crandell Freedom

Financial freedom results from earning, or saving, enough money to be comfortable, no matter what unforeseen circumstance occurs. If you’ve established passive income from multiple revenue streams, or have a job that covers your expenses, you are in the perfect position to let your money work for you. Having the liberty to make decisions based on choice, rather than the pursuit of income, is a key element of life satisfaction. This type of happiness adds value to your existence. Here’s how:

You Can Live a Healthier Life

Monetary flexibility is good for your health. Extra capital in your savings account can go toward an emergency health fund. Even with a decent insurance plan, unexpected illnesses or accidents can become a huge expense. If you are not prepared to cover such a cost, you may be forced to choose between: incurring debt and settling for the medical care you can afford. On the contrary, if you’ve budgeted for such a scenario, you can pay for the medical attention you need without creating a financial crisis. Having the peace of mind that comes with being prepared reduces stress levels. Most people fear the unknown because they haven’t been able to adequately plan for it. Fear causes stress. This panic can be minimized with financial freedom. To top it off, creating an emergency fund not only decreases stress, but also betters your mental health. Worrying about money is draining. It can consume your every thought and action, but it doesn’t have to. You deserve the freedom of serenity, the freedom of prioritizing quality over cost, and the freedom of mental health. While money doesn’t buy happiness, it does indeed afford you better options for your health, and we can all benefit from that.

You Can Be a Blessing to Others

Most people have the desire to give, but lack the means. Some choose to set aside their budgets to assist others, but may face financial consequences down the line. This scenario is not ideal. Financial freedom affords you a unique opportunity to help others, sans fiscal compromise. Once you have more than enough money to support yourself, it’s much easier to give freely without sacrificing funds that were budgeted for other needs.

Financial freedom also creates flexibility of time. Charity doesn’t always mean money. Sometimes, time is the best gift you can give. People who must work a certain number of weekly hours in order to pay their bills probably don’t have many opportunities to take time off for service projects. However, people who have the flexibility of time, can and do.

You Can Take Control Again

When you are living paycheck to paycheck, you don’t have full control. Your financial needs dictate your time, decisions, and behavior. You may not be able to be spontaneous, take risks, or boldly stand up for your beliefs. When another person controls your ability to pay for your basic needs, you have to be careful not to agitate that source. Not being fully in control is limiting. Without financial freedom, it’s difficult to feel uninhibited. You may yearn to follow your dreams, pursue your passions, or express yourself without worry, but the consequences feel steep. Just remember, you don’t have to live that way. Set your goals on becoming financially unrestricted and watch how your options widen. Stop missing out on experiences that may interfere with your paycheck. Stop running from your dreams. Make freedom of choice a reality.

Financial freedom unlocks liberation in many other areas of life. You can’t afford to let money control you. Your health, passion, and life of charity are waiting for you. Create a path to economic independence, and start living the life you deserve.

How to Keep The Romance Alive (Even With Kids)

May 15, 2018 Ty and Venessa Crandell Family, Freedom

Whether you’re new parents or a couple married for 25 years with children in their teens, keeping romance alive isn’t always easy. Schedules get complicated and busier. Stressors may change, but new ones always seem to replace the old ones. Life is just plain busy. So finding the time — making it — is key to ensuring love grows along with the kids. Remember: One day it will be just the two of you once more.

Here are six simple ways to keep that romance alive.

Date Nights

Schedule a date night and stick to it. Write it in the calendar and honor it just like you would any appointment. The date doesn’t have to be fancy, complicated or expensive. Dinner and a movie — let yourselves be entertained. Or a hike on a mountain trail with a picnic by a stream. A bottle of wine, cheese and loaf of bread on a beach as the sun sets. A tennis match or golf outing. It’s about time for the two of you. Take turns choosing the date.

Me Time Is Just As Important

Give each other time alone to do something that rejuvenates you. Sometimes, we need to fill ourselves up before we can give to others. Take the kids to a movie so you can have a few hours to read a favorite book in peace. Encourage your partner to join that softball league. Walk the dog on that favorite trail. Have a women’s — or men’s — night out where you can enjoy friendships without worrying about what the kids are doing. Respecting each other’s individuality is a gracious gift.

Write It Down

Leave each other love notes in unexpected places — a lunchbox, by the coffeemaker, taped to the bathroom mirror, inside a suitcase. And do so frequently.

Getaway Just The Two Of You

Take a night or weekend away. You’re lucky if you have family who volunteers to watch the kids so that you can have a romantic getaway. If you don’t, ask good friends who you trust to watch the children — and return the favor. Even if infrequent, a night or two in a place other than home rekindles the fire.

Remember the Golden Rule

Be kind to each other. Raising children is difficult. There’s no one manual to follow. And sometimes the stresses of the day trigger negative reactions. Remember to forgive one another, to allow for imperfection and to realize not everything said in frustration is personal. Forgive and move one. As Gary Chapman, author of “The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate,” said: “Forgiveness is not a feeling; it is a commitment. It is a choice to show mercy, not to hold the offense up against the offender. Forgiveness is an expression of love.”

Thoughtful Communication

Take time to talk each day, to connect, even for 5 minutes. Listen actively. Grab a quick kiss while doing the dishes. Say thank you for the little things. Hug as you pass each other in the doorway. Hold hands while watching that Disney movie for the 10th time. And always say “I love you” as you fall off to sleep.

Although making the time for each other and creating romance is easier said than done, it is essential for a happy family, and successful marriage. If you can carve out the time together, it will make parenting more fun and rewarding– you will not only be building a special bond with your children, but also a deeper bond with your significant other.

4 Qualities To Seek Out In Finding The Right Mentor For You

March 15, 2018 Ty and Venessa Crandell Mentorship

So often when people dream, they hold an unsustainable perception that in order to successfully achieve their goal, they must become some form of perfect. This common misconception of needing to be the best of the best can be seen across all fields and even be applied when people are in search of a mentor. Indeed candidates for mentors are ideally ones that have experienced a high level of success, but keep in mind finding the right mentor for you weighs more in importance than finding one that is able to do anything. Consider these four traits when narrowing in on who you want to guide you.

They Practice What They Preach
When seeking out a mentor, their consistent behavior is equally as important as their achievements. Anyone can read a textbook, how-to guide, or job description to uncover the proper techniques and qualifications for a specific role. When it comes to health or career choices, people are well aware what the correct decision is, but have a tough time following the path that they must be on. In selecting a mentor, find individuals that are dedicated to their purpose and disciplined to the process. Seeing someone act in a way that you aspire to be will help you find your motivation. A mentor that is true in both their words and actions will be able to assist you in overcoming roadblocks on your path to success.

There Is A Balance of Success and Failures
Whether you relate to the idea that “the greatest successes stem from failure” or “The greatest lessons are learned in failure”, there’s no denying that a stifled attempt at success can teach you great deals. By no means should you support an individual that continues to putz around in faulty practices, but dig into a mentor’s past to see if they have stumbled and gotten back up. The ability to learn from your mistakes is a vital skill to have and will make you better in all that you do. People that have recovered from instances of failure will also have the compassion and encouraging words for when you stumble along in your journey.

You Want To Learn From And Inspire Each Other
While their knowledge may be more factual about what will work and what won’t, your mentor should have an open mind about the things that they can learn from you. You should inspire each other to learn and grow together as individuals. Industries and skills are constantly transforming to make jobs more efficient or daily processes more effective. Find a mentor that is comfortable with the idea that they can learn from you and one that gives off positive energy that you can both work off of.

They Know When To Push You
Another key benefit of having a quality mentor that is right for you is having someone to push you past hurdles. A good mentor will have your best interest at heart because they care about you as a person, but will know when to give you an extra nudge to move you up to the next goal. The right mentor will be able to accurately assess your emotions and abilities towards the task at hand and will be able to push past your comfort zone without tearing you down. Whether it be through verbal coaching for your spirit, or addressing different character traits you need to possess to reach your goal a mentor is not afraid to be hard on you when they can see that you are capable of defeating the current barrier you are facing.

Ultimately when finding a mentor, take a moment and think if they are someone you would like to resemble in the future. You should never aim to be just like another person, but if you can respect and admire the way your mentor goes about their daily life, then you have found the person to guide you.

If you yourself are looking to become a mentor and don’t know if you’re fit for it, check out our post Is There Such A Thing As A Perfect Mentor?