Here’s an important question for you – are you a “Future-Based” person or a “Past-Based” one?

In the past few days this distinction has really hit home with me on Facebook.

I’ve had several people from my elementary school dig up school pics of our class in 5th grade and now 3rd grade. It’s painful to admit but I’m on the bottom row all the way to the left. (Missy says if the kids are geeky it’s because of me.)

Now I certainly can understand (and enjoy) the occasional looking back, laughing, reminiscing of the past – but some people are truly just stuck there

It’s like the Bruce Springsteen song “Glory Days”.

“Now I think I’m going down to the well tonight
and I’m going to drink till I get my fill
And I hope when I get old I don’t sit around thinking about it
but I probably will
Yeah, just sitting back trying to recapture
a little of the glory of, well time slips away
and leaves you with nothing mister but
boring stories of glory days”

Facebook really shows me how many people want to re-live their ‘Glory Days’. That’s all they talk about.  They only connect with old friends and are obsessed with what’s already happened.  There’s no forward progress. Or in a sadder way, some people hold some deep hurt or wrong that’s been done to them. This past-based person will not and cannot get over it even though it’s history. They’ve let it become their permanent identity.

Now with all that said I actually believe there’s one important aspect of past-based living that’s important to your success and I’ll share it in a moment.

The second type of person is the “Future-Based” one…

This is the kind of person who believes the best is yet to come and nearly anything is possible. Every year is going to be even better than the last one. A lot of entrepreneurs fall into this camp. Personally, I’m optimistic 2009 is going to be even better than ever. And I bet I’ll say the same thing for 2010, 2011, etc.

It’s also someone who doesn’t let their past circumstances, situations, bank account dictate their future. I love looking forward and seeing possibilities and what can happen. What kind of ideas I can take and make real.  (To me that’s my biggest thrill!)

The Trap of the Future-Based Person

Now there’s a caveat and a real trap you can fall into if you are a future-based person and that’s always looking forward that you discount today. I know first-hand about this. One of my 34 Rules for Maverick Entrepreneurs is “Celebrate Your Victories”. For Future-based people that’s not so easy. We’re hard wired to move on and look to our next project, idea, etc.

I have to truly force myself to stop and celebrate the wins. Or stop myself and attempt to “be” just in the moment. I work hard on this when I’m with Zak and Zoe. I’m not always successful but it’s something I strive for. My favorite moments are comforting Zoe in the middle of the night while she cuddles up on my chest in the glider in her room. I stop and think she’ll never be this small again and take a freeze frame image/vision/feeling of that moment.

And that’s one of the benefits future-based people can take from past-based people (what I hinted at earlier).

Anytime I am working on a real big, challenging project I go back into my head and think about the feelings I had when I “won”. You know, that all powerful “I can do anything” feeling that comes from a success. I use that as my stepping-stone and anchor for the next project my future-based self is always working on. (Side note: After any victory or time you really feel on top of the world – file that away in your head so you can call it up again and again.)

I also heard an interesting concept by Dan Sullivan of Strategic Coach that plays into part of this discussion. He has a theory of people being disappointed because they cannot reach their “ideal”. I think this is especially important for future-based people who don’t stop and consider their wins enough. It’s part of his “Pure Genius” Audio program (which if you can find it is well worth grabbing if you can find it anywhere still).

Why The ‘Ideal’ is Impossible to Reach

Dan gives the example of the horizon. We all know it’s silly to think we can ever reach the horizon because it keeps moving as we move closer to it. Same with an “ideal”. We feel despondent and maybe even depressed in our greatest victories if we attempt to measure them up to our ultimate ideals. But the people who are happiest are the ones of take stock of where they are today (Point B) than when they started (Point A). And we can all look back and gain that confidence and awe of how far we’ve come.

I just made a list last night of what I’ve done and accomplished in 2008. Before making that list I didn’t think I had such a great year. Our overall business revenue and profits were down because I’ve been heavily investing in Maverick Business Adventures® (time-wise and capital-wise). But when I actually made the list I was shocked at how incredible the year had been.

Everything from meeting my business hero, Sir Richard Branson on Necker Island, to having 3 sold-out Maverick Business Adventures experiences and launching the Maverick Business Insider newsletter with 5000+ charter subscribers. Or simple accomplishments like having Zak potty-trained & sleeping in a big-boy bed and Zoe taking her first steps.

It really made me appreciate the accomplishments and celebrate them (which isn’t my nature as a future-based person).  So as 2008 winds down take stock of your accomplishments and maybe you’ll be further along than you imagine.

Here’s to an incredible 2009 and beyond!

Side note: Speaking of 2009 – if you want your future to be bigger than your past you should consider attending the Underground® 5 seminar (Feb 20-22, 2009). Not only do you get the real inside from an incredible line-up of speakers bringing in over $200,000,000.00 each year.  But more importantly it’s about the connections and networking that happens there. (And for people that sign-up before January 15th you get access to a private VIP dinner and Casino Royale night where big deals will happen.)

I got documented testimonial after testimonial about people meeting there, hearing one idea or simply finding that one spark they needed.

In fact, here’s what one of my MasterMind members and Underground® 5 presenter, Carrie Wilkerson, reported back to me about her connection at Underground® 4 last year…

“At UG4 last year (at the blackjack table to be exact, before UG even STARTED), Vic [MaserMind member] and I discussed this model for the women’s audience and he gave me contact info for his programmers. I branded it out as PowerLinesforWomen and started list-building

Our list is 8,000+ and we’re going to monetize it with our first affiliate promotion this week!! (I should mention that I’ve not promoted this AT ALL to ANY of my lists yet – I wanted to get the kinks worked out first…so I think it’s going to be big) I know you’ve heard me say that UG4 was a huge catalyst for me…I’m not just saying that – I have example after example after example…”

Sign-up now before the price goes up and VIP networking bonuses go away

(Plus you get to write off the ticket on this year’s taxes!)

I was lying here yesterday, pretty medicated, with some random thoughts going through my head on success, wealth and an occasional pink bunny.

Just a quick background on the meds. I had a new type of procedure yesterday on my right knee. The doctor sucked stem cells out of my back, added some secret sauce, and then injected them into my knee cartilage. Kinda cool. The doctor who supervised had both his knees done and he told me he jogs again. I blew out both my ACLs playing beach volleyball and Ice Hockey. I still play but it really bothers me. So hopefully this will re-grow the cartilage and I’ll be like the bionic man. (As a side note – the nurse filmed part of the procedure and I might even post it up online. I was kidding around we should auction off some of the bloody rags on eBay. Okay maybe not a great idea – remember I’m on meds)

Okay back to the point I wanted to throw out there and it’s around this question…

Do you have to want (and obtain) material things first to then turn your attention to more meaningful endeavors?

I found an interesting picture of me from 5th grade on Facebook today and it sorta started this chain of thoughts. Take a look – I’m the 2nd from the left on the bottom row.

My family is from Russia and immigrated to the U.S. in 1976. My Dad came over with $256 in his pocket for me, my Mom and my Grandmother. Just a year and half later, my Dad started his own company repairing (and then later selling) medical equipment. Even 8 years later times were still pretty lean as you can see from the knee patches and goofy shoes. Actually, I don’t think I had a pair of normal sneakers until 7th grade. (And yes, I definitely got made fun of constantly for that!)

It wasn’t until years later that my Dad’s company really started growing and blossomed into a multi-million dollar enterprise that things changed. I grew up working in the business starting with telemarketing latex gloves at age 14 and then even selling medical equipment to docs in person at age 16 when I got my license. It’s interesting how things come full circle because a doctor client of mine, Dr. Wei, gave me a Jay Abraham tape that turned on “the lights” about direct response marketing. And it was Dr. Wei who performed my knee surgery yesterday.

Like a lot of kids, I grew up fantasying about exotic cars with posters of Porsches and Ferraris on my wall. I remember for my Bar Mitzvah calling my parents up to light my final candle and I said something like, “I’d like to call up my parents who have given me everything I’ve ever wanted…except a Porsche.”

Back in 1998 I was just starting to get my entrepreneurial juices going and I attended a Brian Tracy 1-day seminar. He told everyone there to write down the 10 most important goals in our lives at the time.  Mine centered mostly around things or dollar amounts. I couldn’t find the notebook but it was something like:

•    Make $20,000/month in my own business
•    Drive a Mercedes SLK
•    Own a townhouse
•    Rolex watch, etc

One-by-one I knocked those all out without looking at the list everyday or taping it to my forehead or whatever “secret” I was supposed to use. (Actually I missed one goal – the Mercedes SLK. I actually got a much better SL55 AMG model). It was mostly the things that kept increasing on my goal list. A bigger house, a nicer car, nice trips, nicer watch, etc. until there really wasn’t much left that I really wanted.

Yes, I still love my Aston Martin but I quickly realized it was ‘just’ a car.

Quick side story: Actually, that really hit home to me spending time with my friend, Corey Rudl, before his untimely death. He had a new Lamborghini and we went off to the local smoothie place in La Jolla. Corey forgot he left his smoothie on the armrest and as he accelerated out of the parking out it spilled all over the interior of his car. He just sorta laughed and didn’t freak out like I might have. Previously, I never let anyone eat in my AMG or drink anything but water – but now I really don’t mind. In fact, I’m pretty lax with the car and have let a bunch of my friends drive it. (And I’ll let you drive it too if you want too if you’re the winner of a pretty cool contest for Underground® 5 attendees with the ultimate 007 day.)

So at some point you pretty much got all the toys you really need and then what’s left? To me, it boils down to experiences and relationships.  (Yes, there are still some ‘things’ I want like a beach house and maybe a private jet share – but not too much else.)

Maybe that’s why during the past few years that I’ve really gotten clear on the ‘Maverick Philosophy’ of Making more money, having more fun and giving more back! (Somebody the other day told me this is called a Venn diagram – nifty.) In fact, one of my big goal for 2020 involves getting 1,000,000 entrepreneurs to join this ‘movement’ that’s part of  Maverick Business Insider.

But I’ve been thinking lately – do you need to get the material things first before you can appreciate the other parts?

I’ll admit it. I really, really wanted my Mercedes AMG roadster. It drove me to create products and services to pay for it – but after the initial thrill wore off – there wasn’t much substance. The anticipation and journey was the best part.

Do you need the Rolex on your wrist before you realize it doesn’t really tell time very well? I used to wear my Rolex as a symbol of my success and new found wealth but I haven’t touched it in years. Today I have a nicer watch but it’s not a name most people would recognize. But maybe getting the ‘reward’ proved to myself I had arrived and could move on to bigger challenges and opportunities.

Some of the material wants really drove me in the beginning – however I still understood the underlying natural laws (like delivering 10x – 100x in value) would help me get the ‘thing’ I wanted. Now I’m much more focused on the bigger picture described in the diagram above. Personally I felt like I had to go through that phase to come out the other end (but maybe not everyone has to).

The unusual way to ‘stumble’ onto success…

There’s a profound theory I heard from R. Buckminster Fuller that says your true success is found perpendicular along the path to your original perceived goal.  For example, when I first started InstantSalesLetters.com back in 2000 – my end goal was to sell it for $500k to Stamps.com or someone like that. But on my way to building up that site – I had so many people ask me how I started making money so quickly that I began teaching. And that teaching became part of my success course for the last 8 years opening up one door after another. I would never have got on that track unless I was moving towards the original goal.  Same thing today, my next course is with my Maverick Business Adventures® and Maverick Business Insider companies – which wouldn’t have been formed without the contacts and connections made with my Internet business.

I’ve love to hear from people who have ‘made it’ (so to speak) and those who are still striving. Can you create a ‘rich’ life without getting the material things first that many of us (me included) initially wanted? I know some people are not motivated by material things and that’s great too. But I find an issue with some of those same people that believe making money is wrong or immoral. Somehow by being poor is more honorable. Umm…Bullshit.

I bet I’ll also get responses saying the happiest and ‘richest’ people are actually the poorest dollar-wise. Or money doesn’t buy you happiness.

Whatever.

I’ve said it before, I think money only amplifies who you are and what resources you have available to you.  If you’re a jackass before you had money – you’ll be an even bigger jackass. However, if you’re a generous and giving person – you now have more to give, etc.

I believe you can have it all…the complete package of profits, passion and purpose – but which road gets you there?

I probably should have posted this a lot sooner…but a few weeks ago I was in Delray Beach speaking at the ETR Internet workshop and I walked down the road to my friend, Frank McKinney’s treehouse. (Seriously, he’s got a pretty sweet treehouse as an office!)

Quick background on Frank. At age 22, Mr. McKinney founded his first real estate investment company and bought his first $50,000 fixer-upper, selling it a few months later for a $7,000 profit. Now, 22 years later, McKinney continues to create real estate markets where others dare to tread. He has built spec homes (homes built without a buyer) valued in the tens of millions of dollars, including the creation of the world’s first $100+ million spec home. But where I’m really inspired by Frank is his giving side. He’s created an incredible charity that builds homes for the poorest of the poor in Haiti with his Caring House Project Foundation.

Now Frank is a true Maverick and I wanted to get his take on the 3 pillars of Make More, Have More Fun and Give More Back! (That’s what I cover in the brand new Maverick Business Insider newsletter.)

Let me know what you think.

Also, a quick update -- Underground® 5 is now open. We’ve got a stellar line-up of under-the-radar marketers doing over $200,000,000.00 online including Bob Parsons from GoDaddy.com as our keynote speaker. The best discounts, bonuses and goodies are available right now!