Have you ever made money from your work, but the only thing you got from the work was the money? Meaning: You made money, but it didn’t enhance you. You didn’t receive any referrals.
You didn’t feel appreciated. But, you made money.

If this has ever happened to you, it may have felt terrible. Your wealth, your happiness, your relationships… all of it are in direct proportion to what you’re willing to tolerate. If you tolerate people who don’t appreciate you… or don’t utilize you… or don’t enhance you… then the only thing you may get is money. Of course, we’ve all been in situations where we just needed to pay the bills. That’s understandable.
But the worse thing is to be engaged in it for YEARS once you develop Capabilities and Skills greater than your Opportunities.

When this continues, it’s what I call H.A.L.F.™ (Hard, Annoying, Lucrative/Lame and Frustrating). You can have a H.A.L.F. Business, or you can have an E.L.F. Business (Easy, Lucrative, and Fun!). E.L.F. is WAY better.

I put everything through an E.L.F. criteria: “Is this person or project Easy, Lucrative, and Fun?” (And if it has nothing to do with money, I ask: “Is this person or project Easy, LIBERATING, and Fun?”) Ask yourself: How do you feel with the person? How do you feel about the project? Do the project feel Easy, Lucrative and Fun – or HALF? Does the relationship feel Easy, Liberating and Fun – or H.ALF? If something is bad, in most cases, putting more time and effort into it doesn’t make it better… the best way to get out of a hole is to stop digging it.

When I helped run Arianna Huffington’s book campaign for her book THRIVE, one of the most valuable things that came out of hours of interviews I did with her was when Arianna said: “The best way to complete a project is to drop it.” Like a badge of honor, we hold onto suffering with various people and projects. In some cases, and in some contexts, it’s necessary. In many cases, it’s silly.

So, what are you willing to tolerate?

by Joe Polish
Founder of Genius Network

Joe Polish

P.S. I've created a resource page as a central guide with access to valuable resources available to you right now. Check it out at www.GeniusNetwork.com/Vision-Insight. Bookmark this page. This is where I will post every new update.

P.P.S. Whenever you're ready... here are 3 more ways I can help you make YOUR business and life more E.L.F. (Easy, Lucrative, and Fun!):

  1. Discover the 10x Multipliers to grow your business exponentially… Amplify your opportunities and reveal the untapped potential in your business: www.10XTalk.com/Vision
  2. Trigger these 8 Profit Activators in your business right now: www.ILoveMarketing.com/Vision
  3. I'm often asked what books I recommend. So, I've put together a collection of books and products in 9 specific categories. These are resources we've shared in Genius Network to help improve life and business... To check them out visit www.JoePolish.com/Books-Vision

P.P.P.S. If You Or Someone You Know Is Struggling With Addiction, visit www.GeniusRecovery.org/Vision-Letter
Also, check these out 🙂
www.JoePolish.com/Vision-FreeBook
www.ILoveMarketing.com/MarketingVision
www.GeniusRecovery.org/RecoveryVision

More Genius Network Articles You Might Enjoy

Connecting People to Results

Connecting People to Results

"What's In It For Them" is how I think about everything. The truth is, nobody cares how great your product or service is; They care about themselves. They care about What's In It For Them... It's all about focusing on what the other person wants. Not what YOU want,...

Why Unique Abilities Require Unique Marketing

#302 Episode Summary: Did you know that Unique Abilities require Unique Marketing? In this episode of I Love Marketing you’ll discover how to connect your Unique Ability®1 with Unique Marketing to transform your business, the unique marketing triangle and more.   Ben...

Technology, Focus, and Marketing

#292 Episode Summary: Let me ask you…do you find yourself struggling with all the choices you have with technology to build and grow your business?  In this special episode with Dean Jackson and Joe Polish, you’ll learn how you can integrate technology to make it your...