These 12 Things Have Made a Huge Difference in My Last 2-5 Years

The last 3 years since 2022 have been a complete and utter blast. I really couldn’t have hoped for better. But its a far cry to how the Micky of 2014-2019 was.

Only a small number of people know the full story of what I endured. The end of 2013 saw a marriage break up bolted onto the sudden death of my mam. Leaving my family home to live in the spare room of a mate for a few weeks, which became 3 years. Watching in shock and disbelief as my brother died in front of me in the Alps. Almost ruining myself with various addictions and depression. Bouncing from one failed relationship to the next and my two businesses almost crashing into the ground. I could go on…..

But I never gave up.

2019 saw the launch of my pizza business. Making pizzas was something I had enjoyed doing at home for about 12 years.  By the end of 2019 I was ready to throw in the towel and I ended up working as a builder to make ends meet at the start of 2020. I owed £3000 in back rent and I had descended into a very, very dark place. Yes – even worse than Sunderland!

So, needless to say, to live the kind of life that I do now, is nothing short of miraculous. Or IS it?

How can I have gone from, scrambling round under the car seats, looking for some money to pay for a direct debit about to bounce to trips abroad 3 or 4 times a year, when I hadn’t been to Europe since that fateful year in the Alps in 2015?

Well, its not attributed to just ONE thing. Its a collection of things. Some small, some more hefty changes.

The following 12 things made a huge contribution to the changes and regrowth I’ve experienced in my life.

1. Mindset  – This is huge. To change from a scarcity and ‘lack’  mindset to one of Abundance and growth.  When you believe all will be fine, and that there is more than enough of EVERYTHING in the universe, things start to change. Its easy to let your thoughts slip back to your old ways, so you need to be vigilent on that.
2. The Night Owl becomes an Early Bird  – This is a relatively new thing. The last two years. The burning the night oil approach. Falling asleep on the sofa and going to bed at 5am when its already light outside. Gone.  Now – its up at 6.06am (usually!!) and bed by 11pm.  Game changer. I get more done, I don’t beat myself up for being lazy or wasting the day – which in turn, helps the mindset.
3. Investing!  – Not just financially, but in MYSELF. Starting from 2020 I began investing into Crypto and savings accounts. I watched those funds rise. And fall. And fall again. And again. Haha. But for me to have ANY savings AT ALL was nothing short of a miracle and its helped me through some tough times. Old Micky would have resorted to selling bikes, wheels and things I didn’t want to part with!  The biggest gains have come from investing in myself, Training courses, programs, seminars, webinars, self improvement modules. The lot. The last two years have been utterly game changing. I’ve ploughed thousands of pounds into this, But I don’t regret a single cent of it.
4. Journalling  – Can’t remember exactly what started this, but I bought a Leuchtturm Monthly planner and notebook in 2019. Just a blank book with the calendars at the start, Journalling and notetaking has really helped clear my head, not be so forgetful and assisted in planning my life and work better
5. Hard Work – Always! For all the time off I’ve had, the times when I am working can be insane. 16 hour days sometimes. Working in temperatures of -10c. All through 2020 I worked as a builder AND pizza work. I did 4 months without a day off. Now, I currently have 3 businesses on the go. The full time building work was a crippler though. Cutting that out, saw my own ventures flourish.
6. Being Single – Yes, you heard that correctly. Crazy isnt it. After many false starts over the last 5 years, I’ve been single now for 2 and a half years. Whilst, I don’t suggest thats particularly great, it HAS helped me focus on myself, re-evalute and focus on my own stuff. It IS getting a bit tedious now mind haha. But sometimes the space is needed in order to grow.
7. A Morning Routine  – This has built up. little by little. Can’t recall what came first – the limes or the press ups. Or should that be ‘Coconut’?.  I started doing 30 press ups every morning. That’s now changed to 30 plus 40 sit ups and 50 tricep dips. Straight out of bed, before I go to the loo or throw any clothes on…. just as well I AM single eh! Then it’s downstairs, pint of water, 2 limes squeezed in and my 3 tablets. Cod Liver oil, Glucosamine and Turmeric. Then I make some coffee and I refuse to allow myself any breakfast UNTIL I’ve stretched first. Then comes journalling and working on whatever is the big task for the day. And only THEN does the mobile get turned back on from last night. Little changes, compounded over time, make big improvements.
8. Reading – Probably one of THE biggest influences of my last 2 years. Over 50 books and audiobooks listened to or read (see my previous post)
9. Ditching Soclal Media – detoxing from the Matrix is huge. I came off my personal Insta account. Not been back. And have done 2 long spells off facebook. It trains you to simply not be bothered much, when you return. I don’t engage in posts or spats or negative chit chat. Not for me. Giving up WhatsApp – that different. People have gave me some amount of stick for coming off that damn thing.
10. Travelling – I went from never having been out of the country (except Crete for my Dad’s 70th) to making that first trip to mainland Europe in seven years. That was 2022. Since then, I’ve been back over 5 times in the last 2 years, totalling over 3 and a half months. I’ve found my passion again – which is the Alps. I live and breathe to be there. Thats my thing. Realigning with what I love the most in life has made my heart sing again.
11. Letting Go – this is another big one. Taking responsibility for your own life, your actions, YOUR side of things when situations didn’t work out, your part in that. And, simply, letting go! Holding NO grudges, resentments or bitterness to any person, thing or event that’s occurred in your life. This is no easy task, I’ll grant you, but the clarity of mind and soul is invigorating. Try it!!
12. Persistence – Underpinning all else is Persistence. Just keep going. Life will throw mud in your face and pour icy water over your parade. Laugh, get up, go again. Never let yourself slip to your old ways. If you do – catch yourself and get back on track. Laugh at loss of business, times of hardship. Because its a glitch, it won’t last. That very first principle of the Law of Abundance tells us, keep going – all WILL be OK. Just keep pushing on. Never stop fighting til the fight is done

If anyone would like some help in turning things around, get in touch. If I can do it – so can you. I’m here to help with coaching, guidance or just some basic accountability – whatever works best to get you back on track again or help you make lasting, positive changes in your life. Thanks for listening.

Drop me a line at hello@12minutesdaily.com  and feel free to pass on your thoughts on this post, in the comments below 🙂