Why I Don't Want To Win The Lottery | Yuri Elkaim

Why I Don’t Want To Win The Lottery

Yup, you read that correctly…

I don’t want to win the lottery and quite frankly I don’t want you to either.

Obviously, everyone would love to have more money fall out of thin air and into their laps to alleviate their financials worries and give them more opportunities but I’m of the opinion that nothing could be worse.

And I’m also going to say the same thing for your health, and specifically weight loss.

We’ll get to that in a moment but let’s start with the idea of winning free money (aka. the lottery).

Why Winning the Lottery Is Bogus

Got debt? Want that house of your dreams? Want to take more vacations? Don’t we all.

In fact, my brother and sister-in-law have an entire life plan based around what they’re going to do and have once they win the lottery. But they fail to consider that they can live that plan without winning the lottery and actually EARN what they want. Sadly, they’ll most likely never see their dreams come to fruition.

Winning $10 million dollars (or more) is probably not best way to make your dreams a reality – at least if you want to enjoy the rewards in the long term.

According to the National Endowment for Financial Education, research estimates that 70% of people who unexpectedly come into large sums of money will lose it within seven years.

Open your local newspaper or flip through the pages on Google and you’ll find countless stories like a Hamilton, Ontario woman who won a $10.5 million lottery in 2004, but is now living paycheque to paycheque.

Research indicates that your educational and job status when you hit the jackpot makes a big difference. Those who tend to lose it all are less educated and hold more “blue collar” jobs than those lucky few who actually manage to keep their winnings in the long run.

And that kind of makes sense as we can see from the trials and tribulations of Donald Trump…

What Is Donald Trump’s Trump Card?

You’ve probably heard that Donald Trump has made millions and then lost it all. This has happened to him a few times in his life. Amazingly though, he’s managed to make it all back…and then some.

Why is he different from those unlucky lottery winners who’ve lost it all?

Well, you might say he’s got a “money mindset”. Sure he came into money (thanks daddy) but his “thermostat” for wealth is so much higher than the average Joe who works as a janitor. He feels he’s worth what he earns, he knows how to make lots of money, and he probably knows how to manage it as well.

When someone hovering at or below the poverty line wins the lottery, in most cases, they have no idea how to handle their winnings. If they did, they’d probably be better off financially to begin with.

Winning The Lottery Doesn’t Change You

My main reason for not wanting to win the lottery is that it doesn’t force you to grow into a new level of wealth. It doesn’t require you to become a better, bigger person who adds value to the world.

One morning you’re broke and living off food stamps, the next you’ve got a Ferrari in your driveway. There’s too much disconnect.

Let’s assume you win the big one…

What lessons have you learned? Are your spending habits all of a sudden  improved? Do you now save money automatically?

It’s common to think that “I’ll save money when I’ve got some” OR “I’ll pay myself first later but for now I’ve got take care of my bills”. These types of habits don’t change overnight.

I’m no financial genius and I’m not here to give you financial advice but I want to highlight the common thread between financial woes and challenges you might be facing with your weight and health because the underlying the cause is often the same….our psychology.

Diets, Lap Band Surgeries, Magic Pills, and Miracle Weight Loss

Why do most people who go on a diet and lose weight regain it all within a few months of stopping the diet? It’s the same reason that those who win the jackpot can’t hold onto their lottery winnings.

Habits.

If you’ve spent 20+ years struggling with poor eating habits and exercising sporadically, how on earth can you expect to lose weight and keep it off?

You can remain hopeful that the latest diet will help but I can tell you with 100% certainty that unless you improve your dietary choices and turn those choices into healthy daily habits, you will not see the long-term weight loss results you want to see.

Just as winning the lottery doesn’t help you grow into the type of person that can actually become wealthy on your own, fad diets, lap band surgeries, and magic pills will NEVER help you become the healthy person who lives and breathes eating well and exercising daily.

It’s all about who you become in the process.

That’s why I don’t want to win the lottery and why I don’t want you to rely on miracle quick fixes for your health and weight issues.

Sure I’d be crazy not to accept a few million dollars with open arms, but honestly…

I’d rather work my butt off, provide 100x more value than what I ask for in return, encounter challenges and overcome them, and become a better person as a result.

Every single set back I’ve had in business has turned into a blessing. I have no regrets and I would change nothing if I were to do it all over again. Wasting my time for 2 years on stuff I thought was important forced me to realize that something needed to change. That epiphany made me realize that being around smarter and more successful people was vital to my personal and professional growth.

Taking the plunge and joining various mastermind groups and connecting with other entrepreneurs was the MOST important thing I’ve ever done for my business. But for me, that realization only came about after 2 years of struggle and frustration. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way.

It’s the not the destination but the journey that counts.

Sure, you probably want to lose 20 lbs by tomorrow but I can guarantee that all of your struggles are worth it. You just have to tune in and learn from what you’re going through. Perhaps there’s a hormonal issue that needs attending to. Perhaps you’ll be forced to be brutally honest about your diet and throw the garbage foods out of your kitchen.

These processes are invaluable in your growth as a human being. Learning from your struggles is invaluable because then you have to insight to help yourself and others. And that’s the ONLY reason I’m able to do what I do now. I’m no better than you. I’m simply one step ahead, having gone through a number of health challenges, learned from them, and now sharing that wisdom with you.

That’s the greater purpose – at least for me.

Why Skinny People Should Be Careful

Skinny people think they can get away with murder. Not literally, but in regards to their lifestyle choices. They (and others) believe that they can eat whatever they want and never exercise and they’ll be ok because they’ve got a “fast metabolism” or natural skinny genes.

But watch out!

Being skinny can be very deceiving. I’m living proof. I’ve never had to battle excess weight. I’ve always been fit but I haven’t been healthy until the last 9 years or so. I have many skinny friends who still haven’t clued in. They eat whatever they want and are not aware of what’s happening inside their bodies. It’s only a matter of time before these ticking time bombs go off.

So, sometimes being a little overweight or looking a little unhealthy can be a blessing. Use that as feedback to get your butt in gear to make positive changes and grow as a person.

You’ll reap the rewards…eventually.

YURI ELKAIM

Yuri Elkaim is one of the world’s most trusted health and fitness experts. A former pro soccer player turned NYT bestselling author of The All-Day Energy Diet and The All-Day Fat Burning Diet, his clear, science-backed advice has transformed the lives of more than 500,000 men and women and he’s on a mission to help 100 million people by 2040. Read his inspiring story, “From Soccer to Bed to No Hair on My Head” that started it all.

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