Are You Making A Living Or Creating A Real Life?

Are You Making A Living Or Creating A Real Life?

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Alright, welcome back to The Daily Mastermind. George Wright III here with your daily dose of inspiration, motivation, and education.

There’s a question I think all of us need to stop and ask ourselves once in a while. You’ve heard me say it before: Are you making a living, or are you actually creating a life? Because those are not the same things.

And sometimes, we get wrapped up in what we’re doing.

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The Hustle Culture and Its Pitfalls

We live in a world that’s all about hustle, productivity, and results. We measure our success by revenue, growth, and achievement. But in the pursuit of making a living, we lose sight of what it really means to create a life—and to truly live your best life.

I want to talk about that today because I’ve been there. I’m recording this episode from my office right now. I’ve built businesses, chased goals, and worked crazy hours—all in the name of creating freedom. Maybe you can relate.

But somewhere along the way, I realized that I wasn’t creating a life. I was just maintaining one that was running on autopilot, going through the motions.

You might feel the same. You’re successful by most people’s standards. You’re working hard, providing for your family, chasing goals—but maybe, just maybe, you feel like your life is controlling you instead of you controlling your life.

That’s what it’s all about today. That’s what I want to talk to you about.

There’s a great quote from the movie The Shawshank Redemption that says, “Get busy living or get busy dying.”

I believe you’re on one of those two roads. It’s a simple truth that every day we’re either consciously creating our lives, or we’re unconsciously letting them happen to us—and we’re letting go of the control of actually creating our lives.

“Every day you’re either consciously creating your life, or unconsciously letting it happen to you.”

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Taking Back Control of Your Life

So let’s talk about how you can take back control, because most of us start out chasing success because we want freedom. That’s why we want to create a business.

But freedom doesn’t come from not working—it comes from the presence of intentional creation. And that starts with awareness.

You’ve got to learn to become aware of what you’re doing day to day.

If you look at your calendar, your bank account, your health, your relationships—those are the clearest reflections of what you truly value. Not what you say you value, but what your actions prove that you value.

The realization can be uncomfortable, but it’s powerful because once you see this, you can start changing.

The truth is, your life is being created right now—either by design or by default. Every decision you make, every person you spend time with, every commitment you agree to—it’s all shaping your future.

Most people let fear drive their decisions. They operate out of fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of missing out, fear of letting somebody down. You know what I mean.

But fear is a terrible creator. It traps you in survival mode.

When you’re operating from fear, you’re constantly reacting to things—putting out fires, solving problems, defending what you already have—instead of building what you really want.

When you shift from fear to abundance, everything changes.

Operating from abundance means believing there’s enough time in the day, enough opportunity, enough potential to create what you truly desire. It means realizing that you are the one who creates your reality.

When you act from a place of creation, not reaction, you start living very differently.

And I want to talk to you about how you can start creating your life instead of just surviving it.

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The Power of Accountability

It all starts with creating accountability.

You can’t do this alone. We all need people around us who will challenge us, remind us of our goals, and call us out when we’re spending too much time at the office or too much time working.

Success loves accountability—whether it’s a mentor, a mastermind, a coach, or even a friend. Find people who don’t just support your dreams but hold you to them.

Without accountability, even the best intentions fade into good ideas.

I’ve got a buddy of mine who’s always calling me, trying to get me to do things—sometimes a little too much—but he’s a quick reminder that I want to create my life and that I’m doing this for a reason.

“Success loves accountability. The right people won’t just support your dreams—they’ll hold you to them.”

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Creating Structure for True Freedom

The next thing I would encourage you to do is create some structure.

Now, this might sound counterintuitive, but structure actually creates freedom.

Most people think freedom means no schedule, no rules, no plan—but true freedom comes from knowing your priorities and protecting your time.

Dan Martell talks about this: your calendar actually gives you freedom.

If you don’t create structure, the world will create it for you—and it usually doesn’t give you the structure you want. It doesn’t serve your vision.

Set clear boundaries around your time. Build routines. Time block. Schedule your workouts, your quiet time, your creativity, your relationships.

Remember, you can’t build a masterpiece without a framework.

And if you’re building your best life, it’s going to be a masterpiece.

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The Importance of Creating Memories

You’ve got to learn to create memories.

This is a big one—because what’s the point of all the hustle if you never stop to live it?

We think we’re building wealth for later, but the truth is, later isn’t guaranteed.

Your kids, your partner, your friends—they won’t remember the numbers in your bank account. They’ll remember how present you were.

Plan experiences. Capture moments. Take a trip. Have the conversation you’ve been putting off.

Memories are the real return on your investment in life, and I encourage you to create them.

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Creating Value and Impact

Another thing—learn to create value. Don’t just chase income; create impact.

When you focus on creating value for others, your wealth becomes a byproduct. You’ll get more in your life. The more people you help, the more opportunities come your way.

The more meaning you find in what you do, the more energy you’ll have to keep doing it.

Ask yourself every day:
Who can I help?
What can I contribute?
How can I create abundance in my life so that I can live from abundance and for abundance?

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Designing Your Vision and Strategy

And then, the last thing—this might be where you start—you’ve got to create your vision.

Before you design your business, your career, or your goals, you’ve got to design your life.

In your mind, what does your ideal life look like? What does freedom look like for you? What’s your vision?

Don’t wait until you arrive somewhere or have some vague idea of success.

The vision you create isn’t just a dream board—it’s a compass that guides your daily decisions. It’s what I call a litmus test.

Every “yes” or “no” in your day should align with your vision.

When you have a vision, you can create a plan.

Once you have that vision, you’ve got to execute a strategy. Vision leads to strategy.

Too many people confuse movement for progress—they stay busy but aren’t advancing toward their goals.

When you have clarity on your vision, you gain clarity in your strategy. You can create a roadmap and break it into actionable steps.

Life isn’t about reacting to what comes—it’s about creating what’s next.

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The Role of a Mastermind

And of course, I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention—you’ve got to create a mastermind.

You’ve heard me say it: Proximity is power.

You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.

So, who’s in your inner circle? Who do you surround yourself with? Are they bigger thinkers, bolder action-takers? Do they live with intention?

A true mastermind isn’t just about networking—it’s about collaboration, accountability, and alignment.

It’s about putting yourself in an environment where growth is the standard.

Don’t be the smartest or the most successful person in the room. Be around people who pull you forward.

And when you do, you’ll learn to create non-negotiables.

What are your standards in life? What are you unwilling to compromise—your health, your family time, your personal development?

These aren’t luxuries—they’re essentials for building a great life.

Decide what’s non-negotiable for you and start living in alignment with that. It will make you more fulfilled, more centered, and more powerful.

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Aligning Actions with Beliefs

Now, I want to bring this all together because your actions will always expose your true beliefs.

You say you want a great life—but do your actions prove that’s true?

You say you value your time—but if you constantly give it away to things that don’t align with your goals, your actions show otherwise.

You say you want abundance—but if your schedule is filled with scarcity-driven tasks, your actions reveal something else.

Take some inventory this week.

Ask yourself:
What am I creating with my choices?
Am I designing a life I love—or just maintaining one?

Here’s the truth, and I need you to hear me when I say this:

You can’t have both a fear-based mindset and an abundant life.

You can’t keep reacting to your life and expect to feel fulfilled.

You can’t say you want more freedom while refusing to create the structure that makes it possible.

Your life is a masterpiece in progress—but only if you decide to pick up the brush and paint it yourself.

“Your life is a masterpiece in progress—but only if you decide to pick up the brush and paint it yourself.”

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Final Challenge and Conclusion

So, I’m going to leave you with a challenge.

Pick one area of your life that you want to start intentionally creating.

Maybe it’s your structure—your morning routine, your schedule, your calendar.
Maybe it’s your accountability—joining a mastermind or finding a mentor.
Maybe it’s simply creating memories.

Whatever it is, make it intentional.

Don’t let another week go by living in reaction mode.

The people who live fully aren’t the ones who have more time—they’re the ones who decide how they use their time.

Remember:
Your time is your most valuable currency.
Your attention is your most valuable focus.
Your ability to create—not just survive—is what separates making a living from building a legacy.

So today, make the shift. Get busy living, and start creating your life one decision at a time.

That’s my message for today. I hope you have an amazing weekend.

I look forward to talking with you more on Monday—we’ve got some great interviews coming up.

I appreciate you being here, and do me a favor—share the show. Hit me up on The Daily Mastermind and let me know what you’re working on.

I want to know if you’re struggling. I want to know if you’re winning—so we can celebrate together.

Have an amazing day.

About George 

George Wright III is a proven, successful entrepreneur and he knows how to inspire entrepreneurs, companies, and individuals to achieve massive results. With more than 20 years of executive management experience and 25 years of direct marketing and sales experience, George is responsible for starting and building several successful multimillion-dollar companies. He started at a very young age to network and build his experience and knowledge of what it takes to become a driven and well-known entrepreneur. George built a multi-million-dollar seminar business, promoting some of the biggest stars and brands in the world. He has accelerated the success and cash flow in each of his ventures through his network of resources and results driven strategies. George is now dedicated to teaching and sharing his Prosperity Principles and strategies to every driven and passionate entrepreneur he meets. His mission is to empower entrepreneurs globally, to create massive change and LIVE their ultimate destiny.

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You have GREATNESS inside you. I BELIEVE in you. Let’s make today the day you unleash your potential!

George Wright III

CEO, The Daily Mastermind | Evolution X

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