Yesterday´s post clearly stated that life is risky…period. However, there are ways to calculate risks. You actually already do it. You just may not be aware of it.

For example, today a snake came into my living room here in Sedona. I don´t like snakes and there was a moments panic as this bright orange snake slithered under a speaker sitting on the floor. I ran for the kitchen garbage can and placed it over the speaker, trapping the snake.

I then went to find someone to remove the snake for me. A painter working in the complex offered to come in and help me out. A risk? Absolutely! A strange man I don´t know coming into my home where I live alone. That´s a risk. However, for me, I very quickly calculated the risk of dealing with the snake alone or asking for help and assuming those risks. The snake was removed by Gentleman X. I was unharmed.

You make similar decisions daily. We base those decisions on what is important to us. For me, getting the snake out of the house WITHOUT me having to touch it was the most important thing. For someone else, their personal safety would have been paramount.

The next time you make a decision, which should be within the next 60 minutes, notice why you made the decision you do. Was it based on what was important to you? Very likely yes.

You may decide to keep your business small and risk not growing because you don´t want to risk the time you desire for your children. You may stay in the community you don´t like because for you, it is more important that you be secure and in your comfort zone than for you to risk travelling or moving somewhere that you don´t know.

Calculating risks is usually done based on our values and what is important to us. It´s why I can think, “why not” to an opportunity while someone else will say, “absolutely no”. Being more aware of why you make decisions and take certain risks and not others will help you create your amazing life.

Rollie and Jeanne

In order to create an amazing life with unlimited potential for income and time freedom, many spiritual entrepreneurs are building businesses that give them everything they want. I want to introduce you to two very special entrepreneurs today.

Rollie and Jeanne own Rollie´s Restaurant in a small town 20 minutes north of where I am living in Bucerias, Mexico. Yesterday, Greg and I spent part of the day in Sayulita and enjoyed a meal at Rollie´s. It has been one of the highlights of my restaurant adventures. There is lots to learn for entrepreneurs from Rollie and Jeanne.

Rollie was a high school principal in California for 25 years, a teacher for 15 years previous to that. Jeanne was also a teacher. Rollie had a dream of owning a restaurant and on his first trip to Mexico back in 1998, he fell in love with the quaint village of Sayulita. A year later, a building became available that could be transformed into a house and restaurant. Rollie moved in and Jeanne stayed in California until she retired two years later.

With nothing but passion, love and courage, Rollie and another Mexican transformed the former welding shop into what is now the most talked about restaurant in town. What makes Rollie´s Restaurant special?

Love. You feel it the moment you walk into the restaurant. Rollie has the gift of hospitality and it shows. It´s like having a meal with family. The rule is that you never go home hungry. If after eating your meal you are still hungry, Rollie will bring you a few of his famous pancakes, on the house.

Rollie also has the gift of encouragement. The first time he stopped everyone in his bustling restaurant with the announcement that an up and coming artist was in their midst, I listened fascinated. Then Rollie held up a young child´s drawing and said the most beautiful and encouraging words about the drawing before it was posted on the board with the other up and coming artists. I wanted to cry! What if every child had that kind of love, encouragement and support? The world would be a very different place.

Rollie and Jeanne didn´t have all the i´s dotted and their t´s crossed. They didn´t even speak the language! But they had a dream and a passion to build a restaurant. Rollie´s closes today for the season and Rollie and Jeanne go back to Monterey, California for 6 months before returning November 1st.

As I hugged Rollie good-bye yesterday morning, I felt privileged to have seen in action on several occasions the power of love in a business. You´ll wait in line for a table on the weekend. One Sunday morning, about a dozen bikers showed up in full biker´s gear and ate breakfast at Rollie´s. My neighbor´s little dog Precious is welcome at Rollie´s. It has proved to me once again that you can build a very successsful business based on values that mean everything to you.

To Rollie and Jeanne, love rules!

Yesterday, Jeanette and Greg got trapped in the elevator at the condo here in Mexico. It´s finicky and personally, I´ve stayed away from it while I have lived here. I´ve got my exercise climbing the stairs. However, at 97 years of age, Jeanette needs to use the elevator. Thankfully, I heard the alarm and we got them out in less than 15 minutes.

I´ve noticed my aversion to being trapped physically on more than one occasion but I can also feel trapped emotionally and mentally, spiritually and financially.

To avoid that feeling as best as possible, I have five questions I answer before making a decision. Asking myself these questions allows me to ensure that I don´t get into situations where I feel trapped. Would you like to know these questions? They may help you form your own questions for your life.

1. Does this fit with my motto that “I own my life and can spend it on growing?”
2. Will I feel burdened, tied down or bridled in any way?
3. Does this allow me to be independent and authentic while feeling supported and part of a team that is more than the sum of its parts?
4. Does this honor my Sacred Gifts of writing, healing, and my being a gypsy?
5. Does it allow me to spend time on research and on my education?

What questions would you ask yourself to ensure that you create the life you want with the financial freedom, time freedom and other values that are important to you? This is a valuable exercise that has saved me lots of heartache. I highly recommend you find your four or five questions that will work for you to create your amazing life.