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Is the VA a Disaster?
Tierell Goodman • February 8, 2023
Is the VA a Disaster?
I have helped dozens of veterans secure the VA benefits they deserved, and the experience has been quite educational. I learned the following things:
- The system is a game (to an extent) – Just like a game has rules, the VA system has rules. These can be very technical. And if you’re the type to throw the controller away because a game is too complicated, you might want to shut the VA chapter prematurely. The difference between the VA and a game, however, is that VA can affect your life while a game is just entertainment. Learning the rules and the technical ins and outs is worth it in the case of VA. Unlike games, you can get someone else to play for you. Many businesses, like my own, help people apply for VA benefits.
- The system isn’t personal – Some people say the VA is against the veterans, and others believe it loves the veterans. These are feelings we project onto the entity because of the outcome of the “game.” I have plenty of experience with the VA, and if there’s one thing I have learned, it is that the system is impersonal. It works like a machine.
- The burden of gain is on you – Since the system works like a machine, it isn’t motivated to give you money or hold it from you. The burden of following the rules yet getting what you deserve is on you. That means filing the paperwork, applying for the right benefit category, and backing up your claims. All of it is on you.
- Don’t play against yourself – The fact that it is all on you doesn’t mean you have to give up. Too many veterans give up too quickly when it comes to the VA. Don’t play against yourself. Do your best and work smart.
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The fear of failure has killed more dreams than all other fears combined. The fear of failure is insidious because it’s largely in your imagination. It can also prevent you from even trying in the first place, which guarantees failure. It’s interesting that very small children have no concept of failure. They couldn’t care less if they fail to do something. They just try again. There are no negative thoughts or emotions involved. They just keep on going. But it doesn’t take long before children learn to fear the opinions of others. It’s usually around the time they start school. After that first day of school, we’re all changed forever. It might not be possible to go recapture the mentality of a toddler, but you can come close. The fear of failure doesn’t have to impact your life significantly. Consider these facts: Failure is temporary – unless you quit. Failure isn’t final unless you give up. All the most successful people have experienced a lot of failures. But they ended up being successful precisely because they didn’t quit. Failure is just a temporary state that means nothing because it’s only temporary. Failure is common. You’ve failed thousands of times and managed to survive. Consider how many times you failed to walk or to talk well. Babies have constant failure. Successful people fail all of the time. It’s a huge part of how human beings learn. We realize that our approach didn’t work, we adjust, and we try again. 2. Failure is educational. You can learn something from every single one of your failures. Failure makes you more knowledgeable and capable. The more you fail, the stronger you become. Others are far less concerned about your failure than you think. A few people might notice your failure, but they quickly turn their attention back on themselves and their own challenges. There’s nothing to worry about. Feel free to fail as much as necessary. Fail enough and you’ll quickly see that no one relevant cares. Focus on how great it will be when you succeed. Instead of worrying about possible failure, consider possible success. Make yourself feel excited and positive about taking action. With high enough expectations, you’ll do just about anything without worrying about failure. 3. Redirect your thoughts. Put your attention on what you’re doing. If a negative outcome isn’t going to cause any real harm, forget about the outcome. Stay focused on your actions or something positive. Thinking about failing will freeze you in your tracks. Consider the cost of doing nothing. Taking action might be a little scary, but what will happen if you do nothing? What will you feel about failing to take action? What if you’re stuck in your current life for the next decade or more? Maybe taking a risk is far more attractive than remaining where you are. What would you do if you weren’t afraid of failing? Probably a lot more than you’re currently doing! How much has the fear of failure limited your life? We’ve all allowed the fear of failure to influence our decisions. We’ve allowed this fear to stop us from trying new things or taking risks. We all have smaller lives than we could because we’re too concerned with what others think. Rejecting the fear of failure is one of the greatest things you can do for your future! You can start today. What are you going to do today that you’ve been afraid to try?
Veterans, like civilians, lead different types of lives in the USA. There are super successful veterans who build businesses and consult major corporations on strategy and discipline. There are those who make partners after loyally serving businesses that employ them. And then there are ones who struggle to make ends meet, become drug addicts, and are used to further stereotypes against Veterans. The key to leading a good life post-service is to manage your transition very well. You might have noticed the high school jock who becomes an outcast in college. Or a college superstar who works minimum wage and only ever talks about his quarterback years.
Success is something we all look for whether it is a successful career, relationship, family, or life. You may see your success in the form of a rewarding career, a loving family, or a cottage home in the country. We all have our own dreams and ideals, but what are the top 10 contributing factors to creating your very own success story? Let’s go through them now. 1. Health: Your health (and the health of your loved ones) is the most important part of success. If money can’t buy you happiness, then it can’t buy you perfect health either. With disease, illness, and uncontrollable health concerns out there, simply living a healthy, long life is a huge success in itself! 2. Healthy Relationships: Learning how to approach, attain, and maximize the different types of relationships in your life is key to success. Whether you seek to build a rock-solid foundation with your spouse, children, family, or friends, having and maintaining healthy, happy relationships will bolster your quality of life and give you renewed meaning. 3. Financial Security: Financial security is one of those factors of success that is often pointed to as the only factor, but that’s not true. No matter how much money you make, success cannot be defined in dollars, after all, what value does money have if you have no one to share it with? Financial security comes when you have enough to provide for your home and family, while also being able to comfortably save for extras, such as vacations and other high-ticket items. The key understanding here is that financial security is just one part of happiness and success. There’s more to life than excessive wealth! 4. Career Excellency: Financial security and an impassioned career go hand-in-hand. Since you spend a significant portion of your life working, it’s important to embrace a career path that makes you feel smart, capable, and fulfilled. When you do this, you’ll add another facet to your success story. 5. Quality Time: Life success comes in the form of time as well. We all desire more time to enjoy the finer things in life. Do you spend most of your time at work? Most do, however, do you have enough time with your family and loved ones? A life with time well spent and no regrets is an important aspect of your success. 6. Stress Levels: Are you constantly stressed out about your work, money, or relationships? Learning how to manage stress is an integral part of your health and life success. After all, stress may lead to chronic illnesses that may shorten your quality of life. We’ll wait for Your Contact! Contributed by Tierell Goodman , CEO of T.S. & F. Consultant and Management L.L.C., an organization dedicated to assisting veterans with increasing their VA disability rating by helping them with the filing and preparation of the VA claims process.
Ever since we were children, we’ve had dreams. The sad thing is, over the years we convinced ourselves that our dreams could never come true. Because we assumed that they were mere fantasies, we didn’t even try to make them come true. Believe it or not, your dreams can be a reality! However, you won’t get anywhere by simply making a wish. You have to take specific actions to increase your chances of living that life you always dreamed of. These are some simple techniques that can help you get started: You must possess passion and desire. These two elements are crucial for living your dream. Interestingly enough, you really can’t have one without the other. You must yearn to have something in your life so much (desire) and for the right reasons (passion). A good example to illustrate the difference would be if you always wanted to be a professional singer. You know that you have the talent and all you want in life is to sing on a professional stage someday (desire). Your focus isn’t the money, fame, or prestige; you just have a true love for singing. It’s all you think about all day, every day (passion). 2. Patience. Patience isn’t easy, but in most cases, our dreams don’t come true overnight. You need to work hard to achieve your full potential. Though it may take longer than you hoped, once you’re living your dream, you’ll realize that practicing patience was worth the rewards. Just remember to remain positive, focus on your dreams, and keep taking action to make those dreams a reality. After all, patience is a virtue! 3. Sacrifice. Achieving your dreams will require self-sacrifice. This is usually where most people can gauge how serious they are about turning their dreams into reality. Whether it is giving up your TV time to work toward your goals, or spending extra hours at work to further your career, you have to be willing to sacrifice something. If you’re truly passionate about your dreams, this shouldn’t be too difficult. If you do find sacrifice extremely difficult, it may be that you don’t possess enough desire, passion, willpower, or self-discipline to see your dreams through. 4. Confidence . If you truly want to make your dreams real, you have to believe they can happen. You must possess intense confidence in yourself and your talents; otherwise, your dreams will remain dreams forever. Sometimes your confidence may waiver, but as long as you can focus on your ultimate goal – and you can actually see yourself achieving this goal – you’re heading in the right direction. We’ll wait for Your Contact! Contributed by Tierell Goodman , CEO of T.S. & F. Consultant and Management L.L.C., an organization dedicated to assisting veterans with increasing their VA disability rating by helping them with the filing and preparation of the VA claims process.
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