Sunday, July 01, 2007

Goals

Goals are important because of what you, your business, and your people must become in order to achieve them. The process of setting goals causes you to overachieve – to exceed your previous expectations. The author Jim Rohn used to say that it wasn’t about becoming a millionaire, it was about who he had to become in order to be a millionaire.

Friday, April 27, 2007

From Debt Problem to Millionaire

Just because you have a debt problem does not mean you cannott turn it around and become a millionaire. If you have ever read The Millionaire Next Door then you know Americas millionaires are not who we think they are. As the title implies, the majority of millionaires are just normal people who do not drive fancy cars or live in expensive houses. Rather today millionaire is a self-proclaimed frugal spender who saves most of their money and is constantly on the prowl for new ways to make extra income.
The principles that helped your neighbor achieve millionaire status are the same principles that can help you rid yourself of your debt problem. For starters you need to gain a new appreciation for money. Your debt problem probably didn’t just appear overnight. More likely this debt problem that you have created was built over time by getting in the habit of spending more than you make.
Before you can eliminate your debt problem you have to kick your habit of spending more than you make by replacing it with a new habit – saving money on a regular basis. Saving is a millionaire habit, and if you ever hope to kick your debt problem to the curb you must learn how to save. By learning how to save and thus spending less than you make you will demonstrate that you have a new found respect for money and the power it has to either liberate or cripple you for life.
As you head down the road to becoming Americas next millionaire, by saving your money, you should set a small amount aside for a rainy day and apply the rest of your savings to pay off your debt. Part of becoming financially liberated involves paying off your creditors. Slowly but surely as you stick to your savings plan you will begin to erase your debt problem.
To speed up the process of paying off your debt and becoming a millionaire you will need to begin to look for extra income opportunities. Working a steady job isn’t always enough to get you to that coveted millionaire status. Looking for additional opportunities to make extra income will help you erase your debt problem and become a millionaire in no time at all.
Some extra income options you might consider involve investing in stocks and bonds, buying an investment property, or opening up your own small business. Becoming a millionaire is ultimately dependent on taking the money you have saved up and investing it in a market that offers lucrative returns on your money. Leaving your savings in savings account that earns a paltry 2-3% each year is just not going to cut it if you ever hope to become a millionaire. To really make some extra income you have to take some risks. Investing in the real estate market is indeed a risk but it can pay off in huge proportions if you are able to manage the property effectively and make a profit from month to month.
Eventually the snowball effect will take over and you will quickly see how just a little bit of extra income can quickly double or even triple in a few years time. As you continue to reinvest your profits and savings your net worth will increase exponentially until eventually you have become the millionaire next door. So if you have a debt problem don’t despair, apply the millionaire principles you learned today to erase your debt and help you make your first million!

By Adam Smith

Friday, April 20, 2007

Get Rich Quick, Become a Millionaire?

Are you looking to get rich quick? Do you need some extra income? Are you ready to become a millionaire today? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you are ready to start down the enlightened millionaire path. More than anything, controlling your cash flow is the key to becoming a millionaire in today’s world. Let’s explore how an enlightened millionaire becomes just that.

Get Rich Quick Myth – Most people think the best way to get rich is to get rich quick. Perhaps this is true, but very few millionaires become rich overnight. For the most part there is nothing fast about getting rich. You can dream about how you are going to get rich quick, but while you are dreaming your neighbors will be working to make their dreams come true. Millionaires form millionaire habits. Some millionaire habits include tracking expenses, adhering to a budget, minimizing discretionary spending, and saving their money. None of these millionaire habits lends itself to the get rich quick philosophy. Rather, the majority of America’s millionaires are patient hardworking people who earn their lot in life.

Strong Positive Cash Flow – People become millionaires by ensuring they always spend less than they make. That is to say they ensure their monthly cash flow is always positive. When you are able to establish a strong positive cash flow it becomes very easy to save your surplus or find ways to invest this money. Strong positive cash flows are achieved by paying close attention to things you spend your money on. Most of America’s millionaires don’t drive fancy cars or wear designer clothes. America’s millionaires are very careful in the way they spend their money, typically establishing moderate spending habits that allows them to put some money aside for savings and investments.

Extra Income – A millionaire is always intent on finding additional ways to earn extra income. Typically they will increase their savings by investing their hard earned money into lucrative investment opportunities such as mutual funds and real estate properties. Finding ways to make extra income is just one of the many millionaire habits that millionaires possess. But most importantly when a future millionaire starts making extra income, rather than spending the money they put it in the bank or find a suitable investment opportunity to invest in. Millionaires and millionaires in the making take advantage of their extra income, constantly finding ways to make more money by using the extra income they have earned.

Ultimately becoming a millionaire requires financial discipline and hard work. Most millionaires will tell you they didn’t get rich quick. Rather they worked hard to get to where they are at today. A lucky break or two along the way to making your first million is appreciated but what you lack in luck you can make up in hard work. Finding ways to make extra income on top of your healthy salary can help you establish a strong positive cash flow. Making good decisions and using your extra income wisely will go a long way to helping you realize your goal of becoming a millionaire. Start today on the road to becoming a millionaire by making a plan and committing to it until your objective has been reached. It is never too late to start forming the millionaire habits that will help you save your first million dollars.

By Adam Smith

Thursday, April 05, 2007

Millionaire Money Skills from Robert Allen

Have you ever dreamed of becoming a millionaire? If you have, then there is no better time than now to realize your dream and become a millionaire. It is not as hard as you think. If we learn from the best, then we can become like the best. One of the most successful businessman and multi-millionaires is Robert Allen. Robert Allen suggests following seven key money skills in your quest to become a millionaire.asp">millionaire. Let’s take a look at these money skills that Robert Allen swears by.



1. Value It Robert Allen suggests that we value every last penny we have. Even a mere dollar holds value. We waste a dollar here and there and pretty soon that adds up to a substantial amount of money. A budding millionaire will treat a dollar like a money seed, using it to make their next dollar.



2. Manage It – Becoming a millionaire is dependant upon proper management of your cash flow. Learning how to manage money properly and using it for the best purposes will lead you towards becoming a millionaire.



3. Save It – Like all good millionaires, Robert Allen stresses the importance of saving your money. It will do you no good to have a steady cash flow of money from your primary job if you constantly spend all of the money. It is like taking a bath without plugging the drain – no water will collect in the tub if the drain is not plugged. In life, a future millionaire learns how to plug his spending drains so that part of his income can be saved.



4. Invest It – A millionaire doesn’t just sit on the money he has saved either. As he continues to save money from his monthly cash flow, he also looks for prime investment opportunities. A millionaire will look for ways to increase his savings account through investments.



5. Make It – Sometimes one stream of income is not sufficient to “fill up the bathtub” fast of enough. Thus a millionaire is always interested in finding new ways to make more money. Finding multiple streams of income is one way Robert Allen has identified as a way to reach your goal of becoming a millionaire faster.



6. Shield It – As you learn to master the skill of making money, a millionaire must also understand how to protect his money. In today’s world one must protect all their assets from those who would rather steal it than earn it.



7. Share It – Just as you protect your millions from those who don’t deserve it, you must also share your money with those who do. Help others to realize the same prosperity that you have by helping them jumpstart their journey to financial wellbeing. Share your money with good causes and deserving people.

Learning these money skills developed by Robert Allen will help you become a millionaire. Each skill teaches a unique value that is important to realizing financial success. As you learn and acquire these money skills your pennies will turn to dollars which will turn to millions of dollars and your dream of becoming a millionaire will have been realized.

Adam Smith is an informational author for 10X Marketing. To learn how to become a millionaire visit the enlightened millionaire institute. More information about Robert G. Allen can be found at OneMinuteMillionaire.com.

By Adam Smith

Thursday, March 29, 2007

Leadership + Sales + Mindset = Millionaire

By Articleposter

I have never met a millionaire that did not have these three things: leadership skills, sales based business, and a winner's mindset. These are fabulous skills that can be taught, learned, and practiced. No one becomes a millionaire by accident. On the contrary, millionaires are developed over time simply due to the fact that they are making very different daily decisions that most people. These are decisions about their character, thoughts, and being in the right businesses. Fortunately, we all have the capacity and skills to become a millionaire! Unfortunately, most people will just coast through life trying not to think too hard, work too hard, or be uncomfortable.

I do NOT believe that anyone from as early as King David to as recent as George Bush could have achieved their level of success (whether or not you agree or disagree with their philosophies) if they had not had these three elements in their lives. In fact, I hesitate to even say elements because, in reality, elements are natural; and yet, these three keys are not natural, not the norm, and certainly not the popular thing in our culture.

Bottom line, if you deeply desire to be a millionaire, which you deserve and CAN handle, then you need to commit daily to developing your leadership skills, having a winner's mindset, and being in the right sales industry (residual income). Your character is what is developed through repetition and practice. It's what you do when no one is watching. Me, I'm reading self help books, thinking and dreaming like a millionaire, and writing articles for this website. Ha!

Some of my favorite quotes are listed below to help you start out on your own personal journey to greatness. It requires reprogramming your brain, recreating your own self-image, and redefining what you say your future will be. Your reality right NOW is a product of your thoughts and choices in the past. What you think about, concentrate on, and put into action today is what your future of tomorrow will hold. Does your future look like an exciting path for you that you cannot wait to walk forward towards? Or is it filled with self-doubt, dread, and fear? It is your choice to start changing your future right NOW, not just in the big things, but even more in the tiniest of all things: your fleeting thoughts.

People can tell you what they think, but you must chose for yourself what your thoughts and reality will be. If you want to be a millionaire, let me tell you, your thoughts will seem crazy to others. They will not understand you. They will tell you to get your head out of the clouds. But you just smile and keep on dreaming your dreams, thinking your thoughts, and working daily towards your goals. One day soon, you can invite them all over to your villa overlooking the ocean. Believe me, then they will want to know exactly what you think.

"Greatness is not where we stand, but in what direction we are moving. We must sail sometimes with the wind and sometimes against it--but sail we must, and not drift, nor lie at anchor."

"Leadership is an action...not a position!"

Friday, March 23, 2007

If You Want To Be Successful Then You Have To Get Out Of The Way

By James Delrojo

Trying to force success can actually prevent it. Successful people learn the art of getting into the right river and then going with the flow. If you fight the natural laws of success then no matter how hard you try you will not become successful.

Set the Right Goal for Your Own Happiness

When you set a goal make sure that it is a goal that you want to achieve not a goal that you are setting because someone else thinks it is a good idea. Ask yourself if achieving that goal will really enhance your life or not. For example, so many people end up in a profession that they don't like because they are following their parents' goal or their teacher's goal for their life.

Look at the goals that you have set in the past and see if there is a pattern of setting goals that you truly want or if you have been setting other peoples' goals.

Start Working Toward Your Goal Immediately Whether You Are Ready to or Not

The worse thing you can do is not to start working toward that goal immediately that you set it. If you are waiting until you are prepared then you are trying to force the goal and you are fighting against nature.

Just start. Follow your intuition and do whatever comes into your mind as a starting step. You can refine what you are doing as you go. If however you try to preplan the entire process then you are not allowing the flexibility required to respond to what is actually happening in the world. Forcing it doesn't work. The best way to start is to just start.

Have Total Faith that You Will Achieve Your Goal

Have total faith that the universe will provide you with all the opportunity that you need in order to achieve your goal. Have total faith that your goal will actually become a reality for you.

Most people don't really believe that they will get their goals; they hope that they will get them. Hope will not do it. Hope is not enough. In fact hope is the worst thing that you can have, because when you hope for something there is always an underlying belief that it won't actually happen.

Hope is a belief that you will have to go against all probability in order to achieve it. People hope that they will win money but they don't. People hope that their life will get better but it doesn't. People hope that they will meet mister or miss right but they never do.

Develop faith by spending 5 to 10 minutes, 3 times each day, building an image in your mind of you actually living your goal.

Open Your Mind to Receiving Guidance and Help

Keep your mind open to the idea that the opportunities that you will need are going to show up in your life. Then when the opportunity does come along make sure that you take it. Learn to recognize what opportunity actually looks like. Realize that sometimes opportunity comes to you disguised as a problem or difficulty.

Keep your mind open to the idea that the teachers you need will show up in your life and when they do make sure that you learn from them. Accept that you may have to pay for these lessons, you may have to enroll in courses or seminars or coaching or mentoring. You may have to buy and read books or buy and listen to audio programs.

Observe the Outcomes of Your Activity

Follow your intuition but keep an eye on what the outcomes of your actions are. If the outcomes are not taking you closer to your goals then modify your actions. As I said earlier, each step along the road to success cannot be preplanned. Take your step and they see where it is taking you. You may wander to the left or to the right of the correct path but if you keep your eyes open then you won't go far off track before you make a course correction.

In Conclusion

Remember and use this five step formula; set the right goals, start working toward them immediately, have total faith that you will achieve them, keep your mind open to guidance and help, and observe your outcomes.

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Everyone Deserves To Be A Millionaire

by: Matt Bacak

Stop, take a deep breath, and examine your life. Are you excited about your current career? Are you earning the salary you want or even deserve? Many people feel stuck in a rut because they are not making the kind of money that they once thought they would. The good news is that you can take control of your situation and pick yourself up out of that rut. Everyone deserves to be a millionaire, even you!

What are the benefits to creating your own wealth? First of all you will have freedom to do anything you want, whenever you want. You can pack up your family and take a trip to Europe on a moment’s notice if you want to. You can determine when you will work and when you will take breaks. You have eliminated the obligations to anyone else including a manager that may be a nuisance.

Building your own wealth enables you to leave the corporate world behind. The corporate world can be very rigid in that you have minimal control over your promotion schedule. Most companies have a set promotion schedule and cap off the amount of your salary increases and bonuses. This stifling condition can be a thing of the past.

Along with newfound freedom come increased family time and a life style that is comfortable and relaxed. You will have the security of plenty of money to spend and retire on. You will feel in control of your life and finances. This personal empowerment is amazing and can add new vigor to your mind and body.

Enjoying your wealth sounds amazing, right? Why isn’t everyone a millionaire? Why doesn’t everyone seek out personal empowerment and the security of money? There are several reasons as to why the majority of people are not millionaires. A major reason is that most people don’t have a system to make it happen. They simply do not understand how to go about building their own wealth.

Many people also believe that they don’t have the ability to create wealth. They feel the notion of being a millionaire is impossible and only available for the “chosen” ones. Some people feel that being wealthy is wrong and greedy. This mindset needs to be adjusted because being wealthy is a positive venture that is possible for everyone to achieve.

To conquer these misgivings people should seek out a structured system that will help them create wealth. Look for a mentor or coach that is successful so they can help guide you along the process. For example, a mentor can teach you how to structure your business so you can take advantage of tax breaks that will decrease your taxes by 60-70%. A mentor can advise you on how to set up your business properly to avoid being sued.

Another stumbling block to wealth is if you are stubborn. Stubborn people may think they know everything. If you want to create wealth then you need to leave your ego at the door. Having an ego can hinder your chances of being successful.

Additional tips to creating your own wealth include:

Follow the piles of cash. Find people who have successfully created wealth and learn from them. Remember, it’s not only what you know, but who you learn it from. Learn from someone who is more successful then you.

Learn the tricks of the trade from someone that has actually built wealth and not just written a book about it.

Forget the past. It does not matter who you are or where you came from. Everyone deserves to be a millionaire.

Friday, March 09, 2007

Do You Know What It Takes To Make A Million Dolllars?

by Bruce Seah

Do you know what it takes to make a MILLION dollars?

Mindset - do you have a millionaire mindset? If you think you can or you can't you are right! To make a million dollars you must think that you can make a million dollars and tell yourself if others can do it why can't you? To be successful, do what the successful people are doing. To make a million study what people did to make their millions. Learn to copy success!

Inspiration - you need to be inspired! If you want to be an eagle you can't mix with chickens! If you want to make a million dollars, you have to mix with people who want to make a million dollars. Birds of a feather, flock together. Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are!

Love - you got to find something that you love to do, that you are very passionate about and that love or burning desire will give you the strength and drive to make your million dollars! Love is the greatest power on earth, tap into it and love is also the law of attraction, you will attract what you love!

Leverage - Robert Kiyosaki said it very well: "If you are not leveraging you are working too hard." You only have 24 hours in a day and if you depend solely on yourself, how much can you do? Work with a team and build organisations and networks! Robert in his book: The Business School for People Who Like Helping People, made this statement: "The richest people in the world build networks. Everyone else is trained to look for work."

Innovate - think out of the box! Are there any better way to do it? Can you make it better? People are attracted to new, exciting and creative things, what can you offer them?

Opportunities - they are all over the place! You just need to recognise them and choose the ones that suit you and work on them with a team. Opportunities are never lost, they are always passed on to someone else. Observe what people are doing and be alert on the latest buzz and trends that are growing exponentially. Identify great trends and ride on the big waves!

Niche - find what is your Unique Selling Proposition (USP), what makes you different from the others, what's so special about you or your business? What you can do that the competitors are not able to do?

Think of ways to make your million dollars and understand it is a numbers game and you must work with universal laws such as the Law of Cause and Effect, The Law of Leverage, The Law of Averages and The Law of Multiplication.

You can make $1,000,000 by making a $1 profit from seling 1,000,000 products or $10 profit from selling 100,000 products or $100 profit from selling 10,000 products or $1,000 profit from 1,000 products or $10,000 profit from 100 products or $100,000 profit from 10 products or $1,000,000 from one product or one great idea!

Which is more valuable? Products or Ideas? Ideas without action will remain ideas and if you really want to make your million dollars, build a dream team that will turn a great idea into reality in the shortest time!

Here's an important tip on making your million dollars, whatever you do you must not hurt anyone because that is against the universal law of caring and sharing. If your business will benefit millions of people you will definielty attract people who will help you make your million dollars!


About the Author

Bruce Seah, Top Network Marketer, Infopreneur and Author. Bruce loves network marketing and has written 10 books and the first song on network marketing! You can get Bruce's free ebook on How to Be Successful in Network Marketing and watch a videoclip of his song at: http://www.BruceSeah.com

Friday, March 02, 2007

Expose Your Money Buttons

by: Zoe Routh
Most of the time people are not even conscious of their money buttons. The following questions will expose where your money buttons are.
What is my relationship like with money?
For example, do I think, 'money is my friend', 'money hangs out with me', 'money loves me', 'money slips through my fingers', 'money causes me stress', etc.
What are my feelings like around money?
For example, worry, fear, joy, excitement, etc.
What are my beliefs around money?
For example, money does not grown on trees, money is the root of all evil, rich people are selfish, money flows to me in abundance, etc.
What is my earliest money memory?
This is your earliest memory of the importance, role, or impact of money. Typically the memory had a strong emotional charge to it.
What did I learn about money from my family?
What kind of attitudes do my family have to money, what did they teach me (overtly or inadvertently) about money?
How does saving money make me feel?
How does spending money make me feel?
When it comes to money I should ....
How do I respond when I see images of enormous houses, a BMW or other luxury car, big diamond rings, overseas travel destinations - things that typically have a high monetary value?
What kinds of conversations do I have around money with my friends and family?
What kinds of attitudes do my closest friends have about money and wealth?
How do I explain why some people have so much money and others have so little?
Do I resonate with the following statements?I deserve to be wealthyI am ok with being wealthyI enjoy my wealthI am wildly wealthy and enjoy whatever I wantThere is more than enough for everyone.I feel good about money and my relationship with it.
What do I want from my relationship with money?
What do I not want from my relationship with money?
What would I do with $20 million?
What would change for me if I had $20 million?
If you felt uncomfortable answering any of these questions, chances are you have exposed a money button. The money button reveals old emotional patterns that were likely burned in to your psyche throughout your younger years. As a result, you would have repeated the same patterns, no matter how uncomfortable or negative, because this is what you learned at a subconscious level to be true about money. The patterns get repeated and worn in to your regular thoughts and feelings just like a path gets worn in grass through repeated use.
As an adult you can recognise that you are not getting the results you want with regards to wealth, money, and abundance and are now ready to defuse these buttons and install a more comfortable and positive money button - one that triggers feelings of excitement, energy, enthusiasm, gratitude, and pleasure.
How do you install new money buttons?
You have just completed Step 1 - become aware of them. For the rest of the steps, read my article, "Install new money buttons and feel your way to financial freedom" on my website http://www.innercompass.com.au and at http://www.innercompass.com.au/content/category/7/28/45/
Subscribe to Compass Bearings and receive updates on my forthcoming ebook, "Aladdin's lamp - your secrets to fun and financial freedom"

Friday, February 23, 2007

The Wealth Creation Gap and an Accelerated Savings Plan

By Jennifer Lancaster

It’s a long lesson, but to see our money grow rapidly, we must first mentally prepare, learn, and realise the power of the gap. Of course, there are a lot of gaps that you’re probably thinking of: the gap between rich and poor, the gap in our bank accounts, the gap in our financial knowledge.
The importance of this gap first dawned on me as I read all the personal financial media I could find around two years ago. What Gap? The gap between what you earn and what you spend.
Have you tried sticking to a budget? “I tried that and it’s no fun”, you say? Would you consider saving 12 years (and over $100,000 in interest) off a 25-year home loan worth it? (Example assumes $4,000 per month net salary in account, $1,600 spending). A line of credit, or equity loan, is one reason to budget, but it really comes down to how you manage your gap. Without being mindful of your expenses, you will never be able to get ahead on a line of credit loan.
The difference between a wealth mindset and a struggling mindset is one of priority. Take our family’s unique circumstance: our income is about to nearly double thanks to my husband’s business success. Faced with this exciting prospect, many people would be planning purchases they had put off, holidays, car upgrades or second car, and have a distant goal to save the rest. Our challenge is to save the entire amount we do not usually get. Not only save, but to make it work harder in an accelerated growth plan. Our goal is to save close to $60,000 for a house deposit in only 12 months.
How does an ordinary housewife set up such a deal? I decided we would do well to invest in Property Securities (unlisted) and picked the best-performing Australian fund over the past 3 years. I know all the pundits tell you not to pick on past performance, but in this instance it was a good choice as these types of funds have only about one negative year in 20, and this one had steady growth.
Investing $3,500 per month combined with a regular monthly margin loan of $1,000 through an online discount broker, we will be able to set aside $39,500. The broker also refunds the 4% entry fee. After compounding, paying back loan and interest (not counting tax deduction), we will have around $62,000 (at 37% growth). So there we have our house deposit.
I am not saying that this is the only path to wealth, and I know we are fortunate not to really need the second wage, and even more fortunate that this fund did even better than projected. It is a calculated risk. But I am saying that putting some time into this sort of planning really could set you up for life.
You want to know something really wild? You can almost be a millionaire inside 10 years, without headaches or lottery tickets. Say you decide that you’re going to delay gratification for 10 years: no credit cards, no personal loans, no car loans, no flash new gadgets unless it’s budgeted for. You contribute $1,000 per month to a proven property or other fund, you borrow another $1,000 per month, (50% gearing ratio) and returns are kept at 23% after fees, over 10 years. To keep up this return, research, monitoring and switching occasionally may be necessary. After 10 years, starting with $1,000, you’ll have $857,700 (after paying back your loan). This is more value than the investor who carefully saved $2,000 per month for the same length of time and borrowed nothing. It represents a 514% return on equity. Ah, the miracle of compound interest.
If you want to know how I worked this all out, it’s a margin lending calculator at infochoice.com.au (Calculators> borrowing to invest > savings gearing calculator).
Some of my friends think saving and investing is beyond them. Well, living off a pension when I’m 65 would be beyond me; I like my luxuries and I intend on having them. Later.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Why the Rich Keep Getting Richer

By Aaron Kater

Rich people: fortunate, lucky, selfish, and arrogant? Or highly educated, caring, brilliant individuals? Becoming rich isn’t hard, but it does require a bit of time and knowledge. Having time to get rich, educating oneself, and buying assets are the three key factors in attaining untold wealth.

Rich people usually either have or make time to get rich. Most people that now own huge mansions, have wonderful riches, and drive the nicest cars usually begin taking the road to riches in their spare time. One plan, the most common, is to work at a low-risk, steady job until one has enough money to invest in something that will feed one for the rest of their life. But before one can invest in anything, one first has to educate oneself.

Although the best way to educate oneself in a particular investment is to have a mentor, and thereby gaining valuable hands-on experience, another excellent way to do this is to listen to tapes and CDs and to read books on the subject. I have done both, mainly pertaining to real estate, but also I have read a wonderful book about making money on the Internet, called Multiple Streams of Internet Income, by Robert Allen.

Lastly, after creating time to get rich, and educating oneself, one simply MUST buy assets that will create money for one, and not liabilities and toys such as a new car every other year, and boats. These come only after one can prove that he is capable of handling and keeping money. Simply put, according to multi-millionaire Robert Kiyosaki: “Assets will feed you, and liabilities will eat you.” An example of an asset is a rent-house, or stocks and bonds in a certain company. Only, that is, if the company is good and the stocks are ultimately going up in value.

In conclusion, we see that the three most important ways the rich keep getting richer are: having or making time, subject education, and buying assets. These are the key factors influencing wealth. I personally plan on educating myself in real estate, as it seems the simplest and safest way of getting rich.**

**Note: If you’d like to use this article, feel free to do so, but please remember to include this message, and my resource box in every copy. Thank you!

Friday, February 09, 2007

The Second Golden Key to Building a Multimillion Dollar Empire

by: Matt Bacak

Are you an entrepreneur that has started a business? Do you want your business to not only make a profit, but become a multimillion dollar empire? Do you have the drive and passion to push your business to the number one spot and make millions? If so, then you need to understand and implement the seven golden keys to building a multimillion dollar empire.

This article describes the second golden key to building a multimillion dollar empire and why you should apply it to your business. This information is the nuts and bolts you need to focus on. Take a hard look at your business to make absolutely certain that you are implementing this golden key.

Golden Key #2: “Have a System.”

Thriving, multimillion dollar empires are the result of a systematic business model. These systems are not merely good, but are exceptional and top of the line. You need to create a system for your business to ensure that you are earning as much profit as possible.

Creating a business system means that you build and implement systems for every single part of your business. You need to create a system to leverage your time, money, and assets. For example, you need a system for your client list so that you can leverage it when necessary. You need a system for your manpower. You need a system for your marketing. It is vital to have a system for every niche element of your business.

What is a business system? The most effective and profitable business system is one that has a residual component. For example, perhaps you currently are a public speaker. You make money each time you speak. Therefore, on the days you don’t speak you don’t make money. What happens if you become sick and are unable to give a seminar or speech? In this case you would not earn any money. Therefore, you need a residual component to your business system that enables you to earn money automatically.

Residual components for earning include auto responders and lead generation systems. These systems work automatically and bring the profit to you instead of you having to always find the profit. This type of system works for you. So you will be making money even when you are sleeping or home sick in bed.

Find systems in your business area that have proven results. Take these successful systems and tweak them so they fit your business needs. Make sure that you follow systems that are currently being used by entrepreneurs that have actually made money with these systems. Make sure not to listen to someone who just read a book about a system, but hasn’t actually implemented the system.

Spend time creating your business system and watch your multimillion dollar empire grow in no time.

Friday, February 02, 2007

Life Is A Test?

by: John Perry

I rarely ever remember a dream. Even when I can remember what I was dreaming about when I have to get up for a drink or bathroom break in the middle of the night, I have forgotten all about it by morning.

However, last night I had a dream that made me analyze my life and my thought processes on a day to day basis.

I was dreaming about taking a test. I am not sure the subject of the test. I do remember feeling under pressure and I was struggling a bit with the content of the test.

Now, I have taken my share of tests in the past and can recall having these types of dreams while in college; but, why now?

I jotted down a few notes before going back to bed and did my best to decipher this brain spark this morning.

I am into several projects right now in which I am under the microscope, so to speak. But, am I? Is this all in my head? Do I bring all this pressure on myself?

Probably.

I try to be the best I can be; mentally, physically, and financially. I try to learn as much as possible to improve my abilities in these areas. This is great as long as I don't spend so much time trying to improve me that it harms my life in these same areas; i.e. stress, family, friends, health, etc.

We all see the "burn-out" in the self-improvement entrepreneur; the sacrifices made in the "important things" in life such as relationships and peace of mind.

Peace of mind should be a top priority for mental, physical, and financial success. Living life as some sort of constant test will hamper this process.

Realizing that progress is a "you vs. you" phenomenon and that you don't have to please someone else on a day to day basis is a great start.

Bryan Tracy, in his audio series from Nightingale Conant entitled "Action Secrets for Personal Achievement," talks about the need for certain people to get the approval of others. He calls this a symptom of Type "A" behavior.

Here are some of the other type "A" symptoms:

Having a sense of urgency to do more and more in less and less time.

Volunteering for more and more work at the office.

Feeling under pressure to get activities accomplished.

Being obsessed with your performance and having high standards for such performance.

The type "A" personality can't relax and enjoy an accomplishment, they feel like they have never done enough.

Compare self with others.

More concerned with things than with people.

Brings home work.

Talks about the boss, what the boss said, what the boss did… wants to please the boss at all times.

Has a sense of hostility towards those he or she feels to be competing against.

Type "A's" cannot admit that they are not in control.

If you fall into any of the above categories, making a decision to change may be a great first step. This decision involves trying to relax and still be productive and effective without the added stress we type "A's" like to impart.

There are two things that have worked in the past for me (and my clients) that I am going to focus on after this "wake–up call."

One is a daily exercise plan. Even when I am on the road, I usually do some exercise daily, but, there are times I get in a rut and don't focus on my planning and execution of a said workout. A daily routine helps relieve stress and will bring out creativity and problem solving abilities like no other activity!

It is a "reality check" for me as well. Things are brought into a better perspective after a good workout, no matter how long the workout is.

This is Stephen Covey's take on exercise (from his book The 8th Habit): "I am convinced that exercise increases our own sense of self-control and self-mastery, which enhances the totality of our lives and truly enlarges the space between stimulus and response."

The second concept is practicing daily solitude. This could be a twenty minute walk, a power relaxation/almost nap, hanging out on a park bench, etc. This is a time to let your mind "go" and let your subconscious work on goals, problems, and/or ideas that are filling your head - a "mind-cleansing" if you will.

I try to do two, one-hour solitude sessions per week to let my subconscious mind take over and do its thing for me. This is a time when I just sit back and take in the world, usually outside in a fairly secluded place without interruptions. I sometimes think about a couple of goals or issues in my life ahead of time, then sit back and let my brain work on things.

I tend to find some answers to problems as well as some pretty great ideas to take back to work with me. They not only help me achieve goals, but relieve stress at the same time. These two activities alone have probably added years to my life and helped me through some potentially stressful times.

Thus, the reason for my dream. I have been in situations recently in which I feel the need to "prove" myself. I am living my life as a series of tests… daily. I have felt out of sorts, not myself, lacking confidence.

All brought on by myself.

Life is not a test. To me, it is a series of learning experiences.

My goal is to strengthen the area between stimulus and response (see quote above and The 8th Habit by Stephen Covey) on a daily basis; mentally, physically, and financially. As that space continues to grow with experience and knowledge, my life and dreams will put a smile on my face.

Thanks for letting me think out loud today.

Sweet dreams.

Friday, January 26, 2007

7 Sure Fire Ways to Sabotage Your Life

We all begin life traveling on the “road to happiness.” At some point during this journey we may come to realize we turned left when we meant to turn right; which sidetracks us and puts us on plan “D” instead of plan “A”. Life’s not exactly “unhappy” - it’s just not as fulfilling as we know it can be. We begin to feel as if life became” sabotaged” somewhere along the way. Now it’s time to regain control and get back on track. You just need to readjust the road map!

That said, you are at “choice point.” Maybe your choice is to continue what you’re doing. OK. Just don’t expect different results. Maybe your choice is to do something different to get different results. Once we set a direction in life, all our habits, behaviors, and choices either support or sabotage us in reaching that destination.

Let’s take a look at some choices that may be sabotaging your life and solutions that will support getting you back on track.


Sabotaging Choice #1 - Hit the floor running and don’t stop ‘til you drop. Fill your schedule to overflowing so that even taking a moment to catch your breath leaves you hyperventilating!
#1 Supporting Choice - Follow the airplane rule, “put your oxygen mask on first.” Before you wake each morning, give yourself a moment to be still with yourself. Consciously take a few deep breaths. Visualize your day flowing smoothly and easily as you continue to consciously breathe. On today’s calendar, block out 15 minutes and write your name in “pen.” Set your cell phone alarm. When the time arrives, use it to sit and do nothing but consciously breathe. Doing this ensures that you put on your oxygen mask first.

#2 – Sabotaging Choice - Hang out with toxic people who criticize, judge and carry around all their emotional baggage. For added effect and drama, make sure you unpack these people often.
#2 Supporting Choice - Find the “balcony people” of your life. The people who always have “the best seats in the house”- those who make sure to see things “from the top.” There is at least one person who sees the best in you. Make contact with them frequently. Let them cheer you on, inspire, motivate and support you. Begin to create your “team” of balcony people- your own cheering section! (Keep in mind these people are different from the “nosebleed section people.” – those who can’t see anything beyond the tips of their own noses and are committed to sabotaging anyone who attempts to get better seats than them.)

#3 Sabotaging Choice – Procrastinate! – Why do today what you can put off until tomorrow!? Let’s face it, if you let something go long enough, it may just disappear altogether and you’ll be “off the hook,” right?
#3 Supporting Choice - Procrastination is a symptom of a deeper issue and instead of being “let off the hook,” you’re often left “hanging” your head in guilt. Why would you need to feel guilty? You don’t, but you probably have a fear of succeeding and guilt guards you from this fear. (And those guards have some pretty hefty armor, don’t they!?) Instead of lugging around all that heavy guilt, break free, connect with your “balcony people” and let them cheer you on to victory each and every time you follow through! Count all these victories and as they add up, let them empower you to take the next step to success.

#4 Sabotaging Choice - Hold onto the “right” attitude and make sure you’re never wrong. It will keep you feeling like you’re in control.
#4 Supporting Choice - It takes so much energy to be right all the time. Plus you really miss out on other ideas that can enhance your life. Learn to apologize. Learn to forgive. Learn to receive. Learn how to listen. (I could be wrong, but my guess is that there will be many treasures waiting for you when you give yourself permission to not always be right!)

#5 Sabotaging Choice - Fill your life with clutter, stuff and mountains of paperwork. Keep all the drawers empty and the tabletops full!
#5 Supporting Choice - Clutter creates confusion. Confusion clogs your life’s energy flow, your ability to think clearly and to be creative. Clear your space. Begin small. Sometimes it helps to set an alarm for 15 minutes and begin. Take in small bites. As you clear the clutter, even a small corner, allow yourself to feel good. Exhale. Let that good feeling motivate you for another 15 minutes. You’ll be amazed at how quickly de-cluttering clears the mind.

#6 Sabotaging Choice - Ignore self-care. After all, your mind and body are only the mechanics that keep your life running. You put gas in your car and send it for six month tune-ups; why is extending the mileage on a heap of metal and glass more important than extending the mileage on your life’s journey?
#6 Supporting Choice - Taking care of the “self” is a number 1 priority. It is important to remember all areas of self: mind, body and spirit. To begin, make one change in one area. For the body: eat a piece of fruit every day, drink a glass of water, and say one nice thing about yourself when you look in the mirror. For the mind: have an intellectually stimulating conversation with someone; read a book; watch a group of children discovering the world at a playground during your lunch break. For the spirit: sit quietly every day, subscribe to a daily inspiration, and share your gratitude daily. You’ll be amazed at how much more mileage you get with just a little self care.

#7 Sabotaging Choice - Expect perfection or “black and white” solutions for everything. – If it’s perfect, there’s no room for option or choice, which means you don’t have to deal with it!
#7 Supporting Choice - There is no such thing as “perfect.” Perfect is a relative term. Striving to be perfect fits into the category of needing to be right. Redefine your standards. Consider the option of making gray the “new black” when it comes to savvy thinking!

In reality, each of us practice all 7 of these sabotaging behaviors, so you’re not alone. But you’re also not necessarily in the best of company, either. These alternate ways of thinking and problem solving solutions allow you to begin to make a shift in the way you live your life, make the right turn and get back on track. Choose one solution and begin to put it into practice. You can make a change to empower yourself; and you can ask for help in creating a new pattern. Be inspired this week to stop sabotaging your life and get back on the road to happiness.

About the author:
Sharon Marquart is a gifted Certified Personal Coach, inspirational speaker and author. For more than 13 years she has shared with audiences large and small. Her coaching practice is Living at Yes. Sharon is committed to using Metaphysical and Spiritual Truths and applying them to everyday life. http://www.Livingatyes.comor Sharon@Livingatyes.com

Friday, January 19, 2007

Happiness: The Quest

by: Lambert Klein

Happiness is something many of us strive for. Why is it so hard to achieve, especially at times when you need it the most? How do we change a gloomy mood into a lighter or happier one?

There are some things within our power that will help us accomplish these goals.

What are some benefits of happiness that could encourage you to work towards it even more?

• Health • Self Confidence • A sense of Purpose • More Productivity • Achieve Your Goals • Weight Loss

Funny thing is that the above list also works in reverse. If you are healthy, self confident and all the rest listed, than you will most likely be happier. Sometimes happiness is staring us right in the face.

Here are some ways that you can create happiness in your life.

Exercise: It appears that exercising comes up a lot when we are speaking about improving various things in our lives. It has been shown to improve mood by making us healthier and increasing endorphins.

Foods & Diet: Eating chocolate is probably more of a pleasure than sustained happiness, even though it can provide us with a short-lived boost.

A healthy diet though is vital for our health and happiness. Too much sugar and junk foods are provisional emotional boosters. In the long run these problem foods will degrade us physically as well as emotionally.

Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables, including raw veggies. Cut back on unhealthy foods and don't "Super Size" it.

Supplements: If you are not receiving all of your nutrients in your diet then you may want to supplement by taking vitamins.

There are some specific supplements that target your mood. You could discuss these with your health practitioner.

Music: Music can bring miracles to your mood. Go ahead and listen to something upbeat and happy.

Rewards: Happiness comes from rewards as well. They can be simple things. You find a great bargain on something you been wanting. Maybe someone offers you a simple item of interest. You do a task and are complimented on it by someone else or yourself. Even finding a coin on the sidewalk can give you a "Reward" feeling that can bring happiness to you.

The greatest reward can come from giving a compliment to someone or saying a kind word.

Gratitude: Be grateful for what you have. This simple statement can make a giant difference in your life! Everyday think of everything you have. The enormous things, and the little things. Are you living in a cardboard box? No. Then be very grateful. Yes? Be grateful for the cardboard box.

Have gratitude for friends and family, the home you live in, the food you eat. Isn't it great having air to breath, freedom to go where you want. Don't take these for granted but have gratitude and give thanks.

Love: Well Love can clearly bring happiness. Love for your spouse, friends, neighbors and strangers. Give Love and you will receive Love. Learn to Love Yourself. Let's all remember that when we interact with others.

Enjoyment: Do what you enjoy. This could be a hobby or going for a walk in the park. If you do things that you like it's bound to bring happiness.

Forgiveness: Try a bit harder to say kind words to others. Place yourself in the other's person place for a moment. Sure there are some people that act so mean and hateful. Remember you only hurt yourself when you return meanness or hold resentment and anger inside.

Help Others: Find ways to make others happy. You may be surprised that by willingly helping others to find joy can have a positive impact on you as well. Help others to find meaning in life. Keep them company.

Build Self Confidence: Do your work the best you can. Learn new skills. Find meaning in your career and life. Enjoy a new hobby or game. You can boost your self-confidence by learning new and enjoyable things. Raise your self-confidence and you raise your happiness.

Happiness can make you smarter! Is it really surprising that positive attracts positive? If you do these things you will increase your happiness.

What is the most important thing to you? Is it money, a fancy car or a mansion, maybe your health? What about happiness?

Well let's think a moment….

If you have happiness, all the happiness you want or need, would that be the most important thing to you?

What good is money or the rest without happiness? If you are truly happy you won't need to worry about the rest. If you require money to be happy then you will have it. Maybe the saying, "Money Can't Buy Happiness", should be "Happiness Can Produce Money".

Try to release all anger and negative emotions. You can accomplish this easier once you realize you are only hurting yourself and other loved ones around you. Sure it will take regular practice. You may struggle with this, but it can become second nature after awhile.

It's up to you. Do you want to be negative and unhappy or positive and learn to be happier? You can start now by adding positive attributes to your life. Be good, smile and put on a happy face!

Friday, January 12, 2007

Where's your path leading?

Have you ever stopped to think about where your life's path is leading?

Is it leading you on a journey of ever increasing aliveness and self expression or is taking you to a place of conformity, mediocrity and discomfort?

My Reality Check

A year and a half ago I had to accept the reality that my life's path wasn't heading in the direction that I wanted it to.

On the outside, I had no doubt that I projected an image of success. I had pushed my way up the corporate ladder at quite a rapid rate given my age. I was obscenely well paid, wore tailor made suits and holidayed in exotic locations.

But on the inside, I felt anything but successful. Each day that I dragged myself into office felt as if I was selling another piece of my soul.

For 60-70 hours per week, I performed work that I found deeply dissatisfying in environments that I was completely unsuited to. Now believe me when I say that this wasn't some kind of passing phase either. In my 8-9 working years since graduating from business school, I had managed to secure consulting contracts with some of the most prestigious corporations in the world. Funnily enough, I had similar work experiences in almost all of them.

To add insult to injury, there always seemed to be at least one person in authority that I would mysteriously come into conflict with in each workplace. They appeared to go out of their way to make my working life extremely awkward and uncomfortable.

Early on in my career, I used to fully engage in the drama of being victimised by these evil tyrants! But over time however, I came to the realisation that these people were actually not my enemies, but my teachers. By letting me know that I didn't fit into their model of the world (and I must admit they did have a solid argument!), they were unknowingly pushing me forward to follow my innermost passion for doing bigger things in the world.

So What Was Going Wrong?
Over the span of my corporate career I had plenty of time to think about what was going wrong. On many different levels it seemed as if I was following all the rules correctly. I got good grades, went to a very well respected university and had a CV that most aspiring corporate climbers would kill for. So why then wasn't I experiencing a deep sense of happiness and fulfilment portrayed in the photos of all the corporate recruitment brochures? Why did I feel so empty?

After years of considered thought, I discovered that the reason why I was so unhappy with my professional life was the fact that I was following society's preconditioned path of success and not my own. I was trying hard to fit into the corporate world by being someone else.
Deep down, the only person I really wanted to be, was me.

I Visualised My Life Not Changing.

The thing that really helped me to make the changes that I needed to make was to visualise how unbearable the rest of my life would be if I didn't find the courage to change. I visualised what it would be like to do the same uninspired job, in the same uninspired work place, with the same uninspired work colleagues, for the next 35 years of my life. It wasn't a pretty picture let me tell you!

The great thing about following this process was that it created a scenario in my mind that was so painful that it propelled me to do whatever it took to make the necessary changes.

So how do you know if you're on the wrong path?

As a society we are conditioned to look to external sources for guidance on what we should be doing with our lives. We are conditioned into mistrusting our own intuition. But when it really comes down to it, the best and most effective way to find out whether or not you are on the wrong path is to look deeply inside yourself.

Taking this kind of approach will take a lot of courage, particularly if you have spent any length of time masquerading as someone else as I had done. Not only that, the answers that you find may not be exactly what you want to hear either. But stick with it. It will be worth it.

Keep pushing yourself to greater and greater levels of self honesty. Let your actions be directed by your new level of self awareness. And most importantly, surround yourself with people that encourage, motivate and inspire you to be all you possibly can be.


About the author:
Damien Senn helps people create compelling futures. He is one of the UK's top Life and Business Coaches as well as a fully qualified Chartered Accountant.

Damien is the author of the 'Senn-Sational Success Journal' and has developed his own coaching model called the 'Senn-Sational Success System'.

For your free download '101 things to do before you die' please click the following link:

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Finding Ways To Save Time And Accomplish More Toward Goals

by: Connie Limon

A definition of time management might be a process of gaining flexibility and cutting back time. The advantage to having a time management plan is that we are loosing something that brings us reward and gaining something that brings us bigger rewards. We end up with a “no loosing” situation if our time management plan is right.

To develop a successful time management plan we must first evaluate our time. We must sit down and ask ourselves how long does it take us to eat? How long does it take us to get dressed and groom for work? How long does it take us to prepare the meals we have to eat? Everything we do takes a certain amount of time. You might start out by writing down just how much time it takes to do each of your very have to tasks each day.

Then sit back and evaluate your list. Are you wasting 10 minutes here and there on those have to items that could be used for something else?

Where our time goes is an essential element to determine for our entire time management plan if we want to begin spending more quality with the most important people of our lives and less wasted time on some routine task. This is the absolute first step of creating your own personalized time management plan, a time management plan that will allow your more time to do the things in life that are most important to you. You must determine where you are wasting time and then decide how to use that time more effectively. Once that time is lost, there is no calling it back.

Another important element of creating a successful time management plan is to be sure and finish tasks before moving onto another task, unless you are at work, in a job that requires doing multiple tasks at one time (multi-tasking). Once you finish one task, move onto the next task and follow in pursuit of finishing all tasks. Once you finish the last task, sit back for a moment in a comfortable position and think of what you accomplished. How much time did it take you to complete task? Don’t forget to be keeping down your start time and end time. Of course this type of listing time of tasks works best for those things you do as routine each day. You want to work on completing the tasks in as little time as possible so you that you have to add in the unexpected tasks of the day or…….much better…….so that you have time to do something you really, really want to do, something that is not routinely required of you to do. For example, like visit on the phone with a favorite friend, your daughter or mother, or whoever, read some in the books you want to complete at some point or another in your lifetime.

A successful time management plan provides us with a source for more flexible schedules. When we have flexibility we have more time for ourselves. Once you have determined your priorities for time usage, then you can start adding tasks that you been putting off because you just don’t have the time to do them.

So….you now need another list of goals and plans of tasks and things you want to do but never have the time to do. One of the best ways of keeping these lists is on your computer where you can quickly erase and add to. But then again, paper in a notebook is also good, perhaps a special book.

Time management is the process of working to succeed. When we work to succeed we reach our goals. We first have to decide what those goals are, of course, and then work toward them using our time management plan. You will probably have to sit down and really ponder on what is needed to reach each goal of set of goals, and of course, decide how much time each step of the way you will need. Some people like to set short term goals, reach that goal and then set a long term goal. It might be a better plan to try and set short and long-term goals in the same time management plan. Whichever way works best for you, however, is what you should do.

Time management is essential since it demands that a person plan, act on those plans and stay focused on those goals with motivation. You must also keep reality in mind, and plan for the things out of your control that could go wrong and therefore steal time from your time management plan. Some examples would be computer failures, family illness, personal illness, inches and inches of snow and ice, horrible sudden tornados and hurricanes. It is always wise to include elements of your time management plan in accordance to what could happen out of your control. You may want to have a plan ahead of time of using your time in some other manner if your computer fails. Catch up on your paper filing or something. Right now for me, I am experiencing an internet outage. I have groomed many more Shih Tzu than the usual today in the time I usually spend answering e-mails and working on my websites.

Time management is working to succeed. If you want to succeed then you must work hard every day to meet your goals. I recently cut down my preparing and eating breakfast time by about ten minutes. Instead of my usual meal, I now mix up a Zone Shake and drink it while doing some other chore like adding to or emptying out the dishwasher, or even while opening up my daily e-mails. In reality here I am using ten extra minutes to work on my goals, rather than preparing and eating a regular breakfast.