Lesson Three
Six Ways of Thinking "Rich"
By T. Harv Eker
Rich people have a way of thinking that is different from poor and middle class people. They think differently about money, wealth, themselves, other people, and life. Let’s examine six crucial differences between how rich people think and how poor or middle class people think.
By doing so, you will have some alternative beliefs in the files of your mind from which to choose. In this way, you can catch yourself thinking as poor people do and quickly switch over to how rich people think.
Remember, beliefs are not right, wrong, true or false, they're just past opinions which can be changed on your command. The fact is, you can CHOOSE to think in ways that will support you instead of ways that don't.
1. RICH PEOPLE BELIEVE "I CREATE MY LIFE."Poor people believe "Life happens to me."
If you want to create wealth, it is imperative that you believe that you are at the steering wheel of your life; that you create every moment of your life, especially your financial life. If you don't believe this, then you must believe you have little control over your life and that financial success has nothing to do with you. That is not a very rich attitude.
Instead of taking responsibility for what's going on in their lives, poor people choose to play the role of victim. Of course, any "victim's" predominant thought process is "poor me." And presto, through the law of intention that's literally what they get; "poor," as in money, me.
Here's some homework I promise will change your life. For the next seven days, I challenge you not to complain at all. Not just out loud, but in your head too. I've given this little challenge to thousands of people and several hundred have personally told me that this exercise completely transformed their lives. I invite you to email me with the results of this experiment. I guarantee you'll be astonished as to how amazing your life will become when you stop focusing on the "crap."
It's time to decide. You can be a victim OR you can be rich, but you can't be both. It's time to take back your power and acknowledge the fact that you create every moment of your life. That you create everything that is in your life and everything that is not in it. That you create your wealth and you create your non-wealth and everything in between.
2. RICH PEOPLE PLAY THE MONEY GAME TO WINPoor people play the money game not to lose.
Poor people play the money game on defense rather than offense. Let me ask you, if you were to play any sport or any game strictly on defense, what are the chances of you winning that game? Most people agree; slim and none.
Yet, that's exactly how most people play the money game. Their primary concern is survival and security, not wealth and abundance. So, what is your goal? What is your real objective? What is your true intention?
Rich people's big goal is to have massive wealth and abundance. Poor people's big goal is to have "enough to pay the bills..." on time would be a miracle! Again, let me remind you of the power of intention. When your objective is to have enough to pay the bills, that's exactly how much you'll get; just enough to pay the bills and usually not a cent more. You get what you truly intend to get. If you want to get rich, your goal has to be "rich." Not just enough to pay the bills and not just enough to be comfortable. Rich, darn it, rich!
3. RICH PEOPLE ARE COMMITTED TO BEING RICHPoor people are uncommitted to being rich.
Most of us have good reasons as to why it would be wonderful to be rich, but what about the other side of the coin? Are there reasons why it might not be so great to be rich or go through the process of trying to get rich?
Each of us has a file on wealth in our mind. This file contains our personal beliefs that include why being wealthy would be great. But for many people, their file also includes information as to why being rich might not be so great. These people have mixed internal messages around money and especially wealth.
One part of them says, "Having more money will make life a lot more fun." But then another part screams, "Yeah, but "I'm going to have to work like a dog! What kind of fun is that?" One part says, "I'll be able to travel the world." then the other part responds, "Yeah, and everyone in the world will want something from me." These mixed messages are one of the biggest reasons that most people never become rich.
In fact, the #1 reason most people don't get what they want is they don't know what they want. Rich people are totally clear they want wealth. They are unwavering in their desire. They are fully committed to creating wealth. They will do "whatever it takes" to have wealth as long as it's moral, legal and ethical. Rich people do not send mixed messages to the universe. Poor people do.
I hate to break the news to you, but getting rich is not a "stroll in the park." It's takes focus, expertise, 100% effort, and "never say die" perseverance. You have to really commit to it, both consciously and subconsciously. You have to believe in your heart you can do it and you deserve it. If you are not fully committed to creating wealth, chances are you won't.
4. RICH PEOPLE THINK BIGPoor people think small.
We once had a trainer teaching at one of our seminars who went from a net worth of $250 thousand to over $600 million in only 3 years. When asked his secret he said, "Everything changed the day I began to think big." In my book, SpeedWealth, I discuss the "Law of Income" which states that "you will be paid in direct proportion to the value you deliver according to the market place."Another way of understanding this is to answer the following question: How many people do you actually serve or affect?
For instance in my business, some trainers enjoy speaking to groups of 20, others are comfortable with 100, others like an audience of 500, still others want 5000 people or more in attendance. Is there is a difference in income between these trainers? You bet there is.
Who are you? How do you want to live your life? How do you want to play the game?
Do you want to play in the big leagues or in little league, in the majors or the minors?
Will you play big or play small? It's your choice.
But hear this. It's not about you. It's about living your mission. It's about living true to your purpose. It's about adding your piece of the puzzle to the world. It's about serving others.
Most of us are so stuck in our egos that everything revolves around "me, me and more me." But again, it's not about you, it's about adding value to other people's lives. It's your choice. One road leads to being broke and miserable, the other leads to money, meaning, and fulfillment.
It's time to stop hiding out and start stepping out. It's time to stop needing and start leading. It's time to start being the star that you are. It's time to share your gifts and value in a BIG way. There could be thousands or even millions of people counting on you. Are you up to the challenge for our society and our children's sake? Let's hope so.
5. RICH PEOPLE ARE BIGGER THAN THEIR PROBLEMSPoor people are smaller than their problems.
Getting rich is not a stroll in the park. It's a journey that is full of obstacles, twists, and detours. The simple fact is, success is messy. The road is fraught with pitfalls and that's why most people don't take it. They don't want the hassles, the headaches and the responsibilities. In short, they don't want the problems.
Therein lies one of the biggest differences between rich people and poor people. Rich and successful people are bigger than their problems while poor and unsuccessful people are smaller than their problems.
Poor people will do almost anything to avoid anything that looks like it could be a problem. They back away from challenges. The irony is that in their quest to make sure they don't have problems, they have the biggest problem of all... they're broke and miserable.
The secret to success is not to try to avoid or shrink your problems; it's to grow yourself so you're bigger than any problem.
Imagine a "level 2" character person looking at a "level 5" problem. Would this problem appear to be big or small? The answer is that from a "level 2" perspective, a "level 5" problem would seem BIG.
Now imagine a "level 8" person looking at the same "level 5" problem. From this person's perspective, is this problem big or small? Magically the identical problem is now a SMALL problem.
And for a "level 10" person, it's NO problem at all. It's just an everyday occurrence, like getting dressed or brushing your teeth. Whether you are rich or poor, playing big or playing small, problems do not go away. If you're breathing, you will always have so-called "problems."
What's important to realize is that the size of the problem is never the real issue. What matters is the size of you!Remember, your wealth can only grow to the extent that you do! The idea is to grow yourself to a place where you can overcome any problems that get in your way of creating wealth and keeping it once you have it.
Rich people do not back away from problems, do not avoid problems and do not complain about problems. Rich people are financial warriors and when a warrior is confronted with a challenge they shout: BRING IT ON!
6. RICH PEOPLE FOCUS ON OPPORTUNITIESPoor people focus on problems.
Rich people see potential growth. Poor people see potential loss.
Rich people focus on the rewards. Poor people focus on the risks.
It's the age-old question, is the glass half empty or half full? We're not merely talking about "positive thinking" here, we're talking about a habitual way of seeing the world. Poor people come from fear. Their minds are constantly scanning for what's wrong or what could go wrong in any situation. Their primary mindset is "What if it doesn't work?" or, more bluntly, "It won't work." Rich people, as we discussed earlier, take responsibility for creating their life and come from the mindset, "It will work because I'll make it work."
In the financial world, as in most other arenas, risk is directly proportionate to reward; generally, the higher the reward, the higher the risk. People with rich mentalities are willing to take that risk.
Rich people expect to succeed. They have confidence in their abilities, they have confidence in their creativity and they believe that should the "doo-doo hit the fan", they can always make their money back or succeed in another way.
On the other hand, poor people expect to fail. They lack confidence in themselves and in their abilities, and should things not work out, they believe it would be catastrophic.
You have to do something, buy something, or start something in order to succeed financially. You have to see opportunities for profit all around you instead of focusing on ways of losing money

how to get rich slowly

When people ask me for my top tip on personal finance, they’re often disappointed. My top tip isn’t sexy. “To get out of debt and to build wealth,” I say, “you must spend less than you earn.” People are hoping for something more — some sort of mystical secret. Buy you know what? As mundane as it sounds, that is the mystical secret of money.
If you want to get out of debt and build wealth, all you ever need to do is spend less than you earn. Everything else is we talk about at Get Rich Slowly is window dressing, a prop in support of the fundamental equation of personal finance:
[WEALTH] = [WHAT YOU EARN] - [WHAT YOU SPEND]
The wider the gap between what you earn and what you spend, the more financial success you’ll achieve.
Spend lessThis simple formula has a couple of implications. The first is that frugality can have a very real impact on your financial situation. Frugality is an important part of personal finance. When you decrease your expenses, your cash flow increases. If you’re living paycheck-to-paycheck on $3000 a month, reducing your monthly expenses by $300 can give you substantial breathing room. (See the Charles Dickens quote at the start of this article.)
The big advantage of thrift is that you can implement it immediately. In theory — if there were no psychological factors — you could cut your expenses in half today and your savings would sky-rocket. Thrift pays immediate dividends.
The disadvantage of frugality is that there’s a limit to what you can do. You can only trim so much from your budget before you become miserable. Or until you don’t have enough for food and shelter. If you earn $3000 a month, you only have $3000 total you can cut. At $3000 monthly income, your maximum positive cash flow is $3000.
Earn moreThrift has limits. You cannot spend less than zero. On the other hand, there is theoretically no limit to how much money you can earn. Frugality is important, but if you want to make real progress, increase your income.
In the 3-1/2 years I’ve been running this site, I feel like I’ve never been able to make this point emphatically enough. The people I know who have met with wild financial success have all done so by increasing their income in some way. They’ve all had to make sacrifices to do this, but once they’ve met their goals, they’re able to scale back to a normal way of life. If you want to destroy your debt — not just defeat it, but destroy it — do something to boost your income. How do you earn more money?
Work longer hours.
Get a second job.
Start a small business.
Sell the stuff you have.
All of these work, but they all require sacrifices — especially the sacrifice of time. Most people feel that these options aren’t right for them. If that’s the case — if you’ve already cut your spending to the bone and you’re unable to earn more — then there’s really no answer other than extreme frugality and patience.
There are no silver bullets. There’s no magical way to change the fundamental equation of personal finance: To build wealth, you must spend less than you earn. If a person has already cut her spending to the bone and is unable to increase her income, she will continue to struggle.
This is the third of a thirteen-part series that explores my financial philosophy. These are the core tenets of Get Rich Slowly. Previous parts included:

Charlotte forwarded a great article from Mother Earth News. (When did they go online? It seems so antithetical to their nature!) In “Live on Less and Love It!”, Craig Idlebrook describes 75 ways that his family enjoys life while spending and consuming less. And he should know. He’s a practitioner of extreme personal finance:
On paper, my wife and I are poor. How poor? In 2005 we made $4,303.84 combined; in 2004 we made half that. We’re in such a low tax bracket that I have trouble convincing the government of our tax return’s accuracy; they simply can’t believe Americans can live on that kind of money.
[...]
We’ve arrived where we are now through a decade of daily financial decisions. Because we didn’t want to spend our time earning money at jobs we didn’t like, we instead focused on how to stretch our money. We found that by controlling our day-to-day expenses, we could save a lot of money without sacrificing our quality of life. Neither my wife nor I will ever be confused for financial wizards; there’s nothing we’ve done that you can’t do if you’re serious about saving money.
The 75 tips are grouped into categories such as “good cheap food”, “how to avoid rent”, “creative transportation”, and “when you can’t avoid shopping”. Many of these suggestions will be familiar to veteran cheapskates, but there are some gems that even I hadn’t considered before. Become a caretaker? Hmmm…
Here are some of my favorites:
“Buy raw ingredients instead of prepackaged foods. If you don’t know how to cook, learn. You’ll save on food bills, and your body will thank you for it in the long run.”
“For long-term stays, become a caretaker. A good place to find such caretaking jobs is The Caretaker Gazette.”
“Salvage materials for your new home. There are lots of possible sources: Look for someone who’s renovating a house and might let you cart away old materials; check the yellow pages for used building materials; or look for online groups, such as Freecycle, where people trade all kinds of unwanted items.”
“Switch off your water heater when you’re not going to use it for extended periods of time.”
“Ask if your city has a carshare program or start one with people you trust.”
“Don’t go into stores unless you need something. Always carry a shopping list. Remember, stores are designed to get you to buy things you didn’t know you needed.”
“Buy clothing used whenever possible. You may have good luck finding clothes at garage sales, or find a wider selection at thrift stores, consignment shops and on eBay.”
“Rediscover the radical notion of the library. Imagine Internet access and thousands of books, CDs and DVDs for free!”
“Trade your home with friends around the country and enjoy free lodging in a new location.”
My father loved Mother Earth News. He was a dyed-in-the-wool conservative, but he embraced the magazine’s do-it-yourself ethic, despite all the “liberal hippie” talk of recycling and sustainability. Me? I like it because it’s all about making the most of what you have, and about removing yourself from consumer culture. (And I like the articles on recycling and sustainability!)
[Mother Earth News: Live on Less and Love It!]

if you don't want to be broke

there are basic things you should know if you will not remain poor or in debt. They are what I stated below:
Stop living a show glass life; stop living a lie so many people are living to show what they don’t have. As a result they are becoming poor by the day. Being rich is an habit, being poor is an habit. The more you live your life to show that you have money don’t really have, the poor you become. Some ways you show that you have the money you don’t have is by buying three cloth for one occasion when you know you cannot afford it, when you force yourself to buy a car you don’t have, then you become poorer faster than you ever think, when you are buying or purchasing what you cannot afford so that people will not look down on you, then you cannot become rich. When you are spending the money you don’t have by borrowing or staring yourself, then you will become poorer faster than you ever think.

2.stop believing lies about money
lies about money means misconceptions about money that has settled in people subconscious mindset thereby directing and dictating their behavior and lifestyle. Lies about money are memes. Meme is a unit of cultural information such as cultural idea or practice that is transmitted verbally or by repeated action from one mind to another. Meme are point of view we live with and live by. These meme determines how you relate to money that determine how money enters or leaves your life. Your financial life hinges on these memes. These meme are your beliefs. These forms your belief systems about money. The memes operate with your subconscious mind. You probably already know that your mind has two major parts to it, your conscious mind and your subconscious mind.

The Simplest Plan in the World for Getting Whatever Rich


By Andreas Ohrt


Over the past 18 years, I have been obsessed with learning how we can change our reality with the creative power of our minds. I've studied dozens of experts, read hundreds of books, and spent thousands of dollars in this quest. Through all of my experimentation, I've discovered that there are four simple core principles at the heart of the creation process.
In order to finish off the "Mind Over Money" e-course as effectively as possible, I have tried to make this knowledge as simple as humanly possible. I want every single person reading this to be able to take this information and use it, easily and quickly. Here then, is the most simple possible explanation of the power of your creative energy. Follow these five steps, and any goal can be yours.
STEP ONE: KNOW WHAT YOU WANT Yes, it seems so obvious, doesn't it?
You must know what you want in order to get what you want. Yet this most basic fist step is missed by the majority of people. You must know what you want as specifically as possible. This is the magic first step.
Daydreaming about your future will not bring you what you want. Waiting for life to work out the way you've always expected won't bring you what you want. The only wayt o get what you want is to decide, with clarity and focus, exactly what you want to create.
So how do you know what you want? Well, it's very simple. Write down your desires, your dreams, and everything that you want for your life. Then pick the one thing on your list that you know you could accomplish if you dedicated some energy to it. Pick that one and forget about the rest. Pick the very next goal in the creation of your live and go for it.
Focus, focus, focus. Don't waste your energy wishing and dreaming for a million and one things. Pick one and go with it. Just as the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so does the journey to your ideal life begin with a single goal.
So begin with an easy, do-able goal, so far unaccomplished, plug it into this 4-step system. Write down as specifically and exactly what it is you will create. After it's finished, move on to the next goal.
STEP TWO: FOCUS ON WHAT YOU WANT You must give positive focus, energy, and attention to your goal. Setting a goal and then forgetting about it will not do. You must imprint it on your conscious and subconscious mind until it becomes reality.
Remember, thought is blindingly fast compared to the manifestation of thoughts into reality. Of course, as you practice this system and become more confident, your thoughts will come into reality much more quickly. But as a beginner, you must keep your energy and intention directly on your goal.
You must focus on what you want, not on what you don't want. Stop complaining about things that are not the way you want them to be. Instead, decide how you would like them to be and focus on that. Whenever you find yourself giving attention to some area of your life with which you are unhappy, immediately ask yourself "What do I want in this situation?" and focus on the answer.
Take a look at your goal every day, give it positive focus and attention. Before you fall asleep and after you wake up, instead of worrying about your problems, imagine your goal successfully attained, and feel how you would feel if your goal was accomplished. Go to sleep with this feeling, and your subconscious mind will quickly find a way to bring it into your reality.
STEP THREE: TAKE ACTION NOW!You must take action towards your goal, and you must take action right now! There is no other time that you can act. The past is gone, the future is an illusion. Making plans to take action is not action. You must take action right now.
There is always something that you can do to propel you towards your goal. It doesn't matter how tiny the action is, or how insignificant you might feel it is, you must do it. There is always some small step you can take. Take that step.
You must convince your subconscious mind that you are serious about accomplishing your goal, and there is nothing more convincing than taking action.
No matter where you are along your path to your goal, no matter how near or far you mihgts feel to be, there is always an obvious next step you can take. Take that step in this present moment. Right now.
If you have trouble figuring out what to do, or are paralyzed into inaction because it seems there are too many things to do, just do this: Make a list of all the things that need to happen in order for your goal to arrive. List all the intermediary steps that you will experience as your goal begins to enter your life.
Somewhere on this list will be the obvious next step. Do it. Do it now!
If your goal is truly out of your hands, you need a new goal. Waiting for other people to change or give you what you want is a sure way to always be unsatisfied. You must pick a goal you are in control of and do whatever it takes to make it come true. That is the only path to power and mastery in life, and the only way to ever feel fulfilled.
STEP FOUR: CHOOSE THE SAME THING EVERY DAYYou must be consistent. You must, consistently, choose the same goal every day until your goal is accomplished. You cannot send out constantly changing vague wishes into the universe and expect to create results in the real world.
It's as simple as ordering a meal in a restaurant. You must decide what you want and then ask for it. If you can't make up your mind the waiter will simply server someone else until you're ready. If you do not provide the universe with a specific goal which you consistently ake action toward, your "meal" will never come to you.
And the most important secret of all...
DON’T GIVE UP UNTIL YOUR GOAL IS ACCOMPLISHED

10 Critical Cash Flow Rules

Tim Berry
Cash flow problems can kill businesses that might otherwise survive. According to a U.S. Bank study, 82 percent of business failures are due to poor cash management. To prevent this from happening to your business, here are my 10 cash flow rules to remember.
Profits aren't cash; they're accounting. And accounting is a lot more creative than you think. You can't pay bills with profits. Actually profits can lull you to sleep. If you pay your bills and your customers don't, it's suddenly business hell. You can make profits without making any money.
Cash flow isn't intuitive. Don't try to do it in your head. Making the sales doesn't necessarily mean you have the money. Incurring the expense doesn't necessarily mean you paid for it already. Inventory is usually bought and paid for and then stored until it becomes cost of sales.
Growth sucks up cash. It's paradoxical. The best of times can be hiding the worst of times. One of the toughest years my company had was when we doubled sales and almost went broke. We were building things two months in advance and getting the money from sales six months late. Add growth to that and it can be like a Trojan horse, hiding a problem inside a solution. Yes, of course you want to grow; we all want to grow our businesses. But be careful because growth costs cash. It's a matter of working capital. The faster you grow, the more financing you need.
Business-to-business sales suck up your cash. The simple view is that sales mean money, but when you're a business selling to another business, it's rarely that simple. You deliver the goods or services along with an invoice, and they pay the invoice later. Usually that's months later. And businesses are good customers, so you can't just throw them into collections because then they'll never buy from you again. So you wait. When you sell something to a distributor that sells it to a retailer, you typically get the money four or five months later if you're lucky.
Inventory sucks up cash. You have to buy your product or build it before you can sell it. Even if you put the product on your shelves and wait to sell it, your suppliers expect to get paid. Here's a simple rule of thumb: Every dollar you have in inventory is a dollar you don't have in cash.
Working capital is your best survival skill. Technically, working capital is an accounting term for what's left over when you subtract current liabilities from current assets. Practically, it's money in the bank that you use to pay your running costs and expenses and buy inventory while waiting to get paid by your business customers.
"Receivables" is a four-letter word. (See rule 4.) The money your customers owe you is called "accounts receivable." Here's a shortcut to cash planning: Every dollar in accounts receivable is a dollar less cash.
Bankers hate surprises. Plan ahead. You get no extra points for spontaneity when dealing with banks. If you see a growth spurt coming, a new product opportunity or a problem with customers paying, the sooner you get to the bank armed with charts and a realistic plan, the better off you'll be.
Watch these three vital metrics: "Collection days" is a measure of how long you wait to get paid. "Inventory turnover" is a measure of how long your inventory sits on your working capital and clogs your cash flow. "Payment days" is how long you wait to pay your vendors. Always monitor these three vital signs of cash flow. Project them 12 months ahead and compare your plan to what actually happens.
If you're the exception rather than the rule, hooray for you. If all your customers pay you immediately when they buy from you, and you don't buy things before you sell them, then relax. But if you sell to businesses, keep in mind that they usually don't pay immediately.

you will reach your goal

You know, achieving success isn't easy. In fact, there's alot of hard work that goes into it. But one thing we knowsuccessful people do throughout the process is they staypositive about the eventual outcome. They keep their eye onthe prize. No matter what is going on around them, theystay focused on their goal.
One way we recommend the YOU stay focused is with a toolcalled The Daily Success Focusing Journal. Every evening,jot down five things you accomplished that day, and how youcan move each accomplishment forward with further action.
You can download the form here. Print a copy, then keep itwhere you'll remember to complete it each evening beforegoing to sleep.
Download the Journal:http://www.thesuccessprinciples.com/resource/TSP-DailyFocusJournal.pdf
Once you've determine your areas for further action, you canspend the last few minutes before drifting off to sleepvisualizing tomorrow as a perfect day -- accomplishingeverything you planned on the Daily Success Focusing Journal.

how to get to where you want,from where you are.

Jack Canfield

Have you ever made a list of what you want from life? Fromthe kind of career you work at to the kind of income you enjoy...to your relationships, your health, your vacations, materialpossessions, spiritual well-being and more?
If you haven't, it may surprise you to know that simplydeciding what you want is the often first and most importantstep to getting it.
It's true. Our brain is a goal-seeking organism. In fact,scientists now know the brain uses its own reticular activatingsystem to filter through the millions of images, sounds,impressions and other messages we receive each day - to letinto our conscious mind only that information we need tosurvive or meet goals we have identified.
When you decide what you want, you instruct the brain to startlooking for information, resources, opportunities and otherways to achieve the 'want' you've identified. While this maysound like an impossibility given your current situation orcircumstances, we've seen countless individuals 'suddenly' getwhat they want--often from a source or opportunity that alreadyexisted in their life or sphere of influence. They had justnever instructed their brain to find it before.
DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU WANT?
To help your reticular activating system begin finding YOURwants in unexpected places, take time now to decide what youwant in the following seven areas. Don't hold back! And forgetabout whether YOU think it's possible for you right now.
Turn to page 25 of The Success Principles book - Principle 3:Decide What You Want -- for explanation. Then click here todownload a simple form you can use to document what you wantout of life.
Download the form:http://www.thesuccessprinciples.com/resource/TSP-DecideWhatYouWant.pdf
Jot down anything and everything you've dreamed of being,doing, owning or having. Then don't be surprised when it showsup in your life!
FINANCES - Write down how much income you want to make, how bigyour savings account should be, what your investments will belike, when you want to pay off your mortgage, how much you'llwant for your children's college education and so on.
CAREER/BUSINESS GOALS - Write down your dream career or thedream business you would like to own. Write down in vividdetail what you want a typical day to be like. Write down thekind of people you would like to work with and so on. What isfulfilling to you?
FREE TIME/FAMILY TIME - If you could have any amount of freetime or any kind of family experiences you wanted, what wouldthey be? Jot them down now. How many days off a year do youwant? What kinds of vacation experiences and trips do you wantto go on? What would your hobbies be if you had all the freetime and family time you wanted? What kinds of special eventswould you attend?
HEALTH/APPEARANCE - If you could look, feel and act exactly asyou wanted, what would your health and appearance goals be?Would you lose weight? Would you wear designer clothes? Wouldyou eat healthier...even have your own private chef? Would youovercome a chronic illness or medical situation you are inright now?
Write down now what you want in terms of your health andappearance.
RELATIONSHIPS - We all thrive and live more fully when we'resurrounded by people who love, appreciate and empower us.Decide what kinds of relationships you want in YOUR life. Is itsomeone to love, a fantastic relationship with your spouse,better bonds with your children or siblings? And what aboutyour professional associations? Do you want phenomenal mentors,important friends, powerful business associates or otherinfluential people in your life? Decide now who they are.
PERSONAL GROWTH - Do you want to be better educated or becomea more powerful, confident person through personal growth?Decide now what you want to learn and know. Or perhaps you seekgreater spiritual knowledge or teaching...or simply take a yogaclass and get more balance in your life.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE - Do you want to volunteer for the PeaceCorps or donate millions of dollars to your favorite charity?Do you want to mentor others, befriend a group of needyindividuals or otherwise make a difference in the world? Decidenow what you want your role to be.
REMEMBER THIS...
Whatever you want from your life, remember that what you wantWANTS YOU! It's merely a matter of first deciding, thenwatching incredible opportunities and fulfillment show up inyour life.

How to Become a Money Magnet Using the Law of Attraction

Tommy Engan
Did you know that it's just as easy to create a million dollars as it is to come up with a penny? The neat thing about the Universe is that it's completely non-discriminatory. Whatever you ask for, it delivers it - but on one condition:
You must believe 100% that it's possible.
If you've created anything before with your will - be it a new job, a dollar, a new shirt or anything else, I can guarantee you that you can use the same principle to attract and manifest unlimited amounts of money.
Of course, as you know, all this is easier said than done. If it was that easy, everyone would be a millionaire.
So how do you become a money magnet using the law of attraction? Here are the rules:
Be grateful for every penny you have. When you pay for your groceries, be grateful that you can afford them - even if you're just spending a dollar. Every time you spend money on anything, thank the money itself for having your back! I know that may sound weird, but trust me, this stuff works!
The law of attraction states that what you focus upon expands and it is no different with money. So the next time you find money in your house, on the ground or anywhere - even if it's just one cent or a nickel - pick it up. Thank the universe for giving you this gift.
Again, what you focus on expands, and what you're telling the universe by doing this is "thanks for sending me money". By the law of attraction, it HAS to send you more. Next time, maybe you'll find a dime. The time after that, you'll get a raise at your job. Before you know it, a small business you are running is starting to make money like gangbusters. And so on.
Your ONLY job is to keep this going. Keep being grateful for every dime you spend and receive. I can guarantee you that if you keep doing this, you will create miracles in your life.
Now pay very close attention. What you are about to read may very well challenge your current beliefs:
You are about to discover a new technology that will get you everything you want - without even trying. Eradicate struggle, procrastination, money issues and anything else you want - at the touch of a button - literally. Create the life of your dreams - automatically.
This radical technology is causing huge ripples in the self-help world, as it produces rapid results that no other book, method or teacher can touch. The best part? You don't actually have to DO anything - it's an automatic process. It doesn't matter if you're young, old, thin, fat, rich, poor, healthy or sick - what you are about to experience will change your life

HOW TO ATTRACT MONEY WHEN YOU ARE BROKE

To become rich you have to become wealth conscious, right? but how? While trying to become wealth conscious many people encounter a major obstacle "empty pockets." It is hard to feel wealthy when you are broke. They say a sense of gratitude, giving away money in charity, and moving around with a wallet filled with currency notes and yet to be used credit cards may you feel wealthy and you make more money. What if you are so broke that it is difficult to you even to pay for you lunch? I know how difficult it is, but there is a solution. Law of attraction works for you. I always tried the exercise of law of attraction to get money.
The first step is to relax yourself. Use some relaxation techniques. If you don't know any relaxation methods, please write in the comments down, I will provide you with some. This helps you to come out of the anxiety and worry of not having enough money for normal daily living. You cannot attract money with anxiety and worry, so first relax your body and mind.
Then use visualization exercise to see yourself receiving the money. Try most probable route of receiving money, like a friend or a relative. If this is not possible for you, visualize receiving money from the universe or if you can from God. Continue these exercises till you are sure of receiving the money. The feeling should be like a sixth sense telling you that you are going to receive the money. There should be no doubt, no anxiety, you just know that the money is coming. If you have close friends, tell them you need money, just ask, ask anybody, even God needs some route to give the money you needed, look for the route, friends, relatives, siblings, boss anybody even a bank.
Continue this exercises to improve your wealth conscious. Once you are wealthy enough, everything becomes automatic.
God bless you.

Money Help - Top Ten Ways To Attract Money

1. Know What You Want Don't just think you want something. Know it! Most of us know exactly what we don't want in our lives. We have to become just as clear about what it is we do want. Knowing that you want to make $10,000 a month or more is much clearer than just knowing you want more money.
2. Listen to Your Gut Pay attention to what your gut or intuition is telling you and act on it. Often we ignore the many signals our inner selves give us or say to ourselves, "That's crazy, I can't do that." Your intuition will lead you where you need to go in order to get the money help you need...if you let it.
3. Use Positive Money Affirmations Write a short positive affirmation that states your money goal. For example: "$10,000 easily flows into my life each month." Click here to find out how to use affirmations effectively and here for examples of prosperity affirmations.
4. Visualize Your Goal See yourself living the life you would lead if money were no object. Create a moving picture of all the things you would be, do and have when your money goals are realized. Allow it to become so real in your mind's eye that you actually experience the feelings of safety, joy and freedom that having money brings to you.
5. Get In The FlowStep into the flow of the Universe and ask for money help. Whatever power or deity you subscribe to, ask for some guidance. Get quiet at some point each and every day and ask to be alert to your highest good, ask to be in the right place at the right time, ask to know what your life purpose is and how you can best serve others'. Ask and ye shall receive ;o)
6. Get Moving Wishing just ain't gonna make it so. You need to take action! I know from personal experience that making changes is often uncomfortable and sometimes even downright terrifying. Even when I know these changes are for the good.
Ralph Waldo Emerson stated, "It was a high counsel that I once heard given to a young person, 'Always do what you are afraid to do'." A great book by Susan Jeffers says the same thing but in a different way, "Feel the fear and do it anyway!" The great thing is, once you take even a small step towards your goal, the Universe will place opportunities in your path. Wealth Beyond Reason can give you lots more money help!
7. Listen To Your Self-Talk Pay close attention to what your mind is mumbling to you. We all have some pretty heavy negative programming going on up there, especially where money is concerned. A question I ask myself often when I notice that my self-talk is negative is, "Do I really want what I just thought to manifest in my life within the next 3 minutes?" If I don't, I cancel the thought and replace it with a more positive, uplifting one.
8. Ride the Waves Life isn't always a calm sea. Sometimes we have to hold on tight and ride the waves that threaten to overtake us. Use these times to look for opportunities, because they are always there. It's easy to blame circumstances when things get tough but blaming or despairing over something doesn't move us forward to where we want to be. As Carl Sagan said, "It's better to light a candle than to curse the darkness."
9. De-clutter Your LifeClean up! Not just your home or office but your relationships both personal and professional. You can't work at your best if your life is full of clutter. It may sound harsh but let go of those people who suck the energy right out of you, leaving you feeling like a wet dishrag. Throw out anything in your home or office that you haven't used for over a year. You'll be amazed at how light and creative you feel once you've de-cluttered your life and how quickly the money help you've asked for starts manifesting!
10. Nurture Your Passions Love gardening? Love motorcycles? Whatever your passions are, nurture them. Think you can't make a living at something you're passionate about? You'd be surprised! It's easy and fun to build a business based upon your passion for a subject! Go here now to find out how. Our passions reveal to us our life purpose. It's our inner selves letting us know what will bring money, love and joy into our lives.

How to Become a Money Magnet

How to Become a Money Magnet
By Valerie Dawson


Like most people, you have probably been taught to see money as a tangible resource that resides in your wallet and bank account until you need to spend it. You use it to pay bills, buy products and services, and support worthwhile causes.When you need more money, you probably do what most people would do: take physical action that will bring in more money, such as working extra hours, asking your boss for a raise, or even selling a few of your material possessions. What you may not realize is that you can attract money into your life in much easier ways; simply by changing the way you think about money and abundance. It’s called the Law of Attraction, and getting it to work effectively for you can make the difference between a lifetime of lack and struggle, or abundance and ease. This report is going to share 7 of the biggest mistakes that people make when attempting to use the Law of Attraction to attract more money into their lives; and offer helpful suggestions on how to turn them around if you find that you may be doing the same.
Law of Attraction Money Mistake #1 Holding a Mind-Set of Lack and Struggle Based on your own life experiences, would you say that obtaining money on a regular basis is easy or difficult? In other words, do you have to work very hard to receive enough money to cover your monthly expenses, or does money seem to come to you effortlessly? Take some time to think carefully about these questions because they reveal something very important: your overall mind-set regarding money and wealth. You can tell immediately whether you have a wealth mind-set or lack mind-set by looking at your life experiences. Law of Attraction Think Rich Lesson #1 Your Mind-Set Creates Your Experiences The Law of Attraction is activated by your mind-set – in other words, the things you think, believe and feel on a regular basis. Here’s how it works: Your thoughts trigger your emotions. Your emotional state emits a specific frequency of energy to the universe, and the universe returns events and experiences into your life, that correspond with your emotional frequency. When you think and feel positively on a regular basis, everything in your life seems to flow more easily, including money. When your thoughts and emotions lean more toward the negative side on a regular basis, you experience more problems, setbacks and financial lack in your life. Also important are your beliefs. Your beliefs form the structure of what is possible for you. If you believe you have to work hard to have a lot of money, you’ll create exactly that experience for yourself. If you don’t believe you deserve more than a certain amount of money, you’ll block more from arriving. Whatever your beliefs are, they are your TRUTH, and you will subconsciously create evidence that supports that truth over and over again until you learn to do things differently.
Law of Attraction Money Mistake #2 Focusing on What You Don’t Have Have you ever agonized over a shortage of money? Have you worried obsessively about not being able to pay your bills or buy something you wanted? Believe it or not, you were probably making the situation worse by doing so. We know that lack is the condition of not having something you want – in other words, the absence of something. But the absence of exactly what may surprise you. Lack is not the absence of money, or health, or love. Those are just the symptoms of lack. At its core, lack is simply the blockage of ENERGY. When it comes right down to it, everything is energy. When you experience lack of any kind, it’s a sure sign that you are cutting off the natural flow of energy through your life. Every time you worry about your financial situation, agonize over a shortage of money, or feel stressed about your bills, you attract more of the experience of lack into your life.

Law of Attraction Think Rich Lesson #2 Focus on What You DO Have and DO Want It may sound incredibly difficult to focus on the positive when your life doesn’t look so rosy, but it is vital to find a way to do it. When you focus on the good things you already have and think about the things you want from an optimistic and hopeful state of mind, you cannot help but attract more of them into your life.There are endless ways to begin focusing your thoughts on the things you do have and do want. Start a gratitude journal and jot down a few things each day that you are grateful for. (Hint: even if these things are not related to money, they can still get that positive energy flowing and attract more good things into your life; including more money.) You can also visualize having more money and imagine being able to pay your bills easily. The more you focus on things like this, the more they will begin to show up in your physical reality.

Law of Attraction Money Mistake #3 Attracting Lack with Negative Emotions Focusing on lack and struggle is destructive enough, but it’s possible to make it even worse by infusing this focus with strong, negative emotions. Think of your emotions as the fuel that lends power to everything that manifests in your life. When it comes to money, do you often find yourself locked into negative emotions like these? Fear Anxiety Helplessness Hopelessness Pessimism Doubt Frustration Worry Jealousy ResentmentEvery time you experience emotions like these, you are creating more lack. In order to turn lack into abundance, you have to avoid investing in these negative emotions.

Law of Attraction Think Rich Lesson #3 How to Prevent Negative Emotions from Creating More Lack

There are two things you can do to prevent these emotions from creating more lack in your life:1) First, avoiding sinking into feelings like those described above is crucial. As soon as you notice yourself starting to feel stressed or worried about money, immediately shift your focus to something else. You can engage in a bit of self-talk if it helps; say something like, "There’s no point worrying about something I can’t control, so I’m going to focus on something that makes me feel good." Then spend time on unrelated activities, or find a way to feel better about your financial situation.2) Secondly, begin directing more positive emotions toward your financial situation.Even if you have to engage in a bit of fantasizing in order to do so, you need to get some positive emotions flowing to attract more abundance. There are many ways to do this, but one that works well is to keep affirming, "I always have more than enough money for everything I need." Just keep saying it over and over again, allowing yourself to feel confident and happy that your financial needs are being met. This is also a good thing to do when you notice you’re starting to feel worried or frightened about not having enough money. Immediately turn the focus around and say, "I ALWAYS have more than enough money for EVERYTHING I need." (Say it with power and conviction in your voice, and really believe that it is so.) As you begin shifting your focus from negative emotions to positive emotions every day, you should start to notice your financial situation shifting to a better place also. You might receive an unexpected check in the mail, you might get a bonus or pay raise at work, or you may even notice you’re starting to receive unexpected gifts or discounts. These are great signs that it’s working! Keep replacing negative emotions with positive as often as possible and you’ll keep the good energy flowing – which will keep inspiring greater and greater change in your life.

The Cost Question

By Dr. John C. Maxwell
Want to Live the Dream? Pay the Price.
Have you ever been strolling through a shopping mall or car lot when - POW! - THE perfect product captures your attention? Perhaps it's the sporty convertible with a V-8 engine and unbelievable acceleration. Maybe it's the adorable dress that's exactly your style, has a flattering fit, and accentuates all of your finest features.
Whatever the case, there's an initial moment when you're enamored with THE product. For a split second reality is suspended as you imagine the joys of owning it. Unfortunately, two words generally bring this pleasant daydream crashing to a halt: price tag.
The Dream Is Free, but the Journey Isn't
When you first think about a dream, you only see possibilities and potential. As my friend Collin Sewell observed, all dreams begin obstacle-free. However, at some point we have to confront the Cost Question: Am I willing to pay the price of my dream?
If you want to achieve a dream, you have to be willing to do more than just imagine the outcome. You have to be willing to pay a price to start the journey. Dreams don't fall into our laps by accident or good fortunate. They must be attained at the cost of personal sacrifice.
The Price Must Be Paid Sooner Than You Think
Dreams can't be bought on impulse. Buy now, pay later financing isn't an option. If you want to own a dream, then be prepared to make a hefty down payment.
I think most people realize that there will be some cost for achieving their dream. They have a vague notion that someday they will have to pay a price. But they don't realize how quickly the costs come. Stepping toward a dream is like launching a rocket; massive amounts of energy must be expended at the beginning. Otherwise, gravity takes hold and the journey never gets off the ground.
The Price Will Be Higher Than You Expect
All dreams have price tags attached, and the cost is always higher than we expect to pay. Not once in my conversations with successful people have I heard someone say, "Getting to the top was much easier than I anticipated." The reverse is true. Those at the pinnacle of their professions point to the hardships and sacrifices they had to endure to reach the top.
Having done a good deal of travel, I've learned the taxi principle: ALWAYS find out the cost before you get in the cab. Unfortunately, dreams are far too complex for us to accurately access the costs upfront. A noble dream is worth the expense, but the full costs won't be apparent until we're already on the journey.
The Price Must Be Paid More Than Once
As a young leader, I mistakenly thought acquiring a dream was like buying a ticket to Six Flags: pay once and enjoy the rides. Experience has taught me otherwise. Following a dream forces you to make continual sacrifices.
Just as a rocket must shed weight to escape gravity, so to a leader has to let go of some goals to accomplish others. You have to give up to go up.
Let's face it: dreams don't work unless you do. Easing off the accelerator and coasting won't get you to your desired destination. For dreams to be apprehended, leaders must have an appetite for hard labor.
It Is Possible To Pay Too Much for Your Dream
Although sacrifices go hand in hand with success, it is possible to overpay for a dream. Don't mortgage relationships or discard your moral compass in pursuit of career goals. I've seen it happen all too often. I've watched people sacrifice marriages, neglect their kids, ignore their health, and abandon their conscience - all in the name of a "dream."
As Jesus of Nazareth once said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?" Some prices aren't worth paying. Do not allow your dream to dictate your values. Rather, make sure your values inform and govern your dream.The Cost QuestionBy Dr. John C. Maxwell
Want to Live the Dream? Pay the Price.
Have you ever been strolling through a shopping mall or car lot when - POW! - THE perfect product captures your attention? Perhaps it's the sporty convertible with a V-8 engine and unbelievable acceleration. Maybe it's the adorable dress that's exactly your style, has a flattering fit, and accentuates all of your finest features.
Whatever the case, there's an initial moment when you're enamored with THE product. For a split second reality is suspended as you imagine the joys of owning it. Unfortunately, two words generally bring this pleasant daydream crashing to a halt: price tag.
The Dream Is Free, but the Journey Isn't
When you first think about a dream, you only see possibilities and potential. As my friend Collin Sewell observed, all dreams begin obstacle-free. However, at some point we have to confront the Cost Question: Am I willing to pay the price of my dream?
If you want to achieve a dream, you have to be willing to do more than just imagine the outcome. You have to be willing to pay a price to start the journey. Dreams don't fall into our laps by accident or good fortunate. They must be attained at the cost of personal sacrifice.
The Price Must Be Paid Sooner Than You Think
Dreams can't be bought on impulse. Buy now, pay later financing isn't an option. If you want to own a dream, then be prepared to make a hefty down payment.
I think most people realize that there will be some cost for achieving their dream. They have a vague notion that someday they will have to pay a price. But they don't realize how quickly the costs come. Stepping toward a dream is like launching a rocket; massive amounts of energy must be expended at the beginning. Otherwise, gravity takes hold and the journey never gets off the ground.
The Price Will Be Higher Than You Expect
All dreams have price tags attached, and the cost is always higher than we expect to pay. Not once in my conversations with successful people have I heard someone say, "Getting to the top was much easier than I anticipated." The reverse is true. Those at the pinnacle of their professions point to the hardships and sacrifices they had to endure to reach the top.
Having done a good deal of travel, I've learned the taxi principle: ALWAYS find out the cost before you get in the cab. Unfortunately, dreams are far too complex for us to accurately access the costs upfront. A noble dream is worth the expense, but the full costs won't be apparent until we're already on the journey.
The Price Must Be Paid More Than Once
As a young leader, I mistakenly thought acquiring a dream was like buying a ticket to Six Flags: pay once and enjoy the rides. Experience has taught me otherwise. Following a dream forces you to make continual sacrifices.
Just as a rocket must shed weight to escape gravity, so to a leader has to let go of some goals to accomplish others. You have to give up to go up.
Let's face it: dreams don't work unless you do. Easing off the accelerator and coasting won't get you to your desired destination. For dreams to be apprehended, leaders must have an appetite for hard labor.
It Is Possible To Pay Too Much for Your Dream
Although sacrifices go hand in hand with success, it is possible to overpay for a dream. Don't mortgage relationships or discard your moral compass in pursuit of career goals. I've seen it happen all too often. I've watched people sacrifice marriages, neglect their kids, ignore their health, and abandon their conscience - all in the name of a "dream."
As Jesus of Nazareth once said, "What does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul?" Some prices aren't worth paying. Do not allow your dream to dictate your values. Rather, make sure your values inform and govern your dream.

Five Pillars to Wealth
By Kofi Oppong


You should know that there are five pillars to wealth, putting them all together will allow you to live the life of your dreams. For me this is time freedom and lots of money, why not? I am not ashamed to say I like money and enjoy spending it! Time freedom allows me to do what I want, when I want, and how I want. The five pillars have been used by many millionaires to create wealth. So what are they?
1. Career
2. Business
3. Property
4. Stocks
5. Internet
Add your mentality and mind set, then gain some ideas from millionaires or wealthy mentors and the cash will start flowing in.
Of the five pillars listed above the career in the form of a job is the most limiting in terms of tax paid and time freedom. You should use this area to fund the development of the other four.
When you are earning as much as you would in your career from any of the other four pillars, then it is time to give up the just over broke (JOB)! If you only have a career then I would suggest using seminars to learn about the other four pillars.
Your financial education begins with you! Most people have a hidden talent but don't know it as they are caught in the systems of perpetual debt and lack of understanding of the 5 pillars to wealth.
The foundation of the five pillars are your mindset / Psychology and your millionaire concepts. I.e think big, the end goal is the big picture and your five pillars are the vehicle to get you there!

Ten Financial Mistakes That Will Put You In The Poor House
by Maria O'Brien on 7/29/2008

As a teenager, I became a much better driver after my only car accident, in which I crashed into an oncoming vehicle and both were totaled. I was a much more aware motorist, and certainly drove more carefully, after this event. Mistakes can be the best teachers, as the lessons learned are ingrained by the outcome of our failures. Finances are the same way. You can avoid making bad financial mistakes (that could land you in the poor house) by learning what not to do. Here are ten of the biggest financial mistakes people make that you can avoid.
1. Spending more than you earn
Whether you make $20,000 a year or have another zero on the end, your spending habits are the single biggest influence on your financial success or, conversely, your failure. Avoid the poor house by spending wisely and keeping your expenses in line with your income. Ideally, save and invest a percentage of each paycheck or income source you have. And don’t spend money on a credit card that you can’t pay off when the bill arrives.
2. Wasting money frivolously
Spending money wastefully, even if you do spend less than what you earn, is another bad money idea. Even if you think you can afford the payments, buying a new car every two years just doesn’t make fiscal sense for most people. Ironically, most first-generation millionaires buy slightly used vehicles or drive their new ones for many years instead of frequently buying expensive, depreciating vehicles. The problem with wasting money is that you have less for saving and investing.
3. Not having a financial plan
Eschewing a financial plan, and not setting goals can set you up for financial problems. Success in any area is largely dependent on having a written plan, short-term and long-term goals, and by working that plan. Reevaluate your plan and track your progress often using whatever method best suits you, whether it’s through online software or in longhand in a notebook. Discuss money with your spouse or partner, meeting regularly to go over the budget and common financial goals.
4. No insurance or the wrong type
Allowing yourself and your assets to be exposed to damage, injury or lawsuits without proper coverage is another way to lose everything you’ve worked to obtain. Health insurance protects you in case of physical injury and high medical bills, and an umbrella policy over your house, auto and other policies protects you from lawsuit judgments.
5. Investing in get-rich-quick schemes
Putting your money in investment vehicles you don’t understand or buying those get-rich-quick packages will put you on the fast track to the poor house. Your best bet for avoiding all of that is to invest in things you understand and regularly adding to and diversifying your holdings. Don’t waste your money on online courses and packages that promise to teach you how to earn six figures online. Do the research before you spend the money.
6. Taking on too much debt
How much is too much debt? Some financially-savvy advisors say any debt is too much, including Dave Ramsey, who became a millionaire and then lost everything because he relied too heavily on debt in his personal life and for business finances. Others are comfortable with small amounts of debt, or house mortgages and auto loans. But realize that even student loans can be hard to handle if money is tight. If you do acquire new debt, do so cautiously and after researching the best loan options.
7. Not expecting the unexpected
Life happens, and if you don’t have any emergency savings, life insurance on yourself and your spouse and contingency plans for potential income loss, you’re setting yourself up for financial trouble. Plan to save three to six months’ expenses in easy-to-access savings accounts as a starting goal for a rainy day, whenever it happens.
8. Working the minimum
Whether you’re just doing the bare minimum at your job or only making enough money to scrape by, working the absolute smallest number of hours you can get away with or completing only the essential tasks, you’re putting your career in jeopardy. To get ahead at work or in your business, give your work the time and attention it deserves. After all, your ability to make income is likely the biggest financial asset you have.
9. Counting on Social Security funds
If your retirement plan is entitlement benefits, it’s past time to reevaluate that plan. Social Security is on shaky ground, and the sensible approach is to discount it entirely when planning for your future. That way, if anything does come through, it’s just icing on the cake in retirement.
10. Putting money above family
While most people tend toward not doing enough for their financial success, there are those at the opposite end of the spectrum whose priorities have been warped until money takes the highest place in their lives. Take the time to evaluate your life and the place money has in it. Money is simply a means, a tool, and should never be sought as the end in itself.
Just Say ‘No!’
It is not just a cheesy anti-drugs campaign. Saying ‘No!’ should be a regular expression for someone trying to stay in the black. Anytime you’re presented with a reason to spend, be it for just a large sized fries at lunch, additional coverage, or buying two to get the third free, alarms should sound and you need to ask why you’re forking over that extra dough. Don’t let it just apply to things you add on to a bill. Just say ‘No!’ to everything that forces you to open your wallet, then take a good hard look and decide if it’s worth your hard earned money.
What financial mistakes have you made? Which ones have you been able to avoid?

• Don't Lose Money!By: Brian Tracy

Throughout the history of American enterprise, you've heard the words, "work hard and save your money." Work hard and save your money. It is the oldest rule for success in America. It's so important, as a matter of fact, that W. Clement Stone once said, "if you cannot save money, then the seeds of greatness are not in you."Saving Is a DisciplineWhy is it that saving money is so important? Because saving money is a discipline and any discipline affects all other disciplines in your life. If you do not have the discipline to refrain from spending all the money that you earn, then you are not qualified to become wealthy and if you do become wealthy, you'll not be capable of holding on to it.The Law of AttractionA principle with regard to saving your money is the law of attraction. The law of attraction is activated by saved money. Even one dollar saved will start to attract more money. Here's what I suggest that you do. If you're really serious about your future, go down and open a savings account. Put as much money as you can into it, even if it's only ten dollars. And then begin to collect little bits of money, and every week go down and put something into that account.Attract More Money Into Your LifeYou will find that the more you put in that account, the more you will attract from sources that you cannot now predict. But if you do not begin the savings process, if you don't begin putting something away towards your financial independence, then nothing will happen to you. The law of attraction just simply won't work.
Invest Your Money ConservativelyOnce you begin to accumulate money, here's another rule. Invest the money conservatively. Marvin Davis, self-made billionaire, was asked by Forbes Magazine, "How do you account for your financial success?" And he said, "Well, I have two rules for financial investing." He said, "Rule number one is, don't lose money." He said, whenever I'm tempted, whenever I see an opportunity to invest where there's a possibility I could lose it all, I just simply refrain from putting the money in. Rule number two is, whenever I get tempted, I refer back to rule number one. Don't lose money.Get Rich SlowlyGeorge Classon says, in The Richest Man In Babylon, that the key is to accumulate your funds and then invest them very conservatively. One of the characteristics of self-made millionaires, one of the characteristics of old money in America is that it's very cautiously, conservatively and prudently invested.Don't try to get rich quickly. Concentrate rather on getting rich slowly. If all you do is save ten percent of your earnings, put it away, and let it accumulate at compound interest, that alone will make you wealthy.Action ExercisesHere are two things you can do to apply these lessons to your financial life:First, open a separate savings and investing account today. From this day forward, put every single dollar you can spare into this account and resolve to never touch it or spend it for any reason.Second, whenever you consider any investment of your savings, remember the rule, "Don't lose money!" It is better to keep the money working at a low rate of interest than to take the chance of losing it. Be careful. A fool and his money are soon parted.

How Do Entrepreneurs Do It? The Incredible Power Of Mental FocusBy Kerry Needs


Wouldn't you just love to know how the likes of Richard Branson or Dragon's Den entrepreneur Peter Jones accumulated their wealth? To truly discover the attributes and qualities that separates the rich, successful people from those who struggle against life?
Well, all successful people have one thing in common- the power of their mental focus. These people are experts in mirroring their inner world with what they desire in their outer world. It is living the principles of Whole Science to its fullest- noticing and appreciating that our inner, mental world is not distinguishable from the outer, material world.
It truly seems a miracle how many entrepreneurs go from nothing to great riches, doesn't it? So what is it about their mental state that is so important? And how can you replicate this mind-set to succeed in your life? Just think-what would happen if you won the lottery tomorrow, if you became a millionaire overnight? I'm sure you're already thinking of the house(s) you would have, the places you'd visit, the clothes you'd wear... and soon enough you're becoming excited at the prospect of having wealth beyond your wildest dreams.
What would happen if I told you that part of what you were doing just then is the secret to many entrepreneurs' success? No, not dreaming of winning the lottery, but thinking of all those things you do want. I bet if I told you to think of a car you'd like to buy, you have a mental image- right? Maybe even hearing the sound of the powerful engine or the good feeling you'd have driving it around.
Entrepreneurs have these kinds of images running through their heads pretty much all the time, which enables them to consistently gain the specific results they want.
'The power of positive thinking' has now become a marketable commodity. From empowerment gurus such as Anthony Robbins to groundbreaking movies such as 'The Secret', we are consistently told that the way to achieve our desires is to focus on what we want- not what we don't want.
Anthony Robbins likens it as to a speed rally driver racing round a track- if we focus on the wall, that's what we're going to crash into! To achieve the outcomes, goals and dreams you truly want in life, focusing on the end point- where you want to go, is the main key to success.
So what if there were solid, reliable scientific evidence for the power of mental focus? I'm guessing we would all begin to hold images in our minds of cheques instead of bills arriving through the post! But firstly, why is it important to focus on where you want to go, instead of those things you want to avoid? Well, by making pictures or images in your mind, you are giving instructions to your unconscious mind.
Believe it or not, your unconscious mind doesn't know the difference between a real image and an imagined one, which is why dreams can often seem so terribly lifelike and can sometimes frighten us- as if they were actually happening. An important thing to remember is that the unconscious mind does not process negatives. It actually deletes them. The reason being is that you will, consciously or unconsciously, create an internal picture or representation of that which you were trying to avoid. Have you ever thought 'I mustn't spill this' or 'I better not knock that over' . Your unconscious mind will create a picture of that which you wish to avoid- so a spilt glass of wine or broken crockery can often result.
But what about those negative things we hold in our mind on a consistent basis? Things like 'I'm poor' or ' I'm no good at anything'. What kind of images do these create?
'So what?' You may be thinking. 'It doesn't actually matter what thoughts I have, positive or negative, these thoughts are mine and thinking positively won't change a thing'. This would be indeed true under the interpretation of our current scientific model. However, the power of our mind is much more influential than we first thought.
To put it briefly, advances in physics have discovered that when you delve through the levels of our being, our molecules and our atoms, all that is left is energy- interconnected energy fields. They discovered that particles also act like waves, and can change depending on our observation.
What do I mean? Well, everything exists as possibility, or a waveform. When quantum physicists discovered that the act of observation causes possibility to collapse, it meant that our minds have the potential to create reality.
Simply put, our minds are like a laser beam which when focused, have the potential to change the 'energy' around us. Since the new paradigm of science has revealed that mind and matter are part of the same force, the same 'energy', it means that having a consistent focus is akin to being a magnet, pulling those things toward you which you hold in your mind.
Our thoughts create our reality? Having focused thoughts of wealth can bring us riches? Surely, its not that easy? I hear you say. And you'd be right. Just think, if our minds are lasers we need to have enough power within us to drive that laser towards what we want. Many successful people have noted that a burning desire and passion towards what they wanted to achieve helped them towards financial freedom.
As Napolean Hill, author of the acclaimed 'Think and Grow Rich' states 'weak desires bring weak results'. So if you were setting up a business say, but were not truly focused, passionate or determined about that business it is less likely to succeed.
To create enough 'mental energy' that is needed to achieve your goal there has to be so much desire for what you want that it will drive you into taking action. For example, entrepreneurs such as Donald Trump, Duncan Bannatyne and Richard Branson all mention that their goals sometimes became a bit of an obsession- something that they would pursue at all costs.
So as you think of that house or car you want, stop, and just ask yourself- how much do I really want this? You'll know how much if you get an excited feeling- the feeling of 'I've got to have this!' Ask yourself- what will it be like if you get what you want? Imagine living in the house, or driving that car. If your reaction is nothing less than bursting with excitement and enthusiasm you can be sure you're on the right track.

How Can Duncan Bannatyne Spend So Much Time on TV and Still Grow a Multi-Million Pound Business?By Richard Parkes Cordock


Some years ago, I interviewed Duncan Bannatyne as part of my research into high-performing entrepreneurs. The first time I first met him, Duncan wasn't as famous as he is today; he hadn't yet starred in Dragons' Den. However, he was a hyper-successful entrepreneur who was listed in the Sunday Times Rich List and could freely choose how he spent his time. In fact, Duncan had bid £7,000 at a charity auction and won a walk-on-part in a Guy Richie movie. He enjoyed it so much, he decided he wanted to become an actor - and let his people run his companies (in here is a clue to Duncan's success!)
He told me he'd just finished studying at the New York Film Academy, which is off the Strand near Trafalgar Square in London, but his subsequent auditions hadn't gone well. Even with this lack of success in the movies, his star quality and 'winning smile' shone through, and it's no surprise to me that Duncan has become a household name for his TV work.
I interviewed Duncan at the Park Lane hotel in Piccadilly, asking the same questions I had asked many UK entrepreneurs.
Duncan said one thing to me that day which, at the time, didn't register with the potency it does now as I look back and reflect on those particular words.
He told me he had a Board meeting the following day and that he should have looked at his accounts but didn't because he knew they were going to be fantastic.
How did Duncan know? He knew because he had people in his company who thought and acted like him. He had people he could trust in his absence to run the business and make decisions for him, while he went off pursuing his own acting career, and in later years his own television career.
His people think and act like business owners.
Let's look at what is going on in the mind of a business owner, the mind of somebody like Duncan Bannatyne, and the mindset and attitude you need to develop in your own employees, so that they too think, act and make decisions like a business owner.
1. Confidence and Belief
The starting point for success for any great business leader is true inner self-belief and confidence.
·Confidence in your own ability to achieve the goals you set out to achieve. ·Confidence that you can overcome any obstacles. ·Confidence that you can make your customers believe in and buy from you.
Simply put, if entrepreneurs didn't believe in the businesses they set out to create, they wouldn't start in the first place, because they wouldn't be able to make the team believe or their customers believe.
Your employees need to share the same level of inner confidence as someone like Duncan.
Anybody that has a vision and takes it personally upon themselves to create a business needs to have within them an unswerving, unshakable resolve, which becomes something of substance that other people can buy into and believe in.
It goes back to the very simple fact that if you don't believe in what you are doing you can't make your team believe. If your team don't believe, they can't make your customers believe. If your customers don't believe, they won't buy, buy again, or recommend you. So belief is the starting point.
2. Passion and Desire
The next core trait of a business owner, or someone like Duncan, is passion and a pure unadulterated love of what they're doing.
Passion is the fuel that drives you forward, it provides momentum and energy, and is infectious. People around you will be inspired by your passion and will pass on that energy to their team. This feeling will be conveyed to your customers who will then be compelled to buy from you.
It's your job as the business leader to instil your passion in every member of your team.
Customers pick up on passion and belief. It is a company's passion and belief that customers buy into.
If you show passion and deep belief in everything you do, you give your customers a memorable and remarkable experience which they will want to share with others.
But, if your employees don't share your level of passion and belief for the business, then as a company you will never achieve high levels of success and fulfil your true potential.
Clearly people like the Barman lack that passion and desire, and if you have employees like him, you'll never be able to create a business which customers can believe in and buy from.
Whereas if you have people like Paolo who love their job, and demonstrate business-owner-thinking, they will exude an inner confidence and passion for what they do, which in turn will send out viral shock waves into the market about how excellent your company is.
3. Courage
The third element of the mindset of a business owner is courage and the confidence to step outside your comfort zone.
So much about success at a personal and business level comes down to having the confidence and courage to conquer your own inner fears, doubts and limiting beliefs. It's having the courage to do the very things that you are uncomfortable doing.
You only have to look at one entrepreneur, Richard Branson, who (by his own admission) is a shy person and uncomfortable in public speaking situations.
However, he knew only too well that the best way to promote his brand was for him to become the face of it. Now, whenever we think abut Virgin we automatically think about Branson. When Virgin Brides was launched, he famously dressed up as a bride himself; when he launched Virgin Cola he drove a Tank down Fifth Avenue in New York to proclaim his battle with Coca Cola. He even injured himself whilst abseiling down the Palms Resort Fantasy Tower whilst promoting his new airline route between San Francisco and Las Vegas. He personally does television and radio interviews, but speaking to an audience is not naturally comfortable for him, as it is for media personalities such as Jonathan Ross or Ricky Gervais.
However, what Branson clearly does is find an inner courage, which is fuelled by his passion and supported by his own inner belief in himself, to step outside his comfort zone, and to do the very thing he needs to do to achieve his goals.
4. Goals and Purpose
The fourth element is to have a clear purpose, clear goal, and a higher vision and mission.
You need to understand why you do the things you do.
You can have all the passion and energy in the world, but without a clear goal (which everyone understands and believes in), nothing will ever be achieved.
In the courses and books I've written, I talk about entrepreneurs having 'man on the moon goals' which are ambitious, stretch goals.
America would never have made space travel history if President Kennedy, in 1961, hadn't set a goal to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth.
By announcing this goal publicly, the whole team behind the mission had something real and tangible to work towards. They passionately believed in that goal and as a result, made it happen.
In your organization your team needs to have the same clarity of goals, the same higher purpose, and your own 'man on the moon' goals.
There may be thousands of sub-goals in order to achieve the higher purpose, but if your staff don't understand what the higher goal is, there is no way they can help drive your company towards it.
A perfect illustration of this is the story (possibly apocryphal) of President Kennedy visiting the space station in the early 1960s when the space rocket was being developed.
In true Kennedy style he stopped to speak to somebody who was sweeping the floor. Kennedy said to the man, "What are you doing, sir?" The man sweeping the floor said, "Mr. President, I'm helping put a man on the moon."
Everybody in your organization has to understand what the higher purpose of your company is. They must know what your man on the moon goals are what their part is in helping you to achieve them.
If they don't understand what the bigger picture is and if work to them is purely a job without a sense of purpose, then there is very little reason that they will give their all. Ultimately it is the customer who will suffer.
5. Persistence and Tenacity
The fifth element of business-owner-thinking is pure persistence and the refusal to accept no for an answer.
This is a trait consistent with all high achievers. Every entrepreneur business owner you ever speak to will have endless stories where they have had to demonstrate persistence and never give up.
Inevitably in business, whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. It is your inner resolve (and the inner resolve of your employees) to keep going and to push on, to overcome the endless hurdles and crushing lows, and push on through to reach your ultimate goals, which is the difference between success and failure.
Without the passion and belief, it would be all too easy to give up when faced with those endless barriers.
Famously, Branson's engine blew up the night before the maiden flight of his Virgin Atlantic crossing. For most people this would have been a barrier, but Branson pushed on and kept going to create one of the world's premier airlines.
Duncan Bannatyne ran out of money before finishing the build of his first nursing home. Where other people at that point may have given up and said, 'Well, I can't complete this because I can't afford it', Duncan found an ingenious, creative way of solving the problem. He asked his mother and her pensioner friends to temporarily fill the nursing home in order to persuade the bank to release the final payment of the loan which was dependent on the nursing home being full.
Stories that entrepreneurs tell you about persistence often sound like they have been made up, and are a testimony to their levels of creativity and ingenuity. It's this level of creativity and ingenuity you need to unleash in your staff.
6. Energy Flow
The sixth trait of entrepreneurs is having positive energy and thinking positively even when times are tough.
So much in business is about the flow of energy, and creating an environment where a positive flow of energy can thrive, without being destroyed by negative people who disrupt the balance.
I used to work for a software company in London and each day the managing director would walk in, and with him through the door, would come all of his negative energy.
Prior to him walking through the door, the office would be buzzing and alive but his negative energy would soon start to infect everyone and create negative pockets throughout the company.
Virtually all companies have this negative energy in some shape or form, but coming from the business owner it is inexcusable. It's your responsibility as a business owner or business leader to create an environment of positivity, of positive thinking, of can-do and will-do, and of ambition and drive where success can, and will be achieved.
7. Failure
Number seven is the understanding that failure is a good thing.
The reality is that nothing of any note has ever been achieved without experiencing failure along the way.
Failure is inevitable when trying something new, pushing for new heights, and new innovations, or entering new markets as entrepreneurs inherently do.
It goes without saying that not everything will work. Entrepreneurs embrace failure, see it as a positive and agree that if you're not failing, you're not trying hard enough.
That's not to say that they actively seek it, but when it comes along they are ready to react. It doesn't get them down because their belief, passion and their drive keep them going.
All too often though, in companies failure is seen as a negative thing and is frowned upon.
In certain circumstances, failure through lack of attention or lack of effort should be seen this way.
But when trying new things, such as innovating and changing, it is only those companies that recognize that failure is part of the journey to success who truly will achieve higher goals.
You need people who understand that failure can be a positive thing and should be learnt from. They know that by failing they can develop wisdom and experience which will ultimately get them closer to their goals.
8. Hard Work and Hustle
Number eight is hard work and the hustle factor. It is simply taking action. It is the physical act of working with a level of commitment, intensity, and sense of urgency, that is needed to get things done to deliver results.
Duncan Bannatyne didn't start his multiple businesses without working hard, putting in the hours, and being 100% committed to achieving his goals.
I'm sure Duncan will agree that his journey, and the journey of his team, has been fun. They've enjoyed it and as a result, the hard work has not seemed like hard work because it was fun.
It was fun because they were doing something they were passionate about, that they believed in and that they had the desire and the ambition to create.
If you have people who are despondent and indifferent to their work, and who see it as a chore, then how can they ever perform at a higher level? How can their own inner splendour pour out into your products and services and be felt by your customers?
It can simply never happen.
That is what customers should pick up on, the fact that you enjoy your work and love what you do.
The beautiful Apple iPod could never have been designed by someone who didn't love and enjoy their work. It was clearly created by someone who loves music, loves design, and loves technology. It was not something that happened overnight. I would imagine it required thousands of hours of intense effort, concentration and time.
The people working on that project are clearly proud of what they've created. It shows in the smallest details: in the design of the iPod player, the packaging, the marketing, in the way the menu system rolls up and down, and from the constant innovation that comes from generation to generation of not only iPods but a whole range of Apple products.
Apple is a clear illustration of a company whose people embody business-owner-thinking. Their products have become so beautiful and have that wow-dazzle factor that they sell themselves.
As a result, their customers are passionate fans of Apple and now, because of the energy and buzz in the marketplace, people want to be part of Apple.
That could never have happened if the people in Apple didn't love their work, or if they acted like the Barman I spoke about in Chapter 1.
Similarly, it wouldn't have happened if the people in Apple were Middlemen who neither underperformed or over performed.
Putting it all together: Leadership
The net result of all of this is that business owners are actually leaders.
They are people who lead themselves to achieve their higher goals, and are able to lead and inspire their teams to achieve more.
It's the personal development of your staff to turn them into leaders (who think, act and make decisions like business owners) that you need to focus on to achieve extraordinary results in your company.
Can anybody become a leader?
I'm often asked whether anybody can become a leader and whether everybody has these traits within them.
Without question I say the answer is yes, if that person is working in an environment that they are passionate about and have the desire for.
Everybody demonstrates this leadership ability at some point in their lives. I spoke in the previous chapter about buying a house, and the increase in business acumen and leadership you demonstrate when you want something that badly.
The same is true when you book a holiday. You immerse yourself, and for a moment in time, you become a leading expert on your desired destination, whether it is a two-week long haul trip to Thailand, or a five day skiing holiday in the Pyrenees.
A friend of mine recently wanted to get tickets for a key Manchester United European Cup game at Old Trafford. Immediately, with this goal in mind, he fought harder than he usually would and demonstrated just the kind of traits that a high achieving entrepreneur would, simply because his own ambitions and goals were aligned. He was chasing a goal that he was passionate about, that he had a burning desire for, and that he believed ultimately he could reach. Needless to say, he got his coveted tickets in the end!
Leadership ability and business-owner-thinking lies within everybody if the right circumstances arise. But this may not be the case currently with everybody in your organisation.
Your staff who are like the Barman may not show leadership ability at work, but this doesn't mean they don't have leadership ability within them. They just don't have it in them for your company, or for the work that they're doing.
The Barman could for example, be a gifted cyclist and someone who outside of work regularly organizes long-distance bicycle rides from the UK to the South of France. He could be a first-class footballer who is the captain of his local football team and leads by example. He could be a church goer who leads his church group every Sunday.
Given the right circumstances and the right motivations and desires, anybody can be a leader and a person of high-performance, but they have to be playing to their strengths and following their passion.
In your company, you need to find and actively develop people so that they play to their strengths. You need to align their passions, goals and motivations with the goals and aspirations of your organization. You need to develop your people into leaders who think like business owners, not just employees.
It is these people who will make your customers want to buy, buy again and then do your marketing for you. It is these people who will transform your workforce into your salesforce.
I'll explain in the following chapter how you can download (in MP3 format) a copy of my interview with Duncan.
This extract is taken from the book Profit Upgrade - How to add $1,00s, $100,000s or $1m+ to your bottom-line profits (each year, and even in sluggish times).

The Do’s and Don’ts For Financial Success – Money Expert mark aucamp

Now more than ever it pays to be savvy when it comes to getting the credit you need to run your life. Luckily, you don’t have to be an expert to stay on the money. These simple steps could help you find financial success. Do know what you owe… In the current climate, you need to know exactly where you are before making plans – and what you really owe could come as a wake up call. Instead of wading through files and old bills, you can find your credit accounts, from credit and store cards to loans, mortgages and even mobile phone accounts, listed in your credit report, along with your repayment record. You can see your Experian credit report for free with a 30 day trial of CreditExpert, the online credit monitoring and ID fraud protection service. …and don’t stick your head in the sand The worst thing you can do is nothing. Interest could be mounting up on borrowing you’ve forgotten, so you could end up owing even more in the long run. Do keep up with your repayments… It can be tempting to skip the occasional repayment if you’re having a tough month but you could rack up penalties and interest – and it will be recorded on your credit report for at least three years, where lenders will see it when you make a new application. …and don’t be afraid to talk to your lenders If you’re having financial problems it’s in their interest, as well as yours, to come up with a sensible solution. Together, you may be able to agree a new schedule of affordable payments, although this may mean that it will take longer to clear what you owe. Do your research… When you need a card, loan or credit account of any kind, research what’s on offer – visit personal finance and price comparison sites to see what’s out there and what matches your circumstances. You’ll stand a better chance if you ask for an appropriate and affordable deal. …and don’t take a scattergun approach There’s no point in firing off lots of applications in the hope that one of them will succeed. Not only could you get turned down, but you could damage your credit rating in the process. Each application will trigger a search by the lender and these leave a record on your credit report. If other prospective lenders see a lot of these, they could fear you’re overstretched, out of financial control or even suspect a fraud. Do shred before you bin… ID fraud is one of the UK’s fastest growing crimes, so make sure thieves can’t get hold of personal or sensitive information from your rubbish and use it to borrow money in your name or max out your accounts. …and don’t put too much in the recycling You may think you’re doing your bit for the environment but you could also be offering a free gift to a thief. Remove the address or account information from all letters and documents before you put them in the box – even an old catalogue could put your ID at risk if a bin raider picks it up. Do check your credit report regularly… Lenders look at your credit report every time you apply to them and when they’re setting interest rates and other conditions, so it pays to be sure that all the information it contains is up to date and accurately reflects your situation. You’ll also be able to spot suspicious applications or transactions that could indicate attempted ID fraud. …and don’t assume everything’s okay If you haven’t received any payment demands or red bills, don’t assume you have a good credit rating. A simple clerical error or misunderstanding could damage your credit status, so make regular checks on your credit report part of your financial routine. A credit monitoring like CreditExpert can help – members receive an email or text alert every time there is a significant change, like a late payment recorded by a lender or a large change to a credit account balance. Do put a shine on your credit history… If you can demonstrate that you are a responsible borrower with a stable lifestyle, you have a better chance of getting the deals you want. You can improve your credit status by taking simple steps – for example, ask lenders to correct any errors in your credit report, close unused accounts and register to vote at your current address. …and don’t assume the past is over and gone If you’ve been bankrupt, taken out an IVA or had court judgments against you for debt, the evidence remains on your credit report for at least six years and even a missed repayment can be seen by lenders for at least three years. If special circumstances, such as illness, an accident, redundancy or divorce, were behind any past problems, you can add a note of explanation that lenders may take into account when deciding whether to make you an offer. Do ask for help If you’re having problems, get free, professional advice. Try Citizens Advice at adviceguide.org.uk, National Debtline at nationaldebtline.co.uk or the Consumer Credit Counselling Service at cccs.co.uk. As well as offering advice on how to manage and reduce your debts, these organisations have the legal right to negotiate with creditors on your behalf. …and don’t be tempted by offers that are too good to be true “There is no magic spell that will allow you to walk away from money troubles without any consequences and only you can sort out your credit status, so be wary of miracle cures for your financial ailments. They almost always cost you money you can’t “