New Year's Tip #2: Check Your Trash

 

One day, a couple of weeks ago, my wife and I were out on a walk down the road that runs in front of our house. As is often the case (and sadly so), there was trash strewn along the side of the road of cups, beer cans, etc. as we walked. And then we came upon a big pile of trash that someone had thrown out of their passing vehicle.

 

I told my wife that, on our way back, we would pick it up and get rid of it since it was such a large pile of trash. And, upon our return trip, we did pick it up so that we could dispose of it once we arrived home. The following is a description of what made up this pile of trash...

     First of all, it was a bag from a fast food restaurant with the accompanying cup, lid and straw thrown out beside it. Inside the bag, along with the wrappers and small box from the french fries, was also an empty cigarette box, several scratched off lottery tickets, one beer can and another beer bottle.

 

As I noticed these items that had been tossed out of a passing vehicle, I was, first and foremost, disgusted that a person had no more respect for the beauty of nature than to do such a thing. I simply do not understand that type of mentality.

 

Then it hit me. As I put that original thought together with the contents of the trash pile, it dawned on me that this was all evidence of a "poor man's mentality".

 

I have no idea what the financial situation is for the person that did this act, but I think I can probably give you a pretty good idea based on the trash and the type of mentality displayed by the trash and the action as well.

 

A poor man's mentality is a mentality that has no respect for anyone else or for nature and helping keep it clean of such trash. They often have the attitude of, "Someone else will pick it up" instead of taking it to their own home and finding a place for disposal.

 

A poor man's mentality is also displayed by one who, if they even have a job, will struggle to make ends meet and yet will spend the unnecessary money on the following:

     - Fast food: Instead of taking a lunch from home to work, they will stop off and spend between $5 - $10 on a lunch and do this several times a week. Even if they are not working on a particular day they may run through the drive through of a fast food restaurant and do the same...and throw the trash out of the window on the way home.

     - Beer or alcohol: Again, often, the person with this type of mentality struggles to make ends meet but, at the same time, will have the purchase of alcohol as a main part of their expenditures. Many times this person will be the person that will drink to the point of being drunk and passed out weekend after weekend. And, if drinking in their vehicle (illegally) will toss the can and/or bottle out the window as they drive down the highway.

     - Cigarettes: Do you want to come up with a better example of literally lighting up money with a match and watching it burn? Many times those with this "poor man's mentality" will struggle to keep their lights turned on yet, at the same time, will burn through dollar after dollar through the smoking of cigarettes. And, you guessed it, when done, if in their vehicle, they will toss it out of the window as litter.

     - Lottery tickets: Several years ago I worked at a convenience store that sold lottery tickets. I quickly learned that, come payday, there would be a steady stream of customers that would come in with their "fresh cash" from payday and spend money on lottery tickets, hoping to "hit it big". With amazement I would see men burn through $20-$30 of tickets and then get excited when, after scratching off all of the numbers on all of the tickets, would end up with "winnings" of $5.00. There would be days that I would see a man spend half of his newly earned paycheck on lottery tickets by the time he left the store. I often wondered what his family went without due to this habit.

 

Am I saying that every person that participates in any of these activities has a "poor man's mentality"?

 

No, of course not.

 

I will say this: If you are one that throws trash out of your window, you are a person that has no respect for others and, likely, not much for yourself. You can determine what type of mentality you would like to call that, but I feel very strongly about anyone that particpates in that activity.

 

However, I would challenge any of you on the use - and amount of use - with any of the other items listed above. I understand the draw of "eating out" but question the mentality of anyone that struggles in any way that makes this a regular part of their activity. Have you added up how much money you spend on fast food/eating out over a month's time? Maybe you should even just break it down to a weekly amount and then go from there. It's something to think about.

 

The same is true for alcohol, friend. Have you taken the time to add up your expense on this? It's definitely something to think about and, for sure, if you are getting behind the wheel of an automobile after drinking you, again, are not considering (respecting) anyone else as you do so. You might want to also ask yourself what the reason is for your drinking. Hey, get honest with yourself on this. Is it just habit? Is it to relax? Is it even to, perhaps, "escape" from life?  It's all worth taking a look at, friend.

 

Yes, there are people that win big money by playing the lottery. LOOK AT THE ODDS listed on YOUR chance to do so. You are literally "throwing your money away" when you play the lottery and, especially, when you play it in such a way that has you thinking that you are going to "hit it big" one day as long as you keep on playing and throwing your money away.

 

So, the tip is simply this: WHAT'S YOUR MENTALITY? Does it need to be changed? If you're not sure what your "mentality" may be, perhaps you should spend a little time going through your trash. Seriously.

 

As well as going through the trash, you probably need to go through your checkbook to figure out how much money is being spent on things such as this.

 

Think about it, this could be an adjustment that could greatly improve the your physical AND financial health as well.

 

And, one final thought...if you find that you are angry after reading this article, ask yourself, "WHY?" And then take the time to be honest with yourself as you uncover the answer.

 

I'll share one more tip with you for the New Year in the next article but, until then, whatever you do...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you/)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University    "Like" FYU on Facebook!    Podcast on iTunes    Podcast RSS feed

 

The Greatest Cost...

"The greatest cost would be a missed opportunity"- Jackie O'Guinn

 

I'm not sure if Mr. O'Guinn is the one that originally came up with that quote or not, but he is the one I heard say it last night when I was on a call with my company.

 

If you've been following along for the past few weeks you will remember that I said that it will likely take you longer to reach your goals and dreams than you first thought and it will likely COST YOU MORE than you first thought.

 

Many give up because of the cost. Cost simply meaning the amount of money that is being put into the pursuit of this goal.

 

Yes, I agree, you cannot and should not just blindly pour money into something without any return. But, here's one thing to seriously think about - if you think that you are going to "make it" by just pouring money into something then, friend, you are badly mistaken.

 

If that is what you are doing and expecting then you are likely being taken for a ride. That's the lazy man's way out and it usually DOES cost him big time.

 

However, many times we also think that pursing this goal and dream shouldn't cost us much of anything! We expect results quicker than is likely realistic and we expect to have to put in far less money than is realistic.

 

Sometimes we determine "cost" in a way that will cause us to miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime.

 

I heard it put this way on a call I was listening to today: If you were GUARANTEED to make $200,000 this year and it would cost you $20,000 to get in on this guarantee, what would you do? Would you just give up and walk away because you didn't have the $20,000 available to you at the moment or would you FIND a way or MAKE a way to get that $20,000?

 

It honestly depends on how you evaluate "cost".

 

Now, there are few guarantees in life, especially when it comes to money and potential earnings. But, as Mr. O'Guinn said, "The greatest cost would be a missed opportunity".

 

What does all of this mean for you?

 

It is simply encouraging you to learn to look at things differently if you are SERIOUS about making needed changes in your life.

 

It does take time and it is uncomfortable, especially at first, because there is risk involved (remember, guarantees are few and far between).

 

Here is a guarantee: You will miss 100% of the shots that you don't take.

 

I don't know friend. I just felt the need to share this information with you today. Maybe it doesn't hit you or connect with you today. But maybe, just maybe, this is exactly what you needed to hear.

 

Opportunity doesn't always knock and, most of the time, once that opportunity passes by your door it is gone, never to return.

 

Make the most of your time - make the most of your day - make the most of your life!

 

And, as you do so, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University     "Like" FYU on Facebook!     Podcast on iTunes     Podcast RSS feed

 

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What is YOUR Income Strategy?

O.k., so here we are a week into the New Year! If you haven't done so, be sure to go back and read the last blog and listen to the last podcast entitled, "What IS a Resolution?" to help you as you set out to better yourself and accomplish positive moves in your life during this year.

 

And, as you do so, take into consideration these thoughts as I continue my discussion on Bob Proctor's, "The Science of Getting Rich".  Again, I have highlighted the thoughts from my notes that come from Mr. Proctor and then I have added my own thoughts as well.

 

Mr. Proctor says (and I have heard this from many others who understand and have wealth) that there are 3 Income Earning Strategies as listed below: 

   1: used by 96% of people (trading time for money = a J.O.B.) - you will NEVER get ahead of the game doing this!  

  2: used by 3% of people (use/invest money for money)

  3: only used by 1% (they multiply their time/effort by setting up MULTIPLE SOURCES OF INCOME!) *IF YOU CAN EARN $10,000 you can earn $100,000. If you can earn $100,000 then you can earn $1 million! It all follows a basic principle!

 

Let's take a quick, but closer, look at these 3 strategies and see what that means for you now and in the future.

 

1. Trading Time for Money. Obviously if it is the method being used by 96% of the people, then it is likely the method or strategy that you are using as well. There is nothing wrong with having a job so please, do not take what is being said here the wrong way. The problem comes when you cannot - for whatever reason - give of your time in order to get the money. Sickness, injury - it doesn't matter because, simply put, if you don't work, you don't get paid. Times have changed greatly over the years and there are NO indicators, as was true in the past, that can give the security of you having that job for as long as you want as long as you do the job and do it right. Those days are gone!

 

2. Invest Money for Money. I can hear some of you now - "But, Mike, I invest in the stock market!" For one, you likely dabble in the stock market. Regardless, how has the stock market treated you over the past 5 - 10 years? True investing takes knowledge and knowledge comes from education and that education comes from a desire to learn more. Sure, all investment has SOME risks but those that do their "due diligence" remove as much of the risk as possible. ONLY 3% OF PEOPLE DO THIS! Now, who do you think these 3% are? How financially set do you think these in this 3% are?

 

3. Multiple Sources/Streams of Income. Only 1%. Yet, as you think about the beauty of this strategy it is amazing that only 1% use this strategy. Again, I can hear some of you say, "Oh, but Mike, I have two jobs, my wife babysits on the side and we also sell old stuff on-line!" Sure, you have income coming in from different sources (that is good and it is ambitious) BUT....yeah, you knew that was coming, right? - what happens with ANY one of these if you (or your wife) gets sick, hurt or just gets tired? In all of these, if you don't work, you don't get the money! Those who set up multiple streams of income are much like the 3% that learn how to truly invest their money. THEY HAVE SPENT THE TIME (due diligence) to LEARN how to find sources of income that will produce money whether they are able to work or not! It's a simple way of saying that they have chosen not to put "all of their eggs in one basket".  Even if one source suffers for any reason, they have OTHER sources to help take up the slack!

 

I'm not going to say much more about this - just take a look at it and see what you can begin doing TODAY - RIGHT NOW - to start switching over from category 1 (with the rest of the 96%) to one of the other 2 categories.

 

What's the problem? We want it and we want it to happen for us NOW!

 

We are not a patient people and, most of us, are not willing to do what it takes to make this transition in our lives.

 

That, my friend, is why only 4% of the people practice strategies 2 and 3!

 

I don't want to be like everyone else. I've heard this many times from many different people in the area of fiance and wealth: "If you want to have success, you must do what everyone else is NOT doing!"

 

In other words...STEP OUT FROM THE CROWD!

 

Can you? Yes, you absolutely can.

 

Will you? That's totally up to you.

 

 

Until next time, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

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Money & Happiness

Yes, I am continuing my thoughts on Bob Proctor's "The Science of Getting Rich" and, as before, I suggest you go back and read all of last week's blogs along with the one before this to catch up and get the "full picture" of this discussion.

These discussion points came after I watched a video of Mr. Proctor talking about this book. (Again, you can likely easily find a free e-book of it on line). In order to make this a little easier for you to follow, I'm going to highlight the points taken from Mr. Proctor in color and the rest are my own thoughts. Get it? Got it? GOOD!

Money was never intended to make us happy!
Since it doesn't matter whether we have $$ or not to be happy - WE MIGHT AS WELL HAVE IT AND PLENTY OF IT!

Once again - just to clarify - the Bible DOES NOT say that money is the root of all evil. It actually says the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. O.k., that's out of the way (again).

Too many people think, "Oh, if I only had more money, I'd be happy!" FALSE! If you are not happy now or if you have not LEARNED to be happy now then having more money won't change that. Oh, it likely WILL improve things for a while but, likely, you will end up right where you were before...broke and unhappy!

For the most part, money DOES NOT change a person - it AMPLIFIES who that person really is!

So, if money can't make us happy and wasn't INTENDED to make us happy, then what WILL it or CAN it do for us?

Money is meant to make us COMFORTABLE!     
   The more comfortable we are the more CREATIVE we become!  
   The more CREATIVE we are, the more SERVICE we can render!  
   The more SERVICE we render the more MONEY we will earn!

Comfortable! As worry-free as possible. At peace. Wow, THAT'S what we're talking about! Most people, when asked what is their greatest wish, financially, will say something along the lines of "not having to worry about bills!".

Having your bills taken care of as well as having your retirement taken care of. That's pretty cool, is it not? THEN to be able to reach out and help people and organizations that you've always had a desire to help in a bigger way than you had been able to do before. WOW!

Do you know/understand WHY we can become more "creative" when we become comfortable? It's really pretty simple. Have you ever been worried about your finances (or the lack thereof) to the point that you couldn't sleep or couldn't think of anything else and maybe even felt like you could hardly even breathe?

When you become paralyzed by fear like that, it is almost IMPOSSIBLE for you to be creative. All of your thoughts and all of your focus is on SURVIVAL!

When you relax - when you are able to relax and be comfortable - then your mind can also relax and do what it does best...THINK. And when your mind is allowed to think FREE OF WORRY you may find that you are, indeed, a very creative person. Hey, bottom line, you are beginning to live your life with a whole new mindset! Instead of focusing on the "oh, I can't do that because I can't afford it" you begin to see unlimited possibilities because you are no longer focusing on the price tag!

Follow the path of thought above...we become CREATIVE and then, the more creative we become, the more SERVICE we can render! Do I really need to explain this to you? I don't think that I do BUT, just in case, let me just say that, again, you begin to experience what is possible with a "worry free mindset".

And, then, guess what? (Well, I guess you don't have to guess since it's spelled out for you above!).

The more service you render the more money you earn! Can you begin to see how/why some people just seem to have money coming to them without much effort?  Go back and read the quote from Napoleon Hill's book, "Think and Grow Rich" where he describes this very thing. (It's in one of the earlier blog posts in this series).

It explains how, what I've heard from many others over the years, can be true when they say, "Making money is easy!"

Let me ask you this: how much do you need? How much do you REALLY need? Can you imagine having the ability to GIVE AWAY thousands and thousands of dollars because you already have way more than you really need?  DOES THAT THOUGHT EXCITE YOU AT ALL? It sure does me!

Money makes a BIG DIFFERENCE in all the important areas of our life!

There's really no need for me to comment on that last sentence. YOU figure out what it means for YOU and YOUR LIFE!

So, you see, it doesn't have to be money OR happiness. It can, indeed, be money AND happiness!

Thanks for joining me - I'd love to get your feedback below or at our Facebook fan page! Allow your mind to open up and absorb these thoughts and then take action on the possibilities for your life!

Until next time, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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If You Call It...

"If you build it, they will come." Most all of us - depending on age - will instantly recognize that famous quote from the 1989 movie, "Field of Dreams". Do the research yourself if you don't know what I'm talking about and, do yourself a favor, find a copy of that movie and WATCH IT!

 

However, for the purposes of today's blog, I am going to share a bit different take on a similar quote:  "If you call it, it will come." - Bob Proctor

 

"It" in this quote refers to money. That's right, money. If you haven't done so, be sure to go back and read the last blog article that is the beginning of my discussion of Bob Proctor's "The Science of Getting Rich" and also be sure to notice the addressing of the whole "money is the root of all evil" misapplication.

 

The "warning" that I shared in that article also applies to this one - YOU NEED TO OPEN YOUR MIND TO THE POSSIBILITIES!

 

The notes I took after watching a video with Mr. Proctor sharing insights on this started off (for this part) with the words, "MONEY CAN'T TALK BUT IT CAN HEAR!" And then, the line that I used to tease you with in the title, "If you call it, it will come!"

 

Again, immediately, there are some of you that will want to push this aside and dismiss it as fantasy are "silly talk" but, again, I ask that you open your mind and consider the possibilities IF this is true.

 

I do believe 100% that it is true but I have to admit that I'm still working on putting that belief into total action. Hey, like I said before, it flies in the face of about everything I've ever been taught (and likely you, too!) about money and how to "get" money.

 

But, here's the thing - I have seen this, read this and heard this from many others besides Mr. Proctor! As a matter of fact, long before I even ever HEARD of Mr. Proctor, I had a friend's wife tell me the same thing (in general) about her own husband. She basically told me that "making money is easy" for him. THAT BLEW MY MIND!

 

You see, we tend to put OUR struggles and experiences onto anyone and everyone else and then WE struggle to accept that "making money is easy" for ANYONE! But how could I dispute what she said? There was PROOF right before my eyes! He had found "the secret" in the area of work that he was in and he had the ability to make money without the struggle that I was having at the time.

 

So, listen, when someone along the lines of Bob Proctor tells me that "If you call it (money), it will come!" then I need to PAY ATTENTION!

 

Too, long before Bob Proctor began to share this thinking there was a man by the name of Napoleon Hill that wrote a book entitled, "Think & Grow Rich" that had these types of thoughts in it's pages. (This is another book that you should be able to find for free as an e-book online fairly easily and I HIGHLY recommend that you snag it up!).

 

From that book, Mr. Hill says, "When money starts coming, it will come so fast and so furious that you will wonder where it's been hiding during all of those lean years!"

 

I have actually heard people say very similar things concerning money and their life so, because of all of the evidence, I would have to conclude that, indeed, this IS possible! It IS possible to earn as much as I want (see last article) and "making money" can be "easy".

 

BUT, in order for this true in my life (and yours as well) then I must PAY ATTENTION to, LISTEN to and DO what those successful people have done and continue to do. Right?

 

NOTE: Too many want what successful people have but are unwilling to DO what they have DONE in order to reach that level of success. And you?

 

Mr. Proctor also shares that, "It's not so much WHAT you do but HOW you do it." and that "People don't get rich by doing certain things, they do so by doing things a certain way."

 

Again, if you allow yourself to believe that this CAN be true in your life then wouldn't it only make sense to PAY ATTENTION to what someone like this says? OF COURSE IT DOES!

 

Here is a very specific "secret" that Mr. Proctor (among many others) shares with us about how to achieve these things: "Decide what you WANT, write it on a card, carry it with you and look at it several times throughout your day!"

 

Do NOT allow yourself to miss that! It is SIMPLE but the SIMPLE TRUTH is that MANY people will not do it because of it's SIMPLICITY! "They" will say, "Ha! That won't work! That's silly!"

 

But notice that "they" are not successful. Notice that "they" will stay where they are and never step out to allow themselves the change to improve their lives and the lives of their family. "They" do not have the qualifications to speak on such matters.

 

Do you understand that? There are always plenty of "They said's" out there. But, again, ask yourself this all-important question: "What are THEIR qualifications?".

 

Now, DECIDE what you WANT - write it on a card (get very SPECIFIC with this), carry it with you and look at it several times throughout your day!

 

Will YOU? Some will. Some won't and those that won't will continue to grip and complain about their sad state of affairs.

 

And YOU?

 

Join me next time as we continue with these thoughts and, until then, be sure to...

 

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

 

Mike

 

Future You University     "Like" FYU on Facebook!     Podcast on iTunes     Podcast RSS feed

 

 

 

 

Change By Making a Change!

Not too long ago I spent some time watching some videos in which Bob Proctor shared insights on "The Science of Getting Rich".

 

Now, I had read the e-book before (I suggest you find a free copy of this on the Internet and download it and read it) and got a lot out of it but, for me, there is just something more powerful being able to SEE and HEAR the author discuss those thoughts. And so it was as I watched the videos that I mentioned above.

 

POWERFUL!

 

I took quite a few notes that I KNEW I would be sharing with you and this is the start of that "sharing". I must tell you that, for many, this will be a difficult thing to absorb simply because it is so contrary to our "normal" way of thinking. So I think I should post the following warning...

 

WARNING!

The following information will require the willingness to open your mind to accept thoughts and ideas that, at this time, may seem completely impossible.

 



This first part may seem quite simple but, as I have said many times before, do not miss the fact that, many times, the PROFOUND can be FOUND in something SIMPLE!

Here it is: "All that is required to put 'The Science of Getting Rich' into action in your life is a DECISION!" - Bob Proctor

Simple, right? But yet, if it is so simple then why is that so many people fail at this simplicity? Whether we realize it or not, there is not ANYTHING that we do that is not done without a decision on our part!

We may like to say, "Oh, I wasn't thinking, I just did it!" But that is actually not true! The very fact that your body did what it did was due to your mind telling your body to do what it did. That's right, you had to THINK first!

A DECISION.

Many like to think that they are "open minded" but, in reality, they are not. Too many DECIDE that something is "impossible" instead of making a DECISION to open up their mind to the possibilities that may lie before them.

Are you ready for another simple - yet PROFOUND - statement?

"To Change Your Life, You Must CHANGE YOUR LIFE!" - Bob Proctor

You see, many people (maybe even you?) try to do all kinds of things to change their life without actually making changes IN and TO their lives! When you look at it that way it DOES seem rather silly, doesn't it?

I have often asked people in the past - young and old alike - that told me that they desired to make changes in their lives, "So what are going to do differently? What are you going to change? What friends are you going to change? What places that you go are you going to change? What, specifically, are you going to change?"

And, honestly, most of the time those questions were met with puzzled looks as if to say, "I want to change, but I don't want to change THOSE things!" Hmmmmm. Go back up a few paragraphs and read, again, Mr. Proctor's quote about changing your life.

Now, I used the previous thoughts from Mr. Proctor to lead up to this last, "mind-blowing" quote that he shares concerning money. Yes, money and no, the Bible DOES NOT say that money is the root of all evil. It says that the LOVE of money is the root of all evil. Look it up yourself in 1 Timothy 6:10.

Try to wrap your brain around this one: "You CAN earn ALL YOU WANT!" - Bob Proctor

Now, for some of you, I just lost you due to what I just shared with you. Why? Because that is just so foreign to our way of thinking and it's so foreign to what you likely have experienced in your own life.

Human nature tends to be that we cannot believe anything to be true that we have not seen or experienced to be true in our own lives. (That quote is mine!).

Just spend a little time thinking that through and you come to realize that what I am saying is, indeed, true. We cannot fathom what we cannot see.

The sad part of this is that we DISMISS such things as "impossible" and, because of that, we MISS OUT on many glorious and wonderful things in this life.

I told you that this would require you to "open your mind" a bit more than most of us are accustomed to doing. Let me end this by adding my own little "twist" to the main focus of this article:

"In order to CHANGE YOUR LIFE you must CHANGE YOUR MINDSET!" - (Yeah, that one is mine, too!).

So, if you are "willing and able" to do so, be sure to join me in the next blog article as we continue to explore "The Science of Getting Rich" by Bob Proctor. Until then, be sure to...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

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How Do I Close the Gap?

"How Do I Close the Gap?"

Sometimes we take note of people in the news that are wealthy beyond our imagination and wonder why that can't be us.

So many times we also begin to "attack" that wealthy person (knowing very little - if anything - about them) so that we can feel better about why we are where WE are in relation to where THEY are!

I mentioned an article in the podcast about "Myths About Millionaires" and I've posted it on the fan page on Facebook - go there to check it out. (If you're not a member, go to http://www.FutureYouUniversity.com and click on the contacts tab and join up to become a member of our fan page there).

Hey, listen - you and I have both known this for a very long time...the easiest way to try to make ourselves feel better is to try to tear someone else down! We see it all of the time and, let' admit it, we've also DONE it from time to time.

But, may I suggest that we look at this a different way?

Perhaps, instead of "pulling them down" we need to STEP UP!

It is interesting that, with the article I mention, the comments that people left about the article just emphasize what I'm saying even more. Whining and complaining and the majority of the those leaving comments have NO IDEA what they are even talking about.

Why not let it be DIFFERENT with YOU?

Again, you don't have to be a millionaire to change your life, right?

What amount of money would make difference in your monthly budget? Would $1,000 a month make a big difference in your life? My guess is that it would! That's an extra $12,000 per year!

Whatever is needed in your life - what are YOU doing about it?

Are you sitting on THIS side of the gap looking over at the OTHER side and just whining about it? Are you just sitting and WONDERING how come things are the way that they are?

OR are you ready to start putting some plans - backed by ACTION - into place so that you can "close the gap"?

Guess what? It's all up to YOU!

Hey, you should know by now - if you don't already - that this is the main point of just about everything I say. YOU. No one else so stop looking around. YOU.

What will YOU do?

Start today and, as you do so...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

TERRIFIC TUESDAY- "Decision: The Mastery of Procrastination"

There it is. That "P" word. PROCRASTINATION!

Does that word make you shudder? I'm not sure if I've ever met ANYONE that didn't struggle with procrastination - putting things off until later. Waiting until later before making a decision or taking action.
The problem? The TIME for ACTION never comes...it just keeps on getting moved on to "later".

As we begin discussion of chapter 8 in the Napoleon Hill classic, "Think & Grow Rich" I want you to consider how much better our lives would be if we would finally conquer procrastination. This chapter will give you some SPECIFIC ideas to consider in this process but, as is true with everything else, these thoughts and ideas will do no good unless put into action.

THE WEALTH MINDSET vs. THE POOR MINDSET

Let's take a look at these two categories discussed in this chapter and notice the characteristics of decision making that attach themselves to each of these mindsets.

*makes decisions quickly* *makes decisions (if at all) SLOWLY*
*changes decision (if at all) SLOWLY)* *changes decision quickly & often*



Being completely honest with yourself, which column fits you?

For most of us, the right side - the POOR MINDSET - fits us more often than not! We hesitate to make decisions due to the fear of "what if I fail". We wait, we procrastinate and then, if and when we DO make a decision we are QUICK to change it at the first sign of trouble, set-back or perceived failure!

Those with the WEALTH MINDSET are CONFIDENT in their decisions. Yes, they have done their homework and they do not make the decision without thought - but they are not AFRAID to make that decision or are they afraid of any possible "failure". They withstand the temptation to "bail" on their plans at the first sign of trouble - they "stay the course" many times seeing their decision pay off when others have already "jumped ship".

WOW! Does that challenge you like it does me?

Another factor that we allow to play a big role in our decisions (or the lack thereof) is OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS! We will be discussing this in greater depth in Wednesday's podcast - but we ALL deal with this from time to time. Perhaps it is a spouse or other family member or friends. But they ALL have opinions (and seem to always feel the necessity to share them with us) on why we shouldn't move forward on a decision.

As I mention in the podcast, there are several different versions of the following thought, but this is one of the "cleaner" ones I've heard: "Opinions are like armpits....everyone has them, and THEY ALL STINK!"

Yeah, you know from experience EXACTLY what I mean, don't you? We'll discuss that more in tomorrow's podcast - be sure to join me for it and, until then...

"Make it an AWESOME DAY! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Magical Monday - Your IMAGINATION and Your Future

If you listen to today's podcast you will find that I am VERY EXCITED about the discussion of chapter 6 in the Napoleon Hill classic, "Think & Grow Rich".

Why? Because the title of this chapter (the 5th step toward "riches") is IMAGINATION!

This is an exciting chapter! Why? Because with our imagination our future is wide open! As a matter of fact, Mr. Hill calls the imagination "the workshop of the mind".

Many of the things that we use everyday (and often take for granted) were born in someones imagination. And, most of the time, when these thoughts were expressed, others laughed them off as "impossible" and the one sharing the thought simply "a dreamer".

Aren't you glad they didn't give up? Aren't you glad that Thomas Edison didn't give up before he finally figured out the light bulb? Aren't you glad Alexander Graham Bell didn't give up before he was successful with communication via the telephone? What about air conditioning for your house? What about television? What about the computer you are using at this very moment? What about your cell phone and all of the incredible things that it is now able to do? The television? The automobile? Air travel?

On and on we could go - what all can you name and list? Aren't you glad that those responsible had the IMAGINATION that allowed them to even consider such things? Aren't you glad that they then put that IMAGINATION to WORK to make it a REALITY?

What about us? What about you and me? What can you imagine in connection to your future? Don't be afraid - do it! Picture it! Dream it! Imagine it! Can you see it? Is it possible?

Now, before you answer that last question, let's examine what usually happens in answering that particular question. While we use our IMAGINATION to look past perceived "reality" we usually come crashing back down in a hurry when we answer the question "is it possible". Why? Because, once again, we began to look through the eyes of "perceived reality". Notice I keep using the word, "PERCEIVED" in connection to this.

What was the "reality" of the world that surrounded all of the "dreamers" that are responsible for the things listed above? The reality was that they were often told that it was "impossible"! You see, "reality" is not necessarily "real" at all - it is what we "perceive" to be real. Think about it again and be THANKFUL that those in the past saw past the "perceived reality"!

So, when you consider this question in your own life - "Is it possible?" - don't allow yourself to be persuaded by your own self-defeating thoughts and the "perceived reality" that prevails in our thoughts most of the time.

NOTICE: All of these things that we have been studying work together and in an orderly fashion. That's why it is so important to go back and re-read (if necessary) the chapter on "Autosuggestion". Repeating to ourselves over and over again our dreams, our goals (yes, even our "imagination" thoughts) will sink deep into our subconscious mind to the point of those things becoming FACT -- and the thought of it being impossible nothing but a MYTH!

So, YES - IMAGINE your future! Don't allow the negative thoughts and "perceived reality" stop you short in these thoughts and plans. Realize that there is WORK that must follow to try to figure out how to put together the steps to bring this IMAGINATION into YOUR reality!

Can it be done? ABSOLUTELY! It's been proven over and over again. Isn't it time to prove it in YOUR life?

We'll continue this discussion in tomorrow's podcast - be sure to join me and, as always....

"Make it an AWESOME Day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike

Starting Point - DESIRE (part 3)

Hey friends!

It's another TERRIFIC TUESDAY and I really got off for a few minutes on this point on today's podcast. Hey, if you haven't listened yet - be sure and do so ( http://tinyurl.com/d4n2fx ) .....I really got FIRED UP on this one and, as you can see in the last post that I put up right after I recorded it last night, I referred to it as HIGH OCTANE!!!

How can you NOT get pumped and excited when reading and discussing this great book, "Think & Grow Rich" by Napoleon Hill?

I don't have it in front of me as I type up this article at my office, so I won't attempt to share the specific quotes with you - HOWEVER, the point is made that this book was written right after the Great Depression and Mr. Hill emphasizes over and again the fact that OPPORTUNITY was ABUNDANT!

Does this message apply today? ABSOLUTELY! We have too many negative people in our world proclaiming that there is NO opportunity to be had. However, it's like this little thing I saw once before.....how do you read the following:

OPPORTUNITYISNOWHERE

You can read it one of two ways:
1. Opportunity is nowhere - this is how the majority of people read this. That's a fact. I believe it is due to the fact that most people actually believe this to be true.

OR

2. Opportunity is now here - the exact same letters are used to form this thought. Can you see it? Can you believe it? Can you act upon it?

We MUST NOT accept defeat as a reality! I shared a quote about this on today's podcast. As a matter of fact, it's the same quote that my son, Jordan, picked out to put on the front of the t-shirt he designed. You can see this at: www.PrepareTheFutureYou.com and you can actually purchase one of these. At this point - just let me know how to do so.

Anyway - listen to the podcast today and allow yourself to develop that STRONG, BURNING DESIRE that will see you through the ups AND downs along the way!

And, as always...

"Make it an AWESOME day! (Who else is going to do it for you?)"

Mike