Six months later at a bookshop in Melbourne, I saw that same book again. Curiosity got the better of me and I checked it out. I started reading it to kill time before my flight. It had never crossed my mind that I would ever be so engaged reading a book called “Losing My Virginity”. It was almost time for my flight so I quickly bought it. Good decision. The page turner kept me hooked on my return journey to Perth.

I got to know Richard Branson better through this book; his autobiography (called “Losing My Virginity”) abode a Virgin Blue flight from Melbourne to Perth. He is one of my inspiring legends, a giant on whose shoulders I stand.

Someone asked me if this inspiring legend series is about dead people. No. Richard Branson is alive and kicking, though he has had his fair share of near-death experiences.

On one of his risky world record breaking attempts, he wrote a letter to his son and daughter that would have been his last had he not survived:

Dear Holly and Sam,

Life can seem rather unreal at times. Alive and well and loving one day. No longer there the next. As you both know I always had an urge to live life to its full. That meant I was lucky enough to live the life of many people during my 46 years. I loved every minute of it and I especially loved every second of my time with both of you and Mum.

I know that many people thought us foolish for embarking on this latest adventure. I was convinced they were wrong. I felt that everything we had learned from our Atlantic and Pacific adventures would mean that we’d have a safe flight. I thought that the risks were acceptable. Obviously I’ve been proved wrong.

However, I regret nothing about my life except not being with Joan to finally help you grow up. By the ages of 12 and 15 your characters have already developed. We’re both so proud of you. Joan and I couldn’t have had two more delightful kids. You are both kind, considerate, full of life (even witty!). What more could we both want.

Be strong. I know it won’t be easy. But we’ve had a wonderful life together and you’ll never forget all the good times we’ve had.

Live life to its full yourselves. Enjoy every minute of it. Love and look after Mum as if she’s both of us.

I love you,
Dad

Luckily for Holly and Sam, daddy returned and saw them grow up. He survived, had fun and made a fortune. He is still having fun, getting rich and growing strong.

Rags to Riches Story

Richard Branson’s grandfather was a judge and his father a barrister. Three generations of the Bransons had been lawyers. Pressure was on him to do well in school but the poor chap was not too good in class. He was mildly dyslexic, short sighted and preferred sports to books.

His school headmaster predicted that he would either go to prison or become a millionaire. He did both and went on to become a billionaire. “Losing My Virginity” is his inspiring rags to riches story.

Seeds of Greatness

His first venture was growing and selling Christmas trees (a business I once tried along Ngong Road in Nairobi Kenya lol). His business plan indicated that he and his partner would make ₤800 but as fate would have it their young trees were eaten by rabbits. His revenge mission on the rabbits allowed him to make a few shillings after selling the meat to a local butcher.

He tried a few such businesses with poor results in making money but scored high on lessons and confidence. Eventually, he found his footing when he teamed up with a friend to setup an alternative school magazine. They named the magazine “Student”.  The magazine was opened up to more schools, colleges and universities. They worked the phones and came up with a list of advertisers and distributors before the first issue. The magazine went on to become a huge success. At 17, he had over 100,000 readers.

Virgins in Business

Students love music and Richard Branson quickly moved in to fill the information gap. He interviewed musicians including the Beatles. Being a people person, he was able to attract people to work for him mostly on volunteer basis. They worked out an arrangement where the friends would sell the magazine. They would keep 50% of the money as commission. Amazon and other internet companies call this affiliate marketing; Richard was doing it in 1970.

Richard Branson learned to leverage the “Student” name and had other companies funding his ventures such as sending reporters overseas. He also realized that his magazine could also be used as a platform for selling music, not just posting photos and interviews of the artists.

He had the vision for expanding the “Student” brand to “Student Accommodation”, “Student Hostels”, “Student Travel” etc. Then someone suggested that they use the name “Virgin” since they were virgins in business. A global brand was born.

More than 300 Virgins

Over the years, Richard Branson re-invested his profits to build up the Virgin Brand. Today the Virgin Brand is one of the most respected and recognized brands in the world. The Virgin Group has found success  in sectors ranging from mobile telephony to transportation, travel, financial services, media, music and fitness. Virgin Companies include Virgin Galactic, Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Holidays, Virgin Wines, Virgin Games and Virgin Media.

Inspiring Richard Branson Quotes

• My interest in life comes from setting myself huge, apparently unachievable challenges and trying to rise above them.

• A business has to be involving, it has to be fun, and it has to exercise your creative instincts.

• Above all, you want to create something you are proud of…. That has always been my philosophy of business. I can honestly say that I have never gone into any business purely to make money. If that is the sole motive, then I believe you are better off doing nothing.

• All you have in life is your reputation: you may be very rich, but if you lose your good name, then you’ll never be happy. The thought will always lurk at the back of your mind that people don’t trust you. I had never really focused on what a good name meant before, but that night in prison made me understand.

• To be successful, you have to be out there, you have to hit the ground running, and if you have a good team around you and more than a fair share of luck, you might make something happen. But you certainly can’t guarantee it just by following someone else’s formula.

• I don’t think of work as work and play as play. It’s all living.

Learn More about Richard Branson

Like we have done with the other inspiring legends, please take a moment to learn more about Richard Branson and what makes him tick. My job was just to introduce you to the man. Your job is to learn more about him and to find the nuggets of inspiration that you can take with you.

• Follow Richard Branson on Twitter: http://twitter.com/richardbranson
• Buy Losing My Virginity Book From Amazon.
• Read Up on Richard Branson on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Branson
• Learn More About Virgin http://www.virgin.com
• Richard Branson on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6hILGfbqSg

Summary

Richard Branson is an inspiring legend who has created success after success. I hope he can inspire you to awaken you the giant within you.

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Take Action

It does not matter how much you know if you never take action. You will rarely get that dream job unless you place the right job applications. You will not get that lean and fit body unless you exercise and eat right.

Do not just sit there and think of all the things you are capable of. Instead, a have a bias for action. Get out there and do something. You may be thinking of starting a business or a relationship. That will only materialize if you take action. Fantasizing about your potential will only leave you feeling unfulfilled in the end, if you do not take action.

Use Other People’s Resources

I first heard of the term OPM (Other People’s Money) ten years ago. I got fascinated by the concept and read up on it, and discovered it goes further than that. It extends to other resources, not just money.

You can use other people money to amplify your potential. Banks and insurance companies reap huge benefits by using our money. People take their savings to the bank and are rewarded with a negligible interest rate. The bank then takes the money and lends it to the next guy for a fortune. Listed companies use shareholders money to run their operations.

Are you working long hours trying to make a living or is other people’s money working for you? It is not too late to start thinking of how you can take advantage of other people’s money, just like the banks do.

Using other peoples money wisely and profitably WILL amplify your success. On the other hand, losing other people money in a failed venture can leave you with a deep hole in your pocket. The trick is to do your homework on how to profit from other people’s money.

People and banks will lend you an umbrella when it is raining and ask for it when it starts drizzling. It happens all the time especially in the stock market. Many investors will quickly withdraw their money from your venture at the first sign of trouble. Be careful with other people’s money, but do not underestimate its potential.

You can also tap onto other people’s resources; experiences, time, passions and expertise to turbo charge your success. First you need to align your intentions to make sure you are pulling in the same direction. Create a win-win situation and you will laugh all the way to the bank.

Focused Effort

My mind is constantly coming up with ideas of what I need to do. I end up with a plethora of unfinished projects. I consider myself a man of great potential, but am quickly realizing that there are only 24 hours in a day. Not everything that passes through my mind can be done, unfortunately. I am learning to prioritize and saying NO to good opportunities that I would not have let slide a few years ago.

Do you find yourself trying to juggle more than a few projects or ideas? If you get nothing else from today’s posting, get this: Be Focused!

It is an area of life that I admittedly fall short in but I am trying. Why? I think it makes a lot of sense. Why do 10 mediocre things when you can do one thing very well? The more focused you are on something, the greater your success rate. Do not be a jack of all trades and end up as a master of none.

Have a Mastermind Group

In his timeless classic book, “Think and Grow Rich”, Napoleon Hill said “When a group of individual brains are coordinated and function in harmony, the increased energy created through the alliance, becomes available to every individual in the group”.

Very few fortunes (if any) are made by people who work in isolation. That is the precise reason why companies have boards of directors. The directors brainstorm and use their collective experiences, contacts and expertise for the betterment of the company.

You can assemble your own “board of directors” in your life. Identify people you can connect with in harmony, for a definite purpose, and that will surely amplify your potential.

Napoleon Hill also said:  “Men take on the nature and habits and the power of thought of those with whom they associate in a spirit of sympathy and harmony”.

Think of the 5 people closest to you. Chances are they think like you, talk like you and enjoy the same things as you. If you dig deeper, you will realize just how much impact they have in your life. The bible says “show me your friends, and I will tell you what kind of person you are”. They say that birds of a feather flock together.

Consciously assembling a mastermind group could turn out to be on of your best time investments. How do you become a millionaire if all your friends all earn 15,000 per year? How do you live a healthy life if you and your friends are always at the pub till the wee hours of the morning? How do you get ahead in life without a single encouraging voice in the vicinity? A mastermind group is the master key to unlocking potential.

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This year, I have been unshackling myself from mental slavery. I earmarked 2009 as the year of unparalleled professional and personal growth. It has meant getting rid of some beliefs that were royally screwing my life and preventing me from getting ahead.

I decided to start this blog to share my experiences, lessons and thoughts with others…why? To inspire you to be the best you can be. It has not been an easy road exposing my life to people I might never meet. But it is a small prize to pay to make a positive contribution in your life. I might never meet you in person, but it is my hope that your success will inspire others too.

Early this week, I posted a blog post about setting up systems to serve you. If you have a good belief system… a collection of ideas, outlook, habits, and action triggers, you will succeed. The kind of belief system you set up will determine how high you rise and how far you go. To succeed, you have to let go of self limiting beliefs.

Will Smith is one of my favorite actors of all time. You can watch him on a video I posted in January 2009 on the about page of this blog. He said that he believes whole-heartedly that our thoughts, our feelings, our dreams; our ideas are PHYSICAL in the universe. Your belief system WILL manifest itself in your physical life.

I am living testimony that positive thoughts can transform a life. I had reached the depths sheol and did not like it down there. My beliefs and ideas were keeping me down. I tried the positive thinking “nonsense” and it surprisingly made absolute sense to me. I urge you to give it a try my friend. Commit yourself to a complete renewal of your mind through positive thoughts. What you think, you become. What you believe, you get.

Let us look at a few areas of life that a shaky belief system can cost you (and what to do about it).

Finances

• Generosity – What are your thoughts on giving? I have found that the more you give the more it comes back to you. Do not hoard the little you have thinking that you will start giving when you “get there”. Commit a certain percentage of your time and resources for generosity. If you cannot give $10 to your church when you have $100, it is unlikely that you will give them a hundred grand when you make a million.
• Sow and Reap – As a man soweth, so shall he also reap. What kind of seeds are you planting in your life right now? Whether you realize it or not, you are a farmer. You are always planting and harvesting. If you plant an extravagant lifestyle on credit, you will reap massive debt. If you sow an automatic investment strategy, then you will reap compounded returns.
• Don’t work for money – Do you believe that you have to work for money? That is not cool. Let money work for you instead. Don’t rock up to a job you hate every day for the rest of your life just for the paycheck. Find your passion, do what you like to do, not what money makes you do. The irony is that the more you do what you enjoy doing, the more money you will get.
• The quickest path to happiness – I have said previously on this blog that those who say money cannot buy happiness don’t know where to shop. I maintain that view, but let me add something… you can still be happy without spending your money. The quickest path to happiness is contentment.
• Gain Financial Literacy – Do you bury your head in the sand and let your accountant crunch the numbers for you? Do you say that you are not good with numbers or that finance is too complicated? Such a belief system can cost you a fortune. Get busy now and acquire financial literacy. Celebrities who hand over their money to money managers at times end up in the poor house if they do not pay attention to the details of their financial standing.

Career

• Flexible goals – Some people believe that just because their biology teacher said it, they have to become doctors. Just because you were good in math does not mean you should be an accountant. Be flexible and adaptable to changing times and opportunities in your career.
• It may take time to succeed – Career success does not happen overnight. Be prepared to put in the hours, effort and perseverance. Success is normally found just after others give up. Push yourself, don’t give up.
• Formal qualifications are not the “alpha and omega” of career success. You can succeed in a career that you did not earn a degree. I am a graduate in Business (Marketing & Information Systems) but what I do has little to do with what I studied at uni. I know a lot of people who have had career success in what they trained in. I also a lot of others that have succeeded in areas of their passion even though they do not have any formal training.
• Work on your strengths – In school we are taught to focus on our weak areas. To repeat until we get it. But real life is a little different. Work on your strengths instead of wasting your time on what you are not good at. You can always subcontract your weak areas if you find success on what you are good at.
• It is never too late – I recently read a story about a middle aged lady that had gone back to university to study law. She had been running a clothing store for 20 years. She went on to become a successful lawyer. Do not be stuck in a rut for fear of change. As long as you are not six feet underground, you can do whatever you put your mind to.

Relationships

• Treat yourself nice – How you treat and perceive yourself will have a dramatic effect on how others treat you. Think about it, when you meet new people, you treat them according to how they present or express themselves. Put your best foot forward and others will treat you accordingly.
• Relationships are forever – Think of creating win-win situations with others. Whether you are talking with your customers or wife, treat them with respect and set a foundation for an ongoing relationship.
• Birds of a feather – You will be judged by the company you keep. People you surround yourself with can infect you with their enthusiasm for life or their morbid desire for punishment.
• Stereotypes – Do not succumb to stereotyping yourself or others. Take time to listen and learn about others before making sweeping statements.

In Summary

You can do whatever your put your mind to. Your beliefs affect your relationships, your finances, your health and much more. Think positively and constantly re-evaluate your belief system.

Kindly share this article with your friends. I would love to hear your thoughts and comments on this topic. For the readers who have supported this blog in the last eight months, I say a big thank you. I appreciate you.

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To get ahead in life, you have to really understand the difference between good and bad debt. Good debt takes you ahead in the long term while bad debt pulls you back.

The Allure of Bad Debts

As your income increases, credit card companies, car loan companies and other sharks will be baying for your blood. They will give you the most compelling offers. You see those offers all the time, if you cross a certain income bracket. For only a small monthly repayment, you can get to live in your dream house, have your dream accessories and drive your dream car.

Graphic designers do booming business for the bad debt peddlers. They will come up with interesting ways of showcasing the kind of life you can live, the glory, the luxury, the majesty. They will play with emotions that you did not even realize you had.

The fancy pitches of bad debt salesmen can blind you. They can get you to stop thinking about the future. Why wait when you can have it now? Why not get that new fridge on credit? Why not pimp up your brand new ride for a low monthly payment?

Enter Steve …

Steve got caught up in what I like to call the credit mess. He got a phone call from his bank telling him that he had been pre-approved for a car loan. He had not even thought of buying a car! Then they told him he had 2 months to think about it before the “pre-approval” expired. Instead of taking time to go think about whether it was right or wrong for him to get a car on loan, he started hitting the pavement to the dealerships.

He took a friend with him and shopped with the confidence of a man who has the cash in his pocket. His demeanor changed, he walked with a spring. He was on cloud nine. The car sales men made him feel like a king. They were there to serve him. They showed him around the dealership. Was he looking for a used car or a new car? He did not care. He had the pre-approval to buy anything his heart desired.

Even before the 2 months period elapsed, he had signed the dotted line. He had a brand new BMW, metallic paint, alloy wheels, tinted windows, leather seats and a million other add-ons that that the car salesman had suggested. The extras alone had cost a small fortune, but it was a “negligible” addition to the monthly payments over 5 years.

As he drove off the dealership, he realized that he felt different. Same guy, different car – and people were already treating him different. He loved the attention of the ladies. Oh the power of debt. He felt like a rich royal. All he had to do was make the monthly payments and life would always be this good. He wound down his windows and saw all those flashy cars on the streets…he wondered…how many others are driving financed cars just like him?

The good life …

He got invited to more parties. More people wanted to hang out with him. He now felt like he had to upgrade his wardrobe. It was long overdue, he justified himself. What does he do at this point? He whips out his Visa credit card.

After being invited to a few parties, he felt like he had to return the favor. He wanted to hold a birthday bash at his own house. Then it hit him that he lived in a very humble house compared to his friends. It was time to make a move. He moved to bigger house, it needed furnishing, nice furniture for a man with “class” like him. So he whipped out his MasterCard credit card.

The deeper he got into debt, the more he enjoyed life. The more he enjoyed life, the more friends he made. All his new friends were in similar situations. They were all on a high. Debt is like a drug. It is addictive yet alluring, but with deadly consequences.

What Steve did not realize was that one bad debt begets another. One spendthrift friend begets another. The banks love people like Steve. They are their bread and butter. They provide them with the insane profits; profits that make bank shareholders happy. What Steve pays as interest, they call it “income”.

Good Debts to Get Ahead

On the other hand, James preferred to live within his means. He got tempted all the time to take up credit card and car loan debts at very friendly terms, but he would hear none of it.

To a person looking at Steve and James from a distance, Steve would have seemed to have made it. He had all the flashy possessions to prove he was “rich”. But if truth be told, James was content to live within his means. He was proud of his budgeting skills. He was proud that he was playing the financial system in his favor, not the other way round.

James took the bus to work. Sometimes he would take his beat up Toyota to work. It was just a car that took him from A to B, but it was his. Not owned by a bank or a finance company. He made no monthly repayments for it and did not have to change his living conditions to accommodate the image brought by the car.

He had good friends that had known him for years. Their social lives involved interactions based on a lot more than material possessions.

James did have debts also, but his debts were geared towards investments. He borrowed from the banks to buy and build property. He was disciplined in making his repayments and maintaining a good credit history with his lenders. He never borrowed more than he could comfortably service.

He would do his homework well before he signed the dotted line. He understood the time value of money. Sometimes he let some opportunities pass him by if he did not think that he understood fully what the investment would mean for his future cash flow.

In Summary

To get ahead in life, you need to seriously evaluate what kind of debts you get into. Are you buying an asset or a liability? Are you going to be able to service that debt without adversely affecting other areas of your life? Do you have to take that particular debt?

You can leverage debt to get ahead in life, but be careful about car loans, credit card loans and other consumer loans. If you have to take on debt, lean on the side of investment loans and even then, make sure you do your home work well.

Please share this article (and blog) with your friends. I would love to hear your comments. Please share your experience, thoughts and ideas regarding good and bad debts in life.

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Without good musical faculty no one can succeed as a teacher of music; without well-developed mechanical faculties no one can achieve great success in any of the mechanical trades; without tact and the commercial faculties no one can succeed in mercantile pursuits. But to possess in a well-developed state the faculties required in your particular vocation does not insure getting rich. There are musicians who have remarkable talent, and who yet remain poor; there are blacksmiths, carpenters, and so on who have excellent mechanical ability, but who do not get rich; and there are merchants with good faculties for dealing with men who nevertheless fail.

The different faculties are tools; it is essential to have good tools, but it is also essential that the tools should be used in the Right Way. One man can take a sharp saw, a square, a good plane, and so on, and build a handsome article of furniture; another man can take the same tools and set to work to duplicate the article, but his production will be a botch. He does not know how to use good tools in a successful way.

The various faculties of your mind are the tools with which you must do the work which is to make you rich; it will be easier for you to succeed if you get into a business for which you are well equipped with mental tools.

Generally speaking, you will do best in that business which will use your strongest faculties; the one for which you are naturally “best fitted.” But there are limitations to this statement, also. No man should regard his vocation as being irrevocably fixed by the tendencies with which he was born.

You can get rich in ANY business, for if you have not the right talent for you can develop that talent; it merely means that you will have to make your tools as you go along, instead of confining yourself to the use of those with which you were born. It will be EASIER for you to succeed in a vocation for which you already have the talents in a well-developed state; but you CAN succeed in any vocation, for you can develop any rudimentary talent, and there is no talent of which you have not at least the rudiment.

You will get rich most easily in point of effort, if you do that for which you are best fitted; but you will get rich most satisfactorily if you do that which you WANT to do.

Doing what you want to do is life; and there is no real satisfaction in living if we are compelled to be forever doing something which we do not like to do, and can never do what we want to do. And it is certain that you can do what you want to do; the desire to do it is proof that you have within you the power which can do it.

Desire is a manifestation of power.

The desire to play music is the power which can play music seeking expression and development; the desire to invent mechanical devices is the mechanical talent seeking expression and development.

Where there is no power, either developed or undeveloped, to do a thing, there is never any desire to do that thing; and where there is strong desire to do a thing, it is certain proof that the power to do it is strong, and only requires to be developed and applied in the Right Way.

All things else being equal, it is best to select the business for which you have the best developed talent; but if you have a strong desire to engage in any particular line of work, you should select that work as the ultimate end at which you aim.

You can do what you want to do, and it is your right and privilege to follow the business or avocation which will be most congenial and pleasant.

You are not obliged to do what you do not like to do, and should not do it except as a means to bring you to the doing of the thing you want to do.

If there are past mistakes whose consequences have placed you in an undesirable business or environment, you may be obliged for some time to do what you do not like to do; but you can make the doing of it pleasant by knowing that it is making it possible for you to come to the doing of what you want to do.

If you feel that you are not in the right vocation, do not act too hastily in trying to get into another one. The best way, generally, to change business or environment is by growth.

Do not be afraid to make a sudden and radical change if the opportunity is presented, and you feel after careful consideration that it is the right opportunity; but never take sudden or radical action when you are in doubt as to the wisdom of doing so.

There is never any hurry on the creative plane; and there is no lack of opportunity.

When you get out of the competitive mind you will understand that you never need to act hastily. No one else is going to beat you to the thing you want to do; there is enough for all. If one space is taken, another and a better one will be opened for you a little farther on; there is plenty of time. When you are in doubt, wait. Fall back on the contemplation of your vision, and increase your faith and purpose; and by all means, in times of doubt and indecision, cultivate gratitude.

A day or two spent in contemplating the vision of what you want, and in earnest thanksgiving that you are getting it, will bring your mind into such close relationship with the Supreme that you will make no mistake when you do act.

There is a mind which knows all there is to know; and you can come into close unity with this mind by faith and the purpose to advance in life, if you have deep gratitude.

Mistakes come from acting hastily, or from acting in fear or doubt, or in forgetfulness of the Right Motive, which is more life to all, and less to none.

As you go on in the Certain Way, opportunities will come to you in increasing number; and you will need to be very steady in your faith and purpose, and to keep in close touch with the All Mind by reverent gratitude.

Do all that you can do in a perfect manner every day, but do it without haste, worry, or fear. Go as fast as you can, but never hurry.

Remember that in the moment you begin to hurry you cease to be a creator and become a competitor; you drop back upon the old plane again.

Whenever you find yourself hurrying, call a halt; fix your attention on the mental image of the thing you want, and begin to give thanks that you are getting it. The exercise of GRATITUDE will never fail to strengthen your faith and renew your purpose.

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If no man quite filled his present place, you can see that there must be a going backward in everything. Those who do not quite fill their present places are dead weight upon society, government, commerce, and industry; they must be carried along by others at a great expense. The progress of the world is retarded only by those who do not fill the places they are holding; they belong to a former age and a lower stage or plane of life, and their tendency is toward degeneration. No society could advance if every man was smaller than his place; social evolution is guided by the law of physical and mental evolution. In the animal world, evolution is caused by excess of life.

When an organism has more life than can be expressed in the functions of its own plane, it develops the organs of a higher plane, and a new species is originated.

There never would have been new species had there not been organisms which more than filled their places. The law is exactly the same for you; your getting rich depends upon your applying this principle to your own affairs.

Every day is either a successful day or a day of failure; and it is the successful days which get you what you want. If everyday is a failure, you can never get rich; while if every day is a success, you cannot fail to get rich.

If there is something that may be done today, and you do not do it, you have failed in so far as that thing is concerned; and the consequences may be more disastrous than you imagine.

You cannot foresee the results of even the most trivial act; you do not know the workings of all the forces that have been set moving in your behalf. Much may be depending on your doing some simple act; it may be the very thing which is to open the door of opportunity to very great possibilities. You can never know all the combinations which Supreme Intelligence is making for you in the world of things and of things and of human affairs; your neglect or failure to do some small thing may cause a long delay in getting what you want.

Do, every day, ALL that can be done that day.

There is, however, a limitation or qualification of the above that you must take into account.

You are not to overwork, nor to rush blindly into your business in the effort to do the greatest possible number of things in the shortest possible time.

You are not to try to do tomorrow’s work today, nor to do a week’s work in a day.

It is really not the number of things you do, but the EFFICIENCY of each separate action that counts.

Every act is, in itself, either a success or a failure.

Every act is, in itself, either effective or inefficient.

Every inefficient act is a failure, and if you spend your life in doing inefficient acts, your whole life will be a failure.

The more things you do, the worse for you, if all your acts are inefficient ones.

On the other hand, every efficient act is a success in itself, and if every act of your life is an efficient one, your whole life MUST be a success.

The cause of failure is doing too many things in an inefficient manner, and not doing enough things in an efficient manner.

You will see that it is a self-evident proposition that if you do not do any inefficient acts, and if you do a sufficient number of efficient acts, you will become rich. If, now, it is possible for you to make each act an efficient one, you see again that the getting of riches is reduced to an exact science, like mathematics.

The matter turns, then, on the questions whether you can make each separate act a success in itself. And this you can certainly do.

You can make each act a success, because ALL Power is working with you; and ALL Power cannot fail.

Power is at your service; and to make each act efficient you have only to put power into it.

Every action is either strong or weak; and when every one is strong, you are acting in the Certain Way which will make you rich.

Every act can be made strong and efficient by holding your vision while you are doing it, and putting the whole power of your FAITH and PURPOSE into it.

It is at this point that the people fail who separate mental power from personal action. They use the power of mind in one place and at one time, and they act in another place and at another time. So their acts are not successful in themselves; too many of them are inefficient. But if ALL Power goes into every act, no matter how commonplace, every act will be a success in itself; and as in the nature of things every success opens the way to other successes, your progress toward what you want, and the progress of what you want toward you, will become increasingly rapid.

Remember that successful action is cumulative in its results. Since the desire for more life is inherent in all things, when a man begins to move toward larger life more things attach themselves to him, and the influence of his desire is multiplied.

Do, every day, all that you can do that day, and do each act in an efficient manner.

In saying that you must hold your vision while you are doing each act, however trivial or commonplace, I do not mean to say that it is necessary at all times to see the vision distinctly to its smallest details. It should be the work of your leisure hours to use your imagination on the details of your vision, and to contemplate them until they are firmly fixed upon memory. If you wish speedy results, spend practically all your spare time in this practice.

By continuous contemplation you will get the picture of what you want, even to the smallest details, so firmly fixed upon your mind, and so completely transferred to the mind of Formless Substance, that in your working hours you need only to mentally refer to the picture to stimulate your faith and purpose, and cause your best effort to be put forth. Contemplate your picture in your leisure hours until your consciousness is so full of it that you can grasp it instantly. You will become so enthused with its bright promises that the mere thought of it will call forth the strongest energies of your whole being.

Let us again repeat our syllabus, and by slightly changing the closing statements bring it to the point we have now reached.

There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made, and which, in its original state, permeates, penetrates, and fills the interspaces of the universe.

A thought, in this substance, Produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.

Man can form things in his thought, and, by impressing his thought upon formless substance, can cause the thing he thinks about to be created.

In order to do this, man must pass from the competitive to the creative mind; he must form a clear mental picture of the things he wants, and do, with faith and purpose, all that can be done each day, doing each separate thing in an efficient manner.

About

The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

Discussion

I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

Other articles you may enjoy :

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TO set about getting rich in a scientific way, you do not try to apply your will power to anything outside of yourself. You have no right to do so, anyway.It is wrong to apply your will to other men and women, in order to get them to do what you wish done.

It is as flagrantly wrong to coerce people by mental power as it is to coerce them by physical power. If compelling people by physical force to do things for you reduces them to slavery, compelling them by mental means accomplishes exactly the same thing; the only difference is in methods. If taking things from people by physical force is robbery, them taking things by mental force is robbery also; there is no difference in principle.

You have no right to use your will power upon another person, even “for his own good”; for you do not know what is for his good. The science of getting rich does not require you to apply power or force to any other person, in any way whatsoever. There is not the slightest necessity for doing so; indeed, any attempt to use your will upon others will only tend to defeat your purpose.

You do not need to apply your will to things, in order to compel them to come to you.

That would simply be trying to coerce God, and would be foolish and useless, as well as irreverent.

You do not have to compel God to give you good things, any more than you have to use your will power to make the sun rise.

You do not have to use your will power to conquer an unfriendly deity, or to make stubborn and rebellious forces do your bidding.

Substance is friendly to you, and is more anxious to give you what you want than you are to get it.

To get rich, you need only to use your will power upon yourself.

When you know what to think and do, then you must use your will to compel yourself to think and do the right things. That is the legitimate use of the will in getting what you want–to use it in holding yourself to the right course. Use your will to keep yourself thinking and acting in the Certain Way.

Do not try to project your will, or your thoughts, or your mind out into space, to “act” on things or people.

Keep your mind at home; it can accomplish more there than elsewhere.

Use your mind to form a mental image of what you want, and to hold that vision with faith and purpose; and use your will to keep your mind working in the Right Way.

The more steady and continuous your faith and purpose, the more rapidly you will get rich, because you will make only POSITIVE impressions upon Substance; and you will not neutralize or offset them by negative impressions.

The picture of your desires, held with faith and purpose, is taken up by the Formless, and permeates it to great distances-throughout the universe, for all I know.

As this impression spreads, all things are set moving toward its realization; every living thing, every inanimate thing, and the things yet uncreated, are stirred toward bringing into being that which you want. All force begins to be exerted in that direction; all things begin to move toward you. The minds of people, everywhere, are influenced toward doing the things necessary to the fulfilling of your desires; and they work for you, unconsciously.

But you can check all this by starting a negative impression in the Formless Substance. Doubt or unbelief is as certain to start a movement away from you as faith and purpose are to start one toward you. It is by not understanding this that most people who try to make use of “mental science” in getting rich make their failure. Every hour and moment you spend in giving heed to doubts and fears, every hour you spend in worry, every hour in which your soul is possessed by unbelief, sets a current away from you in the whole domain of intelligent Substance. All the promises are unto them that believe, and unto them only. Notice how insistent Jesus was upon this point of belief; and now you know the reason why.

Since belief is all important, it behooves you to guard your thoughts; and as your beliefs will be shaped to a very great extent by the things you observe and think about, it is important that you should command your attention.

And here the will comes into use; for it is by your will that you determine upon what things your attention shall be fixed.

If you want to become rich, you must not make a study of poverty.

Things are not brought into being by thinking about their opposites. Health is never to be attained by studying disease and thinking about disease; righteousness is not to be promoted by studying sin and thinking about sin; and no one ever got rich by studying poverty and thinking about poverty.

Medicine as a science of disease has increased disease; religion as a science of sin has promoted sin, and economics as a study of poverty will fill the world with wretchedness and want.

Do not talk about poverty; do not investigate it, or concern yourself with it. Never mind what its causes are; you have nothing to do with them.

What concerns you is the cure.

Do not spend your time in charitable work, or charity movements; all charity only tends to perpetuate the wretchedness it aims to eradicate.

I do not say that you should be hard hearted or unkind, and refuse to hear the cry of need; but you must not try to eradicate poverty in any of the conventional ways. Put poverty behind you, and put all that pertains to it behind you, and “make good.”

Get rich; that is the best way you can help the poor.

And you cannot hold the mental image which is to make you rich if you fill your mind with pictures of poverty. Do not read books or papers which give circumstantial accounts of the wretchedness of the tenement dwellers, of the horrors of child labor, and so on. Do not read anything which fills your mind with gloomy images of want and suffering.

You cannot help the poor in the least by knowing about these things; and the wide-spread knowledge of them does not tend at all to do away with poverty.

What tends to do away with poverty is not the getting of pictures of poverty into your mind, but getting pictures of wealth into the minds of the poor.

You are not deserting the poor in their misery when you refuse to allow your mind to be filled with pictures of that misery.

Poverty can be done away with, not by increasing the number of well to do people who think about poverty, but by increasing the number of poor people who purpose with faith to get rich.

The poor do not need charity; they need inspiration. Charity only sends them a loaf of bread to keep them alive in their wretchedness, or gives them an entertainment to make them forget for an hour or two; but inspiration will cause them to rise out of their misery. If you want to help the poor, demonstrate to them that they can become rich; prove it by getting rich yourself.

The only way in which poverty will ever be banished from this world is by getting a large and constantly increasing number of people to practice the teachings of this book.

People must be taught to become rich by creation, not by competition.

Every man who becomes rich by competition throws down behind him the ladder by which he rises, and keeps others down; but every man who gets rich by creation opens a way for thousands to follow him, and inspires them to do so.

You are not showing hardness of heart or an unfeeling disposition when you refuse to pity poverty, see poverty, read about poverty, or think or talk about it, or to listen to those who do talk about it. Use your will power to keep your mind OFF the subject of poverty, and to keep it fixed with faith and purpose ON the vision of what you want.

About

The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

Discussion

I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on this chapter. Your comments are highly appreciated.

Other articles you may enjoy :

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A story is told of a shy young man who wanted to succeed. He saw an older man from his home town fishing. He mustered some courage and approached the highly successful old man and asked, “What is the secret to your success?”. Without saying as much as a word to the young man, the old man grabbed him and pushed him down into the lake.

The young man struggled to free himself, but the old man was strong and held him down. After a few minutes of a shockingly fierce struggle the old man pulled out the young from the water. The young man was belligerent and held the old man by the neck. “Why were you trying to kill me?”, he asked.

The old man looked at the young man straight into his eyes and said “You see how much you wanted to breathe while under the water. If you shall desire success with such intensity, then my son success shall be right there waiting for you.

Chapter 7 – Thinking in the Certain Way

TURN back to chapter 6 and read again the story of the man who formed a mental image of his house, and you will get a fair idea of the initial step toward getting rich. You must form a clear and definite mental picture of what you want; you cannot transmit an idea unless you have it yourself.

You must have it before you can give it; and many people fail to impress Thinking Substance because they have themselves only a vague and misty concept of the things they want to do, to have, or to become.

It is not enough that you should have a general desire for wealth “to do good with”; everybody has that desire.

It is not enough that you should have a wish to travel, see things, live more, etc. Everybody has those desires also. If you were going to send a wireless message to a friend, you would not send the letters of the alphabet in their order, and let him construct the message for himself; nor would you take words at random from the dictionary. You would send a coherent sentence; one which meant something. When you try to impress your wants upon Substance, remember that it must be done by a coherent statement; you must know what you want, and be definite. You can never get rich, or start the creative power into action, by sending out unformed longings and vague desires.

Go over your desires just as the man I have described went over his house; see just what you want, and get a clear mental picture of it as you wish it to look when you get it.

That clear mental picture you must have continually in mind, as the sailor has in mind the port toward which he is sailing the ship; you must keep your face toward it all the time. You must no more lose sight of it than the steersman loses sight of the compass.

It is not necessary to take exercises in concentration, nor to set apart special times for prayer and affirmation, nor to “go into the silence,” nor to do occult stunts of any kind. There things are well enough, but all you need is to know what you want, and to want it badly enough so that it will stay in your thoughts.

Spend as much of your leisure time as you can in contemplating your picture, but no one needs to take exercises to concentrate his mind on a thing which he really wants; it is the things you do not really care about which require effort to fix your attention upon them.

And unless you really want to get rich, so that the desire is strong enough to hold your thoughts directed to the purpose as the magnetic pole holds the needle of the compass, it will hardly be worth while for you to try to carry out the instructions given in this book.

The methods herein set forth are for people whose desire for riches is strong enough to overcome mental laziness and the love of ease, and make them work.

The more clear and definite you make your picture then, and the more you dwell upon it, bringing out all its delightful details, the stronger your desire will be; and the stronger your desire, the easier it will be to hold your mind fixed upon the picture of what you want.

Something more is necessary, however, than merely to see the picture clearly. If that is all you do, you are only a dreamer, and will have little or no power for accomplishment.

Behind your clear vision must be the purpose to realize it; to bring it out in tangible expression.

And behind this purpose must be an invincible and unwavering FAITH that the thing is already yours; that it is “at hand” and you have only to take possession of it.

Live in the new house, mentally, until it takes form around you physically. In the mental realm, enter at once into full enjoyment of the things you want.

“Whatsoever things ye ask for when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them,” said Jesus.

See the things you want as if they were actually around you all the time; see yourself as owning and using them. Make use of them in imagination just as you will use them when they are your tangible possessions. Dwell upon your mental picture until it is clear and distinct, and then take the Mental Attitude of Ownership toward everything in that picture. Take possession of it, in mind, in the full faith that it is actually yours. Hold to this mental ownership; do not waiver for an instant in the faith that it is real.

And remember what was said in a proceeding chapter about gratitude; be as thankful for it all the time as you expect to be when it has taken form. The man who can sincerely thank God for the things which as yet he owns only in imagination, has real faith. He will get rich; he will cause the creation of whatsoever he wants.

You do not need to pray repeatedly for things you want; it is not necessary to tell God about it every day.

“Use not vain repetitions as the heathen do,” said Jesus said to his pupils, “for your Father knoweth the ye have need of these things before ye ask Him.”

Your part is to intelligently formulate your desire for the things which make for a larger life, and to get these desire arranged into a coherent whole; and then to impress this Whole Desire upon the Formless Substance, which has the power and the will to bring you what you want.

You do not make this impression by repeating strings of words; you make it by holding the vision with unshakable PURPOSE to attain it, and with steadfast FAITH that you do attain it.

The answer to prayer is not according to your faith while you are talking, but according to your faith while you are working.

You cannot impress the mind of God by having a special Sabbath day set apart to tell Him what you want, and the forgetting Him during the rest of the week. You cannot impress Him by having special hours to go into your closet and pray, if you then dismiss the matter from your mind until the hour of prayer comes again.

Oral prayer is well enough, and has its effect, especially upon yourself, in clarifying your vision and strengthening your faith; but it is not your oral petitions which get you what you want. In order to get rich you do not need a “sweet hour of prayer”; you need to “pray without ceasing.” And by prayer I mean holding steadily to your vision, with the purpose to cause its creation into solid form, and the faith that you are doing so.

“Believe that ye receive them.”

The whole matter turns on receiving, once you have clearly formed your vision. When you have formed it, it is well to make an oral statement, addressing the Supreme in reverent prayer; and from that moment you must, in mind, receive what you ask for. Live in the new house; wear the fine clothes; ride in the automobile; go on the journey, and confidently plan for greater journeys. Think and speak of all the things you have asked for in terms of actual present ownership. Imagine an environment, and a financial condition exactly as you want them, and live all the time in that imaginary environment and financial condition. Mind, however, that you do not do this as a mere dreamer and castle builder; hold to the FAITH that the imaginary is being realized, and to the PURPOSE to realize it. Remember that it is faith and purpose in the use of the imagination which make the difference between the scientist and the dreamer. And having learned this fact, it is here that you must learn the proper use of the Will.

About

The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

Discussion

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About

The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

Discussion

I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on how to attract riches. Your comments are highly appreciated.

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Prosperity gospel proponents stress the importance of thoughts in wealth creation. They quote all the right bible verses on why we should live in plenty here on earth. But they are quick to stress that the prosperity should be used for good. Riches should be used for increasing life not diminishing it.

About

The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

Discussion

I would love to hear you ideas and opinion on prosperity gospel and about this chapter on increasing life. Your comments are highly appreciated.

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Your becoming rich does not mean taking from someone else. We live in an abundant universe. There is enough for each of us. Not even your enemies can keep opportunities from you.

If one door is shut, a million others will open. This is especially true in our current interconnected world. You can access markets in North America even if you are in Africa. You can provide a service to people in Canada even if you are in Brazil.

Secondly, opportunities are all in the mind. Thoughts are things. You become what you think about. If you want to be rich, you must know exactly what you want and ask our abundant universe for it. Visualize exactly what you want and be open to receive it. Do not blame others for locking you out of opportunities. Do not sabotage yourself through self limiting beliefs. Believe that you can and go for it.

About

The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

Discussion

I would love to hear from you on how one can tune himself or herself for riches. How do we condition our minds for success? How do we let unlimited wealth flow into our lives from the abundant universe? Your insights, thoughts and ideas are most welcome.

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About

The Get Rich Series is based on The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

Discussion

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I have said on this blog previously that those who say that money cannot buy happiness  (and are in good health), don’t know where to shop. The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. Money can really help in personal development when used wisely.  Money is power; the power to  lead to the life you want; the power to develop your talents and make a contribution to others.

It is your right to be rich. I want to be rich and I want you to be rich too. This new series (Get Rich Series) will walk you through The Science of Getting Rich. It  is a classic book by Wallace D. Wattles. It is a practical manual intended for the men and women whose most pressing need is for money; who wish to get rich first, and philosophize afterward.

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Freedom from Fear

To stamp your authority in your career you need to eliminate all forms of fear and live courageously. Get rid of the fear of failure, fear of punishment, fear of making mistakes and even the fear of being told “you are fired”.

Fear paralyzes and causes inaction. It modifies behavior and keeps people in their comfort zones. You need to break free from your comfort zone if you are to become an authority in your chosen career. Eliminate the fear of the unknown through constant learning, asking questions and throwing yourself in new and challenging situations.

I like this quote on fear by Marianne Williamson, from her 1992 book, “Return to Love”.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God.

Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Specialized Knowledge

Enhance your personal brand by becoming highly skilled in your chosen career. You can gain expert status in you field through extensive reading, attending seminars or even apprenticeship. Dig deeper into your field than your peers. Stay in the bleeding edge of innovation in your area of work.

Power of Persuasion

In my favorite movie of all time, The Godfather, Don Corleone made Jack Woltz an offer he could not refuse. I will not get into the details of the offer but sometimes it is necessary to sweeten your offer for you to get ahead in life. People act out of the desire to eliminate pain and desire to gain pleasure. Learn how to use a balance of those two motivations to create an offer that people cannot refuse.

Know who to make the offer to, when and how. You need to practice to become more persuasive if it does not come naturally to you. Listening skills are vital in becoming more persuasive. Learn to listen to both what people say and what they do not say. Learn to read people’s body language and hidden message (like in this section of this blog post).

Unparalleled Value

Don’t just turn up to work. Ask yourself what you can do for your employer, more than you ask yourself what your employer can do for you. Understand and articulate the needs of your customers better than anyone else.

Learn to anticipate their needs and obsess about providing value. Be generous and give until it hurts. Seek feedback from your employer or customers on how your value has impacted them and seek to provide more value based on that feedback.

Remember that money is only a medium of exchange and has no intrinsic value.  The paradox of money is that the sooner you ask for it the less of it you will receive in the long run. Worry about giving value and money will take care of itself. Worry about value creation and delivery more than you worry about pay rises and getting paid.

Power Networking

Meet the key people in your industry. Do not be proud of just accumulating business cards in your rolodex. Make sure your personal brand and first impressions are working to your advantage.

Seek to be friends with your contacts. People love to do business with their friends. It is not corruption, it is human nature. Rarely do people enjoy playing golf with people who have a one track mind – business, more business and yet more business.

Do not pressure people in your networking efforts. Be desirable. Package yourself nicely. Let others seek you for your appeal instead of you pushing yourself to them.

Leadership Skills

Learn, internalize and practice leadership skills. Be good in goal setting, project management and be good with people. Develop your people skills by seeing the good in them, and seeking to bring out the best in others.

Develop your leadership skills through attending leadership seminars, talking with other leaders, reading books, blogs and watching DVDs on leadership skills development. Go out there and learn to lead by doing. Leading even the smallest of teams will develop more of your leadership skills than a seminar would.

Mentoring

Chart your own career path. Decide what is important for you. You do not want to wait for a mentor to tell you what is good for you. They will guide you based on their world view, past experiences and warped ideas of who you are.

Do not have just one mentor. Find many people who you admire and find little things about each that you can implement in your life. Do not become a clone of someone else.

To become an authority in your field and to prosper your personal brand, consider mentoring others. Share your lessons that you have learned over time. Give whoever you are mentoring genuine value. Be genuinely interested in helping the people you mentor.

Outlast Competition

Authority status is not acquired overnight. Be persistent in your aspiration for authority status in your chosen field. Continuously develop your career. Learn the ropes. Learn the people. Ingrain yourself in the culture. Be an insider. Speak the lingo.

Outlasting your competition does not mean staying with the same company or line of business all your life. But it does mean immersing yourself in one general area of business for years on end. Remember that rolling stones gather no moss. You need to stick around for the harvest. Authorities do not plant then leave immediately.

Believe in Yourself

Others may doubt you, do not join them. Conduct a SWOT analysis of yourself. Learn your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. You cannot be everything. Find an angle and stick with it. Become really good at what you do using your own unique angle.

There will always be people who are better than you in something just as there will always be people you are better than. Do not let the success of others make you jealous or diminish your belief in yourself.

Be happy in your own achievements, however humble. Count your blessings everyday. Build your confidence by achieving and celebrating your milestones on your career journey.

Befriend the Rule Book

Each profession operates within confines of the law and standards. Know the limits in your careers. Stretch the limits but do not break them. Ignorance is not a defense. Find advisors to guide you when you get to ETC (end of thinking capacity).

Summary

To become an authority in your chosen career, you must first believe in yourself. Know the rules and network expertly. Gain specialized knowledge and use it to give unparalleled value. Be free from fear and develop your leadership. Authority status does not happen overnight so be prepared to work for it.

I would love to hear your comments on how to achieve authority status and other ways of enhancing your personal brand in a career setting.

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By law, all international students in Australia have to be insured. I was always insured as a student but once I finished studying, I stupidly let my insurance cover run out (for one month). Big mistake! I got involved in an accident during the only month that I have never had insurance in Australia. It was then that I understood that the ambulance sirens can be more expensive than the most luxurious limousines. An ice pack from an ambulance will cost you more than a full body massage in a five star hotel (if you do not have insurance). Suffice it to say that I learnt my lesson.

The purpose of this blog is to inspire you to be the best you can be. In this health series we have looked at ways of staying healthy, through the power of your mind, or through exercise and eating right. But there are times where eating right and lifting weights will not keep you away from ill health. There are moments where even apples won’t keep the doctor away. In those moments, you may need to visit a doctor or be admitted to hospital. Hospitals do not come cheap especially if you are not insured.

I remember taking a friend to one of the big hospitals in Western Australia when I was at uni. The first question that the doctors and their assistants asked was “Do you have private health insurance?” She did not have private health cover and so had to stay on the line for over six hours as the privately insured took the express lane. Have you ever seen that kind of discrimination? It happens every day in hospitals world over. Get on the express lane my friend; get insured.

What is Health Insurance?

Insurance is a means of indemnity against occurrence of an uncertain event. It is the promise of reimbursement in the case of loss; paid to people or companies so concerned about hazards that they have made prepayments to an insurance company. It is a form of risk management used to hedge against the risk of loss.

Health insurance is a form of insurance that pays for medical expenses. It may be sponsored by government or by private insurance companies. You may register for health insurance as part of a group (e.g. same employer) or buy it on your own.

Escalating Cost of Health Care

The cost of health care rises at a higher rate than inflation. Many people struggle to pay medical bills. Many others find it hard to afford the exorbitant premiums charged by insurance companies. Companies are cutting back on the health benefits awarded to employees forcing many to live without insurance.

A recent study by Harvard University researchers found that the average out-of-pocket medical debt for those who filed for bankruptcy was $12,000. Every 30 seconds in the United States someone files for bankruptcy in the aftermath of a serious health problem. (source)

For developing countries, the cost of health care continues to rise faster than the rate of growth of the economies. The gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen especially in the provision of quality health care.

The Risks of Lack of Health Insurance

• Uninsured people are more likely to forego potentially life saving tests such as mammograms.

• Uninsured people are less likely to get preventive services because of the prohibitive costs.

• They are less likely to visit doctors and dentists for routine checkups. Lack of checkups my increase the risks of unnecessary sickness.

• Uninsured patients have worse clinical outcomes than insured patients for several chronic conditions including diabetes, cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease, HIV infection and mental illness.

• Uninsured people are more likely to experience financial ruin after serious medical conditions.

• Lost Tax Benefits. People without Private Insurance miss out on government incentives designed to encourage people to get insured. In Australia single people earning over $50,000 per annum and couples/families earning over $100,000 per annum with no private hospital cover pay a further 1% in tax.

Summary

Health Insurance may be expensive but you should make it a priority to invest in the best health cover that you can afford. In the event that you are not covered by your employer’s group insurance, do not try to “save” by avoiding health insurance. The long term cost of being uninsured or under insured may impact heavily on your success.

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I am fortunate to have grown up in a family that believed in the law of giving. Even though we were not rich my parents generously gave to the local community and people in need. Every year on the first day of January we would go to the orphans & disabled children’s  special home to give them food, money and company. As a child, I detested those visits. I saw it as my parent’s way of having new years party on the cheap. But my parents were insistent that I partake the ritual year in year out. Eventually I got it. I watched the result of my parent’s generosity manifest itself in more ways that you can imagine. Today we are a blessed family and I believe it stems from the law of giving.

When you give to others, you are acknowledging that you have plenty to go around. This is the opposite of a scarcity mentality that limits success. Look around, people who are extremely successful are generous souls. There are people who get ahead in life by less honorable means, but their success is not enduring. You have a better chance of sustaining your success if you base it on the law of giving.

Why do people give?

People give for various reasons. Some may want to give away to charity because they truly believe in the charitable organizations work. Other may give for publicity stunts or to absolve themselves from guilt. For the law of giving to work well in your life, you should evaluate why you give.  Give from the abundance of your heart and it will come back to you.

What can you give?

If you have money, give a portion of it to people in need. However money is just one of the things you can give to others. You can give other things that you have an abundance of. You can give love, respect, attention, company etc.

You can give to people around you not just to strangers and charities. Give to your children, wife, husband, family, friends, boss, customers etc. We live in a universe that has something for everyone so avoid a scarcity mindset and become a cheerful giver.

How do you make people feel? After a long period of time people generally don’t remember what you said but rather how you made them feel. Give people the gift of love and respect. Give kind words and encouragement in tough times.

Givers vs. Takers

Takers are selfish people who give less than they receive. They think that other people are stupid for being so generous.  It is tempting to be a taker especially when you think that no one will notice. Resist that devil and he will flee from you.

On the other hand Givers are wonderful people to have as friends, family, partners etc. They will give from the heart and try to exceed expectations. They are resourceful people who add value to everything they do. They aspire to give more than they receive but they end up receiving multiples of what they give. You should work at being a giver in life, business, and relationship and so on.

Spiritual Account

We all have spiritual accounts that we deposit into through our acts of giving. The more you deposit the more you can withdraw. If you are experiencing financial hardship, maybe you have been trying to withdraw from your spiritual account and the checks have been bouncing, marked as having insufficient funds. You can change this by being a giver and depositing to your spiritual account.

Payback Time

Giving paves way for receiving. The more you give the more you receive. Some times you will receive immediately, other times it may take years or maybe not even in your life time. This should not prevent you from giving. Don’t give with an expectation of a quick withdrawal. Giving is investing for the long term.

Bible Quotes on Giving

• “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them will receive curses” – Proverbs 28:27
• “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be poured to your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measure to you” – Luke 6:38
• Remember this: whoever sows generously will also reap generously – 2 Cor 9:6

Receiving Gifts

As much as you give to others  be happy to receive gifts. Don’t wait for gifts with bated breath but when you receive be really appreciative. Count your blessings one by one. Be thankful for the gift of life, the gifts of nature like air, water, sunlight. If you are in good health be thankful for that too. Remember to show private or public appreciation where appropriate for the people who give to you.

Summary

Be a cheerful giver. Give something of value to people you meet. Not necessarily money but what you have in your reserves. When you give you are making a deposit in your spiritual account and you will reap your rewards with the same measure you give out.

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What is Compounding?

It has been referred to as the eighth wonder of the world. It is one of the secrets to financial freedom. According to Wikipedia, Compound Interest is the concept of adding accumulated interest back to the principal, so that interest is earned on interest from that moment on. The act of declaring interest to be principal is called compounding (i.e., interest is compounded).

Our example here assumes that you invested $1000 in an interest bearing account paying you 10% p.a interest, and re-invested the interest plus the principal at the end of every period (annually) .

This means that you start earning not only on what you invested, but also on the earnings of that investment.

The power of compounding kicks in when the money is invested for longer periods. We don’t have enough space to dig too deeply, so allow me to skim on the details. If you are really interested in the mathematics of compounding jump on the Wikipedia Page on Compound Interest. I will focus on a few examples illustrating the power of the concept then jump straight into how you can apply it into your life.

I was listening to an tape by Tony Robbins and I like how he illustrated the power of compounding using the game of golf. Let us say you were playing golf with a friend decided to make it interesting by betting $1 on each hole. To make it even more interesting, you decide to double the bet amount at the end of each hole. You better be good in golf!

As you can see, the bet seems to be going alright in the first 7 holes. Its all in good fun. Then depending on whether you are brilliant or not at the game, things start changing. At hole 11, you enter into the thousand dollar mark. This is getting serious. Have a closer look at the at the luxury golf graph above to see the power of compounding.

The interesting thing to note is that at the beginning of the compounding cycle, nothing much seems to be happening. Then the small steps become adult steps, then giant leaps. You can apply the same concept in your life and get similar or better results.

Like all power, the power of compounding can be used for good or for evil. It can be used for your benefit or to destroy you. The key to harnessing this power is to understand its potency. We shall look at both the positive and negative aspects of this power.

1) Positive Power of Compounding

• Money – You can employ the power of compounding in your financial life. As the golf example illustrates, not much may seem to happen at the beginning. But if you stay at it long enough you will see its power. You need to start investing early, and reinvesting the profits. Take a long term approach to your investment, especially if you are young.
• Networks - You can apply the power of compounding in networking. Meet people in your profession or people who share common values. These people will then lead you to more people over time. The idea is to start early and build trust and credibility. That compounds over time.
• Positive Energy – Plant good seeds in your brain. Fill your mind with positive thoughts. If you start early, each positive thought will manifest itself in your life and have a compounding effect. If you don’t actively fill your mind with positive messages, negativity will creep in.
• Good Health – Keeping fit and developing proper eating habits early on will have a compounding effect on your health. If you exercise, you will have more energy to train even better. Put in the time early in life and reap the benefit through out your life.
• Marketing – If you have a business, marketing it early and building on your successes is a great way to use the power of compounding. Instead of hopping from one opportunity to another, stick with one thing for the long haul. Deliver exceptional value to your customers and the word of mouth will propel you to greater growth later on.
• Career – You should get experience in your chosen career and learn skills to help you do your job better. As you become better at one skill, it becomes relatively easier to acquire subsequent skills. Most people give up trying to improve themselves too early. Don’t give up. Have a plan and stick with it even when the going seems tough.

2) Negative Power of Compounding

• Credit Card Debt – You must understand the time value of money. If you are spending money you don’t have, you will end up paying a lot more to the banks over the years. You may be tempted by fabulous offers but please think of the future.
• Bad Habits – Bad habits such as drugs and alcohol can also compound. You start slowly and find your self having a bit of this and a bit of that, then a bit more. Before you know it you get hit by severe consequences. You may not have big bad habits like drugs, but there are other bad habits such as procrastination and lies that can compound and overpower you.
• Pyramid Schemes – A pyramid scheme is a non-sustainable business model that involves the exchange of money primarily for enrolling other people into the scheme, often without any product or service being delivered. Sellers of pyramid schemes may sell you the benefits of their scheme and even throw in tips about the power of compounding as applied to their scheme. You have been warned, pyramid schemes end up hurting people. If it is not you, it may be the people who you recruit into such schemes.
• Negative Spirals – In the same way there are positive spirals, you can get entwined with negativity. Each negative thought or friend brings in another. You may end up being a very negative person if you hang out with negative people. Hang out with positive people instead, read positive stuff and watch stuff that motivates you instead of putting you down.

Summary

There is power in compounding, you need to understand the concept and employ it to serve you. Take a long term approach in your wealth, health, networking and business. Patience and perseverance at the early stages of life or investment will take you to the promised land called success.

All the best in your success.

P/s – I added a share this button on the site today (see below). If you find this blog interesting or even a particular post useful, please consider sharing it with your friends on networks such as Myspace, Facebook or even by email. Thank you my friend.

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Some people say money cannot buy happiness. I believe that people who say that, and are in good health don’t know where to shop. From where I am sitting right now, I could do with more money. I happen to know a lot of my friends who would do with more money and are not ashamed to admit it. I dedicate this post to one such friend.

If you hate the thought of struggling financially in life, and are willing to do something about it, I dedicate this post to you too. The lack of money is the root of all problems (I could be wrong). Maybe next time I will be preaching a different gospel, but let me get this out of my heart.

Lack of money steals something of value from human beings. And that thing is called freedom. I want to inspire you to regain your freedom. Freedom to be who you are and become who you want to become. Freedom to be where you want to be, hang out with whoever you want or be whatever you crave to be.

What is Freedom?

Freedom is having control of your life, your time, your activities and your dreams. Freedom is having nobody stopping you from achieving your purpose and mission in life. It is owning your destiny. It is running away from entrapment and captivity. You are free when you own your life and become the captain of your ship.

According to the philosopher Isaiah Berlin, there is an important distinction between “freedom from” and “freedom to“. I will not do injustice to his great work and pretend I fully understood what he was talking about. But I will attempt to paraphrase it in a way that is meaningful to you. Being financially free will help you be free from and free to.

Freedom From

• Being free from abuse and terror. If you are being abused or terrorized by your spouse, boss, etc for lack of money, then you need to become free from that form of abuse.
• Freedom from fear and anxiety.
• Freedom from punishment for past mistakes.
• Freedom from boredom and restraint. If you are financially free, you can do whatever you want. You will have options. Seek ye money and freedom shall be yours.
• Freedom from worrying about bills, deadlines and work pressures.

Freedom To

• Freedom to achieve your goals and aspirations.
• Freedom to travel to exotic destinations.
• Freedom to live according to your true values.
• Freedom to marry or date whoever you want without financial considerations.
• Freedom to control your time, your calendar and priorities.
• Freedom to work the hours you want and be your own boss.
• Freedom to spend time with your family and loved ones.

—————————————————————————————————–

After watching countless episodes of MTV cribs, I noticed that none of the people in those houses have regular jobs. They did something extra and that is what gave them the financial muscle to do whatever they wanted, including owning the home worth being on MTV cribs.

Everyday you hear about the big pay that footballers earn. Then you hear about movie stars, internet entrepreneurs, mega church owners, business men etc. Have you ever stepped back and wondered what these people have in common? The results of my small research below is my treat to you. I hope it will trigger something in your head to help you be financially free.

I came up with five pillars to financial freedom. You should aim to master and utilize most of them if you aspire to get to the glory land of financial freedom.

1. Deliver Value
2. Passive Income
3. Leverage
4. The Power of Compounding
5. Build on your Successes

1. Deliver Value

You cannot be an honest person and make it financially without delivering value. Even drug dealers deliver value to their customers. You must find a need and fill it. Find someone who needs accommodation, and give him a house. Find someone who needs to get from A to B and take him there. Only then shall you make an honest buck.

Movie stars are paid for the entertainment they provide to millions around the world. Find your angle and deliver value from there. Give people something of value and they will be happy to pay for it. You are always either a consumer or producer of value at any one time. If you are reading my blog, you are the consumer and I am the producer. If you are watching Oprah, she is the producer and you are the consumer. If you are working for someone, they are the consumer and you are the producer.

In most cases, the consumers of value end up paying some times directly, sometimes indirectly. You need to think carefully what it is that you can provide to other people. You may not always be paid by them, but you need to understand and be in the game for you to play.

This game is all about value proposition. What is your value proposition? A value proposition is the total benefit which a vendor promises her consumers. What can you do for the next person? Ask not, what people can do for you, but rather what you can do for them.

2. Passive Income

You need to decouple yourself from the provision of value. Rapper 50 cent does not need to sing to my ear for me to pay for his music. Roger Federer does not get paid only for the hours he plays tennis. Why you should you be paid only when you work? Who told you that that is right or even fair on you?

You need to find ways of providing value without being there. Find something that someone needs and provide it to them. If you provide that value without necessarily being there, then that will set you apart from the other people.

Examples of of passive income are:

• Rent – tenants don’t need (or want) their landlords there and yet will pay the rent. Be the landlord. Its a win win. You house a family, they pay you.
• Royalties from books, movies, DVDs, Software etc
• Earnings from businesses that does not require your direct involvement.
• Dividends and interest from your wealth portfolio.

3. Leverage

According to Wikipedia, a lever is a rigid object that is used with an appropriate fulcrum or pivot point to multiply the mechanical force that can be applied to another object. You need to find a lever for you to leverage to attain financial freedom. Do not be just satisfied with providing value, use a lever to amplify your efforts.

You can magnify and multiply your abilities and value through other peoples time and resources. It is not as evil as it may sound. Writers use bookshops like Amazon to reach out to millions of customers. Musicians leverage the experience and resources of record companies. Home owners leverage the bank’s money to buy their home. Footballers leverage television.

Find something you can use to multiply your efforts and help you serve people better. I am leveraging the internet and the open source community to bring this message to you. I am leveraging the vast inventory of google ads to deliver targeted advertising on this blog.

If you are interested in the concept of leverage and how you can apply it to make grow your finances, read up on the works of Robert Kiyosaki or post in the comments section if you want me to write a full blog post on that.

4. The Power of Compounding

Albert Einstein is quoted as having said that the most powerful force in the universe is the concept of compound interest. You will attain financial freedom if you reinvest your profits.

Taking advantage of the power of compounding takes discipline and is best to start early. Create a financial plan and invest in financial instruments that reinvest your profits year in year out.

I will write a full blog post on the power of compounding in the future. For now, just know that compound interest can make a big difference in your financial fortunes.

Compound interest has a negative side. If you let credit card debt creep up on you, you can end up seeing the ugly side of compounding by paying more and more interest the longer you stay in debt. Avoid bad debt, it is a thief of financial freedom. Good debt can help you leverage other people’s money to meet your financial objectives.

5. Build on your Successes

Be thankful for each success you accomplish. Use each success as building blocks for your next success.

Invest in education, keep learning both from your mistakes and from the mistakes of others. Have a generous spirit. Do good with your success. Don’t be evil.

Summary

Money is not the answer to everything, but having financial freedom can help you avoid pain and increase pleasure. To be able to attain financial freedom, you have to focus on delivering value to others, decouple yourself from the actual work of it. Deliver value 24/7 and be paid for it. Find leverage and use the power of compounding to your advantage.

All the best in your quest for financial succces.

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