Posted by Isidore Goodfellow in Money | 0 Comments
Change Your Mindset for Success
Every day I meet a new person and learn something new . Colleagues with the same salary are struggling with money even though they are not paying any mortgage or feeding any kids. They want to know my secret. I always tell them that my secret is mindset, passion, faith, discipline, planning and determination. Of course you have to have a goal first. I know friends who told me that they did not have one!
If you don’t have a goal and the winning mindset, now is the time for change. You may use the stimuli of the mind we talked about in previous articles. The most common is the word of affirmation that Napoleon Hill calls autosuggestion.
Oh! Michael Lee is waiting. Here he is:
Michael Lee, 3 Mind blowing Secrets That Can Make You Rich
SECRET # 1: Develop Your Most Important Asset.
In its simplest term, assets are things you own that produce money or income for you. Examples of assets include paper assets (stocks), real estate, your own business, cash-producing websites, and vending machines.
To get wealthy, you have to invest in as much assets as you can reasonably acquire, or develop them in their most profitable state. But it’s equally important to recognize if something is an asset or not.
Your house is not an asset unless you’re earning from it through rental income or it can be sold when its value appreciates.
Your car is not an asset unless you convert it into an earning machine, like transforming it into a taxi and renting it out to a taxi driver.
But in order to be truly financially successful, you need to focus on developing the most important asset of all – YOURSELF.
As you do this, you dramatically increase your value to your company, business, and other people.
So what are the things you can develop or improve on yourself?
You can develop your mindset, skills, attitude, personality, and even people’s perception of you. Here are some ways to do that:
a) Constantly read books, listen to audios, and attend seminars related to your field. Invest at least 30 minutes each day for your self-development.
b) Get mentored by, or simply ask advice from, experts in your field.
c) Immerse yourself in your craft and constantly test/practice what you’ve learned.
d) Enhance your communication and social skills. Your success rate is highly dependent on your ability to connect with people. And the more people who like or love you, the better your chances of success.
e) Strive to become the best possible version of yourself. Become the best employee, boss, seller, parent, son, or friend you could possibly be.
f) Overdeliver. Give more than what people expect of you. I once got a client who ordered an advertisement spot. I delivered more than twice the number of clicks she ordered (partly because her ad was so persuasive); and now she’s a regular client who has been referring me to many of her friends. And because I also overdelivered my service to her colleagues, they have also become my loyal clients and have also been referring more of their own friends. And the cycle continues. If you amaze your customers, they’ll bring you even more customers without any added effort on your part.
SECRET # 2: Allocate Your Money Wisely.
What matters is not the amount you earn or have, but how you manage it. No matter how small your income may be, you can still become financially independent if you know how to allocate it wisely.
I highly suggest you divide your money into 6 accounts:
a) 10% to Financial Freedom Account – This is for you to invest in and NEVER touch. I suggest further dividing this account into two:
– Safe Financial Freedom Account where the principal is relatively secure but the returns are lower (ex: savings, time deposits, bonds, money markets, etc.)
– Growth Financial Freedom Account where there’s a certain risk involved but the return on investment is generally higher (ex: stocks, equity funds, etc.). This
account can also be used to buy assets such as real estate or coin-operated machines with the aim of generating passive income.
The percentage you allocate into the 2 Financial Freedom Accounts above depends on factors such as your risk appetite and age. The younger you are, the more risk you can tolerate because you’ve got more time to recoup. And vice-versa.
However, I suggest putting no less than half of your whole Financial Freedom Account into “Safe” so you can have a certain sense of security, regardless of your age.
A crucial key is to diversify your investments. Don’t put all your funds into just one or two types of investment. The more investment vehicles you have, the more you spread the risk and the more “cushion” you’ll have in case any of them fails to perform.
b) 10% to Emergency Account – This is only to be used during emergencies (ex: serious medical situations, natural disasters, etc.). Once you’ve accumulated an equivalent of 6 to 12 months worth of your income in this account, you can stop allocating here temporarily and put it instead in your Financial Freedom Account. But once it’s been “touched”, start allocating in this account again.
c) 10% to Giving Account – I’m a firm believer that you get more of what you give away. By giving a portion of your earnings to your chosen charity or cause, not only will you attract more of what you give away, but you’ll also be able to contribute to society and help the less fortunate. It’s a win-win situation.
d) 3% to 10% to Personal Development Account – As mentioned in Secret # 1, developing yourself is critical to your financial success. This account is used to buy books, audios, seminar tickets, and educational materials to improve yourself and increase your value. The percentage you allocate to this account depends on a case-to-case basis. If you already have a lot of educational materials at hand that you haven’t dived into yet, you may proportionately decrease what you put in here. And vice-versa.
e) 3% to 10% to Leisure Account – This is used to spend on anything you want. No matter how expensive or “impractical” it may seem, you get to splurge this account to your heart’s delight. If what you want costs more than what’s available here, then gradually accumulate (and spend lesser) until you’re able to reach the desired amount. The purpose of this account is for you to have fun, enjoy life to the fullest, and feel rich!
f) The rest to Necessities Account – Whatever is not allocated in the above accounts goes here. This is for your usual survival needs like food, clothing, utilities, etc.
Take note that the allocation ratio above is not set in stone. For example, if you currently need a lot of funds for your necessities, then you can start by allocating a 90% share to your Necessities Account and just 2% to each of the rest. As you gradually increase your value and income, you can also gradually increase your allocation to the other accounts.
SECRET # 3: Do This Powerful Wealth Affirmation Technique.
This is arguably one of the most powerful money affirmation techniques in the world, which I’ve learned from “Think and Grow Rich.”
Here’s the basic formula…
“By (fill the blank with your target date), I will have in my possession (fill the blank with the exact amount of money you want to possess). In return, I will (fill the blank by describing what you will do or give in return for the money).”
As you say this, visualize yourself owning that money. Feel and believe that you already got it.
Say your affirmation out loud every morning and evening, because these are the times when your subconscious is most receptive to your suggestions.
Then make your plan and take inspired action everyday, no matter how small it may seem. Even the smallest deeds, when done daily, can slowly snowball and build momentum that will lead you to the fulfillment of your goals.
So if for example, your dream is to become a highly-paid model, your affirmation could be something like this…
“By May 2016, I will be the most famous model in the US and will have in my possession $5 million dollars. In return, I will go on a strict diet, exert 100% effort in every workout, and give my very best poses in front of the camera.”