I invited a very good friend for a business preview seminar. I didn't say much because I was not too familiar with the business myself. My friend postponed another appointment (a training session) to accomodate my invitation.
Another person that I contacted had said that she would attend the seminar. Later she said that she had some other urgent appointment. I believe it was just an excuse, but that doesn't matter. Whether it was true that she had another urgent appointment or not, it's her life ... her destiny, not mine.
What do you think is the difference between the two persons above? Other than their sex (one said "Yes please" and the other said, "I got a headache" ... hehehe ... that woke you up?).
I realised that one person is into Action. He just says, "O.K. I will be there." He is in the present. When he attends the business preview, he will be in the present. Not the past. Not the future.
This Action person behaves the same way with regard to other aspects of life. I once asked him, "Are you going to join the 140 km bicycle ride on Sunday?" His answer (without missing a beat) was, "Yes."
He does not think, "Ooohh ... how many hours will that take?"
"We will be cycling across the mountain range, I wonder if I can make it?"
"Will my 14-year old son be able to complete the distance?"
[Although I had just started cycling a couple of months back, I decided to join him on this 140 km ride. Because my cycling "prowess" was not too far behind his ... hehehe ... I needed a friend when I am (always) at the back of the cycling group! We started at 7 a.m. What time do you think we returned to our starting point (carpark)?]
The other person is into thinking ... too much! You have heard of information overload? The Paralysis by Analysis syndrome?
She's not in the present. She's in the future. She's in the past.
"Is it an MLM business?"
"Is it direct selling?"
"I don't want to sell like what I see some people do. Some people open a small table and start selling (a product, or a service)."
"I think that the business will not be appropriate to my present business/interests."
For heaven's sake, baby! You have not heard what the potential business is all about! And you are making comments as though you have listened (for two and a half hours) and understood, what the new potential business is all about? Good heavens! You know these kind of people? Make sure you don't spend your precious time with them, o.k?
The moral of the story? "Who you are" is "what you are 'be'ing". It is also critical that you are always "being in the present" (as opposed to the past or the future) when you are 'be'ing yourself.
Why? Because "being in the present" eliminates fear. Fear of your past negative experience - which in all probability will not recur. And imagined fears of the future - which in all probability will not occur. It does not mean that you are unaware of your past, or the possibilities of the future.
The 'be' in you is the 'thinking' in you. The 'thinking' in you will lead to your 'do'ing - the actions that you take. Your actions will lead to what you will 'have'. Your 'haves' are your results. Your results are your successes.
Success in life requires you to follow the "Be - Do - Have" formula in that exact sequence. When you become a better person, you will take better actions, and you will get better results.
Interesting? So, be an interesting person, o.k.? You will take interesting action. With interesting results. Such as marrying an interesting person ... awesome, isn't it? Hehehe!
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
P.S. You guessed the time that we returned from the 140 km ride? You are right! ... if you guessed 5.30 p.m. The next day, I had a challenge to climb the stairs to my office ... hehehe.
P.P.S. Did my friend take up the business opportunity? I will inform you when you give your answer (and e-mail address) in the comments... hehehe!
Friday, November 28, 2008
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
You Have Ups and Downs? the Economy Too?
I cycle for exercise. The wheels of the bicycle go round and round. Hmmm ... why are we talking about my Sunday morning Rubberman bike rides?
Ooooohhh ... ok ... we are going to talk about cycles. Not only for exercise (bicycles). But also for our financial planning (economic cycles). For our investment (property cycles). Menstruation cycles ... no, no ... I will let my Gynaecologist friends write about this in their blog ... hehehe ... you should give them a chance too (to write about cycles).
You should expect, based on history, to undergo one depression and two recessions in your life-time. Your life-span is 75 years - if your don't misuse and abuse your body ... hehehe!
Of course, your personal depressions can be more (karaoke girl-friend left you, mistress left you, wife left you, kids left you, mummy left you, money left you, ...). Here, you should think about an economic depression. And economic recession.
What's the difference between an economic recession and an economic depression? You may realise that there's a recession, when your neighbour loses his job. A depression is when you lose your job. A depression is a more severe form of recession. You get more severe headaches (after finishing your severance package).
So, how can you avoid a recession, or a depression (worse, isn't it)? Simple, if you think it out logically ... don't have a job!
No job? "My daddy and mummy told me to study hard, and get a good job with security", you say to yourself. Well, with the present Information Age (and Knowledge) economy, a safe secure job is no more a reality if you are in developed countries like the United States of America.
In some countries, like "Malaysia - Truly Asia", you can still get a safe secure job in the (government) civil service. But whether it is a good job (in terms of salary and benefits), is subject to interpretation and your personal propensity to spend (economist's terms for whether you are a big spender or careful saver!).
If you don't have a job, what are you going to do? Be a hippie ? Well, that was in my time - in the 1960s. You were born too late, baby!
Robert Kiyosaki (and all the other millionaires too, I believe) recommends that you become an investor. "But ... but ... nobody told me to be one." Yes, no one asked you to be one because school teachers are employees. Maybe, one teacher in a million is an investor.
Anyway, it's never too late to learn. There are numerous training programs and seminars teaching you to be an investor. Property investment. Stock investment. They will teach you that there are monthly cycles, yearly cycles, ten-year cycles, etc. (Of course, the best for health is daily bi-cycle...hehehe! ... just to keep you awake).
When you have enough knowledge about cycles, about ups and downs, about booms and busts, you will be able to survive. If you are into properties, you make money whether the market is up or down. If you are into the stock market, or options trading, you will make your money - whether there's a boom or a bust.
Non-investors have a hard time, especially recently. In October, the TV showed some workers in the United States of America lamenting that they have lost 50% of their retirement savings (or investments), because of the stock market melt-down starting in September 2008. Robert Kiyosaki (and quite a few others, of course) knew that this economic depression would come.
What's the secret of successful investors? They have the knowledge - so you make sure you read books and attend training/seminars! Investors also learn how to manage risks (so that their investment risks are minimal or zero!).
The moral of the story? Up and downs is a fact of life. Of your life. Of the economic life. Of the business life. When you realise this - not only during the bust-time, but especially during the boom time - you prepare yourself (Be Prepared - your Boy Scout's motto ... remember?). Your life would then be plain sailing. Or smooth cycling (for road - compared to mountain - cyclists like me ... hehehe!).
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
P.S. I asked a property millionaire whether it is a bad time to invest in real estate, given the economic depression which is coming very very soon. He replied, "No. It simply means that we will have more raw materials (auctioned properties) to choose from, for our money-making machine."
Ooooohhh ... ok ... we are going to talk about cycles. Not only for exercise (bicycles). But also for our financial planning (economic cycles). For our investment (property cycles). Menstruation cycles ... no, no ... I will let my Gynaecologist friends write about this in their blog ... hehehe ... you should give them a chance too (to write about cycles).
You should expect, based on history, to undergo one depression and two recessions in your life-time. Your life-span is 75 years - if your don't misuse and abuse your body ... hehehe!
Of course, your personal depressions can be more (karaoke girl-friend left you, mistress left you, wife left you, kids left you, mummy left you, money left you, ...). Here, you should think about an economic depression. And economic recession.
What's the difference between an economic recession and an economic depression? You may realise that there's a recession, when your neighbour loses his job. A depression is when you lose your job. A depression is a more severe form of recession. You get more severe headaches (after finishing your severance package).
So, how can you avoid a recession, or a depression (worse, isn't it)? Simple, if you think it out logically ... don't have a job!
No job? "My daddy and mummy told me to study hard, and get a good job with security", you say to yourself. Well, with the present Information Age (and Knowledge) economy, a safe secure job is no more a reality if you are in developed countries like the United States of America.
In some countries, like "Malaysia - Truly Asia", you can still get a safe secure job in the (government) civil service. But whether it is a good job (in terms of salary and benefits), is subject to interpretation and your personal propensity to spend (economist's terms for whether you are a big spender or careful saver!).
If you don't have a job, what are you going to do? Be a hippie ? Well, that was in my time - in the 1960s. You were born too late, baby!
Robert Kiyosaki (and all the other millionaires too, I believe) recommends that you become an investor. "But ... but ... nobody told me to be one." Yes, no one asked you to be one because school teachers are employees. Maybe, one teacher in a million is an investor.
Anyway, it's never too late to learn. There are numerous training programs and seminars teaching you to be an investor. Property investment. Stock investment. They will teach you that there are monthly cycles, yearly cycles, ten-year cycles, etc. (Of course, the best for health is daily bi-cycle...hehehe! ... just to keep you awake).
When you have enough knowledge about cycles, about ups and downs, about booms and busts, you will be able to survive. If you are into properties, you make money whether the market is up or down. If you are into the stock market, or options trading, you will make your money - whether there's a boom or a bust.
Non-investors have a hard time, especially recently. In October, the TV showed some workers in the United States of America lamenting that they have lost 50% of their retirement savings (or investments), because of the stock market melt-down starting in September 2008. Robert Kiyosaki (and quite a few others, of course) knew that this economic depression would come.
What's the secret of successful investors? They have the knowledge - so you make sure you read books and attend training/seminars! Investors also learn how to manage risks (so that their investment risks are minimal or zero!).
The moral of the story? Up and downs is a fact of life. Of your life. Of the economic life. Of the business life. When you realise this - not only during the bust-time, but especially during the boom time - you prepare yourself (Be Prepared - your Boy Scout's motto ... remember?). Your life would then be plain sailing. Or smooth cycling (for road - compared to mountain - cyclists like me ... hehehe!).
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
P.S. I asked a property millionaire whether it is a bad time to invest in real estate, given the economic depression which is coming very very soon. He replied, "No. It simply means that we will have more raw materials (auctioned properties) to choose from, for our money-making machine."
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Is Destiny a Matter of Chance, or Choice?
What is your destiny?
To be poor? To be rich? To be middle class? To be famous? To be infamous? To be unknown? To help only yourself? To help as many people as you can?
If you want to be successful, in whatever endeavour, you need to make a choice. Nothing happens by chance.
If you think that your life is a case of a chance happening, or of chance happenings, you will become a victim of life. You have met these people. They blame everyone, or an event, for their dire straits in life.
I was reading some comments on the internet. I was shocked (well, I shouldn't be, but still it came as a shock) to find many people writing, and blaming the financial tsunami in the United States of America on the U.S.A.'s President-elect Barack Obama! Good heavens! What a convenient scape-goat. You can get sick, if you read the way these people blame other people.
Research has shown that the criminals in prison never blame themselves for being in prison. "It's the government's fault that I am in prison."
"It's the teachers' fault that I am in this situation."
"It's my parent's fault that I am in this unfortunate condition."
It is never their fault!
A neigbour went to the extreme though, of practising 'destiny is a matter of choice'. He was highly educated with a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. degree, and was a lecturer at a university. He rented a house for $400, but stopped paying the rental after some time (the house-owner was working and staying 250 kilometers away). When asked why he did not pay his rental, he said that he was saving the money to buy his own house. Unbelievable? But a true story! He really wanted to make the choice to have money to pay for his own house! But his degrees certainly does not make him a better man, don't you think so? He's robbing his landlord, to help himself!
An office colleague gambled a lot of his money on horse racing. One day, I saw a notice in the newspapers, and it was his house that was to be auctioned by the bank! When you play 'games of chance' to become rich, what are your chances?
There are even books published to help you interpret your nightly dreams. For example, if a monkey appeared in your dream, it would represent the number 583, and if you dreamt of a red ladies underwear, it would represent the number 912. These are supposedly to help you win the $1,000,000 jack-pot that can make you an instant millionaire!
Why are these books able to be published? Because many people want to be rich the easy way - interpreting their nightly dreams! Hahahaha! Funny, but true reality! These people's dreams naturally turn to financial nightmares, later on in life.
You can easily find out people who make themselves out as victims of circumstances. They use the three 'Cs' as their guiding light - Criticising, Complaining, and Condemning, everything that is happening in the world (most often in their own limited little world). You can easily meet these people in the company canteen or dining room.
The moral of the story? You create the life that you want. When you realise that destiny is a matter of choice, and not a matter of chance, you will take the necessary action to achieve your life's goal(s) and desires.
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
P.S. Did the office colleague who lost his house because of gambling his money away become homeless? It was lucky that his wife had her own apartment, and he was saved from joining the homeless brigade.
To be poor? To be rich? To be middle class? To be famous? To be infamous? To be unknown? To help only yourself? To help as many people as you can?
If you want to be successful, in whatever endeavour, you need to make a choice. Nothing happens by chance.
If you think that your life is a case of a chance happening, or of chance happenings, you will become a victim of life. You have met these people. They blame everyone, or an event, for their dire straits in life.
I was reading some comments on the internet. I was shocked (well, I shouldn't be, but still it came as a shock) to find many people writing, and blaming the financial tsunami in the United States of America on the U.S.A.'s President-elect Barack Obama! Good heavens! What a convenient scape-goat. You can get sick, if you read the way these people blame other people.
Research has shown that the criminals in prison never blame themselves for being in prison. "It's the government's fault that I am in prison."
"It's the teachers' fault that I am in this situation."
"It's my parent's fault that I am in this unfortunate condition."
It is never their fault!
A neigbour went to the extreme though, of practising 'destiny is a matter of choice'. He was highly educated with a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. degree, and was a lecturer at a university. He rented a house for $400, but stopped paying the rental after some time (the house-owner was working and staying 250 kilometers away). When asked why he did not pay his rental, he said that he was saving the money to buy his own house. Unbelievable? But a true story! He really wanted to make the choice to have money to pay for his own house! But his degrees certainly does not make him a better man, don't you think so? He's robbing his landlord, to help himself!
An office colleague gambled a lot of his money on horse racing. One day, I saw a notice in the newspapers, and it was his house that was to be auctioned by the bank! When you play 'games of chance' to become rich, what are your chances?
There are even books published to help you interpret your nightly dreams. For example, if a monkey appeared in your dream, it would represent the number 583, and if you dreamt of a red ladies underwear, it would represent the number 912. These are supposedly to help you win the $1,000,000 jack-pot that can make you an instant millionaire!
Why are these books able to be published? Because many people want to be rich the easy way - interpreting their nightly dreams! Hahahaha! Funny, but true reality! These people's dreams naturally turn to financial nightmares, later on in life.
You can easily find out people who make themselves out as victims of circumstances. They use the three 'Cs' as their guiding light - Criticising, Complaining, and Condemning, everything that is happening in the world (most often in their own limited little world). You can easily meet these people in the company canteen or dining room.
The moral of the story? You create the life that you want. When you realise that destiny is a matter of choice, and not a matter of chance, you will take the necessary action to achieve your life's goal(s) and desires.
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
P.S. Did the office colleague who lost his house because of gambling his money away become homeless? It was lucky that his wife had her own apartment, and he was saved from joining the homeless brigade.
Do You See Obstacles, or Opportunities?
What happens to you when you see obstacles? Will you be energised to act, or will you be petrified to act??
What happens when you see opportunities? Will your energy level, to take action, decrease or increase?
You are aware of the story of the two shoe salemen who were sent to a certain country to do a market survey for their product? Salesman 'A' saw the so-called natives not wearing any shoes. He reported to World Headquarters in "Malaysia - Truly Asia", "There is no market potential - no one's wearing shoes here." Will salesman 'A' be motivated to take the next step to meet his sales target?
Salesman 'B' also saw that the natives were not wearing shoes. He reported back, "There is a massive golden opportunity here - no one's wearing shoes yet!" Will Salesman 'B' be moved to take immediate action to meet his sales target?
What your mind focuses on, expands. When your mind focuses on obstacles, you see obstacles.
When your mind focuses on opportunities, opportunities seem to appear in front of you. Sometimes, as though out of thin air.
Remember when you were thinking of buying a new (say, a Toyota Rush) vehicle? Didn't you, suddenly, become aware of Toyota Rush vehicles on the road as you drive your old dilapidated jalopy? This is the Law of Attraction in action. What your mind focuses on, your eyes will see.
I have talked to dozens of my friends and acquaintances regarding an investment program in properties which gives at least a 20% annual Return-On-Investment (ROI). (I have no financial rewards or share in this program. I simply wanted to share the financial reward opportunity).
Only two guys understood what I was saying about the program. One guy was because his father-in-law was personally using a similar business model, as his primary source of income. The other guy was because he and his brother were using a similar business model to generate an additional source of income.
The other guys only saw obstacles when I explained the program to them. "It's too good to be true." "Beware of people collecting money from you, giving good returns in the beginning, and one fine day disappearing into thin air."
A similar business program was presented to some 500 people in Singapore in June 2008. The preview showed how money could be made from opportunities arising from the U.S.A.'s sub-prime loans crisis.
Yes, many people will unfortunately lose money from the sub-prime loan crisis. Yes, they chose to be in that position (although you may not agree with this statement). A few will make money from the sub-prime loan crisis. Yes, they also chose to be in this position. Life's a choice, don't you think so?
The annual Return-On-Investment was stated as 19% to 26%. "Too good to be true", thought the cynics, who see obstacles in their mind. "Sounds a very reasonable rate of return", thought those who have the knowledge (or experience) of how the property market works.
Exactly the same presentation and information, but completely different interpretations or views. Interesting, isn't it?
The moral of the story? Opportunities abound. Whether for a business opportunity, or a life partner! Look and you will see! Ask and you will be given!
I wish you Success in your undertakings and Good Health and Wealth for you and your family. Take care!
P.S. A very good friend of mine joined the property investment program when I told him about it. He said he trusts me (thank you sir!). I believe his trust in me jumped a quantum leap when he saw the bank cheque from my investment! ... Hehehe ... he's one smart guy, don't you think so?
What happens when you see opportunities? Will your energy level, to take action, decrease or increase?
You are aware of the story of the two shoe salemen who were sent to a certain country to do a market survey for their product? Salesman 'A' saw the so-called natives not wearing any shoes. He reported to World Headquarters in "Malaysia - Truly Asia", "There is no market potential - no one's wearing shoes here." Will salesman 'A' be motivated to take the next step to meet his sales target?
Salesman 'B' also saw that the natives were not wearing shoes. He reported back, "There is a massive golden opportunity here - no one's wearing shoes yet!" Will Salesman 'B' be moved to take immediate action to meet his sales target?
What your mind focuses on, expands. When your mind focuses on obstacles, you see obstacles.
When your mind focuses on opportunities, opportunities seem to appear in front of you. Sometimes, as though out of thin air.
Remember when you were thinking of buying a new (say, a Toyota Rush) vehicle? Didn't you, suddenly, become aware of Toyota Rush vehicles on the road as you drive your old dilapidated jalopy? This is the Law of Attraction in action. What your mind focuses on, your eyes will see.
I have talked to dozens of my friends and acquaintances regarding an investment program in properties which gives at least a 20% annual Return-On-Investment (ROI). (I have no financial rewards or share in this program. I simply wanted to share the financial reward opportunity).
Only two guys understood what I was saying about the program. One guy was because his father-in-law was personally using a similar business model, as his primary source of income. The other guy was because he and his brother were using a similar business model to generate an additional source of income.
The other guys only saw obstacles when I explained the program to them. "It's too good to be true." "Beware of people collecting money from you, giving good returns in the beginning, and one fine day disappearing into thin air."
A similar business program was presented to some 500 people in Singapore in June 2008. The preview showed how money could be made from opportunities arising from the U.S.A.'s sub-prime loans crisis.
Yes, many people will unfortunately lose money from the sub-prime loan crisis. Yes, they chose to be in that position (although you may not agree with this statement). A few will make money from the sub-prime loan crisis. Yes, they also chose to be in this position. Life's a choice, don't you think so?
The annual Return-On-Investment was stated as 19% to 26%. "Too good to be true", thought the cynics, who see obstacles in their mind. "Sounds a very reasonable rate of return", thought those who have the knowledge (or experience) of how the property market works.
Exactly the same presentation and information, but completely different interpretations or views. Interesting, isn't it?
The moral of the story? Opportunities abound. Whether for a business opportunity, or a life partner! Look and you will see! Ask and you will be given!
I wish you Success in your undertakings and Good Health and Wealth for you and your family. Take care!
P.S. A very good friend of mine joined the property investment program when I told him about it. He said he trusts me (thank you sir!). I believe his trust in me jumped a quantum leap when he saw the bank cheque from my investment! ... Hehehe ... he's one smart guy, don't you think so?
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Why Do You Need To Market 'You'?
Is Coca Cola an internationally recognised brand? Have you drank Coke? The Real Thing?
If Coca Cola is a readily recognised international brand, why do they spend lots of money on advertisements and promotions? After all, everyone knows Coca Cola, isn't it?
So what is the reason they spend a lot on promotions and advertisements? To be number 1? Yes! You are right! They have a lot of competitors, such as Pepsi Cola.
If Coke spends tonnes of money to market itself, shouldn't you - a mere unknown (at this point in time, but certainly not forever!) - also do some promotion? Some marketing? Self promotion?
One fine day in 1997, I decided to join an international MLM (multi level marketing) company. Why? Because you can make lots of money? True, but that was not the principal reason; because I had no confidence that I would be able to do what it takes in that business.
My principal reason was to find out how network marketing works. To understand its principles, so that when people give their opinion on this method of marketing products or services, I will give a knowledgeable answer. From actual experience of being in the industry. Rather than hearsay.
MLM or network marketing companies use one of the most effective forms of advertising or marketing - word of mouth. That's what I learnt.
Are we digressing from our topic? No, because another lesson I learnt is that if you are in any business, you should promote that business.
Me? I was trying to hide it. From anything that breathes. Why? Because some folks have the wrong information on the MLM industry. They 'think' its a pyramid scheme. (And I was afraid people would associate me with this). Because they 'think' (without the right information), they do not take 'action' to grap one of the best business opportunities in the world.
Once he learnt about the awesome power of the network marketing business model, Robert T Kiyosaki wrote "The Business School for People Who Like to Help People" to describe the advantages of being involved in the network marketing industry.
Of course, network marketing is not for everyone. But it sure would be a great help for a lot of people, if they just opened their minds.
Robert Kiyosaki also states that one of the most important personal skills that you must learn, to succeed in life, is selling! Because selling trains you to tame the fear of rejections! Can you handle twenty 'No's before you get one 'Yes'?
Harv T Eker wrote, "... any leader who can't or won't promote will not be a leader for long, be it in politics, business, sports or even as a parent. (Also)... Leaders earn a heck of a lot more money than followers!"
The moral of the story? If you do not promote yourself, no one else will. If you do not sell your business, no one else will. If you do not transfer your enthusiasm ('the radio wave by which you transmit your personality to others'), no one else will. Go sell, with integrity, the product "YOU"!
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
P.S. In case you are the curious kind, which MLM company did I join? Give me your answer in the Comments space. If you give me your email, I will confirm the answer privately! Of course, if you guessed right, I will give you a little gift. Fair deal?
If Coca Cola is a readily recognised international brand, why do they spend lots of money on advertisements and promotions? After all, everyone knows Coca Cola, isn't it?
So what is the reason they spend a lot on promotions and advertisements? To be number 1? Yes! You are right! They have a lot of competitors, such as Pepsi Cola.
If Coke spends tonnes of money to market itself, shouldn't you - a mere unknown (at this point in time, but certainly not forever!) - also do some promotion? Some marketing? Self promotion?
One fine day in 1997, I decided to join an international MLM (multi level marketing) company. Why? Because you can make lots of money? True, but that was not the principal reason; because I had no confidence that I would be able to do what it takes in that business.
My principal reason was to find out how network marketing works. To understand its principles, so that when people give their opinion on this method of marketing products or services, I will give a knowledgeable answer. From actual experience of being in the industry. Rather than hearsay.
MLM or network marketing companies use one of the most effective forms of advertising or marketing - word of mouth. That's what I learnt.
Are we digressing from our topic? No, because another lesson I learnt is that if you are in any business, you should promote that business.
Me? I was trying to hide it. From anything that breathes. Why? Because some folks have the wrong information on the MLM industry. They 'think' its a pyramid scheme. (And I was afraid people would associate me with this). Because they 'think' (without the right information), they do not take 'action' to grap one of the best business opportunities in the world.
Once he learnt about the awesome power of the network marketing business model, Robert T Kiyosaki wrote "The Business School for People Who Like to Help People" to describe the advantages of being involved in the network marketing industry.
Of course, network marketing is not for everyone. But it sure would be a great help for a lot of people, if they just opened their minds.
Robert Kiyosaki also states that one of the most important personal skills that you must learn, to succeed in life, is selling! Because selling trains you to tame the fear of rejections! Can you handle twenty 'No's before you get one 'Yes'?
Harv T Eker wrote, "... any leader who can't or won't promote will not be a leader for long, be it in politics, business, sports or even as a parent. (Also)... Leaders earn a heck of a lot more money than followers!"
The moral of the story? If you do not promote yourself, no one else will. If you do not sell your business, no one else will. If you do not transfer your enthusiasm ('the radio wave by which you transmit your personality to others'), no one else will. Go sell, with integrity, the product "YOU"!
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
P.S. In case you are the curious kind, which MLM company did I join? Give me your answer in the Comments space. If you give me your email, I will confirm the answer privately! Of course, if you guessed right, I will give you a little gift. Fair deal?
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
What is Your Net Worth?
Why is your Net Worth important? Because once you have a Net Worth (instead of net liability!), you will be able to proceed to more wealth! "The journey of one million dollars starts with one single dollar", said the famous philosopher MyFinancial$Sense.
Common folks talk in terms of having a salary increase of 30% (a promotion) or 5% (annual increase to keep up with inflation, but not with personal expenses!). Rich people talk in terms of increasing Net Worth. Common folks talk of increasing Working Income.
Six years ago, a friend of mine, a millionaire (must be, because he lived in a million-dollar bungalow, and also had just been given a million-dollar golden handshake, with more than a million dollars in his retirement fund, plus a few road/racing bicycles worth what 3 administrative assistants would earn in a year!) said of another friend, "Dick will be worth a couple of (more like 50) million dollars when his company is listed on the stock market." It's only now that I understand that rich people never talk of 5% or 30% increase in your working income.
How do you calculate your Net Worth? Simple: add (expressed in '$ & c') everything that you own, and then minus everything that you owe.
If you own: a house which you bought for $300,000 (market value $180,000 because of the U.S.A.'s sub-prime crisis), an apartment which you bought for $ 125,000 (market value $ 160,000 because it is situated in the Central Business District), savings bonds of $10,000 (fixed value), 60,000 units of mutual funds which you bought @ $1.30/unit but whose price today is $0.50 (because of the world's worst financial market in two decades), an 8-year old car bought for $50,000 but now worth $10,000 on the market, a 2-year old car which you bought for $ 37,000 (market value $ 9,000 because it's a lemon), and you owe: the bank $25,000 (loan for 2-year old car), what is your Net Worth? (A special prize awaits you if you get the right answer!).
T Harv Eker states that four (4) factors determine your Net Worth:
(1) Income, (2) Savings, (3) Investments, and (4) Simplification.
Income can be from Active Income, or Passive Income.
Active Income is when you trade your 'time' for 'money'. Your time is worth less (perhaps $4/hour) when there is a lot of supply (e.g. you work as a manual worker, perhaps packing items into a cardboard box). If you have specialised skills (like a neuro-surgeon, divorce lawyer for the rich and famous, or creative marketing consultant), your rate could be $10,000 per hour.
Passive Income is when you have an income stream whether you are awake or asleep (or gone to heaven!?! ... Elvis Presley - o.k., ok., his estate - still earns lotsa $$$$ from his songs' royalties). Or you write a best-selling book (not a best-written book, for heaven's sake!), and collect your royalties as you go on a tropical cruise.
Savings is critical because because they will become the seeds of your investment, once it reaches a minimum level. Savings indicates that you have the discipline not to let money get completely out of your hands. If you can't keep it, others will! Get the message?
From your savings (if you keep it in the bank, some banks offer 4% per annum, a few may offer 12% when they are really short of funds), you will accumulate over a period of time to use for Investments.
Investments in gold, property, stocks or business? For a Mc Donald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise, you may need a $1,000,000 investment. For a network marketing company's rights to market their products, the 'franchise fee' could be less than a $100. Without an investment fund, you may miss golden business opportunities which require investments of between $10,000 to $100,000.
Simplification requires you to reduce your cost of living, so that you can increase your savings and investments faster. A property millionaire started his road to riches by simplification, when he realised that almost 100% of his income was on expenses, with little room left for savings and investments. How?
He got rid of his big car (he was a lawyer with his own firm) and changed to a compact car. He unloaded the driver (of his big car). His friends gingerly avoided him at the club (because they thought he was in dire financial straits). He's laughing his way to the bank now (and riding, with the breeze caressing his moustache, on his Harley Davidson around the country). FINANCIAL FREEDOM!
The moral of the story? Once you realise that your Net Worth is more important than your Net Income, you will be on your way to financial freedom. Focus on your Net Worth everyday (o.k., every month for starters), and you will see it grow.
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
P.S. Sshhh ... what about his big wife? No, no! The guy didn't get rid of his big wife (see story on Simplification above), in case you were wondering. Just joking (about his wife being big), for heaven's sake!
Common folks talk in terms of having a salary increase of 30% (a promotion) or 5% (annual increase to keep up with inflation, but not with personal expenses!). Rich people talk in terms of increasing Net Worth. Common folks talk of increasing Working Income.
Six years ago, a friend of mine, a millionaire (must be, because he lived in a million-dollar bungalow, and also had just been given a million-dollar golden handshake, with more than a million dollars in his retirement fund, plus a few road/racing bicycles worth what 3 administrative assistants would earn in a year!) said of another friend, "Dick will be worth a couple of (more like 50) million dollars when his company is listed on the stock market." It's only now that I understand that rich people never talk of 5% or 30% increase in your working income.
How do you calculate your Net Worth? Simple: add (expressed in '$ & c') everything that you own, and then minus everything that you owe.
If you own: a house which you bought for $300,000 (market value $180,000 because of the U.S.A.'s sub-prime crisis), an apartment which you bought for $ 125,000 (market value $ 160,000 because it is situated in the Central Business District), savings bonds of $10,000 (fixed value), 60,000 units of mutual funds which you bought @ $1.30/unit but whose price today is $0.50 (because of the world's worst financial market in two decades), an 8-year old car bought for $50,000 but now worth $10,000 on the market, a 2-year old car which you bought for $ 37,000 (market value $ 9,000 because it's a lemon), and you owe: the bank $25,000 (loan for 2-year old car), what is your Net Worth? (A special prize awaits you if you get the right answer!).
T Harv Eker states that four (4) factors determine your Net Worth:
(1) Income, (2) Savings, (3) Investments, and (4) Simplification.
Income can be from Active Income, or Passive Income.
Active Income is when you trade your 'time' for 'money'. Your time is worth less (perhaps $4/hour) when there is a lot of supply (e.g. you work as a manual worker, perhaps packing items into a cardboard box). If you have specialised skills (like a neuro-surgeon, divorce lawyer for the rich and famous, or creative marketing consultant), your rate could be $10,000 per hour.
Passive Income is when you have an income stream whether you are awake or asleep (or gone to heaven!?! ... Elvis Presley - o.k., ok., his estate - still earns lotsa $$$$ from his songs' royalties). Or you write a best-selling book (not a best-written book, for heaven's sake!), and collect your royalties as you go on a tropical cruise.
Savings is critical because because they will become the seeds of your investment, once it reaches a minimum level. Savings indicates that you have the discipline not to let money get completely out of your hands. If you can't keep it, others will! Get the message?
From your savings (if you keep it in the bank, some banks offer 4% per annum, a few may offer 12% when they are really short of funds), you will accumulate over a period of time to use for Investments.
Investments in gold, property, stocks or business? For a Mc Donald's or Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise, you may need a $1,000,000 investment. For a network marketing company's rights to market their products, the 'franchise fee' could be less than a $100. Without an investment fund, you may miss golden business opportunities which require investments of between $10,000 to $100,000.
Simplification requires you to reduce your cost of living, so that you can increase your savings and investments faster. A property millionaire started his road to riches by simplification, when he realised that almost 100% of his income was on expenses, with little room left for savings and investments. How?
He got rid of his big car (he was a lawyer with his own firm) and changed to a compact car. He unloaded the driver (of his big car). His friends gingerly avoided him at the club (because they thought he was in dire financial straits). He's laughing his way to the bank now (and riding, with the breeze caressing his moustache, on his Harley Davidson around the country). FINANCIAL FREEDOM!
The moral of the story? Once you realise that your Net Worth is more important than your Net Income, you will be on your way to financial freedom. Focus on your Net Worth everyday (o.k., every month for starters), and you will see it grow.
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
P.S. Sshhh ... what about his big wife? No, no! The guy didn't get rid of his big wife (see story on Simplification above), in case you were wondering. Just joking (about his wife being big), for heaven's sake!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Is Money Working for You, or Are You Working for Money?
Are you working for money? A simple but profound question, don't you think so?
Most of you may not realise that you are working for money. I found the comment from an office colleague interesting. He says he does not work for money - he works for the sake of God. Well, if he does not work for money, don't you think that he should give away his monthly salary to a House of God, or to an ophanage? Well, we don't want to touch on sensitive topics. I guess as long as he's happy in his own world, we should let him be.
It's as though you have been programmed since you came out of the womb. Perhaps even before you came out! If you were scanned through your mummy's tummy, and found to be a boy (well, the scan showed you had an appendage!), your parents may have had visions of you as a doctor, or lawyer, or accountant - never as a dancer, or as a network marketer ("goodness gracious me, why would anyone want to become that", thinks 95% of parents ... the ignorant ones).
If you were born a girl, your parents would have visions of you as ... da da! .... a doctor, or lawyer, or an accountant!
What would you like your children to become when they grow up? A philosopher? A rock star? A guitarist? Mother Theresa? A multi-level marketer?
What have you been programmed to, by your parents and the educational system, since you were born? To get a ... JOB! Yes, you are good, aren't you?
When you have been programmed to get a job, your life would be Just Over Broke. You will work to get money. To buy you a big bike. Buy you a big car. Buy you a big house. Buy you a big wife (!?!)... hehehe ... to check that you are not sleeping again!
When you get a $500 per month increment, you buy a bigger, more prestigious car. When you get another $1,000 per month increment, you up-grade your house. Whether you are a civil servant, a factory worker, a nurse, a lawyer, an accountant or a doctor. You are programmed to spend whatever extra you get. You work for money!
Rich people let money work for them. If they have $500 extra per month, they save it. Until it is enough to be invested. In mutual funds, or stocks, or gold, or property, or a business.
If you have $100,000 in your hand (your long lost auntie just left you that amount in her will), would you prefer to use it to buy a new car to replace your 8-year old car? How long would you need to think about this?
If you have a 'rich person's' mind, you would calculate the opportunity cost of buying a car rather than invest it. You may think, "If I buy a new car, I lose the opportunity to triple the $100,000 in 5 years (in a property investment program). Hmmm ... I need to see whether it's worthwhile to get a new car, at this moment in time. I must get my priorities right". This is what 5% of the people would do.
If you have a mind that 'works for money', you would simply and immediately say to yourself, "What the heck ... it's better that I get a new car immediately and enjoy life. You never know whether you will live long, anyway". This is what 95% of the folks out there would do. You are not in this category, of course.
The moral of the story? If you think short-term, you will always be working for money. If you think long-term, you will have money working for you.
"Delayed gratification" means that you are willing to have a hard time now, so that you will have an easy time in the future. "Instant gratification" means you want your pleasure now, and torture later (and forever?). Which one do you practise? You choose the life that you want!
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
Most of you may not realise that you are working for money. I found the comment from an office colleague interesting. He says he does not work for money - he works for the sake of God. Well, if he does not work for money, don't you think that he should give away his monthly salary to a House of God, or to an ophanage? Well, we don't want to touch on sensitive topics. I guess as long as he's happy in his own world, we should let him be.
It's as though you have been programmed since you came out of the womb. Perhaps even before you came out! If you were scanned through your mummy's tummy, and found to be a boy (well, the scan showed you had an appendage!), your parents may have had visions of you as a doctor, or lawyer, or accountant - never as a dancer, or as a network marketer ("goodness gracious me, why would anyone want to become that", thinks 95% of parents ... the ignorant ones).
If you were born a girl, your parents would have visions of you as ... da da! .... a doctor, or lawyer, or an accountant!
What would you like your children to become when they grow up? A philosopher? A rock star? A guitarist? Mother Theresa? A multi-level marketer?
What have you been programmed to, by your parents and the educational system, since you were born? To get a ... JOB! Yes, you are good, aren't you?
When you have been programmed to get a job, your life would be Just Over Broke. You will work to get money. To buy you a big bike. Buy you a big car. Buy you a big house. Buy you a big wife (!?!)... hehehe ... to check that you are not sleeping again!
When you get a $500 per month increment, you buy a bigger, more prestigious car. When you get another $1,000 per month increment, you up-grade your house. Whether you are a civil servant, a factory worker, a nurse, a lawyer, an accountant or a doctor. You are programmed to spend whatever extra you get. You work for money!
Rich people let money work for them. If they have $500 extra per month, they save it. Until it is enough to be invested. In mutual funds, or stocks, or gold, or property, or a business.
If you have $100,000 in your hand (your long lost auntie just left you that amount in her will), would you prefer to use it to buy a new car to replace your 8-year old car? How long would you need to think about this?
If you have a 'rich person's' mind, you would calculate the opportunity cost of buying a car rather than invest it. You may think, "If I buy a new car, I lose the opportunity to triple the $100,000 in 5 years (in a property investment program). Hmmm ... I need to see whether it's worthwhile to get a new car, at this moment in time. I must get my priorities right". This is what 5% of the people would do.
If you have a mind that 'works for money', you would simply and immediately say to yourself, "What the heck ... it's better that I get a new car immediately and enjoy life. You never know whether you will live long, anyway". This is what 95% of the folks out there would do. You are not in this category, of course.
The moral of the story? If you think short-term, you will always be working for money. If you think long-term, you will have money working for you.
"Delayed gratification" means that you are willing to have a hard time now, so that you will have an easy time in the future. "Instant gratification" means you want your pleasure now, and torture later (and forever?). Which one do you practise? You choose the life that you want!
I wish you Success in your undertakings, and Good Health and Wealth to you and your family. Take care!
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