Archive for July, 2008
“The urge to give up is always the greatest when you’re about to succeed.” -Unknown
Seth Godin would call this The Dip and he filled a whole book about it. It is important to be able to differentiate between whether you are going through the dip or if it is really time to close shop and move on to another idea.
I can’t remember where i found this one but if anyone knows the source, please post in the comments and I’ll put it in here.
Photo Credit: PSD
I believe mind set is one of the most important things when you are looking to accomplish goals. This is especially true if your goal would end up changing your life. Want to be an entrepreneur? Want to be a millionaire? An accomplished writer? Blogger?
You are who you hang around with.
I’m sure you’ve heard this before but it does run pretty deep. What if you want to be a millionaire but there aren’t any for you to hang around with in your town. (That you know of anyways.) The next best thing is by listening to a few of them. Find blogs and podcasts made by people that are successful doing what you like to do. Like personal development? Try Steve Pavlina. Like marketing? Try Seth Godin. (He has a wonderful free blog.)
Be The Gatekeeper to Your Mind
If you want to learn about becoming a millionaire, look at what millionaires expose themselves to. What do they read, watch, do, invest in? Start exposing yourself to free podcasts, blogs, CNBC, great books and more. Stop watching I Love Money… lol
Your Whole Dynamic Will Change
The way you think about things will change and new opportunities my now be visible where they might not have been before. Sometimes you have to become a future self to realize a goal. Think - who or what kind of person would the me be that obtains this goal? Then start being that person - now.
“Bob would fail if he did average work for average editors just to make a living. But by turning down the average stuff and insisting on standing for something on the edge, he profits. By challenging his clients to run stuff that makes them nervous (and then having them discover that it’s great), he profits.
This is scary. It’s really scary to turn down most (the average) of what comes your way and hold out for the remarkable opportunities. Scary to quit your job at an average company doing average work just because you know that if you stay, you’ll end up just like them. Scary to go way out on an edge and intentionally make what you do unattractive to some.
Which is why it’s such a great opportunity.
- Seth Godin”
I love this one..
Thank you to the people who let me know the comments weren’t working without logging in. I wouldn’t expect people to sign up at every blog they come across. I found the setting and fixed it. Comment away! 
This is a life hack that I do to learn more without putting aside extra time just for listening/reading. I love books and audio books but there is hardly ever time to sit down and read a book or simply listen to the audio book.
5 Ways To Listen To An Audiobook (or 2) Each Month Without Putting Aside Extra Time
1. Listen while driving to and from work. (Even if your commute is 20 minutes. That is (40 minutes per day) x (5 days) = (3.33 hours per week or 13.33 hours per month)
2. Listen while mowing the lawn (Say 1 HR per week for a smaller lawn = 4 HRs per month) - Mowing the lawn is boring anyways. This is a great opportunity to learn something new and have your mind actually doing something.
3. Listen while doing chores (This could be 1-3 hours each day)
4. Listen while running/jogging/walking (This could be a 1/2 hour - 1HR every day) - Or every couple days if you are like me 
5. Listen at the gym (Again, depends on how much you exercise but it could be a good place to get your learn on as well.)
Tip: If you aren’t getting your audiobooks on MP3 yet, check it out because they are much cheaper in electronic form. Great places to get audio books are via Audible.
Listening to the right books helps with your mind set. Having the right mind set is half the challenge!
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My recent goal post is included in the Carnival of Debt Reduction. You can find the most recent carnival listed over at Not The Jet Set. Thanks for the add!
Did you learn how to manage your finances, make smart financial decisions and save for your retirement IN HIGH SCHOOL? I know I didn’t.. Please post a comment if you did because I would love to hear that some schools are teaching practical financial knowledge. 
Doesn’t it seem like there is a big gap there? They teach you just about anything in high school but they don’t leave you with the financial background to make smart decisions the rest of your life. They let you leave and pick out your colleges, student loans and credit cards but don’t teach you about them.
This all appears to trickle down into our society which seems to have become a debt culture. Everyone loads up on debt and when a financial stiff breeze comes by, (ie: Mortgage rate increases, Gas Price Increases, ect.) they can’t handle it. It is tough times for sure but everyone needs to take it upon themselves to get a good financial intelligence.
[end rant] - Sorry about that
There are so many great resources available and the online, on bookshelves, in podcasts and in audiobook form. I’ll teach you an audio book trick soon that allows you to “read” an audio book or two a month without putting aside any extra time in your life. (Because I know you are just as bogged down as I am!)
Photo Credit: OrrGroup - Ironic that it is a firm that helps with financial education. Go OrrGroup! Fill that gap!
You have heard it before and I will repeat it hear since it is one of the best tips to help anyone save money faster. Paying yourself first is the easiest way to save lots of money.
To make it even easier is to take your future decisions out of the savings equation. Have a fixed percentage taken out of your pay and once you learn to live without it, you may never miss it. 10% is a nice percentage to start at and can be raised up or down as needed. Time flies by as you are saving and when you go to check your balance, you will be pleasantly surprised.
You can also put your funds into a high yield savings account such as HSBC Direct who is currently offering 3.5% to get a return on your investment without the risk of the ups and downs of the stock market.
“People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don’t believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can’t find them, make them.”
- George Bernard Shaw
Photo by AMagill via Flickr
When everyone thinks about how to save additional dollars, everyone is so quick to look towards being frugal. Though this is very valid and will result in additional funds for investing, we forget that this isn’t the only way! What about increasing your means rather than limiting yourself?
Some sample ways to increase your means are:
Start a Business - We are in a great time right now where it is easier than ever to start a business. The internet allows for some wonderful things. One of them is very low startup capital (if any!) is needed for some businesses and the internet allows for the small fries to compete with the major companies. The internet often lets the cream rise to the top organically thanks to services like search engines and social networking.
Start a Blog - It is easier than ever to get one going. Jump over to wordpress and download their software or get one hosted for you. You can make blogs on anything that interests you and if you develop a readership, there are many services available to monetize your traffic.
Free Sign Up Bonuses - You see these all over the place for signing up for various savings accounts nad credit cards. This is a smaller perk and doesn’t recur but every little bit helps.
Get Cash Back - You can get cash back for your online purchases through services like eBates or Fat Wallet. Want more cash back? Buy those purchases with a credit card that offers you cash back.
Take a Little Overtime At Work - Bank/Invest/Pay Debt with all the extra funds.
Ask For That Raise - You deserve it. If you don’t, work a little harder…jeez..
Every bit helps and if you can permanently increase your means, imagine all the extra savings and how much faster your financial goals will be realized!
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