| Ask anyone, "do you want more money?" and the | | | | rewards. The wealth 'horse' moves a lot more |
| answer is usually "yes!" More money can mean many | | | | effectively if it has both 'carrots' and 'sticks' |
| things: freedom, fun, adventure, escape from bills, no | | | | encouraging it along. |
| more worries, a brand new BMW. Whatever it is we | | | | One last word about 'sticks'. If you have too many of |
| want, money is often the means to get it. | | | | them, your life becomes filled with fear - fear of |
| Why is it we don't have everything we want? We are | | | | poverty, fear of debt, fear of an under-funded |
| definitely smart enough - we have after all sent a man | | | | retirement. This is no way to lead a life, and certainly a |
| to the moon, should we not be able to make a few | | | | very anxious way to approach developing wealth. |
| extra thousand dollars? We certainly work hard | | | | Some 'sticks' are a good way to get started, and then |
| enough - statistics have Australians working 40-60 | | | | focus more on your 'carrots'. Not only are these much |
| hours per week. Americans have barely two weeks | | | | more fun to think about, they will make the process of |
| annual leave per annum. There is no lack of work ethic | | | | building wealth far more pleasant and enjoyable. |
| here. | | | | Secret #3: It's not about the money |
| So what keeps us from achieving the wealth we truly | | | | Every wealthy person knows that creating a fortune is |
| desire? | | | | never about the money itself. It is however about what |
| Is it lack of knowledge? No - there are thousands of | | | | the money can do. Money allows the experiences that |
| books and articles on how to build wealth and there | | | | provide pleasure. Ultimately building wealth is about |
| are thousands who have done it before - it is | | | | feeling good - nothing more, nothing less. Can you feel |
| achievable. The answers are out there, for anyone to | | | | good without building wealth? Absolutely! This is why a |
| access. | | | | wealthy person feels good, feels 'wealthy', regardless |
| Is it lack of desire? Surely not since most people | | | | of the balance of their bank account. For the wealthy |
| express a true craving for more cash and can see | | | | person, accumulation of wealth is a process that is as |
| the real benefits of building wealth. | | | | enjoyable as the results. |
| The distinction between those who make millions and | | | | Wealthy people are not hung up on outcomes or on |
| those who do not is not about intelligence, drive, work | | | | the balance sheet. Wealthy people focus on the |
| ethic, knowledge, skill, opportunity, or even luck. The | | | | process of adding value to their clients, to their |
| difference lies almost entirely with beliefs and attitude. | | | | colleagues, to their employees, to their field of work. |
| These distinctions boil down to seven basic secrets of | | | | They know that in adding value, the laws of reciprocity |
| what I call the "Millionaire Mindset". | | | | dictate that value comes back to them in the end. In |
| Secret #1: Beliefs about Money | | | | this way they can feel good at any given time. |
| Millionaires have specific beliefs about money and | | | | Creating wealth is as much about service to others as |
| wealth. This is the most fundamental and most | | | | it is about feeling good in their own life. |
| important aspect of becoming (and staying) a | | | | Secret #4: Awareness is a key skill of wealth creation |
| millionaire. | | | | Those who create and attract wealth have a |
| Millionaire beliefs include: | | | | heightened sense of self. They are keenly aware of |
| * I deserve to be rich. | | | | what might be stopping their personal growth including |
| * There is more than enough wealth to go around. | | | | personal effectiveness, limiting beliefs, low-level |
| * When I grow rich, so do others. | | | | emotional patterns, and lack of knowledge or skill. They |
| * I grow rich by adding value to people's lives. I do this | | | | take active steps to eliminate blocks to their success. |
| by providing services, knowledge, or products that | | | | Those with a Millionaire Mindset are also keenly |
| enrich others. | | | | sensitive to their environment. They surround |
| * Creating wealth is enjoyable and fun. | | | | themselves with people who support and assist them |
| * If I desire it, I can achieve it, attract it, possess it, enjoy | | | | with their goals. They hire coaches, select mentors, |
| it. | | | | and pay for the best advisers they can afford. They |
| * I am the captain of my own ship. | | | | avoid individuals who are negative, pessimistic, or |
| * I am not alone - in building wealth, I have many | | | | caustic in any way. They design inspiring surroundings |
| partners who assist me in the design, implementation, | | | | that remind them of their personal vision and reflect |
| and administration of my products and services. We all | | | | their individual values. Everything around them is a |
| benefit from the growth of wealth. | | | | reflection of who they are at the core and resonates |
| * Nobody suffers as a result of me being rich. | | | | with their vision of themselves already in possession of |
| * Wealth brings the opportunity to assist others. | | | | the wealth they desire. |
| * I am very grateful for everything I have in my life | | | | Secret #5: Focus reveals opportunities |
| already. | | | | Along with heightened awareness, focus on key |
| * I am on this planet to enjoy my life. | | | | priorities operates like a giant floodlight: opportunities |
| * I am already wealthy beyond measure. | | | | are revealed by the powerful, focussed light. Without |
| How many of those beliefs do you share with the | | | | clear focus, these same opportunities may still exist, |
| millionaires? Chances are if you do not have all the | | | | but because awareness is unfocussed, the individual |
| wealth you desire it is because you may have some | | | | may not necessarily notice them. |
| limiting beliefs about yourself and money. | | | | Secret #6: Repeat baby steps |
| We develop our money beliefs primarily from our | | | | Having focus and heightened awareness is not enough |
| family and from our early experiences with money. Do | | | | to become wealthy. Inspired and deliberate action is |
| you remember your first conscious thought about | | | | required to create results. Wealthy individuals take |
| money? Was it a positive one? Quite often our | | | | measured steps in creating their outcomes. They |
| experiences with money are negative or unsupportive, | | | | know that some action is better than none and that |
| associated with guilt, blame, fear, jealousy and all | | | | baby steps in the moment lead to significant results |
| manner of low-level emotional states. | | | | over time. |
| Culturally we are also bombarded with messages | | | | Secret #7: Connect to joy, in the moment |
| about money. Have you heard of these ones? | | | | True wealth comes in the experience of joy, in the |
| * Money does not grow on trees. | | | | moment. This is in fact a choice brought on by |
| * Money is the root of all evil. | | | | awareness of our connection to the whole of mankind, |
| * It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a | | | | the whole of the universe. When we feel integrated |
| needle than it is for a rich man to pass through the | | | | and a part of the great experience of life, we can |
| gates of heaven. | | | | relax and savour the experience of the moment, now. |
| * The meek shall inherit the earth. | | | | A great sense of peace thus allows the flow of joy, |
| * There is virtue in poverty. | | | | happiness, and ultimately wealth and prosperity. |
| When you think about it, these maxims are not at all | | | | So how do you actually create wealth? |
| helpful if you want to grow wealth. If you subscribe to | | | | This is the question people always ask first when they |
| these beliefs, then your ambitions will be in constant | | | | want to escape poverty and make more money. It |
| conflict with your underlying notions about wealth. The | | | | should in fact be the last question to answer. You |
| result? A stalemate. No wealth can be grown in these | | | | cannot attract wealth if you do not have the right |
| conditions. | | | | beliefs, reasons, focus, awareness, and attitude. Any |
| Secret #2: Reasons for Building Wealth - The Carrot | | | | financial project will flounder without these elements in |
| and the Stick | | | | place first. |
| Millionaires have very specific and very compelling | | | | With that caveat out of the way, how do you build |
| reasons for WHY they build wealth. These reasons | | | | wealth? |
| keep them focussed on their goals. These may include | | | | The simple answer is that there are a multitude of |
| the desire to experience freedom of choice, provide a | | | | methods and strategies. You can employ one or |
| solid education to their children, assist their favourite | | | | many. These include: |
| charity, eliminate personal debt, ensure a secure future | | | | * A traditional business enterprise |
| for themselves, or simply to have fun. | | | | * Investing in shares, managed funds, bonds, etc |
| Regardless of the particulars of 'why' they want to | | | | * Property investment |
| build wealth, all the reasons fall in to two distinct | | | | * An online business. |
| categories. These are the 'Carrots' and the 'Sticks'. | | | | What we know for sure that there are very few 'jobs' |
| Both 'Carrots' and 'Sticks' are essential components of | | | | that pay an extraordinary salary that turns in to |
| the Millionaire Mindset. | | | | massive wealth. Business and investment is really the |
| 'Carrots' are the juicy incentive. Just like the horse that | | | | key to wealth that does not depend on you actually |
| has the carrot suspended out in front of him to keep | | | | turning up to deliver a service. |
| him trotting along, aiming for the yummy treat, | | | | How do you get started on the technical side of things |
| millionaires also have 'carrots'. These might be a new | | | | of wealth building? |
| Jaguar, a house on the beach, overseas travel, a | | | | First of all, pick the strategy that you will enjoy. If you |
| fancy wardrobe, a solid education fund for their | | | | are a technophobe, then maybe an on-line business is |
| children, the ability to donate to their favourite charity, a | | | | not for you. If you enjoy home making and decorating, |
| sense of freedom, a sense of adventure, the freedom | | | | maybe property investment is something for you to |
| of choice. The reasons are both tangible and esoteric. | | | | pursue. Whatever you choose, you have to enjoy it |
| Basically the most important thing is that the 'carrots' | | | | and make it fun! |
| feel good. | | | | There are plenty of good resources out there to teach |
| 'Sticks' are the painful reminder of what they don't | | | | you the nitty gritty of investing, business building etc. |
| want. My aunt who is now very wealthy says the | | | | Don't feel you like you have to go it alone! Get advice, |
| primary reason she worked so hard for financial | | | | get help, get a coach, get a mentor. Educate yourself - |
| independence is that she never wanted to experience | | | | read, read, read. Then take action - baby steps of |
| again the poverty of her childhood. It was such a | | | | course! |
| painful experience that it served as a whip, a 'stick', to | | | | As a starting point, here are some great resources for |
| drive her wealth creation activities. Other wealth | | | | you: |
| creation 'sticks' might be the pain of oppressive debt, | | | | Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Robert Kiyosaki |
| fear of retirement without sufficient funds, the worry | | | | Cash Flow Quadrant - Robert Kiyosaki |
| of wondering from where the next meal will come. | | | | The E Myth Revisited - Michael Gerber |
| Anthony Robbins claims that people will do more to | | | | You Were Born Rich - Bob Proctor |
| avoid pain than they will do gain pleasure. This is a key | | | | The One Minute Millionaire - Mark Victor Hansen |
| observation in the development of the Millionaire | | | | Think and Grow Rich - Napoleon Hill |
| Mindset. In order to carry through plans for wealth | | | | There are plenty of more books, links, and articles on |
| creation, the millionaire on the make needs to have | | | | my website to help lead you in the right direction. |
| both 'carrots' and 'sticks'. The sticks keep the feet to | | | | Now go forth and prosper! |
| the fire, keep the awareness of pain as a spur to | | | | I wish you a life of love, laughter, joy, health, and |
| keep trying, to keep working the plan. The 'carrots' | | | | prosperity. |
| however provide the inspiration, the joy, and the | | | | |