For today’s article I found myself motivated by an excerpt from the net:
In the words of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio
“The way to turn our economy around is not by making rich people poorer; it’s by making poor people richer.”
(Read more: http://bit.ly/RP1V65)
Now this I found very intriguing. In this time of peoples unrepressed loathing of the 1% and the Occupy Wall Street movement there seems to be an every growing desire to rob the rich. Now I know many people are going to ream me for this but I just can’t get with taking from those who built their fortunes.
The rich pay a vast majority of the taxes.
The rich give the most to charities and non-profits globally (see buffet and gates).
If we are to simply take what they make, what incentive is there to keep making money and giving it as well?
In my humble opinion it is high time we find a way to incentivize people’s efforts to be rich. Not everyone will make it, not everyone wants to- but wouldn’t the world be better if we all strived for greater gains? Imagine if Michael Jordan only wanted single digit stats? If Ali didn’t want to be the greatest? And what if Steve Jobs didn’t insist on perfection? I think we would have lost as well. Add Leonardo da Vinci to that mix to my friends and imagine what profound loss we as a species would have. And it is in this vain that I exhort you to do as Rubio suggests.
Every economy in the world benefits when there are more wealthy folks or even those with healthy bank balances. So let’s see how you would get there.
*Mind your Business. Yup- not what your mom said, what Tony says. Simply put make your own money. Don’t be a wage slave forever. If you don’t agree why not simply start a part time business from home? Extra money in your spare time or a business that sets you free from having a boss is ideal. The average millionaire was middle to lower class. It doesn’t always take vast sums of cash to make more cash. Bloomberg wasn’t born a billionaire but will die one. He set lofty goals for himself and let his ambition move him beyond simple things. Id dare say all his dreams have been actualized. Doesn’t that sound great? What separates us from him? Nothing.
*SAVE, SAVE, SAVE.
Can’t find the time to build an empire? Just not sure that’s what you want? That’s not a problem. Its fine actually. Simply save and live below your means. Start out trying to put aside 5% every month. After the bite of this begins to fade up shift to 7%. After that 10%. Your goal should be to stash 20% of your take home every month from now to eternity. Even after you reach your targeted amounts and goals- save more. In retirement as well, save more. The greater your capital cushion the easier you will weather the financial storms and the less stress you will feel. When you hit a financial curve you will pause and then continue your forward motion. Imagine not worrying about money, because you have an excess.
Your economic future is in your hands. Therefore why would you not craft the most amazing, dynamic, wealthy personal economy you can?
#thriveorsurvive.
In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.
Confucius
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Tony@Changeinadvance.com
@changeinadvance
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The clarity you gain today might not be enough to see you through tomorrow. Live everyday seeking more.
‘IT’S CHESS NOT CHECKERS’
Today I’m keeping it short.
Mindset is the name of the game. Life is mindset. If you perceive yourself as a loser- U ARE. If you see a winner in the Mirror- the Winner is YOU. There’s isn’t much to think about. You see self perception is everything. To see the leader you are is more effective than to train to lead. The most qualified guy on paper is usually the least skilled. Not always true I concede but who you are on paper- as in certifications and education- doesn’t hold a candle to who you are in the field.
The guy who leads the team to victory is the king. He paid the cost. Leading is acting.
And from here I reference my title-
‘IT’S CHESS NOT CHECKERS’.
Simple. Eloquent. Factual.
Checkers has strategy. It requires skills, tactical motion, and patience.
Chess however multiplies all those efforts exponentially. The pieces have greater variety in motion and more skills sets. Indeed some attack in pairs. It is quite literally war. The troops advance. They close ranks. The king runs. Indeed even your queen who runs the gamut can be reduced to kindle within 5 moves!
What do you do? PLaY CHeSS. Skip the checkers. Every move in each endeavor you embark on requires you think 5 steps ahead. Every action sets its own reaction. You don’t anticipate the clients wants you dictate them. Gretzky adhered to this. He said go where you want the puck not where its going. Remember that guy; jobs? Yeah Steve. He ascribed to Gretzky’s philosophy. Two great innovators and champions in the arenas they chose almost inherently knew you had to control the game. You had to make moves. Indeed you don’t play. It isn’t a game.
And neither is your business. You have to know the moves.
Anticipate the factors.
If you can’t see what’s coming down the pike you are failing already.
Every entrepreneur is playing Chess.
Checkers is for employees.
See the difference- its so simple its astounding. When you run a business you prepare. And when your plan fails you are ahead anyway. Business requires leadership. You are on the offensive. I’ll tell you one thing I learned playing chess. The guy on the defensive- He lost already. The offensive player is winning. He’s dictating terms. He runs the board. He controls the game and the flow. In your business are your creditors dictating your income aka achievement levels or are you? You must always play the game on your terms. Not to say there aren’t setbacks. Heck, I have had them all along my journey. Yet the push from failure set my troops loose with a greater tenacity to dictate the terms of the surrender. War has casualties. And as such. Treat my business with the same mentality.
And from there, there is one choice only:
Live or die. I won’t die. I won’t quit. I will succeed. I will triumph. At the very least my enemy will have a Pyrrhic victory.
Such catastrophic losses so as to preclude a victory. Chess. Not checkers. Victory. Not losing. Plan every angle. Be ready for set backs. Anticipate your opponents moves, aka the consumer or competition. And don’t forget to leave room for your own margin of error. We all drop the ball. But the entrepreneur who plans ahead wins. Have a business plan. Have a mentor who knows the game. See where you need to go- and Crush the competition.
#thriveorsurvive.
“He who learns must suffer. And even in our sleep pain that cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart, and in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom to us by the awful grace of God.”
-Aeschylus (via Robert F. Kennedy)
Thoughts? Concerns?
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Tony@Changeinadvance.com
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Action Reading List
Ok folks I’ve got a few books on my list that I think everyone should read. Its a short list and I’m going to skip Napoleon Hill et al because we as entrepreneurs are inundated with the likes oh him, The Secret, and many others. Not knocking them per say I just think a different avenue and a fewsh eye/perspective is more useful these days.
Let’s face it; the economies changed. The needs of the people have as well. So we as entrepreneurs and marketers need to be innovators and leaders. Not to mention educators, students, and help-mates to the masses.
And in that vein I present you my top 7 books you need to read.
–The Charge.
By Brendon Burchard, this book is no nonsense and a great read. Not his first but my first read of his tomes. Recommended to me by the Great Ray Higdon (@rayhigdon).
This book will help clear your focus and activate your drives. Truly groundbreaking in my humble opinion.
–Rogue Warrior.
Richard Marcinko’s autobiography of how he started Seal Team Six. This man was an innovator, achiever, and believer. He believed in his country and himself. Nothing stopped him from being the best. Great read with an easy format. A guy in the first mlm I made money with recommended it to me and he was right.
–48 Laws of Power.
By Robert Greene, one of my fave reads ever. It is considered ruthless by some but the lessons are useful. Also its historical references and layout are vastly intriguing. I’d buy it twice. I won’t say more because the book speaks for itself.
–33 Strategies of War.
Another classic by Robert Greene. I love this guy. Having bought all his books I can clearly tell you that this one is as much a game changer as 48 Laws of Power.
–Steve Jobs.
The acclaimed biography by Walter Isaacson is a no holds barred look into the life of Jobs. Indeed it could be called a dig as Isaacson went down the rabbit hole that was Jobs. There is a treasure trove of knowledge to be had here and a great read as well. One of the books that is truly amazing my mind. It excites and inspires at the same time.
–The One Minute Millionaire.
Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen, two literary geniuses in their own right with sales that astound. True innovators and creators. The team up for this book is amazing. It has a fictional and factual counterpart wrapped up in one book. Truly amazing and the one book I’ve read as many times as 48 Laws of Power. I literally learn every time I read it. I got it 30% off but after reading it know I would have paid 60% extra to own it.
–Rich Dad Poor Dad.
Rober kiyosaki at his best. Some hate him. Some don’t. Overall I like the guy. While I’ve taken his courses too I think I’m going to stick with the books. This first one I have purchased three times. What I do is read it and give my copy to someone else. Its a great book for opening the eyes of the reader.
BONUS:
–Heavy Hitters Magazine aka HH.
Not a book but a staple in my collection.
Indeed it is the only magazine I buy. Every two months it features insane quotes, cars, and profiles of self made entrepreneurs. People who most of us can relate to.
The most inspiration you can buy for $6 bucks. Guaranteed.
#thriveorsurvive.
“It is what you read when you don’t have to that determines what you will be when you can’t help it.”
― Oscar Wilde
“If one cannot enjoy reading a book over and over again, there is no use in reading it at all.”
― Oscar Wilde
“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”
― Dr. Seuss, I Can Read With My Eyes Shut!
Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
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Need ideas?
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Tony@Changeinadvance.com
@changeinadvance
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Or simply reply to this article.
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Small Money, Small Success.
Small money, small success. Sad but true, this mentality is probably handicapping more entrepreneurs and start ups than I can imagine. The scope of your dreams defines the rise of your success.
Before I get into theory and concept let me preface my mindset with a story. You see I moved recently and ran into a former coworker. We were discussing my move and some of the new logistics that came with it. Previously I’d had an indoor garage parking spot and as such parking was never an issue. At my new residence however I have to park anywhere I can. Indeed it is almost a Darwinian situation in some aspects (kidding). Now I have to find a parking spot and dodge meters, street cleaning, and school zoning. I don’t particularly mind because the trade off in parking was worth the proximity to my job and the great neighborhood and superior building service. At this point in the conversation my former coworker stated that having to pay a few bucks a week for parking when I can’t get a good spot gets to be expensive. I had to pause here and I’ll tell you why. On the average week I’m paying about 4 bucks to park over a 7 day week. That’s not bad in my opinion. It adds up to 16 dollars a month which is not a lot either. Now being fiscally rabid isn’t smart but for me it’s an economic win win. This works out to be cheap because I cut my gas bill and car mileage dramatically. I now spend about 50 a month on gas. I used to spend 35 dollars a week or better. So when you do the math my gas and parking bill at its highest month is still about half what I used to spend. Keep in mind that that’s the average numbers. There are weeks I don’t pay for parking at all so the savings are even greater when we look at expenditures for certain months. Also as I mentioned my mileage is down dramatically. I went from 20 miles a day to about 3. If you use the IRS’ numbers for the value/cost of usage per mile this is a big savings. I’m doing 110 miles less a week on average. So now my resale value will rise dramatically. My wear and tear and thus maintenance also will drop precipitously.
I say all this to point out the difference in mindset. I saw gain, ease of access, and peace of mind when I moved. My compatriot saw the 4 bucks. This is ludicrous. I lowered my living expenses overall while increasing my standard of living. And therein lays the key.
What do you see when you spend? Do you not spend money on your education or to grow your business out of fear of losing capital? Or do you spend to build your regime? Life is short and the less you invest in you the less you gain. If you sweat the small dollars you won’t make the big riches. Being fiscally prudent is always important- but you can’t make money if you don’t spend money. I think the quotes below will indirectly end this article better than I ever could.
“We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”
-Oscar Wilde
“The mind is the limit. As long as the mind can envision the fact that you can do something, you can do it, as long as you really believe 100 percent” – Arnold Schwarzenegger
“All that we are is the result of what we have thought. The mind is everything. What we think, we become” – Buddha
#thriveorsurvive.
#findyourfuel.
Thoughts? Concerns?
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Tony@Changeinadvance.com
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We Accept What We Think We Deserve.
Simple. Wrong. Frustratingly Factual.
Its kind of upsetting folks that this one thought process ruins lives and dreams systematically.
-Accepting less than you deserve.
In life you deserve the best. No questions asked. The question is will you accept that?
Will you accept the blessings and responsibilities that come with it?
Your Mindset will literally predict your income and success levels. When we tell ourselves we deserve nothing- WE GET NOTHING! Simple as that. I can predict a prospect or students fiscal trajectory with a few questions. And the less they expect out of life and out of themselves the less income they will generate. The less mental wealth they will accrue.
To get to the top you have to first believe you actually belong there. If you don’t, well you don’t. A champion first believed that they were already champions, it was only a matter of time and commitment. Nothing else. Ever hear doctors tell sick patients that a positive outlook literally effects them? It does. What is your mindset?
Are you willing to accept that you are amazing? That you deserve it all?
Don’t forget the responsibilities of greatness. To whom much is given much is required. When you reach your zenith you must give back. Others must be shown the same path. This will reward both your heart and your wallet. Pretty cool I say.
-Playing small.
Playing small serves no purpose.
No one was made to be nothing- pardon the double negative, it’s intentional. Greatness is destiny. There is unlimited potential in all of us. Reach for it. When you achieve build off of it. Every achievement is a stepping stone. as such you must continually progress to being greater than you are today. Your tomorrows don’t belong to you so make them amazing for others and you will in turn be amazing. Be a wellspring of true greatness.
-Manifest your success.
The easiest way to break this down is that its exactly what it sounds like. Only you have the ability to create your success. You may come from wealth, or have a huge family company- irrelevant. And I know a lot of people will argue me on this but my position is simple: you are only successful by your OWN hand. What you create, design, or maintain. How many lottery winners aren’t broke 5 years after they win? Heck 2 years creates a path of tragedy that for some even culminates in suicide. How sad that is. Some people inherit vast empires and run them into the ground ruining that which their forefathers sweated for. You see what you don’t have equity in you don’t value. As this works out in my head means only one thing: you make yourself what you are. Statistics would label me a failure based on generic acquired data. To put it another way an unacceptable percentage of males in my position, sex, race, etc fail at life. Yet I never accepted failure as an option. I have had numerous pitfalls and I myself have been the author of my disaster at times- and I always bounced back. Deep in my heart there is a fear of failure. But there is a bigger fear of not being me. And I’ve always wanted to be the best or amongst the best. I want to win. I meditate on thriving and not surviving (#thriveorsurvive).
#thriveorsurvive.
#findyourfuel
Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
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Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat-
Tony@Changeinadvance.com
@changeinadvance
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Or simply reply to this article.
FIND YOUR FUEL 2.
So I started this journey with you guys last week. Finding Your Fuel will be a small series. Succinct. Concise. Motivating. That’s it. Its a concept that came to me late one night while going through my blackberry and sorting ideas and concepts that I’ve stored or just recently fleshed out.
I’ve assembled a few steps to walk you thought the process below.
-Agenda 1
*Meditation.
Meditation will help tremendously.
Meditation clears the mind and the heart. It will help illuminate a clear path. Indeed it will show you what really exists within and what truly resonates with your soul.
Meditate every day at least once building to a 20 minute span. Start with 5 minutes if need be.
*Eliminating distractions.
This is a big one too.
Tv, HD, PS3, LED, PSP vita, ugh! No. No. No.
Limit or remove these distractions. The bar, the friends, all are too distracting. Try books. Try the gym. Try yoga. We can’t be balanced only chasing one goal. So breaking up your day into positive increments is a great idea. Whatever eats at your growth eats at your dreams. Would you trade your soul for abs? Exactly.
*Task lists to remove distractions and clear mental clutter.
Organize your goals, dreams, chores. Everything. I have daily lists, a wish list, a dream board- all that. I also broke down on a list how much money I have to make for my wife to stay home with the kids. And when I broke that number down to an hourly rate its small. And you know what that did for me? Created massive hope. And a reachable goal. Aka a finite target. Not a wish. And also the organization is pretty nifty too folks.
-Agenda 2
*Forgive the self.
A lot of people have hang ups that hold them back. And a lot of us conquer these hang ups but don’t forgive ourselves.
Forgive yourself your mistakes, and faults. It is so easy that it is hard.
*Forgive others.
Holding grudges will poison your soul. It will kill your heart, steal your joy, and ruin your business. None of this is productive. None of this will build your business or clear your heart. Let go of it all. People change. Times change. Grow my friends.
*Move past the past.
Your past isn’t your present. And it sure as heck isn’t indicative of your future.
Let yourself see where you are and where you are going. Nothing Else. The rest is irrelevant. Forget what was done.
YES you should build off past accomplishments.
NO you shouldn’t dwell on it.
Determine exactly where you are at and where you aim to be. If you are stuck in a rut at step 3, and there are only 5 steps- hell you are 60% done! And life is the same exact process. You may have ran before your legs were shattered- and know u have crutches. Focus on the laps you will run.
Nothing matters but where you are going. That being the case get their.
Self enlightenment.
A side note on the above agendas- These steps will produce self enlightenment. This is simply a true awareness of who you are. And this will define your actions. Motives and actions will materialize and make sense. This is something we all need and should aspire to have.
-Agenda 3
*Give. Tithe. Whatever.
I’ve never seen this not work.
It will soothe the soul. It will help others. It will build your business and it will build your heart. Give to your church. Give to the poor. Give it all. Okay not it all but sharing is caring. And it works. You don’t lose when you care. Also the infinite rewards those who give.
To those who much us given, much is required.
It’s time to step up to the plate.
#thriveorsurvive.
“I don’t want to believe I want to know.”
-Carl Sagan
Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
Let’s chat.
Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat-
Tony@Changeinadvance.com
@changeinadvance
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Or simply reply to this article.
Our Thoughts Create Our World
Not much to add there honestly. However its quite deep. Our thoughts make everything we do or receive materialize. Life is a series of actions yes, but our thoughts predate all our actions. And so I ask: What are YOU Thinking about?
-Mindset.
What is your mindset?
Mine has been to have a business but not build it for years. I’ll admit it.
I wanted a business.
I wanted success.
I wanted the dream.
But my mindset dictated a minimal man. Oh I talked the talk and walked the walk- but I wasn’t making moves. Why you ask? Mindset. Mine was one of coasting. I’d take a first step, sometimes a second and then stop. Fear would set in. Or I’d get my paycheck from my union job and realize I wasn’t too hungry. My belly wasn’t quite empty. I was semi-full a little too often. Mindset when I worked freelance was that f a hungry cub, union work had made me into a gazelle. You see my thoughts had created safety out of my desire for a steady paycheck. No more. Now I want it all!
-Visualizing the end goal.
This is so integral I might call it breathing.
To win the race you have to visualize the victory. You have to see it to make it happen. Everyone says they are winners.
Everyone says they want it all. And yet and still at the end of the night they go to bed dreaming of nothing and only visualizing the rent, the car note, co-pays, and the other daily nonsense. Nonsense! Tony you are a jerk! No. Tony has the same bills, worries and needs. The difference: these items equal fuel for me. I see my cost basis as a starting point in earnings. I see the Lamborghini for sure, and I also see a life where con edison is my ally by supplying my electricity and not an enemy for charging me for it.
-Making the end goal materialize
Now that you know what you have to see in the minds eye- how the heck do you get it?!
Simple: steadfast dedication. Commitment.
Make your goal as simple and as regular as breathing. That’s it. And yes you will stumble. You will fail. However you can’t get it right without making moves. All of this starts in your mind. Let your thoughts be a compass. Thoughts can not only lead the way but create a future and blaze a path.
I promise what you think of is what you will get.
If you think you are a loser you will be.
If you think of only that one moment, that one moment that counts- you will succeed.
Bruce Jenner did this. When he won his gold medal he focused only on being better than he was. On only giving more that ne had ever given. To let that last sinew create magic. His thoughts were filled only with success. And for a dyslexic male he has triumphed beyond what he was destined for statistically.
Are you ready to commit?
Is your mind set on this one goal?
If your mind is set on creating destiny it will. If its set on mediocrity you will reap just that.
Let your world be your thoughts and your thoughts be your world.
Only let GREATNESS be your thoughts.
#thriveorsurvive.
Bold enough to believe the impossible.
#thriveorsurvive.
Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. -Willaim James
Thoughts? Concerns?
Questions? Think I’m wrong?
Let’s chat.
Need ideas?
Want to learn how to invite?
Let’s chat.
Want a mentor or maybe the guy who will bounce ideas back and forth with you?
Let’s chat-
Tony@Changeinadvance.com
@changeinadvance
http://www.changeinadvance.com
Or simply reply to this article.
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