Your Solutions To Problems Should Come From Purpose

Photo by Cadalpe

When you're faced with a problem, how do you deal with it?

Do you deal with it using your pride and ego? Being arrogant and impatient in your approach, thus using solutions that may solve the problem quickly but with a lot of negative implications?

Or do you deal with it passively? Letting others come up with the solution to your problems and have them solve it as well?

Or do you deal with it with purpose? Seeing the problem as an obstacle that you just need to overcome the right way to help you achieve your goals and dreams?

Similar to my previous post about Bro. Bo's teachings on our dreams coming from either pride or purpose, Bro. Bo mentions that our solutions also comes from pride, purpose and another called passivity.

Dealing with your problem using pride and ego often leads to catastrophic results. People who uses pride to solve their problems will always go for the quickest and surest way to solve a problem, without regard to the possible negative impact. Cutting in line because you're already late, parking in the slot reserved for disabled or senior citizens, killing someone who has done you and your friends wrongly, and so on.

These solutions usually make things worse.

Using passivity to deal with your problem often leads to inaction. People who are passive usually just wait for other people, the government or even God himself to solve his/her problem, which usually results in them not being able to solve the problem at all. Waiting for a company to offer you a job without even applying, waiting for the government to provide you with free food and shelter, waiting for God to stop the rain to prevent flooding, and so on.

Nothing usually happens here.

Solutions that comes from purpose is what Bro. Bo likes to call God-Solution. Purpose driven solutions doesn't focus on the problem at hand, it focuses on your purpose, dreams or goals. It see problems as challenges that will make you better and take you closer to your goals once you overcome them. The challenges you face in starting a business, overcoming financial struggles through proper financial education, forgiving someone who has done you wrong, and so on.

Solutions here are not necessarily quick and easy, but they are considered the right one because of their focus on the real purpose and not on the problem.

Focusing on the problem at hand won't really do you any good. Because it will only force you to do things that will solve or minimize the problem, even if it's not necessarily what you should be doing to accomplish your goals or dreams.

Like one of the problems I faced in failed attempt at starting a car wash. I was too focused on the problem of finding a good location and wanting things to be in order before I begin, that I lost sight of the real reason for starting the business in the first place. To provide convenient service and to make profits. My energy was spent on trying to solve the problem, hence, I didn't have enough to actually start the business and serve its purpose.

So if you're faced with a problem, don't use your pride or passivity in dealing with it. Instead focus on your purpose. The reason why you're doing what you're doing. So that you won't forget what's important and not focus too much of your time and energy in your problems

If You Have Big Dreams

Photo by Dave Williams

Do you have a big dream?

A dream so big that you'll have a hard time achieving it?

The most common problem people experience when they have big dreams is that their resources are smaller than their dreams.

You dream of travelling the world but your resource only allows you to travel around Luzon. You dream of living in a high rise luxurious condo but you can only afford a high ceiling bungalow. You dream of driving an SUV but your resources can only provide you with a Scooter. You dream of playing professional soccer abroad but you kick like you have no power.

Now there are two options that you can choose from when you have dreams bigger than your resources:

1. Lower your dreams to match your resources
2. Increase your resources to match your dreams

The conservative types would want the first option, just dream small so that it will be easier for you to achieve it. While the second option would be appealing to most people, increasing your resources so that you can achieve whatever dream you come up with.

I lean towards the second option as I believe it is the better choice among the two. However, it doesn't mean that we should just aim to always increase our resources to match our dream. On the contrary, there are certain dreams that needs adjusting that can match our resources.

How will we know which dream to adjust? Well Bro. Bo Sanchez offered a way to see which dreams your should adjust and which you need to increase your resources on. It can be found on where your dream is coming from.

Is your dream coming from pride? Do you dream of one day driving a sports car it will make you feel and look like a successful person, even if you are really not? Or do you dream of living in a big mansion, inside an exclusive village, just to show everyone that you're capable of affording it?

These are the type of dreams that you need to adjust to match your resources. Dreaming of something big just so you can boost your pride or ego won't really do you any good. You'd just be showing off, which could cause some people to hate or envy you. Pride driven dreams also don't have much fuel in them to keep you going, even through tough times. So if your dream is because of pride, you better adjust that dream to match your resources.

Is your dream coming from purpose? Do you dream of putting up a big business that will benefit a lot of people as it will provide jobs to hundreds and also a product and service that will make people's life better? Or do you dream of one day establishing a school, where it offers free education to street kids?

These are the type of dreams that you adjust your resources to match it. These are dreams that are given to you by God to serve a purpose for His people. These dreams provide a lot of good and benefit to a lot of people and not just you. Purpose driven dreams will also provide you with the fuel to keep on going even through tough times, because you know that this serves a great purpose bigger than you.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to have material things, but it's important that you check where this dream is coming from. Is it to serve a purpose? Or is t just to boost your pride and ego? If it is to serve a God's purpose, then you better adjust resources to match it. But if it is to serve only your ego, then adjust your dream to match your resources.

Dream big, but don't just dream to serve your ego, dream to serve others as well.

The Power Of Understanding

Photo by © Tetra Images

I'd just like to expound more on my previous post about choosing the battles that you fight in (click here to read the post again). Anyway the post involved a list of battles that you should avoid and the last battle to be avoided is a battle with people who misunderstood you.

I believe this topic requires longer discussion and that's what this post is all about.

I mentioned in that list that I believe misunderstanding is one of the primary reason for a lot of arguments in this world. More often than not, people don't support or agree with something they don't completely understand. And instead of trying to understand the opposing view, most people tend to give out reasons and justify why they don't support or agree with it. This often leads to arguments, debate and sometimes, even war.

Most people will protect and defend something they strongly believe in, especially if it is being attacked.

Have you witnessed a meeting where there are two choices that needs to be made but it hasn't been made yet because not everyone agrees on what choice to be made?

Well my girlfriend have been a witness to that kind of meeting countless of times and she said that they usually spend a lot of time for each side to try and justify why their choice is better than the other. Most of the time of course, nothing gets resolved at the end of the meeting so they either have to talk about it again in the next meeting or try and resolve it outside of the meeting.

You know why most of the time nothing gets resolved? It's because no one is listening. The two sides are too preoccupied in trying to come up with a rebuttal to each others arguments that they don't get to really listen to what each side is trying to say. They don't see the good points that the other side is presenting because they are too busy trying to present their own side's good points.

Everyone is too busy talking, that's why no one is listening. That's also why no one is able to understand. 

So what should be done?

Well it's easy to say that there should just be a mediator who will do all of the listening and understanding part. But I believe that not everything can be resolved by having a mediator, because you still need to understand the other side for you to agree.

So the best way to avoid misunderstanding is to be the understanding one. Now before you go berserk and say that it isn't fair on your part to be the understanding one and give way, let me explain first. The reason why you should be the understanding one is because you have control of your emotions, thoughts and actions. 

Basically you control yourself. You can do something about it. You can control yourself to listen and understand. You can't control the other person to do that, that's impossible. So it has to start with you because that's what you can control. And once you begin to understand, the other person will follow suit. Why? It's because you won't be arguing with him/her anymore, so there's no reason to drive home a point or force their view unto you.

Since you'd be listening and understanding what they have to say, their defensive wall that is ready to come up with a rebuttal to any kind of argument you'd throw, would come down. And that would make them also open to listening and understanding what you have to say.

Once you're both able to see and understand the other's side and point of view, you'll be able to come up with a better option that you'll both agree on.

It's easy and very tempting to get into an argument with someone who disagree's with our point of view. But this usually leads to more conflict and arguments. Instead, try to listen and understand where they are coming from. This will open a more productive discussion that will yield a better option for both parties involved.

Remember to always listen and understand. This will avoid you a lot of arguments and conflicts with people.

Not All Battles Should Be Fought

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In your life, you'd come across people who disagree with you, who wants to destroy you, harm you, steal from you and so on.  That's just part of life. No matter what you do, you won't be able to please everybody. It's not unusual for you to make enemies along the way, especially if you're succeeding.

I know it will be hard not to get into with them, especially if they get personal with their attack on you. But before you give in to the temptation of arguing defending yourself, you should carefully choose first the battle that you'll fight in. Because not all battles should be fought. There are certain battles that no matter if you win or lose, you'd still end up losing in the end.

But which battle should you avoid fighting in? Bro. Bo Sanchez shared a list of people that you shouldn't fight and why you shouldn't fight them in one of his WealthStrategies. I'd like to share that list with you and also add some of my own:

1. Don't fight people who are envious of you - As you become successful in life, a lot of people will become envious of you. And most of them, unfortunately, will be your ex-friends who will criticize you because you're richer than them. It won't matter if you worked hard for it, to them you're the enemy because you are rich. You are not one of them anymore. The hate here is fueled by envy and the only way they won't hate you anymore is if they are not envious of you. So it's really a lose-lose situation for you. Because no matter what you say, how much you defend yourself, you're still the enemy as long as you are rich and they are not.
2. Don't fight people who don't repay debts - This is another lose-lose situation for you. There are people who will borrow money from you but won't pay you back. You'd just be wasting your time and energy if you go into battle with them. Because, more often than not, they don't have the money to pay you back. No matter how much you argue with them, if they don't have the money, they don't have the money. Instead of straining your voice and relationship fighting them, just don't lend anymore money. If you really want to help them, just give them money and that's it.
3. Don't fight people who do harm to you when you are bitter - Bro. Bo's original list here is to not fight people who steal from you. But I want to make it more general by saying not to fight people who harm you, because the message applies here. It's easy to get angry and bitter at people who do any kind of harm to you, either they steal from you, hurt you, and so on. But you wouldn't want to carry the poison of bitterness within you, it won't do you any good. Instead of becoming bitter, forgive the person, then you can fire or even file a case against the person. But don't do it because of bitterness, do it because you want to teach the person a lesson out of concern. Being bitter doesn't really do anyone any good. But if you're concerned, you show care and love to the person, which would have a more positive impact.
4. Don't fight people who block your dreams - A lot of people would oppose your dream because they have no idea what you are doing. It's tempting to argue and debate with them and show them that what you're trying to accomplish is a good thing. Believe me it's pointless to do that. Arguing or debating is not a good way to make a person see your point of view. Instead, befriend them, invite them for lunch or coffee, be nice to them and so on. If you befriend them, they would be more inclined to listen and try to see what you're trying to do. It's easier to see something in a more pleasant and appealing environment, than when in an argument and conflicting environment.
5. Don't fight people who misunderstand you - I'd like to add this to the list of battles that you should avoid. I believe that misunderstanding is one of the primary reason for a lot of arguments. But fighting and arguing is a very bad way to make people understand something. People are more inclined to defend their point of view instead of listening to what you're trying to say in an argument. Instead of  arguing, try to understand them first. Look through their point of view and see where they are coming from. Doing so, will show that you listen to them, acknowledge their stance and understand where they are coming from. Once they see that, they are more inclined to do the same. Look at your point of view and try to understand where you are coming from.

It's easy and tempting to fight and argue with people who disagree and attack us. But not all battles are worth fighting for. You should choose carefully what battle that you're going to get into. Remember not everything can be resolved through fighting. More often, conflicts can be resolved without the need to fight.

Success Doesn't Come Easy

Photo by Jamie Grill

A lot of time, people are always looking for the easy way out.

The easiest way to promotion, the easiest way to finish a project, the easiest way to success and so on.

Of course that is not unusual. After all, who in their right mind would want to experience any hardship? Even if a great reward is the end product of that hardship, most people would still prefer for things to come easy instead of hard.

But that's not how life works. Hardships and challenges are part of life and I believe they are there to help us grow and develop. It is through these hardships and challenges where we learn the most. Why do you think most people strive to get better? It's because they are struggling at their current level. So they need to get better so they won't struggle anymore.

Just imagine if things were made easy for everyone. Human beings probably wouldn't have achieved much of what we achieved today. Because things are easy, there's no need for us to keep on growing, to keep on getting better. There are no obstacles or struggle that we need to overcome, so why bother to get better?

Successful people know this. That's why they are don't flinch when an obstacle or challenge comes their way. Instead of folding, they strive to get better to be able to overcome it. It is in overcoming these hardships and challenges that people achieve the most.

Just look at the successful people in the world today. If you read their biographies, you can see that they faced a lot of hardships and challenges in their lives. But instead of running away and looking for the easy way out, they faced it, they attacked it and they got better in the process. Until eventually they are able to overcome it.

They are considered great and successful because they are able to overcome challenges in life. They don't give up easily and are willing to do what is necessary to overcome them.

The next time you find yourself faced with an obstacle, don't just look for the easy way out. Remember the challenge in front of you is a call for you to grow and get better. Once you're able to overcome it, you are closer to achieving the success that you want.

The Importance Of Doing Nothing

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Are you always so consumed with your work or business?

Rushing from one meeting to another and finishing deadlines left and right? Or attending company events every night?

I'm sure your pretty much stressed out and very fatigued by now.

Friends, it's time you stop, take a break, relax for a while and just do nothing. Not only will this refresh, re-energize and rejuvenate you, but it will also help you think and come up with new ideas that can improve your work or business or ideas for a new business or project .

Once in a while it's important that you do nothing at all, especially if you're the boss or you want to be the boss. Why? Because, it's when you relax, enjoy and just simply do nothing, that good ideas come to you. Ideas that you might not have seen or thought of because of your very hectic and heavy schedule. 

Have you seen the movie The Internship? It's a movie that is starring Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn, two salesman who find themselves in a very competitive internship at Google after their careers are made obsolete by the digital age. Vince and Owen were teamed with four other people (Josh Brener, Dylan O'Brien, Tobit Raphael and Tiya Sicar) and they have to compete with other teams in a series of tasks where the team with the highest points at the end of the competition gets hired by Google.

It's a nice feel good movie that you should watch.

Anyway there's a scene there that best illustrates the importance of doing nothing. One of their task was to come up with a Google App that they need to make available online. The App with the highest number of downloads wins the task.

Their four teammates were busy brainstorming on what kind of App to create. Since they are not that knowledgeable in the digital age, Vince and Owen were not much help to their teammates (they were actually more of a distraction at first). The team was getting nowhere, while their biggest rival (the leader of their rival team is played by Aasif Mandvi) is already getting high numbers of download from their App. 

Owen and Vince then convinced their teammates that they should just lighten up and enjoy for a while. The App that they need will eventually come to them. Their teammates reluctantly agreed and they all went to a strip club. There they partied, got drunk and just basically enjoyed themselves. They even got into a fight and was thrown out of the club. Before going back to Google headquarters, they went into a spot where they got a good view of the Golden Gate Bridge. 

Then one of their teammates (Josh), wanted to send a picture to a girl he liked in the club. But the picture is an indecent one, so his teammates was telling him that he is drunk and he should not send it. And to prove he was drunk, Vince asked a question where Josh was able to answer it with ease. They asked a more difficult question where he was unsure of the answer. And it was in that moment that Owen was able to come up with the idea for their App. They would make a Quiz App, where the people need to answer a series of questions first as proof they are not drunk before they send out anything through their mobile phone.

The App got a lot of download and they won the task.

The reason they came up with the App was because they were able to think clearly. Without the stress, tension and pressure of wanting to win, they were able to come up with a great idea that they might have overlooked had they not decided to just relax and enjoy.

It's important that we have a moment in our busy lives to just relax, enjoy and do nothing. Doing this will help sharpen and clear our mind, thus enabling us to come up with good ideas that can help improve our work or business or ideas for a new business or project.

Increase your Level Of Acceptance

Photo by Daniel Kulinski

While I was still in college, I dreamed of one day working in a big and stable multinational company and earning at least P100,000 a month.

After graduation, my first job was to work for a big multinational company with a salary of P15,000. Of course I wasn't satisfied with that, so I worked extremely hard in improving myself and in looking for opportunities that can increase my salary.

In just three years, my income jumped from P15,000 - P35,000, more than double of my first salary. I felt really happy about it, I felt as if I had achieved my goals already. After that I lost my drive, I didn't feel hungry anymore to achieve my dream. I'd be happy to earn P100,000, but I sure wasn't driven to reach it.

My income didn't increase since then and after almost 2 years, I left that job and abandoned my dream of earning P100,000 a month in salary, to chase my dream of becoming an entrepreneur and to be financially free.

What do you think is the reason I was able to more than double my salary in just three years, but wasn't able to increase it for almost two years already?

It's because I have already reached my level of acceptance.

Your level of acceptance is actually the level at which you are willing to accept, whatever it is that you are receiving. It's not necessarily the goal or dream that you set out, it is the level where your needs and wants have been met already.

In my case, my goal was to earn P100,000 a month, but  I was willing to accept a salary of P35,000. At P35,000 my needs and wants have already been met, that's why my income stopped there. I was happy with what I was getting and wasn't hungry anymore to chase the dream of earning P100,000 a month in salary.

Of course my dream shifted from working in a multinational company and earning P100,000 a month to becoming an entrepreneur and being financially free, but that's not the point.

My point here is that, you're level of acceptance or what is it that you're willing to accept is what will determine what you will get. You can have a goal of earning P100,000 a month. But if you're willing to accept earning P50,000 a month, then that's what you'll get.

Why? Because you're goals and dreams are fueled by your hunger. The hungrier you are the more you will push yourself to achieve your goals and dreams. But once your hunger is satisfied (your level of acceptance), then you will lose the fuel that will drive you to achieve more.

So if you want to achieve more in life, then you have to increase your level of acceptance. Be hungry, so that you'll have the fuel to drive you to achieve your goal.

Work With What You Have

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A lot of people want to get into business. The problem though is that they don't know what to do or what kind of business to get into.

More often people look for the business with a good track record for success, or the business that is popular right now. Or they look at the cheapest or easiest business to start. They look for something they don't have that actually make things harder and more expensive.

I believe the easiest way to start a business is to work with what you have or make use of what is available to you now, instead of looking for something that you don't have.

I was like most people before, looking on the outside instead of inside in starting a business. I was always researching on what kind of business I can get into, which is easier to start and which has the likelihood of succeeding.

Then I found business that I liked, it was a home-service car wash business. I though it was a good and easy enough business to start, especially for newbie like me. My only problem though is that I knew nothing about the car wash business. How to operate it, the ins and outs of it, and so on.

As I was processing the needed requirements to operate the business, I was always in doubt if I'm capable to start and operate this kind of business, considering I have zero experience. Even if do a lot of research, and learn I'm still not confident enough in my ability to actually make it succeed. In the end though I wasn't able to overcome my mental hurdle and didn't push through with the business.

The funny thing though is that, I was actually already in a small business. I was selling some rice, dried fish (tinapa) and salted eggs that I got from Bataan to some of our neighbors in Quezon City. My girlfriend's family has a small farm in Bataan and their main product is rice. At first I was buying rice to be used for personal consumption. Then an idea to sell some of the rice to our neighbors came about. So we started to sell some of the rice and it did well. 

Then in one of our trips to Bataan, my girlfriend's mom gave us some salted eggs to take home. Since it was a lot, we gave some to our neighbors and they like it and asked us if we can give them some more and they are willing to pay for it, so we also started selling salted eggs. 

The same thing happened when we bought home dried fish. We gave some to our neighbors and they liked it, and wanted to buy some more of it. So we ended up selling dried fish as well. As you can see I already have something to begin with to start a business. But like I said I was like most people, trying to create something out of nothing in order to start a business.

It took a while for me to realize that instead of trying to create something out of nothing, why don't I work with what I have. So using whatever I have in my disposal, I was able to open small sari-sari store business. And so far, it's doing pretty well. I'm now in the process of growing the business.

Had I remained stubborn and kept on trying to create nothing out of something, I probably wouldn't have a business right now. Remember to work with you have. Look around you and see if you have a product, service or talent that you can offer to the world and begin with that. Then just work your way up.

To start a business, just use what's available to you now. Work with what you have.

Paying The Price

Photo by LJM Photo

Do you want to receive freebies?

Of course you do, who wouldn't want to get free things? Free food and drinks, free toys, free movies, free books, free seminars, and so on. You'd be enthusiastic and happy to receive these things for free.

Now if these things are now available for a certain price instead of being free, will you still be enthusiastic and happy to get them? Maybe, but I'm sure you won't be as enthusiastic or happy as when you get them for free.

The problem though for receiving things for free is that it provides you with little value as compared to when you pay for them. You tend to just take them for granted because you received them for free, meaning no risk on your part or you didn't have to work to get them.

But if you pay for them, or you have to work hard to get them, it becomes more valuable to you. You appreciate it more, because of the risk you took to get it or the hardships that you had to endure to achieve it. In short, you tend to learn and grow more if you worked hard for something.

Why do you think most lotto winners lose all of their winnings in less than three years (sometimes less than a year)? It's because they didn't have to work hard to get them. They just receive it, so they put less value on it. There wasn't any risk or hard work involved, so losing it all won't really hurt as much.

This goes the same for people who inherit big amounts of money. Like the lotto winners, they tend to lose it quickly as well because of the lack of hard work needed to achieve it, thus having less value to them. 

Same goes for some of the people who just inherit their family business without the necessary process of working in it to learn the ins and outs of the it. They don't put too much value in what they have, because they didn't experience the sweat, blood and tears needed to establish the business and make it successful.

This is also the reason why Bro. Bo Sanchez doesn't offer most of his seminars or talks for free. The price barrier he puts is not because he wants to make a profit (most of the money his books and seminars makes are used to fund all of his ministries), he puts it there because he wants his attendees to grow. By overcoming the price barrier, his attendees will see more the value of his talks and seminars and consider it as investments, thus putting more effort into applying what they learned there.

Yes it's cool and fun to receive things for free. Getting something without the risk or the hard work needed to get it. But for you to really put value into something, you need to pay the price to get it. May it be in terms of paying for money or working hard to get it.

So pay the price, you'll learn and achieve more doing it this way.

Understand Instead Of Criticizing When Fault Comes

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What do you usually do when a subordinate, employee or your own children made a mistake?

Do you get angry outright and criticize them? If you do, how do they usually respond? Do they just nod and say they are sorry? Or do they defend and try to justify what they did?

More often than not, people responded by defending themselves and their actions. They try to justify what they did and would portray themselves as victims as well, instead of accepting your criticism and being sorry for their mistake.

Just look at what Sen. Bong Revilla, Jr. is doing right now. He is portraying himself a victim here instead of apologizing for his wrong doings. He says that he is just a scapegoat to be able to cover up the real issue here.

Friends, what he is doing is actually what most normal person (those who are not considered criminals) would do. Most people don't like to be criticized or attacked, even if they are at fault. They tend to respond by defending themselves instead of being sorry.

Why? Because it's part of human nature. We always assume that we are dealing with a logical person when we criticize and condemn, believing that they understand what they did and what we are saying to them. However, human beings are more emotional than logical. It is mostly their emotions that will dictate how they would react, especially to people who criticize and attack them. That's why most people would resort to defending themselves than just accepting your criticism and feeling sorry for their fault.

So what then should you do?

Instead of criticizing and attacking your subordinate, employee, children, etc. every time they make a mistake, understand them. Put yourself in their shoes and try to understand why they did what they did. 

Why did your subordinate or employee forgot to proof read their documents before sending? Where they working on it all night and was just too tired to even notice it?

Or why is your kid seeking attention from you? Are you working too much that you've kind of neglected your kid?

Trying to understand why they did what they did will help you better deal with the mistake or fault that they commit. You will have an idea of the reason why it happened and will then be able to deal it with, without the need to criticize and attack.

Mistakes will happen. No matter how you hard you try to avoid it, it happens. It's how you deal with them that makes a difference. It's easy to criticize and attack as we are also just overcome with our own emotion. But criticizing and attacking the person who made the mistake won't do much good. Because he/she will also be overcome with emotion and will just resort to defending himself/herself. Worse, the person will just resent you.

The best way to deal with a mistake is to first try to understand why it happened and be patient. Then instead of criticizing and attacking, just talk to the person calmly or just forgive outright and just give the person a chance to redeem himself/herself. 

The 5 Success Myths That Blocks Success

By LJM Photo

Do you want to be successful in life?

Of course you do, who wouldn't right? But why then are you not successful? The simplest and most overlooked answer is the mental blocks that people have about success. Most people think that they are not successful because of a physical obstacle that they have yet to overcome. But in reality, the reason most people are not successful because of mental obstacles. Wrong ideas that they think are what they need to be successful.

I'd like to share the 5 myths that blocks success that Bro. Bo Sanchez shared in his WealthStrategies. See if you can identify with some of them.

Myth #1: I'm not successful because I haven't unlocked the profound mystery yet.

A lot of people think that success is some sort of mystery that they need to unlock. A secret that is hidden to everyone, except for a few lucky people who have discovered its hiding place and is now using that formula to achieve their own success.

The truth though is that success is just a simple pattern. To be successful you just need to do simple activities over and over again. Like finding a mentor, aligning your passion with your potential, having a never quit attitude and so on. These are just simple activities that everyone can actually do. Success is not a complex formula that needs to be solved. It is just a matter of doing certain but simple activities over and over again.

Myth #2: I'm not successful because I'm just not lucky enough.

Most people think that you also need to be lucky to be successful in life. To be at the right place at the right time or to say and do the right things at the right moment.

Yes, luck plays a big part in people's success. But luck here is actually just the offspring of preparedness and opportunity. People who are considered lucky to have a great opportunity come to them are actually just prepared to take advantage of it. They are lucky because they are prepared to receive and take advantage of the opportunity (to read more about luck click here).

Myth #3: I'm not successful because I'm waiting for my big break.

A lot of people think that success is an event that will happen in their lives. One big event that will change their fortunes and current status and sky rocket them all the way to the top.

The truth though is that success is a journey, a very long journey. It won't happen overnight. One big break won't suddenly sky rocket you to success. You need to undergo a long journey full of ups and downs, mostly downs, to reach success. Writing a book, building a company, or managing a big project for your company won't automatically bolt you to success. They are just part of your journey to success.

Myth #4: I'm not successful because I don't know anybody.

People think that you need to know the right person in order to be successful. The person who can pull the strings to help you get promoted or the person who has the know it all to help get your start-up business off the ground.

Yes it is important to know someone who can help you and guide you. But these people won't just magically appear to help you and guide you. You'll need to look for them yourself. One way to do it is to attend seminars or conferences about your chosen career or business. Then interact with the people there, don't just focus on the topics to be discussed or the food or the souvenirs to be given away. Use that event to network as well. Get to know people and pretty soon you'll find someone who can be your mentor as well.

Myth #5: I'm not successful because I don't have enough money to expand fast enough.

One of the things that most entrepreneurs, and to some extent, employees think they need to succeed is to have enough money to expand their business fast or to develop their skills and talents. 

The truth though is that, having money to expand fast is, more often than not, a bad idea for entrepreneurs, especially new ones. Because having money, usually makes the entrepreneur lazy. Instead of doing research, experimenting and studying thoroughly, they are more likely to fire the gun quickly because they have the cash to do so. And those who spend money without the due diligence, just ends up losing it. Instead expand gradually and deliberately. It's your experience and knowledge that will help you succeed and not the money that you have right now.

For employees on the other hand, yes developing your skills and talents as fast as you can is important to achieve success. However, having enough money won't necessarily translate in you using them to develop your skills and talents. On the contrary, most employees, who have extra money, use it for leisure activities and luxury items instead of developing and expanding their talents. Why? It's because it's more fun and entertaining to do it, than to spend all day in a conference room listening to other people talk. It is more appealing to go to the beach than to learn something new. The missing link here would be the mental drive to be successful. Without it, you won't find developing yourself appealing as compared to relaxing in the beach.

These are just 5 of the many myths that people have about success. Once you get rid of these mental blocks, you are more likely to achieve the success that you have been dreaming of.

Be Weird In Order To Succeed

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Yes you need to be weird in order to be successful.

What I mean by weird here is that you need to be different and uncanny. You need to stand out, make waves and not follow what everyone else is doing.

Take the likes of Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Henry Ford and all the other success people out there. They stand out, they don't follow anybody and they make their own rules. That's why they are successful. People remember them because they are different, in a good way, from anybody else.

But why does being weird would help you become successful anyway? Here are five reasons.

1. Being weird has less competition - One of the usual things that most people think of when they want to start a business is that they will offer their products and services at a lower price. The business with the lower prices and the bigger capital usually wins this war, but in reality no one really wins. Because lower prices means lower profit. Instead offer a product or service that is unique, strange or weird. So weird that no one would else would do it, until they see that it is successful.
2. Weird is less painful - Trying to be like everyone else is painful, especially if that is not who you really are. Imagine trying to be someone or something that you are not so that you can fit in like everybody else? The things that you will have to undergo to change will be painful and hard. Instead why not just be yourself, even if everyone considers you weird. Who knows, people just might love you for it.
3. Weird creates raving fans - The good thing about being weird is that people will notice you immediately. They will either hate you or love you, they can't be in between because you're too weird not to be noticed. All successful people have their critics and haters, it's just how the world works. But they also have people who love them. And these people are your raving fans. Fans who really really love you and would go to great lengths just to buy the products and services that you offer.
4. Weird makes you change the rules of the game - By being weird, you are free to create your own rules. Since no one has probably done what you're doing, you create the rules. You're the one who will set the tone and the trend that the people who want to be like you will follow.
5. Weird allows you to charge higher prices - If you're offering a product or service that no one else is offering, then you can set the price for it. You don't have a competitor that can drive prices down. You set it yourself because what you offer is unique, strange and weird. And since it is unique and one of a kind, people will pay good money for it (especially if it is a good product or service).

Being weird means that you just have to stand out, be unique and different enough that people will notice you. Following and everybody else won't set you apart because everyone is doing it. So strive to be different, to be unique, to be weird. So that people will notice you and remember you.

How To Spot A Scam

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Have you ever been scammed? Have you ever experienced being told to invest in something that is guaranteed to give you good money, only to realize that the business you invested in was a complete scam and the person who asked you to invest in took your money and was never to be found or heard of again?

Friends, I have been scammed several times already trying to make money online. I get suckered into purchasing or investing in several software or websites that guarantees you will make money in a few days if you follow or use their system. Only to realize in the end that their guarantee is a big lie and their system won't make the money that they promised.

Then there's also those that you hear in the news where they dupe people into investing in their business and guaranteeing big interest rates for their money, only to be discovered as a big ponzi scheme or will close down in a few years (or even months) then just run away with all the money they got.

It's not fun being scammed. You believe in the promise. You get excited. You enthusiastically invest your money because you believe that this will be your road to financial freedom. Only to be hit in the face with with a business, product or service that is full of baloney and will never make you money.

I don't want you to be scammed. That's why I'll share with you what Bro. Bo Sanchez shared on how to spot a scam in his WealthStrategies.

1. Insane Interest Rates - Have you ever been approached by someone to invest in their company and promises that you'll be getting 4% interest rate per month? That's a scam right there. Why? Because that is an insanely high interest rate, that real companies won't be able to pay to their investors. 4% a month adds up to 48% a year, meaning you're suppose to get almost half of what you invest in a year. That's clearly impossible for any company to sustain because most of their profits then would go to paying off investors, nothing left for operation and other expenditures. Companies who offer high interest rate usually operates a pyramiding scam. It is called a Ponzi scheme where the business pays off old clients with the money they get from new investors. This scheme will always require new investors to come in to keep on paying the interest rates of old investors. Once they fail to get new investors, the business will eventually die.
2. Guaranteed High Interest Rate - Didn't you notice that only banks provide guaranteed interest rates? They are allowed to do so by the regulating body because they only offer a measly growth for your money (less than 1% a year for savings account and about 3-5% a year for time deposit). No company or bank will guarantee a high interest rate because they won't be able to afford it. Companies who guarantee high interest rate won't be able to stay in business for long because they need to operate a scam to be able to keep the guarantee.
3. You Can't Understand How They Earn Money - A business' primary goal is to make money. It needs money to pay its employees, pay the suppliers, pay the government and other fees needed for its license and permits. In short it needs money for it's operations. So if you're offered an investment opportunity and the person you're talking to can't really explain how the company makes money, you better walk away. Earning through trading in foreign currency or the stock market is not a legitimate way for a business to earn money, because the volatility of these markets would prevent any business to consistently earn good money for its operation cost alone, let alone pay its investors.
4. It's Just Too Good To Be True - When you encounter something that is too good to be true, it usually is. Have you received an email or a text message that says you won a big amount of money? Too good to be true right? These messages will usually require you to pay upfront fees needed for the transaction process. If you do, then it's goodbye money.
5. They Seem To Be Good And Credible People - Scammers usually use people who seem nice and honest to do the selling for them. Most likely, these people are also as ignorant as you are of the scam that is happening. But there are those who are just really good pretenders. So just because the person you talked to seemed nice and honest, doesn't mean that what they offer is already legit.
6. Your Financial Adviser And Financial Manager Are The Same - If the people who advises you about your money is also the one who manages it, then you are threading in dangerous territory. Your financial manager has control over your money, he's the one who invests it, so he can actually run away with it. Your financial adviser is the one who advises you on what to do with your money. So if your adviser and manager is one and the same, then what will keep him/her from advising you to invest in something that will gain you nothing but will gain him/her everything?

Scams are everywhere. It's important that you always do your due diligence first and research thoroughly about the investment opportunity before you invest your hard earned money in it. At the end of the day, it is you who has control on where you put your money. So do your due diligence first, so you won't be scammed.

How You Can Take Action On Your Plans Or Ideas

3 Tips on How You Can Take Action on Your Plan or Idea

Don't Be Like The Filthy Poor

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I'm sure you're familiar with the filthy rich? The person who lives a miserable life because they got destroyed by the money they possessed.

Well have you heard of the filthy poor? The person who lives a life full of debt so that they can live like a rich person even though they are poor? Yes there is such a person. And these persons borrow money like there's no tomorrow in order to acquire material possessions to project that they are rich, even if they are not.

The filthy poor is an example of someone who abused to power of debt to acquire liabilities instead of assets. Debt, as Robert Kiyosaki put it, is the best leverage that people can use to get ahead financially. However, it is also the worst tool that people can use to get into poverty.

The financially educated people uses debt as leverage to help them get ahead financially. They use it to purchase assets that can earn them money regularly. These assets then will be the one to pay off their debt while also putting money in their pocket. This is what Robert Kiyosaki calls as good debt.

But for most people, they use debt to buy things that don't generate money for them, just like the filthy poor. They see something they want, like a new Plasma TV, a brand new car, a new house, but they don't have the money for it. So they resort to borrowing money in order to be able to afford it. The problem though is that the items they usually buy are items that doesn't put money in their pocket, it takes money out of their pocket. Robert Kiyosaki calls it bad debt.

I was once like that, using credit card to buy things that I couldn't afford. I was disciplined enough though at first to pay off my debts in full so as not to incur interest rates on my debt. But the more I use it, the bigger my debt became, until it became too big for me to pay it in full.

Through hard work and determination though I was able to pay off my debt. It wasn't easy, but I was able to pull it off.

So don't be like the filthy poor, living a life full of debt so that you can live large like a rich person. Instead, be financially educated and use the power of debt to help you achieve financial freedom.

You Should Splurge Once In A While

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There are two extremes in money management. One is the impulsive buyer, the one who spends like there's no tomorrow. These people can't seem to hold on to their money for a long time. They always have an itch to buy or spend on something, even if they don't necessarily need it, whenever they have money or there's still some credit left in their credit cards.

Then there's the scrooge, the one who saves like his life depends on it. These people have a hard time letting go of their money. They always cringe and get irritated every time they spend money on something, even if they need it. They hold on to their money like glue.

Are you one of the extremes? Or are you in between them? How can we balance between being an impulsive buyer and a scrooge?

By having a want fund.

Yes a want fund. A fund in your budget where you can use to spend it on anything that you want but doesn't necessarily need. It's important for you to have this because it allows you to enjoy what you have worked hard for without the worry of spending too much. 

You can buy that gadget or clothes that you always wanted or take that much needed vacation (as long as it is within the budget of your fund) and need not worry about spending your money and disrupting your budget.

It's important that you have a balance between spending too much or saving too much. A want fund will allow you to stay in between the two. You get a feeling of satisfaction with the money you earned by spending it on the things that you want. At the same time, you also get the satisfaction that you're budgeting your money properly and living within your means.

The suggested percentage that you allot for your want fund is 10% of your income. If what you want is expensive, then you just have to save for a while until you can afford it.

It's important that you manage your money properly. Budgeting it on things that are necessary while saving up for the future. But it is also important that you splurge once in a while to allow yourself to enjoy what you have worked hard for and be motivated to earn even more.

Formula For Growing Your Wealth

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What do you usually do after you receive your income?

Do you save and invest your money first then use the remaining to pay off your debts, bills and other responsibilities? Or do you spend it first on paying off your debts, bills and other responsibilities and then save and invest the rest?

If you do the latter, then it will be hard for you to increase your wealth. Why you ask? It's because, more often than not, there is rarely any money left for savings and investment after spending it on paying off debts, bills and other responsibilities. So without any money left for savings and investment, there is no way you could increase your wealth, even if you are earning a big amount of money.

What should you do then?

You need to follow this formula

INCOME - TITHE - SAVINGS/INVESTMENTS = EXPENSE

Once you receive your income you need to allot your money in this way in order for you to increase your wealth. You need to allot 10% for tithes 20% for savings/investments and the 70% is the one you use for your responsibilities. In short, you pay God first, then you pay yourself, then you use the rest to pay everyone else.

100% - 10% - 20% = 70%

Tithing is a way for you to say thank you to God for the blessing that He has given you (see post on Tithing). That's why it's important that you pay Him first. Then you pay yourself second. Because if you don't allot money for yourself, no one else will do it for you. You can't work forever, so it's important that you also take care of yourself and your future. So when you retire, you won't have to be a burden to others because you'll have your own fund to spend on.

Then you use the rest to pay everyone else. Your debts, your bills and all your other responsibilities. It will be hard at first, because 70% might not be enough to cover everything. The good thing though, is that this will teach you to monitor your expenses and become a wise spender. Something that will help you in the long run.

So if you want to grow your wealth, just follow this simple formula and watch your personal wealth grow continuously.

Rich And Successful People Should Be Admired, Not Resented

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What do you usually feel or think about every time you see someone driving a very expensive car?

Do you say, "wow that person is rich and successful. I wonder what he does? Maybe he can teach me and become my mentor so that I too can be rich and successful like him one day."

Or do you say, "another one of those rich snobs or probably just their driver. Maybe a greedy businessman or a corrupt politician. Life is so unfair, how come they get all the riches. I don't like them."

If you mostly react like the second one, then I'm sorry but I have to tell you that you won't become rich and successful in life. Because if you resent, envy or think that rich and successful people are bad, then it is likely that you wouldn't want to be like them. After all, why would you want to be something that you think is bad?

However, if you admire them like the first reaction, you're more likely to follow and imitate their success and become rich and successful as well. You'd want to learn from them, do what they do and know what they know so that you can be like them and also achieve success in life.

Friends, envying and resenting the rich and successful people won't do you any good. Because your resentment doesn't affect them at all. Heck, the rich guy you're resenting probably doesn't even know that you exist. 

What your resentment does is affect you and what you think. If you resent the rich and successful, then you are conditioning yourself to resent being rich and successful. It's like you are telling yourself don't be rich and successful because you'll be resented as well.

But if you admire them, you'd want to get to know them and learn from them. When you admire the rich and successful people, you condition yourself that being rich and successful is something to be admired about. Which will make you wanting to be rich and successful even more.

I remember feeling envious about people who drive fancy cars. I'm always thinking that their probably just the driver or their parents are the ones who bought that from them so they shouldn't be boastful about it. I'd always feel envious and irritated, even if they're not doing anything wrong. 

But after learning about this, I now just admire them. Thinking to myself that I need to get to know these people so that I can learn from them and also achieve the success that they have achieved.

So the next time you see someone who is rich and successful, don't resent them. Admire them, cheer them, be friends with them and learn from them. If you do this, you are more likely to be rich and successful as well.

Use Your Time Wisely

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Have you seen the movie In Time?

It's a movie where time is the most important asset that a person has. Starring Justin Timberlake and Amanda Seyfried, the plot of the movie is that time is used as a currency. Whatever it is that you need or want, you pay for it with time. The more time you have, the richer you are. But if time runs out, then you die.

Do you believe that time is important? I believe it is. The movie is an excellent portrayal of how important time is to a person. Although time can be earned there, it does show a good portrayal of how time would affect us if it ever runs out.

Anyway, time is very important to a person. It is something that we cannot get or earn back (unlike money or what is shown in the movie). We cannot say that we made a wrong decision here, let's just reverse time and try again. Once we use it, it is gone.

That's why it is important to make proper use of your time.

Don't waste it in activities that won't help you or any of your loved ones. Like watching too much TV, playing too much video games, gossiping (unless of course they are relevant to your career or business), procrastinating and so on.

Instead use it in activities that can help you like learning a new skill that you can use in your field or networking with people who share the same interest as you do. Or you could use it to rest and relax your body and mind to replenish and re-energize you.

I remember after graduating from college, I told myself that I'll use the time until I reach the age of 25 to just have fun and explore what career path I'll be taking. Once I reach 25 I should know what I want to do already and I should be doing it already.

Looking back, I wish I didn't took that long to figure out what I want and started getting serious earlier. In this way I could have given myself more time to learn and develop the skills needed in order to be successful. I also think that starting earlier, will probably allow me to achieve my goals earlier than my current pace.

But I can't do anything about it now. I just have to move forward and do the best that I can and use my time wisely. 

Successful people always use their time wisely. They spend it in activities that will help them achieve their goals or help develop their skills and talents.

Remember time is valuable, so spend it wisely. Because once you use it, you can never get it back.

Learn To Be Successful

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I'm sure everyone wants to be successful in life.

Who wouldn't?

However, not everyone though is willing to experience the hardships and challenges that goes with it. Most people are always looking for the easy and sure way to get it. They are in search of the magic formula that will show them what they need to do without the discipline, hard work and commitment needed to be successful.

But that's just it. There's no easy and sure way to success. It just won't happen overnight. No matter how hard you look, you won't find a secret formula out there where you just press a button and poof, you're successful.

To be successful you have to learn how to be successful.

Do you think all of the successful people started as a success right away? No! All of them learned how to be successful. They all underwent certain processes, challenges, hardships and so on, to get where they are right now. 

Most of the time we hear about their accomplishments, achievements and what they did in their respective careers or businesses. But all of those accomplishments and achievements didn't come overnight. All of them went through a learning process. They committed themselves and learned how to be successful in what they do. As T. Harv Eker, author of the "Secrets of the Millionaire Mind" said, "Every master was once a disaster."

All successful people today started out as a disaster. They were beginners, still learning the ins and outs of their respective fields. The difference though was that these successful people were committed. They were disciplined and eager to learn what they need to do in order to be successful. No matter how hard it is, they learned it and did it.

But that's the beauty of it. Success can be learned. If someone has done it already, then you can do it as well. Learn from people who have done it already. Find someone who is willing to mentor you and help you succeed. Commit yourself and stay disciplined, and pretty soon you will achieve the success that you want.

Money Just Magnifies Your Character

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Some people believe that having money changes a person. Some think that it makes a person greedy and selfish. Others think that it makes them more generous.

The truth, however, is that money doesn't change a person much. Money, actually, just magnifies what you already are. Because having money just allows you to be more of what you are.

If you are already greedy and selfish when you are poor, becoming rich won't suddenly change you into a generous person. It will just magnify your character, making you greedier and more selfish. Likewise, if you are already a generous person when you are poor, becoming rich will make you even more generous and unselfish.

Yes there are rare cases where becoming rich changes the person's character. But more often than not, it just magnifies what's already inside of you.

Having money won't change a person, because change comes from within and not from any external factor. Regardless if you have money or not, you can choose to become greedy or not. That decision comes from within you and not outside of you.

So if you want to be generous, don't let being poor stop you. You can be generous even if you don't have any money. Begin with small acts of kindness, then just gradually increase it as you get used to it. Once it becomes a habit, that character will just be magnified when you become rich. Because being rich will allow you to do more of that kindness.