Attitude 7-21-09

It has been said by many of the highly esteemed motivational gurus that attitude is an important part of your success. I would argue that not only is it important but it is fundamental to your long term success. Your environment is a product of your attitude. The great thing about this is YOU are in total control of your ATTITUDE therefore YOU are in control of your environment. How high and how far you go in life is totally up to you. Having a great attitude is a decision that all of us can make on a daily basis. We can decide to have an optimistic attitude. We have the power to choose.

Earl Nightingale has also said that if you want to change your environment, you must fist change you attitude.  I am reminded of a boy that would always say once I have a bike then I will be happy.  He received his bike and he still was not happy.  Then he said once I have a car and can drive then I will be happy.  He received his car and his license and he still was not happy.  Then he said once I am married and have kids, then I will be happy.  The same thing happened. Happiness he learned is not an event; it is not in material things, or in achievements. Once he decided to change his attitude everything changed. Our ultimate success depends on deciding to have the right attitude.

From time to time it is important to get back to the basics. Get back to the things that are going to make us successful with our finances. It can be really easy to forget about the small and simple things that are going to make you successful. I would like to talk about just a few things that will help us get back to the basics.

Continue developing the millionaire mindset:

In the book As a Man Thinketh James Allen states, “They themselves are makers of themselves” in other words, you create who you become through your thoughts. If you are not satisfied with your current financial situation, then start thinking like someone who is financially secure. Start focusing on what you want in life instead of focusing on what you don’t. If you can do this, you can literally change your financial environment forever. Allow me to elaborate, if you start thinking like someone who is financially independent, how are you going to act? You will start to act like that person. If you start acting like that person, what type of results are you going to see? You are going to see the same results that financially independent people see. You will see more money in the bank account and less debt. I have a saying that goes like this, “if you are looking at the ground that is all that you’re going to see.” You must elevate your thoughts if you want to elevate your financial situation. This is a world of abundance there is enough for everyone. The following poem puts it beautifully.

Mind is the Master power that moulds and makes,
And Man is Mind, and evermore he takes
The tool of Thought, and, shaping what he wills,
Brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills: —
He thinks in secret, and it comes to pass:
Environment is but his looking-glass.

Having the correct mindset when it comes to your money is 90 percent of the battle. If you can think this new way, then you can have all the wealth that you desire. So, how do we start developing the millionaire mindset? We can start with the basics:

Millionaires are always looking for ways to increase their income and decrease their expenses.

Millionaires have multiple streams of income. Most people have one or two streams of income, millionaires have many.

Millionaires always keep their eyes on their money. They know how much money is coming in and how much money is going out.

Millionaires adapted early on the mindset of, “live now the way most people won’t so they can live the rest of their lives like most people can’t.”

Millionaires are frugal. The word frugal to a millionaire is a positive thing for the poor and the middle class the word frugal is the “f” word.

Millionaires know what their net worth is and they closely monitor any changes in it.

Millionaires loathe debt. They do not pay interest they earn it!

Millionaires understand the principles of compound interest.

Millionaires invest their money wisely. They do not chase the latest and greatest “get rich quick schemes.”

Millionaires are very organized.

Millionaires have mastered the art of buying low and selling high.

Millionaires spend their lives accumulating assets and not liabilities.

Millionaires make the necessary sacrifices to set up a secure future for themselves and their families.

Developing the millionaire mindset will truly help you to take control of your actions. If you can begin to think this way, you will start to act this way and eventually you will become that which you are thinking about.

Thinking like a millionaire + Acting like a millionaire = Becoming a millionaire.

Continue focusing on your Cash flow: If you want to get somewhere with your finances it is important to see where you are now financially and where It is you want to go. If you are not watching where your money is going that would be like being on a sinking ship with a blindfold on. There is no possible way to fix the leaks if you do not know where the leaks are.

Remember to have fun with the program: One thing that successful people do with the program is they celebrate their successes. Money should be a fun topic in the family and not a point of contention, so have fun and enjoy watching your bank account grow!

This week Lorin shares another inspiring success story.

“You can conquer almost any fear if you will only make up your mind to do so. For remember, fear doesn’t exist anywhere except in the mind.”

-Dale Carnegie

Fear is that big monster in all of our lives that we need to overcome if we want to be successful. We decide everyday if we are going to fight with the monster or run from it. Running from your fears will only make things worse. You must fight that fear so fiercely that its powers over us are diminished on a daily basis.

How do you overcome fear? You overcome fear by taking actions. Roll up your sleeves and get to work. Hard work and a determined mind are the enemies of fear. If you have made up you mind that you will succeed no matter what, fear does not stand a chance.

Leave no room in your heart for fear, but be courageous as you face your financial challenges. As you see the program working for you, the fear that you had will struggle in the face of the cold hard facts of your success. Remember to keep an up to date success journal so you can see the progress that you have made.

Monitor your success through your journal and through your statement of net worth. Arthur Ashe once said, “Every time you win, it diminishes the fear a little bit. You never really cancel the fear of losing; you keep challenging it.” If we allow fear to paralyze us from taking action and working the program, then that big monster has won. Decide today that you will continue challenging your fears!

This week Lorin shares the 10 Biggest Credit Mistakes to Avoid!

Believing in yourself is crucial to your overall success with the program. How do you develop an unwavering faith in yourself to succeed? There are a few things that you can do to help. It is important to monitor your progress in the program through your statement of net worth. Staying focused, keeping your word, and being consistent are also great things that you can do to develop faith in yourself and succeed with the program. Let’s start with tracking your net worth.

Net worth: Your net worth should be tracked consistently from month to month. If you are living the program, you should see an increase in your net worth each month as you pay down your debts. This is very motivational to see. This tip will strengthen the belief that you have in the program and it will also strengthen the belief you have in yourself. Seeing yourself making progress will increase the belief that you have in yourself to succeed with the program. Make a goal today that you are going to watch your net worth on a monthly basis. Set goals each month on how much you want your net worth to increase.

Success Journal: Documenting the steps that you have taken in the program will help to develop faith in yourself. It is important to look back and see where you have come from and where you are going. This step can really help when you run into some hard times.

Keep your word: There are many are great at keeping their word when they are dealing with other people, but when it comes to keeping a commitment they have made to themselves they fall short. If you make a commitment to yourself no matter how small, make sure you keep it! Imagine that you had a friend that was always breaking the commitments that he or she had made with you. You will lose faith in that friend. You must understand that you will lose faith in yourself as well if you do not keep the commitments that you make

Be consistent: As always, consistency is the key to your success with the program and developing faith in your self. Live the program consistently and you will see it working in your life. Remember, Rome was not built overnight. Anything worthwhile is going to take some time and dedication to achieve. Work hard and stay positive and great things will happen!