The Ultimate Investment

As you work toward the achievement of your goals, you need to realize that obstacles will inevitably step out to block your way.  Don't complain about these problems.  Recognize them for the blessings they are.  Or you can end up like the bad example below: Mike is pretty smart.  Actually, he is brilliant.  But what has he done with that brilliance? Absolutely nothing.  You see, Mike has never held a job for more than eight months.  His longest job was as a manager of a convenience store.  The odd thing is that he is never fired.  He just up and quits.    >> [Read the rest of the post]

Each person has two dimensions to their life, the physical and the spiritual.  Both dimensions are essential to your overall success and happiness.  Too often the spiritual journey of life is neglected for the sake of the physical (or material), only to discover that having the physical without the spiritual leads to emptiness (even though you may have all the comforts money can buy).  True happiness comes from being at peace spiritually as well as physically. William had been extremely successful as an ophthalmologist, but in the process of his striving for medical and business success had completely neglected anything else.    >> [Read the rest of the post]

Success means different things to different people.  In fact, there are as many definitions of success as there are people.  Success is, and needs to be, a very personal decision. For one person, success may be defined as financial independence.  To another, success is a close, happy and loving family.  To still to another, success is traveling to exotic places and having exotic things.  Each definition is right.  Success is what each person considers it to be.  Any person who has achieved the object of his or her desires is just as successful as the next, regardless of income, size of   >> [Read the rest of the post]

Henry used to be bitter.  He grew up in a family that didn't have much money.  His father was always on the verge of making it big on some deal that was almost ready to close.  In the mean time, they had to move several times to keep the bank from foreclosing on their home.  Henry resented people who had money while at the same time envied them.  Life was unfair.  Why did things worked out for other families and not his? He continued to grow bitter until he landed a job he really loved.  It was everything he'd ever wanted.  Still,   >> [Read the rest of the post]

Have you been conditioned to think being successful is hard?  Do you believe that following a complicated path, being highly educated, or having money is required for happiness and success?  That’s wrong; dead wrong.  Success -- true success -- doesn't depend on any of these.  Real success depends on who you are, what you do, and a belief in your own abilities.  Sound easy?  It is.  But most don't get it.  Your aptitude for achievement is already built-in.  Throughout your life it's been covered over with learned attitudes and beliefs that are self defeating.  From an early age you learned from parents, teachers,   >> [Read the rest of the post]

A group of businessmen got together with a vision.  They had an idea that could change the world.  They brainstormed, planned, drafted, structured, hired a consultant, hired a sales organization, made up a presentation, and then started to sell their product. They met with industry leaders, they met with country leaders.  They met with bankers, they met with contractors.  Most of all, they met with themselves and planned, and planned and planned. The idea was beautiful in its simplicity, elegant in its design, awesome in its potential.  The technology existed in different parts.  They were blending it all into something new, something   >> [Read the rest of the post]

Benny, Ed, and Sherrie had an idea that they could make money by trading and selling used video games.  They only had two problems.  First, they didn't have a great deal of money, and second, they didn't know the first thing about starting a business. Finally, they were able to scrape together $1000.00 (which is all they could afford), and buy some used equipment.  They set up shop on a pushcart in a regional mall.  It took them just three months to make their first $30,000.00.  At the end of their first year, their good idea turned into $150,000.00 and two locations.    >> [Read the rest of the post]

The 80-20 Rule can reduce stress and ease workload while improving profitability, income and quality of life. Simply stated it’s that 80 percent of your success comes from only 20 percent of your efforts.  80 percent of your production comes from only 20 percent of your work.  80 percent of your returns are produced by 20 percent of your investments.  80 percent of your life is taken up by 20 percent of your tasks. Think about this for a moment.  Examine your life and see if this isn’t approximately true. This also means 80 percent of your problems come from only 20 percent   >> [Read the rest of the post]

Life can be like baseball.  It’s a game you play to win.  It’s a team sport with rules.  There are stats and scores and different strategies.  And then there’s the opposing team who’s also trying to win. When the other team is at bat, they can score.  You’re on defense.  You have to watch everything closely in order to counter their strategy.  Everyone around you has to pull their weight and so do you.  You’re interdependent.  When you’ve surrounded yourself with a good team, each highly skilled at their positions, you’re more apt to win. When your team is at bat, you’re   >> [Read the rest of the post]

The Old Mule ~author unknown~ Once upon a time a farmer owned an old mule who tripped and fell into the farmer’s well. The farmer heard the mule braying and was unable to figure out how to bring up the old animal. It grieved him that he could not pull the animal out. He’d been a good worker around the farm. Although the farmer sympathized with the mule, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened. He had them help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and quietly put him out of his misery. At first,   >> [Read the rest of the post]