As you may have seen, I've not been blogging much recently, one reason is a bereavement in the family, this naturally has taken the wind from my sails. Another reason is that I have been practicing what I preach in that I've been focusing on writing promotional material for my children's entertainer project.
I realised that I have been spreading myself too thinly and that I need to focus my energy onto this one project. Being of an artistic/creative nature, it is difficult for me to stay focussed on just one thing! However, after listening to some Brian Tracy recordings- I realise I really need to focus hard in one area to progress.
For those of you setting out on the journey to add to or entirely replace your day job income with another form of income, focus is absolutely key. The internet is an amazing tool, but, being so vast and so full of interesting distractions it can sap all your valuable time and blur your focus.
Similarly, if you pressurise yourself too much and end of avoiding a task then feeling guilty ad infinitum. Take away the pressure and just spend 5 minutes on the task- you will very probably find that the process of doing something leads you to do more. It's a fact that frequently, motivation follows action.
So, clarify what it is you really want and keep clarifying this each day until you have one specific goal- do this on paper, it wont work if you try to do this in your head. Then really focus on all the ways you can make this goal a reality- again , do this on paper and make a file just for this project which you refer to daily.
MAGIC MONEY!
Wednesday, 18 June 2008
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Keeping positive
If you study entrepreneurs who have been successful , or people who have become successful in any field you'll find that they all posses one thing, and that is a positive outlook. Certainty traveling the road of self- employment or entrepreneurs is not an easy one- many struggled for years to become successful, many made a fortune then lost it again before working out how to keep their wealth. But, they all see the bigger picture, if I may use my gardening analogy again, if you got an allotment that had been left to fill with weeds, you wouldn't expect it to become a beautiful and productive plot immediately. You would imagine how you want it to be in the future and this would make all the weeding, digging and hard work much more palatable.
It is this long-term view and vision that drives successful people to endure hardships (or delay gratification) that they know will produce the result they want in the future. People as diverse as Richard Branson, Anita Roddick, mother Teresa all had/ have long term vision which kept them going when things got tough.
Finding ways to see the bigger picture to keep you going when things get tough is a vital part to being successful in whatever field you want to excel in.
MAGIC MONEY!
It is this long-term view and vision that drives successful people to endure hardships (or delay gratification) that they know will produce the result they want in the future. People as diverse as Richard Branson, Anita Roddick, mother Teresa all had/ have long term vision which kept them going when things got tough.
Finding ways to see the bigger picture to keep you going when things get tough is a vital part to being successful in whatever field you want to excel in.
MAGIC MONEY!
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Keeping ehtical
Making money can sometimes become such an obsession with some people that ethics are forgotten or ignored. Obviously, different people have different ethics and ways of creating wealth.
Anyone can make money by being ruthless and heartless- that is not a challenge, it's a weakness. I think the real challenge is integrity and remaining as ethical as possible- in other words, realising that money is a tool and not the whole reason for living! Ultimately, there comes a day when you are in the autumn of your life, do you want to be remembered as someone who got really rich, or as someone who made positive change in this world as they grew wealthy.
MAGIC MONEY!
Anyone can make money by being ruthless and heartless- that is not a challenge, it's a weakness. I think the real challenge is integrity and remaining as ethical as possible- in other words, realising that money is a tool and not the whole reason for living! Ultimately, there comes a day when you are in the autumn of your life, do you want to be remembered as someone who got really rich, or as someone who made positive change in this world as they grew wealthy.
MAGIC MONEY!
Monday, 12 May 2008
Want success- you need targets!
So, you've decided that you want to up your income, or add another stream of income to your main one (which is wise as jobs are not secure). The problem is, many people, myself included, just have this as a vague idea and flounder around wasting energy and getting nowhere.
The big secret, if you can call it a secret is TARGETS!
When I say, targets, I mean concrete, written targets of just how much money you wish to make or save each week, month, year and so on- without targets, you're unlikely to get started and that vague idea remain just that, a vague idea!
So, what makes a good target?
All targets and goals need to be SMART
Specific
(not I'll make a bit of extra income, but- On the week ending 11 May I will earn an extra £5)
Measurable
(I made a bit more cash, but- on the week ending 11 May I made £3, target was £5)
Achievable
(Not, I'll make a million pounds in a year- something that is achievable for you- but this will change- you can demand more of yourself as you learn0
Realistic
(Similar to achievable- have realistic expectations so that you get success and keep motivated)
Time- bound
(This is where you have specific targets to be achieved on a specific time/ date)
By ensuring all your targets meet the SMART criteria, you are much more likely to achieve them. The other vital element is that you write these targets down- writing something down makes it much more likely you will do them, it makes an idea into something concrete.
Start small and build as you gain experience- you need to have some successes to feel motivated, also you need to be able to deal with set-backs and keep going- that is what successful people do- and you are one!
MAGIC MONEY!
The big secret, if you can call it a secret is TARGETS!
When I say, targets, I mean concrete, written targets of just how much money you wish to make or save each week, month, year and so on- without targets, you're unlikely to get started and that vague idea remain just that, a vague idea!
So, what makes a good target?
All targets and goals need to be SMART
Specific
(not I'll make a bit of extra income, but- On the week ending 11 May I will earn an extra £5)
Measurable
(I made a bit more cash, but- on the week ending 11 May I made £3, target was £5)
Achievable
(Not, I'll make a million pounds in a year- something that is achievable for you- but this will change- you can demand more of yourself as you learn0
Realistic
(Similar to achievable- have realistic expectations so that you get success and keep motivated)
Time- bound
(This is where you have specific targets to be achieved on a specific time/ date)
By ensuring all your targets meet the SMART criteria, you are much more likely to achieve them. The other vital element is that you write these targets down- writing something down makes it much more likely you will do them, it makes an idea into something concrete.
Start small and build as you gain experience- you need to have some successes to feel motivated, also you need to be able to deal with set-backs and keep going- that is what successful people do- and you are one!
MAGIC MONEY!
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Context and content leads to contentment!
MAGIC MONEY!
Due to some pressing family things at the moment, I haven't been able to blog as often as I'd like, and this entry will be brief.
Alongside Robert Koyosaki's "Retire young, retire rich" book I have also been reading "Anyone can do it" by Duncan Bannnatyne (from BBC2 Dragon's Den)- which is his story of how he went from buying an ice cream van, to having a fleet of ice cream vans, old people's homes, gyms and so on.
I firmly believe that if one wants to achieve bigger things one needs to read from people who have achieved them. This both inspires and shows the attitude that shows the difference between someone who has a good idea and does nothing with it and an entrepreneur. Although each entrepreneur is different- there are certain traits than most have. A key one is vision, another is drive- having an idea is one thing, but it's drive that will see it through when things get tough, and get tough they will!
Getting back to the title- context and content= contentment: Robert Kiyosaki regularly states that expanding ones context, thinking bigger if you will, is how you expand wealth or assets. Similarly, one needs to learn new language and ways of thinking to use in that context in order to grow. think of it this, when you were a child, enough money to buy a comic and some sweets was you context and you needed simple language (content) to do those things. Later, as a teenager, you would want to buy CD's (or records if you're as old as me!) and go to see bands or play sports so your context was now bigger and your language expanded to keep up.
I am not stating that everyone should star a multinational business here, merely, that one needs to look at what one really wants and expand the context and language you'll need to achieve it. Similarly, you can start forming some sort of "map" by studying people who've already achieved what you want to do.
Another key thing- never ever, assume you know everything! There is always more to know and learn and mistakes are one of the ways one will learn things- all entrepreneurs make mistakes- that's why they are successful.
Due to some pressing family things at the moment, I haven't been able to blog as often as I'd like, and this entry will be brief.
Alongside Robert Koyosaki's "Retire young, retire rich" book I have also been reading "Anyone can do it" by Duncan Bannnatyne (from BBC2 Dragon's Den)- which is his story of how he went from buying an ice cream van, to having a fleet of ice cream vans, old people's homes, gyms and so on.
I firmly believe that if one wants to achieve bigger things one needs to read from people who have achieved them. This both inspires and shows the attitude that shows the difference between someone who has a good idea and does nothing with it and an entrepreneur. Although each entrepreneur is different- there are certain traits than most have. A key one is vision, another is drive- having an idea is one thing, but it's drive that will see it through when things get tough, and get tough they will!
Getting back to the title- context and content= contentment: Robert Kiyosaki regularly states that expanding ones context, thinking bigger if you will, is how you expand wealth or assets. Similarly, one needs to learn new language and ways of thinking to use in that context in order to grow. think of it this, when you were a child, enough money to buy a comic and some sweets was you context and you needed simple language (content) to do those things. Later, as a teenager, you would want to buy CD's (or records if you're as old as me!) and go to see bands or play sports so your context was now bigger and your language expanded to keep up.
I am not stating that everyone should star a multinational business here, merely, that one needs to look at what one really wants and expand the context and language you'll need to achieve it. Similarly, you can start forming some sort of "map" by studying people who've already achieved what you want to do.
Another key thing- never ever, assume you know everything! There is always more to know and learn and mistakes are one of the ways one will learn things- all entrepreneurs make mistakes- that's why they are successful.
Wednesday, 26 March 2008
Grow your business with context and content
MAGIC MONEY!
Continuing from last blog about Robert Kiyosaki's book "Rich dad's retire young, retire rich"- another concept that has really got me thinking is the concept of expanding your concept. In other words- thinking bigger than you do currently, by thinking bigger and challenging yourself to leave your comfort zone, you can build greater wealth. This isn't overnight growth, but by thinking on a bigger scale you can get bigger results- with the right planning!
I'm pretty sure this concept is what took many of todays entrepreneurs from a cottage industry in the shed to a global player. Again, this concept needn't be confined to making more money, it applied to charities, movements and pressure groups. A larger context requires greater leverage, too.
Robert is very candid about his unsuccessful as well as his successful businesses, which is very important. I think many highly successful people today have failed many times before they succeeded- but, they know that failing is a great way to learn more and they continue until they succeed.
Robert also says that having an "exit plan" is vital- in other words, where do you want to end up? Many people, myself included, try a few things out here and there but don't have a plan where they want to be in, say, ten or twenty years time. Naturally, if you go for a long voyage without a map or destination, you can end up nowhere at all!
Robert's books have sound financial principles and lessons- my slant on wealth generation is to build a big enough passive income to allow me to do more of what I like and less that I don't. I want to do it with ecological principles where possible- this is no easy path to follow, but it is the path I choose.
Continuing from last blog about Robert Kiyosaki's book "Rich dad's retire young, retire rich"- another concept that has really got me thinking is the concept of expanding your concept. In other words- thinking bigger than you do currently, by thinking bigger and challenging yourself to leave your comfort zone, you can build greater wealth. This isn't overnight growth, but by thinking on a bigger scale you can get bigger results- with the right planning!
I'm pretty sure this concept is what took many of todays entrepreneurs from a cottage industry in the shed to a global player. Again, this concept needn't be confined to making more money, it applied to charities, movements and pressure groups. A larger context requires greater leverage, too.
Robert is very candid about his unsuccessful as well as his successful businesses, which is very important. I think many highly successful people today have failed many times before they succeeded- but, they know that failing is a great way to learn more and they continue until they succeed.
Robert also says that having an "exit plan" is vital- in other words, where do you want to end up? Many people, myself included, try a few things out here and there but don't have a plan where they want to be in, say, ten or twenty years time. Naturally, if you go for a long voyage without a map or destination, you can end up nowhere at all!
Robert's books have sound financial principles and lessons- my slant on wealth generation is to build a big enough passive income to allow me to do more of what I like and less that I don't. I want to do it with ecological principles where possible- this is no easy path to follow, but it is the path I choose.
Thursday, 20 March 2008
Lessons in leveredge
MAGIC MONEY!
Hi again,
I have just started reading another Robert kiyosaki book "Rich Dad's Retire Young, Retire Rich".
The main focus in this book is the use of leverage- if you are working harder and harder- then you are part of someone else's leverage and not using it to your advantage.
So, what's leverage?
It is using your assets in a way that gives you maximum advantage- much as using a pole to roll something heavy or using a pulley to lift something. Money can be used in this way, too. If you use money badly, you become the one being moved by the lever.
Money is not your only asset to use for leverage- your mind, time and health can, too. I like to to environmentally aware and grow some of my own food- and I see many parallels between good financial strategy and growing crops and gardening. You can spend hours digging and bending over preparing the ground- or, you can build a raised bed so that your crops will produce earlier, the slugs will find it more difficult to find your plants and you wont have to bend over much to tend your crops.
I feel that the principle of leverage can be used in many ways- you can lever your time, say, by listening to audio books whilst on a long journey. You can use spare moments to scribble down ideas for businesses or marketing. You can lever your health by making all or part of your journey to work by walking or cycling (with added cost and environmental benefits).
How about levering your kindness? How can you produce more kindness with the same effort? Can you introduce people who need company? Can you send positive messages by email?
As Robert says, when you start to look around you'll see more and more ways you could use leverage, obviously, this blog is about generating income, however, there are other forms of wealth that could benefit- family, friends, your time, health and happiness- how can this be levered? Could you find time to listen to your favourate music or comedian?
So, instead of trying to push that rock- find yourself a lever!
Hi again,
I have just started reading another Robert kiyosaki book "Rich Dad's Retire Young, Retire Rich".
The main focus in this book is the use of leverage- if you are working harder and harder- then you are part of someone else's leverage and not using it to your advantage.
So, what's leverage?
It is using your assets in a way that gives you maximum advantage- much as using a pole to roll something heavy or using a pulley to lift something. Money can be used in this way, too. If you use money badly, you become the one being moved by the lever.
Money is not your only asset to use for leverage- your mind, time and health can, too. I like to to environmentally aware and grow some of my own food- and I see many parallels between good financial strategy and growing crops and gardening. You can spend hours digging and bending over preparing the ground- or, you can build a raised bed so that your crops will produce earlier, the slugs will find it more difficult to find your plants and you wont have to bend over much to tend your crops.
I feel that the principle of leverage can be used in many ways- you can lever your time, say, by listening to audio books whilst on a long journey. You can use spare moments to scribble down ideas for businesses or marketing. You can lever your health by making all or part of your journey to work by walking or cycling (with added cost and environmental benefits).
How about levering your kindness? How can you produce more kindness with the same effort? Can you introduce people who need company? Can you send positive messages by email?
As Robert says, when you start to look around you'll see more and more ways you could use leverage, obviously, this blog is about generating income, however, there are other forms of wealth that could benefit- family, friends, your time, health and happiness- how can this be levered? Could you find time to listen to your favourate music or comedian?
So, instead of trying to push that rock- find yourself a lever!
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