After several years of research, reading all types of money making books, investing in all types of business opportunities, my wife and I have finally realized a simple way that’s helped many people become financially free. I won’t pretend that I have the magic formula that will: make you $100,000 in 3 minutes while you sit on the couch, or allow you to retire next week without ever leaving the house!
Now, I’m not saying that the folks who sell those programs are lying because I haven’t done them all, but years ago, I tried a couple of them and let’s just say the only thing that happened while I sat on the couch was I made an imprint!
Let’s face it: If you truly want to get rich & achieve financial independence, it’s going to take some work! However, if I told you that you could become rich and increase your net worth (regardless of how much money you currently make) by using a tried and true formula that consists of 3 simple steps, would you believe me? Well you should, because it works!
How do I know? Because We Have Used This Formula to Increase Our Net Worth Over 300% over the past 7 years! It could happen sooner or it might take a little longer for you depending on your situation. But, what I can guarantee is that if you follow these three simple steps, YOU WILL ACHIEVE FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE!
I’ve spent many years (AND DOLLARS) looking for ways to become rich and financially free. I can honestly tell you that of the many things I’ve tried, some worked and some didn’t. Instead of getting upset about the things that didn’t work, my wife and I had a conversation and we simply asked ourselves, “Of all the things we’ve tried that did work, what did they have in common?”
And that is how we were able to come up with the simple 3 step formula that we’ve been following for the past several years that has allowed us to walk the path towards wealth and financial independence. Before I share the formula with you, let me just answer one question so that you can decide if I’m someone you want to listen to or not:
QUESTION: WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER FINANCIAL FREEDOM, INDEPENDENCE, OR BEING RICH?
I think if you were to ask ten different people this question, you’d get ten different answers. So, what I consider being rich might be totally different than what you consider being rich. However, financial freedom for me was the point where my wife and I did not have to have jobs in order to sustain our quality of life. I’m not saying that having a job is a bad thing. But the key is working somewhere because you want to, not because you have to! And being financially independent will make it much easier for you to decide if you want to have a job or not.
SO WHAT IS THIS FORMULA? As I mentioned earlier, it is 3 simple actions. The greatest thing about the formula is that you don’t have to do the steps in any particular order. You can do them one at a time or work on all three simultaneously:
Step 1: Debt Reduction
In order to get rich, you have to reduce the amount of debt that you owe others. It is important to know that not all debt is bad. Good debt is that debt which helps you to become richer. As one famous author puts it, “Good debt is that which someone else pays for you”. Your goal should be to get rid of bad debt first and then work to eliminate good debt.
Step 2: Expense Management
In order to get rich, you must manage expenses. You need to identify where you are spending your money and then determine what is absolutely necessary and where you can trim. This doesn’t mean you have to change your way of life, but instead take better control by being prepared. Your goal should be to prepare for new expenses in advance while minimizing the risks of being caught off guard.
Step 3: Multiple Income Streams
In order to get rich, you must have more than one source of revenue. So often I hear people say, I could be rich if I just got a higher paying job. Believe me, there are financially free people who make less than $40,000 annually, and there are people making over $100,000 annually who are broke. It’s not about making more money from one source of revenue; it’s about making money from more sources. Think about it: if you make $50,000 from one income stream (e.g. job) and you lose that job, you are temporarily doomed. But if you make $5,000 from ten income streams (e.g. businesses, stocks, real estate, etc.) and you lose one (maybe the stocks tank), you still have $45,000 coming in. There are tons of books, seminars and courses you can take on building streams of income. Your goal should be to always have 4 or more income streams going.
So there you have it. An amazingly simple three step formula on how to attain financial freedom so that you never have to worry about money again!
Brandon Wilkins
Friday, June 26, 2009
Friday, June 19, 2009
Lessons From Anakin Skywalker: Making Better Choices Through Recognizing And Managing Our Fears
In the latest and final Star Wars saga, Anakin Skywalker makes the choice to surrender to the dark side of the force. Thus makes his transformation complete into the evil Darth Vader. This choice is motivated by Anakin's fearful premonition that his pregnant wife Padme will die in childbirth. We watch as the tormented Anakin succumbs to the influence of Chancellor Palpatine who suggests that it might be possible to save Padme using the dark side of the force.
Anakin's choice to compromise all his other principles, Jedi values, in order to save his wife is both tragic and understandably human. How many of us have made wrong life or business choices out of the fear of losing something whether its pride, money, relationships, being popular, or missing out on some exciting experience? We then experience a negative consequence because we compromised what we knew was right. Perhaps it could be our values, in favor of a misperceived fear that clouds our better judgment.
In Anakin's case his fear of losing Padme becomes a self- fulfilling prophecy. He is driven and consumed by his fear and all his subsequent destructive actions are rooted in fear. In the process of surrendering to his fears and eventually to the dark side of the force, Anakin loses his compassion, his trust, and his heartfelt connection to others.
Anakin's dilemma can be seen in the context of business. In times of economic uncertainty, leaders may resort to reactionary decisions such as cutting costs or reducing headcount. What appears to provide immediate relief actually fails to produce the desired outcome. Morale, productivity and company culture are adversely affected. Business leaders whose decisions are motivated from apprehension or distress about the future give power to their fears. And like Anakin, those fears can turn into self-fulfilling prophecies that cause harm.
In contrast to decisions motivated by fear are decisions which take us towards a positive vision. If a choice is made from belief in vision, company culture, adherence to core values and trust in the future, the driving motivation can be fulfillment or satisfaction. Operating by the above principles may not always be easy and can be very challenging during times of uncertainty. However, decisions made from these principles will always prove to be more fulfilling as integrity and authenticity are preserved.
How can you tell the difference in what motivates your choices? If that decision causes worry, anxiety and being attached to a future event, you can bet there is fear involved. If you are calm, trusting, energized and focused on things working out, that choice is most likely coming from positive belief.
Even with the best of intentions, fear is something that can creep in on all of us. However, we can manage our fears, if we step back and really look at what's driving us. Don't let fear sabotage your decision making as in Anakin's case. Determine what your core values, purpose and mission are. Clarify your own Jedi values and then ask yourself the following questions:
Will this decision move me closer or farther away from my core values?
Is this decision based on a reactive solution that may violate my core values or company culture?
What are other possibilities for my business or life that I haven't considered or addressed?
How can I communicate and elicit support from the people I trust for the challenges I am facing?
How can I learn to exercise patience and mindfulness as I face my challenges?
It is interesting to see what would have happened if Anakin Skywalker had asked himself these questions before he turned to the dark side of the force. But then again, we might not have had all those great movies to enjoy. "May The Force Be With You!"
Philip Okrend
Anakin's choice to compromise all his other principles, Jedi values, in order to save his wife is both tragic and understandably human. How many of us have made wrong life or business choices out of the fear of losing something whether its pride, money, relationships, being popular, or missing out on some exciting experience? We then experience a negative consequence because we compromised what we knew was right. Perhaps it could be our values, in favor of a misperceived fear that clouds our better judgment.
In Anakin's case his fear of losing Padme becomes a self- fulfilling prophecy. He is driven and consumed by his fear and all his subsequent destructive actions are rooted in fear. In the process of surrendering to his fears and eventually to the dark side of the force, Anakin loses his compassion, his trust, and his heartfelt connection to others.
Anakin's dilemma can be seen in the context of business. In times of economic uncertainty, leaders may resort to reactionary decisions such as cutting costs or reducing headcount. What appears to provide immediate relief actually fails to produce the desired outcome. Morale, productivity and company culture are adversely affected. Business leaders whose decisions are motivated from apprehension or distress about the future give power to their fears. And like Anakin, those fears can turn into self-fulfilling prophecies that cause harm.
In contrast to decisions motivated by fear are decisions which take us towards a positive vision. If a choice is made from belief in vision, company culture, adherence to core values and trust in the future, the driving motivation can be fulfillment or satisfaction. Operating by the above principles may not always be easy and can be very challenging during times of uncertainty. However, decisions made from these principles will always prove to be more fulfilling as integrity and authenticity are preserved.
How can you tell the difference in what motivates your choices? If that decision causes worry, anxiety and being attached to a future event, you can bet there is fear involved. If you are calm, trusting, energized and focused on things working out, that choice is most likely coming from positive belief.
Even with the best of intentions, fear is something that can creep in on all of us. However, we can manage our fears, if we step back and really look at what's driving us. Don't let fear sabotage your decision making as in Anakin's case. Determine what your core values, purpose and mission are. Clarify your own Jedi values and then ask yourself the following questions:
Will this decision move me closer or farther away from my core values?
Is this decision based on a reactive solution that may violate my core values or company culture?
What are other possibilities for my business or life that I haven't considered or addressed?
How can I communicate and elicit support from the people I trust for the challenges I am facing?
How can I learn to exercise patience and mindfulness as I face my challenges?
It is interesting to see what would have happened if Anakin Skywalker had asked himself these questions before he turned to the dark side of the force. But then again, we might not have had all those great movies to enjoy. "May The Force Be With You!"
Philip Okrend
Friday, June 12, 2009
How To Master The Art And Science Of Super Salesmanship in 3½ Minutes Flat
I am not a born salesman. If you know my story, I didn't even have a word of the English language on my lips when I first moved to North America. (Even now, my spoken English is not all that great and it comes with an accent that would put Arnold Schwarzenegger or Jackie Chan to shame.)
No, I wasn't born to sell. I had to learn selling... the HARD way: making embarrassing mistakes, blowing deals right and left, losing clients... and going to outrageous extremes trying to identify the world-class salesmen who would teach me the way to do things right. Well, it's taken a few years... quite a few years, I'll admit, but now I've identified the "tricks of the trade" of selling.
What Took Me Years Will Be Yours In 3 ½ Minutes Flat!
Tricks of the Trade #1 - People don't like to be sold
That's right! Although every year, trillions of dollars worth of goods and services are bought and sold -- billions through the mail alone -- people actually don't like the IDEA of being sold. What they DO like is the idea of OWNING the product, or taking advantage of the service that is being sold.
Look at the people in your own life -- friends, family, or business colleagues. Many of them, no doubt, love to buy things. (My girlfriend has a "black belt" in shopping) But I'll bet that none of them like to be sold. In fact, with most people, if you try to sell them something, they'll become resistant. It's a natural response to perceived pressure.
In fact, selling may turn-off a prospect who was ready to buy. So if you can't SELL, what you can do is TELL. In order to tell you about my product or service:
I get your attention...
I build rapport with you...
I explain what's in it for you...
I tempt you by appealing to your emotions...
I create a verbal picture that teases your desires...
I demonstrate how my stuff can easily solve your problems...
I can prove to you that there're a lot people just like you who have bought and are very happy with my stuff...
I make you an absolutely irresistible offer...
I describe a deal where you risk nothing, and yet stand to gain a great deal...
I handle every single one of your objections...
This is exactly what you've gotta do when you're writing a sales letter. Don't apply pressure and don't bully your prospect with force. Use a little finesse instead. Don't force it -- romance the hell out of it. If you TELL you, I don't have to SELL you... you'll sell yourself! (And that's killer salesmanship, my friend!)
Tricks of the Trade #2 - Hit 'Em Where It Hurts
With each sales pitch you create, you must focus on the need or desire that your product will satisfy. If we only buy what we NEED, there'll be No Rolex, No BMW, No Mercedes, No Botox, and definitely NO Starbucks coffee. We certainly don't NEED any of that stuff, but we WANT them!
Here's what most people are looking for in one way or another:
More money
More free time
More respect
Better physical health
Better mental health
Less stress
Remember, people buy what they WANT, not what they NEED.
Tricks of the Trade #3 - Even When They're Sold, People Need To Satisfy Their Emotional Decisions With Logic
Even though people buy for emotional reasons, they need to feel that their decision was backed by solid logical reasons. Think about TV commercials for cars. They offer a perfect picture of "justification."
Here's how they work:
First, there's a stirring image of the car itself - beautiful, stylish, new. (In your head: Wow! That car looks cool...)
In the background, there's a mountainous landscape (In your head: Wow! That's rugged... like me!) or a five-star hotel (In your head: Wow! That car would give me status."
And, of course, no car commercial would be complete without a beautiful, sexy woman. (In your head: ...let's not go there!)
Next, you see an interior shot to show how luxurious your life will be with this car. You get to listen to state-of-the-art sound system. (In your head: Hmm... I can listen to my favorite music.)
Then, there's a shot of the car driving by the ocean. Put it all together and you have an effective 20-second movie that's designed entirely to appeal to emotion.
But wait, the car commercials don't stop here.
Oh...no way. At the end, they "get down to business" with numerous bits and pieces of information - the size of the engine, statistics on fuel economy, speed, weight, interior space, rankings in national survey, financing information and customer satisfaction reports, and so on.
It flashes by at lightening speed, usually so quickly that you can't read it.
But Don't Worry: All This Data Isn't Meant To Sell The Car. It's included to make YOU feel good and justify the decision you've already made. (I'm gonna buy that baby now or when I got some money because it's the SMART thing to do!)
The lesson: People CAN be convinced, when the facts are explained, when the risk is taken away, and when their deepest, most selfish desires have been tickled and nurtured and seduced.
All right, time's up! Whew... right on time. 3-½ minutes. (Hey, I don't just always "hype" the headline to get you to read my stuff, do I?)
Dan Lok
No, I wasn't born to sell. I had to learn selling... the HARD way: making embarrassing mistakes, blowing deals right and left, losing clients... and going to outrageous extremes trying to identify the world-class salesmen who would teach me the way to do things right. Well, it's taken a few years... quite a few years, I'll admit, but now I've identified the "tricks of the trade" of selling.
What Took Me Years Will Be Yours In 3 ½ Minutes Flat!
Tricks of the Trade #1 - People don't like to be sold
That's right! Although every year, trillions of dollars worth of goods and services are bought and sold -- billions through the mail alone -- people actually don't like the IDEA of being sold. What they DO like is the idea of OWNING the product, or taking advantage of the service that is being sold.
Look at the people in your own life -- friends, family, or business colleagues. Many of them, no doubt, love to buy things. (My girlfriend has a "black belt" in shopping) But I'll bet that none of them like to be sold. In fact, with most people, if you try to sell them something, they'll become resistant. It's a natural response to perceived pressure.
In fact, selling may turn-off a prospect who was ready to buy. So if you can't SELL, what you can do is TELL. In order to tell you about my product or service:
I get your attention...
I build rapport with you...
I explain what's in it for you...
I tempt you by appealing to your emotions...
I create a verbal picture that teases your desires...
I demonstrate how my stuff can easily solve your problems...
I can prove to you that there're a lot people just like you who have bought and are very happy with my stuff...
I make you an absolutely irresistible offer...
I describe a deal where you risk nothing, and yet stand to gain a great deal...
I handle every single one of your objections...
This is exactly what you've gotta do when you're writing a sales letter. Don't apply pressure and don't bully your prospect with force. Use a little finesse instead. Don't force it -- romance the hell out of it. If you TELL you, I don't have to SELL you... you'll sell yourself! (And that's killer salesmanship, my friend!)
Tricks of the Trade #2 - Hit 'Em Where It Hurts
With each sales pitch you create, you must focus on the need or desire that your product will satisfy. If we only buy what we NEED, there'll be No Rolex, No BMW, No Mercedes, No Botox, and definitely NO Starbucks coffee. We certainly don't NEED any of that stuff, but we WANT them!
Here's what most people are looking for in one way or another:
More money
More free time
More respect
Better physical health
Better mental health
Less stress
Remember, people buy what they WANT, not what they NEED.
Tricks of the Trade #3 - Even When They're Sold, People Need To Satisfy Their Emotional Decisions With Logic
Even though people buy for emotional reasons, they need to feel that their decision was backed by solid logical reasons. Think about TV commercials for cars. They offer a perfect picture of "justification."
Here's how they work:
First, there's a stirring image of the car itself - beautiful, stylish, new. (In your head: Wow! That car looks cool...)
In the background, there's a mountainous landscape (In your head: Wow! That's rugged... like me!) or a five-star hotel (In your head: Wow! That car would give me status."
And, of course, no car commercial would be complete without a beautiful, sexy woman. (In your head: ...let's not go there!)
Next, you see an interior shot to show how luxurious your life will be with this car. You get to listen to state-of-the-art sound system. (In your head: Hmm... I can listen to my favorite music.)
Then, there's a shot of the car driving by the ocean. Put it all together and you have an effective 20-second movie that's designed entirely to appeal to emotion.
But wait, the car commercials don't stop here.
Oh...no way. At the end, they "get down to business" with numerous bits and pieces of information - the size of the engine, statistics on fuel economy, speed, weight, interior space, rankings in national survey, financing information and customer satisfaction reports, and so on.
It flashes by at lightening speed, usually so quickly that you can't read it.
But Don't Worry: All This Data Isn't Meant To Sell The Car. It's included to make YOU feel good and justify the decision you've already made. (I'm gonna buy that baby now or when I got some money because it's the SMART thing to do!)
The lesson: People CAN be convinced, when the facts are explained, when the risk is taken away, and when their deepest, most selfish desires have been tickled and nurtured and seduced.
All right, time's up! Whew... right on time. 3-½ minutes. (Hey, I don't just always "hype" the headline to get you to read my stuff, do I?)
Dan Lok
Friday, June 5, 2009
How to Change Somebody's Mind
Believe me, it's not easy! And sometimes, it doesn't work at all.
But while researching my book on how to produce more memorable writing, I stumbled upon these "mind changing" ideas from multiple sources.
Remember, I'm a writer, not a psychologist. So the methods shown here come mostly from writers and speakers who've successfully altered perceptions through presentations and persuasive reports.
1. Wear the other person's shoes - Ask questions to find out why someone holds a completely different view from yours.
2. Ask that person to amplify his/her position - Are your opponent's views based on actual data, or on disputed or second-hand information that might be challenged?
3. If that person's views are based on data, is the source of that data credible?
4. What common positions do you hold? Politicians can often win a hostile audience by first discussing values everyone shares. If we can agree on common goals, perhaps readers/listeners will follow us when we lead them down new pathways.
5. Can some position be compromised? In negotiations, I often give away a small point in order to show willingness to arrive at an agreement.
6. Point out your side's best points. Remember the fence-painting episode from "Tom Sawyer"? Tom makes his task seem so appealing his friends offer him all sorts of prizes if he'll let them participate.
7. Speaking of "good points" - Sometimes negotiation can become a "listing" contest. Can you reinforce your position by listing a number of positive things about your proposal? Example: "Ten reasons you should vote for Proposition A."
Rix Quinn
But while researching my book on how to produce more memorable writing, I stumbled upon these "mind changing" ideas from multiple sources.
Remember, I'm a writer, not a psychologist. So the methods shown here come mostly from writers and speakers who've successfully altered perceptions through presentations and persuasive reports.
1. Wear the other person's shoes - Ask questions to find out why someone holds a completely different view from yours.
2. Ask that person to amplify his/her position - Are your opponent's views based on actual data, or on disputed or second-hand information that might be challenged?
3. If that person's views are based on data, is the source of that data credible?
4. What common positions do you hold? Politicians can often win a hostile audience by first discussing values everyone shares. If we can agree on common goals, perhaps readers/listeners will follow us when we lead them down new pathways.
5. Can some position be compromised? In negotiations, I often give away a small point in order to show willingness to arrive at an agreement.
6. Point out your side's best points. Remember the fence-painting episode from "Tom Sawyer"? Tom makes his task seem so appealing his friends offer him all sorts of prizes if he'll let them participate.
7. Speaking of "good points" - Sometimes negotiation can become a "listing" contest. Can you reinforce your position by listing a number of positive things about your proposal? Example: "Ten reasons you should vote for Proposition A."
Rix Quinn
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