Jack Canfield's Success Principle #64
Today is my final blog in this series based on Jack Canfield's Success Priniples. On January 31, I will begin a new series about forgiveness. I hope that you have found Jack's thoughts helpful, and I hope that you will stay with me as we continue on this journey together.
The greatest contribution we can make to the world is to fulfill the purpose God has given us. Helping others to do the same provides them with joy as they fulfill their God-given dreams. Jack Canfield has helped me to clarify my purpose and to take the action steps necessary to begin my journey. I will always be grateful for his wisdom.
Proverbs 3:13-18 (NIV) reminds me that gaining wisdom throughout our lives is important:
Blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
the man who gains understanding,
for she [wisdom] is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
She is a tree of life to those who embrace her;
those who lay hold of her wil be blessed.
One of the most powerful ways to gain wisdom is to teach it to others. If you would like to teach Jack Canfield's Success Principles to others, you can go to www.thesuccessprinciples.com to download a free study guide. By teaching others, you'll be helping yourself to stay the course along the way to fulfilling your own life purpose.
The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know. Come along with me next week in our discovery of God's wisdom about forgiveness.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Start Now and Just Do It!
Jack Canfield's Success Principle #63
We have only two days left in our lessons from Jack Canfield's book, The Success Principles. Beginning January 31, we will begin a new series on forgiveness.
Don't let your fears hold you back.
So many survivors of abuse and trauma let their fears hold them back, and they never even try to achieve their dreams. Oliver Wendell Holmes, former U.S. Supreme Court justice, wrote:
Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often, it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.
If we allow the fear that our abusers instilled in us or memories of traumatic events to hold us back, we may die without ever getting the chance to bless the world with our God-given gifts.
At this point, I have four books that are nearly complete. For a number of years, I have been editing them so that they will be ready for publication. The truth is, I've been over-working them, because I'm afraid to send them out there. I hate the rejection letters, and it's safer to just keep working on them than to admit that I'm afraid.
The problem with this habit is that I'm preventing my readers from receiving the blessings that God wants them to have through my writing. I've learned so much about thriving after life kicks us in the teeth; and by sitting on my work, I'm preventing someone else from achieving their dreams.
Satan uses fear to keep us from sharing the love of Christ with others. What fears are holding you back?
Take the first step.
An ancient Chinese proverb says,
A journey of 1,000 miles must begin with one step.
I didn't learn how to write overnight. It began with taking the first step of choosing a creative writing class in high school. To date, I have published hundreds of articles and several books. My success began with that first step.
Anyone can succeed at life, but they must take the first step. What are you waiting for?
Fail forward.
Sometimes, we need to take a class or attend a workshop to learn some new skills. But in reality, all of life is a classroom, where we are constantly learning how to do things better. Some of the most important things we need to know can't be learned in a classroom or perfected at seminars. We have to get out there and just try. When we fail, we can ask for feedback, go back, and try again.
Believe it or not, our abuse or trauma has probably taught us more than we have ever learned in school. We know how to comfort someone who is suffering, because we have experienced that same comfort through God's love when we were hurting. My favorite Bible verse comes from 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
Are you waiting to learn something new before you can achieve your dreams? Is it possible that you already have the skills to become successful? Are you willing to fail, get feedback, and try again?
Keep trying.
The apostle Paul wrote about the need for perseverance in our faith walk, and I believe this passage is an excellent one for those of us who are afraid to fail at life. He wrote,
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with peseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1b)
God has marked out a race for each one of us by giving us a purpose. It's up to us to start running along that path. On the way, we'll bless others, and when we arrive at the end of our lives, we will reach a lovely new beginning.
What is keeping you from achieving God's plan for your life? If you know what it is, why aren't you running the race?
Unforeseen opportunities grow out of your forward motion.
Buckminster Fuller, a scientist and philosopher, wrote about something he calls precessional effects. They are the outcomes of our forward motion as we strive to serve humanity.
To better understand this concept, he explains that a honeybee's primary purpose in life is to gather nectar. As he flies from flower to flower, he is unwittingly involved in a much bigger plan: he is cross-pollinating all of the rooted botanicals that he touches.
As we move forward toward our goals, we create these same types of precessional effects. I never dreamed when I began writing that I would eventually become the editor of a pharmaceutical journal or the ghost-writer of an evangelst's biography. These effects simply occurred, because I saw myself as a writer and kept moving ahead.
Are you creating precessional effects? Or are you sitting still, paralyzed by fears that are preventing you from blessing others?
Today's Challenge
Many people have no clue about how to achieve their dreams. We have learned from one of the best success coaches in the world how to get from where we are today to where we want to be tomorrow. The key to overcoming our abusive or traumatic past is to put what we have learned about our life's purpose into action.
Start today by going back through my blog posts and working through each principle one at a time, in the order that they were presented. Of all the principles we've learned, I believe one of the most important is to create a goals book. It's exciting to review our goals and action plans daily and to see that we are actually making progress toward our dreams.
You can succeed, but you've got to get started. And you must keep on until you've reached your goals. Imagine the joy you will feel when you arrive at the end of your life, and Jesus says, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Now get out there and just do it!
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
We have only two days left in our lessons from Jack Canfield's book, The Success Principles. Beginning January 31, we will begin a new series on forgiveness.
Don't let your fears hold you back.
So many survivors of abuse and trauma let their fears hold them back, and they never even try to achieve their dreams. Oliver Wendell Holmes, former U.S. Supreme Court justice, wrote:
Many people die with their music still in them. Why is this so? Too often, it is because they are always getting ready to live. Before they know it, time runs out.
If we allow the fear that our abusers instilled in us or memories of traumatic events to hold us back, we may die without ever getting the chance to bless the world with our God-given gifts.
At this point, I have four books that are nearly complete. For a number of years, I have been editing them so that they will be ready for publication. The truth is, I've been over-working them, because I'm afraid to send them out there. I hate the rejection letters, and it's safer to just keep working on them than to admit that I'm afraid.
The problem with this habit is that I'm preventing my readers from receiving the blessings that God wants them to have through my writing. I've learned so much about thriving after life kicks us in the teeth; and by sitting on my work, I'm preventing someone else from achieving their dreams.
Satan uses fear to keep us from sharing the love of Christ with others. What fears are holding you back?
Take the first step.
An ancient Chinese proverb says,
A journey of 1,000 miles must begin with one step.
I didn't learn how to write overnight. It began with taking the first step of choosing a creative writing class in high school. To date, I have published hundreds of articles and several books. My success began with that first step.
Anyone can succeed at life, but they must take the first step. What are you waiting for?
Fail forward.
Sometimes, we need to take a class or attend a workshop to learn some new skills. But in reality, all of life is a classroom, where we are constantly learning how to do things better. Some of the most important things we need to know can't be learned in a classroom or perfected at seminars. We have to get out there and just try. When we fail, we can ask for feedback, go back, and try again.
Believe it or not, our abuse or trauma has probably taught us more than we have ever learned in school. We know how to comfort someone who is suffering, because we have experienced that same comfort through God's love when we were hurting. My favorite Bible verse comes from 2 Corinthians 1:3-5:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
Are you waiting to learn something new before you can achieve your dreams? Is it possible that you already have the skills to become successful? Are you willing to fail, get feedback, and try again?
Keep trying.
The apostle Paul wrote about the need for perseverance in our faith walk, and I believe this passage is an excellent one for those of us who are afraid to fail at life. He wrote,
Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with peseverance the race marked out for us. (Hebrews 12:1b)
God has marked out a race for each one of us by giving us a purpose. It's up to us to start running along that path. On the way, we'll bless others, and when we arrive at the end of our lives, we will reach a lovely new beginning.
What is keeping you from achieving God's plan for your life? If you know what it is, why aren't you running the race?
Unforeseen opportunities grow out of your forward motion.
Buckminster Fuller, a scientist and philosopher, wrote about something he calls precessional effects. They are the outcomes of our forward motion as we strive to serve humanity.
To better understand this concept, he explains that a honeybee's primary purpose in life is to gather nectar. As he flies from flower to flower, he is unwittingly involved in a much bigger plan: he is cross-pollinating all of the rooted botanicals that he touches.
As we move forward toward our goals, we create these same types of precessional effects. I never dreamed when I began writing that I would eventually become the editor of a pharmaceutical journal or the ghost-writer of an evangelst's biography. These effects simply occurred, because I saw myself as a writer and kept moving ahead.
Are you creating precessional effects? Or are you sitting still, paralyzed by fears that are preventing you from blessing others?
Today's Challenge
Many people have no clue about how to achieve their dreams. We have learned from one of the best success coaches in the world how to get from where we are today to where we want to be tomorrow. The key to overcoming our abusive or traumatic past is to put what we have learned about our life's purpose into action.
Start today by going back through my blog posts and working through each principle one at a time, in the order that they were presented. Of all the principles we've learned, I believe one of the most important is to create a goals book. It's exciting to review our goals and action plans daily and to see that we are actually making progress toward our dreams.
You can succeed, but you've got to get started. And you must keep on until you've reached your goals. Imagine the joy you will feel when you arrive at the end of your life, and Jesus says, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Now get out there and just do it!
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Find a Way to Serve
Jack Canfield's Success Principle #62
When we volunteer, we receive far more than we give. We find inner joy by serving others, as well as some other benefits that Jack identifies.
Volunteerism pays off.
Research on volunteerism shows that people who give their time to others live longer, have stronger immune systems, suffer fewer heart attacks, recover more quickly from heart attacks, have higher self-esteem, and enjoy a deeper sense of purpose than people who don't volunteer.
People who volunteer when they're young are more likely to end up in higher-paying jobs than their counterparts. Employers report that they often look to see if job candidates have engaged in volunteer work before hiring them. In addition, networking during volunteer time frequently leads to unexpected career opportunities.
By volunteering, we can learn success skills that we wouldn't ordinarily acquire. Some employers, such as SAFECO and Pillsbury, actually build volunteerism into their employee development programs.
For many years, I volunteered at our public and school libraries. Without realizing it, I was preparing myself for a great deal of the research that I now do as a writer.
Volunteer to match your purpose.
When we volunteer, it's important to serve people we feel passionate about. I have very little in common with basketball players, so volunteering to help with a youth basketball team wouldn't do much for me or the kids.
I love to sew, therefore I volunteer my time to lead a quilting group at my church. We give the finished quilts to terminally ill patients at the hospital. Our group uses Scripture from 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV) to encourage patients and their families:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.l For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
For those of us who have survived incest, abuse, or trauma, there are countless opportunities to help others who have been victims. Sometimes, it's hard to understand why God allowed us to suffer as we did. But by serving other survivors, we can bring some sense to our own pain. We can look at our experiences as preparation for helping others to thrive. By learning to share the comfort that we have already received from God, we bring meaning to our own suffering.
How much time should we volunteer?
We were members of Southeast Christian Church while Joe was attending seminary. Their slogan for personal growth was 1-1-1: one hour of worship, one hour of Bible study, and one hour of service per week. This was suggested as a starting place for new members. Remember from yesterday's lesson that we should ideally be giving ten percent of our time, as well as our money to others in need.
Today's Challenge
There are many nonprofit organizations that can use your skills. Make a list of people you would enjoy helping, places you would like to serve, and skills that you can offer. Figure out how to serve for just one hour this week, and build your volunteerism from there.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
When we volunteer, we receive far more than we give. We find inner joy by serving others, as well as some other benefits that Jack identifies.
Volunteerism pays off.
Research on volunteerism shows that people who give their time to others live longer, have stronger immune systems, suffer fewer heart attacks, recover more quickly from heart attacks, have higher self-esteem, and enjoy a deeper sense of purpose than people who don't volunteer.
People who volunteer when they're young are more likely to end up in higher-paying jobs than their counterparts. Employers report that they often look to see if job candidates have engaged in volunteer work before hiring them. In addition, networking during volunteer time frequently leads to unexpected career opportunities.
By volunteering, we can learn success skills that we wouldn't ordinarily acquire. Some employers, such as SAFECO and Pillsbury, actually build volunteerism into their employee development programs.
For many years, I volunteered at our public and school libraries. Without realizing it, I was preparing myself for a great deal of the research that I now do as a writer.
Volunteer to match your purpose.
When we volunteer, it's important to serve people we feel passionate about. I have very little in common with basketball players, so volunteering to help with a youth basketball team wouldn't do much for me or the kids.
I love to sew, therefore I volunteer my time to lead a quilting group at my church. We give the finished quilts to terminally ill patients at the hospital. Our group uses Scripture from 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 (NIV) to encourage patients and their families:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.l For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
For those of us who have survived incest, abuse, or trauma, there are countless opportunities to help others who have been victims. Sometimes, it's hard to understand why God allowed us to suffer as we did. But by serving other survivors, we can bring some sense to our own pain. We can look at our experiences as preparation for helping others to thrive. By learning to share the comfort that we have already received from God, we bring meaning to our own suffering.
How much time should we volunteer?
We were members of Southeast Christian Church while Joe was attending seminary. Their slogan for personal growth was 1-1-1: one hour of worship, one hour of Bible study, and one hour of service per week. This was suggested as a starting place for new members. Remember from yesterday's lesson that we should ideally be giving ten percent of our time, as well as our money to others in need.
Today's Challenge
There are many nonprofit organizations that can use your skills. Make a list of people you would enjoy helping, places you would like to serve, and skills that you can offer. Figure out how to serve for just one hour this week, and build your volunteerism from there.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Give More to Get More
Jack Canfield's Success Principle #61
Jack writes some things in today's lesson that really bother me. In the first paragraph, he says, "By tithing regularly, you, too, can put into motion God's universal force, bringing you continual abundance." My concern is that many readers may misunderstand that this means tithing will guarantee monetary success. Jack actually writes that tithing "is one of the best guarantees of prosperity ever known."
What is tithing?
The Bible clearly spells out what tithing is. Leviticus 27:30 (NIV) reads, A tithe (tenth) of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
If it weren't for God, we would have nothing. When we fail to give back to him our tithe, we are, in essence, robbing God.
Malachi 3:10 (MSG) was written to the Israelites at a time when they were holding back their tithes. It reads:
Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. "You ask, 'How have we robbed you?' "The tithe and the offering—that's how! And now you're under a curse —the whole lot of you—because you're robbing me. Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers."
If we are in a relationship with God, our love for him ought to compel us to give more than ten percent to his work. The way I look at it, the tithe is just the beginning. If I could give fifty percent, I would.
Why can't I bring myself to tithe?
As an abuse survivor, I have sometimes experienced difficulty with tithing, because it meant that I was giving up control of the one part of my life that I thought I could manage. God's laughing his head off over that statement, I'm sure!
We may have trouble trusting God, because our earthly parents did not provide for us. We see our money as our own...a means to keep ourselves safe from harm. Letting go of just ten percent of our earnings may stir up feelings of fear.
It is true that God promises blessings to those who release their hold on their tithes. But those blessings may not necessarily come in the form of millions of dollars. They may come to us as friendships, respect, peace, and joy. If we are giving from the love God has placed in our hearts, the peace we get in return for giving is immeasurable.
Practice two types of tithing.
There are two types of tithing: giving of our money; and giving of our time. The closer we grow in relationship with God, the more we want to give back to him. Just writing a check to the church or a charity isn't enough. We want to volunteer as much of our free time as we can to serve others. That's because God's love can't be contained within us. The more we receive, the more we feel compelled to give.
Today's Challenge
Examine your budget and calendar. Consider how much of your money and time are going toward God's work. Are you giving him what he deserves? Or are you robbing him? If you can't bring yourself to tithe, consider your view of God and your relationship with him. Do you need to surrender control over this part of your life to him? Can you trust him to provide if you let go of ten percent?
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Jack writes some things in today's lesson that really bother me. In the first paragraph, he says, "By tithing regularly, you, too, can put into motion God's universal force, bringing you continual abundance." My concern is that many readers may misunderstand that this means tithing will guarantee monetary success. Jack actually writes that tithing "is one of the best guarantees of prosperity ever known."
What is tithing?
The Bible clearly spells out what tithing is. Leviticus 27:30 (NIV) reads, A tithe (tenth) of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.
If it weren't for God, we would have nothing. When we fail to give back to him our tithe, we are, in essence, robbing God.
Malachi 3:10 (MSG) was written to the Israelites at a time when they were holding back their tithes. It reads:
Begin by being honest. Do honest people rob God? But you rob me day after day. "You ask, 'How have we robbed you?' "The tithe and the offering—that's how! And now you're under a curse —the whole lot of you—because you're robbing me. Bring your full tithe to the Temple treasury so there will be ample provisions in my Temple. Test me in this and see if I don't open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams. For my part, I will defend you against marauders, protect your wheat fields and vegetable gardens against plunderers."
If we are in a relationship with God, our love for him ought to compel us to give more than ten percent to his work. The way I look at it, the tithe is just the beginning. If I could give fifty percent, I would.
Why can't I bring myself to tithe?
As an abuse survivor, I have sometimes experienced difficulty with tithing, because it meant that I was giving up control of the one part of my life that I thought I could manage. God's laughing his head off over that statement, I'm sure!
We may have trouble trusting God, because our earthly parents did not provide for us. We see our money as our own...a means to keep ourselves safe from harm. Letting go of just ten percent of our earnings may stir up feelings of fear.
It is true that God promises blessings to those who release their hold on their tithes. But those blessings may not necessarily come in the form of millions of dollars. They may come to us as friendships, respect, peace, and joy. If we are giving from the love God has placed in our hearts, the peace we get in return for giving is immeasurable.
Practice two types of tithing.
There are two types of tithing: giving of our money; and giving of our time. The closer we grow in relationship with God, the more we want to give back to him. Just writing a check to the church or a charity isn't enough. We want to volunteer as much of our free time as we can to serve others. That's because God's love can't be contained within us. The more we receive, the more we feel compelled to give.
Today's Challenge
Examine your budget and calendar. Consider how much of your money and time are going toward God's work. Are you giving him what he deserves? Or are you robbing him? If you can't bring yourself to tithe, consider your view of God and your relationship with him. Do you need to surrender control over this part of your life to him? Can you trust him to provide if you let go of ten percent?
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Monday, January 24, 2011
To Spend More, First Make More
Jack Canfield's Success Principle #60
If we're going to overcome as survivors of abuse or trauma, we must work hard to first provide for our basic needs. When we're no longer worrying about physical or financial survival, we can focus on learning ways to thrive emotionally and spiritually.
Jack believes that there are two ways to have more: spend less on mundane things to save for what we want; or earn more to begin with. I think that doing both is a good idea.
Figure out how to make more money.
Before we can begin making more money, we must set a goal that spells out exactly how much we need. Remember, we must have goals that we turn into affirmations on index cards or in a goals book if we want to achieve our dreams.
Jack provides five ideas for making more money, as follows:
1) Become an intrapraneur.
By definition, an intrapraneur is an entrepreneur who gets hired by his or her own company to fill a niche that the company can't. Obviously, to do this, we must first be employed.
In my opinion, following this tactic of becoming an intrapraneur would more likely net us a nice raise or a promotion, rather than a new stream of income. We would have a better chance if we figured out what our company isn't doing well and then start our own entrepreneurship to fill that need.
2) Find a need and fill it.
Thomas Edison said, "I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent." There are unmet needs all around us, and if we're creative, we can find ways to make money from them.
When I was studying interior design, I kept hearing from everyone in the business, "Good luck finding someone to make window treatments!" At that time, there were very few drapery workrooms and few choices in ready-mades.
I decided to specialize in window treatment design by opening my own drapery workroom. Word got out that I could design and fabricate custom window treatments, so designers began hiring me to handle tasks that most of them knew little about. They were relieved, and I was making great money doing something that I loved.
We can look around and think about something that needs to be provided, solved, addressed or eliminated. Our aging population and single parents have needs that go unmet every day. If we ask what's missing, we will find a way to make people's lives easier or more fulfilling.
3) Think outside the box.
Sometimes there's a need that is partially being met, but we can think of ways to do it better. If we think outside the box, we can come up with solutions that pay off great benefits.
When my son was in public school, he was not learning as one would expect. By the time he got to fifth grade, he could barely read. I spent a fortune on private schools for a few years, but I wasn't seeing much improvement.
Twenty years ago, home schooling was considered radical. In the state where we lived, it was barely legal. Considering home schooling was outside-of-the-box thinking, but I finally decided that it was what my son needed.
Within a year, he was reading at the level of an eleventh-grader. While I wasn't getting rich through home schooling, the benefits were outstanding. I saved a lot of tution money that was being wasted, and my son grew up knowing how to learn.
We can all see ways of improving things if we look around us. There are gaps in services everywhere, and by thinking outside the box, we can make or save money by doing things better.
4) Start a business on the Internet.
In today's market, anyone can start up a small business on the Internet, even if they've already got a job. We can fill the needs of very narrow markets by reaching millions of shoppers worldwide.
I recently set up an internet business to sell quilts. With the help of the Small Business Development Center director, I managed to get myself online within about a week. It cost me $25 for a vendor's license and a few hundred dollars worth of materials.
You can see the results of my Internet efforts by looking online at www.etsy.com/shop/hopequiltsofohio. For help with your own business set-up, go to www.sba.gov/sbdc.
5) Join a network marketing company.
There are thousands of companies that sell their products through network marketing. I've been involved in several of them, without great success. I do believe it's possible to make a good deal of money this way by selling vitamins, cosmetics, and so on; but I don't believe I was very good at it, because it wasn't my purpose. Unless we feel passionate about what we're selling, we can't usually sustain the effort.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 (NIV) reads, Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun druing the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot. If we're going to choose extra work for ourselves, we should make sure it's something we enjoy.
Create multiple sources of income.
Of all the advice on financial success in this book, I believe this is the smartest tip. Too many of us have placed all of our faith in our jobs. When we get laid off, our health fails, or our job gets eliminated, where does that leave us? If we have multiple sources of income, we can create economic security.
While building multiple sources of income, it's important to look for business opportunities that require very little time and money. No matter what we decide to do, our extra work must match our purpose if we want to succeed at it.
Today's Challenge
Brainstorm ways to earn more income, using Jack's five suggestions above. Write them down and begin exploring the one or two that feel right for you. Remember to pursue the ideas that are in alignment with your purpose.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
If we're going to overcome as survivors of abuse or trauma, we must work hard to first provide for our basic needs. When we're no longer worrying about physical or financial survival, we can focus on learning ways to thrive emotionally and spiritually.
Jack believes that there are two ways to have more: spend less on mundane things to save for what we want; or earn more to begin with. I think that doing both is a good idea.
Figure out how to make more money.
Before we can begin making more money, we must set a goal that spells out exactly how much we need. Remember, we must have goals that we turn into affirmations on index cards or in a goals book if we want to achieve our dreams.
Jack provides five ideas for making more money, as follows:
1) Become an intrapraneur.
By definition, an intrapraneur is an entrepreneur who gets hired by his or her own company to fill a niche that the company can't. Obviously, to do this, we must first be employed.
In my opinion, following this tactic of becoming an intrapraneur would more likely net us a nice raise or a promotion, rather than a new stream of income. We would have a better chance if we figured out what our company isn't doing well and then start our own entrepreneurship to fill that need.
2) Find a need and fill it.
Thomas Edison said, "I find out what the world needs, then I proceed to invent." There are unmet needs all around us, and if we're creative, we can find ways to make money from them.
When I was studying interior design, I kept hearing from everyone in the business, "Good luck finding someone to make window treatments!" At that time, there were very few drapery workrooms and few choices in ready-mades.
I decided to specialize in window treatment design by opening my own drapery workroom. Word got out that I could design and fabricate custom window treatments, so designers began hiring me to handle tasks that most of them knew little about. They were relieved, and I was making great money doing something that I loved.
We can look around and think about something that needs to be provided, solved, addressed or eliminated. Our aging population and single parents have needs that go unmet every day. If we ask what's missing, we will find a way to make people's lives easier or more fulfilling.
3) Think outside the box.
Sometimes there's a need that is partially being met, but we can think of ways to do it better. If we think outside the box, we can come up with solutions that pay off great benefits.
When my son was in public school, he was not learning as one would expect. By the time he got to fifth grade, he could barely read. I spent a fortune on private schools for a few years, but I wasn't seeing much improvement.
Twenty years ago, home schooling was considered radical. In the state where we lived, it was barely legal. Considering home schooling was outside-of-the-box thinking, but I finally decided that it was what my son needed.
Within a year, he was reading at the level of an eleventh-grader. While I wasn't getting rich through home schooling, the benefits were outstanding. I saved a lot of tution money that was being wasted, and my son grew up knowing how to learn.
We can all see ways of improving things if we look around us. There are gaps in services everywhere, and by thinking outside the box, we can make or save money by doing things better.
4) Start a business on the Internet.
In today's market, anyone can start up a small business on the Internet, even if they've already got a job. We can fill the needs of very narrow markets by reaching millions of shoppers worldwide.
I recently set up an internet business to sell quilts. With the help of the Small Business Development Center director, I managed to get myself online within about a week. It cost me $25 for a vendor's license and a few hundred dollars worth of materials.
You can see the results of my Internet efforts by looking online at www.etsy.com/shop/hopequiltsofohio. For help with your own business set-up, go to www.sba.gov/sbdc.
5) Join a network marketing company.
There are thousands of companies that sell their products through network marketing. I've been involved in several of them, without great success. I do believe it's possible to make a good deal of money this way by selling vitamins, cosmetics, and so on; but I don't believe I was very good at it, because it wasn't my purpose. Unless we feel passionate about what we're selling, we can't usually sustain the effort.
Ecclesiastes 5:18 (NIV) reads, Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun druing the few days of life God has given him--for this is his lot. If we're going to choose extra work for ourselves, we should make sure it's something we enjoy.
Create multiple sources of income.
Of all the advice on financial success in this book, I believe this is the smartest tip. Too many of us have placed all of our faith in our jobs. When we get laid off, our health fails, or our job gets eliminated, where does that leave us? If we have multiple sources of income, we can create economic security.
While building multiple sources of income, it's important to look for business opportunities that require very little time and money. No matter what we decide to do, our extra work must match our purpose if we want to succeed at it.
Today's Challenge
Brainstorm ways to earn more income, using Jack's five suggestions above. Write them down and begin exploring the one or two that feel right for you. Remember to pursue the ideas that are in alignment with your purpose.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Friday, January 21, 2011
Master the Spending Game
Jack Canfield's Success Principle #59
Spending too much can prevent us from achieving financial success. When our debts outweigh our savings, our focus turns to consumption, rather than wealth. Today, Jack provides some helpful tips for mastering our spending.
Keep track of expenses.
Recording every purchase in a notebook or on the computer for one month can be eye-opening. We may not think we're over-spending, but this may reveal something surprising.
Joe and I did this a few years ago, and we discovered that we were spending a fortune on fast food and restaurants. While a dash through the drive-up window or Starbucks may not seem like a big purchase, all those little receipts can really add up over the course of a month, a year, or a lifetime.
Start paying cash for everything.
If we pay cash for everything, we become far more aware of the limitations of our stash. A debit card or credit card causes most people to overspend, because they have no clue what their balances are.
Joe and I began using Dave Ramsey's envelope system two years ago. It has given us control over our spending like nothing else has. The system is simple. Using My Total Money Makeover online, we figured out how much we make and budgeted how much we wanted to spend. Then, we created an envelope for each expense category, such as groceries and gas.
Now, I go to the bank once every week with a check made out for the amount of cash that we will need. The cash goes into each category's envelope. If an opportunity to spend money comes up, and there's no cash in the envelope, we don't buy at that point.
Reduce the cost of your lifestyle.
We can live the type of lifestyle that we desire without paying top dollar for it. I recently bought some beautiful designer clothes at a Goodwill Boutique. It's a second-hand shop that specializes in upscale goods. Our daughter goes to the opera, the ballet, and off-Broadway shows for just a few dollars with an Enjoy the Arts card that she paid $35 to obtain. We can all save more by shopping for discounts, using coupons, and buying many things second-hand.
Take steps now to become debt-free.
Jack suggests the following five steps for getting out of debt:
1) Stop borrowing money.
2) Don't take out a home equity loan to pay off credit card debt.
3) Pay off your smallest debts first.
4) Slowly increase your debt payments.
5) Pay off your home mortgage early.
Cutting up every single credit card is crucial to getting out of debt. At the same time, saving for emergencies is a necessity. Otherwise, every time the furnace breaks or the car needs repairs, there is no cash on hand.
Dave Ramsey makes these same suggestions for reducing debt, but he recommends taking on an additional part-time job and creating what he calls a Debt Snowball.
We have been using the extra income Joe makes from a part-time job to pay off debts. With each small debt paid off, we take that payment and add it to what we've been paying to reduce the next bigger debt. In this way, the amount of money snowballs, until the cash available for debt pay-down is huge. We aren't quite finished, but we're getting close to living debt-free.
As I mentioned yesterday, Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is a great place to learn money management. Dave makes all of these suggestions and more. You can find a financial coach or class near you by going to www.mytotalmoneymakeover.com.
As with any lifestyle change, money management adjustments take perseverance. James 1: 12 (NIV) reminds us, Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Having financial security is a blessing, and one that is worth pursuing in our quest to thrive.
Today's Challenge
Buy a notebook or set up a computer file to track every single expenditure. Begin noting everything that you spend money on, no matter how small it is. Save your receipts throughout the day and record them every night. Don't wait until the end of a month to write down the expenditures. This will only leave you feeling overwhelmed. Pray for God's guidance as you work hard to reduce your debts to achieve financial peace.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Spending too much can prevent us from achieving financial success. When our debts outweigh our savings, our focus turns to consumption, rather than wealth. Today, Jack provides some helpful tips for mastering our spending.
Keep track of expenses.
Recording every purchase in a notebook or on the computer for one month can be eye-opening. We may not think we're over-spending, but this may reveal something surprising.
Joe and I did this a few years ago, and we discovered that we were spending a fortune on fast food and restaurants. While a dash through the drive-up window or Starbucks may not seem like a big purchase, all those little receipts can really add up over the course of a month, a year, or a lifetime.
Start paying cash for everything.
If we pay cash for everything, we become far more aware of the limitations of our stash. A debit card or credit card causes most people to overspend, because they have no clue what their balances are.
Joe and I began using Dave Ramsey's envelope system two years ago. It has given us control over our spending like nothing else has. The system is simple. Using My Total Money Makeover online, we figured out how much we make and budgeted how much we wanted to spend. Then, we created an envelope for each expense category, such as groceries and gas.
Now, I go to the bank once every week with a check made out for the amount of cash that we will need. The cash goes into each category's envelope. If an opportunity to spend money comes up, and there's no cash in the envelope, we don't buy at that point.
Reduce the cost of your lifestyle.
We can live the type of lifestyle that we desire without paying top dollar for it. I recently bought some beautiful designer clothes at a Goodwill Boutique. It's a second-hand shop that specializes in upscale goods. Our daughter goes to the opera, the ballet, and off-Broadway shows for just a few dollars with an Enjoy the Arts card that she paid $35 to obtain. We can all save more by shopping for discounts, using coupons, and buying many things second-hand.
Take steps now to become debt-free.
Jack suggests the following five steps for getting out of debt:
1) Stop borrowing money.
2) Don't take out a home equity loan to pay off credit card debt.
3) Pay off your smallest debts first.
4) Slowly increase your debt payments.
5) Pay off your home mortgage early.
Cutting up every single credit card is crucial to getting out of debt. At the same time, saving for emergencies is a necessity. Otherwise, every time the furnace breaks or the car needs repairs, there is no cash on hand.
Dave Ramsey makes these same suggestions for reducing debt, but he recommends taking on an additional part-time job and creating what he calls a Debt Snowball.
We have been using the extra income Joe makes from a part-time job to pay off debts. With each small debt paid off, we take that payment and add it to what we've been paying to reduce the next bigger debt. In this way, the amount of money snowballs, until the cash available for debt pay-down is huge. We aren't quite finished, but we're getting close to living debt-free.
As I mentioned yesterday, Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is a great place to learn money management. Dave makes all of these suggestions and more. You can find a financial coach or class near you by going to www.mytotalmoneymakeover.com.
As with any lifestyle change, money management adjustments take perseverance. James 1: 12 (NIV) reminds us, Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. Having financial security is a blessing, and one that is worth pursuing in our quest to thrive.
Today's Challenge
Buy a notebook or set up a computer file to track every single expenditure. Begin noting everything that you spend money on, no matter how small it is. Save your receipts throughout the day and record them every night. Don't wait until the end of a month to write down the expenditures. This will only leave you feeling overwhelmed. Pray for God's guidance as you work hard to reduce your debts to achieve financial peace.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Pay Yourself First
Jack Canfield's Success Principle #58
We're in the home stretch...only seven more days remaining in our discussion of Jack Canfield's Success Principles. Today, we learn about the importance of paying ourselves before paying anyone else, because our financial success contributes to our ability to thrive.
Start saving early.
Albert Einstein once said, Compound interest is the eighth natural wonder of the world and the most perfect thing I have ever encountered. That's quite a statement coming from the genius who discovered the law of relativity.
Jesus taught a parable about the kingdom of heaven in Matthew chapter 15, comparing the outcome of our Christian service to that of financial guardians of his day who invested their master's money. It clearly shows that the wise servant invests his money to earn interest, and the foolish servant buries his in the earth. Even in Jesus' time, people understood the power of compounding interest.
The sooner we start saving, the easier it is to become wealthy. If Mary invests $150 per month from age 25 to 35 and then stops, she will have invested $18,000, which will grow at 8% interest to $283,385 by the time she retires at age 65.
By contrast, if Tom invests $150 per month from age 35 to 65, he will have invested $54,000 and will only earn $220,233 by the time he retires at 65. The sooner we start saving, the greater our compounded interest will be.
Make saving a priority.
The goal of saving is to become financially independent. This means that we could live off of nothing but the interest we earn on our investments. By methodically saving 10 to 15% of our income, we can discipline ourselves to begin building our fortune. We also force ourselves to earn more if we want to do or have more.
If we can't find ways to cut the budget so that we can afford to save 10 to 15%, we can start with as little as 1% of our income. The habit of saving develops each time we practice it. Eventually, we'll be able to save more if we work at it.
Become an automatic millionaire.
Few people are able to discipline themselves to save without automatic deductions. We can arrange for our employers to automatically place money from our paychecks into our savings accounts. If we arrange to have our money placed into a retirement fund, we don't have to pay taxes right now on this savings.
Some companies, like the hospital Joe works for, offer matching contributions. If Joe puts in 10% of his income each pay period, the hospital puts in 5%. Get on board with this today if your company offers it. It's free money being given away to people who are smart enough to grab it!
Follow the 50/50 law.
John Demartini is a chiropractor who now conducts seminars on building wealth. He created the 50/50 law, which means that we never spend more than we save. I think this is a brilliant idea.
Let's say that I want to buy Joe a boat for his birthday. It costs $10,000. If I can't put $10,000 into savings first, and then set aside another $10,000 for the boat, I don't buy it. The key here is that we don't raise our lifestyle until we have earned the right to have it.
Build assets, not liabilities.
Robert Kyosaki wrote the book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Our son recommended it to us several years ago, and we were impressed with the insights of the author. One of his most important points is that we must build assets, not liabilities.
One way to think about this is to consider the purchase of a home. Many people believe this is an asset, but it's not, according to Kyosaki. An asset is something that puts money into your pocket. I don't know about your house, but mine sure takes out a lot more than it puts in!
Assets that put money into our pockets are things, such as investment real estate (rental properties), small businesses, stocks, bonds, gold, and so on. If we want to become rich, we put our money in these things first. Only when they are generating enough income to support us and our purchases do we buy things such as homes and cars.
Hire a financial planner.
After our nest egg begins to grow, it's important to hire a financial planner to help us invest it. To illustrate the importance of investing our money and not just stashing it under the mattress, Jack tells the story of Oseola McCarty of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Oseola dropped out of school in the sixth grade to wash and iron other people's clothes. For 75 years, she worked and saved. In 1995, she donated $150,000 of her $250,000 savings to the University of Southern Mississippi. If Oseola had invested her $50,000 in 1965 to earn about 10% interest per year, she would have had just shy of $1 million--four times what she saved!
Protect what's yours.
In this day and age when people are swift to sue, it's important to protect our assets with adequate insurance, particularly if we run a small business. I also believe that disability insurance is critical, because I didn't have any when I was running a small business a number of years ago. Without insurance, we lost our shirts when I became too ill to work.
If we have a lot of wealth that we're bringing into a marriage, it's important to get a prenuptial agreement. These days, divorce rates are so high, the risk is too great to trust that it won't happen. By protecting our assets, we also discover whether or not people love us for who we are, and not for our money.
If you've never had a lot of money, this may be difficult to understand. During my first marriage, a lot of people wanted to be my friend, because they liked hanging out with someone who was wealthy. Interestingly, when I got divorced and most of the money remained with my first husband, all of those friends vanished.
Today's Challenge
There are many good points in today's lesson, and it may take you a while to implement all of them. Start by setting up an automatic deduction from your paycheck into a savings account. If your employer offers matching contributions, invest as much as you can to maximize the free money that's waiting for you.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
We're in the home stretch...only seven more days remaining in our discussion of Jack Canfield's Success Principles. Today, we learn about the importance of paying ourselves before paying anyone else, because our financial success contributes to our ability to thrive.
Start saving early.
Albert Einstein once said, Compound interest is the eighth natural wonder of the world and the most perfect thing I have ever encountered. That's quite a statement coming from the genius who discovered the law of relativity.
Jesus taught a parable about the kingdom of heaven in Matthew chapter 15, comparing the outcome of our Christian service to that of financial guardians of his day who invested their master's money. It clearly shows that the wise servant invests his money to earn interest, and the foolish servant buries his in the earth. Even in Jesus' time, people understood the power of compounding interest.
The sooner we start saving, the easier it is to become wealthy. If Mary invests $150 per month from age 25 to 35 and then stops, she will have invested $18,000, which will grow at 8% interest to $283,385 by the time she retires at age 65.
By contrast, if Tom invests $150 per month from age 35 to 65, he will have invested $54,000 and will only earn $220,233 by the time he retires at 65. The sooner we start saving, the greater our compounded interest will be.
Make saving a priority.
The goal of saving is to become financially independent. This means that we could live off of nothing but the interest we earn on our investments. By methodically saving 10 to 15% of our income, we can discipline ourselves to begin building our fortune. We also force ourselves to earn more if we want to do or have more.
If we can't find ways to cut the budget so that we can afford to save 10 to 15%, we can start with as little as 1% of our income. The habit of saving develops each time we practice it. Eventually, we'll be able to save more if we work at it.
Become an automatic millionaire.
Few people are able to discipline themselves to save without automatic deductions. We can arrange for our employers to automatically place money from our paychecks into our savings accounts. If we arrange to have our money placed into a retirement fund, we don't have to pay taxes right now on this savings.
Some companies, like the hospital Joe works for, offer matching contributions. If Joe puts in 10% of his income each pay period, the hospital puts in 5%. Get on board with this today if your company offers it. It's free money being given away to people who are smart enough to grab it!
Follow the 50/50 law.
John Demartini is a chiropractor who now conducts seminars on building wealth. He created the 50/50 law, which means that we never spend more than we save. I think this is a brilliant idea.
Let's say that I want to buy Joe a boat for his birthday. It costs $10,000. If I can't put $10,000 into savings first, and then set aside another $10,000 for the boat, I don't buy it. The key here is that we don't raise our lifestyle until we have earned the right to have it.
Build assets, not liabilities.
Robert Kyosaki wrote the book, Rich Dad, Poor Dad. Our son recommended it to us several years ago, and we were impressed with the insights of the author. One of his most important points is that we must build assets, not liabilities.
One way to think about this is to consider the purchase of a home. Many people believe this is an asset, but it's not, according to Kyosaki. An asset is something that puts money into your pocket. I don't know about your house, but mine sure takes out a lot more than it puts in!
Assets that put money into our pockets are things, such as investment real estate (rental properties), small businesses, stocks, bonds, gold, and so on. If we want to become rich, we put our money in these things first. Only when they are generating enough income to support us and our purchases do we buy things such as homes and cars.
Hire a financial planner.
After our nest egg begins to grow, it's important to hire a financial planner to help us invest it. To illustrate the importance of investing our money and not just stashing it under the mattress, Jack tells the story of Oseola McCarty of Hattiesburg, Mississippi.
Oseola dropped out of school in the sixth grade to wash and iron other people's clothes. For 75 years, she worked and saved. In 1995, she donated $150,000 of her $250,000 savings to the University of Southern Mississippi. If Oseola had invested her $50,000 in 1965 to earn about 10% interest per year, she would have had just shy of $1 million--four times what she saved!
Protect what's yours.
In this day and age when people are swift to sue, it's important to protect our assets with adequate insurance, particularly if we run a small business. I also believe that disability insurance is critical, because I didn't have any when I was running a small business a number of years ago. Without insurance, we lost our shirts when I became too ill to work.
If we have a lot of wealth that we're bringing into a marriage, it's important to get a prenuptial agreement. These days, divorce rates are so high, the risk is too great to trust that it won't happen. By protecting our assets, we also discover whether or not people love us for who we are, and not for our money.
If you've never had a lot of money, this may be difficult to understand. During my first marriage, a lot of people wanted to be my friend, because they liked hanging out with someone who was wealthy. Interestingly, when I got divorced and most of the money remained with my first husband, all of those friends vanished.
Today's Challenge
There are many good points in today's lesson, and it may take you a while to implement all of them. Start by setting up an automatic deduction from your paycheck into a savings account. If your employer offers matching contributions, invest as much as you can to maximize the free money that's waiting for you.
Jack Canfield, America's #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you're ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com
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