Update: MJ DeMarco has clarified that this is not a new edition, but rather a new release with a new cover. Thank you for the clarification!

I first purchased this book a while ago, and am currently on my second read after which I will write a thorough review here. With a new cover and new release (same content, new cover), the author, MJ DeMarco is offering a weekend special I wanted to share with our readers.

Although this is not a review, let me just say if you work for yourself or are considering working for yourself, want to be wealthy or want to live a free life, GO BUY THIS BOOK! Many successful people already practice what DeMarco talks about, but they’re not the ones that need this book. The vast majority of us are the ones that need this kind of information, and it goes totally against what you’re taught by the experts.

I’ll leave it at that for now, with much more to follow in my upcoming review, but if you want a preview before laying down your hard earned cash go to DeMarco’s website here and you can download the first three chapters for free.

To purchase the book, hop over to amazon.com and pick up your copy now:

The Millionaire Fastlane by MJ DeMarco, New Edition $9.99 special offer through the weekend
or
The Millionaire Fastland by MJ DeMarco, 1st Edition $6.99 special offer, limited quantities

After you pickup your copy, stop by and let us know what you think in the comments!

In this video, Tuggle shows off his smooth moves while lip syncing “Lonely Boy.”  If you haven’t seen it, take a look at Derrick’s moves…he combines a mix of The Carlton, John Travolta’s moves from Saturday Night Fever and Pulp Fiction, and a little bit of Michael Jackson thrown in for good measure.

What interested (and inspires) me is the way this video came to be, and the overnight exposure that Derrick received from this. But first, if you haven’t seen the video, here it is:

The story behind this video is that it wasn’t supposed to turn out this way. Derrick was on the set as an extra, one of seven or eight people that were supposed to be in the video, along with the stars of the video The Black Keys.

The director noticed him dancing while waiting on the set, and asked him to perform. And perform he did, doing the entire video above in one take! After 10 years in Los Angeles pursuing his dream of acting and singing, and working as a security guard to support the pursuit of his dream, the 48 year old actor seems to have finally gotten his break.

Besides the huge amount of views on youtube.com, he’s been interviewed on MTV, Ellen Degeneres, and more. There’s no telling where Derrick goes from here, but it looks like his hard work is finally paying off!

This story inspires me for so many reasons. I like to define luck as ‘when preparation meets opportunity.’ Many people might say Derrick was lucky, but I think he want through a long process to bring his own luck.

Persevere in the pursuit of your dreams – How many people would chase their dreams for 10 years or more? How many people would stil be pursuing their dreams at the age of 48? I can imagine how many times he’s heard “why don’t you get a real job.” I admire, and am inspired by the fact that he never gave up on his dreams!

Prepare yourself and be prepared when the opportunity arrives – I can imaging this same scenario happening throughout time, except the “extras” are not prepared and the video goes on as planned. Derrick obviously spent years preparing for this, taking acting classes, practicing dancing and singing, doing impromptu performances…and he obviously was prepared for this day as well, because he knew the words to the song so that he could do a great lip sync! I wonder if the other extras on site knew the words, or were prepared to dance on the spur of the moment?

Put yourself in the game – There’s a saying, “You can’t win if you don’t play.” You have to put yourself in situations where your dream can become a reality! After 10 years, some might find it difficult to continue to go on casting calls to be an extra in a video. Derrick didn’t…he kept himself in the game, placing himself in a situation that presented this opportunity. Many people never give themselves a chance to make their dream a reality.

Seize the opportunity – When the opportunity presented itself, Derrick didn’t hesitate at all. He seized the moment, one that possibly had he waited a second more to make his decision, he might have missed. He was prepared and he jumped on his chance without hesitation.

Be willing to take risks – Following your dreams means you have to take some risks. Derrick no doubt has risked much to get to this point, and he also risked much with his performance. Many people might not have the confidence to do what he did. Maybe someone thinks they might not be a good dancer and would have declined the chance to perform. Derrick realized that you have to go for it, and he did!

Feed off of your momentum – After a big win, you’re on a momentum high. This is the time to press forward, ride your momentum to take you to even bigger places. After Derrick’s big break with this video, he’s on the talk show circuit, doing interviews, pressing forward so that his momentum can carry him forward.

This story is so inspiring and has so much for all of us to learn. Are you prepared to meet your opportunity?

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Over the last few years after returning from an overseas trip, I would struggle for weeks to shake my case of Jet Lag.  I would crash in the middle of the day, stay up all night, wide awake when I should be sleeping, and dragging when I should be wide awake.

This year I decided this has to change. After doing some research on what works for others I put a plan into action to get rid of Jet Lag once and for all. And guess what? So far, so good. I’ve had two major trips this year, one to France and one to Japan, and both times when I reached my destination and when I came home I was fully functional the next day, with no signs of Jet Lag whatsoever!

What did i do? I’ve put together this list of 10 things that I recommend doing to shake the “Lags.” I’ll be honest…I didn’t stick to this list 100% of the time, so after telling you the 10 tips, I’ll tell you the ones that I think are the must follows.

So here they are, 10 Travel tips to fight off Jet Lag and hit the ground running:

1. Save your Pre-flight stress for another day – Take care of as many things as you can well before your flight so that you’re not stressing out over things just before heading to the airport.
2. Get a good night’s rest the night before your flight – You’ll be tired enough during and after your flight. Get your rest so your immune system is at its best. Getting a good night’s rest will also help you control your sleep pattern during the flight, which is also very important.
3. Watch what you eat – Before and during your flight may not be the best time to eat Chili-cheese dogs, Double Quarter Pounders with Cheese or other greasy meals. Stick to healthier foods, and normal size portions that aren’t gonna bog you down, make your stomach fight with you the whole flight, or make you wanna sleep from the moment you hit your seat.
4. Drink lots of water, and BYOB - It should be no secret that Airplanes have a very low-level of humidity, making it very easy for you to get dehydrated. Drink lots of water before, during and after your flight. You’ll thank me later. On top of keeping yourself hydrated, which will make you feel worlds better, you’ll be able to get lots of exercise from your trips to the bathroom – a side benefit.  And purchase your own bottle after getting through security.  I don’t really trust the airplane water, unless I see the bottle opened in front of my very eyes.
5. Set your external clock so you can set your internal clock – As soon as you can after boarding the plane, set your watch to match the current time of your destination. This will help you immediately begin working according to your new schedule, which is vital to fighting off Jet Lag.
6. Limit, or eliminate alcohol and caffeine intake – Ok, this is where I might lose a lot of you (and the area I don’t do so well in). If you’re drinking a lot of water to keep hydrated, drinking a lot of alcohol will counter that effect and dehydrate you. Drinking in the air is not the same as drinking on the ground, as one drink is the equivalent of over two drinks on the ground (due to the altitude and air pressure). Too much caffeine can cause problems with sleeping, which can really throw off your game.
7. Move your butt – It’s a good idea to move during your flight. Besides the health risk (Deep Vein Thrombosis, a type of blood clot caused by long periods of sitting), stretching and doing mini-exercises in your seat, walking around and stretching will do wonders to keep you comfortable and fight off that lethargic feeling.
8. Keep your immune system strong - There’s nothing worse than being sick while you’re flying. Do your best to fight off germs by taking your vitamins, as well as following the steps above of no stress and plenty of rest. You might also look into some herbal remedies, such as No-Jet-Lag ,which are homeopathic tables/powder that seems to have good reviews. I’ve never used them, and as such can’t recommend them. Also consider wearing a face mask, to help keep germs away. 
9. Adjust your on-flight sleep to fit your new schedule - If you’re arriving at your destination at night, you may not want to sleep 10 hours straight on your flight…doing so might mean that you’ll be wide awake at night watching late-night infomercials in a foreign language.  On the other hand, if your flight arrives in the AM, go for more sleep so you can make it through the day. This is key to the next, and last step.
10. Immediately adjust your sleep pattern to your  new local time – DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT arrive at your hotel at noon and take a 6 hour nap. If you arrive at midnight, DO NOT stay up until 9 AM and then decide to turn in. Your first day at your new location (whether arriving in a foreign country or returning home), take up your normal sleep patterns. Go to sleep at 10 PM or 11 PM if possible. Limit yourself to 6 - 8 hours of sleep. If you’ve arrived in the morning, stay awake until 10-11 PM. Do everything in your power to avoid taking a nap during the day. And if you do take a nap (did I mention that you shouldn’t take a nap), keep it short, 30 minutes to 1 hour maximum.

I mentioned earlier that I don’t follow these tips 100% of the time, so I’d like to tell you which steps I find to be absolutely critical to skipping out on Jet Lag.

If you really thrive off of stress or you have to eat a pre-flight Big Mac, please do so at your own peril…but I recommend that you should absolutely NOT miss the following steps:

• Step 5 – Set your external clock so you can set your internal clock
• Step 8 - Keep your immune system strong
• Step 9 – Adjust your on-flight sleep to fit your new schedule
• Step 10 – Immediately adjust your sleep pattern to your  new local time

Please don’t skip step 7 – this may or may not make the difference between having Jet Lag, but there is a serious health risk from not moving during a long flight.

Don’t let Jet Lag rob you of your precious time! Follow these tips and you will hit the ground running, and enjoying your time at your new location instead of spending the day trying to squeeze in those four-hour power naps.

If you have something you do to fight off Jet Lag, why not share it with us in the comments section? We’d love to hear the different ways people deal with it!

There are so many external influences, and quite a few internal ones that have a direct impact on our thinking. Thinking the way we want can be so difficult…it takes continuous effort to overcome these influences and maintain the train of thought that you want.

In his book, “The Science of Getting Rich,” Wallace D. Wattles says “There is a thinking stuff from which all things are made…A thought in this substance produces the thing that is imaged by the thought.” (This is the plus one). We’ve put together this list of 23 plus 1 of our favorite quotes about The Law of Attraction to help you change your thinking to change your life:

1. “Focus more on your desire than on your doubt, and the dream will take care of itself.” ~ Marcia Wieder
2. “A man’s life is what his thoughts make of it.” ~ Marcus Aurelius
3. “Our subconscious minds have no sense of humor, play no jokes and cannot tell the difference between reality and an imagined thought or image. What we continually think about eventually will manifest in our lives.” ~ Robert Collier
4. “If you think in negative terms, you will get negative results. If you think in positive terms, you will achieve positive results.” ~ Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
5. “Nurture your mind with great thoughts for you will never go higher than you think.” ~ Benjamin Disraeli
6. “When you visualize, then you materialize. If you’ve been there in the mind you’ll go there in the body.” ~ Denis Waitley
7. “Whatever you create in your life you must first create in your imagination.” ~ Tycho Photiou
8. “Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude toward us.” ~ Earl Nightingale
9. “All that we are is the result of what we have thought.” ~ Buddah
10. “I will see it when I believe it.” ~ Dr. Wayne Dyer
11. “You are where your thoughts have brought you; you will be where your thoughts take you.” ~ James Allen
12. “Ordinary people believe only in the possible. Extraordinary people visualize not what is possible or probable, but rather what is impossible. And by visualizing the impossible, they begin to see it as possible.” ~ Cherie Carter-Scott
13. “All prosperity begins in the mind and is dependent only upon the full use of our creative imagination.” ~ Ruth Ross
14. “Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements.” ~ Napoleon Hill
15. “Remember that thought is the fire that creates the steam that turns the wheel of fortune, upon which your experiences depend.” ~ Charles F. Haanel
16. “Great things begin with Great Thoughts.” ~ Tony Eppright
17. “I am no longer cursed by poverty because I took possession of my own mind, and that mind has yielded me every material thing I want, and much more than I need. But this power of mind is a universal one, available to the humblest person as it is to the greatest.” ~ Andrew Carnegie
18. “Whether you think you can or can’t, either way you are right.” ~ Henry Ford
19. “To think what you want to think is to think TRUTH, regardless of appearances.” ~ Wallace D. Wattles
20. “What you attract into your life is in harmony with your dominant thoughts.” ~ Brian Tracy
21. “Whatever the mind of man can conceive, it can achieve.” ~ W. Clement Stone
22. “Man, alone, has the power to transform his thoughts into physical reality; man, alone, can dream and make his dreams come true.” ~ Napoleon Hill
23. “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions.” ~ Albert Einstein

I hope you’ve enjoyed these quotes about the Law of Attraction. If you have, please share this article, and if you’d like to add your favorite Law of Attraction quotes, please leave them in the comments section below.

In my review of Jim Rohn’s book “7 Strategies for Wealth & Happiness” I mentioned a book recommended by Rohn called “The Richest Man In Babylon.”  Rohn refers to it as “The Appetizer for the Full Discourse on the Subject of Financial Independence.”

“The Richest Man In Babylon” was written in the 1920s by George S. Clason as the first in a series of pamphlets about thrift and financial success.  “The Richest Man In Babylon” uses parables set in ancient Babylon to teach valuable lessons relating to finances.

Banks and insurance companies distributed these pamphlets in large quantities, and they became well-known to millions.  “The Richest Man in Babylon” became the most popular of these, and has impacted the lives of millions of people. These “Babylonian Parables” have since become a modern inspirational classic.

The book’s introduction, written by the Los Angeles Times, frames the book nicely by saying:

What can a book written in the 1920s tell modern investors about their finances?  A whole lot if it’s George Clason’s delightful set of parables that explain the basics of money.  This is a great gift for a graduate or anyone who seems baffled by the world of finance and a wonderful, refreshing read for even the most experienced investor.

The 7 Principles of Riches:

“The Richest Man In Babylon” offers 7 principles as told by Arkad, the riches man in Babylon.  When talking about the 7 Principles of Riches, Arkad says “Money is plentiful for those who understand the simple rules of its acquisition.”  The 7 principles of riches are:

1. Start thy purse to fattening
2. Control thy expenditures
3. Make thy gold multiply
4. Guard thy treasures from loss
5. Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment
6. Insure a future income
7. Increase thy ability to earn

Of course these principles are nothing new, but they are considered by many successful people to be the foundation to wealth.  The book lays them out in a way that’s interesting to follow, easy to understand, and really sinks in.

1. Start thy purse to fattening:

I’m sure you’ve heard this advice before, which for many is easier said than done:

For every ten coins thou placest within thy purse take our for use but nine.  Thy purse will start to fatten at once and its increasing weight will feel good in thy hand and ring satisfaction to thy soul.

The advice here is to save at a minimum 10% of everything you earn, and to pay yourself first.  That means before paying any bills, before you buy those new shoes, before you do anything with your paycheck, take out 10% to pay yourself.  It doesn’t sound like much, but over time it will grow.

Other common advice, not specifically mentioned here, is to have the money direct deposited into an account that’s not easily accessible.  Since this is automatic, there’s no chance to put it off until you find you need that money for something else.  Also, it’s harder to access if you feel like spending it.

Of course, if you look at the statistics of how much people have in their savings account, this is not as simple as it sounds.  But if you think about it, for most of us, we easily blow 10% on things we don’t need.  This means it’s less a matter of being able to afford it, and more a matter of discipline.

2. Control thy expenditures:

Simply put, live below your means.  In the past, I lived above my means and I paid a heavy price for it.  The advice here is solid advice, no matter what your current level of income.  If you’re making $300,000.00 a month, and spending $350,000.00 a month, it’s just a matter of time (or a matter of a misfortune or two) before you lose it all.

The advice here is to create a budget for your expenses, and stick to it.  That includes the 10% you set aside, and making sure that you don’t touch that money.  This is not easy for a lot of people, and I know not everyone believes it’s necessary, but a budget is a great way to keep things under control.  I’ll be reviewing a budgeting program I just purchased in the next couple of months, called “You Need a Budget,” or “YNAB.”

3. Make thy gold multiply:

Compound Interest.  It’s one of the largest wealth growth components available.  Of course, with small amounts of money earning interest, the growth begins very slowly.  But that’s where the compounding comes in.  Anthony Robbins uses an example about wagering on a round of golf.  Starting with ten cents, you wager “double or nothing” for each hole.  What’s the worst that you can lose, maybe a couple of hundred dollars?

Things start off very slowly.  Of course, the first hole is $.10.  The second hole is $.20.  By the ninth hole, it’s up to $25.60.  Not bad so far.

By the time you get to the 14th hole, the total wager is up to $819.20.  If you think that’s surprising, wait until you hear the final wager after 18 holes!  After 18 holes, the wager has become $13,107.00.  That’s the power of exponential growth through compound interest, and that’s the lesson of “make thy gold multiply.”  The Wealthy know how to make their money earn more money:

Behold, from my humble earnings I had begotten a hoard of golden slaves, each laboring and earning more gold. As they labored for me, so their children also labored and their children’s children until great was the income from their combined efforts.

One very important point – starting earlier makes a huge difference in the rate of growth.  It’s never too late, but the earlier you start, the better.

4. Guard thy treasures from loss:

Simply put, make safe investments.  If you’re investing all of your money on a tip from your brother in law, because he knows someone who knows someone who said stock xyz was gonna explode, you might as well head to Vegas and let it ride on black…at least that way will be more fun.

You’ve got to do your due diligence with any investment.  The recommendation here is consult with experts related to the field of investment.  I say take it one step further, and research the topic yourself so you can make educated decisions.

5. Make of thy dwelling a profitable investment:

The fifth cure recommended here is to “own thy own home.”  Whether or not you consider your home an asset or a liability, it’s hard to deny the point mentioned in the book, the feeling of satisfaction of owning your own house.

6. Insure a future income:

This is advice that unfortunately so many struggle with in their old age.  During the retirement years, instead of enjoying life many are struggling to make enough to live.

Provide in advance for the needs of thy growing age and the protection of thy family.

7. Increase thy ability to earn:

Our recent article “Investing In Your Number One Asset” touches on the 7th Principle of Riches.  You must continue to improve yourself, making yourself more valuable and increasing your earning ability.  This includes all areas of our life!  We should always work to improve ourselves, physically, spiritually, intellectually, emotionally – in all areas of our lives.  It will bring wealth into your life, not just financially but in every way.

…cultivate thy own powers, to study and become wiser, to become more skillful, to so act as to respect thyself.  Thereby shalt thou acquire confidence in thyself to achieve thy carefully considered desires.

Final Thoughts:

These basic financial fundamentals have been around for ages.  They sound simple, but are not so simple in practice.  “The Richest Man In Babylon” nonetheless does a great job of explaining them in a simple to understand, enjoyable to read way that I think will benefit most people that read it.

I recommend that you buy and read this book!  It’s a small book, easy to read and inexpensive.  Who knows, you might find that it explains things in a way that will make you want to follow the advice and grow your own wealth.

Click to buy The Richest Man In Babylon

It’s so easy for us to get caught up in things and to forget what we’re grateful for.  Not only does this have an effect on our happiness, but it has a much larger impact on our lives. 

Focus on gratitude daily and notice the huge change in your attitude and the events in your life.

In his book, “The Science of Getting Rich,” Wallace D. Wattles says “There is a Law of Gratitude, and it is absolutely necessary that you should observe the law, if you are to get the results you seek” (here’s the plus one). We’ve put together this list of 23 plus 1 quotes about gratitude for you to enjoy:

1. “When you are grateful fear disappears and abundance appears.” ~ Tony Robbins
2. “There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as if everything is.” ~ Albert Einstein
3. “Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.” ~ François Duc de La Rochefoucauld
4. “If the only prayer you say in your life is thank you, that would suffice.” ~ Meister Eckhart
5. “I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder.”~ G.K. Chesterton
6. “Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.” ~ Christiane Northrup
7. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” ~ Oprah Winfrey
8. “He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has.” ~ Epictetus
9. “Gratitude is riches. Complaint is poverty.” ~ Doris Day
10. “Whatever we think about and thank about we bring about.” ~ Dr John F Demartini
11. “Feeling grateful or appreciative of someone or something in your life actually attracts more of the things that you appreciate and value into your life.” ~ Christiane Northrup
12. “Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful.” ~ Buddha
13. “The grateful mind is constantly fixed upon the best. Therefore it tends to become the best. It takes the form or character of the best, and will receive the best.” ~ Wallace D. Wattles
14. “The unthankful heart discovers no mercies; but the thankful heart will find, in every hour, some heavenly blessings.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher
15. “If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily.” ~ Gerald Good
16. “Nothing is more honorable than a grateful heart.” ~ Seneca
17. “Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.” ~ Cicero
18. “Everything is a gift. The degree to which we are awake to this truth is a measure of our gratefulness, and gratefulness is a measure of our aliveness.” ~ Brother David Steindl-Rast
19. “When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.” ~ Lao Tzu
20. “Look at everything as though you were seeing it either for the first or last time. Then your time on earth will be filled with glory.” ~ Betty Smith
21. “Gratitude is absolutely the way to bring more into your life.” ~ Marci Shimoff
22. “Saying thank you is more than good manners. It is good spirituality.” ~ Alfred Painter
23. “If you count all your assets, you always show a profit.” ~ Robert Quillen

I hope you’ve enjoyed these quotes.   If you have some of your own, share them in the comments below.

We’ve all witnessed the 9.0 Earthquake in Japan, the tsunami that followed and the ongoing concerns of a nuclear meltdown, causing what’s being called the worst disaster in Japan since WWII.  My thoughts go out to my family and friends in Japan, and to all the people of Japan that are going through this tragedy in one way or another.

It’s been truly amazing to witness the strength and character of the Japanese people as they pull together to help each other.  Japan has demonstrated to the world that people can show love and respect for each other, even in the worst of times. People behaving orderly, no looting or riots, risking lives to help others – if we all behaved like this during the worst of times, the world would be a much better place!

On a personal level, witnessing this tragedy (along with other such tragedies in the past) caused me to struggle with a couple of things.  I’m very skeptical of a lot of charities, and so the first thing I struggled with was finding ways that I could help.  During great disasters like this, so many charities are asking for donations.  Many of them pop up out of nowhere.  Also out of nowhere, your facebook wall is plastered with groups asking for support or asking to add a button to your picture.

While I realize there are many legitimate charities, I’ve also read and heard so many stories of groups taking donations and pocketing most (or all) of the money.  Or facebook groups that use this opportunity to gain more followers or access your personal information for personal gain.

How You Can Help

With these things in mind, I thought about ways I could help.  Here’s a few things that I decided I could do to help:

Show your concern - This may not seem like much help, but it is.  My wife is Japanese, and we have family and friends in Japan.  As soon as the news broke, we began receiving calls, emails and texts from friends around the world letting us know how sorry people were, asking if our family is ok, and offering to help in any way possible.

A gentleman in our office complex stopped by our office to ask my wife about her family, and to say how sorry he was for what was happening.  This was someone that we really don’t know, other than saying “hi” in passing.

We were so moved by the support we received.  Making a phone call seems like such a small thing, but in times like this its just what we need!

Keep the people of Japan in your thoughts - If you’re religious, pray for them to get through this disaster quickly and with no more deaths and destruction.  If you’re spiritual, keep positive thoughts for the same things.

Donate to a charity to help Japan - This is the area that I really struggle with.  How can I trust that my donation is going to help the people of Japan, and not to pay someones million dollar salary?  How can I be sure that they will make the best use of this money?  Are they already established in Japan so that they’ll be able to help in time?

There’s a website called Charity Navigator that independently evaluates and rates charities, along with great advice to prevent you from being scammed and make sure your money gets used the way you intend it to.

Visit Charity Navigator here to find a charity to donate to for the Japan disaster relief, and also for tips to make sure your money goes to use in Japan.  Here’s just a few of the tips they give to keep you from being scammed:

• Avoid newly formed charities and give to an established charity that has done work in Japan
• Designate your Investment
• Think before you text
• Beware of emails or phone calls soliciting donations
• Do not send supplies
• Visit here to see all of their great tips for donating

Another good source is your local Consulate General of Japan.  The Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles has a page with information for making a direct donation, which is sent directly to the Japanese Red Cross Society.  Check with your local Consulate General of Japan if you’d like to donate directly.

Every bit helps.  A quick phone call, a small donation, anything you can do to help goes a long way.

What You Can Learn From This

The second area I struggled with was the reminder that so often we take our lives for granted.  Why do we need such a terrible disaster to remind us to call our loved ones?  Or to remind us that we shouldn’t fight over stupid things.  Or maybe, instead of wasting 4 hours a day watching TV, we should spend that time talking with a loved one.

The normal cycle seems to be:

• Something bad happens – death of a loved one, major world disaster, or some other tragedy
• After the initial shock, we begin calling friends and family
• We ponder on how precious life is and how we don’t want to waste what little time we have here
• time goes on and we begin taking things for granted again, until the next tragedy

Why is it that when things go bad, we think “why is my life so bad?”  Could it be that our life is not bad, but our attitude is? These tragic events really put things in perspective, but unfortunately for many of us it’s a short-lived perspective.

Let’s break this cycle, and be thankful everyday for the things in our lives!  We all have so much to be grateful for if you stop to think about it.  Start each day thinking about what you’re grateful for.  Tell that special person in your life that you love them.  Make that phone call to your friend you’ve been meaning to call for months.  Turn off the TV and have a deep conversation with your partner.

Life is so precious and goes by so quickly, let’s take this opportunity to learn from this painful reminder and be grateful for everything in our lives.  Live your life to the fullest so when your day comes, you know you lived the best life possible.

Image courtesy of http://triciarennea.blogspot.com/ – Thank you for the beautiful picture!

Disclaimer: We do not recommend any specific charity.  If you decide to make a donation, please do your research to make sure that your donation will be used as intended.

We’re always reminded that one of the most powerful tools for financial success is investing. Through investments you can receive interest, and through compounding interest, your investment can grow at an exponential rate.

Many people have become wealthy through investments, and financial investment has helped many to retire comfortably. But whether it comes to finances, fitness, health, happiness, or any other area of your life, there’s one asset that many people neglect. This asset is your most important asset, and without it you cannot be successful in any area. That asset is YOU.

You must invest in “you” if you want to be successful in any area – if you want to be happy, if you want to be healthy, if you want be fit, if you want to be wealthy. If you had $10,000 and kept it under your mattress, 10 years from now you’d still have $10,000.00.  It will never be more valuable than $10,000.00.  But if you invested it wisely, it would be worth $12,000.00, $15,000.00, $20,000.00 (if you invested it very wisely) or more.

Not investing it would mean your risk is minimized, but what if someone broke into your house and stole it? You’d lose everything! It’s the same with your life. If you don’t invest in yourself, you don’t grow. Once you stop growing completely, you die. The more you invest in yourself, and the more wise your investments the faster you will grow.

Just like investing your money, there’s risk involved.  All growth involves risk, whether it’s financial or personal.  If you invest $100.00 in a workout DVD, but it sits on your shelf and you never use it, you lost your $100.00 investment.  But if you watched that DVD and started exercising regularly and because of that you’re in great shape and health, you’ve gained exponentially on your initial investment.

From that investment, you now can use the “interest” gained to invest in other areas.  You can use your new confidence and energy to become more successful in business, or to attract the person of your dreams.  Just like with financial investments, personal investments can yield a compounded return which leads to huge personal growth.  And just like financial investments, it’s never too late to start, but the sooner you start the better. Don’t underestimate the power of personal investment.

What are some ways you can invest in yourself?

Reading:

Reading is one of the best ways to invest in yourself.  Reading can introduce you to new ideas, teach you how to accomplish something, and inspire you to take action.  Reading doesn’t have to cost a lot of money.  You can get books for free from your local library or the internet.  You can purchase used books, often for huge discounts.  Reading is a great way to use “net time.”  An example of using reading for net time is when you’re waiting for your doctor’s appointment.  Instead of sitting impatiently in the waiting room, halfway reading the Enquirer, bring a book with you and make good use of that time.

Exercise:

Exercise is one of the most important investments you can make in yourself.  Without our health, we have nothing.  Not only does it play an important part in our health, but regular exercise can give the extra energy to accomplish your goals.  Regular exercise can also play an important part in your confidence, as well as how other people see you.  I recently invested in the P90X Home Fitness Program and completed the 90 day program, and it was one of the best investments I’ve ever made in myself, without a doubt!

Nutrition:

As important as exercise, our nutrition plays an important role in our success and happiness.  Maybe in the short-term, eating and drinking whatever you want and whenever you want will bring you great joy.  But in the long term, it will bring you great pain.  This is an area that deserves researching to find good eating habits, which will help you to stay strong and healthy.

Gratitude:

This is one of the areas that will yield the greatest return on your investment!  Being grateful cost no money.  The only expense involved is time and effort.  It doesn’t involve much time, but it does take great effort.  But the rewards are huge.  When you’re grateful, you will find that you attract great things into your life.  You’ll be much happier.  You’ll look at things differently, and spot opportunities that you’ve never noticed before.

Law of Attraction:

The law of attraction is a law of the universe that states that you will attract into your life that which you focus on.  Sounds easy, right?  Well, despite some of the programs out there that make it sound easy, it takes a lot of time and effort.  And there’s one other huge component to the Law of Attraction which many people forget to mention – action!  You have to take action.  If you think great thoughts and envision those things coming into your life but you don’t take any further action, do you know what that makes you?  A daydreamer!  You must follow this up with action.  But it’s an important part of your portfolio to success.

Investing in yourself is crucial to becoming successful, whatever that means to you.  If you don’t invest in yourself, you will not grow, and you will not be happy and successful.  It takes hard work, research, making the right decisions.  It’s a continual process.  You can’t just make one investment in yourself and be done with it.  You must always invest in yourself.  If you do, you will grow and you will continue t move forward and become a better you.

What are some ways that you invest in yourself?  Leave a comment below and let us know!