Right now what I’d like to do is I’d like to talk about the law of exchange.

See, one of the things that people don’t understand is that once you accept money, usually there’s something you’re going to have to give. You’re going to have to either give up or create, generate something. The law of exchange is that I give you something, and you give me something. So, when someone offers you money, you need to be very clear what it is that you are going to be giving to them. Is it going to be your time? Is it going to be part of your business? Is it going to be your body? Is it going to be part of your life? Is it going to be your reputation, your integrity, your contacts, your health? What is it that you’re going to be giving to someone when they offer you money?

Now, this sounds a little bit crazy, but it comes up a lot, and I’m particularly talking to young people that haven’t been around enough to understand that there’s always an exchange. When I was little, that was one of the biggest lessons that my mother taught me, which is when somebody offers you something for free, there’s no such thing as free. The love of your mother or your father or your family and friends that have gone through a lot with you, business associates and employees and people in your circles that have already shown to be trusted? Yes. Probably there is already the exchange has been established. But when you see an advertisement, when somebody approaches you, and when it looks like that all of a sudden you’re going to have this free something, no. There is no such thing. There’s always an exchange.

You can handle it very elegantly. You can say, “Well, just let me know, what am I going to have to give up? What would you like from me? What is it that you want from me?” because there’s no such thing as free. I actually say that. I actually say that to people, and then we kind of have established kind of like, okay, this is where we’re working from, this is how we’re understanding. And I’m happy, happy, happy to give people things. I’m happy to give them my time, give them my money and give them something. What is going to be the exchange? And vice versa. One of the greatest lessons I learned from my Mamacita.

I remember seeing advertisements, “Order this and you will get this for free, and you will get this for free,” actually yes and no. Yes, I am going to get something for free, but what are they getting from me? They’re just getting me to buy as soon as possible, which is fine but don’t believe that there’s such a thing as free. I think that once you have that understanding your life is going to change radically. You are absolutely going to have a new understanding of marketing, and you’re going to have a new understanding of some people that maybe don’t have your highest good in mind, which actually ultimately you are 100% responsible for. Just remember that. Whenever I have met people that felt like they have been robbed or they’ve been ripped off or something has gone wrong, when we really dissect the situation, we find that they were a little bit naïve and really, really believed some of the great lines that were given to them.

So, once you understand that there’s nothing for free, that there’s always an exchange, life is going to get a little bit easier for you.

We’re moving into a world where Social Enterprises and Social Entrepreneurs are populating the world of business more and more.

One of the shifts that’s happening is that we are moving away from the traditional way of doing business. Socially-responsible entrepreneurs like myself cannot be enticed by how much money we’re going to make in a business deal. We care more about it being in alignment with our purpose. Of course, we care about the bottom line, but you can’t get entrepreneurs like myself and other leaders to get very excited about working with you if you are just offering us money.

I get offered money to do all kinds of opportunities — and money is not the reason why I get interested in projects. Socially-conscious leaders like myself need there to be an alignment of purpose. We need to be very clear on how the results will be achieved, what the Rules of the Game are going to be, how we’re going to participate together, how we’re going to be working with each other, and how will it be in alignment with the highest purpose for everyone involved…

So be sure when you are approaching people to either invest with you or to work with you or to be part of a project that you’re creating, that you begin with the purpose. My purpose is to uplift humanity’s consciousness through socially-responsible businesses.

To that end, one of my missions is to transform educational systems around the world and eradicate poverty and hunger. Another is the Greening of the world.

So when you approach someone like me, a Social Entrepreneur, that you would like to work with, and they have something that you may be interested in – such as access to their network or their knowledge, or how they think, or for them to introduce you to people that you wish that you could work with and be able to participate in life with — then you have to do some research. You have to do some homework, you have to take a look and see if that person would be interested in doing your project and be part of your business that will add value to humanity. In other words, do your missions match?

So, the days of offering people money only, are over. Yes, there’s still a lot of people out there who are just about the bottom line – money, money, money – but then you have to consider what it would be like to work with a person like that. If the bottom line is all about money, then values and the way that people are treated, the way that businesses are run and the way that conflicts are resolved, will take a backseat. When we think we can buy people or solve all of our problems with money, just remember that money only solves one kind of problem: money problems.

Later, as you get more and more money, you have different kinds of problems, what I call “rich people problems”. So problems don’t go away with money, only money problems go away. You still have to handle many other challenges in life. I hope that makes it clear of why you can’t buy people like myself with money!

July 1st is the Anniversary of Buckminster Fuller’s passing. If you don’t know about this wondrous human being, many links and articles about him at:  www.MoneyandYou.com/Buckminster-Fuller 

He passed on in 1983. One of the reasons we celebrate today is because when he passed on, we were looking at each other and thinking… 

“Oh my God, now who is going to be going out there and sharing about how to make the world work for 100% of humanity?”

“Who is going to go out there and tell the world that there is sufficiency on the planet?” 

We would soon realize that since Buckminster Fuller was no longer with us, it was our responsibility to carry (and live) his message forward.

One of the reasons why he was so, so impactful in my life, is that when I was 27 years old, I heard him speak about how the world was still stuck in the Malthusian Theory of Economics, which is a theory about how to manage scarce resources. When in reality it had already been proven in the ‘60’s and early ‘70’s that there were more than enough resources to feed everyone on the planet — and in actually, every person was technologically a “billionaire”… 

There were enough resources, but the world was still functioning from a place of scarcity – that many people were also functioning from a place of scarcity. 

Thus began my process of me being able to move from scarcity to sufficiency, which eventually leads to abundance. A whole conversation began to occur in my life about “True Wealth”, which is very different from the way that most people define wealth. It is one thing to be rich. It is entirely different to be truly wealthy. We want to be wealthy, not only financially, but also living a life from a “place of abundance and wealth”… 

I believe that being truly wealthy is having access to money, access to experts, access to networks, access to investments, access to support when you need it, access to education, access to clean water… access to that which you need…

Access…that is True Wealth!

That’s why today is so important to many of us… we’re celebrating a very well-lived life by our mentor — our teacher’s beautiful legacy, and through his teachings, he left us with the question; 

“How do we make the world work for 100% of humanity through spontaneous cooperation in the shortest possible time, without any ecological offense or disadvantage of anyone?” 

At the Excellerated Business School® for Entrepreneurs, in our Money & You and other Excellerated programs, our mission, our platform are designed to encourage and train Entrepreneurs to have products, services and programs which answer that question. When we do that, then we can truly move towards a world that works for 100% of humanity. 

Thank you for all you do to make this world better!

Until we get back to Live Money & You Programs, learn the Excellerated Success Model that can support you in Building an Economic Engine  in our  Access To Cash Online Course << Will link to the course page

Maui faces an epochal choice between Wealth and Health. How will our leaders decide? Will they protect the health of our residents by keeping tourists out? Or will they restart tourism in order to protect the economy, which will bring back COVID?

This question is debated hotly these days, but it is the wrong choice. It is like the Woody Allen quote: “More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction.”

If Maui opens up to tourists, we will have never-ending outbreaks of COVID. Even with testing and precautions, there is no way around that. Based on numbers from a recent UHERO study, a full return to tourism with the most careful screening will miss 171 actively infected people every month. If things go wrong, Maui may become known as a death trap and tourists won’t come back for years. That’s not the path to wealth.

If Maui doesn’t let tourists in, we face continuing poverty with all the side-effects of the desperation that comes with it. Tens of thousands without a job, mortgages failing, suicides, the economy in ruins. That is not healthy.

We also have to come to terms with the truth that the worldwide pandemic is far from over. The virus has not magically disappeared in April, it won’t disappear in the summer and there are no breakthrough treatments. Worldwide lockdowns have temporarily flattened the curve, but the fundamental situation has not improved. But we are lucky. Thanks to wise decisions by Mayor Victorino and Governor Ige, Maui will have eradicated COVID by July.

Having eradicated COVID is Maui’s greatest asset

New Zealand has achieved eradication and life is back to normal with parties, sports events, no masks, and no fears. Maui could be there soon and attract visitors as the only COVID-safe destination.

This is a binary thing. Either there are zero cases on Maui or we are part of the pandemic. There is no margin of error, no safe amount of cases. If only one person is infected, life stops, and the masks go back on. That means there is no way around an even stricter 14-day quarantine for all arrivals. It will get shorter, as better tests become available.

Pivot towards long-term visitors

Affluent people from the mainland want to come and ride out the pandemic here. They can enjoy the island and live in a no-mask, no-fear luxury hotel while the ICUs on the mainland fill up.

Most Knowledge Workers (employees who work only via computer and phone) are working from home now. They will soon realize that they may just as well work from a no-mask, no-fear luxury hotel in paradise.

These are just two of many target markets that can fill our hotel within months, bringing the sorely missed tourist jobs back. Switching from 8-day luxury tourism to pandemic-fleeing visitors has a huge advantage. There is no competition. There are no other locations in the United States that can control their borders, which is a necessity for eradication. Meanwhile, foreign travel is largely blocked and feels unsafe.

Eradication brings Health

Going back to a mask-free, fear-free lifestyle will be a relief for the residents. Isolation has been hard on most people and many need kind support to reconnect and once again breathe deeply. And finally, our Kupunas can get out again without any fear.

Jobs will be coming back and a positive vision for the future will already bring relief. Like in every crisis, we will continue to see a lot of neighborly help.

Eradication brings a New Economy

Maui’s efforts towards developing a high-tech economy have been hampered by a lack of expertise and funding. With tens of thousands of knowledge workers and affluent people in our hotels that may just change. As they come to love Maui, some may start their own businesses. If it’s only 1% a year, that would be 300 new ventures. With a little direction from the County, they may even choose to invent technologies that help the island or solve world problems.

It’s not hard to do…

A managed quarantine needs to be organized. Hotels should develop their offerings around the needs of the new visitors. Stylish working tables for computers including fast Internet will help. Add social support for those who miss the far-away family. Marketing may move towards direct sales, increasing profits. The County should collect fees for its services.

What seemed like the biggest disaster for our economy in May 2020 with 35% unemployment may turn into the greatest opportunity ever. The “Sanctuary Maui”, a safe place in a turbulent world.

Here’s what’s happening and how you can position yourself to capitalize through this “Perfect Storm”, build your legacy – and – make a real difference in the process…

Dear successful entrepreneur,

If you’ve ever wished you could play a bigger game, have more impact and build kingdoms of wealth in the process; the next five years will be your window.

My name is Dame DC Cordova, and over the last 40 years I’ve helped to build the Excellerated Business School® for Entrepreneurs, now expanded to what we call the Global Excellerated Business School for Entrepreneurs (BSE) – part of a little-known educational curriculum that includes the Money & You® program that helped launch the career of Robert Kiyosaki (Rich Dad / Poor Dad) – and have had graduates like Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul), Ben Cohen (Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream), Paul Mitchell (Hair Products), and countless other multi-millionaires and billionaires.

Over this time, our organizations have helped more than 105,000 savvy business owners, entrepreneurs and professionals from countless industries – and from over 80 countries – to identify lucrative opportunities and “get in” on the ground floor.

But, I’m here today to tell you about an even bigger opportunity – an entire era of change that will unfold over the next five to thirty years and shape the very foundation of humanity.

On this page, I’d like to detail for you the “perfect storm” of global events that will ultimately open the most lucrative window of opportunity our world has ever seen. And I’ll show you exactly how you can put yourself in the box seat to capitalize through this change.

When this storm hits, we’ll see more opportunities to create billion-dollar companies than ever before. And the innovations we make will dictate the trajectory of the human race for decades to come.

It’s going to become possible for you – as a business leader – to tackle large-scale social issues that currently seem “unsolvable”. And profit handsomely from your efforts.

I’ll show you exactly how and why this opportunity is about to unfold. But first, it’s important for you to understand…

Why We’ve Seen More Billionaires Created in The Past 10 Years … Than in The Rest of History Combined

Did you know we’ve more than doubled the number of billionaires globally (from 946 to 2,043) since 2007?

What’s more, 617 new billionaires have joined the list since the end of 2013.

In other words, more than 30% of the world’s billionaires were created in that last four years alone … 11% were created in the last 12-months!

Amazing?

Yes…

But the really exciting thing is why this rapid acceleration is taking place.

Look at the success story behind almost any recent billionaire entrepreneur and I think you’ll notice an overwhelming trend.

Examples Of Billionaires Recently Created:

Travis Kalanick applied the ideas of the sharing economy to cars to create an alternative to taxis … He used mobile technology to make it a reality with Uber … he’s now worth $6.3 billion.

Peng Lei and her cofounders including Jack Ma, saw a need for international merchants to buy direct from Chinese exporters. They created the online marketplace, Alibaba, in 1999. She’s now worth $1.4 billion.

Brian Chesky, Joe Gebbia, and Nathan Blecharczyk took society’s need for affordable, experiential accommodations … And used online technology to create AirBnB … they are now worth $3.3 billion each.

Frank Wang predicted the desire amongst photographers to get breathtaking aerial shots. He founded DJI – the world’s leading drone producer – from his dorm room in 2006. He now employs 1500 people in R&D alone … owns 36% of the global drone market and is worth a cool $3.6 billion.

And there are countless versions of a very similar story …

So what’s the pattern?

All these mega-entrepreneurs have taken a widespread human need … and then leveraged technology to solve the problem on a mass scale.

The reason we’re seeing a spike in the ultra-rich – whether they’re entrepreneurs or investors – is because our technological ability is finally catching up to humanity’s needs.

More problems are becoming solvable and the speed at which they can be solved is skyrocketing.

But what we’ve seen so far is just the tip of the iceberg.

Over the next 5 to 30 years we’re going to see this pattern unfold at hyper-speed, solve even more significant problems, and create a brand new population of ultra-rich entrepreneurs who use new technologies and collaboration to reach phenomenal success.

Here’s how the opportunity is going to unfold (and how you can get in on the action):

3 Global Super-Factors Are Aligning to Create “The Perfect Storm” For Entrepreneurs

1) GLOBAL SUPER-FACTOR #1: Technological advancement is reaching “fever pitch” (And will soon make the “dotcom boom” look like a drop in the ocean.)

We are standing at the foot of a hyper-accelerated wave of technological advancement. It’s already begun … and over the next thirty years we’re going to see a radical and dramatic transformation of humanity.

According to Ray Kurzweil (trusted futurist and advisor to national governments and multinational companies around the globe), in just 5 years, the power and sophistication of the business technology you rely on daily will have multiplied 32 times.

In 10 years it will be 1024 times more powerful … and in just 30 years, technology will have advanced to over ONE BILLION times our current level.

Computer technology is now progressing more each HOUR than it did in the entire 90 years between 1900 and 1990!

 At the rate of growth we’re experiencing, Kurzweil predicts that a single computer will be more intelligent than the human brain by 2023 … and more intelligent than the entire human species combined by 2045.

2) GLOBAL SUPER-FACTOR #2: Renewable Energy will create an avalanche of “new wealth”

While renewable energy might not seem exciting to some, it could be the catalyst for the most significant transfer of wealth in our life time.

Here’s what you need to know:

What does this mean for you?

Three things:

1)  Hundreds of billions of dollars will change hands in the Renewables Industry itself – for example, the small-scale battery storage industry alone is expected to grow from $0 to $250 billionin the next 25 years!

Can you imagine the floods of wealth that will move away from the oil barons and into the pockets of “green energy” entrepreneurs? If you can get in early and carve out your niche, there are empires to be made. (More on how you can do this soon…)

2)  The move away from coal, gas and oil will create opportunities throughout the entire economic food chain. This disruption will give birth to new industries, and sub-industries we can’t even comprehend right now.

(This shift will begin in earnest within the next 10 years … and will spawn huge opportunities as we redefine the airline, automotive, manufacturing and shipping industries … to name a few.)

3) The need for sustainability will extend far beyond renewable energy … as technology advances, and environmental consciousness expands, we’re going to see a transformation of countless industries we currently take for granted: packaging, farming, food, clothing and more.

Again, these sectors will change in ways we can’t fathom right now – driven largely by consumer demand & technology – and will give birth to virtually endless opportunities for savvy entrepreneurs.

And that brings me to the third and final factor…

3) GLOBAL SUPER-FACTOR #3: The world is begging for your help (your chance to make a difference and earn a solid fortune)

Is success and “true wealth” all about money?

Absolutely not.

In fact, the third Global-Super-Factor is what will allow you to go beyond money … and dare I say it … become truly fulfilled.

Why?

Because, despite the rapid acceleration of technology, the world still suffers from deep societal problems that desperately need solving.

There’s a smorgasbord of ways you can make an impact on the world WHILE making a profit. And nothing can be more satisfying.

If you’ve seen any news in the last five years, you know what these issues are. But here’s a quick snapshot to jog your memory…

Climate change is killing our planet

Unless something drastic changes, we’re going to see 100 million people thrust into poverty as agriculture suffers … 100,000’s will be killed in extreme weather events (like bush fires and hurricanes) …  and the homes of over 760 million people could be swallowed by rising sea levels.

There are STILL more than 3 billion people living on less than $2.50 per day, while many of us live in ways they couldn’t even comprehend

805 million are starving … 750 million don’t have enough clean drinking water … and treatable diseases like pneumonia and diarrhea kill 2 million poverty-stricken children every year.

Our oceans have become 30% more acidic since The Industrial Revolution

Its estimated they’ll become 150% more acidic this century. This will destroy coral reefs, plankton, oysters and other species that support the entire marine biosphere. When these species are at risk, the entire marine food chain is at risk!

More than a billion people who rely on fish as their primary source of protein could go hungry … and millions of jobs could be lost as ocean-based industries dissolve.

We’re tiptoeing on the verge of World War III

As a species, we’re still constantly running into “turf wars”, religious conflicts and violent clashes between races … and, with new missile technology, the threat of nuclear war is very real. As the global population booms and the basic resources we take for granted become more scarce (like clean air, drinking water and food), these tensions will continue to mount.

And there are more “micro” issues. Lots more in fact … like teenage suicide, the heart disease epidemic, the aging population, and the global refugee crisis – to name a few.

I’m sure I don’t need to list them all, because if you are reading this you’re an educated person that probably has a good understanding of what’s happening in the world.

What you may not know is…

The World’s Governments Won’t Save Us

If you think the governments will save the day, unfortunately you’re wrong.

The U.S. Government can’t even work cohesively to overhaul the national healthcare system. How in the world are the multiple governments going to work together to solve large-scale global problems like Climate Change and poverty?

There’s too much in-fighting, too much political game-playing and too much red tape to make any real progress. And as technological change accelerates, and global issues worsen, these inadequacies are only going to become more pronounced.

How Can One Person Make A Difference?

In more ways than you can imagine…

There are already countless success stories of entrepreneurs tackling social issues head on … like:

CrowdOptic, a new company that’s harnessing video footage taken by crowds at disaster sites (like bombings, fires and hostage situations), to give fire services, paramedics and police 360 degree “eyes on the ground” views and make better decisions, faster.

… and …

Worldreader, a mobile app that provides over 23,000 free e-book titles, in 43 languages to 69 countries around the world in an aim to improve the world’s literacy rate.

There are also numerous other businesses who have worked “contribution” and “making a difference” into their business models. Like the outdoor clothing giant Patagonia, which injects a large proportion of profits into environmental conservation each year.

The simple truth is, you can make a difference, but you need to act fast…

These 3 Super Factors Are Aligning Right Now

Will You Be In Position When The Opportunity Explodes?

If You Can Position Yourself in The Middle of the “Perfect Storm”, You’ll Help Shape Humanity for the Better WHILE Earning Life-Changing Riches

Now you might be thinking this is all some far-flung prediction, more like science fiction that reality. But the truth is, this “perfect window of opportunity” is already opening.

Remember: we’ve already seen the initial ripple of technology billionaires created through the “dot com boom”; social enterprises like CrowdOptics are already tackling current global issues; and renegades like Elon Musk (as well as hundreds of lesser known Chinese moguls) are already capitalizing on the renewables explosion.

This is just the very beginning. And from here on in, things are going to move fast.

The truly elite “money masters” of the world – the likes of Richard Branson (Virgin), Elon Musk (Tesla), Jack Ma (Alibaba), are already poised and waiting to capitalize.

We’re also going to see a whole population of new entrepreneurs bursting onto the scene in this New Wave of opportunity.

The 3-Steps YOU Can Take to Position Yourself in the Centre of “The Storm” – And Profit Wildly

(Even if you know nothing about technology, renewables – OR – socially-responsible capitalism)

So what’s the difference that makes the difference for the elite money masters of the world?

How can they consistently make huge global impact?

Why will they adapt to the change with elegance and make billions in The New Wave  – while other entrepreneurs flounder and fail?

Well, through my nearly 40 years observing the evolution of over 105,000 world-class entrepreneurs through our schools, I’ve narrowed this difference down to just three things.

Here are the 3 steps you can take to prepare for (and prosper through) the impending storm…

Step # 1: Get Connected

I’m not just talking about joining your local “mastermind” or having a beer with your business-owner buddies.

If you want to play a bigger game, you need to rub shoulders with a network of game-changers. People with influence and capital. People who change the world on a daily basis.

The Musks, the Bransons and the Gates’ of the world don’t operate in isolation. They live in elevated social spheres made up of other ultra-successful innovators, entrepreneurs and investors.

And they leverage these networks for all that their worth.

With a single phone call, or the click of a mouse, they can secure hundreds of millions in funding… collaborate with an entire army of billionaires on unthinkable ventures or rally together to tackle social problems that seem unsolvable.

(Did you know that Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, Meg Whitman and others have teamed up to combat Climate Change with the Breakthrough Energy Coalition?)

These are the sort of connections you need to flourish in through the storm.

And that’s where I can help.

In a minute I’m going to reveal how YOU can get an invitation into this exclusive society of ultra successful (ultra-wealthy) entrepreneurs. And how you can learn, network and capitalize with these tycoons through the most exciting era of change our world will ever see.

First, lets look at step two…

Step # 2: Learn The Fundamental Wealth Principles

Let’s be honest.

Some of the tools, processes and structures you rely on to run your business and make money today in many industries are going to be wildly-obsolete in the next 5, 10 or 30 years. (I think you know that, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this )

My point is, nobody on earth can keep up with the changes, and mastering the tools and tactics of 2017 won’t buy you wealth in the future. (Just look at the sudden downfall of past technology companies like Kodak, Nokia and Blockbuster Video Rental – all of which failed to keep up with innovation)

The fact of the matter is…

Real Success, Real Wealth, Real Prosperity in The New Wave … Will Be 90% Reliant On Proven “Generalized Wealth Principles”.

The elite money masters of the world understand the underlying, universal laws of wealth creation on a visceral level.

These principles never change, never waver and never fail to multiply your wealth and happiness, year after year.

They’re as reliable and repeatable as the laws of Gravity, Relativity and Cause and Effect. And they will transform the way you view the world, do business and make money for as long as you live.

How do you learn them?

There’s really only one way.

In the ‘70’s, the co-creators of this work that I eventually inherited (I was a great student!), pioneered these principles along with sound business practices.

That team pioneered the transformational, experiential, entrepreneurial education industry that exists globally today (and is taught by many of our graduates who are now household names)!

Ever since, we have been testing, tweaking and refining these principles and tools (along with the learning technology behind teaching them).

We’ve put them to the test over and over again in real life situations, through all sorts of market conditions. And, when implemented, they’ve never failed to create life-changing wealth…

In fact, these principles have been taught through the now named Global Excellerated Business School for Entrepreneurs (BSE) for almost 40 years and have created more high-profile, high net worth entrepreneurs than any other entrepreneurial educational program on the planet.

Now, I’d like to invite you to learn these same principles, through the same “Excellerated Learning” technology so you can profit wildly through this perfect storm of market super-factors.

Which brings me to the final step.

If you want to position yourself for huge success, you must…

Step # 3: Commit yourself to constant, voracious learning

I’m sure you probably already consider yourself a passionate learner … It’s how you got to where you are now, right?

So it will come as no surprise that the people who’ll thrive in The New Wave will take passionate learning to the next level.

They’ll read, they’ll attend events, they’ll research, they’ll learn, they’ll discover, they’ll push themselves to develop personally … to EVOLVE their thinking exponentially.

They’ll stay up to speed with relevant technology.

And they’ll quickly outgrow the “what’s in it for me” paradigm, and chase what’s best for the “greater good” … they’ll never stop learning and growing.

The good news is…

You can now kickstart your learning into a new stratosphere, and gain lifetimes of business wisdom in just 8 days of immersive, experiential learning.

Ming has been a major player in the solar energy industry in China for years. He explains his goals and methods.

After, he is joined by Chip Comins, the founder of AREDay and Daniel Fung of the USDP Peace and Development Foundation to discuss how to involve China in the changing world of environmental issues.

Hang in there… this story is going to have a happy ending… and it was pretty tough getting there.

I was born and raised in Santiago, Chile until I was 12 years old when my parents brought me to the States. In those days (the 1960’s) the USA had a call worldwide for immigrants since it needed many workers. We were very welcomed; we had a green card right away, and it was easy for me to become a citizen by the time I was 21.

I was a typical LA kid. I went to a nice diversified school, Belmont High, which was near downtown. It was a relatively nice neighborhood. We had a big gang of friends. We went to the beach on the weekends, danced, we played as usual teen-agers.  I was just a bit different though because I had a 2-year old sister that I cared for all the time – she was the “pet” of the group – she was constantly being held by one of my teenage friends; she was a happy child and a happy person to this day… Amen for that!

My life (and many others) changed in the summer before my last year of high school. Out of nowhere the drug cartels were able to move into major American cities and the drug culture started. Not only that but we were at the height of the Vietnam War and some of our friends’ older brothers were returning home addicted to some pretty strong drugs. Before we knew it many of our friends (mostly the boys) were getting high and everything started to change…

My boyfriend was the first one to die. His name was Larry; he was 18 years old; he was beautiful – a leader, a little outlaw, a little drug dealer, a player (there were 2 other girls crying uncontrollably at his funeral – and I was supposedly the fiancé). He was killed in a car accident  – in today’s terms, we would call it a “suicide-by-cop-chase”.

Forty-five minutes prior to the accident, he and our friend Danny stole a neighbor’s small truck and planned to go “cruising” through the night. He took four “reds” (barbiturates) before they got on the road. He was driving pretty fast on Highway 5. He was being pulled over – more accurately chased – by an LAPD car and they crashed. In those days nobody wore seat belts; he went through the windshield and died instantly. He did die laughing though – I don’t know why that was such a comfort… Danny was pinned under the truck. They had to pull it off of him with special equipment. He didn’t have a scratch on him. It was the beginning of my seeing that there are no accidents – no coincidences – it all happens for a reason.

I don’t have to tell you that I was beyond devastated… and to make things even worse, I miscarriaged his baby on his birthday – 4 months after his passing. Our plan had been to be married on April 26 – he died on March 27. The pain was so intense that all I could do was to stay occupied with lots of jobs and later with college studies, activities, being a cheerleader, having a boyfriend, partying and trying to have fun 24/7.  I pretty much numbed myself until I was 26 years old.

But before I move forward to the transformation that I went through, let’s go back to my high school days for just a little bit more background.

The summer before my high school graduation, when the boys started getting high, instead of having fun all the time I was constantly trying to stop them from getting stoned. Larry insisted that I try it and not make it so wrong. At 17 years old who can resist doing what the rest of the crowd is doing? A big fear at that age is not being accepted, not having friends or losing the crowd that you grew up with – that has been true for most teenagers around the world probably since the beginning of time.

We started having a pretty big crowd of friends around the time that I was 16 – we were adorable, really. We were relatively good kids – went to school, worked on getting good grades, the usual parties and school events. I was working on being a cheerleader – ended up in the drill team. I didn’t become a cheerleader until I went to college.
It didn’t even take a year for the tragedies to start. One of our best-looking guys in the crowd was Darrell Singer. He was so handsome. He reminded us of Robert Redford (in those days he was one of the top movie stars). The boys went hunting one weekend, someone dropped a rifle and a stray bullet shot him on the arm. He never got over feeling “crippled” and he just went on a down spiral that changed his life so tragically… He was the first homeless friend that I knew. They called them “bums” in those days – a couple of decades later the more benevolent term “homeless” came to being.

A couple of years after that incident, I remember seeing him walking down a street – I barely recognized him – I stopped – he could hardly remember me. I took him to the nearest coffee shop and fed him lots of food. I tried to get him to come along with me so that I could wash him up, house him until he got back on his feet – he would have none of it. He insisted on walking away – I never saw him again. To this day, whenever I see a young homeless boy that is blonde and good looking it reminds me of Darrell and it still breaks my heart a little. Most likely it is where my love of supporting homeless causes started. I wasn’t conscious of that memory when we started supporting organizations committed to supporting teens-at-risk…

From the time that Larry left this world, for the next three years we had an additional 13 friends die. There were a variety of reasons – the Vietnam War, accidents, suicides, over doses of drugs, a boat accident.  One that was particularly tough was “Fast Frank”. He looked like a Mayan warrior – a gorgeous Mexican man. He was arrested for something minor, but he was a bit of a maniac, and some crazy guy stabbed him to death in jail. That one hurt particularly because he had so much potential – he was so beautiful. Later we called another friend named Frank, “Faster Frank” because he survived that period that too many of our friends left this world in their late teens or early 20’s.

So you can imagine the decisions that I had made by that time! It actually shaped the decisions that I made about life – specially my professional life. As I started college, I decided to major in languages since I had had a vision when I was about 15 years old that I was in a huge conference room that was shaped like the UN conference hall where representatives from around the world gather to discuss world affairs so I thought that I was supposed to be an interpreter in the United Nations!

Key lesson: you can only see your future from the limited view that you may have about yourself… Little did I know that someday I am most likely going to be part of a council of that magnitude – or running it!

As I was going through college, I met someone that was studying to be a stenographer. I loved the “little machine” that one could use to take down verbatim testimony. I was fascinated. I did some research and found out that you could go as high as becoming an official court reporter for the judicial system and make lots of money; or you could be a free-lance reporter, make your own hours, and be paid quite lucratively. That was for me!

In actuality, there was an underlying desire to feel safe by being part of the criminal justice system. Subconsciously I thought that if I were surrounded by judges, attorneys, policemen and protected by being part of the legal system, that I could be safe – that I would have people that could take care of me in case of any trouble…  What a rude awakening!

It was all of these tough experiences that prepared me for what was to come… and as I look back, I see that there were certain choices that I made that made all the difference in the world. Sadly, many of my beautiful friends made choices that took them down roads that were very tough – filled with fear, sadness, scarcity, poverty and confusion – and some found relief through drugs and activities that got them in mortal danger. To this day I often think of those beautiful young souls that I loved (and always will) that were part of my circle of friends that helped shape my future.

I became a workaholic; and partying was part of the scenery as I was going through college and later court reporting school. I ended up being an official court reporter in the LA criminal court system. I worked at the CCB (Criminal Courts Building) made famous by the OJ Simpson trial. I learned so much about business, systems and organizations that I wrote a whole manual on it. But nothing pales to the human interactions and lessons that I learned during those years.

That book will be written when some of the players have left this world! By 2050 I’ll write it. Let’s just say that the judicial system isn’t quite what it seems to be – and some of the comedic law shows on television come pretty close to the truth – and without that experience I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Everything happens for a reason. The toughest, saddest and most impactful experience of my life turned out to be a blessing. The foundation of my life’s work – the transformation of many of the 145,000 graduates of my programs globally – the many humanitarian endeavors… Who would have ever thought that a little girl from Chile would have made such an impact?

My secret? Follow the clues! One of the most famous graduates of our program, Money & You, Anthony Robbins, says it best: “success leaves clues”.  My version: “tough lessons leave clues” – learn from them!

It’s really simple: if there’s a chance that you are going to get hurt or hurt another, don’t do it. If there’s the tiniest chance that something bad could happen, don’t do it because it most likely will happen. Don’t chance your life with it. Don’t break your mother’s, your father’s, your brother’s or sister’s or your friends’ hearts. Don’t break your own heart.

Every day I saw in the courtrooms that I worked in beautiful young peeps going to jail for the dumbest things. Their lives forever changed – and some ruined. My beloved Mayan warrior was a sample of that.

I made it by the skin of my teeth… I was so close to losing my life a few times… so close to doing things that could have cost me so much… and I don’t know if it was those 14 Angels that were guarding me, or if it was my destiny to not end up in a place that could have been so costly to myself and my family.

In my early 20’s I started to make great money as a professional interpreter then as an official court reporter. I kept myself really busy not to feel a lot of the feelings that I had suppressed. It was a heady time. Lots of fun but there was always a “nagging empty feeling” that was the “screensaver of my mind” – it was always there.

I ended up moving to Hawaii, and it was there that I had what could be called an “enlightenment” experience – on a mid-day on Hanalei Bay, Kauai – one of the most beautiful spots on Earth. I had this experience that I left my body and went traveling through the Universe. I saw my life going backwards and seeing the major highlights, including my birth and traveling beyond. I saw space – almost like an astronaut – the most beautiful scenery and felt the essence of love. I didn’t hear anything – I actually sensed a message: “I did not put you on planet Earth for you to be a party girl…You have a job to do!”

My conscious mind was very quiet – it was the essence of the most beautiful peace that I had never felt before. It was unconditional love… it was heavenly… and I came back into my body with the most profound pain in my heart. It was wrenching. I started crying uncontrollably – and my boyfriend and roomie that were on the yacht with me couldn’t console me.

The most beautiful spot on earth finally got me to open my heart after 8 years of having closed it down from that original experience of loss, sadness and separation that I had experienced with the loss of my beloved and baby… Then add a second miscarriage and the additional 13 friends… plus the experiences in the criminal court system… it was a miracle that I wasn’t psychotic!

Once I made that decision, there was no question that I could only live a life of integrity. Sure I was going to have learning experiences (mistakes) for the rest of my life and that that is part of the human experience. And, of course, within a few months I was sitting across the great R. Buckminster Fuller (Bucky as he liked being called). Be sure to Google him… you’ll be impressed. He was considered the “grandfather of the Universe”. He was a mathematician, an architect, a genius that gave the world a whole new way of thinking about scarcity, sufficiency and abundance. Be sure to go to my Facebook page and download the graphic with one of his greatest question that I live by: “How do we make the world work for 100% of humanity, in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation, without ecological offense or disadvantage of anyone?”

I had a front row seat as he spent the day sharing some of his greatest principles and teachings. I was clear. I knew what my job was. Of course, within a year I attended the first entrepreneurial business school of its kind in the world at the time. I learned the principles so well I soon became a volunteer, a promoter of their work, soon a partner, and six years later I inherited 100% of the intellectual rights to the most profound work… I won the lottery!

Our work is about uplifting humanity’s consciousness through socially-responsible businesses. The method: transformational, experiential training programs for entrepreneurs.

I got to combine what I love the most (transformational education, entrepreneurship and raising people’s consciousness) and hate the most (human suffering)… If there’s anything I can do to reduce human suffering at any level, I will do my best to help with that. “Churning out social entrepreneurs” has been one of the vehicles… but more than anything else, it has been the healing of my soul.

What turned out to be the worst experience of my life was the greatest gift. My beautiful angel, Larry, (who was also such a little devil :-), taught me more than I could have ever imagined. With every one of my friends and beloveds that has left this world, I’ve experienced my heart breaking into a million little pieces. Those experiences have been my greatest teachers. Every happy, sad, fortunate, unfortunate – every human experience that has impacted me deeply has allowed me to be who I am today.

Look at your life today… is there any way that you can convert your experience for the betterment of others? (Bucky’s teaching). Is there anything that you could do now that will move you out of any experience that is so hurtful and painful that the only thing to do is to walk? Can you muster up the courage to do that?

There’s absolutely no one running your consciousness but yourself. Don’t let idiots occupy that beautiful mind of yours. Evict the negativity. Evict the “victimness”. Evict all that no longer serves you for your greater good. Be the landlord of your beautiful consciousness. Be the CEO of your own life. Be the owner. Be of service to others. Be happy…

There are still times when I have to have so much courage that I surprise myself – even at my age. As I tap into that 18-year old that was so sad, lonely and in total despair, I can still cry so deeply… and then I remember that that was the greatest gift.

I wish you the same awareness – much faster than the time that it took me to get there. The beauty of learning from others’ lessons is that it can accelerate your process – and support you in no longer being addicted to suffering.

Choose differently now…

May you see the clues for your success quickly and clearly…

May the force be with you….

Money & You showed up for me at the perfect time in my life. Over the years, I’ve seen it happen over and over again with friends, family, colleagues, and people I meet for the first time in Money & You. 

I was in year four of manifesting my most compelling vision –  to transform prisons from places of punishment to places of healing. The Network Program was in early stages, still forming, solid and growing. A friend and colleague who had helped me outline the design for the program, called me to say, “You have to do this course. It’s everything you’re teaching, with great distinctions.”

After months of negotiation, and great support from several people who were equally committed to have me experience Money & You, 66 of us, corrections staff working with me in the system, participated in the transformative processes of Money & You that generated the breakthrough to a whole new level of what was possible in the system. 

Since that first three and a half day intensive in December of 1982, I have had the privilege to witness the transformative strategies I and my teams applied from Money & You in our work, empowering thousands of people from every strata of society. Not only was my own work enhanced, global friends in a wide variety of fields have applied the Universal Principles in their specialties, allied in our commitment to have a world that works for everyone. 

As the saying goes, Money & You is a “gift that keeps on giving.” The best and the brightest people I know have created amazing things from these powerful principles. As Ken said to me years ago, “You have to do this course.”

By the time Dr. Cheryl L. Clark retired from the New York State Department of Correctional Services in December, 2010, the six-month Shock Incarceration Program she designed and directed had more than 43,000 graduates, the lowest documented recidivism rate in the nation and had saved the New York State taxpayers more than US$1.375 Billion. She continues to consult and coach others to apply the principles in their work. Her Doctoral Dissertation: 12* of Freedom: Synergetics and the 12 Steps to Recovery, can be found at www.socialsynergetics.com

“In business, it is not task, money or products that make the biggest difference. It’s people and relationships. Money & You understands this. This valuable program helps teams speak the same language. It teaches what leverage and synergy of business thinking and actions are all about so graduates of the program not only talk win/win, they operate win/win!

I was so impressed by its effectiveness, I personally ensured over 200 people – friends, family and staff from The Hour Glass – attended Money & You.

And the important tools the program delivered helped create the platform from which I developed my ideas for sustainable ventures beyond my traditional commercial enterprises.

I can’t encourage business owners enough to attend and experience Money & You for themselves, for now and for the future.” 

Dato’ Dr. Jannie Chan – Founder, Save Our Planet Investments Pte. Ltd. – Co-founder, The Hour Glass Ltd.

“After graduating with honors from UCLA Dental School as a children’s dentist, I wanted to make a difference and add value to the world. I faced the daunting task of starting, running and growing my own business. Realizing quickly, I had no knowledge of how to create my dream.

Fortunately I took the Money & You program in 1980. At that time I had one small dental office in Oakland, CA producing US$350,000 per year. Within two years it grew to nine offices throughout California with a production of over US$5 million annually.

Through the principles I learned from Money & You, I was able to change the lives of thousands of people while leveraging myself to explore other passions. A successful dental office treats an average of 35,000 patients over the span twenty years. Our offices have treated over half million underprivileged children since 1980.

Working closely with Money & You for the last 38 years has been one of the most significant experiences of my life. While the financial results allowed the freedom to live the life I wanted, the best part was the relationship with this network that continues to manifest miracles in my business and personal life. I would make this program mandatory for any entrepreneur who wants to live their dream and attain the liberation of success.”

Dr. Jeff Alexander – Founder & Creator Youthful Tooth Co. – Warrior Spirit Programs

“I took the Money & You program back in the early 1980’s – and I was running a growth center at the time, was a therapist, and doing consulting for school systems. What I got out of M&Y that was so profound for me was I saw that I was someone who was really into making a difference in the world but I didn’t have a clue how to make money out of it. At M&Y I saw I could do good and do well at the same time.

As a result I started three training companies, a consulting company, written over 80 books and sold 30 million copies world wide in 31 different languages. I realized that I didn’t want to focus on money. I wanted it but I didn’t want to think about it – I had myths and misconceptions that if I was spiritual I couldn’t have money. I also realized that I was running a lot of games I didn’t realize I was playing. I think I came out more authentic and was more clearly aligned with who I really am. I learned how to take it and leverage it out in the world so I could have an even much larger impact than what I was having.

To this day I am still using the principles and strategies that I learned to build this publishing empire we are now doing and I keep coming back as often as I can. I now have over 39 licenses – we even have a Chicken Soup for the Cat lovers Soul with dog and cat food suppliers – none of which would have happened without the experience and what I learned at Money & You. I encourage anyone to take this program, for it will not only show you how to do a minor vector in your life – it will re-vector your entire life and you will be grateful for it.”

Jack Canfield – Co-Author of Chicken Soup for the Soul Series, The Success Principles – Businessman and Entrepreneur

“Many people have read Robert Kiyosaki’s book, Rich Dad/Poor Dad, and would be familiar with the diagram featuring; Employees, Self-Employed, Business and Investors.

Over the past 20 years I have travelled through all four of these stages, including helping my husband build a multi-million dollar business in the anti-aging and wellness industry, and then 5 years ago, I set out to make our money make money by investing in residential property (now a modest NZ$12 million dollar cash flow positive portfolio).

After doing the Money & You program, light bulbs came on for me. I had believed we were very well leveraged in our main business, however I could see how our leverage could be even more leveraged. I can not put into words how this program helped open up my mind to possibilities I hadn’t considered, in so many different area’s of my life.

I am also currently rebranding and looking into new ways of growing our businesses, as well as in the process of writing a book as wanting to share my story and leave clues on how anyone can break free – having both time and money. My special interest is in helping women become independently financially free.

One last thing which impacted me me was how I could impact humanity. I truly want to use my wealth to leave our planet better for our future generations.

Money & You has got me actively thinking again and I love it!”

Donna Ghaemaghamy – Founder, Focus On You Limited

“As a housewife exploring entrepreneurship in Singapore, I was very inspired attending Money & You in Chinese in October 2002. Within 2 months of attending the program, I launched one business idea that I got at the program, that fetched me an ROI of more than 100% of my investment to Money & You in 8hours. It was a huge self-esteem booster. Life has never been the same again. One of the greatest reward has been the global community of like-minded friends who further inspired me to do soul-searching and live my purpose.

I learned the various foundations to business and the importance of continuous learning.Being in the Instructors’ Training Program has supported me to dwell further into self, and to get the clarity of my life vision. Right now, I have embraced my calling to be a catalyst in uplifting Asian business communities globally. Starting with India, we have launched various unique business development programs and supporting the growth of business leaders, creating conscious bankable business models that contribute to global prosperity.

Fundamentally Money & You has empowered me with powerful generalized principles that I use and reflect upon, correct and constantly apply, and create the results I want in my life. Money & You and the various Excellerated Business School programs have added huge value to my life – in aligning my team and my business partners, so we are able to constantly learn and live a harmonious a purpose-driven life that is filled with love, peace and prosperity.”

Azeeza Jalaludeen – Co-Founder – SHINE ADA – Entrepreneur

How would your life be different when you no longer “worry” about where your cash will come from?

DC Cordova has assembled a list of 10 distinctions she’s learned from her own personal path, distinctions that have served her well through many years of entrepreneurship and business development. From the upcoming book, Walking With the Wise: Overcoming Obstacles, this excerpt includes some of the most powerful habits of surviving difficult financial times.

1. Know that this is about YOU. It’s not about the economy. There are many people making money when others are not.

2. Determine what you are good at and what will bring you money now. Not later – now! Don’t worry about the tasks. Some of us had to roll up our sleeves and do jobs we had paid others to do for many years.

3. Focus on income generating activities. Let go of all those things that waste your time and don’t bring in the cash flow that you need.

4. Tighten up your belt. No new clothes, cars, or any other doodas that are not going to create money for you. You now spend money only on those things that will make you more money.

5. When you’re done with your personal financial crisis, keep your agreements and pay everyone back. If you cannot do that for years, create new agreements as necessary.

6. Do a good transformational program that will “kick-start” you in making new decisions and creating new references for yourself.

7. Surround yourself with loving and supportive people – particularly a good mentor – who will tell you the truth and give you good feedback to accelerate your progress towards getting back on your feet.

8. Do something once a day and one day a week that brings you pleasure. Exercise, ride your bicycle, spend time with your loved ones, watch your favorite program, read a novel… This is crucial to keep your spirits up.

9. Don’t make yourself wrong – forgive yourself for things that you think you could have done differently.

10. Keep taking action… Your life will turn around!