I've been thinking alot lately regarding the role of charity & giving. Was at a seminar this past weekend, & played a game called, Cash Flow. In the game, the player has the option to donate 10% of their income to charity & gets the chance to roll more dice, when they do. Most of the players, when they landed on this space, did not donate. Why? Interesting. Got me to thinking.
Lots of us are conditioned to get, get, get, take, take, take. That form of mentality was common during the Industrial Age & is based on scarcity b/c resources were by definition limited during this age. That is why after the Great Depression, the way to survive was to get a good education, get a good job - safe, secure, lifelong, w/ good benefits.
However, in today's age, that notion is becoming obselete FAST. Now that we are in the Information Age - knowledge, information, ideas & what we do with them are key. Speed, volatility are becoming the norm. We can communicate with people overseas in our bedroom w/ just a computer & internet connection, in our boxers. We no longer have to fly to conduct business meetings. We can host webinars, telemeetings in our own living rooms.
We can see signs of the Industrial Age disappearing in previously corporate giants (GM, Ford, Chrysler) collapsing, facing bankruptcies, smaller/faster/smarter/efficient companies overtaking them, airlines facing financial issues, labor jobs being shipped overseas, the price of oil increasing.
In the Information Age - where we make our living by sharing information, knowledge, a new paradigm is emerging, & that is the concept of abundance. Since transitioning into the Information Age - ideas, thoughts, words, pictures, sounds, etc. are all abundant, they are all around us. Our economy is now based on the creating, packaging, & giving of things that are knowledge based. Multimillionaires, billionaires were created from this idea that information (an idea) can be created, marketed, & sold to the masses. Examples include: Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Jerry Yang, Larry Paige, Sergey Brin, etc. Other examples include rockstars, movie stars, athletes, businesses who have created a brand from their identity, experiences, accomplishments & have sold it to the masses in the form of endorsements, sponsorships, CD's, MP3's, movies, athletic products, franchises, licenses, businesses, partnerships, you name it.
So as we progress into the Information Age charity/giving will be more natural, easy, in my opinion. By reprogramming our minds from a scarcity to an abundance-based mentality, we set ourselves up for greater returns in every aspect of our lives. Here are a couple of reasons why I think giving, increases your returns:
1. It trains your mind to think in terms of abundance
2. You give to give, rather than give to receive (trains your subconscious that there's abundance)
3. Karma
The returns may be in the form of monetary returns, but it can also be in the form of lucky breaks, excellent relationships, good health, happiness.
So give whatever you can to a cause that you're passionate about - it can be to your local church, hospital, school, whatever, as long you give.
That's it. Stay tuned!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Monday, June 15, 2009
Power of your environment - the key to lasting change
After studying psychology, success in various areas, I've noticed a few patterns. In the area of self help, psychology, success, there are few individuals:
1. Like the idea, toy around with it, then stop after a while
2. Hobbyists
3. Hardcore people who actively work at it, achieving success to levels
1 & 2 are propelled by different emotional mechanisms, different levels of leverage, while 3 are probably people who lacked that level of self esteem, achievement, validation, approval as kids. These are usually the people that you hear about on TV & the news -> rockstar, actor, businessman, politician, doctor, lawyer, etc. Either they were deprived, abused, neglected, didn't fit in, or constantly put down. However, sometimes you have people who are "on their paths". They are in category 3, not because of a lack, but because of abundance. They are doing exactly what they were put on this earth to do (Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Kobe Bryant, & even everyday people we don't hear about & so on).
After a while, the individual says to himself, "Enough with this bullshit. I've had enough. I know I can do it, I'm in the wrong environment, with the wrong people."
1. There must be an emotional breaking point. A point where a person says, "I've had enough. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get XYZ". Emotional leverage. Either in weight, relationships, business/finance, career, etc.
2. They'll usually go to a seminar where likeminded individuals go. Pay a lot of money for information.
3. Afterwards, they're pumped, ready to get on the path towards success.
The key to all of this is 1. Taking action, & 2. Monitoring your environment so that they sustain the emotional leverage/motivation that propelled you to make change in your life in the first place. For example, usually after summer camp, kids will come home & be excited that they got a chance to get out of their old, environment & interact with kids who have different realities, hopefully more abundant mindsets. But then they come home back to their old paradigms. If they don't consciously strive to improve their surroundings, thoughts, etc. Before you know it, they'll be back in their same patterns all over again. Spending a summer with the "A" students, I learned that they have a system for their success, so I replicated their success, took it home with me. But I had to constantly apply what I had learned from that summer, otherwise I would not be where I am today. For example, setting aside time to read every day, planning, executing.
Reasons why people don't grow, evolve
1. Complacency - achieve some level of success, but then don't continue, or are happy where they are, when they could go so much furtheer
2. Lazy - sounds great, but don't want to put in the time, or effort to achieve what they want. They don't have emotional leverage.
3. Fear/guilt - see below.
4. Misalignment - between their desires/aspirations, their beliefs about themselves, the world governed either by fear or guilt, or a combination of both.
So the key is to consciously apply these principles to your thoughts, beliefs, values, words, actions, to make sure they are in alignment, & to actively seek to surround yourself with people who share the same/better mindsets as you currently have, or would like to have.
1. Like the idea, toy around with it, then stop after a while
2. Hobbyists
3. Hardcore people who actively work at it, achieving success to levels
1 & 2 are propelled by different emotional mechanisms, different levels of leverage, while 3 are probably people who lacked that level of self esteem, achievement, validation, approval as kids. These are usually the people that you hear about on TV & the news -> rockstar, actor, businessman, politician, doctor, lawyer, etc. Either they were deprived, abused, neglected, didn't fit in, or constantly put down. However, sometimes you have people who are "on their paths". They are in category 3, not because of a lack, but because of abundance. They are doing exactly what they were put on this earth to do (Tiger Woods, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Kobe Bryant, & even everyday people we don't hear about & so on).
After a while, the individual says to himself, "Enough with this bullshit. I've had enough. I know I can do it, I'm in the wrong environment, with the wrong people."
1. There must be an emotional breaking point. A point where a person says, "I've had enough. I'm going to do whatever it takes to get XYZ". Emotional leverage. Either in weight, relationships, business/finance, career, etc.
2. They'll usually go to a seminar where likeminded individuals go. Pay a lot of money for information.
3. Afterwards, they're pumped, ready to get on the path towards success.
The key to all of this is 1. Taking action, & 2. Monitoring your environment so that they sustain the emotional leverage/motivation that propelled you to make change in your life in the first place. For example, usually after summer camp, kids will come home & be excited that they got a chance to get out of their old, environment & interact with kids who have different realities, hopefully more abundant mindsets. But then they come home back to their old paradigms. If they don't consciously strive to improve their surroundings, thoughts, etc. Before you know it, they'll be back in their same patterns all over again. Spending a summer with the "A" students, I learned that they have a system for their success, so I replicated their success, took it home with me. But I had to constantly apply what I had learned from that summer, otherwise I would not be where I am today. For example, setting aside time to read every day, planning, executing.
Reasons why people don't grow, evolve
1. Complacency - achieve some level of success, but then don't continue, or are happy where they are, when they could go so much furtheer
2. Lazy - sounds great, but don't want to put in the time, or effort to achieve what they want. They don't have emotional leverage.
3. Fear/guilt - see below.
4. Misalignment - between their desires/aspirations, their beliefs about themselves, the world governed either by fear or guilt, or a combination of both.
So the key is to consciously apply these principles to your thoughts, beliefs, values, words, actions, to make sure they are in alignment, & to actively seek to surround yourself with people who share the same/better mindsets as you currently have, or would like to have.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Preparing for the Day
Hey guys - today I want to talk about preparation. There's a saying that winners - plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win. So, in order to make the most out of each day - making each day your masterpiece - here's what I personally do.
Night before 1. Think about all the things I want to accomplish tomorrow & rank them in order of priority
2. Write it down, to the tiniest detail. What time you're going to wake up, eat, work, workout, relax, hangout, etc.
Day of (1st hour): 1. Wake up energetic, feeling like something good is going to happen today. Expect it.
2. Breathe
3. Drink water
4. Light workout
5. Good breakfast
6. Read something spiritual
7. Create something of value to someone else - article, post, blog, etc.
8. Choose to make the day a masterpiece regardless of what happens.
Then I go about my day - keep up w/ the financials, writing, creating, brainstorming, etc. I usually work for 1-2 hours, take a break - food/exercise/random errands, & then get back to work. I also take some time to meditate, reflect/think on my past/current/future situation, & make plans accordingly.
Things I do when I'm down & out.
1. Recognize it immediately & get myself out of it, into a higher state.
2. Take a deep breath - accept it, then let it go
3. Visualize the outcome I want, reaffirm that this is the right way, the path.
4. Trust in myself, and in a Higher Source.
5. Get back to my path/purpose, source.
6. Understand that the pressures/expectations are self-imposed, & constructs of society. I take what works from these constructs & apply them in my daily life, but I don't let them dictate how I view myself, the world, etc.
Night before 1. Think about all the things I want to accomplish tomorrow & rank them in order of priority
2. Write it down, to the tiniest detail. What time you're going to wake up, eat, work, workout, relax, hangout, etc.
Day of (1st hour): 1. Wake up energetic, feeling like something good is going to happen today. Expect it.
2. Breathe
3. Drink water
4. Light workout
5. Good breakfast
6. Read something spiritual
7. Create something of value to someone else - article, post, blog, etc.
8. Choose to make the day a masterpiece regardless of what happens.
Then I go about my day - keep up w/ the financials, writing, creating, brainstorming, etc. I usually work for 1-2 hours, take a break - food/exercise/random errands, & then get back to work. I also take some time to meditate, reflect/think on my past/current/future situation, & make plans accordingly.
Things I do when I'm down & out.
1. Recognize it immediately & get myself out of it, into a higher state.
2. Take a deep breath - accept it, then let it go
3. Visualize the outcome I want, reaffirm that this is the right way, the path.
4. Trust in myself, and in a Higher Source.
5. Get back to my path/purpose, source.
6. Understand that the pressures/expectations are self-imposed, & constructs of society. I take what works from these constructs & apply them in my daily life, but I don't let them dictate how I view myself, the world, etc.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Take up a swimming workout during the summer
Hey guys - it's hot down here where I live, reaches 100+ degrees F in the summer. I'm used to running in cooler temperatures, & for the past few months have literally had to wait until 7 pm, for everything to cool down to start my run. However, was driving the other day & drove past a pool in the neighborhood. Not one that's for kids to play, but an actual Olympic-sized pool to workout in. So I signed up & now my workouts consist of swimming, running, & weight lifting during the summers. It's a lot cooler, a lot more refreshing, more bearable, & a better workout (from what I hear) for your joints, calorie expenditure, etc. So give it a try. If it's too hot, go to your local swimming pool & work out there. That's the beauty of adaptability & flexibility.
Until next time!
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Reality-shattering, perspective altering, life changing books
Hey guys - back again. Over the break, I read some outstanding pieces of work. Work that challenged, changed my current perception of reality, how we view things as a society. They are as follows:
1. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man - by John Perkins. I actually came by this book on "accident" browsing the shelves at the local bookstore. The title sort of jumped out at me, so I started reading it. Fascinating stuff. Real life autobiography talks about the experiences of an economic hit man (EHM) - a modern James Bond. EHMs are basically employed by the corporatocracy, consisting of HUGE corporations, governments, & banks, basically trying to take over the world. Imperialism. Together, they employ these people to go to developing countries with MASSIVE natural resources - oil, etc. Try & strike out deals that are favorable to the local governments. Huge payouts to the local politicians. If they refuse, any means necessary are used to take them out of power - bribes, death, scandal, murder. The deals consist of HUGE contracts for US corporations to go in & build infrastructure. In return, the country gets placed into massive debt that they can't repay & make the countries obligated to the United States - which they then usually repay by giving us cheap oil. The corporations then go in, employ slave labor, destroy the natural environment. All in the name of greed, profits, control, power. Also, discusses how the government & corporations control the media to feed the public misinformation, disinformation, or omits information, which is why we always hear on the news (which I stopped watching years ago), about this shooting, that shooting, but never real tangible, applicable facts. Gives examples from Venezuela, Guatemala, Panama City, Saudi Arabia, Iraq. And also details the consequences of foreign governments if they fail to cooperate, usually ending in puppet governments, jackals, & invasion - like we did in Iraq. Fantastic read.
2. Grunch of Giants - by R. Buckminster Fuller. Dr. Fuller was a futurist, so he talks about how governments, corporations, and the rich legally steal from everybody else, by 1. The use of entities, 2. Printing their own money, 3. Making the rules so that they make money, no matter what. A bit difficult to read, but I got the general ideas, which shattered by reality.
3. Creature from Jekyll Island - Dr. Edward Griffin. Talks about the Federal Reserve & the Central Banks. Basically the Federal Reserve & the Central Banks are a cartel, who work with the governments to control the monetary supply & policy. Describes the formation, their motives, objectives. Tells the REAL truth about money - what it is, how it works. How the Federal Reserve has the right to print as much money as it wants (not backed by anything, but the reputation of the United States) & the Mandrake Mechanism (basically how the banks legally "print" their own money, by collecting interest on loans on money they don't have). Outstanding.
Stay tuned!
1. Confessions of an Economic Hit Man - by John Perkins. I actually came by this book on "accident" browsing the shelves at the local bookstore. The title sort of jumped out at me, so I started reading it. Fascinating stuff. Real life autobiography talks about the experiences of an economic hit man (EHM) - a modern James Bond. EHMs are basically employed by the corporatocracy, consisting of HUGE corporations, governments, & banks, basically trying to take over the world. Imperialism. Together, they employ these people to go to developing countries with MASSIVE natural resources - oil, etc. Try & strike out deals that are favorable to the local governments. Huge payouts to the local politicians. If they refuse, any means necessary are used to take them out of power - bribes, death, scandal, murder. The deals consist of HUGE contracts for US corporations to go in & build infrastructure. In return, the country gets placed into massive debt that they can't repay & make the countries obligated to the United States - which they then usually repay by giving us cheap oil. The corporations then go in, employ slave labor, destroy the natural environment. All in the name of greed, profits, control, power. Also, discusses how the government & corporations control the media to feed the public misinformation, disinformation, or omits information, which is why we always hear on the news (which I stopped watching years ago), about this shooting, that shooting, but never real tangible, applicable facts. Gives examples from Venezuela, Guatemala, Panama City, Saudi Arabia, Iraq. And also details the consequences of foreign governments if they fail to cooperate, usually ending in puppet governments, jackals, & invasion - like we did in Iraq. Fantastic read.
2. Grunch of Giants - by R. Buckminster Fuller. Dr. Fuller was a futurist, so he talks about how governments, corporations, and the rich legally steal from everybody else, by 1. The use of entities, 2. Printing their own money, 3. Making the rules so that they make money, no matter what. A bit difficult to read, but I got the general ideas, which shattered by reality.
3. Creature from Jekyll Island - Dr. Edward Griffin. Talks about the Federal Reserve & the Central Banks. Basically the Federal Reserve & the Central Banks are a cartel, who work with the governments to control the monetary supply & policy. Describes the formation, their motives, objectives. Tells the REAL truth about money - what it is, how it works. How the Federal Reserve has the right to print as much money as it wants (not backed by anything, but the reputation of the United States) & the Mandrake Mechanism (basically how the banks legally "print" their own money, by collecting interest on loans on money they don't have). Outstanding.Stay tuned!
Monday, March 9, 2009
What to Look for in an Investment
With the economy in the state it's in, scandals, & massive financial losses, I wanted to talk about what it means to really invest & what I personally look for when making an investment. One man that I've learned tremendously from is Robert Kiyosaki. What is an investment? Is it a:
1. Hot stock tip from your friend
2. Commentator on CNBC saying, "blah, blah, blah"
3. News article recommending company ABC
4. Commercial touting the latest company XYZ
5. Buying a stock today at a low price & selling it a few days later.
6. "Flipping" a house.
7. Mutual fund advisor saying, "Work hard, save, invest in a diversified portfolio of mutual funds in your 401k".
(PS - the answer to all of the above are NO. These are not investments).
Planning for your financial picture encompasses investing to speculating. The key difference between investing & the latter is cash flow. Cash flow provides immediate income. It puts money into your pocket, right now, today. Examples would include dividend, option-writing stocks, & cash flowing real estate & businesses. If I buy shares of company XYZ that provides a dividend, that stock would be an investment. I could also write options against my stock every month that would provide immediate, controllable, increases income. In real estate, if I acquired a property, rented it out to reliable tenants, and if the rent provided extra income, that would be an investment.
Buying for capitals gains is like icing on the cake, but not the primary reason you buy the particular investment. Even if stocks & real estate have decreased in value (such as current times), if they provide cash flow, you still have money to live. So cash flow is like oxygen. You have to have it, or you can't survive. Additionally, with capital gains you are hoping, wishing for appreciation. Hoping and wishing are not strategies I would employ when investing.
Here's how I divide investing:
1. Person
2. Vehicle
3. Knowledge & experience
Person: To invest you need to know your personal profile. Your goals, your tolerance for risk, your time horizon, how active do you want to be. If you are conservative, don't want to manage your portfolio, a lot of people would recommend mutual funds, although I would not recommend this route. Rather, I would work on increasing your financial education. If you are more active, have more experience then how about getting into stocks, options, currencies, interest rates, commodities, futures? Or what about real estate? Do you want to be a flipper, or do you want to buy real estate & then rent it out? Do you want to do it full time, making several deals a month? or do you want to do it part time buying one property a year? Again all of these depend on the person.
Vehicle: Stocks are stocks, real estate is real estate. No one vehicle is better than the other. It's how the person uses the vehicle that characterizes their particular investment style. Everything has its advantages & disadvantages. What I like about stocks are that they are paper investments. No hassles. I can easily get into & out of them if I so choose. I can use options to generate income, mitigate risk, acquire stocks for cheaper, & sell stocks for higher prices. What I don't like about stocks are false financials, corporate fraud, scandals, & manipulation by Washington/Wall Street. While I do own a successful company that trades stocks & options, I am personally moving towards real estate & businesses because I can actually see these investments. And my income from these investments comes from creating value for others.
Knowledge & experience: Most important. After knowing yourself, I would focus on increasing your financial IQ. Know what you're investing in & why. Gather more knowledge & experience. Go to seminars, meet like-minded people. Avoid salespeople, "advisors", conmen, "too good to be true" advertisements. Get a mentor, someone who's done what you want to do. Talk to people whom you trust (hint: not politicians, media, brokers, analysts). Read books such as Rich Dad, Poor Dad. I like books like this because they provide reality-changing ideas, while delivering outstanding content. If you increase your financial IQ, you'll be much better off. Start slow, learn, & then gradually work your way up.
So here are some criteria I place when making an investment.
1. Control
2. Cash Flow
3. Leverage
4. Tax advantages
5. Risk mitigation
6. Assets that I can physically see
7. Passive, automatic, residual
2. Cash Flow
3. Leverage
4. Tax advantages
5. Risk mitigation
6. Assets that I can physically see
7. Passive, automatic, residual
As with all things, making good investments is like making good decisions. It takes knowledge of yourself, planning, experience, & patience.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
11 EASY Ways to BETTER Health
Ever wonder why every year there are so many new diets, new ways of losing weight, new diet supplements?
Or why the first month of January the number of gym membership signups are at an all time high, yet by February, more than half are never to be seen again?
Or why diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, eating disorders, depression/anxiety are becoming more and more prevalent?
Here are some facts:
1. Average life expectancy is increasing.
2. Our lifestyle is changing from a much active to a more sedentary lifestyle.
3. Fast, cheap, salty/greasy foods make up a large component of the Western diet.
3. Health insurance costs are skyrocketing with lower payouts. Medicare will not be able to support future generations.
4. Diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression/anxiety are increasing dramatically.
With these facts in mind, health is becoming more and more important. Maintenance and prevention require establishing healthy habits early on. Here are 11 simple things I do to maintain my health.
Diet
1. Drinking 8 glasses of water every day (glass of water in the morning, during each meal, & during your breaks).
2. Eating foods high in water, fiber (Eat a salad or fruit w/ each meal).
3. Taking a vitamin every day.
Exercise
4. Running 1 hr a day, 3-4x a week. Lifting weights 2x a week. If you have bad knees, back then swim, or get on an elliptical machine. Make sure you heart rate is working at 60-75% of your maximum heart rate (220-age) for the entire time.
Emotional, spiritual, energy
5. Deep breathing, meditation, stretching 10-15 minutes every day following exercise.
6. Getting 8-9 hrs of sleep.
7. Reading uplifting books in the morning & before I go to sleep. Keeping my brain active by engaging in hobbies, reading.
8. Writing in my journal before going to bed. Writing down 5 things that I am thankful for.
9. Spending time with friends & family.
Preventive
10. Getting regular medical checkups. Main things to monitor are your blood pressure, resting heart rate, weight, cholesterol panel, and fasting glucose levels.
11. Treating myself once a week to reward myself for maintaining these healthy habits.
Remember, maintaining your health takes time, effort, & discipline. It requires establishing healthy habits. Little by little, if you start small & work your way one day at a time, you'll make it!
DISCLAIMER: The following are personal examples only. They are not professional recommendations. Please consult your personal physician before engaging in any of the following activities.
Or why the first month of January the number of gym membership signups are at an all time high, yet by February, more than half are never to be seen again?
Or why diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, eating disorders, depression/anxiety are becoming more and more prevalent?
Here are some facts:
1. Average life expectancy is increasing.
2. Our lifestyle is changing from a much active to a more sedentary lifestyle.
3. Fast, cheap, salty/greasy foods make up a large component of the Western diet.
3. Health insurance costs are skyrocketing with lower payouts. Medicare will not be able to support future generations.
4. Diseases such as cancer, heart disease, diabetes, obesity, depression/anxiety are increasing dramatically.
With these facts in mind, health is becoming more and more important. Maintenance and prevention require establishing healthy habits early on. Here are 11 simple things I do to maintain my health.
Diet
1. Drinking 8 glasses of water every day (glass of water in the morning, during each meal, & during your breaks).
2. Eating foods high in water, fiber (Eat a salad or fruit w/ each meal).
3. Taking a vitamin every day.
Exercise
4. Running 1 hr a day, 3-4x a week. Lifting weights 2x a week. If you have bad knees, back then swim, or get on an elliptical machine. Make sure you heart rate is working at 60-75% of your maximum heart rate (220-age) for the entire time.
Emotional, spiritual, energy
5. Deep breathing, meditation, stretching 10-15 minutes every day following exercise.
6. Getting 8-9 hrs of sleep.
7. Reading uplifting books in the morning & before I go to sleep. Keeping my brain active by engaging in hobbies, reading.
8. Writing in my journal before going to bed. Writing down 5 things that I am thankful for.
9. Spending time with friends & family.
Preventive
10. Getting regular medical checkups. Main things to monitor are your blood pressure, resting heart rate, weight, cholesterol panel, and fasting glucose levels.
11. Treating myself once a week to reward myself for maintaining these healthy habits.
Remember, maintaining your health takes time, effort, & discipline. It requires establishing healthy habits. Little by little, if you start small & work your way one day at a time, you'll make it!
DISCLAIMER: The following are personal examples only. They are not professional recommendations. Please consult your personal physician before engaging in any of the following activities.
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