book

Dec

2021

Lessons from The Slight Edge: Your First Step Toward Success

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Are you in the midst of a crisis right now? If you are having problems, you know deep inside that you cannot stay in that state forever. Life goes on and it will not stop and wait until you are ready. Many people were able to rise above the storm. You believe deep inside that you too have what it takes to do the same. You are just not sure on where to begin. The lessons from The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson might just be your first step toward success and happiness.

There are things that you need to do in order to overcome the problem you are facing right now. First, you have to embrace your pain and take control of your emotions. Only by doing this will you be able to begin to take responsibility for your life. It would help if you have set some goals to define where you want to be in the future. Your goals need to be S.M.A.R.T in order to succeed. Remember that success always starts with a vision.

Once you have a clear idea on where you want to be and what you hope to achieve, you are now ready to take your first step. However, the road towards the attainment of your goals is not as easy as it sounds. Goals and dreams can be overwhelming. Most of the time, people get discouraged just by merely thinking about them. If you already have a clear vision, yet are still confused on how to go about it, then the book The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson is for you. The book has powerful lessons that you can use as your first step towards success.

The Slight Edge Philosophy talks about how simple everyday choices can lead to massive success and happiness. It is not about the big decisions but rather the small ones that create powerful results in all areas in life. This is the reason why diets don’t work. This is also the reason why many famous movie stars and athletes and lottery winners go broke after some time despite receiving millions of dollars.

Lessons From The Slight Edge

Here are some excerpts from the The Slight Edge that contain powerful lessons that you can use on you journey towards success:

1. You have complete control over the direction that the rest of your life takes.

You are a product of your decisions. Where you are and who you are right now is a result of all the decisions that you have made in the past. Your success is all because of you. In the same way, you are also miserable not because of anyone else but because of you. It is not the fault of your parents, partner, boss, government nor anyone else for that matter. Thus, you need to take control of your life. Your future happiness and success all depends on you alone.

2. Your philosophy creates your attitudes, which create your actions, which create your results, which create your life.

Your philosophy is how you look at life. The decisions that you make everyday are largely influenced by the way you look at things. And soon, this will manifest itself in your life. If you think the world is beautiful, then your life will also be beautiful. If you look at life negatively, then your life will be miserable. In short, what you focus on expands. So, what do you focus on?

3. Simple daily disciplines – little productive actions, repeated consistently over time – add up to the difference between failure and success.

Our success or failure is the result of simple everyday choices that seem harmless, but taken together over time will lead to failure or success in the future. For example, you go to a restaurant and you order soda instead of water. It is harmless, right? But if you do this each time you go out and you have been doing it for decades, soon you will have health problems. You don’t get sick just by drinking a can of soda, it is the accumulation of all those cans of sodas that you have been drinking for decades that made you sick. This is true not just with health but also in relationships, career, money and all other aspects in life.

4. People don’t consistently do those simple things for three reasons:

a) While they are easy to do, they are also easy not to do;

b) You don’t see any results at first;

c) They seem insignificant, like they don’t matter. But they do.

All of us are capable of doing little things to become successful but the problem is we don’t do it. It is not because it is hard but because it is easy not to do. All our daily, hourly and even minute choices, no matter how small, will all lead to our success or failure in that particular aspect in life.

So if you want to do good in one aspect of your life, think about the little things that you can do each day towards the attainment of that goal. For example, if you want your marriage to last; ask yourself, what small thing can you do for your spouse each day? It can be a kiss, a hug, a text message, help in the household chores, etc. The point is it needs to be consistent every day.

5. No genuine success in life is instant. Life is not a clickable link.

Success takes time. In this day and age, people are used to getting what they want in an instant that patience is no longer a virtue that everyone has. That is the reason why many people fall prey to ‘get-rich-quick scams’. True success involves consistent daily actions repeated over time. First you plant, then cultivate and then you harvest. That is the natural progression of things.

6. Success does not lead to happiness, it’s the other way around: more happiness creates more success.

Have you heard people saying “I’ll be happy once I’m rich” or “I’ll be happy once I’m married to that person”? What these people failed to understand is that happiness comes first. If you cannot be happy with the blessings that you have right now, you can’t be happy once you have more in the future. Why do you think many famous, powerful and rich individuals died of overdose from drugs and alcohol or committed suicide despite the fact of having it all? Happiness is not something that you chase. It is a state of mind and sense of well-being. It is the feeling of being grateful for the moment.

7. Greater success also creates a greater responsibility to share that success to others.

Your success is not just for you alone. It is for you to share your blessings with others. The more you share, the more blessings will come your way. Think about it, if you can help one person, you are sending a positive signal to the world. The person that you helped will be inspired to help another one too. This is what you call the ripple effect.

8. Greatness is not something predetermined, predestined or carved into your fate by forces beyond your control. Greatness is always in the moment of decision.

You have what it takes to succeed. All the great people out there are not great because they are destined to be great. They are great because they choose to be great. You are no exception. Make the decision to be great.

Are you ready for your metamorphosis? Read the book if you want to learn more practical lessons from the Slight Edge Philosophy, your first step towards success and happiness.

First published in Pinoy Smart Living 10.05.2019

Feb

2021

100 Must Have Pieces Every Woman Should Own

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Have you heard of the saying that ‘a girl can never have enough clothes and shoes’? Yes, it’s true. There are women who have many clothes yet still complain of having nothing to wear. Well, there is nothing wrong with having too many especially if one can afford it. After all, every woman deserves to feel beautiful. If you are on a budget, you can actually do well with just a few basic must-have items. But if you have money to spare; fashion journalist Nina Garcia, editor-in-chief of Elle Fashion Magazine and judge of TV show Project Runway released a book entitled The One Hundred. It is the ultimate guide book that lists 100 must have pieces every woman should own.

Here is Nina Garcia’s fashion must have list.

Accessories

Aviators
Belts
Brooches
Fishnets
Gentleman’s Hat
Gloves
Nail Polish
Perfume
Red Lipstick
Silk Scarf
Sunhat
Vintage
Watches
Wayfarers

Bags

Clutch Bag
Exotic Skin Bag
Hobo Bag
Investment Bag
Luggage
Tote Bag

Clothing

A-Line Dress
Animal print (can either be a full outfit or accessories)
Bkini
Black Opaque Tights
Evening Gown
Fur
Jeans
Kaftan
Khakis
Leather Trousers
Lingerie
Little Black Dress
Little White Dress
Man’s White Shirt
Knit
Old Concert T-shirt
One-piece Swimsuit
Pyjamas
Pencil Skirt
Perfect White T-shirt
Polo Shirt
Pucci
Push-up Bra
Robe
Sarong
Spanx
Striped Sailor Shirt
Suit
Underwear
Wide-leg Trousers
Wrap Dresses

Coats/Jackets

Blazer
Boyfriend Cardigan (can be stolen from a man’s closet)
Cable-Knit Sweater
Camel Coat
Cape
Cashmere Sweater
Denim Jacket
Motorcycle Jacket
Pea Coat
Safari Jacket
Trenchcoat
Tuxedo Jacket
Zip-front Hoodies

Footwear

Ankle Boots
Ballet Flats
Converse Trainers
Cowboy Boots
Driving Shoes
Espadrilles
Harness Boots
Havianas
Slippers
Knee-high Boots
Mary Janes
Moccasins
Sandals
Stilettos
Vans
Wellington Boots

Jewelries

Bangles
Charm Bracelet
Cocktail Ring
Cuff Jewelry
Diamond Studs
Hoop Earrings
Pearl Necklace
Signet Ring
Statement Necklace
Turquoise and Coral Jewelry

Other Items

Cellphone (originally listed as Blackberry when it was published in 2008)
Champagne (ok so this is not a fashion item. but she suggested to always have a bottle ready in case of a celebration)
Cosmetics Bag
Ipod
Jewelry pouch
Mad money (spare notes kept in a secret pocket)
Monogrammed Stationary
Umbrella
Valid Passport
Yoga Gear

How many do you own? Do you agree with her list?

Feature Image by Image by Mary Black from Pixabay.

Dec

2020

Morning Habits of Highly Successful People

Reading Time: 5 minutes

Are you happy? Are you healthy? Do you consider yourself a highly successful person? Are you a millionaire? You are where you are today because of your habits. So, if you want to change your life for the better, you need to start changing your habits. So, what are the morning habits of highly successful people?

Habits Defined

What are habits? Habits are your usual way of behaving. They are your thoughts and actions that you repeat over and over again.

In short, everything that you repeatedly do from the moment you wake up until the time you go to sleep are habits. According to Charles Duhigg, author of best-selling book The Power of Habit, 40% to 45% of what we do each day are not conscious decisions but habits.

Habits Formation

Habits are formed through repetition on a daily basis. Some habits were developed during childhood like tying your shoelaces or brushing your teeth. Other habits like how you parallel park your car are formed each time you learn something new. Studies suggest that as an action becomes automatic, the brain shuts down. For example, you can completely concentrate on something else while brushing your teeth.

Thus, habits are very powerful. They dictate how successful or unsuccessful you will be in life. Your life today is the sum of all your habits.

Making a Choice

While luck and genetics may be contributing factors, it is the behaviours of individuals that ultimately lead to success. The good news is that new habits can be learned and old habits can be unlearned. So, if you want your life to get better, you cannot continue doing what you have been doing. You need to make some changes.

Success does not happen overnight. Rather, it is the result of all the successful habits done over time.

Success is the sum of all efforts, repeated day in and day out.
– Robert Collier

In this case, how and where to start? Brian Tracy, the most listened to speaker on the development of human potential and personal effectiveness recommends starting with your morning routine. According to him, what you do in the first few hours of the morning set the tone on how the rest of your day will turn out.

Five Morning Habits that will Change your Life

Specifically, morning habits are routine things that people do in the morning. Starting the morning right can influence how the rest of the day will turn out. Every successful person in the world out there has similar morning routines.

1. Get Up Early

Morning people are successful people. Tom Corley, author of Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals, spent five years studying 233 wealthy people and 123 poor people. According to him, self-made millionaires woke up three hours before their schedule actually begins.

Robert Iger, Disney CEO wakes up at 4:30 am.
Former US President George HW Bush would get up at 4:00 am.
Apple CEO Tim Cook gets up at around 3:45 am
Fiat and Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne gets up at 3:30 am.
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz gets up at around 4:30 am.
Best selling author Dan Brown wakes up at 4:00 am
Jack Dorsey, Co-founder and CEO of Twitter wakes up at 5:00 am

2. Meditate

Gone were the days where meditation is just for the monks, hippies and yogis. Science has proven that meditation has many beneficial effects on the body. Meditation reduces stress, lowers blood pressure, enhances creativity, lowers depression and improves performance. Meditation is a form of contemplative practice just like prayer and visualisation. Start your meditation with gratitude and then visualise the day ahead of you.

Ariana Huffington, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post does 20-30 minutes meditation as a part of her morning routine.
Rick Rubin, former president of Columbia records is a daily practitioner of Transcendental Meditation.
Padmasree Warrior, chief Technology and Strategy officer of Cisco Systems allots 20 minutes a day for meditation.
Jeff Weiner, CEO of Linkedin empties his mind each day to meditate.
Ophrah Winfrey, the most influential woman on media who has her own media empire, spends 20 minutes of meditation to start her day.
Jennifer Lopez meditates 20 minutes in the morning and at night.

3. Exercise

Tom Corley said that about 76% of the wealthy exercised for at least 30 minutes a day. In another study done by Psychology Today on 5,402 Finnish twin males, results revealed that the physically active twin earned about 17% more income than the less active twin. Daily exercise not only controls weight but also improves health and stimulates the brain.

Jennifer Aniston, one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood, includes spin-yoga and gym workout as part of her daily morning routine.
Bill Gates, the richest man in the world, spends an hour each day on his treadmill.
Former US President Barack Obama goes to the gym at 6:45 am to do weights and cardio work-out.
Steve Rheinmund, former chairman and CEO of Pepsi does a four mile run every morning at 5 am.
Anna Wintour, Vogue editor-in-chief plays an hour of tennis at 5:45 in the morning each day.

4. Eat a Healthy Breakfast

The word breakfast came from an old English word which means to break the fast of the night. After a whole night of fasting, the body needs essential nutrients to function properly for the day. That is why, breakfast is said to be the most important meal of the day.

Richard Branson, founder and chairman of the Virgin Group opts for a high fiber, high vitamin breakfast. His breakfast includes fruit salad, muesli and some kippers occasionally.
Winston Churchill, former British prime minister ate a hearty morning meal of poached eggs, toast, cold meats and grapefruit.
Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter, eats two hard boiled eggs with soy sauce.
Shaquille O’Neal, former NBA star, confessed that he never drank coffee his whole life. Breakfast is normally composed of bread, omelette and a glass of fresh orange juice.
Justin Timberlake, singer songwriter and record producer eats breakfast twice daily. The first one includes waffles with flax, almond butter and scrambled egg. He eats another egg and a protein shake for his second breakfast after workout.

5. Read

According to Tom Carley, the most significant disparity between the habits of the wealthy and the poor concerns reading. About 88% of the wealthy read at least 30 minutes each day compared to only 2% of the poor. Successful people make it their business to stay informed. They read to increase their knowledge, learn new things and to stay current with events especially in their industry.

Warren Buffet, the most successful investor in the world reads the American Banker, Financial Times, New York Times, Omaha World Herald, USA Today and the Wall Street Journal every morning.
John Carney, writer and former CNBC editor reads ancient philosophy by Plato, Socrates and Xenophon.
Dave Girouard, former president of Google, reads Winston Churchill’s speeches.
Charlie Munger, vice-chairman of Berkshire Hathaway reads The Economist.
Fran Tankerton, former National Football League quarterback read local and national newspapers from cover to cover.

To change a bad habit, all you need to do is simply replace it with a new one. Studies show that on average, it takes 21 CONSECUTIVE days to create a new habit, although some people take a bit longer. This simply means that you need to do the habit that you want to form for at least 21 straight days preferably at the same time everyday. For example if your goal is to wake up at 5:00 am, you need to set the alarm at 5:00 am from Monday to Sunday. If you fail to do it even for a day, you need to restart on Day 1. An effective technique is to use a daily reminder or alarm and to mark an X on your calendar once you have done it for the day.

You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.
– John C. Maxwell

Feature Image by Emrah Tolu from Pexels

Nov

2020

Books That Will Change The Way You Look at Things

Reading Time: 6 minutes

When was the last time you ever read a book? Did you know that books are good for your mental health? It strengthens the brain, improves your memory and makes you smarter. Books also reduces stress and alleviates depression. They can take you to a world of adventure and imagination. They can also contribute to your success and wealth. But most importantly, books can shift your entire perspective in life. The ability to look at things from another person’s point of view is an important life skill that we need in order to live life to the fullest. Here is a list of books that will help change the way you look at things.

Books That Will Change the Way You Look at Things:

1. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

If you find yourself lost in life, then you should read this book. The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is a novel about a shepherd boy named Santiago who travels from one place to the other in search of a treasure. Although it is just a simple story, The Alchemist is full of valuable lessons that can be applied in real life. Rather than following the dictates of society, the book focuses on the individual. It is all about following your dreams and passion and listening to the signs of the universe. When you truly want something, the universe will send you people, things and circumstances that can help you achieve your goals. You just need to be conscious and aware of all the signs that the universe is sending your way.

When you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.
-Paolo Coelho

The book will change the way you look at things in a way that you will have the courage to pursue the things that you want. You will also learn to open yourself up to signs that the universe is sending you. You will learn to listen to your intuition. You will also learn to appreciate the little things in life.

2. The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness by Jeff Olson

Do you want to be successful but you don’t know what to do or where to start? Then, The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson is for you. Jeff Olson talks about the way to massive success and happiness. Contrary to popular belief, the path to success is not some rocket science. Neither it is one big leap or one successful deal or breakthrough. Rather, the key to success lies on all the little things that you do daily.

Simple daily disciplines – little productive action, repeated consistently over time – add up to the difference between failure and success.
– Jeff Olson

Through lessons learned in The Slight Edge, you will begin to become aware of all the minor decisions that you do in life. For example, you want to drink a can of soda. It is harmless, right? But you will now be aware that by doing this on a daily basis, you are putting your health at risk. So, you will begin to question your choice of drink, and maybe opt for something healthier like water, perhaps. That’s the Slight Edge philosophy. It will change you in a way that you will become conscious of all the little things that you do daily.

lessons from The Slight Edge: Your First Step Towards Success

3. Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Are you searching for happiness? Where can you find happiness? Most people search for happiness in wealth, success, fame, fortune or in other people only to find out it is not there. According to psychology professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, happiness can be found in the total absorption or optimal experience in the present moment. For him, happiness is not a destination or an end goal. Rather, happiness is a state of joy and creativity. You are so absorbed in the moment that all the problems and worries disappear in that particular experience. The author calls this state the “flow”. The good thing about it is that we don’t need to wait for that certain moment to happen, we have the power to actually make it happen. Thus, it is possible to turn even the mundane everyday activities such as doing chores into a “flow”.

The happiest people spend much time in a state of flow – the state in which people are so involved in an activity that nothing else seems to matter; the experience itself is so enjoyable that people will do it even at great cost, for the sheer sake of doing it.
– Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi

Through Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, you will learn that you can be happy anytime. You don’t need to wait for big things to happen in your life to be happy. You can be happy right now wherever you are in your life. You will also learn that happiness cannot be found outside, rather it is within you.

4. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Another book that will change the way you look at things is Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. Have you ever wondered why you seemed to be stuck in your financial life despite having worked hard all your life? in this book, Kiyosaki talks about his two dads, his rich dad and his poor dad and how the two dads shaped his thoughts about money. Kiyosaki emphasized that difference between the rich mindset and the poor mindset. Wealth is not about how high your education is or the type of work that you do. Neither it is all about the amount of income that you earn. Rather, wealth is about how you manage your money. It all about what you do with the money that you earn.

Rich people acquire assets. The poor and middle class acquire liabilities that they think are assets.
-Robert Kiyosaki

This book will teach you the importance of financial literacy. Your perspective about money will totally change. You will understand that having a high-paying job is not enough. You also need to have a clear understanding on the difference between an asset and liability in order become wealthy. If not, you will find yourself struggling for money all your life despite your hard work.

5. Awaken the Giant Within – Tony Robbins

Are you overwhelmed by your problems right now? Do you focus on your problems rather than the solutions to your problems? Do you blame others for all the bad things that happened your way? If you want to change all these negative traits, then Awaken the Giant Within from Tony Robbins is the perfect book for you. This book will force you to wake up and take control of your life once and for all. The change should start with the mind, your values, belief system and standards.

It is in your moments of decision that your destiny is shaped.
– Tony Robbins

Rather than focusing on problems and all the negative feelings surrounding that problem, Robbins encouraged the readers to focus on the goals instead. By shifting the focus, it is easier to make decisions that will create the results that you desire. Destiny is a result of all the decisions that you have made. Through this book, you will realize that you are the author of your life. You are where you are right now because of all the decisions that you made in the past. You have the power to create your own destiny.

There are many other books that will change the way you look at things. The question is, are you ready to take on the challenge? Discover a whole new world by reading some books that will change the way you look at things.

How about you? What book or books have your read that changed the way you look at things?

Feature Image by Nino Care from Pixabay Images.

Jul

2020

Valuable Life Lessons from The Alchemist

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Feeling lost in life? Then, The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho is for you. One of the best-selling books of all time, the Alchemist is about the story of a young shepherd boy, Santiago and his quest to find treasures in the pyramids. The story is more than just your typical fiction stories. It is a philosophical book that will give you a better understanding of what life truly is all about. It is about listening to your heart, chasing your dreams and pursuing your destiny. There are so many powerful and valuable life lessons from The Alchemist that every person should read this book at least once in their life.

Here are 10 Valuable Life Lessons I’ve learned The Alchemist.

1. Life is Continuous Learning

Life is a continuous learning process. We can only grow us a person if we broaden our horizon and discover new things. Santiago knew this. Although a shepherd boy, Santiago loves to read books. He was able to dream of faraway places because he read about them.

Santiago also listens and seeks advice from people who are smarter than him. Throughout his journey, he met people along the way that served as his mentors – the king, the merchant, the Englishman and the alchemist.

Sadly, many people stopped learning after school. That is the reason why they got stuck in life. Others are too proud to ask advice from others. They think they know everything. The moment you think that you know everything is the start of your downfall.

The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
– Socrates

Santiago also learns from experience. His quest for the treasure was not smooth sailing. He made mistakes along the way but he learned from them.

There are so many valuable lessons to be learned throughout your life’s journey. Master the lesson. If you think that you have the same problem over and over again, that is because you have not learned the lesson yet. This applies in all aspects of your life whether it be your finances, career, health and even your relationships. Learn the lesson from past events, apply it and move on.

2. Always Look at the Bright Side

Santiago always find the good things in a bad situation no matter how big or small it is. Instead of complaining about how he had to carry the weight of his jacket in the heat of the sun, he remembered how that jacket kept him warm during winter nights. Likewise, he could have wallowed in self-pity when he lost everything in Africa; but he chose to change his perspective. Instead of looking at himself as a victim, he looked at himself as an adventurer in a foreign country.

In both cases, notice that both situations can be viewed negatively. But Santiago chose to look at them differently. Instead of of the negative, he looked for the positive. It is all about the mindset.

3. Follow your Dreams

Ever since Santiago was a child, he wanted to travel the world. His parents wanted him to become a priest. Rather than adhering to his parents’ wishes, he summoned enough courage to talk to his dad to tell him that he wants to do something else in life. Instead of becoming a priest, Santiago decided to become a shepherd so he can travel.

That’s the problem with most of us. We become victims of other people’s definition of success. We follow a different path because that is what our family and society expected from us. As a result, we lost track of our destiny. What used to be very clear when we were young seems to be impossible when we grow up.

The thing is no matter how successful we become with our chosen path, there will always be a feeling of emptiness. You will never be truly happy if you are not doing your purpose in life. Destiny is what you always want to accomplish. If you feel that something is lacking despite having everything, that is life’s way of telling you that you are not doing what you were born to do.

Follow your passion. Wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. Pursue your destiny if you don’t want to spend the rest of your life with regret.

4. Give 10 Percent

Giving a tenth of your income to others is a form of gratitude to God for all the blessings that we have received. We have an obligation to share a portion of what we have. The only way for us to receive more blessings is when we learn to give first. Don’t promise to give what you don’t have yet. If it is hard for you to give when you have little, it will be harder to share when you have more. Give 10% of what you have right now.

5. The Simplest Things in Life are the Most Extraordinary

The secret to happiness is to be able to appreciate the beauty of your day to day life. It is seeing the wonders of the world and the beauty of the little things that we normally take for granted like the flowers, the scenery and the people around us.

Happiness is never about the destination but rather it is about enjoying the journey. Each day matters. Every second counts. Learn to love everyday. Show the people around you how much you care. It’s all about mindfulness.

Towards the end of our life, the simple things like the time we spend with our family is what truly matters. True happiness boils down to the quality of our relationship with others. It is best that you cherish every moment while you still can.

6. Negative Things Happen in Life Because They Prepare our Spirit and our Will

Bad things happen to everyone, even to good people. These things happen not because we are being punished but because they are necessary for our growth. The pain that we experience in our lives actually prepares our spirit and our will in realising our destiny.

The road to the fulfilment of our dreams is never easy. There will be bumps along the way. Sometimes, we will be forced to make detours. We need to make some adjustments but the destination remains the same. The important thing is to keep on going forward. Once we have succeeded in overcoming life’s challenges, we become better persons.

You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something – your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.
– Steve Jobs

The roadblocks that we will encounter are all part of a master plan. They all happened for a reason. It is difficult to understand at the moment but everything will make sense once you have found your treasure.

7. When you Want Something, All the Universe Conspires in Helping you Achieve it

Have you heard of The Secret? The Secret is actually the Law of Attraction. It states that if you really want something and you focus your thoughts on that, the universe will give it to you.

This belief system has been mentioned several times throughout the book, that there is a force out there that guides us. Whether you call it God, the Universe or the Soul of the World; that force is always nearby especially to those who wants to realise their destinies.

We should learn to recognise the omens or the signs and follow them. Sometimes, it appears as a solution or an idea. Sometimes, it presents itself as a direct message from somebody whom you are having a conversation with. Remember, there is no such thing as coincidence. There is a reason why you bumped into an old friend or why you are reading this article right now. We have to listen to what the universe is telling us. We also need to listen inward to our intuition.

In the same way, that if you think that the world is out there to get you, negative things will start happening your way. Thus, you have to be careful of what you think and what you say. In the story, when the monk told the alchemist that his payment goes well beyond his generosity; the alchemist quickly told the monk not to say it because life is listening. What the alchemist meant was that the universe responds to thoughts; thus, the monk might receive less next time.

8. Persistence is the Key

The road to our destinies is never easy. Only those who are persistent will be successful.

There were numerous times when Santiago could have just given up, when he lost everything in Africa, when he had enough money to go back to Andalusia after working for the merchant or when he met Fatima in the desert oasis; but still he persevered.

Your treasure can only be uncovered after a series of tests. The closer you get to your dreams, the harder it will become. It takes a lot of courage, patience and persistence to finally be able to achieve your destiny.

9. Success Happens Outside your Comfort Zone

Santiago was already traveling as a shepherd boy but he sold his flock of sheep to go to Africa. After a year in Africa, he already earned enough money to either stay there or to go back to Andalusia but he chose to go to the desert. While in the desert oasis, Santiago had met the love of his life and earned the respect of the community but still, he opted to continue his quest for the treasure.

In all three scenarios, Santiago was already successful and comfortable with his life but he gave them all up to continue his journey and pursue his destiny. Just what do you think would have happened in the story if he decided to stay in his comfort zone. Do you think, he would have found his treasure?

In reality, many people don’t like change or are scared of change. As much as we want to pursue our dreams, we are more scared of disappointment. We are scared that we might lose everything that we have worked for if we are going to start anew. We would rather stay in our comfort zone. This is the reason why people get stuck in life whether it is a bad relationship or a job that they don’t like. Fear is one of the biggest obstacles that is keeping us from achieving our dreams.

10. Everyone has His Own Destiny

If a person is successful in one area, it does not mean that you too will be successful in that same area. It is because each person has his own destiny to fulfil. His way is not the same as yours. So, don’t compare yourself with others.

No matter who we are, everyone has a central role to play in the history of the world. Each one of us is unique. Embrace your uniqueness. As the Englishman said, we all can’t become alchemist, otherwise, gold will lose its value.

Good luck on your journey and I hope you find your treasure!

First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 08.24.2018

Feature Image from Free Image and mbll from Pixabay Images.

Jun

2020

Things to Consider in Finding a Good Mentor

Reading Time: 3 minutes

You need a mentor to fast track your way to success. However, finding a good mentor is not that easy. You cannot just choose anybody that you like. There are some things that you need to consider first in finding a good mentor.

1. Define your Goals

First, ask yourself, what is it that you want? What do you want to achieve in life? Do you want to be successful in a specific field? Are you aiming for a healthy and sexy body? Do you want to be wealthy? What are your goals in life?

Your choice of mentor is highly dependent on what your goals are. Just because somebody is successful does not necessarily mean that that person is the best person to be your mentor. Your mentor’s achievements should be in line with what you want to achieve in life.

2. Be Specific

Once you have defined your goals, you should now look for someone who already achieved whatever it is that you want to achieve. Ask yourself, is there somebody whom you aspire to be like? Who is your role model?

You should not limit yourself to just one mentor. You can have as many as you deem necessary. For example, your wealth mentor may not necessarily be your health mentor. That’s why you need to be specific not just in identifying what you want but in identifying the people whom you think had achieved success in that particular aspect in their lives.

3. Look into Expertise

One of the things that you need to consider in finding a good mentor is his/her level of expertise on the subject. If you want to grow your finances, you need to look for people who know how to handle and grow their money. If you want to have a perfect body, you need to look for people who have perfect body themselves. You want to have a healthy relationship with your partner, you need to look for people who have been in a happy relationship for years. The point is, your mentor should be an expert in that particular field.

There are people who asked money advice from people who are in financial situations worst than them. In the same way, that there are people who asked relationship and marital advice from their single friends.

It is like this, if you want to learn how to play tennis, will you ask a person who doesn’t know how to play tennis to teach you? Of course not! You are going to look for a couch who is an expert in playing tennis. This should also be the case when it comes to finding mentors. Look for someone who has been that road before.

4. Build Authentic Relationships

The best place to look for a mentor is around you. Are there people around you whom you respect and admire? Are there people whom you look up to?

Once you have identified these people, make an effort to build authentic relationships with them. Attend social gatherings. Connect with these people. Keep in touch. These small interactions can help you build a genuine relationship with them. You cannot just simply approach a stranger to be your mentor. It is best that you establish a good personal relationship with them first.

5. Read

Although a personal relationship with a mentor is always better, books about and written by people whom you admire can also be a form of mentorship. Just like a real person, books also have the power to change your thinking and beliefs. Many people succeeded in changing the way they look at things simply by reading books. For instance, if you want to be successful and wealthy, read books about wealth and success.

This is especially useful if there are no people around you who are experts in that particular field that you want to excel to. There are tons of information available out there even in the internet about famous and successful people. Read about them. Learn from their stories and apply the lessons in your life.

If you are not the reading type of person, you can still watch videos of interviews or you can listen to podcasts. The point is the information is available out there.

Good luck in finding a good mentor!

Updated Version. First Published in Pinoy Smart Living in 06.28.2019.

Feature Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay Images.

May

2020

Life-Changing Books on Wealth and Success

Reading Time: 7 minutes

Your first step towards wealth is not some rocket science. All you need is to develop some good habits. Habits are things that you continually do on a regular basis. Highly successful people have daily success habits. These habits are what made them successful. So, If your goal is to become rich, you must learn to adopt some rich habits. One of these habits is to read life-changing books on wealth and success.

Tom Corley, author of the bestselling book Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals stated that out of all the habits of the rich and highly successful people, the most significant difference between the habits of the rich and the poor is their reading habits. According to him, about 88% of the wealthy read at least 30 minutes a day while only 2% of the poor do.

The more you read, the more things you know. The more you learn, the more places you will go.
Dr. Seuss

Highly successful people read a lot. Warren Buffet reads 600-1000 pages a day. Bill Gates reads about 50 books a year. Mark Zuckerberg reads a book once every two weeks. These people do not just read anything. According to Tom Corley, successful people read to learn. They read books on self-improvement, success, business and their industries. They also read biographies and autobiographies of other successful people. The poor on the other hand, read to be entertained.

If you want to become rich and successful; begin by reading. Do not just read anything, read books that will help you grow as a person. Through reading financial books, you will be able to learn so many things about money and how money works. A better understanding of money will give you enough tools that can help you make good financial decisions in your daily lives.

Life Changing Books on Wealth and Success for Beginners

There are millions of success books out there. For beginners, I would like to recommend five life-changing books on financial literacy and success. Read them. Study them and apply them in your life. Hopefully by doing so, these books will serve as catapult and inspiration in your journey towards a wealthier, healthier and happier you.

8 Secrets of the Truly Rich by Bo Sanchez

If reading is not your cup of tea, there is no better better way to start developing your reading habits than through this book. Preacher and best-selling author Bo Sanchez has mastered the art of story telling. No long descriptions. No lengthy paragraphs. It is written humorously so there is never a dull moment. This is the best book to start not only your reading habit but also my journey towards financial freedom.

This book is very inspirational. Bo Sanchez challenged some people’s negative beliefs about money. A lot of Christians grew up with several crazy religious beliefs such as the rich cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven and the come what may attitude in the sense that some people rely on God too much and they fail to do their part. For the longest time, people were made to believe that wealth and spirituality don’t mix just like oil and water.

Bo Sanchez wants the people to stop blaming others and instead be totally responsible for your own success. He placed the context of money and success as part of God’s plan. God wants you to be wealthy because He wants you to have the ability to help others. It is difficult to help others if you are poor.

Money is not dirty. Instead, money with the right purpose will do wonders for the world. it also put emphasis on the importance of doing your part as opposed to waiting for God’s blessings to come your way. The road to financial freedom needs commitment. It also involves raising your financial IQ.

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

First published in 1938 during the Great Depression, this book is considered to be the most influential book of all time. Its author Napoleon Hill is said to have motivated millions of people into success than any other person in history.

As a journalist, Napoleon Hill was given an assignment to interview one of the richest man in history and said to be the most powerful man in the world during that time, industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. Andrew Carnegie refused to directly answer Napoleon Hill’s questions. Instead, he commissioned Napoleon Hill to interview over 500 millionaires to find the common success formula that will help the average person overcome the great economic depression of that time. Napoleon Hill spent 20 years researching and interviewing successful people such as Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Henry Ford, John Rockefeller and Theodore Roosevelt.

If Bo Sanchez was able to convince you to want to become rich, then Napoleon Hill will guide you and give you the initial steps you need to take on how to become successful. According to Hill, success is a product of your mind.

Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
Napoleon Hill

You need to know what you want to achieve and be committed in achieving it. Life only gives you what you ask for – whether it be riches, happiness, love and success. The book is basically an account of how to develop the correct mindset to gain success and accumulate riches.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

The Secret is basically a reinforcement of Napoleon Hill’s teaching on the power of the mind. Rhonda Byrne elaborates on the power of positive thinking. Thoughts are powerful. Just like The Law of Attraction, we attract things that we focus on.We attract positive things when we focus on the positive and in the same way, we attract more negative things if what we only think about is how miserable our life is.

For example, you are going to take an exam. If you are going to focus on how hard the exam will be, you are not helping yourself a bit. Instead of focusing on how hard the exam will be; think of ways to prepare yourself for the exam. Study well so that when the day of the exam comes, you are prepared. By shifting your focus from the negative to the positive, instead of being helpless, you become in control.

Although bombarded by critics because of its metaphysical claims that anything you think about or focus on will come true; in a way, this book actually gives hope to people in hardships and in pain. Instead of dwelling on your pain, Rhonda Byrne encourages optimism and love. Our life is the product of our thoughts. Change your thoughts and you change your life.

All that we are is a result of what we have thought.
Buddha

If your mind is now filled with positive thoughts and you now have a burning desire to change your life as encouraged by Rhonda Byrne, you are now ready for Robert Kiyosaki’s financial management lessons.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki

Rich Dad, Poor Dad has been dubbed numerous times as the number one finance book of all time with millions of copies sold. In the book Robert Kiyosaki talks about his two dads who are both successful in their careers. The main difference between his two fathers is that his real father put importance on academic intelligence while his rich father put importance on financial intelligence.

His biological father has a doctorate degree in two prestigious universities in Hawaii. He earned a considerable amount of income in his lifetime yet he was always struggling financially. He left debts to be paid upon his death.

His second father, the father of his bestfriend, never finished eighth grade. However, he was one of the richest man in Hawaii leaving millions of dollars to his family and to several charities upon his death.

The book attracted a lot of controversies because it critiques and enumerates the flaws of the current educational system. Robert Kiyosaki challenges the conventional teachings of middle class family of studying hard to get grades so that you can have a good job, climb your way up to the corporate ladder and save along the way.

Kiyosaki will open your eyes to a world from a different perspective. He stressed the importance of financial literacy by explaining key concepts in finance such as assets and liabilities and passive income versus earned income. For him, it is important that you do not become a slave of money but instead learn how to make money work for you.

The Secrets of a Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker

If your are ready for the next level which is to take action, then the Secrets of the Millionaire Mind by T. Harv Eker is the book for you. This book is meant to be applied in your life. T. Harv Eker provides a step-by-step guide in identifying your old thinking and changing it into a millionaire’s mind.

To master the inner game of wealth, T. Harv Eker, suggested several exercises or challenges for you to do in the wealth files. He also emphasized the importance of declarations in changing your mindset. One particular challenge is if you are a complainer, you are not supposed to utter a word of complaint in 7 days. By following the activities, you will slowly adopt the millionaire mind.

One of the most effective ways to change your financial life that the author recommends that you apply in your life is under the wealth file on how the rich handles their money. According to the author, poor people have a tendency to mismanage their money. He recommends using the money jar budgeting system as a a budgeting technique. A lot of testimonies were written on how their net worth improved drastically by simply following T. Harv Eker’s advices.

Other Books on Wealth and Success

Other titles that are worth reading include:

Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Chicken Soup for the Soul Series by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen
How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie
My Maid Invests in the Stock Market … and Why You Should, Too! by Bo Sanchez
Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals by Thomas Corley
The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
The 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene
The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich by David Bach
The Greatest Salesman in the World by Og Mandino
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing by Benjamin Graham, Jayson Zweig and Warren Buffet
The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley and William D. Danko
The Richest Man in Babylon by George S. Clason
The Slight Edge: Turning Simple Disciplines into Massive Success and Happiness by Jeff Olson

Your learning journey will open up a whole new world of ideas for you. However, reading is not enough. Remember that you also need to be able to apply these new insights in your life.

Happy reading!

Updated version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living 08.15.2016

Feature Image: Free-Photos from Pixabay

Feb

2020

Fundamentals for Success from The Winners Manual

Reading Time: 6 minutes

Do you consider yourself a winner in life? If you’re not that confident to answer “Yes” to this question, then you may be struggling with some issues in different areas in your life. There is no one rule book that we can consult on how to succeed in life and this is because each person’s experience is different. However, there are some fundamentals for success that we can apply to get better in each area of our life, so that when we look back, we can say that we’ve had more wins than losses.

Jim Tressel is an Ohio State football coach and through the years he has learned a lot of life lessons from working with different people on the team, from the players to the staff. The nuggets of wisdom he gained from his experience is shared in the book The Winners Manual: For the Game of Life.

The book is given to everyone on the team and even if the lessons are gained mostly from his experience coaching a football team, the lessons are applicable even to regular 9-5 workers trying to be “adults” in dealing with life’s hurdles.

First, Jim wants everyone to focus on 2 major goal areas:

Your Purpose

This includes your personal/family, spiritual/moral and caring/giving aspects of your life.

Many people often grow up defining themselves by what they do (e.g., their job title) and in the process of pursuing success in their career, they end up forgetting who they are. If you cannot find or define your life’s purpose, then you will never find success or happiness, and never feel like a true winner in life even if you achieve your goals.

Your Goals

This includes matters pertaining to strength/fitness, family, academics/education and career.

Whatever your specific goals, you must view this in the context of your entire life and should be aligned with your life’s purpose. It is hard to get motivated if you don’t have a purpose.

Your purpose is your inspiration and your goals are your motivation. However, there is a huge difference between the two. While inspiration helps you think and create, motivation gets you moving to make things happen.

Spend some time to think about your purpose and goals. It helps to write things down and when you are ready, you can study how to apply Jim’s 10 fundamental for success to win at life.

1. Attitude

There are 3 types of people: 1) those who make things happen, 2) those who watch things happen, and 3) those who say: “What happened?”.

Attitude is a choice so you need to choose which one you are going to be each day. You can choose to live your life as a celebration or as a chore. An attitude of gratitude is one of the best attitudes to adapt as it is impossible to be grateful and unhappy at the same time.

If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself.
– Tecumseh

TIP: Keep a gratitude journal. Each day, write down at least 3 things that you are grateful for. Count your blessings daily and you will notice that you will have more things to be grateful for as each day passes.

2. Discipline

Discipline is often seen negatively – as punishment for bad behavior, when in reality, it is something that is helpful to us. Discipline prepares us and keeps us focused on our goals.

You can’t get much done in life if you only work on the days that you feel good.
– Jerry West

TIP: Remember that practice makes perfect. Do it right, do it hard and then do it again. When it’s time to practice, focus on the practice. You should be confident enough in your skills and be tough enough to follow through.

Whether you are practicing a sport or trying to write a novel, it’s the discipline to constantly show up and do the work that allows you to correct your mistakes, polish your moves so you can deliver and perform perfectly whenever you need to.

3. Excellence

Strive to deliver excellence each time. In competitive sports, it isn’t good to be good from time to time. You need to deliver a good performance every day in order to be considered great

If you listen to your fears, you will die not knowing what a great person you might have been.
– Robert H. Schuller

TIP: Consistency is the true test of greatness. It takes discipline (constant practice) to turn a violinist into a master, a student into an expert, you get the drift?

More importantly, our intentions have a great impact in determining how we reach our potential. So your intent to be excellent should be reflected in your performance. Your number one intention is to seek excellence in all phases of your life.

4. Faith and Belief

All champions believed in themselves even if no one else did and that’s how they motivated themselves to become great; and that’s how they ended up inspiring others in return.

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.
– Eleanor Roosevelt

TIP: It helps to write down your dreams. Unless you write down your dream or vision, you can’t start planning how to achieve it.

So write down your dreams, describe it, make a collage out of it and make sure to consult it everyday as a constant reminder of why you are working hard each day. More importantly, don’t be the first one to doubt yourself when your plans don’t go the way you wanted to. Instead, focus on finding a solution.

5. Work

Work is a lifelong pursuit so you better do it passionately. Not everyone can love their work but with a good work ethic, you will increase your opportunities to gain success.

Everyone has a plan until they are hit.
– Evander Holyfield

TIP: Persistent effort is key to success. You only fail when you quit. Remember that failing is an event; failure is a temporary status and you can always turn it around as soon as you succeed. So don’t be put down by obstacles and see them as opportunities to better yourself instead.

6. Handling Adversity and Success

The road to greatness is never easy but if we face our struggles with an attitude of learning, then the adversity we experience can become our stepping stones to success.

Success is a lousy teacher. It makes smart people think they can’t lose.
– Bill Gates

TIP: Embrace the struggles as much as the successes. Your struggles should help you build strength of character, and this is what can elevate your good performance into greatness. Handle adversity as a learning experience and learn from your success as well. Both are opportunities to improve yourself and fine tune your plans to reach your goals.

7. Love

You won’t win in life thru talent alone. Just like in winning championships, you need love and discipline. If everyone in the team loves one another, then they will strive to not let one another down. This works in any relationship, be it you and your partner, your whole family, your friends and even work mates.

Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you doing for others?
– Martin Luther King, Jr.

TIP: Do not hesitate to help others succeed. When you help someone else succeed, you get closer to your own success.

How you treat others who can do nothing for you is how you show your love towards your fellow man. In your own relationships, you can only survive tough times by being tough yourself and the only way to do that is to give and receive love from those around you.

8. Responsibility

There are different areas in your life where your individual conduct is not just attributed to your own self but reflects on a larger group of people such as your family or the organization that you work for. So take care to be responsible in all your actions as you may also affect the reputation of other people.

The reputation of a thousand years may be determined by the conduct of one hour.
– Japanese Proverb

TIP: Associate yourself with good people. By good people, we mean people who have a “do what’s right” mentality. These are the people who will help you conduct yourself responsibly in the different areas in your life. They will be the people who will push you to live a life with a clear conscience.

9. Team

Although your own life purpose and goals is yours alone, most of our life endeavors is a group journey. That’s why unselfishness and team work are important qualities to succeed in life.

There is no delight in owning anything unshared.
– Seneca

TIP: Be in service to others. Unselfishness is one of the greatest quality of great teams as this enables each person to work for the good of the greater whole. This means that each person is willing to listen to others and in this way each one is able to influence the others positively.

10. Hope

Have realistic hope both for your goals and for your team (family, friends, etc.). It is ok to indulge in wishful thinking once in a while but unless you put your faith to work, you will not achieve success.

There is no medicine like hope, no incentive so great, and no tonic so powerful as expectation of something tomorrow.
– Orison Marden

TIP: Be a dealer of hope. When people around you are losing hope, they become susceptible to criticism and their own doubts. Lead by example and show them that hope is still alive. It may not be in the form you initially “hoped” for but it may take form in another opportunity disguised as an obstacle. When you keep hope alive, you will see good things happen in your life and in the people around you.

Do you think you can apply these rules to the different areas of your life? If you have been practicing some of them, or all of them, tell us how it has helped you achieve success in the different phases in your life.

Original Photo by Razvan Chisu on Unsplash

Feb

2020

Wealth Rules from the Richest Man in Babylon

Reading Time: 4 minutes

You have been working very hard all your life. Yet, you found yourself in the same financial situation over and over again. Your income is barely enough to cover your basic needs. You are trapped in the rat race and you often wonder, what is it that you have been doing wrong? How come there are some people who are getting richer and richer by the day while you who have been working very hard are getting nowhere? The answers to your questions can be found in the wealth rules from the richest man in Babylon.

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George Samuel Clason, author of the finance book The Richest Man in Babylon gave 7 financial advice to those who found themselves in the above-mentioned situation through one of the parables set in Ancient Babylon.

Wealth Rules of the Richest Man In Babylon

In the parable, the king summoned the richest man in Babylon, Arked and asked him why he became so wealthy. The King wanted to know the secret to acquiring wealth. At that time despite the years of prosperity in the kingdom, many people were struggling financially. It was the king’s desire to make Babylon a city of many wealthy men.

Here is a list of Arkad’s 7 Cures to a Lean Purse:

1. Save 10% of your Income

Saving 10% of your income is the first step towards wealth. Do this each time you earn. It may not be much at first but it will grow over time if you do this on a regular basis.

For example, suppose you and your friend are both earning 10,000 a month. Your friend started saving 10% of his income while you continue to spend all of your income. Obviously, after a year, your friend will already have 12,000 worth of savings while you will have none.

Wealth, like a tree, grows from a tiny seed. The sooner you plant that seed, the sooner shall the tree grows.

2. Control your Spending

The second cure is to control your spending. You might ask how is this possible when your income is not even enough to cover the necessary expenses?

Arkad insisted that it is possible. The key is to differentiate the necessary with the desires. Have a budget and stick to it. You can save money on the little things like cutting down on your expensive coffee habits and your cable subscriptions. You can save on water and electricity in your home. Stretching your food budget is also one way to save on expenses. The point is there are lots of ways if you are willing.

3. Invest

As soon as you have built up your savings, the next thing to do is to multiply that by investing. You will not be able to grow your wealth by merely saving your money. You need to invest your money too.

A man’s wealth is not in the coins he carries in his purse; it is the income he builds, the golden stream that continually flows into his purse and keeps it always bulging…an income that continues to come whether I work or travel.

An income that continues to flow whether you work or travel pertains to passive income. Passive income should be the goal of everyone. Only through investing will you be able to let money work for you.

4. Guard your Investments

There are many investment opportunities out there. The key is to choose your investments properly and learn to protect them. Choose something that you are familiar with. Don’t invest in something that you know nothing of. Learn about your investment. Consult mentors or experts in that particular field. Just because you know somebody who got rich in that particular endeavour, it does not mean that you will too.

Also, don’t be fooled with the get rich quick schemes being offered to you. Remember that if it is too good to be true, it probably is. The basic rule of investment is that the higher the risk, the higher the return. The lower the risk, the lower the return.

5. Own your Home

Make your home a profitable investment. Instead of making somebody else rich through your monthly rentals, why not make your monthly payments become equity. It will reduce your cost of living in the long run. You would have also acquired a valuable home.

Moreover, Arkad believes that many blessings will come to a man who owns his house. After all, your home is the place where your family will live. It is the place where your children will grow and a place for you to rest. It is a place of happiness and memories for your family.

6. Prepare for Retirement

Every man should prepare for retirement. When you retire, your ability to earn income will diminish. You will no longer be able to work just like when you were young. It is also during retirement years where your health will most likely deteriorate. Thus, you should be ready before that time comes.

7. Increase your Ability to Learn

If you want to increase your income, don’t chase the money. Instead, increase your ability to learn. Study again. Read books. Attend seminars. Learn from mentors. Be more skilful. By improving yourself, you make yourself more valuable. Then success will ultimately follow.

The more wisdom we know, the more we may earn. That man who seeks to learn more of his craft shall be richly rewarded.

Want to learn more about the Wealth Rules of Ancient Babylon? Click here to watch video.

*Quotes from The Richest Man in Babylon.

Feature Image by Lisa Fotios from Pexels Images.

Jan

2020

Traveling Helps You Grow

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Traveling helps you grow as a person. When you travel, you learn about new things. You also discover a world that is different from yours. In the process, you change. When you get home, you are no longer the same person as you used to be.

Learn

Reading books will make you grow as a person. You will have access to a vast range of information. It will entertain you and stimulate your creativity. It will also open your eyes to a new whole world that is different from your reality and make you dream and aspire to become a better version of yourself.

“The world is a book, and those that do not travel read only a page.”
– St. Augustine

St. Augustine of Hippo, said to be one of the most intelligent saints who ever lived, believed in the value of traveling. He correlated reading with traveling. Just like in reading books, travelling will also help you grow as a person. You will see different places and things. You will be exposed to various people, cultures, and beliefs. Because your learn from your travels. traveling helps you grow.

Discover

When you just stay at home or in your area, everything that you do are all habits. Everything is automatic and just merely a part of your routine. However, when you travel, you become alert of your surrounding. You begin to plan and everything that you do will involve decision making. You will also be exposed to a different way of doing things.

Change

When you get back home from your travel. Somehow, a part of you has changed. You begin to look at things differently. You are no longer the same person as you used to be.

If you want to start anew, it is recommended that you travel. Go to a place where you have never been before. Look around you. How is the place different from yours? Observe the locals’ way of life. Are there lessons that you can learn from them? Then think about your life. How do you live your life? Are you contented with where you are right now? What aspects in your life would you like to improve? Being in a new place will help you get a new perspective in who you are and where you want to be. Aim to do this on a regular basis. Make traveling to a place you have never been before at least once a year.

Go out there and travel if you want to grow as a person. So, what are your travel goals for this year?

First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 12.20.2018
Image Credit: Lothar Dieterich from Pixabay Images