21st Century Academy

In the last post, we talked about how blame and excuses hold us back from creating wealth. In a future post, we’ll talk about the implications of looking to the past and dwelling on the reasons and excuses for our past failures and current positions. But first, let’s take a minute to clarify the difference between the two; because most certainly, even though there may be real reasons for your current state, there is a difference between a reason and an excuse.

Reason Versus Excuse

For this, we’ll go straight to the dictionary definition of a reason and an excuse:

• Reason: a: a statement offered in explanation or justification b: a rational ground or motive c: a sufficient ground of explanation or of logical defense ; especially : something (as a principle or law) that supports a conclusion or explains a fact
d: the thing that makes some fact intelligible : cause

• Excuse: a: something offered as justification or as grounds for being excused bplural : an expression of regret for failure to do something c: a note of explanation of an absence

There isn’t actually a lot of difference between these two words or definitions. The one difference that does stand out is the presence of the word “fact” in the definition of Reason. A reason has a basis in fact, whereas an excuse is simply a justification—one explanation for a current state of affairs, but not one that is necessarily based in fact.

Why Split Hairs?

This may sound like we’re splitting hairs, but there is an important difference here. The difference matters because when you excuse your action or past inactions, you justify your current state of affairs. When there is actual fact involved there may be real things to look towards to improve upon. This is where there is real potential for change. It is up to you to grab hold of that potential with both hands and make the most of it.

Now, all of this being said, there is only a limited usefulness in looking to past reasons before you start blocking your own path to success once again. That’s where we’ll pick up the next post, with more words of wisdom from Jamie McIntyre‘s millionaire mentor.

To Your Continued Success!
Sean Rasmussen
21st Century Academy
Universal Wealth Creation © 2004 – 2009

Everyone has a past, like it or not. And like we’ve talked about before, that past bears on many things as they apply to building wealth. For instance, your past—conscious or unconscious—is what has formed your perception of money and your attitude towards it. And that attitude is a large piece of the choices you make, your mindset, and the subconscious sabotage that you may inadvertently be attacking your efforts to build wealth with.

Who’s The Boss? Past, Present, Or Future?

Very often what we find ourselves doing when we resolve to create wealth is competing against that past—”showing it who’s boss” so to say. But what we come to know, what your wealth creation course is trying to teach you, is that that kind of competition really isn’t productive. Your past is over and done. You can’t teach it anything. You can’t change it and you can’t just erase the mental baggage that comes along with it. You can only find ways to make your past, even what you perceive to be a negative past, work for you now.

Reconciling The Past, Looking Back To Move Forward

You can’t change the past but you can change your understanding of it. You can analyze it, reconcile your feelings from it, and correct the negative attitudes that have resulted from it so that you make the room for wealth to work in your life (this is very much related to when we talked way back about rewiring your financial subconscious, and the exercise Jamie McIntyre walks you through to do that).

Your past is not your competitor. It is something that occurred, and something that contributed to who you are today. And that can’t be all bad. Once you realize this you can begin to look for ways to reconcile the past and actually make it work for you, instead of being at odds with it. Remember that the past is a part of you, so competing against it is only competing against yourself. Surely you can see how that isn’t beneficial at all. Meet me back here for the next post, and we’ll talk a little more about how you can make the past a better part of your future.

Sean Rasmussen
21st Century Academy
Universal Wealth Creation © 2004 – 2008

The point that I’ve tried to drive home in all the conversations about personal choice is that you do, in fact, have money now. You may even have wealth now, depending on your perspective. Understanding that is to your direct advantage because having money takes away one of the largest impediments to creating wealth.

It’s Your Money

You do have money. Chances are you have a good amount of it—an amount that would do quite well applied to what you learn through your wealth building education. The reason that you may not feel as though you have any wealth, and I know we’ve said this before so please bear with me, is that you also have a great many financial obligations and demands placed upon you and it—too many homes for your money. The smallest home for it is probably your own accounts.

Anyone with money can be wealthy. That is one of the first things Jaime McIntyre speaks to. Actually, he takes a step further back and shows you how you can fund an investment program and personal wealth even with a lack of funding. But to get back to the point, if you have money you have financial opportunity. All that you need to do to capitalize on it is make the right choices-the choices that build wealth and do more than just pay the bills.

Making Wealthy Financial Decisions

Now that I think we are all starting to understand this, let’s talk about bridging that gap between having money, meeting your financial obligations, and building wealth. I wouldn’t blame you right now if you are thinking that that is easier said than done. Because it is. But that does not mean that it’s impossible.

There are many strategies that you can employ that begin right now to start utilizing your money for your financial good and future wealth. Jamie’s program will give you many (all very real, all proven). If in doubt, just remember that Jamie McIntyre himself started hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. But he found a way to put himself first and still satisfy his debtors, and become a true millionaire in just a matter of years. So there are ways for it to be done. And they start with taking control of your money. You’ll see.

Sean Rasmussen
21st Century Academy
Universal Wealth Creation © 2004 – 2008