21st Century Academy

Do you have a wish list? A wish list might seem like something that you’d do when you are a child but adults who actually write their goals, wants, and dreams down on a piece of paper are much more likely to actually get what they want. Stating goals and desires in a list form gives you a tool to use to define, measure, and analyse your success. It’s quite healthy to circle items you want in a catalogue — even if they currently seem beyond your means.

Is your wish list hazy or do you clearly see just what you want? If you don’t know what you want, it’s a great idea to take the time to explore and define your dreams.

What’s the greatest part of a list of any sort?  The act of ticking off items on that list with a big check mark, of course. As you reach your goals, pull out your wish list and check them off. On a day where you’re feeling discouraged about something, pulling out your list can show you how far you’ve come and make the path you need to take clearer, too.  Just like checking off things on your ‘to do’ list helps you with your organisation at home and at work, the list can be used for bigger things, too.

Don’t forget to add to the list. Even millionaires should keep wishing! You can also have small goals and big milestones. Right now it might be most important to you to build a nest egg, pay down your mortgage, buy an investment property, or save enough for a really great vacation. Later on it might be to get your pilot’s license or retire ten years early because you’ve accumulated enough wealth to do so.  Today you might want a new minivan and tomorrow you might set your sights on a luxury sports car because the minivan is in your driveway already.

Whether you’re dreaming about a new car or dreaming really big, the act of visualising and stating your dreams can help you get there. If today you simply verbalise that you desire financial security, try actually stating and defining what that means to you with tangibles and you’ll increase your chances of wishes coming true.

What is the greatest difference between someone who merely makes an income and someone who is truly wealthy? It is in their mindset. Let’s examine this premise a bit further.

Many of us, even in this failing economy, tend to want to buy. We covet the latest and greatest gadget, the fastest computer, the newest piece of technology. Too often we gauge our success against that of others, and worry more about keeping up with the Joneses than taking care of ourselves.

With that kind of philosophy you will never get rich.

Dedicate Yourself to Building Wealth

There is no easy way to become rich. It takes a lot of dedication and the ability to resist making unnecessary expenditures.

It also involves saving every extra penny to accommodate those unexpected expenses. It is nearly impossible to build wealth if you lose all your assets due to an extended illness, loss of a job, or the theft of your identity.

What is Wealth?

Wealth is more than just cash in the bank. It is defined as all of your assets. Income is just a way to pay the bills. Conversely, wealth is extra money, much like a savings account. It is wealth that is used to contribute to investments, to reduce debt, and to create liquid assets.

The way to increase your wealth is to funnel as much as you can from your income into accounts which will either pay down amounts you owe in loans or produce a profit, such as stock market investments.

Take the time to figure out how much money you need to reach your financial goals. It may be less than you thought and the prospect of real wealth may be well within your reach.

Wealth is also how you feel in life. Two people can have fists full of money but one may be wealthier than the other because of all the joys in his or her life. A great way to get the right wealth mindset is to look for a coach or mentor. Jamie McIntyre is a self-made millionaire and offers a free e-book that can help get you started on a route toward wealth.

To your success,

Clint Maher

Besides making Jamie McIntyre aware that he was really living in denial of his desire for money, his millionaire mentor gave him another piece of wisdom.

“If you want to become wealthy, you must not make money your god. Instead you have to learn to master money. If you can learn how to master it and have it work for you as opposed to you working for it, then money will no longer be an issue. Those things that are important to you like family, health, career, and relationships will always be your top priority.”

(from What I Didn’t Learn At School But Wish I Had)

The Turning Point

This conversation was a turning point for Jamie. Having decided that what his mentor said made perfect sense (and it does, doesn’t it?), Jamie started to shift his way of thinking about money. In the book he tells us,

“So I went from denying that I was interested in money to admitting that I was very interested in money because I loved my family dearly and valued my time and wanted to control my life. I decided right then that I was prepared to make the effort to master money, because if I did I could have the freedom I wanted. I learned subtle shifts make a big difference to what is going on inside our heads and this became a huge turning point for me.”

Permission To Care

Jamie and his mentor have put this all in much more understandable terms. It is very hard for people to let go of the feeling that they don’t care about money, mostly because we’ve spent decades in that line of thinking. Having a good reason to admit that you do care about money—like being able to take care of friends and family, and having the freedom to enjoy the important things in life—buffers the landing, so to speak.

When you permit yourself to care about money, you permit yourself to make it enough of a priority to make the other priorities of life top on your list. Caring about money is not equal to not caring about people or anything else; in fact, in truth, it is exactly the opposite. But it’s all in how you master it. Master money, master your life, and don’t let making money be your master any longer.

To Your Continued Success!
Sean Rasmussen
21st Century Academy
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