Personal Finance Basics
10 Changes that Boost Your Finances:
~James Altucher
Not Personal:
Does this quote seem counter-intuitive about what personal finance basics should be? What does James Altucher mean to say it’s not personal? Working on your personal finance is a very personal matter.
Tips about discovering your Reason of Being are the key factors in setting up your road map of life.
What is “not personal”
“Don’t take it personal.”
This phrase is used very frequently to remind you that you shouldn’t be so emotional. You shouldn’t feel sorry for yourself. You shouldn’t feel guilty. If something didn’t work out and you feel you failed at this task, you should know that you are not a failure. This doesn’t mean you are incompetent or you are bad. You will do it over after accessing and improve.
When you decide to carry out your action plans consistently, you leave negative emotions and personal issues out.
It’s a different type of being personal that comes from your inner discovery of yourself. Changing yourself.
Working on your personal finance is a very personal matter. Discovering your Reason of Being is the key factor in setting up your road map of life. Can you make a list of 10 Items you would like to change? Can you make a list of 10 things you’d like to change? You cannot be too random to select. You would not just make a list of things come to your mind. This is a two pronged approach. In this integrated approach you connect you personality traits as you find them in your life to the simplified version of the Success Principles.
A] Using the Pie Chart of Your Life:
Life can be categorized into 5 or 6 areas.
The most important aspects of anything you do is that your thoughts, planning and action must follow consistency. As you focus your attention to each area, begin to write down ideas and what isn’t working for you and what you would like to be, do or have instead of all the obstacles and the things you don’t want. {In the Pie char diagram you see 6 categories are Healthy Body/Diet; Mindset; Relationship; Spiritual Attitude; Profession & Work; and Community & World}
[1] Physical Body and Diet:
Are you comfortable in your body? Do you have chronic conditions that aren’t allowing you to function your best? Are you energetic or always tired and stressed out? Do you exercise? Are you eating things you know you shouldn’t be eating? Ask many questions. What one or two things would you want to start to change now? This is a very good book on clean eating without getting involved with a particular diet choices such as paleo, vegan, raw foods, etc.
[2] Mindset and Spirituality:
Do you have a positive outlook on your life? Do you worry a lot? Are you angry? Do you hold resentment against many people? Do you feel you are a victim? Do you feel good about yourself, your future? Are you calm? Are you peaceful? What helps you to meet your challenges? Do you read books on personal development? Do you take the time to appreciate nature? Do you have several affirmations memorized or at your disposal to recite as needed? Do you pray and meditate?
[3] Organization:
Are your thoughts clear? Are you focused? Is it difficult for you to concentrate on a task? Is hour household neat and organized? Are your files in your file cabinet and on the computer easily accessible? Do you know where things are in your house or in your computer? Do you know what’s happening daily? Do you know your schedule well? Are you showing up where you need to be on time?
[4] Profession and Job:
What do you like about your profession or job? Are you compensated sufficiently for your worth? Do you believe you are worthy and valuable? Do you enjoy your work? What don’t you like? do you have concrete plans to change? How does what you do currently build your future and financial security? What part you would like to develop? What part you would like to end and change right now? Continue to ask yourself questions.
[5] Relationship and Community Involvement:
Are you irritable and intolerant of others? Are you patient? Are you a good listener? Do you try to be right and will never be wrong? Are you a “people pleaser”? Do you compare yourself to others and feel superior or inferior? Do you feel you don’t belong? Are you actively involved with a few community groups? What kind of a person would you like to show up as? Select 10 -20 items from your list and you will use these 5 categories of the Simplified tools of Success Principles.
[B] Using Simplified Tools of Success Principles:
[1] Daily Good Habits:
In order to create something that is useful and something that does wonders for you, you have to be in a habit of doing things. You can think of being disciplined. It’s not something you do some time but consistency is required. Making something a habit requires a set time, place and action. Set up a habit of doing actions required to change these 10 things you are choosing. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey popularized the idea that establishing great habits had lots to do with people’s success.
Suggested Reading:
[2] Definiteness of Purpose and Vision:
Your current job, people in your life, situations are teaching you valuable lessons.
Your definite purpose will align with your current situation to transform to your dreams.
Give your full attention and commitment to what you are choosing to do right now.
Read this Blog on 5 Keys to Success in Business and Life: Acceptance, Purpose, Vision and Goals.
Think what your deep burning desire or Why is. Why do you want to change your life and finances. Get to the bottom of it all. From your list, fine-tune one or two items. Rewrite to be consistent with making your Why happen.
[3] Action Plans:
Your list you’ve written should include directly or indirectly that has something to do with your profession, job, income stream or life style. Rephrase them in such a way that you are writing a statement of affirmative action to move toward achieving your ‘Why.”
[4] System and Strategy:
Many individuals lack a system or a strategy. The right mindset is essential. You must have a positive attitude. But if you aren’t following a certain model of business, you are bound to fail. In early childhood education, for example, we have Montessori approach.
In the area of foreign languages, we have Berlitz Method and Rosetta Stone.
In computer technology you have Mac and Windows.
In trading, some traders focus on ETF stock trading, while others focus on trading options.
Some people go to a gym to do their preferred fitness and weight lifting programs. The others may be interested in Simple Cardio, Pilates or Yoga.
If you are interested in Internet Marketing, you must do some research to find a training approach and systems that are time-tested and proven. User-friendly, experienced based and more heart-centered approaches are becoming more popular alleviating beginners’ technology challenges without exploiting them with unfair pricing.
[5] Master Mind Groups:
All successful people belong to Mastermind Groups. Major education researchers agree that students learn from their peers by sharing and exchanging ideas. Napoleon Hill mentions that more importantly there is the psychic energy and spiritual connection among the members.
Find a local group that meet regularly in the area of your professional interest. In this Era of Internet Revolution, there are many such groups around. Be sure to join where successful leaders are conducting Google+ Hangouts and webinars on a regular basis.
Suggested Reading:
From Amazon
Start to Read Chapter on Mastermind first…
Rewrite Your List Items:
Your final items on this list must be consistent with each Tool of the Simplified Success Principles. For example, if you want to travel amazing places as you take photos and make your place know as a travelling blogger, you may not be preparing to work for you uncle who owns a beverage business, even though he promises you a great profit sharing.
Forced marriage does not happen in America today, but if there is family pressure, you probably will not marry someone just for status and money.
All these items on your list must be congruent with each other and not pull you in different directions.
Not Too Depressed:
When we talk about being depressed, generally we mean we feel discouraged or overwhelmed.
If you believe you are suffering from a clinical depression, it is best to seek a medical advice.
~Peter Marshall
You can still do this list building exercise. Be patient and be kind to yourself.
Give yourself 30 days, 60 days and 90 days and follow you actions consistently daily.
Bonus for Setting Your personal Finance:
After you become clear about your list of 10 things to change, make a commitment to follow through with your plan daily.
Then say these affirmation:
(1) I am so grateful and happy that I am closer to reaching my financial goal than I believe.
Set the target date and the amount of money you decide to earn by this date.
(2) I am so happy and grateful that on this date {____________}
my personal goals are met.
State your personal goals from you list:
(3) I am so happy and grateful that my loved ones and I are enjoying the best 3 months of our lives.
Find an accountability partner or mentor. You are willing to be open minded; and
try out business strategies based on success principles to take you to a whole new level.
Meet our mentors where my Mastermind team, and we learn and earn about home based businesses.
To Your Happiness and Success,
Yukiko Iino