Covey has a nice style. He attacks what he is doing with conviction and does not settle for a half explained theory. I am thoroughly enjoying his book. He explores the 7 habits that he has found successful people utilize.

The self-development industry is massive and always will be. Covey studied 200 years of it’s history and found two things. You can work on the Inner Self and the Outer Self. A lot of guidance ‘out there’ is for external superficial techniques that may work short-term but will fail over time. Let’s talk about you.

The Meaning of Life is to be Happy

Happiness can be defined, in part at least, as the fruit of the desire and ability to sacrifice what we want now for what we want eventually.

What does he mean by this? By defining happiness to be a constant change towards our set life goals we will constantly be achieving victories. When you achieve a minor task that contributes to these major life goals you will experience a burst of happiness. How could you not? You will not if your life goals are not aligned to your values.

Happiness is the process of achieving the minor victories involved in accomplishing your major life goals.

We cannot achieve this long-term happiness through minor victories towards our major life goals if:

Everything that You Believe is Your Paradigm

Paradigm – it is everything you have witnessed, believe in, learnt and took action upon right until now. Are you at your potential in life right now? No – then you must strive to move your direction in life to that desired life goal.

A paradigm is your full perspective on the world at a given time. During a revelation, your perspective on the world may drastically change. This is the change we want to control, in order to move our life’s into a successful direction.

In order to change our paradigm we must be fully prepared to uproot our life, as painful as it may be, with conviction. Our values must be defined, our desired roles must be defined (father, business manager), an ongoing plan must be created and consistent action over time must be taken.

Start with Your Inside First

If you want to HAVE more freedom in your job:

If you want to HAVE a better relationship with your teenage son:

What happens if you start with Outside First?

• You will feel victimised
• You will feel like you have no choice
• You will blame other peoples weaknesses for your stagnant situation

Why You Should Not Change:

You will encounter a lot of self resistance when you suddenly start changing to a better you. It is important to understand that over time your body and mind establish habits. Also known as muscle memory.

Life sometimes brings us tragedy and setbacks. It is how we respond to those events that determines our destiny. Whilst growing up you may have experienced intense pain. From then on you did not do that again as your brain tries to avoid pain. This avoidance habit has been formed with negative reinforcement. Thus, when the external situation is applied to you again your brain will automatically fulfil this habit. More on this next post. Take care!  :)

What are Habits?

Covey defines habits to be, the intersection of knowledge, skill and desire.

If we consistently work on our habits, the subconscious and consistent mechanisms of our character, we will be able to alter our effectiveness.

Life sometimes brings us tragedy and setbacks. It is how we respond to those events that determines our destiny. Whilst growing up you may have experienced intense pain. From then on you did not do that again as your brain tries to avoid pain. This avoidance habit has been formed with negative reinforcement. Thus, when the external situation is applied to you again your brain will automatically fulfil this habit.

Think of your bad habits you wish to subdue:

Congratulations – You have now recognised what you want to change.

You know you need to be a better listener. You know how to be a better listener. Now you must want to be a better listener.

3 Things That Make Your Habits

1. Knowledge (what to, why to)

2. Skills (how to)

3. Desire (want  to)

So you Want to be a Better Listener

Why? Because your partner gives you grief over never listening to them OR your boss told you to complete a task by a certain time but once again you did not listen.

How? Google how to be a better listener. You will learn about focusing on the speaker, create dot points in your head and breaking out a note pad and scribling important items in short hand. You’ve spent 30 minutes learning – you know how.

Do I want it? Will the pleasure of being a better listener outweigh the pain of self change to get there? Yes – my spouse will be happier, my boss will respect me more and I may get a promotion. More love. More money. These are things I believe line up with my values in life. I want them. I really want them.

So you know why, how and if you want it. Now you sit back prepared for the opportunity to change your bad habit.

Being Prepared to Listen

The next time you speak to your boss focus on his communications with you. Focus. Dot points. Note pad. LISTEN.

The next time you enjoy time with your spouse and he/she talks. Focus. Dot points. LISTEN.

Before you know it you will be a better listener. You would have forged a habit that will become easier and easier the more you practice it. The more you condition yourself everyday with form this habit in your life that will benefit you again and again. You reap what you sow.

Effective Habits are simply habits that are aligned to your internal principles.

You come up with the how to, want to, why to that will make your more effective.

You Can Form your own Habits of Success

Good Luck

Is the glass half full or half empty? Well it depends on your perspective. In this lesson from Covey we look at breaking self-development down into firstly, working on your inner self, then secondly working on your outer self. We are setting a strong foundation first, then developing our exterior capabilities.

In Stephen Covey's book 7 Habits of Highly Efficient People he came up with several profound principles on success. He comprehensively studied successful people, worked on mentoring people to become successful and wrote 10 books in self-development, success and leadership literature.

As a topic for his doctorate Covey reviewed 200 years of success literature. During the period between 1770 to 1920 he found the primary literature of the day to be centered around what he calls the Character Ethic (inside yourself). However from the 1920's onwards the literature of the day then focused on Personality Ethic (your external self). This is what Covey refers to as Inside-Out.

The Character Ethic

The inner self as defined by Stephen Covey is called the character ethic and must be aligned to your own personal mission statement and goals before the outer self can be effective. The Character Ethic integrate principles of effective living in order to experience true success and enduring happiness. Intrinsic values to be lived by include integrity, humility, fidelity, temperance, courage, justice, patience, industry, simplicity and modesty. Work on the inside first, then the outside.

The concept of 'Working on the inside first, then the outside' really jumps out at me because it's always been my belief that "You are the foundation of your own success" . Whatever you're building in life, you've got to start with the foundation.

Take building a house for example. You’d need to lay the foundation before you can start building the structure. Without a solid foundation, it will not stand, for long anyway.

Likewise, you need to lay a strong foundation for your own success. And that begins with yourself because, ultimately, you are the creator, the architect, the sculptor and the engineer of your own success, and you are 100 per cent responsible for it!"

Guest Comment by Mark Foo

The Personality Ethic

The outer self as defined by Stephen Covey is called the personality ethic and is secondary. It is basically the success principles that can be applied superficially to achieve wanted external results. However, they have little effect on your character. They include principles of attitudes and behaviours, skills and techniques related to that help with human interaction.

They can be categorised into two sections: Human and public relations - pretending to be interested in people hobbies to get what you want along with other deceptive manipulative techniques; and Postive Mental Attitude (PMA) - featuring quick fix maxims such as 'Your attitude determines your altitude'.

I agree that all skills and techniques - the outer self - are secondary to the mindset and attitude - the inner self - of an individual. Just as T. Harv Eker said, "If your 'financial blueprint' is not 'set' for success, nothing you learn, nothing you know, and nothing you do will make much of a difference.

Skills and techniques may help you to achieve your desired results. But if your achievement is not built on a solid foundation, it will come tumbling down sooner or later for nothing stands firm on a flimsy base.

Guest Comment by Mark Foo

Covey looks at these external techniques to be secondary to the internal techniques of the Character Ethic.

The thing is, these external fixes were being implemented without people first working on the inner self. They did not determine their values in life, had no mission statement, had not set goals in life aligned to their value system. People walk around in day to day life with polished external skills and no sense of self. Life may seem full of success for a few months but then you begin to feel 'lost'.

Character Vs Personality Ethic

One is not better than the other. To achieve short-term results Personality Ethic will work on external abilities and achieve external results. When long-term sustainable success is desired Character Ethic must be developed.

Covey Example: You are in Chicago trying to find a destination using a map. Your secondary skills are commendable in map reading and navigation, however your map is not of Chicago, it is a map of Detroit. You must get the primary element right before you can work on the secondary element to achieve a successful result.

The Paradigm Shift

Our upbringing, peer group, tragic events, schooling, work colleagues have all played roles in shaping how we see the world today. It is important to recognise that 'our vision' of the world is not fixed. You can change the way you look at the world to make new things possible.

For example, showing two groups of people two different drawings. One of a young woman. One of an old woman. Then after this initial exposure a combined hybrid drawing with both elements of young and old.

When asked if they saw the young or old woman their answer would be the same as the woman they saw in their initial exposure even though they truly believed they were analysing the drawing objectively.

Therefore, as the above activity demonstrated, our judgement is influenced by our conditioning. With this knowledge and understanding, we can then shift our pre-conceived perceptions (our paradigm) to allow us to move into a new way to see the world.

The Personification of Character Ethic

Benjamin Franklin - A quick biography

He was born in 1706 to be in a poor family who sent him off to clergy school. Due to lack of money who could only attend for 1 year and then at 15 would help his brother with the small family business on the printing press selling a local Boston newspaper.

After setting up his small printing business and marrying Deborah he would continue to achieve astounding results. He set up self-development groups, built hospitals, raised funds to pave and light roads and clean the environment, publish an almanac, raised a fire fighting unit, set up insurance for fire damage, invented flippers, made a power efficient stove, studied lightning and helped draft the United States Declaration of Independance.

Benjamin's life is the personification of a life lived by principles of goodness to others, of integrity and commitment and interdependence in working with other great people to bring extraordinary accomplishments. Each of his achievements are in line with his values and from that enjoyed extraordinary success in his endeavours.

Examples of Personality Ethic

Positive Mental Attitude

a psychological term which describes a mental phenomenon in which the central idea is that one can increase achievement through optimistic thought processes. PMA implies that one has a vision of good natured change in one's mind; it employs a state of mind that continues to seek, find and execute ways to win, or find a desirable outcome, regardless of the circumstances. It rejects negativity, defeatism and hopelessness. Part of the process of achieving PMA employs motivating "self talk" and deliberate goal-directed thinking.

PMA is the idea that one can increase achievement through an optimistic thought process. It allows one to find the desirable outcome in any situation rather than give into defeatism, negativity or hopelessness. The process to employ PMA is to initiate motivating self talk and deliberate goal directed thinking.

A positive mental attitude basically means you control your own thoughts and feelings. You can deal with adversity, learn from it, set new goals and move on bigger and better things

“Responsibilities - our abilities to control our responses
Stephen Covey

If you think negative thinking is more realistic, PMA people expect wealth automatically or PMA people are annoying read this - 5 Myths About PMA .

Self-development Inside-Out and PMA

From this Covey Lesson we have learnt to work on your core principles, values, personal mission statement first. It is your foundation from which you can build on. Second to this are human and public interaction techniques and keeping a positive mental attitude.

It is up to you to put the hard work into making yourself mentally strong. It does not matter how much money you have. Without the fundamental mindset that allows you to become a wealth creating juggernaut, you will be poor for life.

A Big Thankyou to The Big Dreamer

Guest comments by Mark at TheBigDreamer.com.

On his blog, you will find tips and advice to help you become a better, wiser and richer person. Topics include Success, Personal Finance, Wealth Creation and Entrepreneurship.

eBooks are usually cheaper than their analogue counterparts, they are quick to download, and you can usually sneak them into a computer at work and educate your investing brain whilst at a brain dead J.O.B.

I am currently making my way through the list and will write a review in good time. Happy learning!

Rich Dad's Retire Young, Retire Rich It’s the American dream—to be able to make so much money at an early age that you could decide when to retire, knowing full well that you have enough money stashed away to ensure a life not burdened by financial restraints. In this new book, the fifth in the Rich Dad series, financial guru Robert Kiyosaki provides practical insight on how to put together a financial plan which will not only make you prosperous but will also allow you to map out the freedom to choose your own retirement age. Built upon Kiyosaki’s own personal experiences—he retired at the age of 49—he shows how you can take advantage of smart investments in real estate and in the stock market to help you control your own financial destiny.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad A #1 New York Times bestseller, Rich Dad, Poor Dad is a true story on the lessons about money that Robert Kiyosaki learned from his two "dads." One dad, a Ph.D. and superintendent of education, never had enough money at the end of the month and died broke. His other dad dropped out of school at age 13 and went on to become one of the wealthiest men in Hawaii.Rich Dad, Poor Dad will . . .? Explode the myth that you need to earn a high income to become rich? Challenge the belief that your house is an asset? Show parents why they can't rely on the school system to teach their kids about money? Define once and for all an asset and a liability? Teach you what to teach your kids about money for their future financial success.In Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Robert Kiyosaki explains how to make your money work hard for you instead of you working hard for money. Read the Lifemonies Review on Rich Dad

Think and Grow Rich Do you know the 13 steps to riches? Do you know how to tap into and refocus your unconscious mind? Do you know what the 7 basic fears are, how they rob you, and you can overcome them? Do you know HOW to attract WEALTH? This book was written by a master to help the masters of his time. Maybe you've heard of some of them: Ford, Edison, Wrigley, Schwab, Bell, and Rockefeller.

How to Win Friends and Influence People The sole purpose of this book is to help you solve the biggest problem you face: the problem of getting along with and influencing people in your everyday, business and social contacts. This book has sold more than fifteen million copies--one of the greatest records in history for a non-fiction book. Its title has become a phrase in the English language. This book can easily be worth its weight in gold to you.

Rich Dad's Before You Quit Your Job One of the basic tenets of the Rich Dad philosophy is to make the jump from employee to boss. This is the book that shows you how to make that leap - in 10 easy steps. Everyone in business knows that you won't ever achieve great wealth by being an employee. The real secret to making money and reaching financial independence is to start your own company and develop it quickly. Millions of aspiring entrepreneurs are already convinced that this is the way to go - but they just don't know how to take those first few steps. In BEFORE YOU QUIT YOUR JOB, Robert Kiyosaki presents first-hand accounts of his own start-up companies and how he learned from both his failures and his successes. Along the way he explains the basics of: How to determine if your idea is a good one How to write a solid business plan and where to find Othe People's Money to help finance the idea How to incorporate yourself for business and tax purposes How to help you find key advisors to help develop your concept How to best launch your product or service.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People Personal Workbook Outlining seven key organizational rules for improving effectiveness and increasing productivity at work and at home, a companion volume to The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People presents a step-by-step guide that includes in-depth exercises and solutions that teach the fundamentals of fairness, integrity, honesty, and dignity.

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s You're no idiot, of course. You're financially independent: You pay rent, utilities, and loans all out of your own paycheck. You realize that your parents had to cut the cord sooner or later, and you're proud of how well you've adjusted. But when it comes to saving money for the long haul, you feel like an astronaut whose oxygen cord has been cut. Don't drift into a financial black hole yet! The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s gives you an edge so you can get through financial hardships now, invest for the future, and even afford a luxury item once in a while.

Smart Women Finish Rich Smart Women Finish Rich has shown women of all ages and backgrounds how to take control of their financial future and finish rich. Whether you're working with a few dollars a week or a significant inheritance, David Bach's nine-step program gives you tools for spending wisely, establishing security, and aligning money with your values. Smart Women Finish Rich includes critical long-term investment advice, information on teaching your kids about money, Internet resources, and new ways to attract greater wealth-personal and financial-into your life.Anthony Robbins writes "David Bach is the one expert to listen to when you're intimidated by your finances. His easy-to-understand program will show you how to afford your dreams."RosettaBooks is proud to publish both Smart Women Finish Rich and Smart Couples Finish Rich.

Trump: How to Get Rich First he made five billion dollars.Then he made The Apprentice.Now The Donald shows you how to make a fortune, Trump style.HOW TO GET RICHReal estate titan, bestselling author, and TV impresario Donald J. Trump reveals the secrets of his success in this candid and unprecedented book of business wisdom and advice. Over the years, everyone has urged Trump to write on this subject, but it wasn?t until NBC and executive producer Mark Burnett asked him to star in The Apprentice that he realized just how hungry people are to learn how great personal wealth is created and first-class businesses are run. Thousands applied to be Trump?s apprentice, and millions have been watching the program, making it the highest rated debut of the season.In Trump: How To Get Rich, Trump tells all?about the lessons learned from The Apprentice, his real estate empire, his position as head of the 20,000-member Trump Organization, and his most important role, as a father who has successfully taught his children the value of money and hard work.With his characteristic brass and smarts, Trump offers insights on how to? invest wisely? impress the boss and get a raise? manage a business efficiently? hire, motivate, and fire employees? negotiate anything? maintain the quality of your brand? think big and live largePlus, The Donald tells all on the art of the hair!With his luxury buildings, award-winning golf courses, high-stakes casinos, and glamorous beauty pageants, Donald J. Trump is one of a kind in American business. Every day, he lives the American dream. Now he shows you how it?s done, in this rollicking, inspirational, and illuminating behind-the-scenes story of invaluable lessons and rich rewards.From the Hardcover edition.

Rich Dad's Guide to Investing Rich Dad's Guide to Investing follows the New York Times bestsellers Rich Dad, Poor Dad and Rich Dad's Cashflow Quadrant. Most of us know that the best investments never make it to market. This book discusses what the rich invest in that the poor and middle class do not. What follows is an insider's look into the world of investing, how the rich find the best investments, and how you can too.Robert Kiyosaki and Sharon Lechter show . . .· Rich Dad's basic rules of investing· How to reduce your investment risk· Rich Dad's 10 Investor Controls· How to convert your earned income into passive and portfolio income· How you can be the ultimate investor!

Rich Dad Poor Dad For Teens As Robert Kiyosaki writes in Rich Dad, Poor Dad, the poor and the middle class work for their money, but the rich make money work for them. Now this phenomenally popular financial philosophy is explained in a style that's perfect for teenagers. Rich Dad, Poor Dad for Teens distills the principles of cash flow, assets and liabilities, saving and investing money, and how to find opportunities to 'create money' by presenting these points in a voice and format geared toward younger readers. Best of all, Rich Dad's advice is accessible to all teens, no matter how 'smart' or confident they feel about money. Parents and teachers seeking creative, accessible ways to teach 'financial intelligence' to teens will also find this book a useful tool. More than ever, teens and parents are realizing that it's never too early to become financially literate, and this book gives them a means to get started.

The Intelligent Investor The classic text annotated by noted financial journalist Jason Zweig to update Benjamin Graham's timeless wisdom for today's market conditions. Warren Buffet: "By far the best book on investing ever written." Considered the greatest investment advisor of the twentieth century, Benjamin Graham's philosophy of "value investing" -- which shields investors from substantial error and teaches them to develop long-term strategies -- has made The Intelligent Investor the stock market bible ever since its original publication in 1949. Over the years, market developments have proven the wisdom of Graham's strategies. While preserving the integrity of Graham's original text, PerfectBound's revised edition includes updated commentary, whose perspective incorporates the realities of today's market, draws parallels between Graham's examples and today's financial headlines, and gives readers a more thorough understanding of how to apply Graham's principles. More than one million hardcovers soldNow available for the first time in paperback! The Classic Text Annotated to Update Graham's Timeless Wisdom for Today's Market Conditions The greatest investment advisor of the twentieth century, Benjamin Graham taught and inspired people worldwide. Graham's philosophy of "value investing" -- which shields investors from substantial error and teaches them to develop long-term strategies -- has made The Intelligent Investor the stock market bible ever since its original publication in 1949. Over the years, market developments have proven the wisdom of Graham's strategies. While preserving the integrity of Graham's original text, this revised edition includes updated commentary by noted financial journalist Jason Zweig, whose perspective incorporates the realities of today's market, draws parallels between Graham's examples and today's financial headlines, and gives readers a more thorough understanding of how to apply Graham's principles. Vital and indispensable, this HarperBusiness Essentials edition of The Intelligent Investor is the most important book you will ever read on how to reach your financial goals.

The Teenage Investor A Wall Street wiz kid teaches teens all about investingAt the age of 8, when most kids look no further than baseball cards and video games, young Tim Olsen bought his first stock.Now, with a diverse portfolio in hand, this13-year-old wunderkind has written The Teenage Investor.Olson explains for teens, Gen-Xers, and their parents how to build wealth in the stock market by starting now. He then outlines a simple, step-by-step program to begin building a lifelong portfolio.Tim's fresh perspective and wisdom-beyond his-years make The Teenage Investor a welcome relief from the standard ''how to get rich'' investment book. Writing with knowledge and insight of a market veteran, he tells young and first-time investors:How to invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds Unique wealth-building plans for young investors Methods for building a solid investment portfolio at any age

1. Get Rich with The Secret - A Make Money Mindset
2. Get Rich with The Secret - 4 Must Have Success Keys
3. Get Rich with The Secret - 18 Money Making Tips

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A life living in fear, worry, self-doubt, stubbornness and procrastination is a life lived by many people the world over. If the first thing you think of after the word 'Opportunity' is 'Not for me' than this post is for you. Please take heed of the following steps with tongue in cheek as it may not be for the faint hearted. Take care and keep building up your life monies!

If you are offended by the above picture or are homeless please talk to Steve Pavlina.
There is always hope.

1. Don't Worry About How Much You Spend

If you need something just go and get it. If you barely watch TV but your mate has the 80cm Plasma buy it anyway. Forget looking around for a cheaper item that is similar - so 'no' to the bargains. Do not write what you spend fortnightly on paper. Think of expenses as X and see how you go. Budgeting is boring, intrusive and down right annoying. Maybe go down to the pub for a few hours and down a few each night.

2. Use Plastic to Pay and Top it Up to the Credit Limit

If the bank told you it is okay to spend $5000 on your card then go for it. See it as a challenge to spend $4950 on crap. Just as long as you have that spare $50 on it to get you out of trouble you'll be fine. And remember, don't pay it off each month and if the monthly interest is too much - transfer it to another credit card. Go on, you deserve it!

3. Savings Accounts are for Your Quarterly Holiday

The money you do put aside after bills, booze and tequila parties should be put into a low interest high fee cash account. Make sure you check it regularly so you know how much you have for your next travel destination. Jet set, spend big, be someone you are not for a week and spend the next 3 months paying for it. Remember, any unforeseen medical expenses or staff cut backs will only help you in your existence as a victim. Someone will help you out with money when your ride comes to an end - try family, friends or the government for a pay out.

4. You're Young so You Better Live Like a Rock Star

Drink booze and socialize. There is plenty of time to do boring investing when you're older. Stop setting goals and go with the flow. When you are 40 you can start saving and investing. Start buying 12 people rounds of Jager Bombs for $120. Forget investing 10% of what you earn when you can live from pay check to pay check.

5. Do Not Read Investment Books, Magazine or Watch Money TV Programmes

Forget learning about money - a topic which is both boring and tedious. Any extra money you have is better left in the bank or given to someone who says they know better than you for it. Give them control of your monies. In fact, screw investment strategies and start buying lottery tickets, picking the odd horse and gamble it on slot machines. The science of statistics will save the day - not your savings account.

6. Live the High Life and Beat the Jones

If Freddy down the road has the new Chrysler 300C beat them the punch and buy a Porsche. Driving past during the fleeting moment once a week when he is out in his front yard getting his rubbish bins is well worth the exorbitant interest repayments and the erosion of your home's equity. 

7. Choose Your Insurance Quickly

Shopping around for Insurance policies cuts time out of watching sitcoms and infomercials. Go with you gut and get the policy that first presents itself. Pay the premiums like the rest of the bills - your money pays bills first anyway. Be sure to get military conflict, flood, earthquake and cyclone cover even though you live in the peaceful Salinas Valley.

8. Live the High Life and Flash Your Money Around

Oops, you missed the morning bus due to your lack of organization and laziness. Catch a taxi and pay by card. If it happens the next day just say 'Oops... Taxi!' When you finish work and your fridge is empty forget the grocery shopping and eat out at the local Chinese restaurant for lobster. It's easier and tastes a lot better.

8. Choose Your Loans by the Extras

Refinance with XYZ bank and get a monthly cinema pass. Reading the fine print is a waste of time - only lawyers and accountants do that. The banks are out there to support your genuine interests. 

9. Be Stubborn and Never Learn Anything New for Your Job

Yes it's true. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. Stick to your habits and never step out of your comfort zone.

10. Be a Loyal Employee and Never Look for Greener Pastures

You put that tie on 5 years ago to get your job. In this current economic climate you better hold on to your job. There won't be any opportunities out there in the big bad workforce for someone like you. Keep your current work conditions and stop thinking about 'What's out there'

11. Be Blind to the Benefits

Save tax through leasing a car through your job? No. Cut back on the amount of tax you pay in exchange for completing 15 pages of paperwork? No way buddy. Home office expenses related to work? Well, it is a lot easier to pay with your after tax income from your j.o.b. especially when keeping receipts is time consuming.

12. Lack Belief in Your Own Self Worth

Your time is not worth much. What you do at work is nothing special. Forget asking for a raise and accept that you slave day in and day out and never expect a payrise. The life of abundance is for them silver spoon folk - not you.

With faith that your goals will happen and taking action towards them the law of attraction will manifest the results in your life. Think, take action, succeed. Notice that thinking takes place first? By controlling your thoughts you can begin to attract money. The following tips are courtesy of The Secret website and can help you become a powerful money magnet:

1. Be clear about the amount of money you want to receive. State it and intend it! Don’t think about how much you can earn, but how much you want to receive.
2. Fall in love with money. Most people do not love money, because they always feel that they don't have enough of it.
3. Visualize and imagine yourself spending all the money you want, as though you have it already.
   Speak, act, and think from the mindset of being wealthy now. Eliminate thoughts and words of lack such as "I can't afford it", "It is too expensive".
4. Do not speak or think of the lack of money for a single second.
5. Be grateful for the money you have. Appreciate it as you touch it.
6. Make lists of all the things you will buy with an abundance of money.
7. Do whatever it takes for you to feel wealthy.
8. Affirm to yourself every day that you have an abundance of money, and that it comes to you effortlessly.
9. Appreciate all the riches around you, including the riches of others. Look for wealth wherever you go, and appreciate it.
10. Be certain that money is coming to you.
11. Love yourself and know that you are deserving and worthy of an abundance of money.
12. Remind yourself everyday that you are a money magnet, and ask yourself often during the day, am I attracting money now or pushing it away with my thoughts?
13. Always, always pay yourself first from your wage, then pay your creditors. In that single act, you are telling the Universe that you are worthy and deserving of more.
14. Repeat over and over every day, "I am a money magnet and money comes to me effortlessly and easily."
15. Write out a check to yourself for the sum of money you would like to have and carry it in your wallet. Look at it often.
16. Do whatever it takes to feel good. The emotions of joy and happiness are powerful money magnets. Be happy now!
17. Wealth is a mindset. Money is literally attracted to you or repelled from you. It's all about how you think.
18. Love yourself!

Related Post: Get Rich with The Secret - A Make Money Mindset

You can have the greatest money making tools at your disposal but without the correct mindset the monies you do make will fall through your fingers. If you feel poor, inadequate and constantly wanting what the Jones want, your mind will stubbornly hold on to your meagre possessions and beliefs. Then when opportunity knocks you will shun it away as you believe you are not worthly. If you start feeling like you are already wealthy, you are empowered in life so when a decisive moment comes you capitalize. Riches will manifest into your life.

2. Vision

Hold up your dream in your conscious thoughts and vividly imagine every detail of it. Smell the leather seats of your new Lamborghini, walk through the well-equipped school you just built in a third world country. Make this belief so real that it is inevitable you will one day achieve it. Push fear, doubt and negativity away out of your mind and have faith in your vision. The law of attraction will subtley start making what is in your head happen in the real world.

Essentially, your vision is a set goal, an outcome or result that you desire. For help with finding your vision, your desire in life see the post Aligning Your Life with Wealth.

3. Strategy

To achieve your vision we need a strategy which is simply a long term plan for action. When investing your strategy is a set of rules that govern behaviours or procedures whilst fulfilling your investment goals. For instance is your 'buy and hold' for the long term or is it buy low and sell high utilizing market timing.

4. Tactics

Tactics carry out a strategy and are a short-term plan for action. Get out of your day trade when you hit 20% return on investment. It is procedure you follow to the letter and has defined details.

Set Your Vision, Strategies, and Tactics

Have a think about where your money is being invested. Question and answer yourself and make sure you write them down for weekly revision.

1. Do I have tactics that have no strategy behind them?
2. What is my vision?
3. What strategies are working towards my vision?
4. What tactics do I have that carry out my strategy?
5. Is my vision aligned to what I currently want in life?
6. Do my tactics and strategies working towards my vision?

Build up your mental strength and capacity. Align yourself with what you truly want in life - your vision. Carry out tactics which achieve a strategy which fulfil a vision. We all want to live a fulfilled and happy life. Be true to yourself and relentlessly achieve with action. Success is inevitable.

The Secret teachs to manifest things we want in our life. It's likely you already use the law of attraction before it was re-packaged as 'The Secret'. It is a movie you can watch online and is a high selling book. Oprah is in love with it. The Secret informs us how to actively use the law of attraction to manifest goals to live abundant lifes.

It helps align your life with your goals to achieve results rather than passively sitting around and receiving 'good luck' every blue moon. It helps you believe that with clarity of thought and subsequent action you achieved desired results. What you want - becomes reality.

Through living life with this belief system in place you gain a strong sense of confidence in oneself and not thinking 'if' but 'when' your dreams will happen - a.k.a. faith.

With faith that your goals will happen and taking action towards them the law of attraction will manifest the results in your life. Think, take action, succeed.

The more you read about money making the larger your knowledge base of tactics become. They are the techniques you use to make money such as writing covered calls, buying positive geared properties or creating an online business that makes money from advertising revenue. There is plenty of information out there to learn - but without the right strategy behind them it is useless information.

With all these tactics learnt, people try them, fail and then quit out of frustration. Many people quit on the steep learning curve to get into their money making plan before they start to manifest successful results. They either have the wrong strategy or the wrong mindset to be successful.

Related Post: Get Rich with The Secret - 4 Must Have Success Keys

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Why Bother?

Napolean Hill states there are two ways to live your life. One is out of sync with your inner desires resulting in a life of penalties. The other way to live life is in sync with your desires - a life of riches.

Now I know I want what is in the riches column. Napolean Hill states that all you have to do to achieve riches is to consistently apply the following three steps:

1. Write down a clear description of your major desire in life. The one circumstance or position or thing that you will willing to accept as your idea of success. And, remember before you begin writing that your only limitations are those that you set up in your own mind or permit others to set up for you.

2. Write down a clear statement of precisely what you intend to give in return for that which you desire from life and then start in right where you stand now to begin giving.

3. Memorise both of your statements. What you desire and what you intend to give in return for it. And repeat them at least a dozen times daily. And always end your statements with this expression of gratitude for the blessings of what with which you were gifted at birth:
   

"Oh divine providence, I ask not for more riches but more wisdom with which to make wiser use of the riches you gave me at birth consisting of the power to control and direct my own mind to whatever ends I desire." -Napolean Hill

By completing the above steps in a spirit of humble sincerity a better world will present itself to you. A world in which you will see reflected the circumstances and the things which you yourself have created.

How Have I Been Going With It?

Goal setting is an activity I, and I am sure, you have been doing for quite some time. Progress is not made by wandering around in life, directionless and confused at what to do next. Clear objectives must be set and followed through with focused and direct action. The third step is commitment. Maintaining motivation to complete actions over an extended time frame. Take up a hobby half-heartedly and in six months it is unlikely you will still be continuing the hobby. Results will be below par with your expectations and when enthusiasm is depleted the hobby is set aside with the thought of "I'll get back to that later."

When I was 24 I set out to buy my first investment property. I searched through multiple listings, called real estate agents for further info, inspected properties, learnt property jargon, dealt with lawyers, established finance and bought my property. I had limited help and certainly no financial aide from family. Whilst living in this property I would come home from work each day, get changed into old clothing and rendered, painted, skirted every wall in this two-storey townhouse.

I had a clear set goal and it took six months to have the property good to go for a tenant to move in. This property still sits there bringing in an income stream. Many times I would have liked to just forget about renovating, have a beer and watch the television but in order to meet my goal and lease out the property by a certain time I had to work. Day in day out I worked towards my goal - to have an investment property, to fulfil my life desire - to retire through passive income, and now something to show for my work. Consistent action over time.

How Are You Going?

Please, let us know an instance where you had a desire and achieved it through consistent action over time in the forum below. Thank you.

Special Offer for Life Monies readers!

Bob Proctor is selling his  'Science of Getting Rich' audio books at a massive discount!

Who is he? He is the Guru of The Secret!  read more