I have found myself sitting at the office many a time asking 'What the heck am I doing?' Then like clockwork the boss scans across the floor and I get back to work. A wage slave. A nine-to-fiver. There is an answer:

Smart people build systems that generate income 24/7, especially passive income.  This can include starting a business, building a web site, becoming an investor, or generating royalty income from creative work.  The system delivers the ongoing value to people and generates income from it, and once it’s in motion, it runs continuously whether you tend to it or not.  From that moment on, the bulk of your time can be invested in increasing your income (by refining your system or spawning new ones) instead of merely maintaining your income.

The above excerpt is from my self-employed internet business idol Steve Pavlina. He is a self-proclaimed self-development specialist. He writes I listen and so do thousands of other readers on the internet. People from all walks of life who are interested in improving their lack-lustre life. Sure you may have fun, get satisfaction, achieve your daily goals. But could you be more efficient? That 8 hour block you seem to switch off for, suppress in your memory or only put 70% of yourself into may be what needs to be cut away to achieve your whole-hearted purposeful existence. Let's see in summary what Steve has to say.

1. Work Monies is Not the Answer

   Trading an hour of your time for a fixed monetary value is a waste of time. There are many jobs with billions of employee who do this in the world. How many employees come to the point where they realise 'I don't really have to work that hard? Where they pick up poor habits and begin performing below their potential due to lack of motivation or laziness. Well, I'd have a guess that this happens a high-percentage of the time. Especially when the novelty of the job wears off and you're two years into the same position within the company and the opportunity for career advancement is few and far between.

2. Work Experience is Limited

   Your view of the business world is limited to that which you experience within your 'job'. The equipment, processes, technology you are exposed to may not be around in 20 years. So you must continuously update your skills or you'll find yourself redundant. Does this sound like a futile endeavour? I think so. Why not spend your time building these business systems which generate income after you have put the initial effort in? That sounds like a much better plan don't you think?

3. Lifelong Slave

   Each day of your job you are being conditioned. From induction when you're a pimply-faced teenager until the day when age gets the better of you and you hit mandatory retirement. Your job is a prison. Your boss disciplines you when you do not obey and rewards you when you meet the ticks in the boxes during your quarterly performance review. Well done, good dog.

4. Your Cut Isn't as Big as You Think

   A lot of other people are taking a lot of slices from your pay! A large proportion obviously goes to tax. Then your employer has bills to pay. Office space, machinery, electricity, corporate taxes, and the list goes on. The owner and investors of the company want a maximum return on their initial outlay. Again a slice is gone from your work income. You are left last to get paid - a mere fraction of what you deserve.

5. Staying Safe is Limiting

   Being conservative and safe and doing what everyone else does is the best option. Well that is what you are conditioned to say. Isn't it? Think about it. You go to your job and get paid. Each day you market yourself to your boss and constantly try to get more money. Well why don't you sell your time to your employer as a contractor? If the work dries up or they are not meeting your pay level get another client. You already care about your professional image - take it to the next level and mind your own business. Have multiple employers a.k.a. clients. Why limit yourself to one. Working towards acquiring multiple income streams is where it is at.

6. Your Boss is Your Master Not You

   You put a lot of effort into your job. You turn up 15 minutes before you have to start each day so the boss keeps off your back. You take small breaks so you can get stuck into the little task to do that extra bit for the company. Then the economy turns bear, investors pull out, the company has to cut back and the boss turns into Trump yelling 'You're fired!' It's nothing personal. You have no control over your own destiny working for someone else filling their pockets working in the herd. Take control and get some multiple income streams. Regardless of what the economy is doing if you experienced in finding where the money is and setting up more business systems to deliver you passive income you will have control. It's time to be your own boss.

7. Begging For More

   If you want a raise you behave and wait until the time is convenient for your slave driver, I mean boss, and wipe the sweat from your quivering neck and ask. Boss says 'No' and you wait for next month. Imagine, if you were your own boss and you wanted a raise. You would look over your business systems and find ways to increase profit. Now that is the answer I am looking for. Are you?

8. Constricting Social Circles

   Why go for drinks and speak to colleagues about a possible upgrade to the office computers operating system next month. Whinge and wine about the boss and how you feel you should be treated better. Blow off some steam and wake up the next day to face the same mundane activity tomorrow. Get out of the square and speak to other people. Those whom are supremely motivated, live an interesting life and are in control of their financial future.

9. Freedom To Do What They Want

   During induction your soon to be boss would of shoved in front of you the 5 inch thick company policy and off the things you can't do. It tells you to not to run in the corridors, to only print work related items, to keep plants off your desk and to ensure you have choose between the single or double windsor knot. The boss takes this biblical rule book away and makes you sign an agreement. 'Congratulations. You are now liable for reinforcement training if you disobey any of the 4593 corporate behaviour policies. Now, get out of my office and try to restrict your free will to a compliable nature and get to work.'

10. Free Will Not Allowed

    The employee loves to whine about their problems. The impossible task of getting that report in on time. How much the boss is a complete goof. Why is there no milk in the brew fridge today? I don't think this is the life of a person in touch with their free spirit. I don't this is a person in control of their life. So instead of seek solutions we whine and whine and before you know it you've lost your free will. You've become a slave, a spineless coward begging for your next crumb.

Get some backbone and break the mould that has been created for you to serve your masters. Be in control of your life and create the life you want. Create your own income streams. Know how the work and how to improve them to increase your income. Create assets that generate money for your even when you are doing the dishes, taking the kids to school, cooking that Tuna you just caught offshore in plentiful waters.

The world is full of opportunities and all that is holding you back is your own fears. Get some courage and break free from them. Get out there and find your ability to provide value to others and charge a fair price. Create an online business and get paid by multiple streams. Find your niche in the world and get paid for multiple times for it. It may not make sense at the moment but you have must the first step by reading this. Knowledge is power and you have started out on your new direction in life right now. Congratulations. Stay true to yourself and direct yourself to the life you want.

Learn the 7 universal growth principles (truth, love, power, oneness, authority, courage, and intelligence) to achieve major breakthroughs in your habits, career, finances, relationships, health, and spiritual development.

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR SMART PEOPLE by Steve Pavlina    US $4.99