Financial Literacy

A Thought

A wise man once stated: "You will be in the same place 5 years from now, but for the people you meet and the books you read".

If you spend your time to search out people who question and challenge you and seek and read books that inspire you, you will grow. It is said a really good friend is one who wants more for you than you want for yourself. Ask yourself this minute: "who of my friends exhibits that trait? Make a point of getting with them more often.

Even better, draw out from them their own desires and dreams and want that for them to the same intensity they want for you.

Have a great week!
Malcolm

The Wisher or The Causer

Hello there!

I was reminded today of Ghandi's famous statement "Be the change you want to see in the world". Along the same lines, the Chinese saying "Man who wait on side of moutain with mouth open waiting for roast duck to fly in, have long wait" recognizes the folly of putting one's fate in the hands of another.

In wanting things to be better, one only need look as far as one's own actions. Wishing only puts the onus on someone else and cannot actually make any positive difference. 

The following poem says it best for me:

Wishing
by Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Do you wish the world were better?
Let me tell you what to do.
Set a watch upon your actions,
Keep them always straight and true.
Rid your mind of selfish motives,
Let your thoughts be clean and high.
You can make a little Eden
Of the sphere you occupy.

Do you wish the world were wiser?
Well, suppose you make a start,
By accumulating wisdom
In the scrapbook of your heart;
Do not waste one page on folly;
Live to learn, and learn to live.
If you want to give men knowledge
You must get it, ere you give.

Do you wish the world were happy?
Then remember day by day
Just to scatter seeds of kindness
As you pass along the way,
For the pleasures of the many
May be oftimes traced to one,
As the hand that plants an acorn
Shelters armies from the sun.

Source: Poems of Power. W. B. Conkey Co., Chicago, Illinois.

Have an awesome day!

Malcolm

Miserable or Happy - It's Your Choice

Hello,

I was musing today on why sometimes it seem such a struggle to get into a positive frame of mind. There seem to be so many problems all around, and the media constantly streams more at us.

So, instead of continuing to struggle, I started looking at what is positive about my life. I simply jotted things down as they came into my head. I have an enjoyable job, a nice home, a very loving wife, some great friends, I'm financially secure, healthy, active, I have4 skills, I live and work in a safe area, I have many varied interests and pastimes that I actively enjoy, etc, etc.

Before I knew it, I had a entire page full of positives. And, with every one I put down, I actually felt more positive. So much so that the fantastic mood this created has remained with me all day and continues to get stronger.

So, if you are ever feeling down or upset, just pull out a sheet of paper and start writing down what is positive about your life. I bet you won't believe the number of items you write and how fast you start feeling better.

Have a great week,

Malcolm 

Procrastination and Action

Procrastination - A word many of us know intimately - especially me.

This week I have been looking at the many ways I make excuses not to just do what I know I should do. And why. The answer is not an easy one. Just to examine this area causes - you guessed it - procrastination!

So, I took some abrupt action. I did something about it. I actually started to do the things I was putting off. Amazing! It worked! I did not have to procrastinate about doing them any more. They were done!
And I discovered some really powerful side effects - My mood went up. I felt happier and more alive. And, wait for it, less inclined to procrastinate about other things I needed to do.

So there you have it. When paralyzed by procrastination, get into action!

Have a great week,

Malcolm

Do you procrastinate?

Hello,

Procrastination: This is a word that just sounds bad; even worse if you believe it applies to you. We are all guilty at some time of procrastinating. Putting something off for a "good" reason to convince ourselves that it is justified. For me it is the long and more difficult runs in a training schedule, or mowing the grass, washing the car etc. Procrastination steals time and energy; it makes you  ineffective.

Determined Action: A positive and powerful expression that communicates commitment to get something done. The complete opposite of procrastination, it inspires us to "Do it now". Couple a dream with a burning desire and this is the result. Nothing stands in the way of determined action. This is the stuff that Olympic gold medal winners are made of.

Here is a simple exercise. For one week, work on replacing procrastination with determined action. Replace hesitation with boldness. Replace fear with courage. Replace staying in the background with coming to the forefront. Do this in everything you do. At the end of the week, assess your progress and what you have learned. Share it with your family, friends and collegues. You may be amazed at the result.

Have a great week.

Are You Being Programmed to Accept Scarcity?

Hello,

I am continually amazed by nature. Every year at the end of winter plants and animals wake up and an incredible abundance of growth commences. This is a natural state of affairs - we are ment to have abundance. It is the same now as it has been for hundreds of thousands of years.

Just one apple produces 10's of seeds, a maple tree creates and distributes thousands of seeds several times a year.

So why is it that we are continually bomarded with the message that there is too little to go around? That we must save? That the incredible abundance we witness every day is somehow an illusion?

Are we born with this idea? Do children think in terms of "less"? No, no, that have to be taught that. This is not a natural state.

I am not saying that we should waste. Waste is a problem. But if you only look for the negative, then that is all you will see.

If politicians and the media are continually sending the message "save this", "conserve that", "look how bad this is" etc. then it constitutes "programming" for the masses. This is a subtle mechanism as it is so easy to go along with - it all sounds so reasonable so it must be true....

I urge you to look around and notice all the abundance. Notice how natural it all is for this state to exist. And then question every message that attempts to convince you that scarcity is the way to go. Have the reasons explained to you. And don't be too surprised when the answers do not make any sense.

Have a great day....

 

 

 

Do you have an Olympic Champion "Setup" for your life?

Hello,

This week has been very exciting; I have been consumed and captivated by the fantastic performances at the London Olympics. I believe that having the opportunity every four years to witness such world class performances is truly a gift.

Several times during the week I have reflectd on why winning a gold medal has so much more significance than sliver of bronze. Don't get me wrong, qualifying to be part of the games is a big deal, but no where near as bigger a deal as winning a gold medal! 

The real difference between gold and any other performance level is attitude, training and preparation. It is truly down to the overall "setup". What I mean by "setup" is having all the pieces in place that build to a masterful and exact performance. This not only applies to producing olympic champions, but also to every aspect of life. 

The correct setup is required to perform at any level, and once in place, can be built on to improve performance right up to "gold medal".

The opposite of "setup" is "upset". I bet you know of one or more individuals who are pretty upset with life. The fact is they are just missing the correct setup to make their life work. Put the correct "setup" in place and their lives would improve, almost miraculously.

So, what is your life "setup" and how are you doing on it?

I'd love to know more......

 

 

 

Concentration, Wealth and Personal Success

Here is an interesting article by Gregg Swanson on Concentration, Wealth and Personal Success:

Read article

Have a wonderful Easter weekend!

Malcolm

Personal Debt = Soverign Debt?

Hello!

It occurred to me today that a countries sovereign debt issues are just a reflection of it's peoples debt issues. The issue is really down to a poor financial education. With improved financial literacy people would see how much better their lives would be with less debt load. This would improve everyone's prosperity and in turn create the environment for real growth.

The level of soverign debt in a country is simply the level that it's inhabitants will tolerate. This is completely borne out by the people of Iceland who would not tolerate the crippling debt conditions their country was under and took poweful and successful action to change their consitution to ensure that the situation could never be repeated.

The bottom line is that we all have a tolerance level, mainly set by experience and education. Improving literacy in problem areas often has a dramatic effect on future outcomes, sometimes much more dramatic than first envisioned.

Let's make 2012 the year to end the termoil caused by a poor financial education and become the guiding light to a prosperious future.

Happy New Year!

 

 

What is wealth?

Hello,

I was thinking about wealth today and it occurred to me that true wealth in the financial sense is not having "lots of money" but it is relative to the lifestyle you wish to enjoy. In line with this, I came up with an interesting two part definition for being truly wealthy

1) "You are truly financially wealthy, if, regardless of what you spend, you are completely debt free and always have $100 in your wallet"

and

2) "You are truly financially wealthy if you help thousands of people be in condition 1".

The most striking thing about these definitions is that they totally support each other; Achieve 2) and you automatically attain 1).   

Have a great week!