Three Years to Financial Independence

By Mark Ford
We recently received an e-mail from Jorge Izquierdo, Jr., a subscriber who complained that "all the material being covered [in The Palm Beach Letter] is for long-term investing. What about short term? I've been trying to free my family and myself from the chains of slavery for far too long now. Show me the truth."
Behind Jorge's question lies the assumption that it is possible to acquire wealth through some "short-term" investment strategy.
As I've explained before, it's simply not possible to quickly turn, say, $25,000 into $1 million by investing in stocks. But I have good news for Jorge. He can unshackle himself from "financial slavery," as he calls it, in a relatively short period of time.
Jorge – or just about anyone for that matter – can achieve freedom from financial slavery in just a few years. It does not have to be a lifelong process.
If you are in this situation, here is what you must do...
First, you must ask yourself if you are willing to give up the hope of getting rich quickly by investing. Are you willing to accept the fact that you won't go from broke to being a millionaire by investing in the next Microsoft? If you can't honestly and completely answer "yes" to that question, you might as well go read another analyst... one who will tell you what you want to hear.
But if you are ready, the next thing you need to do is think about what you mean by "financial slavery."
What does that term mean? Most commonly it means two things:
You earn less than you spend.
You owe more than you own.
If you earn less than you spend, you are in a constant state of stress. You must put off or partially pay your bills. You must appease creditors. And all the while, your debt is mounting.
If you owe more than you own, you can't buy a house or lease a car or get a loan from anyone other than your parents. (And what if they are dead or tired of helping you... or don't have the money?)
Because you are in so much trouble, you can't even think about taking nice vacations or retiring someday. Instead, you have to worry about losing your job. So you keep working and reading investment newsletters. But as each month passes, your financial situation gets worse.
It's a miserable existence. But it doesn't have to last. You can break the chains you feel attached to by simply recognizing and reversing the two "facts" mentioned above.
Problem No. 1: You earn less than you spend.
Solution: Spend less and earn more.
You can't break the chains of slavery without hitting them hard with a big mallet. You won't be able to gain the independence you want in a few years or less by cutting $10 here and $50 there.
My recommendation is to cut your expenses by 30% to 50%.
I know that sounds crazy. And it may be impossible in your case. But don't dismiss the idea until you hear me out.
The primary factor in how much you spend every month is the neighborhood you live in. Your neighborhood creates the financial culture that presents the spending choices you make. If you live in a community of million-dollar homes, you will be looking at new BMWs and Audis when it comes to buying or leasing a car. When you go out to dinner, chances are, you'll be spending more than a hundred dollars per couple.
Unless you live in a working-class neighborhood now, you can radically reduce your spending by moving into one.
I have friends and family members in this situation. They live in $350,000 homes in beautiful neighborhoods and drive luxury cars. But the reality is they are broke and getting poorer every month. They refuse to even consider the idea of downsizing, because they are simply too ashamed to do so. What they don't realize is every month they try to "hold on," it is making them poorer.
Moving to a less expensive neighborhood would be the quickest, biggest, and surest way to bring their spending down by 30% to 50%.
The other thing you must do to improve your situation is to earn more money. You should take immediate steps to increase your income by 20% to 50%. Again, I know that seems radical, but if you want a "short-term" solution out of financial slavery, this is just as important as radically cutting expenses.
Problem No. 2: You owe more than you own.
Solution: Start owing less and owning more.
If you have accumulated a lot of debt, it means that you don't see debt as financially dangerous. You must accept the fact that most debt you have is bad for you. There are only a few exceptions: mortgage debt when interest rates are low, and business debt when the business is sound and you are not personally liable.
The first step toward debt management is to get rid of every credit card you have, as well as any credit you have with your bankers. Use cash or debit cards for your shopping. Yes, that means there will be lots of things you can't buy every month. That's a good thing, not a bad thing.
If you have a lot of existing credit card debt, you need to consolidate it. Then work with a professional to pay it off at reasonable interest rates.
If you are lucky enough to have equity in your home, trading it for a cheaper one (see above) will accomplish two important goals: it will reduce your monthly expenses, and it will give you a chunk of cash that you can use to pay off debt or put aside as savings.
You must also increase what you own. And by that, I do NOT mean cars or boats or furniture or toys. I mean tangible assets that are likely to appreciate. Gold coins, income-producing real estate, and safe stocks belong in this category.
Every extra after-tax dollar you make by taking on extra work or starting a side business should be devoted to increasing your ownership of such assets. None of it should be spent.
Being financially independent is not about having a big house or driving new cars or taking fancy vacations. There are tens of thousands of Americans in that situation today who are financial slaves, just like you. They are in chains because they spend more than they make and owe more than they own. Their stress is just as great as yours, even though they may make more money or have more toys.
Being financially independent means having more income than you need and owing far less than you own.
It means knowing that you won't be harassed by bill collectors or embarrassed at the supermarket. It means you have money put aside to take care of any emergencies that come up, and it means a savings account that gets substantially bigger every year.
Becoming a multimillionaire takes years. But breaking the chains of financial slavery can be done relatively quickly.
The hardest part is recognizing the chains that are binding you – earning less than you spend and owing more than you own – and deciding to do something serious about them.

Girl Power!!!

In today's times, we often hear the phrase "girl power" being
thrown around.  Now, while that sounds like a very empowering
tagline for our gender, I'm not so sure if we've really grasped the
truth behind the concept.
For me, being a woman means wielding a certain set of powers that
men find utterly attractive.  And I believe that once you've
learned to harness the full power of your femininity, drawing in
the quality men will be a DEAD SIMPLE matter.
But first, let's take a good look at what makes up the REAL essence
behind feminine energy.
At the core of this concept lies a nurturing force that's dedicated
to infecting others with the happiness that's within your own soul.
 It's about finding the beauty in living through an artistic and
heartfelt expression, whether it's through singing, dancing or
painting.
The feminine essence is driven by the ability to be flirty, playful
and changing your mood at a moment's notice.  It's about finding
the joy in living by sharing the same positive feeling with others.
In the past, women in society were made to follow a soft, meek, and
overly submissive version of this feminine archetype.  That meant
forever being stuck as a homemaker and child-raiser, even if some
women might have preferred a different life.
But of course, times are a-changing aren't they??
In this progressive 21st century, we've got a whole generation of
superwomen who've learned to bring out their masculine sides by
taking on LEADERSHIP roles that require HARD and FAST DECISIONS.
In other words, we women are no longer barred from doing what were
traditionally labeled as "men's jobs".
Putting food on the table? Check.
Changing a flat tire? We got that covered.
Raising a family single-handedly?  Been there, done that!
Programming the VCR? Um...honey, could you come here for a sec?
(Just KIDDING.  Of course we women can get by on our own, even when
it comes to THAT!  Besides, VCRs are soooo '90s!)
So in other words, the modern woman today has gone up the social
ladder to kick ass and take names.  And for me, I wouldn't have it
any other way.
But you know what?  When it comes to the world of dating, men are
still YEARN for their women to have the feminine energy that we
have inside of us.
I'm not talking about wearing soft, frilly dresses or having that
new "it" handbag that came out last week.  It's certainly not about
squeezing into a push-up bra, nor does getting together with the
girls to talk about "Desperate Housewives" constitute being
feminine.
Like what we mentioned earlier, it's a basic attitude that focuses
on relationships, feelings and communicating on an emotional level.
 Femininity thrives on creating life as well as creating joy within
the lives of those around you!
Now, this is a wonderful gift that you can offer a man, because
your feminine energy evens out his masculine essence.  This is why
opposites attract - your ability to match his purpose-driven,
goal-oriented nature with your feminine power creates a balanced
HARMONY within a relationship.
Think of the contrasting black and white sides of the yin-yang
diagram.
The masculine essence is about the singularity of purpose and
leading other people towards a meaningful cause.  This energy
enables a man to protect those who are dear to him, like his family
and friends.
That's why the masculine essence seeks a partner who has qualities
that COMPLEMENT his own set of defining traits.
So what I'm really saying here is that it's perfectly fine if
wearing pink and high heels isn't your cup of tea.  Those things
don't make you feminine - not in the truest sense of the word,
anyway.
It's even fine if your calling in life is to make it big in the
corporate world and assume high-level positions that need a great
amount of responsibility.  In fact, you can "wear the pants" in
most areas of your life if you're so inclined to do so.
In these recent times, it's standard fare for women to put their
masculine sides to good use.  However, you have to understand that
you're going to have to tap into your feminine side if you want to
succeed in the world of dating.
If you dig strong men, you'll especially have to use your womanly
energy to attract them big time.  It simply brings out all his
"manly" traits and drives him to cherish and protect a woman who's
in touch with her feminine side.
Most of all, masculine men are drawn women who are openly proud of
their womanhood. It's very cool to take pride with being on equal
footing with men, but don't be ashamed of the power that your
feminine essence holds.
With that said, I've put together some of the best ways you can
fully realize your feminine side:
#1: Loosen up, seriously.
Look, I understand it's important to take charge of a situation
when the occasion calls for it, such as a high-pressure job or an
emergency.  But when you're going out a man, it's time to put your
hair down and chill out!
Men love women who know when not to take themselves too seriously
and relax into the moment.  A woman's laughter can be the sweetest
music to a guy's ears.
Look at Wonder Woman for crying out loud.  She may fight alongside
Superman, but when she's off the clock, she has no problems
slipping into a slinky dress and enjoying the company of her
friends and dumbstruck suitors.
#2: Flaunt those curves!
Don't ever apologize for having those soft, delicate features that
men go ga-ga over.  Even a lioness ain't bad on the eyes.  Strength
is all good, but embracing the curvaceous part of you gets a man's
motor running.
There's no need to wear clothes that are too risqué.  In fact,
giving the guys just a glimpse of the rest of your body is all you
need to get those hyperactive imaginations working overtime.
That's why they came up with the saying "less is more".  Invest in
some tasteful outfits that flatter the best parts of your body
without revealing more than necessary.  Soft fabrics that flatter
your natural curves work best in giving the men a "sneak preview",
but nothing more than that.
#3: Have fun getting "dolled up".
Some guys like to crack a joke or two about the kind of production
we put on for them.  But once we they get an eyeful of our smooth,
sweet-smelling and well-maintained figures, they sure aren't
complaining then.
Take pleasure in beautifying yourself.  It's one of the perks of
being a woman.  After all, we're the ones having the babies, so we
deserve to pamper our bodies right?
So don't think that you're undermining your femininity or
conforming to men's standards by indulging a bit.  Don't be ashamed
of going crazy with the vanilla-scented shampoo, the cocoa butter
moisturizer, or putting on that peach lipstick.
(Of course, the actual flavors and scents are up to you, but you
get the point!)
#4: Be more tactile.
As some say, women are more inclined towards physical contact than
men, and I don't see anything wrong with that.  You see, guys are
of the notion that women need to give them the go signal before
making contact.
So, go ahead and give occasional, "harmless" touches here and
there, such as briefly placing your hand on his or a tap on the
shoulder.  Then he'll feel it's ok to reciprocate in the same
manner.
#5: Allow him to be a man.
Let him open the doors for you or guide you to your seat.  These
are ways for him to express his masculine side, so indulge him and
allow him the warmth of your feminine appreciation.
When a guy moves your couch for you, compliment him on his brute
strength.  At dinner, allow him to tell the receptionist "Smith,
table for two".
When you think about it, you aren't letting him "hold all the
cards".  You're simply giving him the chance to project his
masculine energy which is defined with strength and leadership.
Allowing him the pleasure of doing these things for you will
ultimately encourage him to bring out the protective,
"take-charge-of-things" part of himself.  In the long run, you can
be the strong woman that he can lean on, just remember to let him
explore his masculinity as well.
#6: Be expressive of your feelings
Political correctness notwithstanding, men are usually raised to be
succinct and straight to the point.  On a general scale, guys are
guys because they don't see the point of dilly-dallying or beating
around the bush.
I mean, you've probably seen guys when they get together and drink.
 They're inclined to economize their verbal exchanges and come
right out with what they want to get off their chests.
The feminine essence however, loves to explore emotions in great
detail.  It isn't uncommon for many women to give rich, detailed
accounts about the full range of feelings they had during the most
common, everyday experiences in their lives.
That's just how feminine self-expression works.  Don't assume
though that you can talk to a guy the way you do with your
girlfriends.  Be careful, or you could wear his ears out pretty
quick!
What I'm suggesting is for you to be short and sweet when it comes
to conversing with a man - but it certainly wouldn't hurt to
briefly discuss your emotions when the time is right.
For instance, you could tell your guy about the crazy day you had
at the office the other day by making a CONCISE mention of what you
felt during the crush of the workday.  However, you don't need to
rehash every single, gory detail of your emotions.
Exposing him to the world of feelings is enough.  It may very well
encourage him to open up about his own feelings if the mood strikes
him.
Yet, being HALF (or three-fourths at most) as expressive and
lengthy with your emotions as you are with your female friends will
probably do the trick.  The important thing is that the both of you
are meeting each other halfway when it comes to communication.
#7: Learn to be more friendly and make friends.
Remember that feminine energy is all about creating interpersonal
connections between a bustling network of family, friends and
colleagues.
Therefore, a woman with a rich, active social life implies high
value, something the masculine essence seeks.  In other words, it
tells men that she isn't needy for company and is pretty happy with
her life.
More importantly, she'll be a strong, balanced partner if she does
decide to enter a relationship out of her own accord, and not
because she feels "damaged" or "incomplete".  Her self-sufficiency
assures any would-be suitor that he'll be dating a confident,
secure woman who won't pressure him to get married or have kids
just because all her friends are doing it.
Above all, a light-hearted, easy-going and sociable woman will be
less likely to represent the end of a guy's freedom.  That's
because a well-adjusted girl doesn't nag his guy to spend more
quality time with her, or demand him to regularly report his
whereabouts like a parole officer would!

Steer Yourself to Positivity

You keep thinking about it
And every time you think about it your stomach turns
Maybe You get upset
Maybe You get angry
You feel like somebody stole something from you
How dare they do that
How could you be so foolish
How could you make such a mistake
You keep beating yourself up and you don't know why
Your mind gets filled with negative thoughts
You keep hanging on.
Thinking about it over and over again.
You can't sleep.
You want to do something but don't know what.
You just keep hanging on to those memories.
You keep thinking about what happened.
You keep beating yourself up...
The negative thoughts keep coming...
You just can't let go...
But you CAN let go.
And you CAN move on.
You CAN stop beating yourself up
You CAN get rid of those negative thoughts.
You're only hanging on to the past and those memories because your mind doesn't
know any better.
It doesn't have anything else to think about.
You get all those negative thoughts because that's what your mind is
used to thinking about - it simply doesn't know any better.
You want things to change.
You want things to get better.
And they will.
As soon as you take charge of your mind and get rid of those
negative thoughts you'll change your life.
You'll gain more confidence.
You'll believe in yourself.
You'll achieve all your goals.
You'll enjoy your life.
You'll make more money
You'll be happy.
But that will only happen when you get rid of the negative thoughts and begin
filling your mind with new, positive thoughts.
Those thoughts of worry, doubt, fear, and anger cripple you.
They don't allow you to succeed.
They hold you back.
Now you need to change those thoughts.
Fill your mind with positive thoughts.
Direct your subconscious to bring you what you want.
Take charge of your life and being enjoying it today.
 Your subconscious mind creates your life based on your thoughts and beliefs.
Positive thoughts create positive beliefs.
Positive beliefs create a positive life.
Simple and powerful.
It's been proven over and over again.
But for some reason you can't get your mind to stay positive.
Those negative thoughts and negative beliefs still dominate your mind and life.
It's only because you haven't taken charge of your mind and actively
directed your subconscious mind.
So start by eliminating the negative thoughts.
Fill your mind with positive thoughts.
Think about why you can do something.
How you can succeed.
Why you can move forward.
With practice you'll get better.
The more often you get rid of those negative thoughts the better life gets.
That means you have to do this everyday.
Professional athletes practice everyday - even during their off-season.
They do everything they can to stay in shape.
They go through numerous exercises and routines.
They keep doing the same thing over and over again, and they do this for years.
It's a way of life for them and that's why they're so successful.
You have to keep your mind and subconscious mind in shape.
That means you have to practice everyday.
So get rid of those negative thoughts everyday.
Direct your subconscious to create what you want everyday.
Stop thinking about why you can't do something or why you failed.
Let go of those bad memories and believe in yourself.
Apply the right exercises and follow the right routines

"The Prince and the Dark Horse"

Nobody gets through life unscathed. We all have difficult situations. And we all have extremely difficult situations. And as pleasure-seeking-pain-avoiding creatures on this planet, when we are in difficulty the first thing we usually do is try and "fix" it.
   
When in pain, we seek to eliminate the pain.
When in conflict, we seek to resolve the conflict.
When in uncertainty, we seek to find grounding.
Mind you there's nothing wrong with wanting to minimize pain, conflict, and uncertainty. In fact, it's something I am conscious of regularly. However, the way most of us go about it is often detrimental to finding the optimal solution.
Most of the time, we seek to do that as quickly as possible. End pain fast. Resolve conflict immediately.
   
It's our nature to do that. Unfortunately, that's more of our primal instinctual nature... not the higher consciousness nature we aspire to embody.

Here's a story from Guy Finley that illustrates this beautifully:

There was once a young prince who, having reached the age of majority, left home to live on a grand estate given to him by his father. He was told that if he ever needed help he was to put a light in the uppermost tower window, and his father would send a special horse and carriage to carry him to safety.
However, his father also warned him that an evil wizard, an enemy of the kingdom, lived not too far from his new home. The prince was told to be wary when setting his signal, for this wizard would also see this light and might himself send his own horse and carriage to carry the prince off to who knows what kind of danger.
Of course, this frightened the young ruler-to-be. After all, how would he be able to tell the difference? His father assured him there was a foolproof measure. Each time, before entering the rescue carriage, he was to closely examine the horse pulling it. A light-colored horse would always take him to safety, but a dark horse would always take him to danger.
As one might imagine, many of the ordeals that come with the ruling life befell the prince, each one causing him to put a light in the window. And for many months, because he was in such a rush to escape his castle when he felt in danger, he failed to heed his father's warning; time and time again he neglected to examine the horse that came to get him. As a result he often found himself on one painful wild ride after another where, too late, he realized his inattentiveness was causing him as much distress as the condition he was trying to escape.
Eventually, he found the presence of mind -- before he would get into the carriage that had come for him -- to see if the horse pulling it had been sent by the evil wizard or by his father.
   

That begs the question though: What can we actually do when we're between a rock and a hard place?
   
If it's ineffective and suboptimal to jump towards the first solution, and we require a solution, how do we find it?
One person might suggest waiting. Be patient. Ride it out and the problem will solve itself.
Sometimes that's true.
I personally love what Thomas Moore wrote in his book "Soulmates" about this. In fact, of the entire book there's only one concept that actually stuck with me.
Rather than seeking to resolve the problem as quickly as possible, instead, allow and include the conflict to exist. Give it space. Stand inside the unknown and uncertainty.
In practicing that approach to difficult situations, what I learned is simple. Forcing answers just leads me down the path of the "Dark Horse" like in that story.
The best and most optimal answer naturally arises when I give it a chance to. Instead of trying control the situation, I accept I don't and can't control it. Sure I can influence it, but I can't control it.
Therefore, if I can't control a situation, the next best thing I can do is stay present. I can have faith. And I can acknowledge that whoever or whatever does control the situation will reveal to me the optimal information and/or solution when the time is right.
This is subtly different than just waiting. When we are "just waiting," we are letting go of responsibility. We're saying "Somebody else will fix it."
That's not effective, nor is it what I'm suggesting.
Instead, what I'm suggesting is that when we can allow the conflict to exist, it gives us space to explore all options more fully. The longer we remain in conflict, the clearer a specific direction becomes.
You might feel inner nudges and intuition to go a certain way. More information may come forth that shows how a particular choice may be ineffective.
In other words, the unknown is always revealing more to us. And from that space, we are much more enabled to make decisions that are truly of the highest good... and not just made to alleviate the suffering and feelings of helpnessness we feel inside.
Next time you have a difficult decision to make, instead of contracting, controlling, and trying to fix it completely...
Instead try giving it space. Expand yourself. Let go of the illusion of control. And trust that allowing all aspects of the situation to be explored will show you the information you need to make the most optimal decision.

The Magic of 11/11/11

I like to think of this day as a portal for greater love, harmony, union, and loving manifestations.
Tomorrow’s 11/11/11 can be about so much more than any linear definitions, and certainly anything I’ve shared here, of course.
I would suggest not getting caught up in interpretations and more allow the energies of the day to be experienced by putting some time aside for quiet and meditation.
There can be layers and levels at times like this beyond conscious awareness and explanations.
I’ve outlined a meditation further below as an example you might wish to explore if you feel so called.  Please note: this is simply a suggestion – only follow it if it resonates.
You may have a preferred or particular meditation practise that you enjoy or wish to do. You might also just wish to sit in quiet and stillness, open to the presence of the moment, and then seed some intentions.
Alternatively, if you want a guided meditation to on this day that you can listen to, you can do the “World Healing Meditation”, which is a love meditation for seeding highest wishes and intentions for yourself/others/the world.
This is available as a streamed audio recording at: http://www.worldhealingmeditation.com/

Meditation ­­­Outline

Below is just an example meditation you might like to use to create the space for integrating the energies on 11/11/11, and seeding positive dreams and intentions.
Before doing the meditation below, take some time to write down your goals and wishes. Relax, clear your mind, connect to your heart, and write down positive intentions and dreams that you are working on, and positive wishes for yourself and the world.
Note: you will be aiming to recall these in the meditation so if the list is very long, that’s fine but you may just not remember them all!

Meditation Steps

1. Ensure you are in a place where you will not be disturbed and can fully relax (and turn off your phone, etc.).
Close your eyes and allow yourself to relax and come-at-ease. Take a few deep breaths as you release any tension and anxiety and settle into a peaceful calm state.
2. Ground yourself by sensing the weight of your body on the cushion, floor or chair, and connecting to the core of the earth by imagining a line of energy/light descending from the base of your spine to the centre of the earth.
3. Set your intention for the meditation by asking to receive “the highest, purest and finest frequencies of love and light that are appropriate for me to receive at this time”, or “that which is appropriate for me to receive at this time”, or whatever words feel right and true to you.
4. Imagine a ball or point of bright light 1-3 feet above your head. Allow this light to become brighter and more radiant. Sense the love and beauty that permeates every particle of this divine light.
5. Visualize a ray of light descending from this dazzling sphere of loving light, flowing into you through the crown of your head.
6.  Imagine this beautiful light continuing to flow down through your body, as well as down your arms and legs, bathing your entire being in a beautiful celestial light.
7.  Imagine this light continuing to flow down into the earth beneath you, through your feet as well as down through the imaginary cord descending out of the base of your spine that you visualised earlier, all the way to the centre of the earth.
8.  Sense this light continuing to gently flow from above you, through you, and down into the earth beneath you like a stream of loving healing light. You might also imagine this light spilling out of your heart and/or out of the top of your head into your surrounding energy field and reality.
9.  Now and ask to receive that which is appropriate for you at this time and the positive energies that are occurring on this 11/11/11 day. Be open to allow any subtle shifts that want to occur.
Ask to receive that which is in your highest and in accordance with divine will and all that is good and true.
Spend some time to just be still and quiet, allowing yourself to be imbued and receive that which wants to be given from the universe, the earth, celestial realms, your higher self, guides and spiritual allies, whether you are consciously aware of their presence or not.
11.  Next, seed your wishes and intentions.
Having written them down initially for clarity as suggested you do before beginning this meditation, you can now recall these dreams and goals during the meditation, feeling your positive desire and choice for each one, and adding your love, vision and enthusiasm, perhaps visualising their positive outcome in your world and sensing this emotionally.
Relish in this positive experience as you dream your dreams with the high beautiful energies you have been receiving.
12.  At the end of the meditation imagine any light flowing through you to gently dissipate, so the stream becomes more of a trickle or line of light, as you focus again on your grounding and the weight of your body against the chair or cushion. Take a few deep breaths, affirm your desire to be fully awake and alert, and open your eyes.
You might want to have a glass of water to help to ground further, and write down any experiences or insights that came during the meditation.

How to Make Time to Get Things Done

Here's the truth about time management.
We don't 'find' time, we must 'make' time for what is important to us.
For me, that means getting up at 5am each day so I can take advantage of my magic time to write. I have to put effort into making that time available for me. I don't just randomly find time to get my best work done.
But if you're not interested in rising before the rooster crows, Joe Polish has good news for you. You're about to discover his productivity secrets that will help you get more work done in less time – all while sticking to a regular 9-5 schedule.
Craig Ballantyne
"It's not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is, what are we busy about?" – Henry David Thoreau

Productivity Secrets to Help You Get More Done

By Joe Polish
Entrepreneurs, and people in general, get inundated with a LOT of different choices. And in today's day and age, I've noticed the world is more 'Crazy Busy' than it's ever been in history. ('Crazy Busy' is a term coined by my good friend, and famous Harvard graduate psychiatrist, Dr. Edward (Ned) Hallowell.)
In fact, there's more data coming at us than ever before, and it's easy to get thrown off track. You either manage modern life... or it will manage you.
So, in order to manage modern life, we need to learn to become PRODUCTIVE. But what is "productivity?"
The definition of Productivity is this... Maximum Results, Least Amount Of Time.
The definition of Leverage is this... Maximum Results, Least Amount Of Effort.
Just understanding and identifying productivity and leverage is critical. And to get the maximum results in the least amount of time and with the least amount of effort... it's going to require you to be willing to spend time on things that are highly productive activities based on your goals, your unique abilities, your passion, and your interests.
You might think to yourself: "So, what are some of the best way to be productive?"
Well, firstly, you need a Productive Environment. If you want to be healthy, you can't get healthy if your environment is filled with junk food, or with people that are drinking and smoking, or if you have toxins surrounding you. You need to be in an environment that's healthy and supports you being healthy.
Your Productive Environment is a place you can literally go and think, where you can focus, and where your attention is not being interrupted every other minute. In many cases, that means you shouldn't be in front of a computer or on the Internet.
Now, some people ask me: "Joe, how do YOU make time to get things done? What is one of YOUR personal/business productivity secrets?"
Let me share with you a productivity secret I personally use: I get more productive work done in two hours in the library than I would get done in an entire day in my office. Now, that may not work for you, but it works for me, and I've given this advice to hundreds of people over the last decade. When they follow this advice, they've always reported back to me that just getting into the right environment usually makes them more productive.
In fact... one of the very best things for successful entrepreneurs is to NOT have an office. Why? Because an office, for many people, is a place where entrepreneurs or business owners go to pretend they're doing work... but they're really just getting distracted all the time. Remember: If they can't find you, they can't interrupt you. Instead, go to places like a public library, or a coffee shop, or some place where you're not going to be interrupted so that you can really THINK and FOCUS.
If you're still finding yourself completely overwhelmed (which is one of the biggest problems and issues entrepreneurs face these days), here's what you can do.
Sit down and ask yourself: "If I had to put a dollar figure on all of the things that I need to get done, which one is going to give me the highest return on money, and which one is going to have the highest likelihood that I can actually do something with it?"
In fact, if you don't have any other criteria to decide what to spend your time on, then spend your time on the thing that is going to bring you the highest likelihood of money and that have the highest probability of working.
Also, make sure in your quest of pursuing excellence that you're doing things that really DO matter and really DO need to be done. My favorite Peter Drucker quote is: "There's nothing more useless than doing well that which need not be done at all."
Constantly question what you're spending your time on, because, frankly, a not to-do list is more important than a to-do list.
IN FACT... right now... pull out a piece of paper and write down 10 things you're doing that you really should NOT be doing because they're robbing you of productivity and leverage, and they're not the highest and best use of your time.
If you do this, you'll be well on your way to becoming a more productive individual (and entrepreneur). Just remember two things: Firstly, this about developing a day to day habit that will serve you the rest of your life. And secondly, never confuse activity and accomplishment.





 

The Powerful Possibilities of Self-Seeing

 

One sure measure of spiritual growth is found in our developing awareness that each and every present moment of our lives is a special kind of spiritual looking glass. Within its reflection, for those with "eyes to see," are two quite definite and life-altering perceptions.
First, we may see that each unfolding moment of our life -- every experience we have -- reveals and yields the fruits of our past actions, what we "reap" from life. Secondly, these same revealing experiences of self also serve as the seeds of our experiences to come -- all of which depend upon how we use these seeds. In this fashion it can be said that every life moment is a mirror in which we may gaze upon what we have been and what we may become, and witness both in the same instant.
Imagine the powerful, positive potential such a state of self-seeing makes possible for anyone willing to develop such an inner vision. Without stretching thought too much, we can see the possibility of instant self-correction as well as perfect self-direction. Taken even at its simplest level, just being able to perceive and then drop one troubled moment, to detect and reject one punishing thought or feeling, would be the same as ensuring us happier, less troublesome moments to come