You may not come from generational wealth, but generational wealth can start with you. Here are the principles to live by.
1. Create Your Day
Each day is a mini version of your whole life condensed into a snapshot. If you don’t have 15 minutes to plan it, you are not earning the right to live the entire journey. Start with gratitude, prayer, or meditation. Drink your water, exercise, and set daily goals.
2. Know Your Worth
No man can ever determine your worth. People can pay you for access. However, they cannot afford to pay you what you are worth. You are the prize. Don’t just believe it. Know it with certainty.
3. Nurture Your Relationship
God uses people to open doors for you. Create a large network of quality people. Network with people who are living your dream. Go where they are and connect with them. Buy whatever they have for sale or deliver unbelievable value to them. Your net worth is your network.
4. Create Assets
Money follows assets. Create products or services that solve specific problems. The key is to be the owner. Instead of buying the car, own the dealership. Rich people sell more. Poor people buy more. Always strive to be on the other side of the cash register
5. Defend Your Territory
80% of wealth creation is mindset. Raise your vibration and frequency to the same level of that which you want. Then defend and protect your mindset. Do not tolerate those who interfere with your frequency and vibration. Love them from a distance.
6. Buy Time Instead Of Selling time
Rich people buy time. Poor people sell time. If you are working for someone, you are actually selling time. Be the one doing the hiring so you can buy time. Remember this: OPT (other people’s time) and OPM (other people’s money) are the key to wealth generation.
7. Be The Go -Giver, Not The Go-Getter
Be a blessing to others so you can be blessed. Give money, compliments or praises, advice, resources, or anything that adds value. If you are in business, give your clients more than they are paying for.
8. Unleash Your Imagination. Declare And Decree
Everything you see around you was once an imagination in someone’s mind. If you cannot imagine it, you cannot have it. Simply put: you gotta have it before you can have it. Close your eyes and see yourself vividly living your dream exactly the way you want it.
9. Practice Unbounded Gratitude
Be grateful for the little things, and the big things will start manifesting. No matter what your circumstances are, you can always be grateful for something. It’s impossible to be grateful and be depressed at the same time. If you are not getting what you want, it’s because you are not being grateful for what you have.
10. Be An Elevator
Make everyone you come in contact with feel they are special. Challenge them to dream bigger. Empower them to have a larger vision. Show them what’s possible. Listen to their stories. Be genuinely interested in them. As a result, they will conspire with you to make you wealthy.
Try to put those strategies into practice daily and watch your bank account soar.
Do you have a wealth strategy to share with us?
I met a young lady who told me that she couldn’t find a job because companies are not hiring. I told her to say instead, “Companies are not hiring ME.”
The good news is, companies are always hiring. People die, retire, get sick, and change jobs. Tons of people start new jobs every day. Some have two jobs.
The young lady is simply not able to make a good case or persuade someone to hire her. Most people approach finding an ideal job casually. They have no strategy. They don’t realize looking for a job requires a relentless attitude.
7 Proven Ways To Lend An Ideal Job:
1. Turn Off The Television
The media love to remind us that the economy is bad. They will splash the high unemployment rate on your screen to intimidate you.
They’ll tell you companies are closing their doors or downsizing.Don’t wait for them to let you know when it’s time to step out and start knocking on doors. Your wait will never be over.
The thing is, if you keep flooding your mind with bad news about the economy or the job market, you will freeze. Even if you are lucky to get a job interview, your negative attitude will sabotage your chance.
I encourage you to turn your television off. Hit the road. Others are getting jobs. You can, too. They are not more special or more favored.Not having a job is depressing enough.
Why would you let the media make your situation seem worse? Here’s a little secret:A negative attitude will kill your opportunity to get hired.
Above all, companies will hire you because of your positive attitude and enthusiasm. If you are not feeling upbeat, present, and enthusiastic, don’t even bother to look for a job.
2. Avoid The Unemployment Line
Collecting unemployment checks is easy. After all, you needed a break. And you paid into the system. It’s fair to get what you deserve. Right?Well, it’s a trap.Once you start collecting those checks, you’ll find yourself in a comfort zone.
Now, if you need a couple of paychecks until you get the new job, do so. But don’t get too cozy.I know it’s a good feeling when you get to stay in bed, avoid fighting traffic and stay away from annoying people.
Who wouldn’t want that?But, resist the temptation.Nature hates a vacuum. She’ll always go where there’s none. It’s like dating. All the prospects will come out of the woodwork when you are unavailable. Am I right?
The same applies when it comes to landing your ideal job. It’s a lot easier to get one while you are employed or right after you get laid off.
That explains why the more you have, the more you continue to have. It’s not fair. But, it is what it is.Simply put, if you have to get some money to get over the hump, go for it.
In the meantime, commit and focus on shortening the gap as fast as possible. That will also do a lot of good for your self-worth and self-esteem.
3. Make Looking For A Job Your New Job
Think about it this way: You are never unemployed unless you are retired. What do I mean by that?Looking for a job is a job in and of itself. Your search begins as soon as they let you know that they are either eliminating your position or replacing you.
When someone asks you what you do for a living, say, “At present, I work for myself. I’m working on getting a job. Do you know of anyone who is hiring?”
You are now a salesperson. You are selling yourself to prospective employers. Build a strong case to persuade them you are the best candidate for the position.
That means you have to put yourself in front of lots of prospects to increase your odds. It’s not enough to send messages to people on LinkedIn.
Of course, you need to use social media. But, do so to secure face-to-face interviews. Nothing beats sitting with a smile on your face while making a good case, you are the best person for the job.
4. Do Not Hide Behind Your Resume
Companies do NOT hire resumes. They hire people.Your resume’s purpose is to qualify you for an interview. It’s to get their attention.
It won’t lend you the job. You have to do the selling in person.Your resume cannot express your enthusiasm and positive attitude.
They will ask you to submit your resume online and expect someone to call you. That’s okay to submit it. But don’t wait for someone to call you.Pick up the phone and make the call yourself.
They might tell you that everybody has to go through the same process.Let them know you’re initiating the call because you are not everybody else. You are proactive. You don’t wait for the phone ring. You ring it.
That means you do not wait for the boss to tell you what to do. You take the initiative to get things done. That’s what superstars do in the workplace.
If the person who is on the phone does not appreciate those lines, you are talking to the wrong person.Ask for the name of the person who can value your approach.
Then send a note to the right person to reiterate what I just mentioned.You have to prove that you are unique. Don’t let your resume do your job. Drop by and ask to speak quickly with the manager who is looking candidates for five minutes.
5. Take The Spotlight Off You
We already talk about what you need to do during the interview.Know that the interviewer will keep asking you questions to shine the spotlight on you.
But, be like a politician. Set the agenda. Answer with sound bites. Then reframe the conversation to talk about what you can do for their company.
Talk about their goals instead of yours.If you know customer service is important to them, talk about it. Let them how you intend to use your strengths and skills to help them wow their customers.
They will bring up your weaknesses, such as your lack of experience in such and such. Again, just like a politician, say something like this,“I agree with you.
But, here’s what I know for sure. I’m a fast learner. I have the right attitude to master anything. That’s not a problem at all.
Give me a chance, and I promise to surprise you.”By the way, never use the phrase, “If you hire me.” Say, “When you hire me,
I will do whatever it takes to make your company number one in customer service.”But, make sure you deliver on your promises. If you are not going to do so, you might as well be like anybody.
6. Network Like Mad
You cannot land your ideal job and be a hermit. Fill up your calendar with events so you can be visible. Try to attend two to three events per week.If you live in the US, attend lots of civic clubs meetings to meet new people.
The Optimist International, Kiwanis International, and Lions International all hold meetings every single day.Your business journals publish lots of business networking events. Make sure you always have your resume with you.
The people at the events may not be in a position to hire. But they can connect you with the right people who can do so. Again, be proactive. Don’t just pass on your resume.
Ask for names and contact info to follow up.Also, remember to send a thank-you note to the person who gives you the job lead. Send one whether you got the job or not. That will go a long way.
7. Be A Follow Up Machine
Typically, the average person goes to an interview and waits for the phone to ring later. Well, people are busy.Your interviewer is not losing sleep, thinking about how bad you need a job. You are the least of his or her concerns.
Don’t take it personally when you don’t get the call.Don’t let your ego stand in your way. It’s your job to keep following up.You are thinking, “I went to the interview. I did a convincing job selling myself.
There’s no need to keep pestering the people. They will call if they need me.” Really?You should celebrate when you get the call to come for your orientation.
First, second, or third interviews don’t mean much. You have to close the sale.Keep following up.Send a handwritten thank-you note on the same day after the interview.
Thank the person for the job interview opportunity.Reaffirm your commitment to join forces with them to help them achieve their goals. Do so even if you didn’t think you did well.
Next, you want to call. Say, “Hi, I’m calling to find out where you are in your decision-making. Will you need any more information from me?” Ask for permission to follow up again in a week or two.
Remind them of your commitment to helping them achieve their goals. Say something like, “I don’t want to be a pest. I’m following up because most people never do. It’s my of proving to you that I will follow up on my promises.”
Now, if someone tells you don’t be so pushy, do not take that advice. It’s because they don’t have the courage to do it.A good employer will appreciate your strategy.
Of course, every time you call, you should always say, “I know you are busy. I’m calling you for a quick call to follow up.”
In conclusion…
If you want to distinguish yourself on the job, start proving it during the interview process. Do not listen to the naysayers.
There is plenty of work available in the job market in spite of the bad news.Being good will not cut in this new economy. You have to be amazing! Show up with your A-game.
Work hard. Show up early. Stay past your regular hours now and then. That will go a long way. You will be on the radar for future promotions. That will remove you from the layoff list.
Finally, remember this: It’s your attitude that determines your altitude. It’s what determines how long you stay unemployed.
In life we always have choices. We can choose to focus on the negative or the positive. No one can take away that power from us.
Unfortunately, a lot of people choose to focus their energy on what not working versus what’s working. When the difficult times arrive, they choose to give them the wrong meaning.
Our lessons and gifts in life don’t always come as chocolate covered ice cream. Sometimes they come as a rose stem full of thorns. It’s not until we accept the thorns and plant the stem in the water of faith, the rose begins to unfold.
Some people would ask me if I’m always happy and fired up. They think because I’m a motivational speaker, life is always amazing for me. No, I’m not always Mr. Motivator. I have had moments of despair, worries, and uncertainties just like everybody. That’s called life. Please watch this video and you will see what I mean.
If you want to learn how to get rid of bad habits and create better ones, you will need to make some sacrifices. We all have some bad habits that are preventing us from realizing our dreams. And those habits unconsciously creep on us. By the time we notice the habit, it’s already been formed.
Many people struggle in life and at work because of the habits that sneak up on them along the way. Have you ever wondered why someone is so successful in the workplace while others remain stuck in one position at the bottom of the ladder? It’s because that person develops some terrific habits of productivity.
The bad news is, it’s really hard to break those bad habits. Yes, it’s easy to form them. After all, we were present when we created them. There was no pain involved.
On the other hand, a good habit is rarely created on its own. It takes efforts to form them consciously. Fortunately, there’s a proven and scientific way to break those bad habits. That is exactly what this video is about.
Okay, why is breaking bad habits is so critical? Well, think about your future self. The habits you create now will most definitely dictate the quality of your life tomorrow.
Whether you agree with me or not, you are going to be 50, 60, or 70 years old. There’s no way around it. You will get old. You need to be kind to that 60 years old you. Be considerate and thoughtful. Be mindful.
If not, you will eventually end up living in regrets. You will be disappointed. You will live with a life full of resentments.
Nothing is sadder than meeting a grumpy old man full of regrets, moaning, complaining, and making excuses. He is blaming people, things, and circumstances. It’s the wife’s fault. It’s the government. It’s the boss. I mean one excuse after another.
How Habits Are Formed
To form a habit, it takes a trigger, behavior, and a reward. The trigger prompts you to take an action or behave a certain way. Then you feel good or great depending on the action. Every behavior has a good intention. Yes, I do mean every behavior. Even when the behavior is evil, the intention of the behavior is to reward the person.
There are two kinds of triggers. There’s the hot trigger. There’s the cold trigger.
The hot trigger is associated with instant gratification. Simply put, you get a reward instantly. You open the refrigerator, and you see the ice cream. That’s a hot trigger. You then consume the ice cream. Then you feel good. You get rewarded.
How about a cold trigger? Now, we are talking about delayed gratification. You get the reward later. Let’s say you are driving, and you hear an advertisement on the radio for something you are interested in. The announcer mentions the website.
Well, you cannot go to the site because you don’t have a computer and internet access right there. That’s a cold trigger. You will take the action and get the reward later.
The Habit Loop
So, the sequence of the trigger, routine or behavior, and reward is called the habit loop. It always happens in the same sequence without fail. Do you see how you can create some bad habits without being aware you are doing it?
How to Get Rid of Bad Habits
Okay, we talked about how we form those bad habits. How do we break them for good?
The answer is easy. Remove the triggers. Don’t put ice cream in your refrigerator. Make sure your environment is free of hot triggers.
How to Form Good Habits
To form good habits, you need to learn how to turn your cold triggers into hot triggers. As I just mentioned, if you remove alcohol or ice cream, they automatically become hot triggers.
Now, you have to get dressed, get in your car, and fight traffic to get the ice cream. All those steps might discourage you. Also, the reward is no longer instant. Since we know the brain is wired for instant gratification, it will find something else to reward it.
Keep this in mind, this is your real life. You are not on this earth to rehearse this life. Some people live as if they are coming back to do it for real. That’s pretty sad. That’s why I’m imploring you to start breaking those bad habits as soon as you.
I came to the US broke, unable to speak English, with zero confidence in myself.
I had only $5, two shirts, and one pair of pants in the tiny suitcase you see in the picture. I was extremely shy and timid.
Because of my inability to speak the language, some people assumed I was stupid.
As a janitor at the 163rd Mall in Miami, I freaked out whenever I would see a security guard. I was afraid they might work for immigration.
One day, I saw a girl that I had gone to school with in Haiti. She looked the other way so that other people would not see her talking to a janitor.
I went to McDonald’s hoping to get a job to pick up trash in the parking lot. They turned me down because I couldn’t speak English. Go figure! I didn’t know the trashcans spoke English.
Later, I went to Total Bank in South Miami and begged them to let me wash their cars. After many rejections, one man said yes. I did a fantastic job!
Suddenly, I became the “car guy” in the parking lot. I remember looking up at the top floors in between car washes and saying to myself, “I would love to go up there as a janitor.”
I went to McDonald to get a job to pick up trash in the parking lot. I was turned down because I couldn’t speak English. Go figure! I didn’t know the trashcans spoke English.
Later, I went to Total Bank in South Miami. I begged the people to let me wash their cars. After many rejections, one man said yes. I did a fantastic job!
Suddenly, I became the car guy in the parking lot. I remember looking up at the top floors in between car washes and said to myself, “I would love to go up there as a janitor.”
Four years later I’m now in Atlanta. I managed to get at the Kmart warehouse loading boxes. One year later, I got my CNA (certified nursing assistant) license.
I worked as a companion for a Jewish man. After he died, his family help me get a job as a doorman at the Waverly Renaissance Hotel. I was there for 14 years.
As I was parking the cars, I would notice some motivational and business books in the back seats. I bought them and devoured every word on the pages.
One of them mentioned speaking for a living. I said to myself, “I want to try that speaking thing. Why not?”
I told a guy who was my supervisor that I was going to become a motivational speaker and write a book. Well, it turned out that he was a hater.
He said, “With your Haitian accent? Man, no corporation would pay to listen to you. You have no credentials.”
I told him I was not asking for his permission and approval to be a motivational speaker and author. God already approved me the day I was born.
However, his stupid remarks triggered a lot of doubts and fears in my head anyway.
Fortunately, I saw this motivational speaker on TV motivating people in this country. I said to myself, “Shoot! If Jerry Springer can motivate Americans, I can do it too.”
Fast-forward today. I am the author of three books. And one them won the Writers Digest Awards. Indeed, many Fortune 500 corporations have paid to motivate and boost the morale of their employees.
A few years ago, the Napoleon Hill Foundation booked me to speak at their annual event. Guess where that event was held?
At the McDonald’s Headquarters! Yep, the guy who couldn’t get a job to pick up trash at the parking lot of one of their stores in Miami.
Oh, by the way, the Chairwoman of Total Bank heard saw me on television talking about washing cars in the parking.
She called and invited to speak at their breakfast for the senior leaders.
Yep! The event was held on the very top floor. I’m having goosebumps as I typed these words.
I took the time to write this long post to inspire you and stir your soul. If you happen to be in a comfort zone, I want to disturb you and disrupt your complacency.
Don’t ever let the haters and losers predict your future. You don’t need their approval and permission. They are not your makers.
Instead, get rid of them. While you are at it, purge some so-called friends as well. Go on the journey alone if you have to. The thing is, you won’t be alone for too long. There are plenty of winners waiting to cheer you up. Don’t look back.
Finally, I’m not sure what’s the top floor for you. But, here’s what I am 100% sure of: With hard work, resilience, and positive expectancy, you are guaranteed to get there.
Don’t doubt yourself. It doesn’t matter how old you are. It doesn’t matter how long you have been trying. Keep pressing on! Hold on to your dream! Don’t give up! Keep climbing!
