I’ve had 63 years of business experience; 63 years of trial and error since my father set me up with a paper route at the age of 9, telling me he would only pay for the roof over my head and food from then on. He was true to his word and while it was harsh by today’s standards, it sure was effective. That’s when I got serious about making my way and have certainly made my share of errors along the way. What I’ve learned is that the recipe for success is the faithful practice of just four basic ingredients.
Achieving success, whether in business or personal finance, is within reach of everyone. It’s not about your IQ, the privilege you were born with, your good looks, your education, or anything else of the sort. In fact a few years back I came across a big study (Successful Intelligence: How Practical and Creative Intelligence Determine Success in Life by Robert J. Sternberg) that looked at why people succeed and while reading the list of reasons I could only nod and smile because it sure rang true with me.
Creating success comes from the faithful application of some very basic traits that anyone can adopt. Following are the four that together are a winning combination. Do them consistently and the chances are excellent that you will win. Break even one of them reliably and your odds of success drop dramatically.
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Always believe in yourself. Always have a positive attitude that you can and will find your way to success, because you can. Ignore any false doubts that may crop up and look instead for ways to stay focused on success. Learn what you need to and make adjustments where necessary, but don’t lose confidence. Adjustment and learning, especially through trial and error, are part of the process that leads to success.
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Be disciplined. Do what you said you would; what you know in your heart you need to do, to get what you want. Lay out the necessary steps and stick with it.
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Don’t make the same mistake twice. Take an honest look at your progress and when you make mistakes take note so you can avoid making the same mistake again. Do your best on this and especially try to avoid making the same mistakes over and over again, as so many people do their whole lives. Be willing to try something new and keep moving forward.
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Understand that none of us is good at very many things and so reach out and use the talents of others. It’s really just common sense, so be very open to using the strengths of others and sharing your strengths with them. If certain parts of your plan require skills that challenge you, look for creative ways to collaborate or barter with those who do possess the skills and talents you lack.
Straightforward, right? The trick is in the consistent doing. Keep with it, bringing yourself back to these winning habits as many times as you need to and you will find success in whatever you set out to accomplish.
When you are working to achieve financial goals, consider this. Roughly 90% of Americans now face problems with money, yet the other 10%, well over 10 million people, do not. Why? They don’t rely on “experts” but depend on themselves to manage their money and make financial decisions. They practice the 4 key steps listed above and do what works. Even when relying on input from others, their decisions are informed and self-made. It is no coincidence that depending on yourself is an underlying theme or principal behind all four of the steps to success listed above.
If you’re already in the 10%–great. For you, Money Smart will only help things go even better. If you’re in the 90%, make the switch by taking charge of your money and depending on yourself.
A good way to start creating financial success is to listen to Money Smart Radio this Saturday when I’ll be providing a straightforward and easy to follow explanation of exactly how to invest. Using my simple approach and avoiding common pitfalls, you’ll be able to outperform 95% of the experts. After that, in the weeks and months to come, we’ll roll on and cover the rest of what you need to know to fully manage all aspects of your money. A lot of the information is already on www.moneysmartonline.com, so you can also turn there. And of course, it is in my book, Money Smart.
So don’t be fooled that personal money management is very complicated, because it’s not. Learn what you need to about creating financial success through Money Smart, and stick with the four traits above to find your success.