Being Rich is Knowing the Difference Between Right and Wrong

It’s hard to be hit by a train when you see it coming. Most people will step out of the way of a speeding train, but they will stay in the path of runaway poverty and failure. Some unseen need for self-sabotage will compel them to borrow money at an interest rate guaranteed to keep them poor and in debt their entire life. Some will behave in ways to injure themselves and others, adding to the cost of their lifestyle. There is hope to break this cycle of poverty through a change of mindset, a renewed sense of purpose and a series of bold actions focused on service, obedience to God’s law and the betterment of those that you are responsible for.

To gain control of your finances, you must first give your mind over to God, and look to His Spirit to help you to submit your mind. The concept of submitting the mind is at least as old as the first writings of the Bible. Solomon asked the Lord for wisdom (a.k.a. understanding mind) and the result was real world wealth and honor.

1 King 3;11-14 “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies, but have asked for yourself understanding to discern what is right, 12behold, I now do according to your word. Behold, I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. 13 I give you also what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that no other king shall compare with you, all your days. 14And if you will walk in my ways, keeping my statutes and my commandments, as your father David walked, then I will lengthen your days.”

Solomon was rewarded because his focus was not on the reward.

His focus was on his real purpose; effectively leading the Children of God.       

1 Kings 3;9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may  discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

Solomon knew his limitations. He knew that it to lead, he needed the best instruction available to man. He knew that to get the highest results, you must go to the highest source; God.  

Bold, Free and Truthful

When we live life scared, waiting for the sky to fall, we waste our most precious asset; time. Timidity and doubt steal our peace and power. How do we enable ourselves to live the embodiment of “carpe diem” ? How do we seize our days? The key to life is to be bold, free and truthful.

To live bold is to follow your heart, dreams and passions. Without boldness we watch our dreams pass like commercials on late-night TV.

Freedom allows the movement toward your desired end.

Who wants to support a lie and/or a liar? Many people who seek success, think they leading, but are only pretending.  Every great leader had a purpose that contained enough truth (e.r. integrity) to warrant followers.

Truth-fullness allows you to pass through God’s universe unharmed.

Don’t Worry, Be Happy, Stop Digging, & Build Value

2 Corinthians 6:2 - NIV - For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.

Don’t Worry

Can you build on worry? You can look to your present situation as the stepping stone to the blessed future that you are promised. A key to appreciating the present moment is to “stop worrying”. Worry is your way of mentally avoiding your realities. When you worry, you waste precious energy that could be used to bless others and build your future. Matthew 6:34 - Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Be Happy

Find those things that add to your life. Remember that your misery does nothing for anyone. Who adds to your life? What are you passionate about?

Achievement of your happiness is the only moral purpose of your life and that happiness not pain or mindless self-indulgence is the proof of your moral integrity since it is the proof and the result of your loyalty to the achievement of your values.   - Ayn Rand 

Stop Digging

Are you digging a bigger hole for yourself? What behaviors have proven to be counter productive? If you don’t like where you are then stop doing those things that got you there. You are the captain of your ship, stop aiming at icebergs.

Build Value

What can you build on? What are your talents? Where can you serve?

Remember that you are able to turn your life into something great. One day at a time.

Adopt Your Best Self

“Your self-ideal is composed of those values that you most admire in others and most aspire to posses in yourself.” - Brian Tracy

For good or for ill, self-concept is destiny. –Nathaniel Branden

When we finally realize that we ARE great, then we can start to make GREAT actions toward our desired results. That self that you desire to be is the very self that you NEED to be. Are you willing to accept the fact that you are spiritually GREAT?

When you see a successful…

When you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision. –Peter Drucker

Decide to Win!

Integrity is the Bridge

Would you cross a wobbly and rotted bridge? Like most people you would avoid the bridge; it lacks integrity. The word “integrity” stems from the Latin word “integer” which means whole or complete. An unstable bridge is not complete or whole and neither is a leader with a lack of integrity. People don’t trust leaders that appear to be selfish, incompetent and/or unethical.  A selfish, unskilled and/or unethical leader leads other onto an insecure bridge that is destined to fail. When the leaders can’t be trusted, the people find alternate routes to get where they need to go. Good people look for good people for help and guidance. To be a service to people, you need character, to communicate honestly and have high personal standards of performance. With these pieces, build the bridge to high morale, discipline, and performance. Without these pieces, build a bridge to low morale, indiscipline and substandard results.

To build a great bridge, you need great tools. Historically, every great leader has at-least the tool of character. The word character comes from the same root word that the word chisel comes from. Great leaders leave their mark on the hearts and minds of their followers. Character is also the chisel to build with. Without character nothing of quality is built and the lives of people are not positively affected.  Because they have character, the leader of integrity will communicate honestly with their supervisors, peers and subordinates without fear.  They treat the reality of the situation, set high standards of performance and caring, and give the guidance and encouragement needed.  They say what they mean, and mean what they say, because they have thought carefully about the outcome and have a quality strategy.  Most importantly they care about their people and their future. They see themselves as building a sturdy team with good materials and good design. They have a vision of a better future and they execute in ways to support their vision.

The character and honest communication lead to trustworthiness of the leader.  They are trusted because they have the best intentions for their people and want the mission completed in the right way. The leader of integrity knows that there are no shortcuts. A leader must gauge his team’s performance moment-by-moment. The leader needs to know what to say to productively move his team along.  Communicating honestly allows the truth to be seen and creates positive change. Like the sturdy bridge that was built with patience and care, the leader looks to build a sturdy team one straight-forward discussion at a time.

Since the leader is trusted, communicates honestly, and sets high standards; his team responds.  This response is called discipline. A lack of discipline is always linked to the character of the leader. When people of character trust their leadership and know what to do; they do it. The team responds to the realities shared by the leader and the realities of their environment. This discipline leads to trained “bridge builders” (a.k.a. leaders).  When the team develops high-discipline, the team members do the right thing most of the time.  When the right thing is done most of the time, a mighty bridge is built. More importantly, a team of bridge-builders is formed. When a team of bridge builders is formed and all energies are focused on a common goal, any problem can be solved and any goal reached. Integrity is the bridge.

Problems Make Poor Targets

What problems are you focusing on?

How much time and energy is being lost by focusing on problems?

Reverse the balance by focusing on solutions. Tap your genius by brainstorming solutions and create a huge shift in your thinking. Your new thinking may lead to bold new actions. The craziest idea can be brought to earth and made into a doable plan.

Improve the Inner-Line to Improve Bottom-Line

How much of your infinite value has been converted to a successful life? Do you think that you can be rewarded in relation to your true worth? Would you like to convert a portion of your infinite worth to more wealth? Converting your value to money is the basis of all success. You can demonstrate your value to the marketplace in the attainment of worthwhile money making goals. What is the value you place on your time in the market? The value you place on the value you add is your inner-line. The inner-line is your sense of your own generousness; or their high value expressed in their life here on earth.

God has expressed His life by creating everyone, including you, in the His Image. He created you to have the same nature and substance as Himself. Since the beginning God has been in building business. He created the universe and all that is in it, he then gave you the ability to create. When you understand your inner line, you have  the confidence to do great things. Even when the odds are against you,you will prevail in victory. Victory being the ability to act with power and love even under the most horrendous circumstances. This ability to act with kindness, love and purpose gives meaning to life on earth. You become a light on earth.

Self-Leadership

Self-Leadership is combining of all of your inner strength, having the audacity to commit to a better future and having the courage to ask for what you want regardless of the potential roadblocks.

Everything gets easier the more passionate and love-centered we are.

Accept yourself for who you are. Give people the freedom to be who they are; Love them moment-by-moment. Be generous and give them permission to shine.

The Goal is BEING

The Goal is BEING.

The greatness of your spirit is the starting point of all goal achievement.

Your only guaranteed destination is the grave.

You are born with the infinite possibilities.

Don’t ask yourself “What do I want to do?” Ask yourself “Where can I serve?”, “How can I contribute?” “What do I need to become to really make a difference?”

You must convince yourself of your inner-greatness and your potential for outer-greatness.

In the end, it doesn’t matter what others think.

You must believe that you are capable of great things.

Say “Yes!”, Have fun!