The Fastest Way To Become A Millionaire
In “The One Minute Millionaire,” the authors tell us that you can get your first million faster (and surer) by following this simple three-step approach:
Step 1. Create a “millionaire mindset,” they say, by developing self-confidence and allowing your burning desire for wealth to grow. I’ve talked a lot about mind and attitude and how the mental process affects physical outcomes. There is no doubt that having a positive attitude is a positive thing. It makes you happier, calmer, and better able to push on when others quit.
But it’s very difficult — maybe impossible — to will yourself into positivity and confidence just by going through some mental exercises. Real confidence and real positivity come from knowing that you can deal with the outcome of any situation you are likely to find yourself in.
There’s only one way to have that kind of confidence: You have to have been successful in similar situations before. MA, my Jiu Jitsu instructor, puts it simply: “There is only one answer to every problem you have — whether it’s a technical problem (how to apply an arm lock when you’re in a certain position), physical exhaustion, or the fear of fighting a larger, stronger opponent. The answer is training.
Only by training (i.e., experiencing the challenge and overcoming it) will you find the solutions you are seeking.” Be positive. If you are not naturally positive, or if you find yourself slipping into negativity, do try whatever mental games you want. But know that real confidence will come to you only when you have practiced your wealth-building skill over and over again. You will be truly confident that you can make money only when you have done it repeatedly.
Step 2. Form a team of people to help you. I’m a big believer in developing a team, but my take on it is this: You can’t get people to help you unless you are willing to help them first.
Every time you begin a new relationship, ask yourself two questions:
1. “What do I want from this relationship?”
2. “What can I give to it?” Unless you provide real value to the other person, you won’t be able to count on him to help you (in any serious way) when you need him most. By paying attention to the needs of others, you’ll be giving yourself the best chance that they will be helpful to you.
Step 3. Choose a proven “millionaire model” for wealth. According to Hansen and Allen, there are four major “models” for wealth building:
* business
* investments
* the Internet
* real estate
If you look at what I’ve had to say on the subject of wealth building in many past ETR messages, you will see that I have a similar idea. (Not surprising. Most people who study wealth come up with the same group.) But I don’t see the Internet as meriting its own category. It’s a medium, just like television, radio, and so on.
The “one-minute” secret, Hanson and Allen say, is to take the first step: Allow yourself to become a millionaire by (1) deciding you want to be one and (2) imagining (visualizing) what your life would be like as one.
These two simple actions will create inside you a core desire that will fuel all the work you have to do later on. You can do both of them together in less than a minute. After that, the rest is easy. Well, I don’t know that I’d use the word “easy” — but if you haven’t given yourself permission to become wealthy, why not do so now? In future messages, I’ll report more on what Hansen and Allen suggest. If you want a copy of the book, you can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0609609491/earlytorise-20
[Ed. Note: Mark Morgan Ford was the creator of Early To Rise. In 2011, Mark retired from ETR and now writes the Palm Beach Letter. His advice, in our opinion, continues to get better and better with every essay, particularly in the controversial ones we have shared today. We encourage you to read everything you can that has been written by Mark.]