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Some of you may already know that I travel around the region pretty frequently, having to visit and conduct seminars at my offices in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and Suzhou (China). I am in the airport almost every other week so I get to bump into many people who have attended my seminars or have read my books.
Recently, someone came up to me on a plane to KL and looked rather shocked. He asked, ‘How come a millionaire like you is travelling economy?’ My reply was, ‘That’s why I am a millionaire.’ He still looked pretty confused. This again confirms that greatest lie ever told about wealth (which I wrote about in my latest book ‘Secrets of Self Made Millionaires’). Many people have been brainwashed to think that millionaires have to wear Gucci, Hugo Boss, Rolex, and sit on first class in air travel. This is why so many people never become rich because the moment that earn more money, they think that it is only natural that they spend more, putting them back to square one.
The truth is that most self-made millionaires are frugal and only spend on what is necessary and of value. That is why they are able to accumulate and multiply their wealth so much faster. Over the last 7 years, I have saved about 80% of my income while today I save only about 60% (because I have my wife, mother in law, 2 maids, 2 kids, etc. to support). Still, it is way above most people who save 10% of their income (if they are lucky). I refuse to buy a first class ticket or to buy a $300 shirt because I think that it is a complete waste of money. However, I happily pay $1,300 to send my 2-year old daughter to Julia Gabriel Speech and Drama without thinking twice.
When I joined the YEO (Young Entrepreneur’s Organization) a few years back (YEO is an exclusive club open to those who are under 40 and make over $1m a year in their own business) I discovered that those who were self-made thought like me. Many of them with net worth well over $5m, travelled economy class and some even drove Toyota’s and Nissans (not Audis, Mercs, BMWs).
I noticed that it was only those who never had to work hard to build their own wealth (there were also a few ministers’ and tycoons’ sons in the club) who spent like there was no tomorrow. Somehow, when you did not have to build everything from scratch, you do not really value money. This is precisely the reason why a family’s wealth (no matter how much) rarely lasts past the third generation. Thank God my rich dad (oh no! I sound like Kiyosaki) foresaw this terrible possibility and refused to give me a cent to start my business.
Then some people ask me, ‘What is the point in making so much money if you don’t enjoy it?’ The thing is that I don’t really find happiness in buying branded clothes, jewellery or sitting first class. Even if buying something makes me happy it is only for a while, it does not last. Material happiness never lasts, it just give you a quick fix. After a while you feel lousy again and have to buy the next thing which you think will make you happy. I always think that if you need material things to make you happy, then you live a pretty sad and unfulfilled life.
Instead, what makes ME happy is when I see my children laughing and playing and learning so fast. What makes me happy is when I see by companies and trainers reaching more and more people every year in so many more countries. What makes me really happy is when I read all the emails about how my books and seminars have touched and inspired someone’s life. What makes me really happy is reading all your wonderful posts about how this BLOG is inspiring you. This happiness makes me feel really good for a long time, much much more than what a Rolex would do for me.
“The tragedy of human life is not in not reaching your goals, but is in having no goals 2 reach.”
Its true…I feel, we all are running blindly for something we have never ever even thought about. In fact we are running behind our needs not our goals…
Just think…how many days in your life u feel were special…be it your birthday…or d first day of college…or anything. 10? Ok 20? At most 30…JUST 30 days…why…because something went wrong. We no more feel that joy of getting something; we no more have that sparkle in our eyes…no more that harmony in our life.
When I was a kid, I dreamed many great dreams. Often, I Visualized myself as a sports hero or as a business tycoon. I really believed that I could do, have and b whatever I wanted 2 b. I also remembered d way I used 2 feel s a young boy growing up. Fun came in the form of simple pleasures. I honestly don’t think I have felt that kind of freedom and joy 4 yrs. What happened? Perhaps I lost sight of my dreams when I became an adult and resigned myself 2 acting d way adults were supposed 2 act.
“We never grow old, v r old when we stop growing.”
We r lost somewhere in our LIV FAST,DIE EARLY life style…2 simplify…just think…out of your busy day…how many r such activities u feel u enjoyed n wish 2 do again…generously…such occasions r not more than twice a week..d day v laugh 2 our fullest v r forced 2 think when v had such experience d last time…it’s sad…what went wrong was, growing as a child n form a child 2 an adult…we often were mistaken in setting our priorities…v thought v liked what v needed n don’t even know what v liked.
Things have changed and we have changed a lot more. v no more ask questions 2 ourselves…v no more feel like 2 learn…think f a cup filled with coffee 2 brim…irrespective f d fact…how much n however u try to add more coffee 2 it…it will simply tickle down. The same is with us…v have filled our mind with silly worries and negative thoughts. People who think d same thoughts every day, most of them negative; have fallen in to bad mental habits. Rather than focusing on all d good in their lives and thinking f ways 2 make things even better, they r captives of their pasts….d cup is full…2 learn n live d cup needs 2 b empted…just throw away all your worries…know yourself n what u need…learn 2 LIVE. Just forget all worthless worries…n make your each day special. Take your problems s opportunities…every setback offer an equivalent benefit. So it’s like that old age saying about seeing d cup as half full rather than half empty.
“The difference between stumbling blocks and stepping stone is the way you use them.”
By controlling d thoughts that you think n d way u respond 2 d events f your life, u begin 2 control your destiny. Chinese character 4 ‘Crisis’ is comprised of 2 sub-characters: 1 that spells ‘danger’ and another that spells ‘opportunity.’ There are no mistakes in life only lessons. There is no such thing as a negative experience, only Opportunities 2 grow, learn and advance along d road of self-mastery. From struggle comes strength. Even pain can b a Wonderful teacher.
Jst think about it in your own life. Begin 2 live out of d glory of your imagination, not your memory.”
Hi, this is Nikhil Mehta, an engineering student from Nagpur, Orange City, hoping to pursue his degree with a decent score and a good job, in a good firm, getting settled at a nice place with a good wife n two cute kids. Sounds good??? May be to you and a thousand others….but to me it sounds horrible. This is what I call is a simple, monotonous, boring, awful life. Ok, you have nice job with a six figured salary and a smooth life but what then??? I mean this kind of life has nothing to do with what I and many of us had dreamt about…
“TO BECOME FULLY ALIVE A PERSON MUST HAVE GOALS AND AIM TO TRANCEND HIMSELF.”
We run blindly fulfilling our needs, compromising with our dreams.we live in a marvellous age, live in it, too many of us just exists in it.
Ever thought about what life means to you, are you living the way you always wanted, may be the answer is no, sad. Many of us portray ourselves the way others expect us to be, forgetting who we really are, what we really wish. We are unable to differentiate between our needs and wishes. Discover the real you.
“HE WHO WALKS IN ANOTHERS TRACK, LEAVES NO FOOTPRINT.”
How many things you do, that u love to do??? Or how many things you know you love??? Know yourself. For me I like blogging, I do (this isn’t my first blog). I am a Yamaha lover and I own one. I say I am happy with my life, coz I be the one I am and live the way I feel like. I do have a clear sketch of lifestyle I want. I always wanted to be an entrepreneur, and I will be just because I believe, when I know what I want, and when I am determined…I am destined to be what I always wanted.
Emptyminds 