Ask someone what they think the best measure of success would be for a new business venture, and they will likely reply with an answer centered around money; as in: has the venture made any money, or how much money has the venture made?
And while the money is certainly a critical componant, the movie The Secret is trying to teach us something a little bit different than that. So what is the best measure of success?
The answer to the question flys by so quickly in the movie that you probably missed it. The answer is on a card taped to John Asseref's vision board. No one in the movie actually says these words, but the card says "Joy is the best measure of success". Profound!
Now the business venture must ultimately be profitable; because joy will not last if the venture that is what we want to do is not able to surplant the current income we have, which is earned from what we may like to do and what we are doing currently.
Joy comes from using our talents to serve others. Some believe that serving others is designed to be a non-profit business. Many churches teach that service does not count if you are actually paid for it; then it's not service, its a business.
I would agree with that sentiment except for one small problem, that problem being that we were placed here on Earth (generally) without an endless supply of cash already given. As a result, we have to do something that earns us money. I think that some of these churches would say that we earn a living with drudgery, and then find joy in the volunteer service of others.
Why do they have to be separate? If we can arrange a way to be paid for the service that we render that gives us joy, then is that not what we should do? It does not mean that we cannot contribute time to volunteer causes (or money), but it gives us permission to make money doing what we love to do.
The joy and the magic of life will not be fully realized until we are able to spend all of our time doing what brings us joy, and being paid enough doing it to provide financial freedom, however we may define that.
Joseph
Showing posts with label Success. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Success. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Which is Better: Money or Things?
Today's posting is not directly addressed in The Secret, but does discuss a matter that prevents many from living their dreams.
One of my favorite financial authors is Dennis R. Deaton. The book "Money: An Owners Manual" is a must read for anyone who wants to know how money works in their lives. I wish to talk about one statement made in this book that I have not seen made *anywhere* else, but which was truly profound for me.
"It is better to have money than any of the things that you can buy with money". There is a corollary as well which states "all ownership is a form of bondage". Amazing!
Now this does not mean you should not own a house, or a car, or a mattress to sleep on, but it does shed some light on the biggest money problem that most people who have money problems have, and that is the fact that more money goes out in a month than comes in. The problem in America (for most people) is not that they do not make enough money, but rather that they spend too much. And what do they spend it on?
The moment one exchanges money for anything, they are in a loosing deal. The "thing" that they have purchased loses some percentage of its value the minute they leave the store with it. Sure they could return it to the store perhaps, but that would require an investment of their most important asset, which is their time. They certainly could not resell the item to someone else for anything near what they paid for it.
In addition, the item they have bought must be maintained, may break, may cause other kinds of problems. It will take up additional amounts of their time. I do not wish to specifically pick on boat owners, but a boat is a great example of this. The moment it is bought it loses a lot of value. It must be stored somewhere as it takes up a lot of room. They have to put gas in it and maintain it almost like it was another car. They have to have insurance on it.
It reduces their future freedom in planning family outings because, since one has spent so much money on the boat, they now feel obligated to use it at every opportunity to "get their money's worth". But they say "I like boating and one need a boat to go boating!". I say: Rent One. This preserves all ones freedom, does not tie one to anything, and allows one to still go boating when they want to with no strings attached. Would that not be better?
I love Robert Kiyosaki's books, starting with Rich Dad Poor Dad. Robert clearly defines what the difference is between the wealthy, the poor and the middle class.
The wealthy are the only group that knows how to spend their money for something that increases in value, a true asset. Assets that increase in value more per annum than what one could get in a CD or a Money Market Mutual Fund are better to have than money, and are the *only* exception to the first statement about having money being better.
The poor do not make enough to cover their basic needs, and thus do not have the money to buy themselves into a lot of bondage.
The middle class buys big liabilities, like boats, and calls them assets. It just comes from not understanding what an asset is. Most middle class families have the income to be wealthy, its just that they do not buy assets with their extra funds, and as long as they continue to do that they will always be middle class.
Take this idea with you the next time you go somwhere to spend money: It is better to have money than any of the things that you can buy with money!
Money = Freedom
Things = Bondage
Learn
Joseph
One of my favorite financial authors is Dennis R. Deaton. The book "Money: An Owners Manual" is a must read for anyone who wants to know how money works in their lives. I wish to talk about one statement made in this book that I have not seen made *anywhere* else, but which was truly profound for me.
"It is better to have money than any of the things that you can buy with money". There is a corollary as well which states "all ownership is a form of bondage". Amazing!
Now this does not mean you should not own a house, or a car, or a mattress to sleep on, but it does shed some light on the biggest money problem that most people who have money problems have, and that is the fact that more money goes out in a month than comes in. The problem in America (for most people) is not that they do not make enough money, but rather that they spend too much. And what do they spend it on?
The moment one exchanges money for anything, they are in a loosing deal. The "thing" that they have purchased loses some percentage of its value the minute they leave the store with it. Sure they could return it to the store perhaps, but that would require an investment of their most important asset, which is their time. They certainly could not resell the item to someone else for anything near what they paid for it.
In addition, the item they have bought must be maintained, may break, may cause other kinds of problems. It will take up additional amounts of their time. I do not wish to specifically pick on boat owners, but a boat is a great example of this. The moment it is bought it loses a lot of value. It must be stored somewhere as it takes up a lot of room. They have to put gas in it and maintain it almost like it was another car. They have to have insurance on it.
It reduces their future freedom in planning family outings because, since one has spent so much money on the boat, they now feel obligated to use it at every opportunity to "get their money's worth". But they say "I like boating and one need a boat to go boating!". I say: Rent One. This preserves all ones freedom, does not tie one to anything, and allows one to still go boating when they want to with no strings attached. Would that not be better?
I love Robert Kiyosaki's books, starting with Rich Dad Poor Dad. Robert clearly defines what the difference is between the wealthy, the poor and the middle class.
The wealthy are the only group that knows how to spend their money for something that increases in value, a true asset. Assets that increase in value more per annum than what one could get in a CD or a Money Market Mutual Fund are better to have than money, and are the *only* exception to the first statement about having money being better.
The poor do not make enough to cover their basic needs, and thus do not have the money to buy themselves into a lot of bondage.
The middle class buys big liabilities, like boats, and calls them assets. It just comes from not understanding what an asset is. Most middle class families have the income to be wealthy, its just that they do not buy assets with their extra funds, and as long as they continue to do that they will always be middle class.
Take this idea with you the next time you go somwhere to spend money: It is better to have money than any of the things that you can buy with money!
Money = Freedom
Things = Bondage
Learn
Joseph
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Why is The Secret so popular?
It is fun to watch the news media try to cover the story that is The Secret. Quite a few of them are just not sure why it is so popular. It is also obvious from some of the reports that I have been seeing that very few of them really understand what the movie is about.
I will not presume to speak for others, but I will explain why it is so popular with me. One of the knocks from the press is that The Secret is not presenting anything that has not been written about before by authors like Wallace Wattles and James Allen and Charles Haanel. That is mostly true, but how many people have recently been reading the works of those authors?
Its not that The Secret is presenting brand new information, it is instead that the information that is presented is done so in such a way as it reaches many people. It certainly reached me. I know several people who have see parts of the movie and have professed no interest whatsoever in what it teaches. That is certainly fine, and is oftentimes an attitude shared by some who feel like their life is a success and they have everything that they need, so why would they need what is presented in The Secret?
But at the time that I was introduced to the movie, I was looking for something better, or at least a better explanation for what currently was. The movie answered both of those questions for me in one movie! Through watching the movie and writing my Research Paper about it, I have learned how my life came to be where it is now. I also learned of several small things that I could to to make it incrementally better.
I have put what it suggests that one do into practice on several occasions. One of the things I did was build this website, also I started this blog. My wife is building a Network Marketing business with Arbonne International. We are learning so many new and cool things because of these steps we have taken; and once we have learned enough, we expect we will be able to replace our working for others income with these new endeavors.
Ultimately, I have learned that I need to make every effort to be paid for the things that I love doing, which for me is writing and public speaking. Although I do like my current work for someone else job, I do not get to write or do public speaking with it. The Secret said "Follow Your Bliss . . .", and my life is much more exciting now as I am trying to do that.
Joseph
I will not presume to speak for others, but I will explain why it is so popular with me. One of the knocks from the press is that The Secret is not presenting anything that has not been written about before by authors like Wallace Wattles and James Allen and Charles Haanel. That is mostly true, but how many people have recently been reading the works of those authors?
Its not that The Secret is presenting brand new information, it is instead that the information that is presented is done so in such a way as it reaches many people. It certainly reached me. I know several people who have see parts of the movie and have professed no interest whatsoever in what it teaches. That is certainly fine, and is oftentimes an attitude shared by some who feel like their life is a success and they have everything that they need, so why would they need what is presented in The Secret?
But at the time that I was introduced to the movie, I was looking for something better, or at least a better explanation for what currently was. The movie answered both of those questions for me in one movie! Through watching the movie and writing my Research Paper about it, I have learned how my life came to be where it is now. I also learned of several small things that I could to to make it incrementally better.
I have put what it suggests that one do into practice on several occasions. One of the things I did was build this website, also I started this blog. My wife is building a Network Marketing business with Arbonne International. We are learning so many new and cool things because of these steps we have taken; and once we have learned enough, we expect we will be able to replace our working for others income with these new endeavors.
Ultimately, I have learned that I need to make every effort to be paid for the things that I love doing, which for me is writing and public speaking. Although I do like my current work for someone else job, I do not get to write or do public speaking with it. The Secret said "Follow Your Bliss . . .", and my life is much more exciting now as I am trying to do that.
Joseph
Monday, May 14, 2007
The Secret and a Great Movie
If you read the book "The Science of Getting Rich", by Wallace Wattles, one of the things that you would learn is that you want to grow rich by creation, not by competition. Being creative is one of the best things for us to learn how to do while we are living this part of our life here on the Earth. BTW, this book by Wallace Wattles was one of the main books that inspired Rhonda Bryne to create The Secret.
I recently saw the movie "Music and Lyrics". For those who do not know the movie starts with a music video of a 1980s era New Wave song, but the neat part is that this is not one of the 80s songs that we have heard 300 times or more, no they created a *new* one. They invented a group (Called Pop!), invented three or four songs, and a music video that captures the essence of the 80s music videos that they used to play on MV3 or MTV back in the mid-eighties.
I was just amazed by this, because they really nailed it. I love the eighties music, but it is a little annoying that there is nothing new, at least until now. What a great example of someone being creative. They have completely resurrected something that was dead!
And look at the character Alex Fletcher. He makes his living prior to the film by living in the past (as a "happy has been"), but through different events is given the opportunity to be creative again by creating a brand new song from scratch. How cool would it be if all of us could get paid and have our careers built around being creative in this manner.
Why is it such a big deal for us to learn to be creative while we are here on Earth? It is simply because that opportunity to be creative will continue with us into the next phase of our existence. And there IS a next phase.
As Mike Dooley would say, Tallyho!
Joseph
I recently saw the movie "Music and Lyrics". For those who do not know the movie starts with a music video of a 1980s era New Wave song, but the neat part is that this is not one of the 80s songs that we have heard 300 times or more, no they created a *new* one. They invented a group (Called Pop!), invented three or four songs, and a music video that captures the essence of the 80s music videos that they used to play on MV3 or MTV back in the mid-eighties.
I was just amazed by this, because they really nailed it. I love the eighties music, but it is a little annoying that there is nothing new, at least until now. What a great example of someone being creative. They have completely resurrected something that was dead!
And look at the character Alex Fletcher. He makes his living prior to the film by living in the past (as a "happy has been"), but through different events is given the opportunity to be creative again by creating a brand new song from scratch. How cool would it be if all of us could get paid and have our careers built around being creative in this manner.
Why is it such a big deal for us to learn to be creative while we are here on Earth? It is simply because that opportunity to be creative will continue with us into the next phase of our existence. And there IS a next phase.
As Mike Dooley would say, Tallyho!
Joseph
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