First Steps on the Road to Financial Success

Article Title: First Steps on the Road to Financial Successrn(and perhaps even Wealth)
Author Name: Craig Lock
Category (key words): Financial Success, Personal Finance, Money, Money Management, Financial Independance
Web sites: http://www.creativekiwis.com and www.lulu.com/craiglock

Other Articles by the submitter are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/user/15565
We hope that the following article may be informative and helpful.
"We share what we know, so that you and your money may grow."

*
First Steps on the Road to Financial Success (and even Wealth)

"Those who say money can't buy you happiness,
don't know where to shop." - anon

Authors Introduction:
This article is a short extract from my booklet the 'STEPS TO WEALTH'. This piece is also a summary of my booklet THE ROAD TO FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE, as well as incorporating thoughts and extracts from THE MAD MONEY BOOK and STEPS TO SUCCESS, PROSPERITY AND HAPPINESS.

Craig Lock has been studying the amazing powers of the human mind for many "moons", as he works away to achieve his personal goals in life.
It all starts in the human mind with great desire + faith + a great deal of discipline, but anyone can do it, if they have a "magnificent obsession". (I'm totally convinced of it). The author has a dream of making a million dollars (to make a difference in the world). He has lived by the principles he writes about in this manuscript for the past years. In time we'll see whether he's talking sense or "has a hole in his head and living in the poorhouse"!
*
Some points to "kick off"...

* Without financial independence, you are a slave to money.

* Achieving financial independence will take time, dedication and lots of hard work... but will be worth it in the end.

* Remember, money isn't everything. It has been said that "money is the root of all evil", but only an obsession and LOVE of money for it's own sake, I believe, is bad. Substantial amounts of money can be used for charitable purposes, if that is your wish .... but "charity begins at home".

* Nearly everyone has the ability to be successful, but very few have the desire as well as the commitment to make the sacrifices necessary to achieve wealth.

1. Accept that you can achieve financial success and make a commitment to yourself to attain it. It is within your grasp if you really want it. Really BELIEVE it - that is the most important step. Only then will the incredible power of the human mind work out a means of achieving it. Reject the idea that work is simply something you have to do until the age of retirement.

2. Ask yourself this: Where do you want to be in 2,5,10 years time? Set goals that excite you. If you could do absolutely anything with your life, what would you do. If you had unlimited money or found out you only had a month to live, what would you do? Write them down.

3. Establish your current financial position. What is the cash inflow and outflow. Horrors! Which areas can be improved upon? Everything!

4. Develop your NEW plans. Decide what action you are going to take that will move you closer to the achievement of your goals? All goals should be specific and have a time constraint.

5. Closely monitor the performance of your investments and your rate of savings.

6. Try to put extra savings into investment (it could be your own business)

7. Review and reward yourself annually if your targets are met.

8. Pursue your personal goals and business ideas with all you've got. With real PASSION and PURPOSE. If you really BELIEVE In them, they are far more likely to be achieved.

9. Still try to live a BALANCED life... or as balanced as you can make it. Money doesn't buy happiness; yet I'd rather be unhappy in comfort!

10. The highest cost of all is the cost of WAITING to TAKE ACTION to change your current circumstances in life (as 94 of the population apparently are dissatisfied with their situations. It is up to you to do things differently. So take ACTION now- to change course. You get only one shot at life, so make the most of it.

To recap... in a line...

THE THREE LEGS TO GROWING RICH

Like the three legs of a stool. All are equally important in ensuring financial independence.

The key:

MAKING MONEY + SAVING IT + INVESTING WISELY = FINANCIAL SUCCESS

Have a PLAN, then put it into ACTION.

"People don't plan to fail, but fail to plan."

* The first part of what you earn is YOURS to keep.

* INVEST at least the first 10 of your income.
But...
Always remember,

* True prosperity is created from within. All prosperity is created in the mind. You are only as wealthy, happy or as prosperous as WHAT YOU FEEL... and what you make up your mind to be. And money is not everything. For me, health, family and happiness are far far more important considerations.

Aim high, dream high.

If you aim for the tree tops, you might not get off the ground... so why not aim for the stars.

Good luck*

Shared by Craig Lock Eagle Productions Books ("Information and Inspiration Distributer, Incorrigible Encourager and People-builder")

N.B: 99 of the population do not achieve financial success, because they lack the real COMMITMENT to achieve financial independence. I believe they are too busy earning a living to survive to really THINK about how to make big money. Really use the unlimited power of your CREATIVE IMAGINATION. However, it takes a great commitment in TIME, MONEY and ENERGY and patience to achieve ultimate financial independence. So make that effort and INVEST IN YOURSELF, first..

Hope this information has been helpful to you.

* "luck", as 'they' say, is where
preparedness (is there such a word?) meets opportunity.

"Money can't buy you happiness. But it helps you to bernmiserable in comfort."

"Wealth is better than poverty... if only for financial reasons." - Woody Allen

"Believe in yourself and in your dream,
Though impossible things may seemr
Someday, somehow you'll get throughr
To the goal you have in view.
Mountains fall and seas divide,
Before the one who in his strider
Takes a hard road by dayr
Sweeping obstacles awayr
Believe in yourself and in your planr
Say not - I cannot - I canr
The prizes of life we fail to winr
Because we doubt the power within..." - anon

"Together, one mind, one life at a time, let's see how many people we can impact, encourage, empower, uplift and perhaps even inspire to reach their fullest potentials."