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Ron Chan is a Sales & Marketing Strategist at Naida Communications. He helps people and businesses increase their sales by developing effective Marketing Strategies. You can contact Ron by emailing him at ron@naidacom.com. To learn more about Naida Communications visit them at www.naidacom.com.

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The American Dream – The Minimalist Way

theartofbeingminimalist thumb The American Dream – The Minimalist Way I find it interesting how the internet works.  I truly believe it’s the new American Dream.  I am a second generation immigrant born and raised in Canada.  My parents did the “follow the American Dream” thing but made a slight detour to the north…choosing Canada instead.

For my parents the dream came true.  Despite not having an education they came, they worked, they overcame challenges, they persevered, and they prospered.

The other day, I got an email about a guy name Everett Bogue who decided to simplify his life and started a blog that chronicles his journey of no longer keeping up with the Jones’.

Living in the capital of consumption (New York) this brave soul decided to toss it all away…he quit his job, sold off everything that got him committed to the treadmill of modern living.

For most people reading this…the natural assumption is disaster in the making.  On the contrary, Bogue has found the new Dream…the passive income lifestyle.

In about six months he replaced his day-job income and now lives the life that everybody dreams of…one that is free of needless consumption and the financial burden that comes with it.

Everett’s book is titled The Art of Being Minimalist and you can preview the first 30 pages free.

There is one common element that I have found with successful people and in this case Bogue is no different.  It’s not about the money…it never is.  It’s about what you can give of value.  If you give enough…eventually you will get something in return.  In some cases it’s fame, a following, a feeling and it can also be fortune.  So…How do you get from giving?  Take a quick read of Everett’s Free book titled “How to Create a Movement

The Difference Between Earning and Making Money

In my opinion, the difference between earning and making money is subtle but once figured out can become a game changer for ANYONE and EVERYONE.  The majority of the population is brainwashed with the following notion: “go to school, get educated, find a job, and earn a living”. 

|J.O.B. IS AN ACRONYM FOR JUST-OVER-BROKE|

Layer in the idea that we are being programmed to consume and you quickly find out that a JOB really is an acronym for Just-Over-Broke.  What’s in the news these days? North Americans are at unprecedented debt levels, unemployment rates up etc…The reason for this is simple…they don’t teach how to make money in school.

 What most people do not understand is that they all have the ability to make money…they just don’t know it.  I came across a couple quotes today and it came from a guy born in the 1800′s.  Talk about wisdom standing the test of time…the quotes go like this:

  ”Money is plentiful for those who understand the simple laws which govern its acquisition.” – George Clason

 And

 Opportunity is a haughty goddess who wastes no time with those who are unprepared.” – George Clason

  Each and everyday opportunity to make money passes YOU by.  There is a VERY VERY simple formula to making money:

  •  Find a product or service to SELL (S) 
  •  Make sure that the price you charge for it covers off all the EXPENSES (E) related to selling it
  •  At the same time leaving some money left over to reinvest/grow and keep- PROFITS (P). 

For those of you out there that like mathematical equations:

 Sales (S) minus Expenses (E) = Profits (P) ** as long as your Expenses are less than your profits. 

In fact, if you don’t employ this equation to your personal finances do this now!  But only after you make the following adjustment to above equation.  Your sales is what you earn from your job…what you earn is subject to income tax.  Your after tax income is the money you have to spend or save.  Your expenses include (but are not limited to) the following: mortgage payments, car loan/lease payments, loan(s), credit cards, food and entertainment, household utilities and maintenance.  At the end of the day, you want to make sure that your expenses are less than your after tax income.  A good rule of thumb is to make sure you save at least 10% of your income.  So if you make a $1000 a week you should be setting aside $100 for savings.  If you are not doing this, don’t panic there is hope for you yet.

|Being employed leaves you one step away from financial ruin|

Unfortunately, the majority of the population are one trick ponies when it comes to income…are you one of them?  What this also means is that YOU ARE AT RISK of getting wiped out financially…especially if you have a lot of expenses.  Let me list off the ways:

  • you get fired,
  •  downsized,
  •  become obsolete,
  •  get sick,
  •  get injured – I think you’re getting the picture now. 

The smart ones out there are not the ones trying minimize expenses or whine about getting raises – sure you can try these tactics too.  But the money and the path to FREEDOM is in multiple streams or branches of income.  Large or small the key is to build as many streams or branches as possible.  Focus on building one stream at a time and keep adding and make sure they are diversified.  Ideally, the streams should also be passive – meaning money continues to flow with or without your input.  For example, in addition to the day job (that I do because I love) I have or have had income streams in real estate, restaurants, advertising businesses and investments.  I am comforted in knowing that if one stream dries up I have other sources of income that can cover off my expenses.  Imagine the stress relief you would have knowing that you could leave your job anytime you wanted…I think this is the number one stressor for North Americans – What happens if I lose my job?

 All is not lost.  There are three main take-aways from today’s post:

  1.  Start getting educated TODAY on how to make money.  Research online/offline, study people who are making money, find a mentor that can guide you…LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVRYDAY!
  2.  Believe in yourself.  The best investment you can make is in YOURSELF…you are the pilot to your destiny.  Opportunity comes to those who are prepared for it – Are you prepared?
  3. Take action.  Implement something that you have learned.  Make it a habit, a routine, a discipline do it everyday – HINT – the right thing to do is one that gets results.  Repeat this step everyday and YOU will achieve what you thought was unachievable.

Well what are you waiting for?

Will Smith has always been one of my favorite actors.  I stumbled across this clip and found it inspirational and motivational.  Dare to dream and take action!  Enjoy.

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