Bryan Tracey

Motivational speakers have positively impacted my life in more ways that I could ever fully describe.    You know, those cheesy self-development guru’s that will sometimes make people roll their eyes.  It was one particular statement though made by Bryan Tracey that I can honestly say set me on an entirely new path forever.

I had found myself in a rut.  Hey, we’ve all been there.  This rut though was so deep stepping out of it was no longer going to be considered any small task. 

The statement came just at the right time and I can say without a doubt it left a mental branding in my mind like  you’d see a cowboy leave on the back side of a bull.  Those words changed me  forever and I want to share them with you today.  They went like this:

“If you want to see your future, name the six people you spend the most time with.  That is your future.”

Well it just so happened at the time I heard this statement I was sitting in a sales meeting at a Television station.  I was working as a marketing representative or shall we just say, a TV ad schlep.  Now, just to be nice, I’ll say the personalities of the sales and staff were unfavorable to say the least.  In fact, the mental condition of my co-workers bordered on that of Turkish prisoners.

It was at that very moment I can honestly say that the light bulb didn’t just “go off.”  It shed light on a whole new way of thinking and being.  I realized then and there I wanted more than these people sitting around me.  They were miserable and I could no longer be around misery.  I could no longer subject myself to limited belief systems,  complaining and daily verbal outbursts brought on by their toxic low-self esteem.

I made a decision that day to plan a way out.  It wasn’t before long that my mindset created a path right out the door so quickly I was free from the chains of employment within that next few weeks.

You see, as soon as you make up your mind to change something, you don’t need to know the “how.”  You simply need to know what you want.  I wanted a way out of the bindings of employment.  That trapped feeling of being owned by something and being forced to surround myself with individuals I did not  respect, like a prisoner, was no way I wanted to live.  I knew I had to find a road to freedom.  That road for me was financial freedom. 

The truth is, we can have any future we desire.  We have to recognize that we can have it, believe the picture we envision in our minds, and sooner than not…it appears before we are hardly able to recognize the appearance of it.  Whatever that ‘it’ is for you, be sure to picture it in your mind ,believe in it as if you have already  acquired it, and it will appear.  You may not even recognize it at first.  Be aware of this.  You have to recognize it.  It may be in the form of a person or connection.  It may be a voice in your mind.  It WILL be there though.  It is called opportunity…and it is all around you.

You simply have to recognize it as your future.

Focus on children’s rights: UNICEF launches photo exhibit and film festival

NEW YORK, USA., 4 November 2009 – As part of the run-up to 20 November, the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF Executive Director Ann M. Veneman yesterday introduced a photo exhibit and opened a documentary film festival with a special screening at UNICEF headquarters in New York.

When children’s rights are violated with abuse and neglect we are obligated as a society to come together and fight for them.  UNICEF’s launch of the exhibit in this article represents just that.   A  force that will make reversible  impact on the tragedy occurring worldwide.  The BIGGER the problem the BIGGER the force needed to be impactful.  Children’s rights are as worthy of a cause to fight  for as  any cancer or social diversity project.  I am proud of UNICEF and encourage those that are not completely aware of the child-trafficking epidemic world-wide and  in this country;  to stand up and do their part whatever that may be;  to stop such acts against children and our future. 

How do you talk to your kids about money? Best selling personal finance author David Bach says it’s never too early to teach them the value of money, and that includes how to earn it, save it, and give some of it away.

Photo by Flickr

There are a lot of myths about property investing.  In this article I will give you the top 5 real estate tips that you will need when investing.  Many of these real estate tips will be contrary to what you have thought and that’s why I am offering them to you.  I hope they help to enlighten you in your future ventures.

Real Estate Tips #1

You don’t have to be a seasoned businessperson to invest.  Having business experience can be a big plus in this game but it’s no requirement.  Many blue collar people fool themselves into thinking they can’t become investors simply because they aren’t business people.  The truth is that the confidence you need to win in real estate should come from solid business deals that you make.  A great deal is all the confidence and business savy you need to convince a loan officer or mortgage broker.

Real Estate Tips #2

Knowing a lot about real estate is not exactly a requirement to start becoming a investor.  That may sound like a pretty contradictory thing to say but let me explain.  Everyone starts in the same place.  The idea that you must be an expert to start investing is false.  You need to just get up one day and start.  The only way to become a true expert is through experience.

Real Estate Tips #3

Knowing someone in this business can be very benificial.  It is by no means a requirement for success but it can help out.  It’s more about setting and meeting goals, assembling your own team, and just doing things that will get you around to meeting contacts.  People will come and go and some may stick around, but knowing people can help a lot.

Real Estate Tips #4

Starting big can be a lot more helpful then starting small.  I here people in the media, so called “experts, try to give advice on investing, and one of the more common pieces I hear pertaining to all investing is that starting small is the safest way to invest.  Well, it may be the safest most risk free method but it’s also the least rewarding by far.  If there isn’t risk involved, then there is not going to be much reward.  Ever here the old phrase “No pain, No game”?  Well, it’s true.  Do yourself a favor and don’t be afraid to go for the big deals.  What really matters is that the deal makes sense and will work, not the size.

Real Estate Tips #5

Probably the best tip I can give you here today is that you don’t have to be rich to invest in properties.  This is a huge myth.  Most people say things like this to themselves as an excuse not to get out there and make something of themselves.  This is not like saving for your first home.  This is a business.  You are going to be making revenue and that revenue is going to be paying off mortgages that you will get to pay for your investments.  Don’t worry about money.  Your going to be borrowing everything anyways.

Alright, maybe I should have called some of these myths, but I think the best tips are the ones that debunk the lies you here about investing.  Remember to keep your wits and don’t let “common knowledge” guide you.  Often times “common knowledge” is bad advice.  If you want a fantastic guide on real estate investing and tips for anyone, go to my website called Blue Collar Real Estate.

• Happiness & Optimism
• Resilience
• Connectedness
• Passion
• Intuition
• Habitual Saving
• Invest in Stocks
• Gratitude