One of the topics that most people are highly interested in is the prospect of becoming affluent.  It is not uncommon at all for people to express a strong desire to become wealthy.  However, the majority of people who express this desire are either lacking in knowledge concerning how to create affluence, or are acting on bad advice.  Thus, the journey to affluence remains a mystery to many people … a mystery that requires a secret to solve.
The disappointing truth about achieving affluence is that it’s not based on a …

The discussion of what makes us successful has been going on for a considerable period of time.  Many of us are tempted to fall for fads, schemes or popular culture concerning the meaning and methods for achieving success in our lives.  Many of us have come to believe that success is about setting personal goals, and tracking our progress on those goals.  Others view success as a “life purpose” that we seek to accomplish.
Many of these perspectives contain important elements of truth, but many of them are also missing some …

One of the famous scenes from JR Tolkein’s book series “The Lord of the Rings” is when Frodo the Hobbit is talking with Gandalf the Wizard about his quest to destroy the ring of power.  Frodo remarks that he wishes the ring had not come to him, and that it was not his burden to bear.  To this, Gandalf replies that Frodo’s sentiment is shared by all people who face difficult times.  But the times you live are not for you to decide.  All that we can decide is what …

One of the topics that is most frequently written about is time.  Every person wishes that they had more time available to do the things that are important to them.  Since time is so elusive, it is reasonable to conduct a closer examination of the time that we have in a given day, and how we choose to allocate that scarce resource known as time.
Every day contains within it, 86,400 seconds.  One way to gains some insight into how we use the time of each day is to think of …

Most of us have been in a situation where there were lots of things to do, but not much time to do them it.  In these situations, the natural response is to ask what items are the most important . . . and a disturbingly large number of managers and bosses will frequently reply: “It’s all important.”
The subtle insanity of the statement: “It’s all important” is that if everything is considered to be ‘important’ then there is no way to prioritize which activities to do first.  Thus, saying that everything …

In the world of real estate investment, there is a term known as ‘highest and best use’ to describe the best possible use for a building or area of land.  When making decisions, many investors will stop to consider the highest and best use for the land that they are considering to purchase.  Would it be better to add another rental unit?A  Would it be advantageous to add a garage or storage area?A  It may be that the best use for a building is to tear it down and start …

Most people are associated with one or two people whom they would consider to be “High Maintenance” or demanding of your time and attention.  These people are the ones who call to ask why you haven’t commented on their Facebook post.  Sometimes this type of person is referred to as a Diva or a Drama Queen.  For some reason, these folks seem to seek out dramatic encounters that draw attention to themselves.
In contrast to this, most of us know people who are “Low Maintenance” or perfectly content to do their …

One of the popular sayings in Finance is that “Money Never Sleeps”.  This is a reference to the fact that when money is placed at work for you, it works relentlessly in your favor.  Money placed at interest accrues minute by minute, day by day, week by week, and year by year.  Regardless of whether you are awake or asleep, money placed to work on your behalf continues to produce benefits like a faithful servant that never tires and never rests.
In this way, it is quite possible to create a …

In the American version of Football, there is a ‘system’ known as the “West Coast Offense” that has become a revolution in sports.  Bill Walsh implemented the system as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers in the late 1970′s and went on to win three world championships, with two more achieved using this philosophy after Coach Walsh retired.
Up until Coach Walsh implemented the West Coast offense, there were two competing offensive philosophies that dominated Football.  The first was that of a ‘ball control’ offense where one team would attempt …

The holiday season is a time when many people pause to spend time with their family and loved ones.  It provides an opportunity to temporarily suspend the hustle and hurry of normal life and consider where you are at; personally, professionally and financially.  As we take the opportunity to examine ourselves, it is a good time to consider ways that our family and loved ones can become a greater area of focus.
The unfortunate situation that many people find themselves in is one where their desires leave little time to spare …