What Does “Success” Mean to You?

Success. It’s something that most of us want in our lives. We might have a hazy picture of what it looks like:

• “Lots” of money
• A jet-setting lifestyle
• A great relationship
• Achieving a particular status within a career

The problem is, none of these things are easy (or even possible) to achieve. How much money is “lots”? What counts as a “great” relationship? If you chase vague definitions of success, you’re never going to be satisfied.

Plus, you might well achieve “success” in the eyes of the world … only to find that it seems hollow and empty to you. Read the Rest of This Article »

8 Reasons Passion Trumps Money Any Day of the Week

‘Should I go for something I am passionate about or go for the money?’ I hear people ask this question a lot when looking for a new direction in life. The truth is, if they had a passion already they wouldn’t be asking the question.

The good thing is it is never too late to discover your passion. I am passionate about quite a few things and lucky to be able to work in those areas. I found that whilst working in a particular area, say film, I could go for days without eating properly and wouldn’t notice. I could go for days without sleep and not notice because I had that extra supply of adrenalin energy you get from doing what you enjoy. How do you know if you’ve found your passion? If circumstance doesn’t dictate how often you do it or how long you stick to it and if you would do it regardless of pay, there’s a good chance this is what you should be doing!

If you are at a crossroads and have asked yourself the question of passion or money, I humbly recommend going for passion every time. Below are 8 reasons why: Read the Rest of This Article »

If You Want to Make Art and/or Money, Read This:

This post is for anyone who is trying to do artistic work (writing, painting, computer programming, sculpting, music composition and recording, whatever) – or trying to make money (entrepreneur, salaried, investor, whatever).

People that desire to create and enterprise do a lot to build the world, but it’s often a lonely and frustrating path.

And due to the nature of that, most creative and enterprising people make a key mistake.

They keep trying to re-invent the wheel.

Please stop doing that.

 

Read the Rest of This Article »

Be a Peaceful CFO of your home

Experts talk about the pros and cons of cash gifts, earned money, dole outs, and allowances. Parents wonder, which is right for their families. We may be missing the bigger picture. How our children get spending money is irrelevant. It’s what they learn about money that matters.

When we say we want our children to know about money, what do we mean? Do we mean we want them to know how-to make it and how-to spend it? If we teach them the why we make money and why we spend money, they will know how-to.

If money is the end, there will never be enough. If money is a means, there will be plenty. Read the Rest of This Article »

5 Great Reasons Why You Should Start a Side Business

Have you ever thought about quitting your job to work for yourself?

Maybe you have – but it seems like an impossible dream, and you know you can’t just walk out of your current job and hope for the best. Or maybe you can’t imagine quitting – you enjoy your work, you like your colleagues, and you want a steady income.

Either way, think about starting a side business: it could have huge benefits for you.

Here’s how. Read the Rest of This Article »

The Secret of Financial Happiness

“Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen pounds nineteen and six, result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery.” (Mr. Micawber, in David Copperfield by Charles Dickens – 1850)

You already know this secret, really.

But maybe you don’t like to think about it.

If you’re trying to improve your financial situation, you need to either:

• Spend less
• Earn more

Even in the post-credit-crunch world, it’s all too easy for us to put items on a credit card. It’s all too easy to run up thousands of dollars of debt – with our spending constantly outstripping our earning. Read the Rest of This Article »

Day 32: Would You Do This For 10 Minutes A Day To Retire 10 Years Early?

Is retiring early one of your life’s dreams?

Do you long to be able to take off a few years while you are still young and healthy and travel, spend time on your hobbies or doing something else you love? Do you want to feel the confidence that comes when you’re not sweating the balance in your account?

Despite the bad economy, it can be possible to retire at 55, if you’re willing to sacrifice and put in some work now.
The trick is to make optimizing your finances part of your daily routine, just like brushing your teeth or loading the dishwasher. Small, consistent actions often have a more powerful long term effect than one or two large ones. By spending the equivalent of just ten minutes a day to focus on your finances, you can save hundreds or thousands of dollars a year towards your retirement. Read the Rest of This Article »

Skipping the Latte Could Cost You: Why Cutting Back Can Sometimes Cost You More

I’ve been dropping into my favorite coffee shop for years. Then, amid the buzz over the economy and what a waste of money my lattes were, I stopped. Afterward, I found that while passing that coffee shop I missed the smell, the people, the “me time.” This combined with my inferior ability to make a cup of Joe made me realize this experiment was turning into a latte nonsense.

We often hear about what we can’t and shouldn’t do. But modern psychology again and again shows us that it’s not all black and white. A little splurge can be good for you; just sitting somewhere for a moment in thought isn’t a waste of time. Even what we know about caffeine has changed. Here are some reasons skipping that latte actually could be bad for your well being. Read the Rest of This Article »

In Defense Of Solvency: 4 Reasons You Need To Pursue Financial Solvency

Let’s face it; many people would love to be rich. Few people wouldn’t want to jet set around the world traveling, attend the most coveted premieres, drive their dream cars, lavish gifts upon their love ones, etc. However, there is limited value in even thinking about riches until you can become and stay financially solvent. Solvency isn’t about income. No matter whether you make $40,000 a year or $400,000 a year, you can still be broke. Solvency is simply your ability to meet your entire financial obligations with some money to spare. It is the degree to which your current assets exceed your current liabilities. Read the Rest of This Article »

Day 90: Start A Nest Egg: How To Protect Your Future Now!

Putting aside money today is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. It’s impossible to guarantee a life free of bumps and bruises, but having a healthy savings account can prevent a little owwie from turning into a huge, festering wound.

Starting a nest egg is not just sound financial planning, it’s also a way to show love to yourself and to re-examine your relationship with money and material things. As you look for ways to cut expenses and boost your savings, it’s likely you’ll learn a lot about what you value and what you fear. Read the Rest of This Article »

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