Success ::

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PUDDING & PIE ::

4German Apple Pie

4Figgy Pudding & Hard Sauce

4Caramel Apple Pudding Cake

4Chocolate Pots de Crème

  HOW SWEET

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   APPETIZERS

    Pay Yourself First

                                        by Dennis Harting

     This is one of the most fundamental concepts for creating wealth. The ignoring of this simple principle is what creates the massive amount of struggle so prevalent within our society. In this era, people have the tendency to do the exact opposite of what is necessary for financial growth.

     The majority of our society works for a paycheck. They put in their hours to receive their pay every couple of weeks. Before they get their check, the taxes and other governmental obligations are removed. This leaves them with their net pay for the period. Of course, this the amount that people then need to live on.

     Naturally, everyone has basic obligations. Expenses such as rent or mortgage, transportation, food, utilities, etc... are paid out of our earnings. These are the things that eat up a large percentage of the money we bring home. Occasionally, depending on the financial situation, there might be some form of entertainment expense. In most cases, these obligations are met before any money is set aside for savings or investment.

     To build a large amount of wealth, one needs to put one's money to work for them. The power of compound interest enables money to grow at a substantially faster rate than any single individual can earn. Fortunes have been created by consistently investing at a good rate of return over a long period of time. The more money that is “put to work” or the longer the period, the greater the chance of attaining financial prominence.

     Unfortunately, when most are questioned about their pattern of saving, the typical response is that “I don't make enough to save” or “I will save if I have anything left over after I pay my bills”. As most are aware, there never is anything left over at the end of the month. This is the destructive force of paying everyone else first. The person actually earning the money is left out of the pay cycle. That person is not working for a particular company. Rather, they are working for their creditors. The reason they show up for work each day is to be able to pay their bills.

     The concept of paying yourself first is a radical idea to most people, It is something that is not promoted too much within our culture. We are conditioned for the instant gratification that comes with spending. Credit is rather easy to get thus allowing us to actually spend more than we earn. The “buy now, pay later” is so the preferred way of purchasing. What an item truly costs when interest is added in is never factored in the decision. The main concern is how much the monthly payment is.

     This mentality has put the large percentage of families into a financial bind. Because of this, the thought of setting money aside each month seems impossible. If one cannot pay all their obligations using 100% of their income, how could they do it with a smaller percentage? The answer is in the elimination of senseless spending. Paying yourself first obligates a portion of one's income to saving, income that normally would have been spend on something that is more for gratification as opposed to a necessity.

     When people undertake this concept initially, they find that putting 3%-5% away is not difficult. It is best done to have it taken directly from the paycheck before it is received. People do not feel the tax crunch as much since they never see the money. The same holds true for investing. Money removed immediately from a paycheck and deposited into an investment account will not even be missed. Over time this fund will grow even if the monthly expenses remain the same. The power of compounding interest begins to take hold.

     It is best to start this process as soon as possible. The longer one waits, the less they will ultimately be able to accumulate. There is a tremendous difference in the amount of money one has when invested over 20 years versus 30 years. Begin by having a portion of your paycheck diverted into an interest bearing account automatically. This will help get you into the habit of paying yourself first.

Dennis Harting is the Head Coach at Your Rich Life. He is an acclaimed speaker, trainer, and best-selling author. His books include Your Easiest Million and The Ultimate Procrastination Handbook. His programs and more information can be found at:

               http://www.yourrichlifeinc.com

ARTICLES BY PAUL GENT:

4 What Lessons Can We Learn From The

    Yes Man

4 When Toasting Success, Don’t Spread On

     The Butter

It Starts With Our Thinking  Everything stems from our thoughts. The present circumstances that we are in are a direct results of the choices we made. These choices often are dictated by our default thought process.

What Lessons Can We Learn From The Yes Man  Danny Wallace listened to a stranger on a bus and his life changed for the better, just by Saying Yes More. What changes in your life could happen if you too became more open to opportunities around you.

Focus, Focus, Focus  Learn the power of focus. Understand why the successful focus upon one thing at a time.

It Will Be Alright  Learn how to keep a long term view of things. Do not let the minor situations in life get you down. Hold your attitude up by knowing that everything works out.

Success: There Are No Excuses  Successful people get it done. When they don't, they accept responsibility. Learn how this one difference can alter your life.

When Toasting Success, Don't Spread On The Butter  Which three letter word can cause praise for success to be diluted, or even nullified? Read on to find out the word and why.

Criticism - An Unfortunate Part of Success  Criticism is a unfortunate part of success. The more successful one is, the more people will try to tear that person down. One must be prepared to handle the negative responses so as not to be caught off guard by them. The tendency to make decisions based upon the supposition of what others will say must be avoided.

Procrastination - The Silent Killer Procrastination destroys more lives than any other single factor. This habit can grow so out of control that it literally paralyzes a person from taking action. It kills relationships, careers, and self esteem without regard. The key to success is action. Therefore, overcoming the inactivity caused by procrastination is vital.

Persist To Success  The successful persevere through all conditions. Developing persistence in all that you do is one of the key components to attaining success. Life has a way of giving us lessons in the form of negative situations. Learn the lesson and move on. You will be able to apply it in the future.

Bigger Thinking Leads to a Bigger Life  All success begins with your thinking. Most people limit the quality of their life by the size of their thinking. The general tendency is to simply think too small. This creates a ceiling on the life that one can have. Begin to expand the potential of your life by expanding your thinking.

The Parable Of Faith Most of us think that we know what different situations mean. Oftentimes in life, things occur that seem terrible in the moment only to be viewed differently in hindsight. Our perspective tends to change as we receive more information. This parable tells of a man who didn't rush to judgment.

Stop Exchanging Time For Money  The majority of the population exchanges their time for money. Their pay is dependent upon the hours that they work. At the end of the pay period, they receive a paycheck in exchange for the hours worked. The wealthy do not operate under this premise. They put their money to work for them.

Deadline - A Major Variable To Getting You To Take Action  Most people are controlled by deadlines. That is because they are set by external factors. However, we can set our own deadlines and use them to our advantage.

Fear Is Not Real  Fear is one of the main factors that stops people in life. Unfortunately, it is all in our head. Fear is an illusion that does not exist. Allowing it to control us is like believing in the tooth fairy.

Expect Success  Our intentions have a bearing on the results that we get. To create a better life, it is important that we raise our level of expectations. Learn how vital it is to expect success in all situations.

Kickstart Your Life - 9 Ways To Revitalize Your Life  Learn 9 techniques that can be implemented to kickstart your life. Utilize these ideas to get your life back on the path that you desire. Repetitive implementation will enable you to create what you truly desire.

Dreams - A Lost Art  As children we dream the grandest of dreams, knowing no boundaries. When we mature, we are instructed to keep our feet on the ground and be realistic. This kills the desire to dreams which is the beginning of all of great successes. Learn how to release the desire to dream again.

Seven Common Habits of Successful People  Success usually doesn't come to people that exhibit poor habits, such as laziness, a gloomy disposition or attitude, or possess an unwillingness to learn. Instead, it is poor behaviors and practices that hold people back from achieving the success they want out of life, no matter how much they want it to happen. The desire to achieve success is simply not enough, meaning you have to match your desire with effort, determination, patience, and motivation.