5 Tracks of Wealth

Principled Philosophy

Curtailing Social Drama

The need for social recognition motivates many to engage in a continuous saga of social drama. Active players spend a great deal of time playing social games where they assume roles designed to produce desired outcomes. Now the outcomes might not be what you would first think them to be. You might think outcomes of drama should be positive, but they are usually negative, they should be empowering, but are usually disempowering. The only way to avoid getting caught in a trap of social drama is to take a position outside of the drama triangle. Roles assumed in social drama include the victim, rescuer, and judge. The victim has been wronged somehow, the rescuer saves others, and the judge points fingers at both. Players can switch roles at any time when one role fails to materialize the emotional outcome they desire. All the roles played in social drama have one thing in common they reduce individual personal power. The roles either deny personal empowerment (victim), attempt to take power away from another (judge) or see others as weak (rescuer). Social drama is a trap to be avoided at all costs.

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• Disengage from the Drama-Social drama is like a spider web, once caught in it struggling only tightens the hold of the web on you. The only effective method for breaking free from the trap is to rise above it, and not participate in the ongoing drama. This means being able to recognize and refrain from engaging in the roles assumed in the drama.
• Promote Empowerment-Disengaging from drama entails avoiding the basic premise of powerlessness. Your thinking should promote personal empowerment by acknowledging each individual has the creative power to solve their problems effectively. To do otherwise is to assume the role of victim, rescuer or judge in the drama.
• Coach and Challenge-To avoid the trap of social drama always operate from a position of empowerment, and abundance. Do not judge others, or see them as helpless. Yes they may need assistance, but this doesn’t make them helpless. Instead, coach or challenge them to access their resources to creatively overcome their problems.

“As a man thinketh, so is he.” – Proverbs 23:7

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Principled Philosophy

Power of Play

If you’ve never considered the power of play, or if you are one of those people who think they haven’t the time for such things, it’s time to think again. Have you seen how kids act when doing chores? They mope around, lackadaisical, and act like they have no energy in them at all. But tell them; okay, you can go out and play now, and what happens? That’s right-instant transformation! Their eyes widen, their posture is upright, and all of a sudden they have unlimited amounts of energy! It’s all due to perspective; chores are work, not to be enjoyed, and with limited expression. Play on the other hand expands the boundaries, removes limits, and opens the portals of energy. What would happen if you were able to bring this kind of energy into your work or business? The commute to the office would no longer be a chore, returning phone calls would be adventurous, and meeting clients would be exhilarating. Keep in mind it’s all due to perspective, and you have control over your perspective on a moment to moment basis. So what’s holding your back?

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• Redefine your role-The roles you play each day dictate what you can or can’t do, or do they? Maybe the roles you play only serve to condition your perspective, and perhaps you can recondition the role to include playfulness, fun and excitement. You are in control of your perspective and can make the boundaries as tight or as expansive as you chose.
• Dare to have fun-Now redefining your role might not include playing air guitar on top of your desk (but it might!) it will of course involve a change in your current attitude. Make the decision to be daring and have fun while you go about your work or business responsibilities. Who knows, you might find you are much more fulfilled and not so drained at the end of the day.
• Express your inner child-True play finds its origin with our inner child, and not the adult part of our psychology. You remember the energy, and enthusiasm you experienced when you were a kid engaged in play. Get in touch with your inner child again, and bring its fresh energy, playfulness, and exhilaration into your otherwise routine day. Do you dare?

“Life is a great big canvas, and you should throw all the paint you can on it.”  Danny Kaye

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Principled Philosophy

Lighten the Load

Gandhi said “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attitude of the strong.” It would not be a real stretch to consider maybe forgiveness gives strength, and unforgiveness takes it away. If you have ever been betrayed by someone or held a grudge you couldn’t seem to resolve you know the drain it can create on you. It tends to drain the mind, body, and soul of its vital energy. The longer the conflict remains rooted in the person the greater the amount of energy which will be lost to oblivion. Think about how the drain of energy over the long run must effect those systems relied upon for health, happiness, and wellbeing. Unfortunately many are carrying a heavy load and paying a high price for the privilege of being unforgiving. Conversely, those who have finally decided to forgive those in which they have been angry or carrying a grudge report a huge weight being lifted off them. This is due to the mental and emotional ascent to forgiveness. With this in mind does it make any sense at all to remain unforgiving towards anyone for any amount of time considering the side-effects?

Capitalizing Potential

• Communicate honestly-One of the reasons forgiveness is so difficult for many is they fail to communicate honestly with others. Many are afraid it will hurt others, or make them feel guilty, and this is painful. Telling others how you feel or how they made you feel by their actions is an important step towards granting forgiveness.
• Maintain perspective-For some it is very easy to be judgmental and this only supports and magnifies the negative effects of unforgiveness. Try entertaining the perspective that life is a learning process and everyone makes mistakes, including you. This will encourage you to easily forgive others of their mistakes, and yourself too.
• Be merciful always-It serves no practical or positive purpose to remain upset or angry with someone for any extended period of time. It only hurts everyone involved in the situation over the long run. Being merciful will efficiently facilitate forgiveness, and bring the vicious cycle of toxic thoughts and emotions to an end.

“Lack of forgiveness causes almost all of our self-sabotaging behavior.”  Mark Victor Hansen

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Principled Philosophy

Free Enterprise

The free enterprise system is alive and well in American, in fact it boasts of almost 200,000 millionaires, and this number is growing each year. These champions of the free enterprise exemplify the massive amount of opportunity and wealth creation available to those who will only reach for it. Now that doesn’t mean you have to be an entrepreneur to create wealth there are other paths too.  In fact, some have preferred to seek their fortune in the ranks of the corporate structure. Whether pursuing wealth inside the corporate culture or working as a free agent successful people share a common attitude; to flourish and grow. Whether they are self-employed or working for a large corporation doing their best at all times is crucial to their sense of fulfillment. The combination of self-determination and self-responsibility creates the motivation to do their best each and everyday regardless whose signature is on their paycheck. This creates the habit of excellence which produces progressive levels of financial wealth.

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• See yourself as self-employed-Whether you work for someone else or are an employee of a corporation it is vital to think, and to perform as if you were self-employed. Ask yourself this question; if you were the owner of the company would you approve of your current level of performance? If not adjust your actions, and attitude accordingly.
• Learn something new everyday-Successful entrepreneurs know the importance of expanding their knowledge base through learning, not just sometimes, but everyday. To avoid stagnation and to consistently improve your performance, set a daily goal to learn something substantial today, after a few years you will be an expert in your field.
• Stretch your performance limits-The best way to ensure performance excellence is to continually improve by stretching your performance boundaries. Stepping outside of your comfort zone and reaching for higher levels of performance will create exponential growth. Financial wealth tends to follow those who continually stretch and grow.

“That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise.” Abraham Lincoln

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Principled Philosophy

Relationship Goals

One of the most common areas of neglect in forming and achieving satisfying social relationships is goal setting. It is very easy to just “play it by ear” so to speak instead of approaching relationships with the same resources as other achievements. Setting relationship goals is just as important for achievement as setting goals in other venues of life. Many would never entertain the thought of undertaking a financial plan without first contemplating specific goals to guide their actions and decisions. But that is exactly how they approach the pursuit of social or romantic relationships. For some reason there seems to be a mental block which prevents them from considering the importance of goals in this aspect of their life. Sadly, in the end, disappointment and frustration are the dominant outcome. Setting goals will allow you to bring out the best in your personality and unleash your full relationship potential. They will encourage you to be creative, authentic, unique, and self-directing. Goals will allow you move toward accomplishing what you truly want in a relationship. If you have just been “going with the flow” try mapping out a few relationship goals instead, because you might be pleasantly surprised by the results you are able to achieve.

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• Set Positive Goals-Positive goals means moving towards the kind of relationships which you truly want, not what you are trying to avoid. Forming goals which motivate you to embrace what will make you happy are far more powerful and satisfying when achieved.
• Take Responsibility-Once you have set the goals you want to move towards, assume full self-responsibility for accomplishing them. Don’t make excuses, blame circumstances, or others, but allow your full potential to be expressed by being self-directed.
• Express Yourself- Instead of working from a “deficiency” mindset work from an “abundance” mindset. Doing so will unleash the expression of your inner qualities, and let others see how special you are. An abundance mindset will manifest creative, unique and authentic actions.

“Nothing happens unless first a dream.”  Carl Sandburg

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Principled Philosophy

Destiny’s Child

It is amazing how many people buy into the premise they were meant to be physically “overweight” or in “poor health” They often verbalize their current state as one that is unchangeable or unalterable because it is simply their destiny. It is as if they truly believe they are helpless, and without resources to change. If they would only take a look at how others have successfully reduced weight and improved their physical condition they would know destiny has nothing to do with it. One consistent element reported by those who were able to make dramatic changes in their physical condition is they were feed up with the pain it caused them. In response they decide to take powerful action to regain their physical wealth though positive and effective action. Isn’t it true, we only change those things which cause us pain? Doing so requires moving in a different direction by taking positive action to produce an outcome which will be pleasurable. It is simply a matter of ending the pain and discomfort, and embracing a new beginning. This of course must be accomplished through self-determination and in complete defiance of any notion of being destiny’s child.

Capitalizing Potential

• Make a decision-It is time to bring the pain to an end and this can only be accomplished by making the decision to take control. You must decide courageously to move away from pain and the rationalizations which allow it to exist in your life.
• Focus on outcome-Making a decision is only the first half of the formula; next you must have an end game. What will success look like when you have moved away from pain to embrace what will bring you pleasure? This is your end game and your new focus!
• Access resources- There are a host of resources which can support your efforts to eliminate those things which are causing you pain, and help you to move toward your desired outcome. Access these resources and let them help you to achieve success.

“Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice. Not something to wish for, but to attain.”   William Jennings Bryan

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Principled Philosophy

A Common Mistake

It is a common mistake to think aptitude is the determining factor for achieving wealth and success. This notion is as common as the belief education will ensure success as well, but unfortunately neither is true. If education was the deciding factor a large percentage of highly educated people would be wealthy, they are not. Even those with the very highest IQ’s show no discernable pattern for reaching wealth status. In fact, the quality most consistently found in all of those who’ve attained wealth is a distinct attitude. The attitude they share is the dominant belief they would ultimately succeed and win. This attitude of “playing to win” unleashes the power, determination, and persistence necessary to grow, overcome, and achieve. When others would have already quit trying, those with this dynamic attitude are just getting started. Their attitude motivates them to perfect their craft, endure high levels of pain, and make the sacrifices necessary. It is the play to win attitude which propels them explosively from the starting line, and creates the determination to carry them boldly across the finish line.

Capitalizing Potential

• Check your attitude-When is the last time your seriously considered your attitude? It may not be as constructive as you think toward achieving the level of success you desire. Does your current attitude reflect a playing to win attitude? If not, discover why. Today is the best time to seriously check your attitude about personal success.
• Change your attitude-If you discover your attitude is not what it should be you can change it. This will not happen overnight, but over time it will change. Start by paying attention to your thoughts. Is your self-talk confident, encouraging, optimistic? If not, it is time to replace your self-talk with words which will promote a playing to win attitude.
• Express your attitude-Once you have adopted the right attitude, also change what you say to others. Begin by expressing yourself in terms of success. “I will succeed, I will reach my goals.” Remember, what you think, speak and hear are important for maintaining a dynamic attitude. Be sure your words support a “playing to win” attitude at all times.

“It is not your aptitude, but your attitude, that determines your altitude.” Zig Ziglar

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Principled Philosophy

Vision without Limits

Inside of man is the potential to exercise a dynamic vision without limits, and see worlds which have yet to come into existence. The vision may be in part, or complete, but it represents a world presently unknown. Think about it for a second, who would have thought the world we live in today would have ever been possible. With all of the advances in medicine, technology, and energy the world in which we live today was once truly a world undiscovered. Keep in mind though others saw the emergence of this new world before it came into existence, in their mind’s eye. They not only could see the new world and its attributes, but they actively labored to make it a reality. Sure, what they saw may have been vague at first however it became clearer over time as their ability to visualize it improved. Through exercising their vision they were able to penetrate emotional, spiritual, and mental blocks which only served to delay manifestation. Once breakthrough was achieved they were able to invent new processes, approaches, and technologies which would forever alter reality as they knew it.

Capitalizing Potential

• Creative Space-You have a logical space, and a creative space. The logical space is what is known to you, but the creative space is one of potentiality. Vision without limits demands you access your creative space courageously and consistently.
• Dream Big-Your creative space is private, so you can dream big without repercussion. To see with the eyes of the past will not work here, only eyes which look toward the future. Vision without limits necessitates you dream bigger then you ever have before.
• Be the Catalyst-To contemplate vision without limits without taking steps to bring in into reality is merely self-indulgent and vain. You must dare to be the catalyst which sets into motion both the transformation, and manifestation of your vision bringing it into the present.

“The most powerful telescope known to man is mind’s eye.” Frank C. Haddock

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Principled Philosophy

Spirit of Success

When all the research has been completed, focus groups have given their two cents worth, and all the data is in, what will really be the determining factor for success? This question has plagued many. A few decades ago a product came on to the market and was an overnight success. It sold over 2 million units to a mixed demographic of men, women, and children. No research was performed, no focus groups were consulted, yet this common and mediocre product skyrocketed to success. The product was the “pet rock!” So how were the creators of this seemingly senseless product able to reach such a high level of success? Their secret of course was creating a great deal of enthusiasm for their product. The excitement they were able to create and encourage produced a wave of contagious excitement which paved the way for unsurpassed profits, and success. As a result the pet rock would become infamous world over. Since that time many have been able to unlock the secrets of creating enthusiasm, and produce magnificent results as well.

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• It begins with you-If you expect to infect others with enthusiasm you must be the initial catalyst. Enthusiasm or excitement is powerful energy and is contagious, so your attitude and level of enthusiasm must be the impetus which gets the ball rolling.
• Create association- When someone thinks of your product they should subconsciously experience the energy of enthusiasm. This is accomplished by creating association. There must be a direct link between your product or service and energetic enthusiasm.
• Promote the experience-Don’t promote your product in isolation, but use associations to create and promote experience instead. If you expect consumers to choose your product over another similar product, it will be the anticipated experience which seals the deal.

“A mediocre idea that generates enthusiasm will go further than a great idea that inspires no one.”   Mary Kay Ash

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Principled Philosophy

One-dimensional Thinking

A lot of advice and talk has taken place for manifesting an abundance future which focuses solely on the individual which can lead to one-dimensional thinking. Also, it makes it very easy for many to become self-centered, and minimize the importance of others. No where else will this mistake become more apparent then in the social realm. We have all met the individuals who believe the universe revolves around them! To avoid indulging in this kind of thinking the development of true consideration will be necessary. This involves a shift from me-centeredness to other-centeredness. Practicing consideration entails making people important in your mind, as well as your heart. It means being sincerely thoughtful of them, not just going through the motions. People will be able to pick up on the fact if you are being insincere, or phony, and this is a tough realization to bounce back from. Don’t fret over it this if you have done it, a remedy is possible. Thoughtfulness is merely helping to promote the wellbeing and happiness of others. There are as many ways of doing this as there’s stars in the sky. But if you are not used to being thoughtful consider the following:

Capitalizing Potential

• Enter their world-One effective method for breaking out of a self-centered mode is to enter the world of others. Discover who they are, what makes them tick, and what their aspirations are. This will give you a whole new perspective on them.
• Support their dreams-Each of us has our own dreams, some small and some big, but they’re our dreams. Help others to realize they can accomplish their dreams, encourage them, and assist them in developing more confidence to try.
• Rise to the occasion-When others are in the limelight rise to the occasion and sincerely celebrate their victory. Refrain from thinking about them as taking attention away from you. You want them to rise to the occasion when you’re in the limelight don’t you?

“Consideration is the soul in which wisdom may be expected to grow.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

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