Notes from "Rich Like Them"

The following are the notes I captured from reading Ryan D'Agostino's "Rich Like Them" book. They are essentially the Chapter titles and main points of each chapter.

1-Open Your Eyes
Don’t Forget Your Goal-Even When You’re On Vacation
Where Others See Death, Imagine Life
When You Hear Someone Say “If Only I Could…” You’re Hearing an Opportunity
Connect the People You Meet (be the hub of the wheel)
Save Some Money for a Rainy Day
Once You Connect the Dots, Follow Through

2-Luck Doesn’t Exist
Choose Your Purpose, and Don’t Let Anyone Tell You You’re Wrong
Remember: With Time Comes Free Money (compounding)
Watch Your Pennies, No Matter How Many You Have
Keep Your Cool-It’s a Big Part of Persevering
Don’t Deviate from Your Planned Path to Get a Quick Gain
Perseverance Doesn’t Take Forever
Once You Find Your Calling, Persevering is Easy
Remember That You Can’t Do a Business Transaction with Yourself
Prepare to Get Lucky

3-The Economics of Obsession
Find a Driver Other Than Money-It’s Usually More Lucrative Than Money Alone
Do One Thing and Do It Well
Obsess Over Whatever Job You Have
Take Your Mind Off the Money-You’ll earn More
Don’t Plan a Career-Plan a Life
Obsession Makes You Work Harder
If You Look Forward to Going to Work, That’s a Good Sign
Discover Love Through Immersion (work for the love of it)
Turn Fear into Passion (pursue the idea)

4-The Myth of Risk
Never Stop Being a Student
Calculate Every Risk-Even the One You Live In
Look for Your Window to Go Solo
You Want Autonomy? Let It Motivate You
Be Cocky When It Counts
Don’t Worry About What Other People Think
Reduce Risk by Believing in Yourself
When You Fail Miserably, Rejoice
If You Hate Your Career, Um, Change It
Sometimes the Biggest Risk Is Doing Nothing

5-Humility
Never Let Pride Get in the Way of Profit
Be Humble Even If You’re As Rich As Brooke Astor
Don’t Be a Slave to Plan A-It’ll Prevent You from Seeing Plan B
Don’t Be Afraid to Make Less Than Your Spouse
Never Feel As If You’re Too Successful to Sweat
Remember That You Are Not, Nor Will You Ever Be, a God or Goddess

This was originally my idea, to go knock on doors of the apparently wealthy and ask them how they got that way, but Ryan beat me to it :-)

Self-Assessment

by Steve Pavlina

One of the best ways to bring more truth into your life is to conduct a quick self-assessment. Assign a numerical rating to each area of your life using a simple 1–10 scale. A 1 means this part of your life is terrible and could hardly get worse; a 10 means this area is absolutely perfect and you can scarcely imagine it getting better. Please take a minute to do this now. Here are the areas to rate:

Area of Your Life and Your Rating (1–10)
Habits & daily routine ___________
Career & work ___________
Money & finances ___________
Health & fitness ___________
Mental development & education ___________
Social life & relationships ___________
Home & family ___________
Emotions ___________
Character & integrity ___________
Life purpose & contribution ___________
Spiritual development ___________

Your answers should provide a nice snapshot of how you’re doing. Usually you’ll find that some areas lag behind the others, sometimes far behind. Interestingly, it’s in our weakest spots that we most often succumb to falsehood and denial, since those are the most difficult areas to face. But those areas can’t improve until you face and accept the truth.

Fulfillment in Your Work

by Fred Smith

My friends and associates who experience fulfillment in their work have several common denominators.

1. They have realistic expectations. They do not waste time fantasizing about some perfect situation, oozing with excitement, pleasure, high visibility, a six-figure salary, and no problems. They expect some pain, some drudgery, and even disappointments. They develop routines for the doldrums, preventing procrastination and bottlenecks.

2. They work in their strength. They have identified their talents and their gifts. They work easily because they focus on their giftedness. What we do best we do easiest. Likewise, they avoid their weaknesses. Productive people seldom waste time working in the areas of their weakness – it frustrates them.

3. They are challenged by their work. They look for something new to do, to learn, to experience. They don’t drive down dead-end streets. Their own creative interests open up opportunities that less engaged people miss. They see the potential, not the limitations.

4. They know they are making a difference. They do their work well, faithful to their employers and/or employees, are loyal, cooperative, and accommodating to change.

5. They are satisfied with their share of the money. Through the years in manufacturing plant operations, I have found it is more the distribution of the money than the amount that causes dissension. Money is important, but it is not the most important thing. Adequate money helps one concentrate on the work.

Fulfillment is personal. I am not trying to lay down a formula, but making observations. Fulfillment is doing what you can do well…doing something you feel is worthwhile…something with a continuing challenge and adequate financial remuneration, working on a team you respect, working in an environment where you are respected and encouraged, working with a product or service with integrity, and having peers who help you mutually create and enjoy a productive work environment.

This week carefully consider: 1) How do I define fulfillment in my work? 2) Who in my life truly represents fulfillment? 3) What did I do today to make a difference?

To read more writings of Fred Smith go to www.breakfastwithfred.com

Notes from Lesson 9 of Og Mandino's University of Success

Main thoughts from reading lesson 9:

• Make the most of your abilities

• Ask "What talents or abilities do I have?"

• Discipline your abilities for maximum use

• Set a sense of purpose for yourself

• Put your talents to work

• Use your imagination

• Have enthusiasm for your work

• Persevere in the use of talents

Remember the 3 bones: the wishbone for dreaming, the jawbone for asking, and the backbone for working

Thoughts from Chapter 3 of How to Win Friends and Influence People

Talk about what others want and show them how to get it

Ask the question “how can I help this person want _________”

Secret of success is to have empathy for others in addition to your own point of view

Arouse in the other person an eager want

Humility Leads to Wisdom

This week during my Bible reading I finished the book of Mark and started the book of Luke. Some thoughts from my week of reading Scripture included the following:

• In Mark 14 Jesus valued the woman who perfumed him and stated that the poor will always be with us. This passage reminds me of the contrast of valuing Jesus and betraying him like Judas did.

• Numbers 12 states that Moses was the most humble man on Earth. Now that’s a compliment! God spoke to him face to face. Now that’s a privilege!

• Why do we pray before eating a meal? See Mark 14:22

• Pride leads to disgrace; humility leads to wisdom (Proverbs 11:2)

• The fool says there is no God (Psalm 53:1)

• In Numbers 15 a man is taken out and stoned because he gathered wood on the Sabbath. Now that’s swift and severe punishment!

• Jesus was declared risen from the grave by a “man” dressed in white at the tomb (Mark 16) That's what our upcoming Easter weekend is all about.

• Luke 1 states that Luke investigated and wrote an orderly account. My kind of man...

That’s it for this week, thanks for reading.

Lesson 6 of Og Mandino's University of Success

My notes from studying lesson 6 include the ideas that growth must be chosen and fear must be overcome. Some questions to answer include:

• What is your purpose?
• What are your talents?
• Is it wrong to be wealthy?
• What tools do you possess?
• What challenges need to be confronted?
• Who is in charge of your life?
• What are you avoiding by diversions?
• What will you become?

Remember that you must let the world know you are here, eager to do business, and offer value.

“I would rather try and fail, than to do nothing and succeed.”

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They Love Jesus; They Don't Like the Church

by Michael Craven

This appears to be a growing sentiment among many younger Christians in America today.
They love Jesus but they want little to do with His Church. Read the full article
HERE

God’s Word, People, and Learning

Some key thoughts from my Scripture reading this week:

• Give to the needy without fanfare (Matthew 6)
• Pray in private, acknowledge God’s holiness, seek His will, ask for daily provision, seek forgiveness, and ask for protection
• Answer the question “Am I serving God or money?”
• Are you searching diligently for wisdom, understanding, and insight? (Proverbs 2)
• Ask, Seek, Knock
• Do unto others as you would have them do unto you (Matthew 7)
• God’s commands, when obeyed, will prolong life and bring prosperity (Proverbs 3)
• Love and faithfulness will win favor and a good name
• A father’s blessing is important (Genesis 27)
• It is not the healthy that need a doctor, it is the sick; Jesus did not come for the righteous, but for the sinners (Matthew 9)
• Honor the Lord with the first fruits of your earnings (Proverbs 3)

I had the privilege of meeting with two different guys this week for some one on one time. One meeting was in a coffee shop to discuss our individual lives relative to the house churches we are a part of. The other was for an hour of racquetball (where I was beaten 2 out of 3 of the games) and some important personal discussion time.

On the exercise front, I was able to get to the gym four days out of the five that had been planned for the week. My routine is usually a 30-minute walking/jogging program on the treadmill.

This week our family began watching the video series “Strategies for Success: Blueprint for Achievement” by Zig Ziglar. The first lesson we watched taught about the steps to a healthy self-image and how to accomplish more during any given day.

Consider the following this week: How’s you relationship with God? Are you spending time with people who are important to you? What have you learned and applied recently?