Want to expand your experience of prosperity? It’s going to take something new. New thoughts, inspiring new feelings, coupled with new actions. We’ll use the W.I.N. process:
W – wonder (not prejudge)
I – inquire (ask great questions)
N – nurture appropriate risk-taking
Some people may not be focused on “winning.” And that’s okay. However, the good thing about a positive approach to wealth-creation is that no one needs to lose! In my book, Nothing Can Stop You This Year, I write about “make it a game you can win.” What I mean is that sometimes we get stuck in a pattern in which there is no way to succeed. Then something must change: your situation or your attitude.
1. Wonder (not prejudge)
Some individuals who are truly struggling financially have emotionally shut down and have locked their thinking patterns. I hear their prejudices in their habitual ways of talking. Some spend their time complaining. Complaining does not welcome prosperity.
Instead, let’s pause and look at “wealth psychology.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines wealth as “abundance of valuable material possessions or resources . . . abundant supply.” Wealth is more than the cash in your pocket. Your resources may be your creativity and the kindness and support of advisors, friends and family.
Further, the dictionary defines psychology as:
a) the science of mind and behavior
b) the mental or behavioral characteristics of an individual or group
c) the study of mind and behavior in relation to a particular field of knowledge or activity
Each of the above elements is useful for us here.
a) Creating wealth is a science (observe how others do it; observe what actions create positive or negative results). You need to conduct your own “experiments” (bringing a product or service to the marketplace, trying different promotional actions).
b) Many positive people who create wealth share certain characteristics: creativity, persistence, courage, and emotional strength to withstand appropriate risk-taking
c) You need to study the mental patterns and behaviors of people who succeed.
An important detail is that we often need to let go of prejudices. One misguided belief may be that it is impossible to have both a happy family life and a fortune. Impossible?! In the history of the world, no one has taken good care of family and built a successful business?
One can nurture one’s family by making appointments with family members as vital as business appointments. Some people set special times like: solo breakfast with one’s son every Saturday morning. Kids appreciate a set plan and consistent time.
The solution for overcoming dis-empowering beliefs is:
Stop prejudging–and start wondering how you can make something new and something better. Here are examples:
* I wonder how I can respond to this situation and bring value to me and everyone involved.
* I wonder how I can play this for the “long-game.”
By “long-game” I mean that you look at your career as a whole. For example, I know someone,“George,” who is a good writer. However, he does not invest time or money in his writing career. George does not hire editors; he does not finish writing a book. He keeps saying, “It nearly impossible to sell a book on a big level.” So what does he do? Nothing. He stays stuck. What if he had a “long-game view”? Then, he’d get busy today, improving his skills, and he would complete some projects.
As an Executive Coach, I help my client see any dis-empowering mindset or repeated story. I ask, “What’s the title of that story you’re telling me?” If appropriate, I ask other questions:
* Do you want that story to be true?
* Is that story true for you now?
* What story would you like to replace that old, untrue story?
* How would you feel with you life now in a new chapter–a new story?
Look into the mindsets that empower you (see a free chapter of 10 Seconds to Wealth when you CLICK HERE).
Also, start wondering how you can take action today toward building your staircase of success.
2. Inquire (ask great questions)
Our brain is an instant question-answering device. The problem is that many individuals ask disempowering questions like: “Why does this always happen to me?” A better question is: “How can I make this better?”
Here are other useful questions that can set you on a wealth-creating and more fulfilling path:
* How can I serve a lot of people?
* How can I do something that’s easy for me and that a lot of people value greatly?
* What’s next for me to learn so I can serve a lot of people?
3. Nurture appropriate risk-taking
Every book that I’ve written (27 books — free chapters when you CLICK HERE), has been a risk. Would the topic appeal to a wide readership? Would the money I invest in excellent editors prove to be a wise investment? Will the book do better than breakeven?
The first book I wrote back in 1989 did not even breakeven. I knew nothing of book promotion back then. However, I’ve now written so much that my books total more than 1 million words. I share that detail to illustrate that I have had a massive amount of help with great editors guiding me to be a better writer. My first book was an investment in my journey as a book author.
This is echoed in other writers’ experiences. Bestselling author, Richard Carlson, told me that his bestselling book Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff was the 10th book that he wrote. He took an appropriate risk with each of his books. But all along, he was expressing his best destiny as a writer.
Here are questions that can help you evaluate if something may be an appropriate risk:
- Will this help me express my gifts and improve my skills?
- Will I be getting expert advisors (and coaches) to help me take my “game” to a higher level?
- Can I do this project and avoid “betting the farm”?
As an Executive Coach, I help my client “build a staircase of higher and better success.” For example, a new professional speaker can start with an audiobook and give speeches–and develop a book with many of the same actions simultaneously. Still, it’s a staircase (audiobook, more speeches, then book). Even better, my clients often “blog their book.” One of my clients started from zero and then built a blog with visitors from 141 countries. Blog articles formed much of this client’s material for a first book.
Wealth Psychology includes using an empowering mindset so that you continuously move forward.
Remember:
W – wonder (not prejudge)
I – inquire (ask great questions)
N – nurture appropriate risk-taking
Warmly,
Tom
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