book.chapter Life's returns match written aims

Becoming wealthy starts with believing it is possible. Financial success is not limited to a lucky few; the main barriers are in our own minds. We each hold the key to removing those mental blocks. Achieving success requires no more inherent difficulty than failing; it is simply a matter of adopting the right mental approach, which our subconscious has no reason to resist. What excuses do people give for accepting failure? Some argue that everything was easier long ago, but over 15,000 Americans become millionaires each year. It has never been more attainable. Results depend more on mindset and character than external situations. Others protest they are too young and inexperienced. Such deficits can be offset by boldness, instinct and originality. Many have earned fortunes before age 30. It's never too late either. Why put your future behind you? Lack of capital is no excuse; thousands of stories prove ideas and attitude matter most initially. Education level is not a barrier. Thousands with little schooling have prospered. Nor is talent a prerequisite. Financial aptitude can be learned. No one inherently deserves poverty. Doubting one's energy is understandable but enthusiasm has a way of igniting when an idea gains momentum. Fear of failure is natural but avoiding risks means missing opportunities. With the right attitude, setbacks can be educational. The best way to eliminate excuses is to write them down and assess their validity. Situations rarely improve on their own. Most expect their circumstances to work out as if by magic, rather than bending reality to their dreams. But wealth requires an intense, enduring desire to succeed. Achievement corresponds directly to the strength and constancy of ambition. All great successes possessed an obsessive determination and fixation on their goals. For them, success became an all-consuming obsession that tolerated no delays or obstacles. Obsession yields tangible outcomes and spurs action. Many abandon bold dreams in the name of practicality, inhibited by social conditioning and education systems that assume people cannot have what they truly want. But every great innovation and success originated from a dream or desire. If you do not believe in your own dreams, you cannot convince anyone else. Without belief, you cannot motivate others toward your vision. Success requires total commitment. The successful banish self-doubt and have tremendous faith in themselves and their plans. The power of belief leads to achievement. Wealth is a state of mind. Money flows from specific mental orientations. It materializes from thoughts focused toward a clear objective. Financial success begins within before manifesting externally. The wealthy have effectively harnessed their subconscious minds. The key is learning to properly utilize that inner capacity. A positive mental attitude matters. Business intuition and other talents arise from constructive subconscious programming. The subconscious follows any patterns it is fed, heedless of their benefit. Most pick up negative programming from life experiences without realizing it. The key is taking charge of your subconscious and using that influence intentionally. Some maintain that large sums of money are morally contaminated or their background precludes prosperity. But wealth through honest effort simply reflects services valued by many. Financial success indicates providing an efficient, affordable solution to widespread needs. When asked what he would do if he lost his fortune, Henry Ford replied he would identify another basic human need to meet through an improved service. He was confident he could rebuild his wealth within five years. Finding fundamental needs and addressing them better remains a proven formula. Rather than money itself being bad, countries with the most wealth lead the way scientifically and culturally. The only danger is becoming slave to money rather than utilizing it as a tool. There are no good reasons not to pursue prosperity. The key is to set a specific financial target and timeline. Those who fail usually lack concrete goals. When objectives and plans are clearly defined, they are invariably achieved, often faster than anticipated. A clear target reliably programs the subconscious by providing a tangible mental representation of success. Write your one-year income goal and study the number. Your self-perceived worth mirrors what you have written. Limits are self-imposed, so building wealth requires improving self-image. The wealthy cultivated millionaire self-concepts long before they earned fortunes. Begin seeing yourself at higher levels and use stepping stones if needed, continually reaching higher. Focus intensifies when objectives are clear and specific. People are surprised at how reality follows when they program their minds for concrete outcomes. You are capable of far more than you know. External voices have falsely convinced many otherwise. Self-image and defined goals are essential ingredients for manifestation. Achieving greater success requires no more effort than lesser goals. Make your aims a magnificent obsession. Record them prominently and channel all mental and physical energy toward them. Thoughts materialize matching results. Consistent reminders focus your entire being on what you intend to attain. Clearly defined objectives serve as a magnifying lens directing energy toward outcomes. Come to terms with the hard truth that money problems will not spontaneously resolve without action. Goals must be supplemented with plans detailing how each milestone will be reached. Be rigidly devoted to your aims while remaining flexible on tactics. Abandoning at the first struggle is common. Rigid commitment is required, but plans may need occasional adjustment. Pursue just a couple immediate priorities to avoid dilution. As the architect of your existence, you choose the life to build through the goals that will occupy your mind and time. This applies equally to all aspects of life. Successful people share certain strengths like discipline and strong character that others lack. Taking control to become self-directed requires cultivated self-control. Discipline need not mean deprivation; leisure and relaxation remain important. But consciously choosing the habits and influencers you submit to matters greatly. Examine patterns governing your life and deliberately reshape them. Success is a habit. The Greek philosopher Heraclitus taught that character determines destiny. Recording ideas is an initial step toward acting on them. Vagueness goes unchallenged in conversation but writing demands specificity, preventing self-deception. We obtain what we earnestly pursue, according to Napoleon. The philosopher Balzac warned against suppressing bold dreams because ignoring intense ambitions turns one to the living dead. Most great successes, contrary to assumptions, occur later in life, often only emerging in the 30s, as Max Gunther observed. Ray Kroc advocated thinking big to become big.