Everything I've Learned About Personal Finance in 10 Sentences

This post originally appeared on The Simple Dollar.

It's not really that complicated.

1. Spend less than you earn.

2. If you're facing a pile of debts, make minimum payments on all of the debts but the one with the highest interest rate, then make the biggest payment you can each month on that high one.1

3. Never expect that your "future self" or anyone else will bail you out of your dumb mistakes today and remember that only you can make better choices for yourself.

4. The quickest way to financial recovery is to get a grip on your spending impulses.

5. Life is going to hand you emergencies, so keep at least $1,000 in your savings account for those emergencies.2

6. Be completely open with your spouse about every single dime that comes in and every single dime that you spend.3

7. Buy items that will last for a very long time at the best possible price and you'll rarely be unhappy with them.

8. If your employer offers matching on your 401(k), take as much of it as you can get.4

9. When you're deciding how to invest, remember that past performance does not indicate future returns and focus instead on the fees and expenses.

10. If you have dependents who rely on you, you ought to have life insurance, but ignore any salesperson who tries to sell you anything other than a term policy.

A final "bonus" life and career tip: treat every single person in your life as you would like to be treated, regardless of whether you're in the workplace or in everyday life.

If you can handle all of these things, you're going to be just fine.

(Almost) Everything Useful I've Learned About Personal Finance in 10 Sentences | The Simple Dollar

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Quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

admin November 1, 2012

15 Ways to Fund Your Holidays without Wrecking Your Budget

Christmas is right around the corner and I’m sure more than a few people wouldn’t mind a few extra dollars in their pockets. If you’re like me than you would love to give your family and friends gifts they’re going to enjoy for Christmas. If you’re tight on funds though this extra expense can be a burden, so what I like to do is make a little extra money during the holiday months that I use specifically to fund my holiday festivities.
One great piece of news is a lot of us already have skills that could translate into extra income that we haven’t explored yet. Also with the rise in popularity of the internet just having a computer with internet access gives you a vast amount of extra money making opportunities.
Now let’s go onto the 15 Ways you can pay for your holidays.

1. Earn Free Gift Cards through Swagbucks

Swagbucks is an awesome little site I discovered a while back that allows you to earn free gift cards for doing things online. The gift cards are from major retailers like Wal-Mart, Target, and Amazon. I personally like the option to get Amazon gift cards as I make the majority of my online purchases on Amazon.

The way it works is Swagbucks rewards you with Swag Bucks for doing online tasks such as taking surveys, shopping online, watching videos, playing games, searching the web, etc.. The Swag Bucks can then be redeemed for gift cards or other rewards. If you’re online a lot (like myself) than it’s pretty easy to start earning rewards.   I have a few friends that have payed for their Christmas presents entirely with Swagbucks gift cards.  Swagbucks.com

2. Taking Surveys

If you have the time there are many online companies that give you cash in exchange for taking surveys. Now these surveys vary on length, topic, and payout and you will be pre-screened to make sure you qualify to take the surveys.  Surveys payout from $0.25 to $25 depending on the length.
Survey Sites:
Swagbucks.com    Also one of my favorite sites for surveys
OpinionOutpost.com  I like them because I get paid fast and surveys are easy
OnlyCashSurveys.com  They have a lot of short surveys that pay $2

3. Find Freelance Jobs on DoNanza

DoNanza is like the Google of freelance jobs.  It aggregates all the different sites you can find freelance jobs into one easy to search site allowing you to spend more time earning and less time searching for your next job.  Searching and posting your service is free.  I have already found a couple jobs on there.  Verify your email after registering to get full access. DoNanza.com

4. Sell Old Electronics on Gazelle

Gazelle allows you to turn your old cell phones, ipods, ipads or other electronics into cash.   Its pretty easy, you find your gadget, answer a few questions, ship it in (free if its over $1), get paid via check or PayPal.  I looked up my old iPhone 3Gs and found out that I can get $37.   Use this link and get an extra $10 any trade ins worth over $25.  Gazelle

5. Sell Your Stuff on Craigslist

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Go through your home with a box and place items such as electronics, clothes, appliances, DVD’s, CD’s, and anything else you aren’t using and sell them on Craigslist.
You’re probably not going to get much money for your old belongings, but if you weren’t using them anyways they are just cluttering your home.
Every few months I go through my stuff and get rid of non-seasonal things I haven’t used in the past 6 months away. I’ve found that if I haven’t used the item in 6 months, I most likely will never use it again.

6. Sell Your Stuff on eBay

Even though I previously talked about selling your stuff on Craigslist, I’ve written this portion on selling your stuff on eBay because I’ve found that you can get more money selling items on eBay. It just takes a bit more patience.
People on Craigslist are mostly looking for really cheap deals. People on eBay are also looking for cheap deals, but you get a lot of normal consumers who use eBay like any other store. If you have some higher ticket items like laptops, computers, or cameras I actually suggest you sell them on eBay because you can make a little more money. If you want to sell items fast and willing to take a less money than Craigslist is a better option.

7. Sell Your Service on Fiverr

Fiverr is quickly becoming one of my favorite sites. The way it works is you can sell or purchase services for the lowly fee of $5. These services range from having a website banner designed to having someone act as your fake Facebook girlfriend for a week (YES you read that right!).
So if you have a skill like graphic design or can think of a creative service people will buy for $5 than Fiverr might be a great place for you to make money.

8. Become an Affiliate Marketer

As an affiliate marketer you can earn commissions by advertising for companies online. These companies will pay you a percentage of the sales you make or will pay a flat rate for a lead which is usually information such as a name and an email.
A great way to start with affiliate marketing is to create a blog or website on a subject that you are already interested in. By creating the website about something you enjoy it will make creating the content for your site much more enjoyable. Once you have your website up you should find offers that are relevant to your user base. For example if you create a website on Soccer, than you should promote offers such as selling soccer equipment or soccer posters.
Blogging platforms such as WordPress and Tumblr make it easy to quickly set up a nice looking website without any previous tech experience.

9. Have a Garage Sale

I’m a big proponent of selling things online on eBay and Craigslist, but if you have a lot of stuff than it might be a good idea to have a garage sale. This will allow you to sell those things that aren’t worth the effort to sell online for whatever reason such as being unshippable or low priced items.

10. Sell Stock Photos

For all you amateur photographers out there a great way to make some extra money is to sell your stock photos. A couple of stock photo websites you can sell to are iStockPhoto and 123RF. iStockPhoto has a review process that includes a quiz and requires you to show samples of your photography before they approve you as a partner. Once you are approved you will be given 15% of the sales they make on your photos.
If you are into photography I think this is a pretty awesome way to make extra money since you are already going to be taking pictures and doesn’t require any extra work.

11. Article Writing

If you are English speaking and have any type of writing skills there are thousands of people who are looking for someone to write content on sites such as Elance.com, Odesk.com, and GetaFreelancer.com. Depending on the quality of your work you can get paid anywhere from $7 per 500 word article to up to $50 per 500 word article.
Simply sign up to one of the sites mentioned and you will be allowed to view projects people have posted up that need to be done. You can bid how much you would do the project for and if your bid is accepted you will get that job.
Most contractors on these sites will ask for things such as samples of your work, so make sure to have them readily available.

12. Sell Your Used Books

Throughout the years you have probably amassed a nice collection of books. Even if you aren’t a reader you still have those old textbooks from college lying around along with those books you’ve received as gifts for Christmas, Graduations, Birthdays, and other special events. If you are an avid reader than you’ll have books that you just don’t read anymore or have lost interest in.
Here are some sites you can sell those books at:
www.cash4books.net
www.Amazon.com
www.half.com

13. Rent Your Home Out on AirBnB

If you are going to be gone from your home for any amount of time than put it for rent on AirBnB.com. Many people use AirBnB as a substitute for hotels and you can set the dates and price you are willing to rent your home out for.
If you are worried about strangers messing up your home you’ll be glad to know that AirBnB insures your home for up to $1,000,000 for anyone using your home through their site.
This is especially a great money making option if you are away from home often.

14. Help Somebody Learn on BrainMass

This snippet from the BrainMass website explains how you can make money with them:
You’re already an expert in your field. Why not turn that expertise into cash? BrainMass allows you to publish your existing knowledge in eBooks, turn your teaching experience into video form and put those tutoring skills to great use. We’ll help you to monetize the knowledge you already possess by marketing your work to our base of student customers who need help!
Brainmass requires that you have or are working a graduate level degree (Masters or PhD) from an accredited university to sign up as an expert in your site.
Once you are signed on as an expert you can make money answering questions from students and publishing content.

15. Sticking To Your Regular Gym Schedule with Gympact

How would you like to become healthier AND make some extra spending money on the side? The folks at Gympact have you covered. Gympact is a mobile app that charges its users $5 every time they miss a gym workout, then that money is divided up between those Gympact users who did stick to their gym commitments.
You are obviously not going to become rich using this app, but it’s a fun little way to make sure you keep those holiday pounds off and make a few extra dollars.
Get the Gympact app for your mobile device over here: Gympact

 16.  What else?

If you have more ideas please leave them in the comments section below.  Thanks!

Related posts:

1. 11 Ways to Fund Your Holidays without Wrecking Your Budget

Using the Law of Success to gain Emotional Control

Using the Law of Success to gain Emotional Control

"Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy."
Dale Carnegie

Much of what we do is directed by our emotions. Our feelings can lift us up to great achievements or throw us down to failure, we owe it to ourselves to have a understanding of how our emotions work and how to control them. The first step of controlling our emotions is to identify the feelings that motivate us and the negative emotions that break us.

The Seven Negative Emotions
1. Fear
2. Hatred
3. Anger
4. Greed
5. Jealousy
6. Revenge
7. Superstition

The Seven Positive Emotions
1. Love
2. Sex
3. Hope
4. Faith
5. Sympathy
6. Optimism
7. Loyalty


These 14 emotions are the letters of the alphabet to your key to success. These emotions will either write your plan of success or your failure. Each of these emotions are related to mental attitude, which is key to obtaining a pleasing personality, integral to success. You must take control of your mind and what emotions are going on at certain times. If you feel yourself getting angry, stop, think it over and realize this is anger, a negative emotion. Realize anger for what it is, and then let it go. You must master this technique in order to create a positive mental attitude and a pleasing personality. Also make note of the situations that spark these emotions, and act to eliminate them or to seek them out and use them.

Building a desire for success into a obsession and working towards your definite major purpose are the cornerstones of your effort to gain emotional control. Each strengthens the other, and when you reach progress with one, progress will begin everywhere.

Napoleon Hill and Budgeting Your Time

Napoleon hill and Budgeting Your Time

"Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat. Only by doing so can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as a burning desire to win - essential to success." Napoleon Hill

Your attitude towards life determines your attitude toward time. People pretty much fall into two camps on this subject.

Doers:

• Have a definite major purpose
• Manage circumstances and resources
• Examine every idea they encounter before they adopt or discard it
• Takes risks and assume responsibility
• Learn from their mistakes
• Go the Extra Mile
• Control their habits
• Have a positive Mental Attitude
• Apply their faith in their own success
• Create mastermind alliances to expan their knowledge and experience
• Recognize their weaknesses and take steps to correct them

Drifters:

• Have no Goal in life
• Are controlled by circumstances and the lack of resources 
• Flit from one idea about life to the other, depending on this week's fad or what the guy on TV said last night
• Run from opportunity and blame others for their lots in life
• Make the same mistakes again and again
• Do only what it takes to get by
• Let their habits control them
• Have a negative mental attitude
• Never do anything to improve their situation
• Learn all they want to know from that guy on TV
• Wouldn't know a weakness if it bit them

Napoleon Hill and the Benefits of Controlled Enthusiasm

Controlling your enthusiasm will have many positive effects.

As you develop it will:

1.  Increase the intensity of your imagination and thinking.
2.  You will acquire a pleasing and convincing tone of voice
3.  Reduce the drudgery in your work
4.  You will have a more attractive personality
5.  Gain self confidence
6.  Strengthen your mental and physical health
7.  Build positive personal initiative
8.  Overcome physical and mental fatigue more easlity
9.  Spread your enthusiasm to others.

How to develop controlled enthusiasm

1. Adopt a definite major purpose.
2. Write out a clear statement of that purpose and your plan for attaining it. Include a statement of what you intend to give in return for its realization. 
3. Back your purpose with a burning desire. Fan that desire; coax it, let it become the domination thought in your mind.
4. Set to work immediately in carrying out your plan.
5. Follow your plan accurately and persistently.
6. If you are overtake by defeat, study your plan carefully, and change it if necessary. Do not change it simply because you have met defeat. 
7. Ally yourself with others whose aid you need.
8. Keep away from joy-killers and naysayers. Stick with the optimists.
9. Never let a day pass without devoting some time furthering your plan. Habits require reinforcement.
10. Keep yourself sold on the idea that you will obtain your definite major purpose, no matter how far away that moment seems. Auto suggestion is a powerful force in developing enthusiasm.
11. Keep your mind positive at all times. Enthusiasm will not thrive in a field full of fear, envy, greed, jealousy, doubt revenge, hatred, intolerance, and procrastination. It needs a positive thought and action.

Enthusiasm is the natural outgrowth of all your efforts towards success.  You now know the tools in order to build your enthusiasm, begin to build your foundation at every possible moment.

I thank Napoleon Hills book The keys to Success for this inspiration and article.

Napoleon Hill and the Benefits of Controlled Enthusiasm

Controlling your enthusiasm will have many positive effects.

As you develop it will:

1.  Increase the intensity of your imagination and thinking.
2.  You will acquire a pleasing and convincing tone of voice
3.  Reduce the drudgery in your work
4.  You will have a more attractive personality
5.  Gain self confidence
6.  Strengthen your mental and physical health
7.  Build positive personal initiative
8.  Overcome physical and mental fatigue more easlity
9.  Spread your enthusiasm to others.

How to develop controlled enthusiasm

1. Adopt a definite major purpose.
2. Write out a clear statement of that purpose and your plan for attaining it. Include a statement of what you intend to give in return for its realization. 
3. Back your purpose with a burning desire. Fan that desire; coax it, let it become the domination thought in your mind.
4. Set to work immediately in carrying out your plan.
5. Follow your plan accurately and persistently.
6. If you are overtake by defeat, study your plan carefully, and change it if necessary. Do not change it simply because you have met defeat. 
7. Ally yourself with others whose aid you need.
8. Keep away from joy-killers and naysayers. Stick with the optimists.
9. Never let a day pass without devoting some time furthering your plan. Habits require reinforcement.
10. Keep yourself sold on the idea that you will obtain your definite major purpose, no matter how far away that moment seems. Auto suggestion is a powerful force in developing enthusiasm.
11. Keep your mind positive at all times. Enthusiasm will not thrive in a field full of fear, envy, greed, jealousy, doubt revenge, hatred, intolerance, and procrastination. It needs a positive thought and action.

Enthusiasm is the natural outgrowth of all your efforts towards success.  You now know the tools in order to build your enthusiasm, begin to build your foundation at every possible moment.

I thank Napoleon Hills book The keys to Success for this inspiration and article.

Ten Commandments of Business Management

Ten Commandments of Business Management

"Outstanding leaders go out of their way to boost the self-esteem of their personnel. If people believe in themselves, it's amazing what they can accomplish."
Sam Walton

In 1962 Sam Walton opened the first Walmart in Rogers, Arkansas. By 1970 it became a chain of stores across the country.

From Walton's Biography, Made In America: My Story, he outlines what he believes to be the ten commandments of business management.

1. Commit to your goals
2. Share your rewards
3. Communicate all you know
5. Value your associates
6. Celebrate your success
7. Listen to everyone
8. Deliver more than you promise
9. Work smarter than others
10. Blaze your own path

Walton firmly believe that "individuals don't win, teams do." When Walton died in 1992 he was the richest man in the world.

Goal Contract

Goal Contract

Goal Contract
Binding Contract of Commitment


Name: ______________________________
Date: __________________________

It is the intention of the undersigned to move forward toward this goal in thought and action and to make all of the positive choices necessary to obtain it.
___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________


I understand that this goal is what I want for me and that every positive choice I make, no matter how small, is a step toward the fulfillment of this goal. From this day forward I will not be denied any longer. This is the day in my life that I finally make the choices that I need to and quit taking the easy way out. I will pay the price that is necessary to reach my goal, because I know the pain of not fulfilling myself is greater than the pain of doing any job, no matter how difficult.


Signature of Intent

Intention Fulfilled

Congratulations, you created a vision in your mind and brought that vision into reality in your life by believing in that vision and moving relentlessly toward it through wise choices.


____________________________
Date Fulfilled

____________________________
Signature of Acceptance



*From Premeditated Success by Tom Murphy

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Napoleon Hill Quotes

Napoleon Hill quotes 

Before success comes in any man's life, he's sure to meet with much temporary defeat and, perhaps some failures. When defeat overtakes a man, the easiest and the most logical thing to do is to quit. That's exactly what the majority of men do.

Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you ready or not, to put this plan into action.

Edison failed 10, 000 times before he made the electric light. Do not be discouraged if you fail a few times.

Every person who wins in any undertaking must be willing to cut all sources of retreat. Only by doing so can one be sure of maintaining that state of mind known as a burning desire to win - essential to success.

Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.

It is literally true that you can succeed best and quickest by helping others to succeed.

Quote by Nathaniel Branden on Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm

"What is a demanding pleasure? A pleasure that demands the use of one's mind; Not in the sense of problem solving, but in the sense of exercising discrimination, judgement, and awareness."
Nathaniel Branden


Enthusiasm does not know defeat! The sales manager who knows how to send out a army of enthusiastic sales people may set his or her own price on their services. By doing this they can increase the earning capacity of every person under their direction. Enthusiasm then benefits not only them self but possibly hundreds as well.

Enthusiasm Stimuli

1. Occupation in the work that one loves best

2. Environment where one comes into contact with others who are enthusiastic and optimistic.

3. Financial success

4. Complete mastery and application, in one's daily work, of the Laws of Success.

5. Good health

6. Knowledge that one has served others in some helpful way.

7. Good clothes, appropriate to the needs of one's occupation.

Pleasing Personality

Pleasing Personality

The seven main factors to use to create a Pleasing Personality:

1. Form the habit of interesting yourself in other people, and make it your business to find their good qualities and speak of them in terms of praise.

2. Develop the ability to speak with force and conviction, both in your ordinary conversational tones and before public gatherings, where you must use more volume.

3. Dress in style that is becoming to you and appropriate to the work in which you are engaged.

4. Develop a positive character, through the aid of the methods out-lined in this lesson.

5. Learn how to shake hands so that you will express warmth and enthusiasm through this form of greeting.

6. Attract other people to you by first "attracting yourself" to them.

7. Remember that your only limitation, within reason, is the one that you set up in your own mind.

Taken from Napoleon Hills book, The Law of Success.

These seven points cannot create a pleasing personality all on their own, it takes dedication and work as well. You must have a firm determination to transform yourself into the person you would like to be.

I believe that the second and fourth are the most important parts of this formula. You need to be confident in yourself, and in your actions before creating a pleasing personality. Also use the Law of attraction and attract to you people you want to attract.

Think and Grow Rich Review

Think and Grow Rich was first written more than 70 years ago, and today is still a widely read and respected book. Think and grow rich has sold millions of copy's and is considered the bible for people searching for financial freedom. The books main theme is based of Napoleon Hill's message "Everything your mind can conceive, you can achieve" and the title of the books says the same just in different words: Think and Grow Rich

This book according to Napoleon Hill teaches the thirteen steps to riches. This book also offers many exercises and questionnaires to help you with your own self analysis and progress. One of the main things I took from Napoleon Hills books and is reiterated often within Think and Grow Rich, Is that all mistakes are not failures, but learning opportunities. This mistakes also create a seed for a equal or greater achievement.

This book is as relevant today as it was 100 years ago, and has made scores of men rich. Napoleon worked 25 years to accomplish this theory, and its proven and true. Never give up, and make your dreams become a reality.

You can get your copy of Think and Grow Rich for only $8.00 here at Think and Grow Rich. This is a opportunity, and life changing experience, and I owe all my success directly to Napoleon Hill and The Law of Success.

Napoleon hills Six Basic Fears

Napoleon hills Six Basic Fear

"People are always blaming their circumstances for what they are. I don't believe in circumstances. The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can't find them, they make them!"
George Bernard Shaw

The Six Basic Fears
~The fear of poverty
~The fear of old age
~The fear of criticism
~The fear of loss of love of someone
~The fear of Ill health
~The fear of death

Study this list, and then take inventory of your own fears, then ascertain under which of these six fears they belong. Every person who has reached the age of understanding is bound down, to some extent, by one or more of these fears. Determine which ones you have and then begin working right away to eliminate them from your life. This is the first step to develop a business Self-Confidence.

When you conquer these fears you will no longer have to hear "You can't do it, you are afraid to try, you are afraid of public opinion, you are afraid that you will fail, you are afraid you do not have the ability." Instead you will believe in yourself and get exactly what you want.

Enthusiasm a Vital Force

Enthusiasm a Vital Force

"Put Vim, Force, Vitality into every movement of your body. Let your very atmosphere be that of [one] who is... Determined to stand for something and to be somebody.... Dare to step out of the crowd and blaze your own path."
-Orison Swett Marden

Enthusiasm is important; so important, that until you have it highly developed you cant even begin to imagine its potential in the work of your success. Enthusiasm is a state of mind that inspires one to put action into the task which is at hand. Not only does it do this but it is also contagious, and vitally affects not only the enthusiast, but all with whom they come in contact with.

Enthusiasm is the vital moving force that impels action and the greatest leaders are people who can inspire enthusiasm to their followers.

Enthusiasm is the most important factor entering into sales, and by far, the most important factor that enters into public speaking.

Learn how to create Enthusiasm

12 Types of Enduring Riches

"Make the most of yourself, for that is all there is of you."
Emerson

Everyone desires to be rich, but not everyone knows what constitutes true riches.


The 12 Types of Enduring Riches
1.Positive Mental Attitude
2.Sound physical health
3.Harmony in human relations
4.Freedom from fear
5.Hope of future achievement
6.Capacity of applied faith
7.Willingness to share blessing
8.Labor of love
9.Open mind on all subjects
10.Self Discipline
11.Wisdom to understand people
12.Financial Security

Riches begin with a state of mind, with definite of purpose. Know what you want and you will generally be able to get it. Have faith in what your doing and who you are. The you can accomplish anything as long as you believe you can. Work on these 12 steps, and enduring riches will be at your grasp. I have no doubt of that. I am only 20 years of age, am I successful?
I am.

I'm not trying to sell you anything nor am I trying to change your beliefs. I am simply offering you a proven guide to riches, a guide which I am a testimonial of. Read my blog, adopt the science of success, and make your dreams come true. This blog is my way to give back, and I hope you accept my generous offer.

"As long as a man stands in his own way, everything seems to be in his way."
Emerson

Imagination the tool to Salesmanship

Imagination the tool to Salesmanship

"Dream, Dream Big Dreams!
Others may deprive you of your material wealth and cheat you in a thousand ways, but no man can deprive you of the control and use of your imagination. Men may deal with you unfairly, as men often do; they may deprive you of your liberty; but they cannot take from you the privilege of using your imagination.
In your imagination you always win."
Jesse Jackson


Imagination is the most important factor when you are entering the art of selling. The master salesman is always the one who makes use of imagination. A outstanding merchant relies upon his imagination for the ideas that make their business sell.

If given that opportunity any customer will give the alert salesman a clue as to the particular merchandise that should be stressed in a effort to make a sale. Watch your customers and use your imagination! Depending on the products you sell, visualize your customer and what product suits them best.

Always be yourself, and always use your imagination. I believe your imagination at times is your self conscious telling you what you want in life. When you dream your imagining. When your imagine the opportunity for dreams to become a reality present themselves. Tell yourself you will be successful, picture yourself with success. Just like the master salesmen picks the right shirt for the right customer, Pick the right dreams for yourself and make the sale.

Napoleon Hill Code of Ethics from The Law of Success

"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly"
Robert Francis Kennedy

This code of Ethics has been taken directly out of Napoleon hills book The Law of Success. I have adopted these codes for myself, and I feel I must post them exactly the way they are so others to can adopt them. Out of everything That I have learned about the Law of Success, I believe this is one of the most important.

My Code Of Ethics

1. I believe in the Golden Rule as the basis of all Human conduct. Therefore I will never do to another person that which I would not be willing for that person to do to me if our positions were reversed.

2. I will be honest, even to the slightest detail, in all my transactions with others, not only because of my desire to be fair with them but also because of my desire to impress the idea of honesty on my own subconscious mind, thereby weaving this essential quality into my own character.

3. I will forgive those who are unjust toward me, with no thought as to whether they deserve it or not, because I understand the law through which forgiveness of others strengthens my own character and wipes out the effects of my own transgressions, in my subconscious mind.

4. I will be just, generous, and fair with others always, even though I know these acts will go unnoticed and unrewarded, in the ordinary terms of reward, because I understand and intend to apply the law through the aid of which one's own character is but the sum total of one's own acts and deeds.

5. Whatever time I may have to devote to the discovery and exposure of the weaknesses and faults of others I will devote, more profitably, to the discovery and correction of my own.

6. I will slander no person, no matter how much I may believe another person may deserve it, because I wish to plant no destructive suggestions in my own subconscious mind.

7. I recognize the power of thought as being an inlet leading into my brain from the universal ocean of life, therefore I will set no destructive thoughts afloat upon that ocean lest they pollute the minds of others.

8. I will conquer the common human tendency toward hatred, and envy, and selfishness, and jealousy, and malice, and pessimism, and doubt, and fear, for I believe these to be the seed from which the world harvests most of its troubles.

9. When my mind is not occupied with thoughts that tend toward the attainment of my Definite Chief Aim in life, I will voluntarily keep it filled with thoughts of courage, and Self-Confidence, and goodwill toward others, and faith, and kindness, and loyalty, and love for truth and justice, for I believe these to be the seed from which the world reaps its harvest of progressive growth.

10. I understand that a mere passive belief in the soundness of the Golden Rule philosophy is of no value whatsoever, either to myself or to others. Therefore, I will actively put into operation this universal rule for good in all my transactions with others.

11. I understand the law through the operation of which my own character is developed from my own acts and thoughts. Therefore, I will guard with care all that goes into its development.

12. Realizing that enduring happiness comes only through helping others find it, that no act of kindness is without its reward, even though it may never be directly repaid, I will do my best to assist others when and where the opportunity appears.

I Have posted this code above my computer, and view it daily. Adopt it, live by it, and live the happy life in which you desire.

Original source: http://www.napoleonhillslaw.com/2008_10_01_archive.html

T. Boone Pickens essential keys to success

T. Boone Pickens is an 80-year-old billionaire still fighting ahead. He has learned from his successes and failures and continues to capitalize on both the lessons.

Here are Quotes from Pickens on his Work Ethic.


Make The Call: "Sometimes the window of opportunity is open only briefly. Waiting is not a decision, although many people think it is. Be willing to make decisions. That's the most important quality of a good leader. Don't Fall victim to what I call the ready-aim-aim-aim-aim syndrome. You must be willing to fire."

Take a Long View: "To make the big money, I've found it best to take a long-term view, stay focused and not get spooked by the temporary fluctuations in the market. When I have the odds in my favor, I put my money up and keep it up. If the fundamentals change, I get the hell out of there"

Be Accessible:" The best way to sidestep the disasters is to be available.

Analyze Well: "Information is everything. You can never have enough, and as you get older you find that keeping current keeps you in the game."

Learn from Mistakes: "It's all right to get your fingers crushed in the door, but don't let the same door crush them twice."

Keep Priorities Straight: "Far too many executives have become more concerned with the four P's- pay, perks, power, and prestige- rather than making profits for shareholders."

Hire Good People: "What I am always looking for is people who can do a job better than I can."

Balance it out:"Work eight hours and sleep eight hours, and make sure that they are not the same eight hours."

Forget about Age: "Give young people a chance."

Look on the Bright Side: "I told a friend, This is the kind of market that builds character. He looked at me and said, If it gets any worse, you'll have more character than Abe Lincoln."

Have a Plan:"A fool with a plan can outsmart a genius with no plan."

Original source: http://www.napoleonhillslaw.com/2008_10_01_archive.html

Turning Knowledge Into Power use The Law of Success

Turning Knowledge Into Power use The Law of Success

5 Actions You Can Take Right Now

1. Write down five ideas on how you can improve your customer service, starting right away. This quote possibly could become your greatest competitive edge.

2. Pick a way you can incorporate Focus Intensity Training into your well-being practice. This could be the number one key to strengthening your mind and body.

3. Norman Vincent Peale said "People become remarkable when they begin to truly believe in themselves." What is your mind actually telling you? Write down five negative thoughts that you replay in your mind on a consistant basis. Then write down the positive replacement for each factor.

4. Effective leadership begins with a vision. Use where you are going to shape your vision~ use your goals~ and values to define your journey.

5. Make sure you set aside free time for yourself to relax. This can help stimulate your mind, and who knows your next big idea might just start right there.

Eliminating Procrastination Taken from Napoleon Hills book The Law of Success.

Eliminating Procrastination

"The world is divided into people who do things and people who get the credit. Try, if you can, to belong to the first class. There's far less competition."
Dwight Morrow

You can accomplish nothing until you beat the habit of procrastination. The most well known way to beat this known habit is the use of auto suggestion. If you believe you have this habit I would adopt this script and say it out loud once daily, and put to use its rules. This will cure your habit of procrastination!

" Having chosen a Definite Chief Aim as my life's work, I now understand it to be my duty to transform this aim into reality. Therefore I will form the habit of taking some definite action each day that will carry me one step nearer the attainment of my Definite Chief Aim.
I know that procrastination is a deadly enemy of all who would become leaders in any undertaking, and I will eliminate this habit from my makeup by:

1. Doing some one definite thing each day, something that ought to be done, without anyone telling me to do it.

2. Looking around until i find at least one thing that I can do each day that I have not been in the habit of doing, and that will be of value to others, without expectation of pay.

3. Telling at least one other person, each day, of the value of practicing this habit of doing something that ought to be done without being told to do it.

I can see that the muscles of the body becomes strong in proportion to the extent to which they are used. Therefore I understand that the habit of Initiative also becomes fixed in proportion to the extent that it is practiced.
I realize the place to begin developing the habit of Initiative is in the small, commonplace things connected with my daily work. Therefore I will go at my work each day as if I were doing it solely for the purpose of developing this necessary habit of Initiative.
I understand that by practicing this habit of taking the Initiative in connection with my daily work I will be not only developing that habit, but I will also be attracting the attention of those who will place greater value on my services as a result of this practice."

Signed____________

Taken from Napoleon Hills book The Law of Success.

Self Confidence & the Power of Believing in Yourself

Success poem

"Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit."
Napoleon Hill
Might sound a little funny but heres a success poem for you :)

Self Confidence

If you think you are beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don't
If you like to win, but dont think you can
Its almost certain you wont.

If you think you'll lose, you've lost,
For out of the world we find
Success begins with a fellows will
Its all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are
You've got to think high to rise
You'be got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize

Life's battles don't go away
To the stronger or faster man
But sooner or later the man who wins
Is the man who thinks he can.


Financial Freedom, and Success can be yours as long as you believe they can be!

Quote from Thomas Alva Edison

"I have not failed.  I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work."
~Thomas Alva Edison

Doing what you love by Napoleon Hill from the Book Law of Success and Think & Grow Rich

Doing what you love.
"In the arena of human life the honors and rewards fall to those who show their good qualities in action."
Aristotle

This is a very important habit to adopt if you consider yourself on the work path to success. Napoleon hill believed that finding the work you love is a key point in achieving success, and he wrote a ton about this concept in The Law of success.

" you are most efficient and will more quickly and easily succeed when engaged in work that you love, or work that you perform on behalf of some person whom you love."
Napoleon Hill

When you are engaged in work that you love, it is of no hardship for you to do more work and better work than that for which you are paid. For this reason you owe it to yourself to find work that you love. The most successful people have a passion for the work that they do, this passion is what motivates them to put more effort and time into whatever it is that they want to achieve. Few however, have this dedication to work toward the things they love to do in life. Whether you inspire to be a artist, teacher, snowboarder, whatever it is you owe it to yourself to give it your all and create a definite chief aim to reach your dreams. I believe you can make money off of anything as long as you believe in yourself, and have a strong definite chief aim.

Don't get me wrong, say you start out with a product that you love and your trying to sell this product to make you riches. Things do not turn out as well as expected, and you decide to throw in the towel. Take what you learned and move on to the next step, transformation of that product.

Take stock in what you learned and revive your business plan. Why did you fail, and why you will succeed this time. If you continue to work this process, you will have what you desire, to many people lack the determination it requires sadly. Thats why a definite chief aim and self confidence is so important.

Statement by Napoleon Hill on Failure

Failure

"The Majority of people meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating a new plans to take the place of those which fail."
Napoleon Hill


People often accept failure as a curse, few people ever really understand that failure is only a curse when it is accepted as such. Unfortunately few people learn the truth that failure is seldom permanent.

Looking back at your past failures you might find that some were blessings in disguise. Failure teaches people a lesson that they would never have learned without it.

Most people that view themselves failures are usually not failures at all. They are simply going through temporary defeat. Do not use the word failure often, for if you believe you are a failure, your chances for success grow narrow. Believe in yourself and if you reach a block in life, or a down time, know that it is a learning experience and continue to fight and learn.

Quote from Andrew Carnegie

"Concentrate your energies, your thoughts and your capital. The wise man puts all his eggs in one basket and watches the basket."
Andrew Carnegie

Quote from Napoleon Hill

"It has always been my belief that a man should do his best, regardless of how much he receives for his services, or the number of people he may be serving or the class of people served."
Napoleon Hill

Quote from Napoleon Hill

"Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you ready or not, to put this plan into action."
Napoleon Hill

Quote from Napoleon Hill

"Cherish your visions and your dreams as they are the children of your soul, the blueprints of your ultimate achievements."
Napoleon Hill

Quote from Jim Rohn

"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you."

Jim Rohn

Quote of Jonathan Sacks

Follow your passion. Nothing - not wealth, success, accolades or fame - is worth spending a lifetime doing things you don't enjoy.
Jonathan Sacks

Follow your passion. Nothing - not wealth, success, accolades or fame - is worth spending a lifetime doing things you don't enjoy.
Jonathan Sacks
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_success32.html#c0Sj6QRvv2MOWeGf.99

Follow your passion. Nothing - not wealth, success, accolades or fame - is worth spending a lifetime doing things you don't enjoy.
Jonathan Sacks
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/topics/topic_success32.html#c0Sj6QRvv2MOWeGf.99