Rich Habits

Ever heard someone say "Nothing ever goes right for me!" or "Why is stuff always happening to me?"

Beauty, brains and talent are great but often these aren't what separate the wealthiest among us from the poorest. Do you realize that these subconscious, second-nature thoughts make up 40 percent of our waking hours? When we think like this, we start to operate on autopilot. It becomes a habit.

When a habit is formed and stored in this region, the parts of the brain involved in deeper decision-making cease to participate in the activity.

However, we all know there are good habits and bad habits. We must take accountability for BAD HABITS.

Here are some Rich Habits you can start to incorporate in your daily living.

1. Read

Successful people read to improve themselves. Among wealthy people, 88% read 30 minutes or more every day. By increasing knowledge, they are able to see more opportunities, which increases their income. It's important to make good use of your reading time.

Here are the most useful topics

• current events

• career-related material.

• personal development.

• biographies of successful people.

• history.

• 11 percent—only 11 percent—read purely for entertainment purposes.

63 percent listen to audiobooks during their commute. Forget the TV and spend less time surfing the internet.

2. Control Your Emotions

Loose lips are a habit for 69 percent of those who struggle financially. Wealthy people filter their emotions. They understand that letting emotions control them can destroy relationships. Wait until you are calm to say what’s on your mind and have had time to look at the situation from a different perspective.

3. Live Within Your Means

Save 20% of your net income and live on the remaining 80%. Make it a habit of saving and budgeting what you spend.

Here are some ways to budget your monthly pay-

• Spend no more than 25 percent on housing

• Spend no more than 15 percent on food.

• Limit entertainment—bars, movies, vacation whatever—to no more than 10 percent of your spending.

• Spend no more than 10% percent on auto loans, and never lease. Buy instead of leasing. Wealthy people keep their cars until the wheels fall off, taking great care along the way so that they save money in the long run.

• Stay away from accumulating credit card debt. If you are doing this, it’s definitely a sign that you need to cut back somewhere.

• Think of savings and investments as two completely different things. Try to create six months of emergency funds in case you lose your job or your business goes belly-up.

• Contribute as much as you can afford to a retirement plan. If you work for a company that matches your contributions. Always take that free money when you can get it.

4. Network and Volunteer Regularly.

Developing personal relationships with folks will often result in trust to build future business relationships. Very often the boards and committees of nonprofits are made up of wealthy, successful people.

5. Set aside the self-limiting beliefs holding you back.

6. Eliminate “bad luck” from your vocabulary.

Poverty minded-individuals have a way of creating bad luck for themselves. It’s a byproduct of their habits.

7. Avoid toxic people.

8. Set goals, not wishes. AVOID PROCRASTINATION!!!

9. Get a mentor

If you know your goals, find someone who has already achieved them. You’ll be amazed by how many people want to lend a helping hand.

10. Know your main purpose

Believe it or not, those who pursue their purpose in life are not only wealthy but HAPPY. "How do I find my purpose?"

Here’s the process:

1. Make a list of everything that makes you happy.

2. Identify the items on your list that involve a skill and Highlight that skill.

3. Rank the top 10 highlighted items in the order of joy they bring to you. Whatever makes you happiest of all gets 10 big points.

4. Now rank the top 10 highlighted items in terms of their income potential. The most lucrative skill of all is worth 10 points.

5. Total the two ranked columns.

Bingo! The highest score represents a potential main purpose in your life. Aim to make these RICH HABITS, DAILY HABITS.

Successful people create their own unique type of good luck. Their positive HABITS led to opportunities such as promotions, new business and good physical/mental health.