I was recently formally introduced to the concept of dream building. Although this is something I started doing as a little kid, I didn’t realize there were communities built around this idea. But for me, it was always a natural thing to do.
As a child, for example, whenever there was something I really wanted, I would draw pictures of me in that situation. I would scour through magazines to find pictures and hang them around my bedroom and stuff them in my school folders.
I remember wanting to be a star soccer player, and I had pictures everywhere of my idols and visualized how that would be me on the soccer field running up the score. I did the same thing when video game systems came out. As I grew older I drew pictures of my dream car and collected photos of my favorite hot rods. Not jut to admire them, but to see myself in them.
This was a way to create a desire so strong to develop a willingness to do whatever it took to reach my goals. And of course it works. We all know athletes use visualization to prepare themselves for the biggest events of their lives andCEOs developed to their mind to believe they were corporate leaders well before they assumed their leadership roles.
It’s always been fun to visualize the future and wonder just how successful you can push yourself, and one of the best ways I’ve found to guarantee that is to constantly remind yourself why you are doing things. If it is to help your parents, carry a picture of your parents with you. If it is to travel the world, carry a picture of some of the most exotic beaches with you. These will become symbols of what you will achieve and they will help you continue to push yourself to be greater than average.
One of my favorite ways to do your dream building is to search luxury magazines, like www.robbreport.com, and find pictures of what you imagine your dream home would look like, your yacht, your jewelry, etc. It can be quite motivating.
Wealthy people make up roughly 1% of the population, but what money skills do these people have that allow them to make it rich? Do they just get plain luck, or is there something truly unique that sets them apart?
Try talking to a wealthy entrepreneur, business owner, real estate investor or stock trader, and ask them “Who can do this?” They will often reply that anyone is capable of making a fortune doing what they are doing. If that were the case, wouldn’t there be more wealthy people in this world being their own boss? Wouldn’t there be more success stories than failures?
The truth is that this is an accurate response. Anyone can be successful and build their own empire if they have they have the right personality, mindset and persistence.
There are a number of reasons why everyone is “not doing it” if anyone can do it:
Skepticism, or the belief that it just can’t be true
Security, or comfortable in receiving and cashing a paycheck
Lack of initiative
The need for structure
Lack of persistence and long-term perspective
Those who create their own wealth are often the complete opposite of the norm. Just like a stock trader knows that the stock market is counter-intuitive, and what you think should happen next is typically the opposite of what actually happens.
Entrepreneurs have such a strong belief in them self that they can succeed and that “the herd” is wrong. They see more security in building their own business rather than the chance of being laid off at any moment. They prefer to create their own wealth rather than playing politics in order to get a promotion and make someone else’s business rich.
This group does not need to be handed a structured plan. If they were, they would just break the rules and come up with their own, creative ways to accomplish things. Most importantly, they believe in nothing but the ability to accomplish their goals Against everyone’s advice or criticism, they do not give up. Failure is simply a way to learn and allows you to come that much closer to success.
It’s typical to find that entrepreneurs are wise business people, but they do not follow text-book business models. They go against the grain, take chances, and take risks. Their road to success can have many bumps and bruises, but the payoff in the end is the ultimate reward. And what satisfiction in not only creating great wealth, but looking back to see what you went through to build your own empire.
For most people the best solution is to develop their professional skills and continue to climb the corporate ladder. But, yes, anyone can do it, but do you have the drive, determination and the belief in yourself to make it happen?
