Stop Borrowing, Stop Spending

The Federal Reserve is doing everything it can to get banks lending again. This may be fine for businesses that use revolving credit for payroll, or need loans for capital purchases. But it is NOT file for individual workers and citizens. We as individuals need to dial back our borrowing and spending. That is what we champion in our books and seminar. That is also the view of Jeremy Grantham, who manages an $85 Billion money fund. In the June issue of Smart Money magazine, he advised:

"If the problem is that we consume too much, does it make sense to borrow more and spend more? It does not make sense to solve alcoholism by giving and alcoholic a quart of whiskey, but everyone believes that we must stimulate."

Control your spending. Continue to work on your saving. And do not get swept up in the excitement when people start buying everything under the sun ... again.

Become the Best

What are you really good at? You have a lifetime to become really, really, really good at something. You need to put in the effort and the time to get better at your choice area - and get better every day. Most people do not even try to get better every day. At best they start making an effort one week before their annual performance review. They want to get some positive results to put down - and pretend that it was a whole year’s worth of good effort.

Don’t be lazy. Don’t be apathetic. Don’t pretend to to be working.

Set out to be the best in the world at your chosen profession or skill. Work on it every day.

Half the Secret

“Half the secret to success in life is just showing up.” — Woody Allen (the actor)

This is such a wonderful statement that I want to adopt it as a motto for life. You want to be a millionaire? Are you showing up at places that can make that happen? Do you show up at school? In classes? Group activities? On the job? Volunteer work?

Where are you showing up? If it is on the couch in front of the television, then you are NOT showing up at the places that can really get you into millionaire position.
Make a list of where you are showing up.