Becoming Rich in Your Own Way

If you really want to become rich, then begin by evaluating your work habits and work environment. That's how most millionaires made their first million. According to Dr. Srully Blotnick, a psychologist and consultant who spent 20 years studying how people became rich, most millionaires didn't make their money in real estate, the stock market, or waiting for their ship to come in.

They made theirs, instead, through their business or profession. They became so good at their job that they made quite a bit of money. Then, and only then, did they turn to real estate and stocks as sites to invest and grow their money. Even then, their basic business continued to produce the bulk of their gains; their investments usually produced only mediocre results by comparison.

There's a monumentally important lesson to be learned from the hundreds of millionaires that Dr. Blotnick studied for 20 years. The lesson is this: If you really want to become rich, invest in yourself first; invest in real estate, stocks, and other ventures later. Dr. Blotnick divided this into two stages:

· The first takes place when you're consumed by a business or profession that you enjoy so much that you would do it for nothing.

· After it pays you enough income, you enter the second stage. This is when you become a bona fide investor. You start thinking of and looking for opportunities to use your surplus income.

To set yourself and your career on track, evaluate yourself by answering these questions about:

liking your work:

· How much do I really like my job?

· Does my job bring out the best in me?

· Has it caused me to do more than I ever thought I could do? If you answered any of these questions in the negative, consider a job or career change.

determining if your work is right for you:

· How can I tell if I really like my work?

· How do I know if I'm doing my work right?

· How do I know if I'm doing the right kind of work?

The best way to determine that is to apply these test questions:

· What would I do for free?

· Am I enjoying my work so much that time seems to fly by?

· How would I like the work to be done if I were on the receiving end?

· What would I do if I didn't have to support myself, but did indeed want to work?

· What work would I do if my doctor told me that I had only five years more to live?

considering my financial rewards:

· Am I contended with my current income?

· Am I in position to influence a change in my income?

· What if the work I enjoy doing doesn't pay very well?

If you're satisfied with the first two, then I say, "Hang in there! You're on your way to becoming rich." People who became rich did so because they persisted. Only a personal involvement with what you enjoy doing will produce the kind of persistence that propels you out of bed in the mornings and makes you willing to work long and hard.

investing in yourself:

· Am I developing my skills, talents, and abilities?

· Have I made a plan that will help me to develop them?

· Am I constantly improving my relationship with others?

· Do I ask my co-workers for feedback about my performance?

Investing in yourself means developing both of these aspects: the technical knowledge you need in order to do your work effectively and the human relations skills you need in order to work effectively with others. Mr. Joseph Brooks, CEO at Lord & Taylor, once said, "If you love your work, and do it well, someone will spot that ... Let the quality of your work do it for you."

Conclusion: To become rich, do it your own way. Rely on your own talents, skills, and abilities. Invest them in a business or profession that you enjoy doing very much. Invest in your personal growth and development. Become the very best at what you do at your work even if it pays you little right now. If you really like what you are doing, eventually a fat salary will catch up with your reputation. The bottomline is persistence. Become an expert at relating well with others.

Remember: When you maximize your potential, everyone wins. When you don't, we all lose.

© Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW

PERMISSION TO REPUBLISH: This article may be republished in ezines, newsletters, and on web sites provided attribution is provided to the author, and it appears with the included copyright, resource box and live web site link. Although advance permission is not required, please notify us at eagibbs@ureach.com when you use this article.

Etienne A. Gibbs, MSW, Management Consultant and Trainer, conducts seminars, lectures, and writes articles on his theme: ... helping you maximize your potential. He offers management, marketing and parenting resources at http://www.maximizingyourpotential.blogspot.c om

---

Are You in Touch With Your Inner M?

"M" is for Motivation.What motivates you to do a good job?Is it a sense of achievement?Recognition for a job well done?Helping people?Desire for responsibility?Solving problems?Making more money?You... Read More

Ask Your Question ? Get what You Desire

"Questions get answers, advice, opinions, beliefs, impressions, stories, and more questions. Questions are about life, people, careers, achievements, facts, and faith. Ask and learn." - Ruby... Read More

Motivation By Consequences

In 2004 seven badly behaved teenagers were sent to a brat camp in the USA by desperate parents whose lives had been made hell by their own... Read More

Finding A Cure for I Disease

The 21-year-old rookie cop had his big chance to brag on himself at his big news conference. "How do you feel about being the one to capture... Read More

How to Make Bite Size Resolutions for 2005

It never fails. Another new year approaches. You watch that ball drop in Times Square and you say to yourself, "This year it's going to be different.... Read More

Self-care Isnt Being Selfish

When was the last time you truly relaxed? Do you often find that another exhausting week ends and you glance at a book you bought six months... Read More

Getting What You Really Want

Everyone wants something in life, love, money, success, recognition ... Yet too many people fail to realize their desires, and nearly all of them for the same... Read More

3 Great Ways to Beat Procrastination at Work

As more tasks become automated due to advances in technology there is a general expectation, whether it is realistic or not, that productivity should increase as well.Everyone... Read More

How to Use the Power of Words to Your Benefit

Someone I know maintains that "motivational words are great coming from philosophers, but that's because they're not in the real world." The power of words can be... Read More

The Toughest Decision of All: Get Out or Get Going!

Many of us are influenced by the sports ethic: Never give up! When a basketball team is down by 20 with 30 seconds on the clock, the... Read More

Make Up Excuses Why You Can

We all have excuses as to why we can't do something. Ask anyone and they can give you a million excuses why it can't be done, why... Read More

Practical Ways To Motivate Yourself To Learn A Skill

One way to motivate yourself to work hard at anything is to risk wasting your money if you fail to put in the necessary effort.When Charles Simeon,... Read More

Do You Know Which Door To Open?

Do you remember that old television program that gave the contestant the opportunity to choose one of three doors and receive whatever was behind the door?I was... Read More

Activity Versus Accomplishment

Each and every day, all of us continually search for the extra edge to win at the sport of sales and marketing. One of the most important... Read More

Dont Let Failure Go To Your Head

I watched as an 8-year-old All-Star slid dramatically into second base. Yet the umpire gave the dreaded signal, "Out!" The crowd yelled, "That's OK. Way to hustle!... Read More

How to Exude More Confidence

Confidence: The word conjures up images of self-assurance and belief in ones' self. Self-confidence is inward security. It basically means that your source of security comes... Read More

Ambitiously Pursuing Your Own Self

(Excerpted from The Power of Ambition series)What is the origin of true ambition? There exists really only one place to find true ambition and that is within... Read More

Achieving Your Dreams

While most people spend most of their lives struggling to earn a living, a much smaller number seem to have everything going their way. Instead of just... Read More

Motivation: How to Get Unstuck

Have you ever felt stuck?You know the feeling - you're not happy with a situation, you know it could be better, you've even tried to make it... Read More

Practice, Practice, Practice

It may sound silly but the key to self-confidence and building more self-esteem is through practice. Practice what it is you want to feel more confident about... Read More

You Can!

"There are only two ways of bringing brightness into your world; either change your attitude or open the closed doors of your brain"This holds true in all... Read More

Did You Have A Tough Childhood?

Many claim intense childhood trauma "damages" a person in their adult years.But is this necessarily true? We all have obstacles and hardships -- some of us more... Read More

Contemplating Change And Moving Into Action

Do you ever have the sense that there has to be more to life than what you are presently experiencing? Those are the moments in time where... Read More

Desire + Action = Outcome ? Anxiety & Panic

This is my mathematical strategy I use to achieve everything I want in life. Allow me to explain?Now when I was suffering with anxiety and panic disorder... Read More

Whats Your Aging in American IQ? Take the Quiz and Find Out.

TRUE or FALSE1. Older adults have more mental health problems than younger adults.FALSE. Overall prevalence of mental disorder in older adults is less than in any other... Read More

Top 4 Reasons Women Ride The ?Emotional Roller-Coaster?

1. Women have learned and are in the habit of being driven by the approval of others. Most women allow the expectations of others to define them... Read More