Tuesday, November 29, 2005
Follow your destiny, Wherever it leads you
"There comes a time in your life when you realize that if you stand still, you will remain at this point forever. You realize that if you fall and stay down, life will pass you by."
"Rather than wondering about or questioning the direction your life has taken, accept the fact that there is a path before you now. Shake off the "why's" and "what if's," and rid yourself of confusion. Whatever was - is in the past. Whatever is - is what's important. The past is a brief reflection. The future is yet to be realized. Today is here."
Vicki Silver
"Rather than wondering about or questioning the direction your life has taken, accept the fact that there is a path before you now. Shake off the "why's" and "what if's," and rid yourself of confusion. Whatever was - is in the past. Whatever is - is what's important. The past is a brief reflection. The future is yet to be realized. Today is here."
Vicki Silver
Monday, November 28, 2005
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
DETOURS ARE TEMPORARY
In Death Valley, California, there is a place known as Dante's View.
From there you can look down to the lowest spot in the United States,
a depression in the earth 200 feet below sea level called Bad Water.
But you can also look up to the highest peak in the contiguous United
States, Mt. Whitney, which rises to a height of 14,500 feet.
Our lives also bring us to such places - where we can either journey
into the depths of despair and depression or rise to incredible
heights - depending on the direction we head. Yet, the mountaintop may
not be where we want to reside, either. In a letter to a suicidal
person, Al Hillman shared some exquisite wisdom:
"Sheila," he wrote, "I know all too well the battle you are
engaged
in. You see, I spent many years in the deep, dark valleys of mental
illness. Most (people) want to be on the mountaintop. I don't. I have
climbed mountains up to 17,000 feet. Not a pleasant place to be.
Bitterly cold, roaring winds, nothing grows there. Just snow, ice and
rocks. Very uncomfortable. Even the view is dismal, for all one can
see is clouds.
"I have also been in the deep, dark valleys where the walls are so
steep that nothing grows; there is complete darkness and one is all
alone. A terrifying place to be.
"I enjoy being in the valley (with) the green pastures and (where) the
streams are gentle and calm…."
Naturally, there are often valid medical reasons for mood shifts and
depression. And it may require all of our resources to climb back out
of our private "Bad Water": support from the medical community,
friends and family, as well as our spiritual resources. We are not
alone.
But I also like the counsel of Abraham Lincoln, who was similarly
afflicted. In a letter to a friend, he once wrote: "You cannot now
believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are
sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it, will make
you less miserable now."
It is true that few of us seem to stay in that peaceful valley for
long. But, as someone aptly said, "The truly happy person is one who
can enjoy the scenery while on detour." Detours, after all, are
temporary.
__________
This reading can be found in Steve Goodier's book:
PRESCRIPTION FOR PEACE
(We gift-wrap for FREE!)
http://lifesupportsystem.com/presforpeac.html
From there you can look down to the lowest spot in the United States,
a depression in the earth 200 feet below sea level called Bad Water.
But you can also look up to the highest peak in the contiguous United
States, Mt. Whitney, which rises to a height of 14,500 feet.
Our lives also bring us to such places - where we can either journey
into the depths of despair and depression or rise to incredible
heights - depending on the direction we head. Yet, the mountaintop may
not be where we want to reside, either. In a letter to a suicidal
person, Al Hillman shared some exquisite wisdom:
"Sheila," he wrote, "I know all too well the battle you are
engaged
in. You see, I spent many years in the deep, dark valleys of mental
illness. Most (people) want to be on the mountaintop. I don't. I have
climbed mountains up to 17,000 feet. Not a pleasant place to be.
Bitterly cold, roaring winds, nothing grows there. Just snow, ice and
rocks. Very uncomfortable. Even the view is dismal, for all one can
see is clouds.
"I have also been in the deep, dark valleys where the walls are so
steep that nothing grows; there is complete darkness and one is all
alone. A terrifying place to be.
"I enjoy being in the valley (with) the green pastures and (where) the
streams are gentle and calm…."
Naturally, there are often valid medical reasons for mood shifts and
depression. And it may require all of our resources to climb back out
of our private "Bad Water": support from the medical community,
friends and family, as well as our spiritual resources. We are not
alone.
But I also like the counsel of Abraham Lincoln, who was similarly
afflicted. In a letter to a friend, he once wrote: "You cannot now
believe that you will ever feel better. But this is not true. You are
sure to be happy again. Knowing this, truly believing it, will make
you less miserable now."
It is true that few of us seem to stay in that peaceful valley for
long. But, as someone aptly said, "The truly happy person is one who
can enjoy the scenery while on detour." Detours, after all, are
temporary.
__________
This reading can be found in Steve Goodier's book:
PRESCRIPTION FOR PEACE
(We gift-wrap for FREE!)
http://lifesupportsystem.com/presforpeac.html
Friday, November 18, 2005
A funny job application
This Kid will go far…
This is an actual job application that a 17-year-old boy submitted at a McDonald’s restaurant in Florida; and they hired him because he was so honest and funny!
NAME: Greg Bulmash.
SEX: Not yet. Still waiting for the right person.
DESIRED POSITION: Company’s President or Vice President. But seriously, whatever’s available. If I was in a position to be picky, I wouldn’t be applying here in the first place. DESIRED SALARY: $185,000 a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz style severance package. If that’s not possible, make an offer and we can haggle.
EDUCATION: Yes.
LAST POSITION HELD: Target for middle management hostility.
SALARY: Less than I’m worth.
MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT: My incredible collection of stolen pens and ‘post-it’ notes. REASON FOR LEAVING: It sucked.
AVAILABLE FOR WORK: Of course. That’s why I’m applying.
PREFERRED HOURS: 1:30 – 3:30pm., Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS?: Yes, but they’re better suited to a more intimate environment.
MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?: If I had one, would I be here?
DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING UPTO 50lbs?: 50lbs. of what?
DO YOU HAVE A CAR?: I think the appropriate question here would be “Do you have a car that runs?”
HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITION?: I may already be the winner of the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.
DO YOU SMOKE?: On the job, no, on my breaks, yes.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS?: Living in the Bahamas with a fabulously wealthy dumb blond supermodel who thinks I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread. Actually, I’d like to be doing that now.
DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE?: Yes. Absolutely.
SIGN HERE: Aries.
This is an actual job application that a 17-year-old boy submitted at a McDonald’s restaurant in Florida; and they hired him because he was so honest and funny!
NAME: Greg Bulmash.
SEX: Not yet. Still waiting for the right person.
DESIRED POSITION: Company’s President or Vice President. But seriously, whatever’s available. If I was in a position to be picky, I wouldn’t be applying here in the first place. DESIRED SALARY: $185,000 a year plus stock options and a Michael Ovitz style severance package. If that’s not possible, make an offer and we can haggle.
EDUCATION: Yes.
LAST POSITION HELD: Target for middle management hostility.
SALARY: Less than I’m worth.
MOST NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENT: My incredible collection of stolen pens and ‘post-it’ notes. REASON FOR LEAVING: It sucked.
AVAILABLE FOR WORK: Of course. That’s why I’m applying.
PREFERRED HOURS: 1:30 – 3:30pm., Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKILLS?: Yes, but they’re better suited to a more intimate environment.
MAY WE CONTACT YOUR CURRENT EMPLOYER?: If I had one, would I be here?
DO YOU HAVE ANY PHYSICAL CONDITIONS THAT WOULD PROHIBIT YOU FROM LIFTING UPTO 50lbs?: 50lbs. of what?
DO YOU HAVE A CAR?: I think the appropriate question here would be “Do you have a car that runs?”
HAVE YOU RECEIVED ANY SPECIAL AWARDS OR RECOGNITION?: I may already be the winner of the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.
DO YOU SMOKE?: On the job, no, on my breaks, yes.
WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE DOING IN FIVE YEARS?: Living in the Bahamas with a fabulously wealthy dumb blond supermodel who thinks I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread. Actually, I’d like to be doing that now.
DO YOU CERTIFY THAT THE ABOVE IS TRUE AND COMPLETE TO THE BEST OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE?: Yes. Absolutely.
SIGN HERE: Aries.
Something from Dawk Kor
I am very very encouraged by this song, titled "Thank You". First heard of it when I attended a Don Moen concert a few years back. Enjoy the lyrics: =========================================================
I dream I went to heavenYou were there with meWe walk upon the street of goldBeside the crystal seaWe heard the angles singingWhen someone call Your nameI turn and saw young manHe was smiling as he came
And he said "Friend, you may not know me now"Then he said "But wait, you used to teach my Sunday schoolWhen I was only eight;And every week you would say that prayerBefore the class would startAnd one day, when you said that prayerI asked Jesus in my heart."
Chorus:Thank you for giving to the LordI am a life that was changed;Thank you for giving to the Lord,I am so gald you gave.
Then another man stood before youAnd said " Remember the timeA missionary came to your churchHis pictures made you cry;You didn't have much moneyBut you gave it anyway,Jesus took the gift you gaveAnd that's why I am here today."
One by one they cameFar as the eye could see,Each life somehow touchedby your generosity;Little things that you had doneSacrifices made, unnoticed on the earthIn heaven now proclaimed.
And I know up in heavenYou're not supposed to cry, But I am almost sureThere were tears in your eyesAs Jesus took your handAnd you stood before the LordHe said "My child look around you, Great is your reward."
ChorusThank you for giving to the Lord,I am a life that was changed;Thank you for giving to the LordI am so glad you gave.I am so glad you gave.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Life and coffee
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university of Notre Dame lecturer. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the lecturer went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, some plain-looking and some expensive and exquisite, telling them to help themselves to hot coffee.
When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the lecturer said: "If you noticed, all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the better cups and are eyeing each other's cups."
"Now, if Life is coffee, then the jobs, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life, but the quality of Life doesn't change."
"Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee in it."
STORIES - The Window
Two men, both seriously ill, occupied the same hospital room. One man was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. The other man had to spend all his time flat on his back. The men talked for hours on end. They spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in the military service, where they had been on vacation.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
Every afternoon when the man in the bed by the window could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window.
The man in the other bed began to live for those one hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and color of the world outside.
The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Young lovers walked arm in arm amidst flowers of every color and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As the man by the window described all this in exquisite detail, the man on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene.
One warm afternoon the man by the window described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear the band - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the gentleman by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed.
One morning, the day nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take the body away.
As soon as it seemed appropriate, the other man asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out the window beside the bed.
It faced a blank wall.
The man asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window.
The nurse responded that the man was blind and could not even see the wall.
She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
Epilogue:
There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations.
Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled.
If you want to feel rich, just count all the things you have that money can't buy.
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Quotable Quotes on leadership
Many of the greatest tyrantson the records of historyhave begun their reigns in the fairest mannerBut this unnatural powercorrupts both the heart and the understanding. - Edmund Burke
The men who succeed best in public lifeare those who take the risk ofstanding by their own convictions. - James A. Garfield
The man who is worthyof being 'a leader of men'will never complainabout the stupidity of his helpers,the ingratitude of mankindnor the inappreciation of the public.These are all a partof the great game of life.To meet them and overcome themand not to go down before themin disgust, discouragement or defeat -that is the final proof of power - William JH Boetcker
It is by attemptingto reach the top in a single leapthat so much miseryis caused in the world. - William Cobbett
Man can climb the highest summits,but he cannot dwell there long. - George Bernard Shaw
We don't need men with new ideasas much as we need menwho will put energy behind the old ideas. - William Feather
what makes greatnessis starting something that lives after you. - Ralph W. Sockman
Lots of folks confuse bad managementwith destiny. - Elbert Hubbard
Every great advance in natural knowledgehas involved the absolute rejection of authority. - Thomas Huxley
He who is firmly seated in authoritysoon learns to think security, and not progress,the highest lesson of statecraft. - James Russell Lowell
The administration of government,like a guardianship,ought to be directedto the good of those who confer,not of those who receive the trust. - Cicero
Nothing more impairs authoritythan a too frequent or indiscreet use of it.If thunder itself was to be continual,it would excite no more terrorthan the noise of a mill. - Alfred Kingston
The general story of mankind will evincethat lawful and settled authorityis very seldom resistedwhen it is well employed. - Samuel Johnson
Them morale of an organisationis not built from the bottom up;it filters from the top down. - Peter B. Kyne
The power of the stateis measured by the powerthat men surrender to it. - Felix Morley
There will never bea really free and enlightened stateuntil the state comes to recognise the individualas a higher and independent power,from which all its own power and authorityare derived,and treats him accordingly. - Henry David Thoreau
The men who succeed best in public lifeare those who take the risk ofstanding by their own convictions. - James A. Garfield
The man who is worthyof being 'a leader of men'will never complainabout the stupidity of his helpers,the ingratitude of mankindnor the inappreciation of the public.These are all a partof the great game of life.To meet them and overcome themand not to go down before themin disgust, discouragement or defeat -that is the final proof of power - William JH Boetcker
It is by attemptingto reach the top in a single leapthat so much miseryis caused in the world. - William Cobbett
Man can climb the highest summits,but he cannot dwell there long. - George Bernard Shaw
We don't need men with new ideasas much as we need menwho will put energy behind the old ideas. - William Feather
what makes greatnessis starting something that lives after you. - Ralph W. Sockman
Lots of folks confuse bad managementwith destiny. - Elbert Hubbard
Every great advance in natural knowledgehas involved the absolute rejection of authority. - Thomas Huxley
He who is firmly seated in authoritysoon learns to think security, and not progress,the highest lesson of statecraft. - James Russell Lowell
The administration of government,like a guardianship,ought to be directedto the good of those who confer,not of those who receive the trust. - Cicero
Nothing more impairs authoritythan a too frequent or indiscreet use of it.If thunder itself was to be continual,it would excite no more terrorthan the noise of a mill. - Alfred Kingston
The general story of mankind will evincethat lawful and settled authorityis very seldom resistedwhen it is well employed. - Samuel Johnson
Them morale of an organisationis not built from the bottom up;it filters from the top down. - Peter B. Kyne
The power of the stateis measured by the powerthat men surrender to it. - Felix Morley
There will never bea really free and enlightened stateuntil the state comes to recognise the individualas a higher and independent power,from which all its own power and authorityare derived,and treats him accordingly. - Henry David Thoreau
Quote of the Day
Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it. - Ellen Goodman
Thursday, November 10, 2005
How to Live Like a Billionaire Right Now
Some simple things in life are not expensive...
By Michael Masterson
If you make a six-figure income, you can live as well as any billionaire.
I'm not kidding. Except for ego gratification (which isn't all that good for you anyway), you can enjoy all the same comforts, pleasures, and experiences on a $100,000-plus income as a billionaire can.
Let's start by looking at a very important part of life: sleeping. Most of us spend between 25% and 33% of our lives sleeping. In terms of time spent, sleeping ranks with working as one of life's two most important activities.
What are the elements of a billion-dollar sleep?
I can think of only three:
1. That your sleep is uninterrupted2. That it leaves you pain and ache free3. And that you wake up rejuvenated
How can you get those three benefits? Simple. You must go to bed with:
a clean conscience
an empty stomach
and a peaceful mind
None of those conditions require money. You have the same opportunity to achieve them, as would your average billionaire. (Actually, you might have a better opportunity, assuming your life is less stressful.)
There is one other thing that matters: a good mattress. Besides the above conditions, there is nothing more important to getting a good sleep than a great mattress.
Consider this: The world's best mattress costs, maybe, $1,500. That means you can buy yourself a million-dollar sleep on a billion-dollar mattress for no more than $1,500. If you are making $100,000 a year, you can afford it.
So if you want to sleep as well as a billionaire, don't do anything you are ashamed of, don't eat after six, enjoy your life, and go out and buy the best mattress you can find. Buy it and don't worry about the price. When you go to sleep each night, you with be content to know that a billionaire could not possibly have it any better.
Buying Yourself the Best
When you shop for your "best" mattress, don't make the mistake of shopping for a brand name. While it's true that some brands are generally better than others, what you want is a durable, well-built mattress that works for you.
This utilitarian approach to purchasing should guide you in all your buying decisions. You should be willing to pay top dollar for something of good quality, but pay only for the quality, not for the cachet. (See Word to the Wise.)
Take steak. Ask someone who knows beef and you'll find that the quality of steak is entirely a matter of the meat you buy.
Buy a New York strip at Ruth's Chris and, for $30, you're eating the best steak money can buy. Eat the same piece of meat at Le Cirque and you'll pay $75. The difference is prestige.
Champagne, anyone? Consumer Reports had some wine experts test a variety of Champagnes and found that out of the five best, four were less than $40.
The same thing is true for clothing. Beautiful, comfortable clothes aren't cheap, but they don't have to cost a fortune. You can buy the world's best pair of slacks for $150 or for 10 times that amount. The difference will be the label on the waistband.
In All Marketers Are Liars , Seth Godin makes this point with regard to footwear:
"Stephanie was about to buy a pair of limited edition sneakers from Puma: $125 for the pair, about what she earns, after tax, after a long day of hard work. ... She was imagining how she'd look when she put them on. She was visualizing her dramatically improved life when other people saw how cool she was. ... The way Stephanie felt when she bought the Pumas was the product. Not the sneakers (made for $3 in China). She could have bought adequate footwear for a fraction of what the Pumas cost."
To own the world's best sneakers, you are certainly going to have to pay a lot more than $3 - even if they are made in China. But it's highly unlikely that you'll need to spend more than $100 so long as you are willing to ignore the prestige value of a famous brand and concentrate on comfort and durability. (And if you make more than a hundred grand every year, you can certainly afford a hundred-dollar pair of sneakers.)
And so it goes. The point is this: The best material things in life are affordable. They aren't cheap - quality never is - but if you buy them selectively and use them with care, you can enjoy a life as materially rich as a billionaire.
Here's how you can live rich, starting today:
Your Dream House
Think about the houses you most admire. They are probably NOT huge and flashy. One of my current favorites is a modest, three-bedroom house in Cleveland, which has been transformed by the owner into a lush, luxurious museum of travel, dance, and learning. Every room is a gem. I am completely comfortable and endlessly amused in this rich and interesting house.
Its value? As great as Bill Gates' 40,000-square-foot monstrosity in Seattle - yet this one has a market value of about $150,000.
Your Car
I have a wealthy friend who loves cars, especially sports cars. He drives a Camaro, which he says is as good as a Corvette, a Porsche, or even a Ferrari. Instead of forking out $150,000 plus ... he gets his thrills in a classic car that costs one-sixth that price.
You do have to pay more for prestige. But you can buy yourself prestige at affordable rates. For example, I drive a mint-condition NSX that looks brand-new. My car is worth about $30,000 - a third of the cost of a new one.
You should never buy a new car. If you shop around, you can find a 5- or 10-year-old car with low mileage that will cost 25% or 30% of the new car price, and be just as good.
Your Wardrobe
If you can forget about brand names and learn about quality, you will spend much less and look much better. As with cars, you'll do better by going after a classic look. That's because you won't have to discard perfectly good clothing simply because the lapel has changed.
Ralph Lauren - who has the money to dress as rich as can be - wears the same thing almost every day: classic-cut jeans and a T-shirt. Pat Riley, one of the best-dressed men in America, wears nothing but Armani suits. He has a number of them ... but fewer than you'd think.
Get yourself two or three pairs of slacks (or skirts). One or two suits (or dresses). Two or three pairs of shoes. Buy only what you love.
Make sure your socks are cashmere ($19.50 at Banana Republic) and that your T-shirts and underwear are the finest cotton (or silk). Use only one cologne or perfume, but love it. Do the same with hair products and cosmetics. The rule is to have much less, but love everything you have.
Buy classic. Insist on quality. Few are better than many. Simple is better than complex. Understated is better than flashy. Do this and you will have what billionaires can afford: a very pleasant feeling each time you pull on your shirt or buckle your belt.
Food and Drink
Want to have a billion-dollar meal? Take a good bottle of wine, a baguette of freshly baked bread, some cheese, ham, butter ... and go to the nearest park with a friend or loved one. You need only a knife and a corkscrew to prepare and serve a truly memorable meal.
If there's an expensive restaurant you are dying to try, go ahead and treat yourself. But, as someone who has eaten countless expensive meals, I can remember few that surpassed the simple wine and cheese lunches my wife and I have enjoyed together.
Music, Books, Movies, Etc.
With today's audio technology, even a $300 boom-box sounds great. Don't try to tell me you need to spend more than $1,000. The secret is in the music you select.
The great thing about music: The best costs no more than the worst. The same is true for books, movies, theater, and just about any form of entertainment. So listen to, read, and watch only that which makes you feel richer afterward.
Your Office
Warren Buffett, one of the world's richest men, keeps his office in a simple building. His walls are paneled plywood. His desk is a tabletop. But his office is uniquely his, with a comfortable chair and a place for everything he needs. On the surfaces and hanging from the walls are souvenirs to inspire him.
That's what you want in your office. The right amount of space. Good lighting. A very good chair. And toys that stimulate and inspire you.
Everything else is a distraction. And anything that is there simply to make you seem "important" will only turn off your guests and visitors.
Your office should be luxurious in a personal way. You will spend most of your waking life in your office, so put as much thought and care into it as you do your home.
The 2 Most Important Things That Money Can Buy
If you fill your life with all the best luxuries ... a great home, great clothes, delicious food ... but you are too busy running around to enjoy them, you've missed the boat.
Of all the things money can buy (it can't buy happiness ... I admit that), time and freedom are the most important.
Here's my prescription for buying time. Think about your schedule and pick yourself a half-hour a day to do nothing but luxuriate. Take this half-hour and do something that a billionaire might do. Sip a cup of espresso. Smoke a cigar. Have a Cognac. Contemplate how good life is. Thank the gods for your good fortune. Breathe deeply. Smile.
Now ... get back to work.
By Michael Masterson
If you make a six-figure income, you can live as well as any billionaire.
I'm not kidding. Except for ego gratification (which isn't all that good for you anyway), you can enjoy all the same comforts, pleasures, and experiences on a $100,000-plus income as a billionaire can.
Let's start by looking at a very important part of life: sleeping. Most of us spend between 25% and 33% of our lives sleeping. In terms of time spent, sleeping ranks with working as one of life's two most important activities.
What are the elements of a billion-dollar sleep?
I can think of only three:
1. That your sleep is uninterrupted2. That it leaves you pain and ache free3. And that you wake up rejuvenated
How can you get those three benefits? Simple. You must go to bed with:
a clean conscience
an empty stomach
and a peaceful mind
None of those conditions require money. You have the same opportunity to achieve them, as would your average billionaire. (Actually, you might have a better opportunity, assuming your life is less stressful.)
There is one other thing that matters: a good mattress. Besides the above conditions, there is nothing more important to getting a good sleep than a great mattress.
Consider this: The world's best mattress costs, maybe, $1,500. That means you can buy yourself a million-dollar sleep on a billion-dollar mattress for no more than $1,500. If you are making $100,000 a year, you can afford it.
So if you want to sleep as well as a billionaire, don't do anything you are ashamed of, don't eat after six, enjoy your life, and go out and buy the best mattress you can find. Buy it and don't worry about the price. When you go to sleep each night, you with be content to know that a billionaire could not possibly have it any better.
Buying Yourself the Best
When you shop for your "best" mattress, don't make the mistake of shopping for a brand name. While it's true that some brands are generally better than others, what you want is a durable, well-built mattress that works for you.
This utilitarian approach to purchasing should guide you in all your buying decisions. You should be willing to pay top dollar for something of good quality, but pay only for the quality, not for the cachet. (See Word to the Wise.)
Take steak. Ask someone who knows beef and you'll find that the quality of steak is entirely a matter of the meat you buy.
Buy a New York strip at Ruth's Chris and, for $30, you're eating the best steak money can buy. Eat the same piece of meat at Le Cirque and you'll pay $75. The difference is prestige.
Champagne, anyone? Consumer Reports had some wine experts test a variety of Champagnes and found that out of the five best, four were less than $40.
The same thing is true for clothing. Beautiful, comfortable clothes aren't cheap, but they don't have to cost a fortune. You can buy the world's best pair of slacks for $150 or for 10 times that amount. The difference will be the label on the waistband.
In All Marketers Are Liars , Seth Godin makes this point with regard to footwear:
"Stephanie was about to buy a pair of limited edition sneakers from Puma: $125 for the pair, about what she earns, after tax, after a long day of hard work. ... She was imagining how she'd look when she put them on. She was visualizing her dramatically improved life when other people saw how cool she was. ... The way Stephanie felt when she bought the Pumas was the product. Not the sneakers (made for $3 in China). She could have bought adequate footwear for a fraction of what the Pumas cost."
To own the world's best sneakers, you are certainly going to have to pay a lot more than $3 - even if they are made in China. But it's highly unlikely that you'll need to spend more than $100 so long as you are willing to ignore the prestige value of a famous brand and concentrate on comfort and durability. (And if you make more than a hundred grand every year, you can certainly afford a hundred-dollar pair of sneakers.)
And so it goes. The point is this: The best material things in life are affordable. They aren't cheap - quality never is - but if you buy them selectively and use them with care, you can enjoy a life as materially rich as a billionaire.
Here's how you can live rich, starting today:
Your Dream House
Think about the houses you most admire. They are probably NOT huge and flashy. One of my current favorites is a modest, three-bedroom house in Cleveland, which has been transformed by the owner into a lush, luxurious museum of travel, dance, and learning. Every room is a gem. I am completely comfortable and endlessly amused in this rich and interesting house.
Its value? As great as Bill Gates' 40,000-square-foot monstrosity in Seattle - yet this one has a market value of about $150,000.
Your Car
I have a wealthy friend who loves cars, especially sports cars. He drives a Camaro, which he says is as good as a Corvette, a Porsche, or even a Ferrari. Instead of forking out $150,000 plus ... he gets his thrills in a classic car that costs one-sixth that price.
You do have to pay more for prestige. But you can buy yourself prestige at affordable rates. For example, I drive a mint-condition NSX that looks brand-new. My car is worth about $30,000 - a third of the cost of a new one.
You should never buy a new car. If you shop around, you can find a 5- or 10-year-old car with low mileage that will cost 25% or 30% of the new car price, and be just as good.
Your Wardrobe
If you can forget about brand names and learn about quality, you will spend much less and look much better. As with cars, you'll do better by going after a classic look. That's because you won't have to discard perfectly good clothing simply because the lapel has changed.
Ralph Lauren - who has the money to dress as rich as can be - wears the same thing almost every day: classic-cut jeans and a T-shirt. Pat Riley, one of the best-dressed men in America, wears nothing but Armani suits. He has a number of them ... but fewer than you'd think.
Get yourself two or three pairs of slacks (or skirts). One or two suits (or dresses). Two or three pairs of shoes. Buy only what you love.
Make sure your socks are cashmere ($19.50 at Banana Republic) and that your T-shirts and underwear are the finest cotton (or silk). Use only one cologne or perfume, but love it. Do the same with hair products and cosmetics. The rule is to have much less, but love everything you have.
Buy classic. Insist on quality. Few are better than many. Simple is better than complex. Understated is better than flashy. Do this and you will have what billionaires can afford: a very pleasant feeling each time you pull on your shirt or buckle your belt.
Food and Drink
Want to have a billion-dollar meal? Take a good bottle of wine, a baguette of freshly baked bread, some cheese, ham, butter ... and go to the nearest park with a friend or loved one. You need only a knife and a corkscrew to prepare and serve a truly memorable meal.
If there's an expensive restaurant you are dying to try, go ahead and treat yourself. But, as someone who has eaten countless expensive meals, I can remember few that surpassed the simple wine and cheese lunches my wife and I have enjoyed together.
Music, Books, Movies, Etc.
With today's audio technology, even a $300 boom-box sounds great. Don't try to tell me you need to spend more than $1,000. The secret is in the music you select.
The great thing about music: The best costs no more than the worst. The same is true for books, movies, theater, and just about any form of entertainment. So listen to, read, and watch only that which makes you feel richer afterward.
Your Office
Warren Buffett, one of the world's richest men, keeps his office in a simple building. His walls are paneled plywood. His desk is a tabletop. But his office is uniquely his, with a comfortable chair and a place for everything he needs. On the surfaces and hanging from the walls are souvenirs to inspire him.
That's what you want in your office. The right amount of space. Good lighting. A very good chair. And toys that stimulate and inspire you.
Everything else is a distraction. And anything that is there simply to make you seem "important" will only turn off your guests and visitors.
Your office should be luxurious in a personal way. You will spend most of your waking life in your office, so put as much thought and care into it as you do your home.
The 2 Most Important Things That Money Can Buy
If you fill your life with all the best luxuries ... a great home, great clothes, delicious food ... but you are too busy running around to enjoy them, you've missed the boat.
Of all the things money can buy (it can't buy happiness ... I admit that), time and freedom are the most important.
Here's my prescription for buying time. Think about your schedule and pick yourself a half-hour a day to do nothing but luxuriate. Take this half-hour and do something that a billionaire might do. Sip a cup of espresso. Smoke a cigar. Have a Cognac. Contemplate how good life is. Thank the gods for your good fortune. Breathe deeply. Smile.
Now ... get back to work.
TAKE THE PLUNGE
"Watch me dive off the high board, Dad," my ten-year-old son called out. I looked up to the ten-foot-high diving board and waited as he stood at the edge, stooped over, arms extended. He had jumped off the high board many times before, but now his nerve seemed to falter as he contemplated streaking through the air headfirst.
The swimming pool was vacated, so he could take his time. "You can do it, Robby," I encouraged. But he couldn't. Not that evening. For 20 minutes he attempted to muster the courage to make the plunge, and he finally gave up when the pool closed for the night.
"I feel disappointed in myself," Robby said on the way home. "I feel terrible. I know I can do it, though. I know I can."
He persuaded me to take him swimming again the next evening. Like the night before, we happened to be the only swimmers. "I'm going to do it this time," he said emphatically. "Watch me!"
He climbed the ladder and walked to the end of the board as I watched.
Again I encouraged him. Again he hesitated. As the previous night, his nerve failed. It seemed that he would never conquer his fear and leap.
The lifeguards on duty helped me cheer him on. "You can do it, Robby,"
we all exhorted. "Just do it! Don't think about it. Just do it!"
For 30 minutes we encouraged him. For 30 minutes he started and stopped, he leaned and straightened and fought the fear that held him back.
And then it happened. He extended his arms, bent over the edge and fell headfirst into the water! He emerged to the sounds of laughter and congratulations. He did it! He finally did it! And before he went home, he did it three more times.
Robby learned something about facing his fear that evening. But he learned something else, too. He learned that some things can't be done with less than full commitment. A chasm cannot be leaped in two small jumps and a dive cannot be made a little at a time. Sometimes you just have to do it.
Some things require no less than full commitment. What is requiring your full commitment? Will you take the plunge?
The swimming pool was vacated, so he could take his time. "You can do it, Robby," I encouraged. But he couldn't. Not that evening. For 20 minutes he attempted to muster the courage to make the plunge, and he finally gave up when the pool closed for the night.
"I feel disappointed in myself," Robby said on the way home. "I feel terrible. I know I can do it, though. I know I can."
He persuaded me to take him swimming again the next evening. Like the night before, we happened to be the only swimmers. "I'm going to do it this time," he said emphatically. "Watch me!"
He climbed the ladder and walked to the end of the board as I watched.
Again I encouraged him. Again he hesitated. As the previous night, his nerve failed. It seemed that he would never conquer his fear and leap.
The lifeguards on duty helped me cheer him on. "You can do it, Robby,"
we all exhorted. "Just do it! Don't think about it. Just do it!"
For 30 minutes we encouraged him. For 30 minutes he started and stopped, he leaned and straightened and fought the fear that held him back.
And then it happened. He extended his arms, bent over the edge and fell headfirst into the water! He emerged to the sounds of laughter and congratulations. He did it! He finally did it! And before he went home, he did it three more times.
Robby learned something about facing his fear that evening. But he learned something else, too. He learned that some things can't be done with less than full commitment. A chasm cannot be leaped in two small jumps and a dive cannot be made a little at a time. Sometimes you just have to do it.
Some things require no less than full commitment. What is requiring your full commitment? Will you take the plunge?
Monday, November 07, 2005
I Can Only Imagine
Wow! Quite an inspiring song. It makes you stop for a while and think...
