The Millionaire Mind Support Network

A Teaching Story

During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired, a woman in her fifties, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.

Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. “Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your care, even if all you do is smile and say hello.”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

— Joanne C. Jones quoted in The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace by Jack Kornfield

Beware of The Bear

Mainstream media and the financial networks are fully focused on the ongoing economic downturn. The talking heads report the global economy is trending downward and that the US is headed for, or is already in, a recession. A recession is defined by a contracting economy, characterized by lower company profits, lower wages, and higher unemployment.

As government officials tinker with ‘stimulus’ packages, that lower interest rates and taxes, a full-blown recession will likely cause some economic hardship for the 70-percent of Americans living paycheck to paycheck.

Choosing Your Own Reality

I’ve always believed “reality” is subjective. We can “choose” to worry about about something that we do not control.We can focus on what “could” happen to you in this economy and keep a vision of a negative outcome in your mind.

Or, you can take action and create a strategy for your financial life while maintaining an expectation of a positive future. We live in a dualistic world, the opportunity to do well always exists or you can express destructive financial behaviors.

What Actions Can You Take?

1. First and foremost, get control of your finances by keeping track of your spending and earnings and creating a rational spending plan. If you are experiencing financial pain, it’s probably because of your lack of financial management skills.

In the movie, The Godfather, the expression used to meet a crisis was, “Go to the mattresses.” Millionaire Minds “Go to the prosperity jars”.

The Prosperity Jars are the simplest, most reliable money management system ever. I can assure you that once you overcome your resistance and pay attention to your numbers, you will feel much better about yourself and your money.

2. Look at your “stuff” and sell whatever you don’t like or use. Lots of avenues exist now for recycling stuff–garage sales, eBay, Craigslist and consignment shops. Instead of spending the money you generate, put it aside in your Financial Freedom account.

3. Reigning in spending requires discipline, which many people lack. Often, feelings of lack and deprivation stimulate spending to assuage the emotional discomfort. Stopping the spending means dealing with the feelings in order to remove the stimulation.

The Secret of the Millionaire Mind reminds us that, it’s never about the money; it’s always about the feelings in our financial blueprint. Build financial strength by dealing with the feelings behind your financial
beliefs while examining any emotional resistance to changing non-productive behaviors.

Focus on your plan, take action and follow the Action steps in the Secrets of the Millionaire Mind. And, “Turn off the TV and read a good business or motivational book and use what you learn to improve your business peicesses and expand your attitudes of wealth..

Millionaire Minds shape their own Financial Success

In many ways money is one of our most intimate relationships.

Our relationship to money mirrors our relationship to our significant others. Money likes to hang out with folks who love and take care of it. A dear friend and former Mastermind partner, Jonathan McMahon, once said that money loves to be counted; it is our way of noticing and appreciating money’s value.

How often have you said or heard others say, “If I had more money, I could be happy, secure, or fill in the ______.

During the Millionaire Mind Intensive we learned that we are responsible for our feelings, independent of the amount of money currently manifesting in our lives. Actively or unconsciously we choose our attitude, mood, and feelings.  We can change our money blue print — our habitual response to the world, the bridge between our internal drivers and external manifestations.

If our personal financial blue print contains feelings of shame, aloneness, anger, and deprivation, earning or controlling a large sum of money, will not change how we feel about ourselves. Yes we would have more money, but we would also have our old blue print and possibly the seeds of self-sabotage.

Be Here Now — Choosing To Be Happy

The secret to happiness lies not with more money but with learning how to be happy with what we have now, not in the future. I have often wondered if we might fear that if we are happy or satisfied with what we have now, we might not be motivated to expand our prosperity consciousness. The Secretes of the Millionaire Mind explains a wonderful paradox. The more contented you are, the more life experiences you will draw in that perpetrate that satisfaction.

Begin each day in gratitude. Acknowledge all the things and situations in your life that bring you some sort of pleasure. Look in your home, at the people you know, at the vendors who serve you, at your pets. When you find something, take a deep breath and say, “I am satisfied.” Take a moment to feel the joy of satisfaction.

At the end of every day, before you go to sleep, take a few moments to think about the things that happened that day that brought you satisfaction. If possible, make a list. I call this my “Thank You List”. As you write down or think about each event, take a deep breath and feel appreciation for each of the day’s blessings.

Millionaire Minds take note and appreciate the good in our lives

Big Success Requires BIG CHANGES!

It is no secret that I’m a big fan of Donny Deutsch’s The Big Idea on CNBC and his inspiring series, The Millionaire Inside.

Deutsch has interviewed many millionaires, including Robert Kiyosaki, John Paul DeJoria, Bill Bartman, Larry Winger, and Keith Ferrazi. During these interviews, millionaires have discussed what they believe are the primary ingredients to business success.

1. Relationships. Successful entrepreneurs manage and nurture their business and personal relationships. Relationships drive success. Surround yourself with successful people. Find three people you want to model and two accountability partners.

2. Be willing to change every aspect of your life. This could include changing the people in your life that are not supporting your new direction. Clean up your environment to get rid of physical and emotional clutter, creating a safe, comfortable place of your millionaire mind vision.

3. Be willing to take risks. In order to excel, security can’t be your primary focus.

4. Do not become a CRAP MAGNET. Stop whining and do something.

5. Learn from your mistakes and make plenty of them.

6. Attitude is a choice. Make a decision to be happy.

7. Take responsibility for every aspect of your life. Refuse to play the blame game.

8. Millionaire Minds are constant learners. Model rich and successful people by read motivating books and listen to audios. Let successful entrepreneurs guide you to success. (Visit your local library for FREE inspiration.)

9. PLAN DO CHECK ACT! Pay close attention to your personal financial blue print. Your personal and business finances reflect your belief system. To experience continuously improving financial success, actively monitor your state of mind.

Millionaire Minds Model Rich and Successful People

Live Well and Prosper

5-Steps from Idea to Product

The more time I spent on the StartUpNation website, the more I was impressed by both the wide variety of the business topics cover and the depth in which they are examined. The StartUpNation information guides are clearly written in a step-by-step format.

I have a passion for invention.

Invention development and licensing expert, Russell Williams, president and co-founder of InventionHome.com provides the best and simplest advice on going major league with great product ideas. His 5-Step process: Idea Conception, Basic Invention Market Research, Prototype Design & Development, Protecting the Invention, and Licensing and Going to Market is an outstanding article and if you are planning to bring a new product idea or process.

Inventing: Items of Interest

• “Commercial your Invention” information package (free) StartupNation members, get your free information package to help with each step in commercializing your invention.(get free package)

• 10 Tips for Landing a Product Licensing DealInventors can either build a new company to commercialize their product, or they can license their product to an existing company…(read more)

• All About Inventing Read articles, listen to podcasts, and find everything you need to know about inventing.(visit the topic)

• Have Invention, Will License It StartupNation chief startupologist, Rich Sloan, does a deep dive with mom inventor, Sue Yellowtail. (listen in)

• Forum: Commercializing your Invention Network, discuss, and read conversations from StartupNation members about commercializing inventions.(visit the forum)

• Getting an Invention Prototype Built OK, you know you need an invention prototype and you know how you’re going to use it. Now you need to actually get the thing built. Here’s some advice about where to turn for help.(visit the forum)

Helpful Business Links For Your Million Dollar Idea

Patents, Copyrights and Trademarks:

The USPTO
The USPTO is the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It is a vast and reliable resource for protecting your idea. From finding the correct forms you need to finding the right patent for you, the USPTO is an invaluable resource. Spend some time sifting through the pages and doing your patent homework!

Inventor Resources and Information

Find a Registered Patent Attorney In Your Area
Protecting your idea is always the biggest first step you can take. The questions everyone has is “How do I protect my idea?” or “Can I even patent this?”… as everyone’s situation and idea is different the best way to get information catered to your idea is to visit a patent attorney. It’s their JOB to give advice and make sure your idea is protected by US and international law, and you can be sure that any USPTO-registered attorney is not out to steal your idea. Also, MOST attorneys will offer a FREE exploratory meeting to determine what sorts of protection you need, how much it will cost and whether there is already an existing product out there. For any personalized patent questions, the best resource for your needs is most likely a skilled patent attorney! Start searching now!

The Library of Congress Copyright Office
A Copyright is a form of protection provided by the laws of the United States (title 17, U. S. Code) to the authors of “original works of authorship,” including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual works. This protection is available to both published and unpublished works.

Copyright FAQ

Trademark Central
A trademark includes any word, name, symbol, or device, or any combination used, or intended to be used, in commerce to identify and distinguish the goods of one manufacturer or seller from goods manufactured or sold by others, and to indicate the source of the goods. In short, a trademark is a brand name.

Helpful Resources For Finding Trade Shows:

“The Ultimate Trade Show Directory”

the world’s leading online resource for the trade show, exhibition and event industry since 1996. The Trade Show News Network (TSNN) owns and operates the most widely consulted event database on the Internet, containing data on more than 15,000 trade shows, exhibitions, public events and conferences. It also offers over 360,000 seminars through a strategic partnership.

Biz Trade Shows

It is Largest Online Directory of trade fairs and business events which brings you a comprehensive coverage of exhibitions, trade shows, expositions, conferences and seminars for various industries worldwide. This dedicated platform having more then 1000 tradeshows organizers with their 6000+ live trade events.

Trade Show Week

For over 36 years, Tradeshow Week® has been the voice of the exhibition industry, serving thousands of global companies and business leaders around the world.

Financing Help For Your Small Business:

US Small Business Administration
About The SBA: The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation

SBA Grants

SBA Loans

Government Grants

National Venture Capital Association

Helpful Manufacturing Tools:

US Government’s Manufacturer’s Toolbox

Manufacturing and Services (MAS) is a unit of the International Trade Administration, and is dedicated to enhancing the global competitiveness of U.S. industry, expanding its market access, and increasing exports.

ThomasNet

Alibaba.com
An independent website that allows you to connect with international manufacturers to begin production and manfacturing of your product on a larger scale.

Elance.com

Elance is a place where businesses connect with professionals to get work done now. With the largest network of rated and certified business professionals, Elance facilitates the entire work process from hiring to collaboration to payment.Businesses use Elance to achieve more by finding great people and getting work done in a new way.

Popular Business Networking Sites:

StarupNation

StartupNation is a free service founded by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs. The site was created to be your one-stop shop for entrepreneurial success, and we’re thrilled that StartupNation has grown to be the leading online content and community resource for entrepreneurs.It’s our belief that everyone can —and should—own a business, whether full-time or part-time. Our mission is to help you do just that!

Linkedin

Your professional relationships are key to your professional success. Our mission is to help you be more effective in your daily work and open doors to opportunities using the professional relationships you already have.This isn’t networking—it’s what networking should be.

Zoominfo
ZoomInfo is the premier business information search engine, with profiles on more than 37 million people and 3.5 million companies. ZoomInfo delivers fresh and organized information on industries, companies, people, products, services and jobs.

Do you have a favorite business resource? Share it with your fellow millionaire minded entrepreneurs.

Millionaire Minds Support Each Others Business Growth!

Live Well and Prosper

I recently discovered a great website that offers FREE PR information as well as a very reasonably priced PR service for small businesses. The site is called PR Toolkit

In addition to the many helpful articles the site offers a newsletter subscription to their PR 101 newsletter.

From the PR Toolkit for Small Business home page:

At PR Newswire we understand the challenges small businesses and entrepreneurs face.  You’re wearing multiple hats throughout the day and after you’re done wearing the president, bookkeeper and webmaster hats it can be difficult to find the time to promote your small business.  The reality is, by finding the time to issue a simple news release you can help your small business grow faster.

News releases? You mean those exclusive notices that major corporations send out to newspapers, radio and television in hopes of getting their name in print? Sure, you may be thinking, that’s fine for Microsoft and General Motors but who’s interested in me and my small business? The answer: thousands of media, investors and potential customers.

PR Newswire sends thousands of news releases out every year—many for small businesses and entrepreneurs just like you.  These companies benefit because their releases get read by media across the country and, very often, result in a written article.  Additionally, if you’re interested in a Web audience you can distribute your news releases to more than 4,000 Web sites, databases and online services like Yahoo!, MSN.com, and AOL.com– giving your release a potential audience of millions. This is great news for entrepreneurs and small business owners.

The PR Toolkit is designed to help you understand the basics of public relations and how PR Newswire can help you cost-effectively create visibility for your small business, products or services.  Please enjoy the valuable small business resources (tips and educational articles) contained in this site, and if at any time you would like to speak to a PR Newswire representative, please select Request Information.

Priced for small and emerging businesses

The cost of distributing your news release is determined by the newsline you select and the length of your news release. Each newsline covers a specific geographical area ranging from local, regional, national and international. Prices start at $180 for a city/metro or statewide distribution. A national distribution starts at $680.

Small Business Advice and Tips

Below you will find small business advice and resources, which have been created with small business owners and entrepreneurs in mind. The advice and tips section includes writing tips, photo tips, guidelines for formatting your release and common pitfalls to avoid. Visit the small business advice and tips page regularly for updates and new content.

The Answer: Grow Any Business, Achieve Financial Freedom and Live an Extraordinary Life, is a book for entrepreneurs and business owners.

Authors John Assaraf and Murray Smith have applied the simple principles they share in The Answer to build 17 successful businesses, some of them from zero to billions in sales and value. If you’ve been looking for “The Answer” to growing your business, achieving financial freedom and living an extraordinary life, you owe it to yourself to check it out. Many of you remember Assaraf as a teacher in ‘The Secret’ and successful serial entrepreneur,

It is by far the best book I have ever read on how to use the law of attraction and the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience to quantum leap the growth of any business.

Get the full story:

http://www.ReadTheAnswer.com/grow.php?jv=44

John and business-growth expert Murray Smith (they’re best friends and business partners) have applied the simple principles they share in “The Answer” to build 17 of their own successful businesses, some of them from zero to billions in sales and value.

Together, they have worked directly with more than 3,500 business owners in 30 countries and have changed the businesses and lives of thousands more.

“This book is a masterpiece! I couldn’t stop reading it. It is by far the best book I have ever read on how to use the law of attraction and the latest breakthroughs in neuroscience to quantum leap the growth of any business. It is now required reading for all my staff and all my Platinum Mastermind students.”

- Jack Canfield, Featured teacher in “The Secret,” co-author of The Success Principles™
and co-creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul® series

“The Answer’s time-tested principle–that your thoughts affect your destiny–is beautifully stated in Proverbs 23: ‘As man thinketh in his heart, so is he.’ Our brain is like a computer: garbage in, garbage out. This book shows you how to take out the garbage and start living a more fulfilling life.

- Ken Blanchard, co-author of The One Minute Manager® and The One Minute Entrepreneur™

“This book will change the way you look at business and life forever. The Answer is red hot and strikes at the heart of creating true and lasting business success. The true genius of this book is it’s universal relevance and common sense approach to enhancing all areas of business and life. It’s an enlightened read!”

- Ken Foster, CEO – Shared Vision Network, author – Ask and You Will Succeed

“The Answer takes us right to the heart of visionary business leadership, ethical business practices and profitability that goes beyond money to the true wealth of the inner spirit.”

- Michael Bernard Beckwith, founder of Agape International Spiritual Center and author of Inspirations
of the Heart, Forty Day Mind Fast Soul Feast, and A Manifesto of Peace

If you’ve been looking for “The Answer” to growing your business, achieving financial freedom and living an extraordinary life, you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Visit: http://www.ReadTheAnswer.com/grow.php?jv=44

Millionaire Minds are Coachable and Model Rich and Successful People

Wealth Principle The Law Of Income: You Will Be Paid In Direct Proportion To The Value You Deliver According To The Marketplace. Implementing the ‘Golden Rule’ by putting the customer first is one of the surest ways to add value to the marketplace. Based on customer interaction, every business is a service business. All ventures live and die based on their customers’ satisfaction and ensuing loyalty.

“No matter whether you manufacture, grow, produce, distribute, or sell, you are ‘in service.’” — Paul Hawken, Growing a Business

Structuring a customer-centric enterprise A strong, customer ethic and truly outstanding customer service begins with you and your employees. As the business owner, it is your responsibility to codify the customer service standards; then make sure everyone who represents your company, employees, contractors and in some case vendors, understand them and has the authority to implement them. Your representatives must have the ability to do what is necessary to make the customer happy without fear of reprisal. You hired them and trained them —trust them.

“Policies and procedures are helpful only as guides toward an end result. When employees run out of possibilities to make the customer happy, they must have the latitude to improvise to make it right. Most employees operate in a state of fear that their own generosity with a customer will be viewed as foolishness by their boss. This situation will stifle flexible customer service.” — Paul Hawken, Growing a Business

It is important to acknowledge your team for achieving stated service goals. The Golden Rule of business extends to your employees. Your employees are also customers of the business enterprise. Be quick to resolve solve daily annoyances that could lead to poor morale. Disgruntled employees are unlikely to extend them selves to assure end-user satisfaction. One of the big hurtles for emerging business is recruiting and hiring the “right” folks for the job. The owner isn’t the only individual who must wear many hats in an emerging business enterprise. Those first employees have to be technically versatile and very, very, customer-oriented. Stressing your business customer service requirements is a critical aspect of the hire process. A positive outlook and energetic attitude is a must. Try as you might, you can’t train against basic personality types. To paraphrase one of my favorite Texas Truisms — “You can’t fix pessimistic.” For more information on successful hiring practices, check out Winning by Jack Welsh. This book is a-must-have for your business library. In the next Millionaire Mind Support Network™ Blog — Staying Close To your Customer— I’ll look at ways to deliver excellent customer service in a way that allows the customer to access them in the most efficient, fair, cost effective, and humanly satisfying and pleasurable manner possible. If you have any customer service ideas, or experiences, please share them with the rest of your Millionaire Mind Support Network™ H. Sandra Chevalier-Batik Copyright © Serendal Research Institute 2007 All writings here are copyrighted. You may not use them without written permission but you may link to the posts or give out a link to the posts. Do you have a question for any of the Millionaire Minds Team? Drop me a line at sbatik@mymillionairemind.org and you may see your question answered in an upcoming blog or featured in our Millionaire Minds Forum.