Dare to Change Life Coaching & Mentoring

Tag: financial success

  • Essential #1 for Creating Wealth and Success

    Essential #1 for Creating Wealth and Success

     

    Would you agree that many people go through life and are constantly looking for keys to success, wealth, freedom, happiness….

    And very few realize that they have ALL the keys in them!

    I’ve observed many successful people and had a few experiences of truly remarkable successes and epic “failures” myself.

    So, starting today and for the next few weeks, I’m going to share with you some powerful Principles for Creating Success and Wealth.

    Essential #1 for Creating Wealth and Success:

    Take full responsibility for your financial situation

    • Let go of the “victim” attitude around money and wealth

    If you keep feeling, thinking and saying something like “I’m not lucky”, “I’m not good with money”, “I am not meant to be wealthy”, etc. – you will be experiencing events and circumstances that are congruent with this attitude and these thought patterns.

    That’s why you must let go of the victim attitude around money and wealth.

    You are in victim mode when you’re justifying, blaming or complaining how unlucky you are or how hard it is; when you’re willing to be disrespected or mistreated on some level only to maintain some sense of safety or comfort; when you’re making someone (or something) your Source and experience pain and suffering as the result of this; when you feel that life is happening to you, not for you.

    You are in empowered mode when you take full responsibility for your financial situation; accept where you are; acknowledge the challenges and start focusing on possible solutions – what you can do every day, every month and every year to make your life situation better.

    YOU can only change what is under your control – your attitude, your choices, your focus.

    • Do not make anyone or anything your Source; do not give your power away

    Any time you make someone or something the Source of your success, wealth or happiness, you set yourself up for disappointment.

    Because when you become cut off from your true Source – God / Universe / Divine Intelligence – you may run out of energy, feel overwhelmed, and burned out.

    It makes it impossible for you to show up authentically – to be the person you were created to be, giving the gifts you were meant to give and fulfilling the greater purpose life has for you.

    NOBODY is your Source. Yet everybody can be your channel…of abundance, or wisdom, or expansion, or transformation, or love….

    • Make money important in your life

    Taking responsibility for your financial situation involves a decision to make money important in your life.

    Making money important doesn’t mean becoming attached to the symbols of wealth (e.g. expensive gadgets, designer clothes and fancy cars) and linking your personal worth to your net worth.

    Making money important means appreciating the money you have right now; paying attention to your relationship with money and your money habits; having the intention of growing wealth, and becoming a savvy manager of your money.

    Energy flows where attention goes. And Money is energy.

    • Use the power of PERSPECTIVE

    Look for lessons and gifts that could be present in your challenging experiences. Pay attention to the MEANING YOU ASSIGN to your experiences…the STORY YOU CREATE about your situation.

    As Dr Wayne Dyer said “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.”

    Adopt the belief that life happens FOR you, NOT TO you.

    Let me know what AHAs or insights you got from this Principal #1!

    Until next time… stay empowered.

    To your Health, Wealth and Freedom!

    P.S. And if you want to dive deeper and get access to the UNIQUE opportunity that WILL TRANSFORM YOUR LIFE, I encourage you to sign up for the

    FREE Masterclass “Creating Wealth from the Inside Out“:

    http://daretochangelife.com/wealth-webinar/

    Missed the live mini-class on our Facebook Page? No problem! It’s right here below.

     

     

  • 4 Common Mistakes People Make When Managing Financial Priorities and How to Avoid Them

    4 Common Mistakes People Make When Managing Financial Priorities and How to Avoid Them

    Do you want to be Financially Independent? Do you want to have more Freedom? More Choices? More Money?

    OK, these are rhetorical questions…. Of course you do!

    And what I’ve noticed is that there are two immediate mental reactions that most people have when they are asked these questions.

    Some say: “It will not happen to me because __________ (e.g. “I’m broke”, “I’m not good with money”, “I don’t have a right profession / business”, “I’m single”, “Wealth makes people greedy”, “I don’t know how”.)

    Others say: “What needs to happen so I have more Freedom, more Choices and more Money?” “What do I need to change? Learn? Do? How to Be?”

    While having a nice income, or a rental property, or a portfolio of stocks is great, creating financial independence is waaaaay bigger than choosing the right stocks, buying properties, or making money at your job or in your business!

    Financial Independence is about your way of being – taking choices that are congruent with your values and goals (financial and personal), having confidence and competence to manage your financial priorities so that the decisions you make get you closer and closer to your highest vision for life and work!

    And it’s also about creating multiple streams of income by using your skills and passions (business), your money and knowledge (investing), other people’s money and resources (leverage) or all of the above in order to have the lifestyle you dream about.

    There are many factors that play a role in how quickly you can become financially independent. And one of the most important factors is becoming really good at managing your financial priorities.

    This one factor allows some people to live free of financial worries and anxiety while others to feel like they have to slave for money…for the rest of their life.

    And this is true across different sociological and income groups!

    So, what common mistakes people make when it comes to managing financial priorities? And how you can avoid these mistakes and get well on your way to financial independence?

    Here’re some common mistakes that I’ve observed:

    1. Lack of Awareness about Core Values.

    When you’re not aware of what is REALLY important in your life, you act sporadically. You make yearly resolutions not to spend more money than you make, not to have more debt, not to buy more “stuff”….

    BUT then you get off track when you see a new shiny object like a designer dress or an exotic vacation offer, or _______ and you get your credit card out of your wallet and… get into debt again!

    Be clear about your Core Values.

    For example, if one of your core values is to have more freedom, more choices, more peace of mind – this awareness will help you avoid the financial temptations and make decisions that are congruent with your Core Values.

    1. Not Setting Intentions.

    When you don’t set your financial intentions, you create randomly, often from a place of fear, doubt, and powerlessness. Since you’re creating all the time, why not to be intentional about your creations?

    You want to have an emergency fund by a certain date? Set the intention!

    You want to grow your wealth by making strategic investments? Set the intention!

    You want to receive income from passive investments to support your desired lifestyle? Buy a new car? A house? Set an intention!

    Intentions direct energy. Intentions set in motion possibilities.

    Intentions direct experiences that you need to have so that your intentions become your reality.

    Setting the intentions is the way to leverage the infinite organizing power of the Universe.

    1. Focusing on Problems instead of Solutions.

    What you focus on, expands. You know that, right?

    So, when you focus on how you cannot afford to buy _________, or how you cannot invest in __________, or how unlucky you are because you don’t make enough money – you focus on problems instead of solutions.

    Choose to Focus on what you say YES TO when you manage your financial priorities!

    For example, you can ask yourself “what would need to happen so I’ll be able to _______?” “What can I do today, this week, this month to make more money? To pay off my debt AND save more? To invest and grow my wealth?”

    You can brainstorm different options, write them down, choose which ones excite you the most and take the first step…and the next…and the next.

    With the focus on solutions, you’ll be able to take inspired actions!

    And even small actions taken towards your desired financial results  will help you make better financial decisions.

    1. Not Living in Integrity with Your Financial Goals.

    You may know your core values and even set your intentions and financial goals. But if you don’t practice financial discipline, if you don’t live in a way that supports your financial goals, it’s unlikely that you become financially independent any time soon.

    Because knowing what you need to do is not enough!

    Implementing your knowledge, doing what needs to be done even if it’s not easy or uncomfortable – THAT shows your commitment and determination. 

    THAT will lead to results! Because “devil is in execution”, agree?

    And even if you made some financial mistakes in the past – it doesn’t matter! Because you are NOT your experiences!

    Managing your financial priorities well is a skill that you can attain and practice!  

    If you’re not where you want to be in your life, financially – it’s time to change.

    Manage your financial priorities in the ways that support your financial goals and core values.

    To Your Health,Wealth and Freedom!

    Millen

    P.S. For the next 24 hours ONLY – special offer to celebrate Independence Day! If you haven’t benefited yet from working with me or speaking to me in person, I offer you a complimentary Make Money Work For You strategy session!! You can book it HERE

  • 3 Myths About Financial Success

    3 Myths About Financial Success

    MYTH #3: HIGH EXPECTATIONS

    “This was such a stupid decision to leave your marriage… he is a good man and a provider…”

    “By this phase in your life, you should have had a large house with a swimming pool, a luxury car and a large bank account… instead you are divorced, live in a crappy apartment and don’t have a steady job!”

    “You live like a student and you’re in your forties… yet you have great education and tons of experience… What’s wrong with you?!”

    “By now your business should make tons of money… Maybe it’s not meant to be….”

    These are the comments I’ve heard from friends and family members over the years.

    I didn’t live up to their expectations…and, frankly, to my own…

    The expectations for myself – my personal life, financial success and business success – were adding more pressure and made me feel like a loser. Someone who wasted time and opportunities. Someone who had a high potential and failed.

    A few years forward: I remarried, developed a successful investment company, became financially independent and have a freedom to live where I want and do what I love….

    Expectations => Attachments

    I had to learn to surrender…find security in the wisdom of uncertainty… set  my intentions and let go of any attachments to the desired outcome…“stay in my lane” and not compare my life with others….

    And it’s NOT a “one day” decision. It’s an on-going process…of letting go… exhaling expectations and attachments to the outcome… and appreciating the present moment…acting in spite of doubts and fears…having faith.

    Look at nature…Different animals have different gestation period for carrying a baby. Different fruit trees have a completely different cycle of blossom. Nature doesn’t have “expectations”. It has its rhythm and intrinsic wisdom.

    If you set your intentions and manage to detach yourself from the ego-driven expectations for your financial success (while taking consistent actions and moving in the direction of your vision even if your beliefs are lagging) – you’ll allow the abundance to flow to, through and from you. Un-abstractedly. Easily.

    MYTH #2: HARD WORK

    “I found my purpose… I work hard. Even when I struggle – with my health or money – I push through.”

    “I give my business all my energy, money and my time. I push through, I sacrifice EVERYTHING to live my vision, my purpose!”

    It sounds good, right?

    WRONG!

    You emit energy that is either attractive or repelling.

    • When you’re in the “I work hard, damn it, I sacrifice my life” or “I need clients so badly” mental state – you are either in an energetic state of resentment or desperation.
    • When you chase after clients, you emit energy of neediness and exhaustion. It’s heavy. It’s not attractive. It’s not the energy people want to be around.
    • When you find JOY and FUN in your work and create from that place…
    • When you ALLOW yourself to be more playful, more at ease…
    • When you let your body rest and recharge if needed…
    • When you spend time in nature…meditate…experience whatever brings you sense of peace and joy…
    • When you take the time to “water your own garden”…

    You SHINE AS YOU and THAT is your ultimate purpose.

    Yes, in order to realize your vision and create wealth, you must put out consistent efforts, day after day.

    However, living your purpose DOES NOT REQUIRE SACRIFICE.

    STRUGGLE (aka HARD WORK) IS NOT a PREREQUISITE for SUCCESS.

    Do you know that the Universe has unlimited organizing power?!

    When you release energetic blocks and your body and mind are aligned with Abundance Consciousness, right opportunities and right people show up in your life… naturally and effortlessly.

    It’s a shift in the Way of Your Being. It’s a state of consciousness that attracts opportunities, money and happiness with effortless ease.

    Your high vibration energy is a true magnet of success, including financial success.

    MYTH #1: FINANCIAL SECURITY

    When I want something, I like to ask myself “What would need to happen so I have this?”

    So, my question to you today: “What would need to happen in your life so you’d feel financially secure?”

    Here’re some answers I heard from people:

    • “If I were making 6 figure salary, I would feel much more secure.”
    • “I will feel truly secure once I have $200,000 on my bank account.”
    • “Once my business will make 5-figure monthly, I’ll feel financially secure.”
    • “When my husband will find a job, I’ll feel so much more secure.”
    • “If I were married, I’d feel more financially secure.”

    All of these desires seem to be very valid sources of financial security…. Yet many people who make 6 figure salary, or have $200K on their bank account, or finally made 5-figure per month in their business, or have a partner who has a job…still feel insecure. Hell, many millionaires (“the stars”) feel financially insecure…

    WHY??!!

    The paradox is that SECURITY YOU’RE SEEKING LIES WITHIN.

    Here’s the evolution of your sense of security.

    When you were born, while a defenseless baby, you felt secure.

    Then at school or/and in your family, you were conditioned into conformity. You were compared to others…. Your unique qualities, talents and abilities were ignored or not appreciated. Your light was dimmed.

    And you so desperately wanted to be loved and acknowledged – by your parents, your teachers, your friends – that you started losing your uniqueness while trying to conform and to fit in.

    When we are shamed into conformity, we often feel confused, discouraged and “not worthy”….

    That’s when we start feeling insecurities and anguish; become self-critical and judgmental. That’s when we start feeling “not enough” – “not enough” to be loved, “not enough” to be successful, “not enough” to be wealthy.

    Self-criticism and self-sabotage get in the way of everything, including financial success. They destroy moneymaking abilities. They cause money dis-ease.

    Can you respect and love yourself in spite of personal adversities and mistakes you’ve made? In spite of your stupid choices, bad decisions and current financial struggles??

    CAN YOU?

    Because COMING TO LOVE IS YOUR ULTIMATE LIFE JOURNEY.

    YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE.

    No need to act with an intention “to please others”, or to explain yourself, or to convince them that you’re worthy.

    LOVE YOURSELF JUST THE WAY YOU ARE – PERFECTLY IMPERFECT.

    SELF-LOVE will boost your confidence (and when you’re confident, you focus on solutions, not problems).

    HIGHER CONFIDENCE will boost your energy.

    HIGHER ENERGY will boost your security.

    MONEY FLOWS TO SECURITY and AWAY FROM INSECURITY.

    BY FEELING MORE SECURE, YOU WILL PROSPER!  

    If you believe that the state of your consciousness holds the key to your life experiences and want to finally EXPERIENCE FINANCIAL SECURITY, you’d love my 10-week Activate Effortless Wealth online personal group mentoring program.

    Find more details HERE.

    To Your Health, Wealth and Freedom!

    Millen

    P.S. contact me if you have questions about the Activate Effortless Wealth training

  • Your Path To Financial Freedom: Where Do You Start?

    Your Path To Financial Freedom: Where Do You Start?

    There are tons of books and seminars these days about abundance because it’s a “hot topic” now. Everybody wants it, everybody likes to talk about it.

    But what does abundance mean to you?

    Luxurious houses, expensive cars, designer clothes, exquisite jewelry?

    Or maybe for you it means having the freedom to choose how to spend your time and live your life?

    Whatever it is, I invite you to define it for yourself if you want to experience it one day.

    Many of us were raised with limiting beliefs’ programming. This external conditioning implies that you are confined to a certain level of possibilities in your life that is restricted by things like your parents’ social status, your race, religion, education, country of origin, etc.

    It is often so deeply ingrained in our minds that we often sabotage ourselves and have no idea that we have these “blind spots”! It’s really hard to think and live wealthy when your perception of what’s possible for you is defined by your past, or your current challenges, or others’ opinions.

    The good news is that it’s a complete and shameful lie.

    You are powerful by design.

    You are only limited by your own imagination and beliefs’ system.

    You and only you can make the decision to live your best life, to experience abundance and joy or… to complain and compare yourself with others who seem to have everything that you would like to have. Yes, it’s a matter of choice. (more…)

  • Think and Live Wealthy: 13 Guidelines for Becoming Financially Independent

    Think and Live Wealthy: 13 Guidelines for Becoming Financially Independent

    “In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt

    Money is an interesting indicator of our state of mind. Emotions like paralyzing fear, envy, revenge, resentment, scarcity, hatred or bitterness usually reflect less than desirable state of financial affairs in our lives. On the other hand, emotions like peacefulness, kindness, contentment, appreciation, happiness, joy, love and serenity reflect the state of mind that is open to receive the abundance that Universe has for everyone…. Among many things, money is a language we use to express the best in us and the worst in us. (more…)

  • Competing Financial Priorities: 3 Human Biases About Money

    Competing Financial Priorities: 3 Human Biases About Money

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    I recently saw the statistics that 60 % of baby boomers are more afraid of running out of money in their retirement than they are afraid of death. Millennials are buying cryptocurrencies, often using their credit cards, with hopes of become overnight millionaires.

    Over 70% of businesses fail within the first 5 years because of cash flow problems.

    From my personal experience and observations, awareness of your money habits, planning your financial future, and having financial discipline are the most critical factors for creating a comfortable retirement.

    As Robert Kiyosaki once said, “It’s not how much money you make that matters most, but how much money you keep. How hard it works for you and how many generations you keep it for.”

    Making a good living does not automatically put you in the “more than enough” or “affluent” category. Because it’s not just about how much you earn but also what you do with what you earn. Do I hear “Yes”?

    Now let’s go over different ways you can choose to manage your competing financial priorities.

    If you want to become financially independent, one of the most important skills you must acquire is managing your money intentionally, so that regardless of your current income, you become richer every month and every year.

    How do you accomplish this?

    By managing your competing financial priorities while saving and growing your money.

    When it comes to managing your financial priorities, it’s a good idea to be aware of the three human biases that may affect you financial choices and decisions.

    1. The Present Bias

    As a human being, you are wired to take care of immediate needs first, making sure your essential requirements for food, shelter and security are met. So it’s understandable that when current, short-term financial needs and goals compete for your attention, saving for the future gets neglected. For example, when you focus on car and home repairs, your kids’ day-care or private school, or a new heating/cooling system, your long-term savings for big purchases such as education, financial emergencies, or retirement go to the back burner.

    The famous Hierarchy of Human Needs by psychologist Abraham Maslow outlines the progression of human needs and human awareness as we ascend from meeting our immediate survival needs to the need to feel fulfilled and self-actualized.

    We like to say: “Live in the moment”, right?

    Right, but not when it comes to your money; with money you must be intentional.

    Most people have difficulty envisioning distant events. It’s easy to envision, associate with and express immediate financial needs. This is something that financial professionals refer to as “the present bias.” The “present bias” makes you handle competing financial goals by assigning your highest priority to immediate needs and nearest goals, and overlooking the long-term financial priorities.

    1. The Availability Bias

    The availability bias is another mental pitfall when you are very comfortable with your current available income and assume that you will always have it. So, why bother thinking about long term financial goals?

    While this bias pertains to all humans, it’s especially common among new entrepreneurs and famous sports figures, who often go through feast/famine experiences and some end-up in financial ruin. Many of the currently well-off folks treat their businesses or contracts as their piggy banks that are available to cover any and all desires.

    1. The Busy-bee Bias

    The busy-bee bias is very common among highly paid professionals who are so busy making money that they don’t make time to plan how they can grow it, let alone how they can make their money work for them!

    These people rely heavily on the easily available information and often don’t do their due diligence on the accuracy of the advice and integrity of the source from which they receive their financial advice. As the result, they put more value on the easily available solutions rather than more strategic ones and end up disappointed.

    The tendencies and biases I have mentioned often cause people to spend everything they are currently earning. They want to enjoy their money to the fullest while they can, or save and invest first for their family’s educational goals, rather than diversifying their savings across different financial priorities like planning their financial future, retirement, health-related needs, and creating financial independence.

    More often than not, goals like buying a new car or a house, financing private school or college tuition for your kids, become top priorities relative to retirement or financial independence goals. However, you don’t want to burden your kids by depending on their financial support when you get older, right?

    So, how can you manage competing financial priorities, the immediate and the upcoming ones? The solution may be as simple as asking yourself if the financial priorities you’re focusing on now are really the most important ones, given your overall goals in life, not only your immediate needs.

    Here are two simple questions you can ask yourself:

    1. What are my short and long term priorities in life?
    2. What are my core values that help me experience more joy and fulfillment in life?

    The answers to these questions will help you sort out your financial priorities.

    For example, one of my core values is FREEDOM. I can be content driving an older car, leading a modest lifestyle and wearing stylish but not necessarily designer clothes and shoes. However, I am willing to do whatever it takes to achieve financial independence so that I can have the Freedom of Choice in my life.

    Now, pause and write down answers to the two questions above.

    Share your experiences in the comments.  I would love to know how you manage your competing financial priorities.

    And here’s the recording of the mini-class on this topic

    To Your Health, Wealth, and Freedom!

    Millen