(ThyBlackMan.com) I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays and were able to spend time with friends and family.
How do we make 2019 a successful financial and investment year? You control the most important variable that determines 2019 and tomorrow’s success- YOU! What are you doing to achieve success in 2019? Did you write those boring New Year Eve promises that 63% of us, including myself, get an F grade on completion? I stopped creating New Year’s resolutions sometime ago. I write my year’s priorities. For 2019: Health; Family; Net-Worth; Fun. I then create 90-day strategies and activities list (that I continuously modify) and if any activities do not support my priorities, I STOP wasting energy. Not suggesting you copy me, just showing what works for me.
There are many people most of us believe will have a successful year. What makes them different from you? If you did not know, J.K. Rowling is the ONLY author (Harry Potter) to earn more than $1 billion. In 2018 she earned ~ $54 million from books, movies, theme parks, and stage productions.
What ONE decision did she make that changed her life?
“I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was, and began to direct all my energy to finishing the only work that mattered to me. Had I really succeeded at anything else, I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one area where I truly belonged.”
When you hear about very successful people, Oprah, Warren Buffett, etc. we often assume they possess some super talent, one of a kind skills, greater creativity, etc. — that we do not. Reality, they placed all their energy in the work that mattered to them. Michael Jordan – Making his high school basketball team after being cut. Jeff Bezos – Selling books through the Internet. Bill Gates – Creating a new software company – Microsoft (today’s the world’s most valuable company at ~$800 billion.) Success was NEVER guaranteed. There are plenty of people who had similar dreams but lacked the ENERGY, FOCUS, DRIVE, and COURAGE to make those dreams reality.
I recently met a local man who cleans store and shopping malls parking lots and empties their trashcans. Stores like, Wal-Mart, Target, Home Depot, Strip Malls, etc. He started with one strip mall and now with three trucks, three sweepers and other employees; he has a net worth of $9 million. He is old enough to retire, but he still is working in HIS business, starting at midnight (the lots have to be nearly empty) EVERY morning. He was determined to clean that first lot better than anyone else. And his customers spread the word. He did not worry he lacked a certain degree, or a certain title. He wanted to own his own business and his business is cleaning parking lots. He also does not WASTE his money on things, on WANTS. If you saw him, most of you would walk by and assume he is just a typical worker. He does not drive a fancy car. He does live in a million dollar house, which has significantly appreciated over the years.
What are you good at? NOT what is your current job or career or hobby? What do you excel in that needs your ENERGY? Do you bake the best Seven Up cake in the world? Are you an outstanding Lawn Mower, Landscaper, Mathematician, Engineer, Doctor, Physical Therapist, etc?
Success is never assured, but if you are willing to work hard, persevere, and take a chance on yourself, BELIEVE IN YOURSELF- this is more than enough. You no longer have to wait to be accepted, promoted, elected, or somehow be discovered.
CONCLUSION
Began to direct your energy to finishing the only work that matters to you. Build your business. Find that dream job. Attract your own funding. Jeff Bezos borrowed from his parents to start Amazon. You can do a anything you want and do not need to wait for someone to discover your talents. The only thing holding you back is your willingness to try. And while you may not become the next J.K. Rowling, that’s okay. Be the best you.
DISCLAIMER
Thank you to all my readers for reading this week’s blog and other blog articles. I APPRECIATE YOU ALL!
I am a proud nerd (my beautiful wife and daughter told me so) investment and finance blogger, with a Rutgers, MBA and Harvard, Advanced Management. I am a successful investor in equities and real estate and happy to share my personal finance and investment lessons learned with you. I am NOT however, a licensed financial advisor. Please do not construe my suggestions on this blog, as recommendations for your personal situation. For individual finance advice please seek your own licensed CPA or financial advisors.
Staff Writer; Styron Powers
One may visit this brother over at; Powers Investments Management and also connect via LinkedIn; S. Powers.