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Financial Freedom

Oprah’s 10 commandments for lifelong success

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Rather than love, than money, than fame, give me truth. – Henry David Thoreau

I recently read the book Oprah Winfrey Speaks : Insights from the World’s Most Famous Influential Voice.

It was very inspiring.

Here are some of the things the “Queen of Media” had to say:

“Just tell the truth. It’ll save you every time.”

“Don’t complain about what you don’t have. Use what you’ve got. To do less than your best is a sin.”

“Every single one of us has the power for greatness, because greatness is determined by service-to yourself and to others.”

“I am a woman in progress. I’m just trying like everyone else. I try to take every conflict, every experience and learn from it. All I know is that I can’t be anybody else. And it’s taken me a long time to realize that.”

“If you’re angry, be angry and deal with it. Don’t go eat a bag of Ruffles.”

“God blesses you better when you pray on your knees.”

Oprah Winfrey is worth an astounding $2 billion dollars. I figured if anyone could talk about what it takes to be successful it’s her.

OPRAH ON COMMENCING SUCCESS

Oprah gets requests to speak at college commencements. Sometimes she accepts. Hear her talk about life and success to recent college grads in this 2018 commencement video.

And now, let’s talk Oprah’s 10 commandments for success.

OPRAH ON PLEASING OTHERS

Oprah Winfrey’s Ten Commandments for Success

  1. Don’t live your life to please others.

You better believe it. When I was younger, I was so concerned with what other people thought of me. I was teased so bad that I just got numb to it all.

I started focusing on my education. Read every book I could get my hands on. Looked for colleges I could go to that were affordable. Made sure my personal style and grooming became impeccable. The teasing stopped. I never looked back. Read my post on being fearless. 

That was in high school.

When I stopped trying to people please my life got better.

I also noticed whenever someone would call me selfish after I just finished helping them out or because I chose not to help them out at onetime or another. Just ignore the them. Push ahead and move forward.

I let those people go and cut them out of my life. Or cut them back. I need people that will lift me up.

No one can stop you. If you are meant to have it, no one can stop you from getting it.

Thank u, next!

OPRAH ON DEPENDING ON SELF

2. Don’t depend on forces outside of yourself to get ahead.

That’s right. Everything I every really got in life was due to hard work, determination, and persistence.

It didn’t matter if someone helped me out or gave me anything. I still had to work to keep or maintain it.

OPRAH ON HARMONY AND COMPASSION

3. Seek harmony and compassion in your business and personal life.

I too have noticed when I have my personal life in order, then I can also get my professional life in order.

The two are connected.

A cluttered home or office usually leads to a cluttered mind.

Simplify your life and always keep moving forward.

Like that animated movie, Meet the Robinsons taught its young audience, you can’t stop moving forward.

OPRAH ON SURROUNDING YOURSELF WITH GOOD PEOPLE

4. Get rid of the backstabbers—surround yourself only with people who will lift you higher.

In the book, Oprah Winfrey speaks, Maya Angelou went to court when Oprah was involved in a lawsuit in Texas. When asked what made her come down to Texas she stated, “I am here to lift Oprah up. For no other reason than that.”

Get rid of naysayers, negative Nancy’s, and Debbie Downers. They will only bring you down.

You do not have to be friends with everyone. Everyone does not have to like you. But we can respect each other.

OPRAH ON BEING NICE

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5. Be nice.

A little kindness can go a long way.

I learned that Oprah said as a little girl her family was poor. They had so little money that one time they could not even celebrate Christmas.

Then on this one fateful night, a group of nuns visited her family and offered Christmas dinner. Oprah was so grateful and thankful that someone cared she decided she would make sure in her life she always helped others.

Due to this story, I decided I would also do the same. Making a difference in the life of others is its own reward. I love to write. So, I write. I don’t do it for the money. I do it because this is my passion.

OPRAH ON GETTING RID OF VICES

6. Rid yourself of your addictions—whether they are food, alcohol, drugs or behavior habits.

Yep. I had an addition to credit and shopping. It took years to understand that I was psychologically using shopping as a way to fill avoid.

 Once I was able to identify the problem, I am happy to report that shopping was never a problem  for me again. I shop with lists, on a budget, and do not impulse buy.

You are looking at a reformed shopaholic.

I also was able to change my eating habits because I focused my energy more on working than eating.

I only needed three square meals to do the work. Made sure not to have idle hands. And to get the work done, it required me to exercise so I would have more energy and strength to work even more doing my passion!

OPRAH ON SMART PEOPLE

7. Surround yourself with people who are as smart or smarter than you.

I once read a woman say she when she goes out on she asks dates men do they have a passport and a library card.

She wanted someone who had traveled and was as well-read as she herself was. Since, it’s easier to maintain a relationship with people we have things in common with. She figured just ask for what she wanted. 

I always recommend books for people to read about finances.That way, instead of always having to ask someone for help, pay a professional financial advisor, or feel inadequate in any way you would now be knowledgeable.

I like to fill the gaps in anyone’s financial education. That way, if you know what I know, we are equals.

This is also why many people tend to meet and marry people that run in their social circles. It’s easier.

OPRAH ON MONEY

8. If money is your motivation, forget it.

Don’t even get me started.

It’s funny because I noticed whenever I focused on money it never appeared. When I stopped focusing on it, like chicken little said, it fell from the sky.

Money attracts money. Money is attracted to money.

Therefore, it is best to figure out who you want to be and what you want to do. If you are good at whatever it is, the money seems to come.

“Do what you love and the money will follow.” — Marsha Sinetar.

Build up the capital first, then start a business.

“If you wish to get rich, save what you get. A fool can earn money; but it takes a wise man to save and dispose of it to his own advantage.” ― Brigham Young

I learned that like I control a car, I also control and command my money. I tell it what to do. It doesn’t control me. YOU control it!

When you are angry, frightened or beg for money it seems to pull away from you.

If you act like this, would you want to hang out with you?

OPRAH ON POWER

9. Never hand over your power to someone else.

Absolutely, not!

When I read Pat Benatar’s biography, the two things I remember most are this:

One – when she said that her family went on annual vacations on someone else’s dime. Their creditor. They borrowed from their home to do it.This caused the family to go from having a home that was purchased for $7,000 to balloon to a $45,000 balance! They traded their life energy and many more years of working for a few days of fun every year. The creditor after 20+ years of payments still had power over their lives. She said it was not worth it.

Two – after signing her record deal with Chrysallis, she said she became an indentured servant. The label or “suits” had control of everything they did. It ruined relationships within the band that took years to repair, if ever. When her contract ended she never gave her power away again!

These are lessons we all can profit from. Do not give up your power. NEVER. EVER. EVER. 

OPRAH ON PERSISTENCE

10. Be persistent in pursuing your dreams

Never give up if you really want something, keep plugging away at it and your dreams can come true. – Robin Leach

I agree. One of my biggest dreams in life was to get a good education. It took me years to get where I wanted to go, but it happened.

Now, I not only finished college, but on average I read about 50 books a year.

It took me 15 years to get to the level I aspired for myself.

I just never gave up.

And neither should you.

Careers, Celebrities and Money, Relationships, Self-Made Millionaires, Wealth

Oprah’s 5 lessons for a great life

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Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you. – Oprah Winfrey

I fully agree with that statement. I learned from Richard Branson, the founder of Virgin, to do what excites me. So, every post I write is a topic that I am excited about.

I write what’s brewing around in my head, what is burning in my soul, and straight from my heart.

Sometimes, I think of that scene in Spider-man Homecoming when Tony Stark (Iron Man played by Robert Downey Jr. aka RDJ) meets Peter Parker (played by Tom Holland).

You can check out that scene here.

He says this to him:

Tony Stark: Why are you doing this, huh? What’s your MO? I’ve got to know, what gets you out of that twin bed every morning?

I ask myself that question. What  gets me out of bed every morning and gets me going? If it doesn’t excite me, then I’m not going to do it. And that is exactly how I feel about writing for this blog.

This blog will be very lively and spirited. That’s me. Full of energy.

GET EXCITED

I don’t plan to bore you. I want to be the place you go to wake up to. Like a radio station. I want people to come here to learn new things, get inspired, and when they leave to feel good.

I also try to only do what excites me in my personal life as well. There’s no fear of missing out for me. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen. If not, move one. There’s always another rainbow, opportunity, or chance for adventure somewhere. I say, onward and upwards.

Obviously, Oprah needs no introduction. You know the face and you know the name.

She has won multiple Daytime Emmy’s, been nominated for an Oscar, and is regularly asked to attend and speak at major events all over the world.

Well, Oprah once did the commencement address at Wellesley in 1997. In her address, she discusses 5 important lessons she has learned for a better life.

Here are  the 5 quotes from Ms. Oprah Winfrey that have inspired me and I hope they do the same for you.

OPRAH ON LIFE

My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style. –  Maya Angelou 

  1. Life is a journey. Every day experiences will teach you who you really are.

I remember reading a book and a man commented that he witnessed someone being mistreated. When he asked the man why he didn’t say mean things back to those who were saying awful things to him, he responded, “You cannot fight hate with anger. You can only show people who you are by how you live your life.”

Indeed.

See my post on how to thrive by working harder than others that I learned from Jay Leno

Money Lessons I learned from Jay Leno

OPRAH ON PEOPLE

When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. – Maya Angelou

2. When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. This is especially helpful with men. Don’t force them to beat you over the head with the message.

I have definitely learned this lesson.

In this life, if you want to not only survive and thrive, then you must learn to weed out the good from the bad apples quick!

Check out my post on what can happen to people that learn to value things more than people.

Money and Relationships…3, 2, 1

OPRAH ON WISDOM

A loving heart is the truest wisdom. – Charles Dickens

3. Turn your wounds into wisdom. Everyone makes mistakes. They are just God’s way of telling you you’re moving in the wrong direction.

If you ever saw that movie Sky High, his mom told him the following:


OPRAH ON BEING GRATEFUL

Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom. – Marcel Proust

4. Be grateful. Keep a daily journal of the things you are grateful for. It will keep you focused on the abundance in your life.

It most certainly helps to think about all you do have, instead of what you don’t.

OPRAH ON HAVING VISION

Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.  – Melody Beattie

5. Create the highest, grandest vision possible for your life because you become what you believe.

We have to teach our girls that they can reach as high as humanly possible. – Beyonce

I remember reading that Bella Thorne creates a vision board for herself every year. Say what you want about her, but she is a hard working woman. You know why? It’s because she has a vision.

Arnold Schwarzenegger does something similar. Read all about it below. Very motivational.

How Arnold Schwarzenegger Totally Recalls making $20 million-dollar paychecks

If you want something in this life, you better be prepared to work for it. Nothing is free. Rarely is anyone ever handed anything in life. And even if you are, do you know what to do with it? Or how to manage it? It’s a lot harder to stay on top, when you haven’t done any of the work it takes to get there in the first place.

It wasn’t until I decided that I would be rich, that I started earning and attracting more money.

I learned that it all starts with the mind. Change your thoughts, change your life.

Celebrities and Money, Financial Freedom, Financial Independence, Self-Made Millionaires, Wealth

The six ways to get rich

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“What’s keeping you from being rich? In most cases, it’s simply a lack of belief. In order to become rich, you must believe you can do it, and you must take the actions necessary to achieve your goal.” —Suze Orman

Sure, there are lots of ways to get rich, but they all fall into one of these six categories as there are only six ways to actually get rich.

The six ways to get rich are:

  • Capitalize on a unique skill or talent.
  • Marry rich.
  • Inherit money.
  • Own a business.
  • Take calculated risks and get lucky.
  • Spend less than you earn and invest wisely.

Let’s explore each category.

CAPITALIZE ON TALENT

Don’t make money your goal. Instead, pursue the things you love doing and then do them so well that people can’t take their eyes off of you.” ― Maya Angelou.

Become an expert in one area or niche and exploit it. Dominate that field. And never stop growing.

If you read my post on Beyoncé, you will notice that she started young, developed her craft, and expanded her expertise. She not only sings, but dances, endorses products, started businesses, and writes songs. She owns what she does. Everything from trademarks – Blue Ivy and Ivy Park – to owning a music streaming service. Put it simply, she dominates in her field.

If you want to be the next J.K. Rowling or Stephen King, then you just have to start writing. J.K. Rowling famously said she was rejected at least 12 times before anyone would publish Harry Potter. Persistence and determination are vitally important if you want to succeed. And just FYI, it took her 7 years to write Harry Potter.

MARRY RICH

“Don’t you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? You wouldn’t marry a girl just because she’s pretty, but my goodness, doesn’t it help?”

―Marilyn Monroe as Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Dating is all about introductions and proximity. It doesn’t matter if you swipe right on Tinder or meet at your family’s country club, you just have to get some face time. You can’t date who you can’t see or touch.

In my experience, men date and marry women who are in their vicinity or social circle. Therefore, if you are looking for a rich man, then you have to be where they are i.e., charity events, sports games, auction houses, doctoral seminars, or the like.

In addition, if you know where wealthy men tend to reside, then hey you can pack up and find a job there and frequent their haunts. Location, location, location baby.

People also tend to look for partners that are successful in their own right. You don’t necessarily have to be rich, but having some sort of talent or career outside of just being a wealthy mate’s plus one bodes well for you and your prospects of landing and keeping a partner. So, invest in yourself – get educated, cultured, learn opera, play piano, paint or learn another language – either way you have a skill.

Above all else, respect yourself. Have your own life, career, friends, family, and money. No one wants a loner that can barely make rent, they want someone who is open to people, new experiences, and can pick up the check.

Don’t agree. Well, how’s this for food for thought; Chrissy Teigen once responded to a mean tweet by telling someone she does not just spend someone else’s money, but in two words replied: “my money.” She also went on to note her Forbes ranking and that she is a best-selling cookbook author. She basically told people to chew on that – no pun intended. A very nice retort on her part and her equivalent of put that in your pipe and smoke it.

Ah, gotta love that Chrissy.

You have to admit it sure sounds better when you can list your own accomplishments.  Respect for self is attractive and shows confidence. And confidence is key.

INHERIT MONEY

I would rather make my name than inherit it. – William Makepeace Thackeray

Studies into the wealth of households have shown that most wealth today is now earned than inherited. In my experience, people truly appreciate and cherish that which they work and sweat for.

For example, when I was given gifts of money or other items I am usually losing or unable to tell you whom gave me the gift. The car in my driveway that I worked so hard for is still there 15 years later.

There are those that inherit their fortunes, but the saying goes that a fool and his money are soon parted. I suggest you get a career, get educated, and learn a craft to earn your own living. If you do inherit, then you can manage your money instead of squandering it.

OWN A BUSINESS

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me. – Carol Burnett

Starting a business is what two-thirds of millionaires do. This lets you know that if you are successful and become rich, then most likely you will or do own a business at some point in your life.

I suggest determining what you are good at and then turning that into a business. Passion is great, but just because you are passionate about golf and want to be a pro golfer does not mean that is what you are good at or meant to do.

Also study up and get a mentor or work with people in the field you want to be in. Read books, attend seminars and save money. All businesses need capitol. If you can find a business to start with a low barrier to entry such as a food truck or blogging, then the better.

BIG RISKS FOR BIG REWARDS

“If you want big rewards, you gotta take big risks.” Jessica Biel as Tenley Parrish in Summer Catch (2001)

If you read my post, wealth comes from doing not luck, then you understand that from preparedness comes opportunity and hard work creates luck and success.

It is okay to take risks, but I prefer calculated ones. The ones where you do your research, study your results, learn from you’re mistakes or the ones of others and keep moving forward. Make that pro con list, watch videos, attend conferences or better yet, speak to those that have done or are doing what you long to do. If you’re going to risk it all, then best to know all the facts first.

SPEND LESS, SAVE AND INVEST OVER TIME

The formula for getting rich is this: spend < money earned

Simply put, spend less than you earn.

If you can do that, you have got a shot at getting rich.

For example, you can be a millionaire over time if you do the following:

  • Save $6,000 a month for 10 years getting a 6% return
  • Save $2,200 a month for 20 years getting a 6% return
  • Save $800 a month for 25 years getting an 8% return
  • Save $600 a month for 30 years getting an 8% return
  • Save $500 a month for 40 years getting a 6% return

The combinations can vary based on the amount of savings invested and the return on investment of compound interest. However, the bottom line is saving can earn you a fortune.

For those concerned with inflation, here is an inflation-adjusted. 25-year wealth accumulation chart.

Source: www.businessinsider.com

THE BOTTOM LINE

Ultimately, no matter what path you take if you partake in spending less than you earn and investing, over time you will become rich eventually.